Dawn was slowly creeping over the first island, the sky a dull gray after a difficult night. The sailors sat on the shore, their bodies tired, their clothes torn, but their eyes still burning with the memory of the battle. The body of the nocturnal creature lay on the sand, as huge as a small mountain, black blood seeping from its mouth.
Linus approached the body, his sword still in his hand, his eyes silently observing the monster. He saw it not only as a defeated enemy, but as a symbol of a test he had passed. He felt that this night was not just a confrontation with a creature, but a confrontation with his own inner fear.
"Heir… I have never seen courage like yours," said Callias, the massive sailor, rising with difficulty. "If you hadn't been with us, this monster would have swallowed us all."
Darius laughed, despite his fatigue:
"More than that… you saved me twice, once from the storm, and once from this hell."
Old Nikos raised his head, his voice slowly emerging:
"I have seen many leaders in my life, but few who put their men before themselves. Tonight, prove that you are a true leader."
Linus felt his heart heavier than ever with responsibility. He was no longer just a young man dreaming of the throne, but a man others looked up to as a leader.
Romulus approached, placed his hand on his student's shoulder, and said in a voice that everyone could hear:
"You have seen with your own eyes. This is not just an heir to the throne of Athens… This is a man who knows how to lead. The sea will test us again and again, but as long as we are with him, we have nothing to fear."
The sailors' voices rose in cheers, their voices echoing across the shore. Linus felt that this moment was a new beginning, the beginning of a leader born from adversity.
They all sat around the fire, tending to their wounds and eating the fruits they had gathered. They began talking about the battle, each recounting what they had seen in their own way. Laughter mingled with fear, and tears with pride.
Darius said, laughing, "When I saw the monster leap toward you, I thought your end was near. But you stood firm like an unshakable mountain."
Linus replied with a smile, "I wasn't a mountain... I was just a man who knew his men depended on him. If I fell, you all would fall."
There was a brief silence, then Callias said in a deep voice, "Then we will never let you fall."
At that moment, Linus felt that the crew was no longer just a group of sailors, but his new family, brothers on a single voyage, bound by a single destiny.
As the sun rose, they decided to leave the island. It was no longer a safe place after encountering two creatures in one day. They gathered their supplies, filled their skins with fresh water, and boarded the white ship.
Linus stood on the prow, looking at the island they had left behind. He didn't feel regret, but gratitude. This island was his first real test as a leader, and he had passed.
Romulus, standing beside him, said, "Remember, Linus... courage is not only in facing monsters, but also in facing yourself. Last night, you didn't just defeat the creature... you defeated your own fear."
Linus replied in a steady voice, "Then I will carry these lessons with me until I reach Athens. I will no longer allow fear to limit me."
The ship moved slowly, moving away from the island. The sea was calm this time, as if rewarding their resilience. The sailors sat in their places, smiling despite their fatigue, each one sensing that something had changed.
Linus remained standing on the prow, his hair blowing in the wind, his eyes shining with new determination. He was no longer just an heir dreaming of the throne...but a leader whose men had begun to trust, and a man who had begun to trust himself.