The Blessed and the Pure┃🖋

Chapter Γ

"Alright, everyone, line up! We have a lot of work to do today."

Hallie turned around, all too aware that she was the only one to do so. Everyone else was too busy staring at her.

The newcomer was a large Taktikós. They had broad shoulders and towered over Hallie's short, frail frame. It wasn't every day you saw someone as tall as them, most people had their growth stunted due to a lack of proper nutrition. Being a Taktikós probably helped them reach the height that they were. They must be five feet tall, a giant.

"Charax!" Hero was over their shock and was ready to find answers. Not a face Hallie wanted to mess with. "Why did you hire this... this... this girl?!"

Charax closed their eyes. They took a deep breath in and out. "Her parents asked if they could send 'this girl' here. They said she was Kardián, and from the looks on your faces, it's true." They sighed. "You should know better than anyone, Hero. I can't deny a Kardián anything."

Hero huffed. They didn't look all that pleased about this new arrangement. Having to treat someone else, i.e. Hallie, with respect must be taxing.

"Now," Charax clapped their hands together. "line up. I won't ask you all again."

Grumbling, Hero joined everyone else as they shuffled together to form one long line.

Hallie didn't know if there was any specific order to the line, but Charax was watching her, so she went and stood at the end of the line.

"Today, we will start practicing the first play in The Oresteia, Agamemnon" Charax began. "You know the drill: you'll split off into groups based on your character to memorize your lines."

Niobe raised her hand. "Who am I playing, sir?"

Charax's mouth formed a thin line. They closed their eyes and took a deep breath. "Are you going to ask that every time before I get the chance?"

Niobe smirked. "Every time."

Charax sighed. "Niobe, you're playing Cassandra and will split off with Cois-"

Cois raised his hand. "Who am I playing, sir?"

Charax gave both Cois and Niobe a death glare, while they both innocently blinked up at him. "Agamemnon."

For the second time that day, Cois and Niobe looked shocked, but this time, everyone else followed suit.

"A-Agamemnon?" Cois's eyes widened. "You've never given me such an important role before. Usually, I'm just a background character."

"Yeah," Charax gave a wry smile. "Don't make me regret this."

Cois nodded vigorously. "Yes, sir!"

"You're giving that idiot the role of Agamemnon?" Ah, so now was the time when Hero saw fit to add her two drachmés. "He'll mess it up so quick, mortals will be too confused about what went wrong, they won't have time to laugh!"

Cois's bright, beaming smile fell off his face. Niobe gravitated over and began consoling him. Everyone else spent their time glaring at Hero, but also making sure they couldn't see their glares.

Charax flinched. "I knew you wouldn't like that. How about this: You get to play Clytemnestra, so you can kill him."

Hero mulled Charax's gruesome proposal over. Hallie was glad to find she wasn't the only one who was mortified at this, even Charax and especially Cois.

"Another reason I wouldn't touch that girl with a twelve-foot-long rod." the person next to Hallie muttered.

"Same here." their friend said.