Cygnus

Chapter 6: A Challenge...

Phaeton, his arms crossed and his expression a mix of surprise and curiosity, finally addressed the revelation he had just stumbled upon.

"So, you are a king," he stated, his tone marked by a blend of inquiry and a hint of assertiveness. It was as if he sought to reconcile the enigmatic foreigner he had come to know with the newfound knowledge of Cygnus's regal status.

The stranger's dark eyes narrowed, a mysterious glint dancing within them as he advanced toward Phaeton with an enigmatic smile gracing his lips. His movements possessed a fluid grace, as though he were performing an intricate dance.

With a sense of ceremony, he pressed a kiss onto each of Phaeton's cheeks, the contact both tender and unfamiliar. The blush that crept across the strawberry-blond Greek's features was undeniable, a vivid testament to the mingling of cultures and traditions in this unexpected encounter.

With azure eyes flashing with anger, Phaeton forcefully pushed Cygnus away, demanding answers.

"What is the meaning of this?!" His voice rang out, a potent mixture of anger and confusion echoing through the air.

"It's a customary greeting in my culture, young one," the king explained, his accent lending an exotic cadence to his words.

"Permit me to propose," the caramel-skinned king ventured, his voice infused with a hint of secrecy, "that we partake in a friendly contest, a covert display of our prowess, to mend the unintended breach caused by my concealed identity."

Phaeton, his curiosity piqued and his earlier anger somewhat abated, nodded cautiously. "Very well, let's see what this competition of yours entails."

"During my diplomatic sojourn to the great city of Athens, the Archon Eponymous, in his solemn wisdom, imparted tales of a distant realm known as Thebes."

"We shall embark on a race that will carry us across the heart of Greece, with Thebes as our ultimate destination." The caramel-skinned king's eyes gleamed with a sly glint as he spoke.