Soldier of Troy

The Walls of Troy

Perseus stood on the towering wall that encircled his beloved home, his eyes scanning the vast expanse of sea that stretched out before him. As the scorching sun beat down upon his heavy armor, he couldn't help but yearn for the cool embrace of the waves he had grown up beside. This was the least coveted guard post in all of Troy, always given to the greenest of soldiers on duty at the time - like him. As he continued his watch, his mind drifted to how he had come to be here. 

Only a few months ago he had still been living with his mother in her bakery. It had been his home for fifteen years and it certainly hadn't been a bad place to be raised. However, Perseus wasn't content with his life in the bakery. While he enjoyed helping his mother bake bread, it wasn't his passion. He yearned for adventure and excitement, something more than just kneading dough and serving customers. His heart longed for the sea, and he often found himself staring out at it, wondering what lay beyond the horizon, or under it.

So when the city guard suddenly began recruiting new members in record numbers he took the opportunity. Despite his lack of experience and training, Perseus was determined to prove himself as a capable soldier and earn his place in the ranks. He eagerly underwent the rigorous training and drills, learning the art of warfare and the discipline needed to fight for his city. And after months of hard work and dedication, he found himself standing guard on the walls of Troy, ready to defend his home against any enemy that dared to attack.

As he stood there, Perseus couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and purpose. He was no longer just a simple baker's son, but a defender of his city and his people. Yet, even with this new sense of identity, his longing for the sea never faded. 

While his mother wasn't particularly excited about his career path she accepted it, she knew his longing for the sea and would always get a longing glint in her eyes at the topic. Perseus knew this was because of his father. His mysterious father had been lost at sea before he was even born. Perseus had always wondered about him and felt a deep connection to the sea as if it were somehow linked to his father's fate. He often imagined himself sailing the seas, exploring unknown lands, and discovering lost treasures, maybe even finding out his father's identity.

He had never been very liked by his peers they always seemed... off put by him like he was different and strange. His mother had comforted him and called him special but he couldn't get himself to believe it to be anything other than a mother comforting her child.

Despite the alienation he felt from his peers, Perseus continued to focus on his duties as a guard of Troy. He knew that his role was important and that the safety of his city depended on him and his fellow soldiers. As the days passed, he became more and more skilled at his job and began to earn the respect of his superiors.

He was once again posted on the ocean-facing wall of the city. While he had been a part of a patrol with his lieutenant yesterday it seemed that he wasn't yet finished with his watch over the sea. The sun had already set and the cool night breeze was starting to blow. Perseus shivered a little as he remembered the stories his mother had told him about the dangers of the sea at night. But he knew that he had to stay alert, no matter how sleepy he felt.

As he stood there, his eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of danger, Perseus heard a very faint sound that made him prop up. It was the sound of something moving in the water out in front of him, something big. His heart began to race as he tried to focus on the source of the sound. The rhythmic sound reminded him of something, but at a scale much larger than he had ever heard - it was oars. 

He peered out toward the sea. It was no moon to speak of tonight, but he strained his eyes to see through the darkness. As he peered into the distance, he saw something that made his blood run cold. There, on the horizon, was a fleet of ships, their masts looming even from his vantage point on top of the gigantic wall.