Seeing Xerxes with a smirk on his face.
Hilde could only sigh helplessly.
She turned her head and looked towards the military camp.
Alcibiades and his companions were singing and dancing and holding their own bonfire party.
"It's getting late. I have to persuade Sophia and the others to go to bed early."
"then you go."
Xerxes pointed ahead.
“I’m here to look at the stars.”
"Not together?"
"I want to think carefully about what Sissi said."
Hilde looked at Xerxes.
Now, there was a layer of dense beads of sweat on Xerxes' forehead, which looked a little strange. For some reason, the corners of Xerxes' mouth were twitching irregularly, but Xerxes had turned his head and aimed his gaze at the sky.
"Row."
Hilde left without thinking too much.
Xerxes watched Hilde walk away quietly. After Hilde disappeared from his sight, Xerxes clutched the clothes on his chest tightly as if in pain. Her body softened and she knelt on the ground. The intense pain seemed to burn her body completely. The cold feeling made Xerxes breathless.
"No, not at this time..."
Drops of sweat flowed down Xerxes' cheeks.
It wet the ground around her knees.
Xerxes, kneeling on the ground, was shaking in pain. The pain was so severe that he couldn't even make a sound.
When talking to Hilde just now, Xerxes felt this kind of severe pain. She knew that it was Ahura Mazda reminding her, a warning from Ahura Mazda. This burning pain was the power of Ahura Mazda, which began to attack Xerxes' body. However, Xerxes couldn't let Hilde know that her situation was already quite dangerous. She was just enduring it. Fortunately, when she was about to give up, Hilde was attracted by the sound of Alcibiades' piano.
"Ha ha……"
Xerxes couldn't stop breathing heavily.
She didn't dare to imagine.
Hilde, who had already been shaken by her, learned about this situation.
What attitude will be shown.
"Give me... a little more time..."
Xerxes knelt on the ground. Even though she was in so much pain that she couldn't control herself, she still gritted her teeth and said:
"Give me... a little more time..."
"I still want to... spend more time with her."
"I beg you……"
Tears could not stop flowing from Xerxes' eyes, and fell to the ground along with the sweat. As if hearing his prayers and pleas, Ahura Mazda's divine power also stopped its restlessness and became quiet. After the pain faded, Xerxes' body softened and he fell directly to the ground. Lying on the grass, Xerxes looked at the inky night sky and the bright stars in front of him, and his heart was filled with bitterness.
"Sorry……"
Xerxes covered his eyes.
"I can't stay with you for too long..."
——————————Dividing line——————————
It seemed like it was after three rounds of drinks.
Alcibiades was already a little drunk.
He was holding the lyre and singing, but he gradually lost the tune and started to sing randomly. But even so, Tomyris and Sophia beside him were also very happy to listen to him. So much so that when Hilde came to them, they didn't notice her coming.
Now it's so elegant.
Hilde didn't want to disturb either.
She sat directly on the ground, more than one meter away from the three people, and watched quietly.
For some reason, perhaps because of what Xerxes said today, Hilde felt dazed. A few years ago, when she was still in Athens, wasn't Sophia the only one around Hilde? But now, people from all over the world gathered together for their own reasons, drinking wine and singing songs here, happily. Even if they were going to fight a powerful god next, it did not dispel their joy.
Such a peaceful life.
How long can it last?
Hilde became a little uneasy.
The happier and more beautiful her current life was, the more Hilde didn't want to lose it.
However, Hilde had talked a lot with Xerxes, and she knew very well that her idea was not feasible. Indeed, the next battle might be very dangerous and tragic. Someone who was singing today might die after a few days of fighting. No one could predict this now, not even the most powerful prophet.
So, the next battle.
No matter what, we have to cheer up.
You have to face it carefully.
"it is good!!!"
When Alcibiades finished his song, Tomyris could not help but applaud.
"One more song!"
"Let me have a drink first!"
Alcibiades was in high spirits now, and it was probably impossible to stop him from singing. However, when Alcibiades raised his head, he saw Hilde sitting sideways not far away. Alcibiades was stunned for a moment, but immediately smiled and said, "Your Majesty! Why didn't you tell us you were here? Let's drink together!"
"Ah, Sissi, you're here too."
Sophia quickly walked over to Hilde's side.
"What's wrong? Were you disturbed?"
"Not really."
Hilde looked at Sophia's slightly red face, reached out and gently pinched her nose.
"You are so cute."
"oops."
A sudden dog food atmosphere.
Tomyris and Alcibiades looked at each other and couldn't help laughing.
"Hey, Your Majesty, would you like to have a drink too?"
"of course."
Hilde had not originally planned to drink, but since Alcibiades had invited her, it was difficult for her to refuse. So Tomyris took the initiative to stand up, poured wine into Sophia's glass, and handed it to Hilde.
"Your Majesty... No, Sissi."
Tomyris said somewhat embarrassedly:
"I shouldn't be so distant."
"It's okay, it's normal."
Hilde took the wine glass with both hands. She looked at Tomyris's expression and probably understood that Sophia must have said something to Tomyris. So, Hilde nodded and continued, "I know what you think, don't worry. I have a perfect plan for tomorrow's battle. With this glass of wine, I wish us a successful start and defeat Zeus and his men tomorrow!"
"Victorious!"
Everyone raised their glasses.
As Hilde drank the wine with a very familiar taste, he had some other thoughts in his mind.
"By the way, where's little Xuexue?"
"She wants to be alone."
"Ah, should we call her over?" Sophia asked.
The beginning of the third quarter of the 10th attack on Athens
Hilde smiled and shook her head.
"no need."
"Is there a conflict?"
"No, it's just that maybe she has something to hide."
Hilde sensed something from Xerxes' reaction, but she didn't ask any more questions, because she knew very well that if Xerxes didn't want to talk about it, it would be meaningless to ask more questions. So Hilde remained silent.
"Okay, you guys go and rest too."
"Okay."
Alcibiades put away his lyre and looked at Hilde with a smile:
"Finish this drink!"
"Go, go, go."
Hilde gave a wry smile, as if there was nothing he could do to her.
"Everyone, after we finish drinking today's wine, tomorrow will be the most difficult battle since the founding of the Byzantine Kingdom. I don't need to say how difficult this battle is, I think you all should know it clearly. In front of us are the gods who have ruled this place for thousands of years, the Olympian gods. Athens is just a trigger, our real opponent is the Greek gods!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Alcibiades nodded.
“We know that.”
"Are you afraid of death?"
"Don't be afraid, we have come this far."
"Me too. Apollo has been dealt with, so I am not that afraid of gods anymore." Tomyris also nodded with a smile. "But Sissi, you have to be careful. Their target is not the Byzantine Empire, but you."
"Hahaha, I know."
Hilde waved her hand and smiled very confidently.
"I won't let them succeed!"
"that's for sure!"
With Hilde's arrival, everyone became happier.
Xerxes, who was standing not far away, couldn't help laughing when he saw this scene.
Even though he was in excruciating pain just now, a warm current flowed through Xerxes' heart when he saw such a scene. This feeling was very strange, but Xerxes knew very well that many people gathered around Hilde, and they surrounded her because of her charm. And now, at least for now, such Hilde and such a kingdom have an unimaginable future.
Xerxes couldn't help but think so.
If something happens to me.
With Hilde here, there shouldn't be any problem.
Time passed quickly and it was early morning of the next day.
When the sun rose from the east, everyone in the army knew that the attack on Athens would soon begin. The soldiers got up early and assembled, ready to set foot on the battlefield against the walls of Athens. The large siege weapons had also been packed. At that time, these siege weapons would be placed a few hundred meters outside the walls of Athens to break down the walls. A steady stream of baggage was pulled to the front line by donkey carts one after another. The whole of Attica was busy with this war.
Hilde's troops.
It is only thirty kilometers away from Athens.
Now, after the army had assembled, it marched in a tight formation and pressed towards the city of Athens.
The Thracian light cavalry responsible for reconnaissance galloped back and forth on the deserted roads of Athens, conveying the officers' orders.
Today's weather was also very good, with not a single cloud in the sky. Walking on the road, the marble walls of Athens seemed faintly visible in the distance. Riding on a white horse, Hilde came to a high ground. She looked eastward, and the city of Athens protected by the city walls was almost in full view. This magnificent city-state was now within such a close distance.
"The city of Athens is ahead!"
Hilde raised her spear and pointed it at Athens.
"Conquer it!"
"Long live! Long live! Long live!"
The soldiers also raised their spears and shouted, but the marching column did not slow down at all.
