Stories For the Damned

Hippokrates' Apprentice: The Beginning 2 (ACO)

The festival was very lavish, even for a moderate city like Argos. There were blue and gold banners imprinted with the healers' sigil strung along trees that made a grove-like path.

Along the sides of the road, there were small setups and shops that sold goods like fresh fruit and sweet honey. Some even sold keepsakes as was customary at such an event.

Kids chased each other giddy with excitement over receiving a coin or two from their mater or pater to buy a treat. And to top it all off there was the soft playing of a lyre and pan flute intermingling and floating in the air, surrounding you with a pleasant tune.

It was nice.

You had figured you'd be better off actually going to the festival than sulking around Hippokrates office, daydreaming about the misthios, Kassandra.

You had not seen her since the day you met, and even though you knew virtually nothing of her, you still felt this...pull to see her again. To hear her voice. To feel her gaze upon you.

You did not want to curse yourself, but perhaps you would see her again. Maybe even at the festival seeing as she had inquired about it.

Shaking your head, you tried to will any thoughts of her out of existence. It didn't matter if you saw her again or not, you were to enjoy yourself. Maybe you would meet a physician or two and gain some insight about your soon-to-be profession.

You took a deep breath and smiled to yourself, gripping the small pouch of drachmae that hung on your waist. A few coins that Hippokrates gave to you when he had some to spare. It wasn't much but you figured you could purchase a sweet plum or maybe a few jujubes.

Starting your venture into the semi-crowded street, you weaved through people stopping to chat or purchase goods. You took note of a man who looked to be advising some people at his stand, a medical man. Perhaps you would speak to him later.

There was one person in a booth who spoke of joining The Asclepiads, though they no doubt had none of the gods blood in them. So, you steered clear of that area.

You sighed as you looked around, trying to find something that you could afford. There was a stand that sold rusks even offering a selection with mold for 'flavor' (something that you had never been a fan of).

Walking a bit more, you spotted a stand that sold mulberries, claiming that they were super sweet. "Why not?" you thought, approaching the vendor who smiled at you. He was a middle-aged man, balding with wrinkles and sun-tanned skin. Probably from years of harvesting various fruits.

Seeing as the berries were only 3 drachmae for a sizable pre-portioned bag, you bought a pouch.

The fruit was a very dark purple color and as you popped one into your mouth, you found that they were indeed extremely sweet, almost too much so. But, despite the fact that they nearly tasted of pure sugar, you continued to snack on them as you walked along the festival's path, only putting the pouch away when it was nearly empty.

Eventually, you stopped seeing stands within your budget as you apparently entered the later half of the set-ups. You hesitantly approached a honey stand that sold the sweet nectar for 10 drachmae a vase. Clearly not cheap by how small the container was, barely the size of a kathanthros! You frowned seeing that was the cheapest thing they sold and were about to move on when a familiar voice spoke out.

"One of those, please." A well-muscled hand pointed at just the item you were looking at.

You felt an emotion you could not describe as you laid your eyes on the misthios of your thoughts once more.