After a long night of struggling with the storm, the White Ship awoke to an eerie calm. The waves had subsided, and the sky was clear as if nothing had happened. But the sailors' faces were clearly tired, and their wet clothes still clung to their bodies.
Linus stood on the prow of the ship, staring at the horizon. Suddenly, he saw a green line looming in the distance, like a strip of forest floating on the sea. He shouted loudly, "Land! There's an island ahead!"
The sailors' voices rose with joy; they needed dry land after the storm. Romulus approached, his eyes shining with anticipation. "This island I've never seen before... It seems forgotten, perhaps untrodden for a long time."
As they drew near, the island's outlines became clear: a white sandy beach stretching out in an arc, behind it a dense forest of tall trees, punctuated by the sounds of strange birds that no one had ever heard before. There was a small mountain in the center, its summit shrouded in mist.
The ship landed on the shore, and the sailors disembarked one by one. As soon as their feet touched the sand, they felt at ease, as if the earth itself was welcoming them. Some sat down to breathe in the fresh air, while others began gathering firewood and drying their clothes.
"Finally, solid ground beneath our feet! I almost forgot what it feels like!" said Callias, the huge sailor, laughing.
Linus laughed along with them, but he continued to watch the forest with wary eyes.
Darius, the thin young man, approached him and said, "Shall we enter the forest, sir? Perhaps we will find fresh water or fruit."
"Yes," Linus replied after a moment's thought. "But be careful. Not all of us will enter. I will go with you and Romulus, and the others will stay behind to guard the ship."
The three of them entered the forest, surrounded by the sounds of strange birds. The trees were huge, their leaves broad, and their trunks twisted as if trying to hide their secrets. After a short distance, they heard the gurgling of water. They followed the sound until they reached a small stream flowing from the mountain.
Romulus bent down, tasted the water, and then said,
"It's fresh and pure. We can fill our waterskins with it."
Linus smiled.
"Thank God… This will give us the strength to continue our journey."
But before they could finish, they heard a strange sound behind the trees. It sounded like a low growl, followed by a quick movement through the shadows. Linus grabbed his sword and said firmly,
"Get ready."
Out of the trees emerged a creature they had never seen before. It resembled a wolf, but much larger. Its black fur shone in the sunlight, and its eyes were red like embers. It roared so loudly that the ground shook beneath their feet.
"What is this creature?" Darius said fearfully. "I've never seen anything like it!"
Romulus answered calmly,
"Perhaps it's a remnant of ancient creatures that survived on this forgotten island."
The creature rushed towards them at a tremendous speed. Linus raised his sword and parried it, but the force of the blow caused him to retreat several steps. He shouted, "Darius! Back away! Romulus, cover me!"
The battle began. The creature was ferocious, moving nimbly despite its size. Linus tried to strike, but its thick fur deflected most of the blows. Romulus then shouted, "Strike its eyes, Linus! That's where its weakness lies!"
Linus leaped to the side, then lunged with all his might, aiming his sword at the creature's eye. He struck, and the monster let out a loud scream and recoiled. Taking advantage of the moment, Linus struck again at its neck, causing the creature to fall to the ground, motionless.
Linus sat panting, sweat mingling with blood on his brow. Romulus approached, placed his hand on his shoulder, and said, "You have proven your courage once again. But remember, my son, strength alone is not enough. It was wisdom that saved you this time."
Linus smiled despite his fatigue and said, "Then I will learn to be both strong and wise."
They returned to shore with water and some of the fruit they had gathered. When the sailors saw the dead creature, their voices rose in amazement and admiration. Callias said, laughing, "Now I believe that the heir to Athens is not just a spoiled youth!"
The men laughed, feeling their confidence in Linus grow. He, however, sat on the shore, watching the woods that had hidden the creature, his eyes shining with new determination.
He whispered to himself, "If this first island holds such danger... what awaits me on the next islands?"