Once upon a time in Sparta

The Argo, created under the blessing of the gods, the blessed, brand-new Argo, will go to the kingdom of the descendants of the sun to obtain the Golden Fleece.

The news was carried everywhere by the birds, and by words swifter than the birds.

Its voyage was destined to become a legend before it even started.

Heroes from all Greece flocked to it, longing to be its crew, to take part in the adventure that is sure to be sung by posterity.

It is the night sky that will hold all the shining stars of the world.

Leda, queen of Sparta and mother of Polydoces and Castor, was waiting for them.

Not far from her feet burns the holy fire.In her hand she had a spindle and a ball of wool as white as new snow, and beside her lay a wire basket and a woolen pole.

Her face has been decayed over the years.She was still so beautiful that Zeus, the king of the gods, had been overwhelmed by that beauty.But the god of aging has dimmed her brilliance, and people can see Huacai's life draining from her.She was once the protagonist of a myth.But she will also grow old and die and turn to dust.

"I'm old." She sighed, stroking the wool on her hand.Small wrinkles also appeared on her hands, because the flesh under the skin was no longer full.And her skin was once richer and fairer than that wool.

"You are still so beautiful and young, mother." Polydoces went up to her and knelt down on one knee, and put his hand on her knee.

"I'm not a goddess, Polydoces. It's the law of nature." She leaned slightly and stroked her son's face. "I will grow old and you will come out of my belly. My life will continue in you."

She looked at him with her mother's smile as always.

"Look at you, how young and strong you are. My dear sons."

"But your prime will also be lost. Even if you are the son of Zeus, you are still mortal."

"Our life cannot be as eternal as the gods. But we can make it shine, imprint it with a strong, indelible mark."

"From the time you were not born, I knew that you would be honored. You would claim many honors."

"In this unhappy age, we suffer much and have little joy. And mortals who tread on the ground will turn to the dust of the earth at last, and those we love will die, including ourselves. The glory of destiny It is the precious and only gift from the gods to you. Your name and deeds will be sung forever and echoed in the world. Honor is golden and true life. This is the only way to make you immortal. Therefore, Do these things, my son."

"Yes, mother." Polydoces answered with an upturned face.

Then Leda raised his head and greeted his other son.

"Castor."

Castor also went up to her, and Polydoces withdrew.

Leda stood up, took Castor's face in his hands, and looked at him carefully.

"Fathers hope that their sons can inherit and carry forward his name and city-state, and they will only be recognized if they are outstanding enough to make them proud."

"A husband and many women will have sons more than they themselves can count and remember. And I have only you. And a mother always loves her son, no matter how he is judged on the scales recognized by the world. Measure, evaluate."

She took Castor into her arms.

"I know you've been in pain. But you know, it's because of human limitations, not your faults. Man can't compare himself with God. There's no shame in that, Castor. My blood makes you and Bo Lydoces binds you and makes you brothers. I am glad that you love each other. People fight, but love bears them."

She kissed Castor's forehead.

"Mother still doesn't understand me." On the way back to the room, Castor, who was silent all the way, said.

"But she loves you. Always has. She cares about you."

"She wishes she loved me."

Polydoces took his brother's hand.

"But I sure am."

Castor lowered his eyes.

"I know."

Polydoces squeezed his brother's hand.

"We're leaving tomorrow."

Castor's eyes were looking away.

"We will meet many heroes. Hercules, Peleus, Admetus, Lycus, Telamon... I can name many more, and all who can come will come."

"Don't worry. You are not inferior, my dear brother."

"I'm talking about something else. Do you remember the Calydonian hunt before? So many heroes took part. Each of them was so proud that he was the one the gods valued. Then they took credit among themselves, and Bleeding in the end."

He took his brother into his arms.

"Don't worry. I think the gods will learn their lesson this time and won't let it happen. It's probably not what they like when heroes kill each other without earning honor against their enemies. And even if it happens , and will not have anything to do with us."

Castor walked forward, wondering if he was already in the legend.

And whether that person has learned the news and sang his name.

Polydoces loved him so much, and he loved him too.But there are still many questions that I can't ask my brother, and I probably won't get an answer.

When that person left, he didn't send it off.

This is a very common thing.Bards are always walking around, hearing something new here, and singing there, spreading the fame of heroes.No bard stays in any city-state for long.They are the winds of freedom.

But he knew that the person left was because of him.

He had thought that the poet would stay in Sparta forever.

Because the poet is really spiritual, like a fortune-teller, he can know the distant things from the tracks of the birds, and maybe he can also understand the languages ​​of the birds.Even if he didn't leave Sparta, he could sing to them the new happenings at the moment.The king of Sparta respected him very much for this.

Now Castor has matured a lot, realizes how naive he was then, and has seen many things clearly.

The poet loves neither him nor anyone else.Although he seemed cheerful and gracious, he was welcomed by all.But he probably didn't have a heart, and he was perfunctory with everything in a careless and light-hearted manner.Castor could not imagine anyone the poet could seriously love.He wandered alone on the edge, walking around this city and that city, watching their happiness and pain, luck and misfortune.Nothing could hold him, belonging to nowhere and no one.

And that poet is very special, even among poets, he is the only one.

The poets were the messengers of the muses, singing in praise of the gods and their favorites, as well as the princes and nobles who provided them with food and lodging.They will exaggerate or even fabricate their exploits to please the hosts where they stop.As the muses say, they can tell the truth, and they can tell the false as if it were true.

And the poet said he couldn't lie.

The gods can deceive each other and make up lies.Even if they are solemn enough to swear by the water of Styx, they can use the loopholes of words and information to dress up the truth in another way.He said he couldn't lie.

His songs are other songs, and his words are other words, as if the world has another side, another attitude that ordinary people and gods don't know.

Now Castor thinks, maybe he doesn't love poets either.Love is a luxurious and solemn thing.People always confuse it with other things.There is a terrible fascination in the poet, a gaping door in the world through which he can glimpse something.Surface light and shade and something beyond clichés.

The law of this age is that strength is justice.Kindness is not a virtue, bravery is.Looting other people's city-states and stealing other people's cattle are the achievements of heroes.And heroes are all predestined, and they are doomed at birth.Others should not covet or try to become heroes, cross the boundaries of their own destiny, and exceed the due scale.The gods take care of the beloved heroes, put the wealth and lives of others into their hands for them, clear away the fog of suffering for them, and help them achieve legends.Others are just drifting dust, props for fiddling and setting off.And above all this tumult and chaos, is the sky of the gods, pure and noble and awesome.They are hedonistic, happy, and do whatever they want.What men regard as laws is their game.They act according to their likes and dislikes.The most brilliant and beloved heroes among people are only briefly attracted and forgotten, and cannot leave traces in their hearts.

What their mother Leda said to Polydoces followed the customs and ideas of the time.They are all happy to do so.

At the same time, this is the only way, and there is no other way.

Perhaps it was not so in previous generations, and it will change in future generations.But no matter which generation you are in, thinking and acting in accordance with the concepts and laws of the time will save the most effort and bring you the most happiness.

But Castor is not interested in all these things, all the exciting things that make others feel excited and excited, and this is also impossible.

He did those things only for the company of Polydoces.

Castor has seen many wars.His fighting skills are also mature enough.Therefore, he also realized more and more that God's favor is really important.Without the care of God, in such a chaotic and chaotic situation, you really cannot guarantee that you will not be swept away by accidental fatalities and lie in the dust.

The so-called destiny is only for heroes and major events that the gods pay attention to.

Polydoces wanted Castor's name to accompany him.It pleased him to be called the twins of Zeus.He wished Castor to be as honorable as himself, to share the golden crown of honour.But Castor cannot tell him that, unlike Polydoces, he must receive his own share of glory (moira, destiny).Castor didn't get his due.Every battle is random luck for Castor, and he will pass by the spirit of death at some point.He could die in any one of them.Flowing arrows, stones, thrown out.They will randomly devour human flesh and blood.

Nor was Castor afraid of death the way most people were, or of not dying honorably and bravely.He just had a hard time imagining that at that time, Polydoces discovered the truth, that everything he took for granted was just a privilege given to him by God to be alone, and that Castor was really just an ordinary mortal.Things that you take for granted in your hands will be lost if you are caught off guard.

But these words, he could not say to Polydoces.The two of them took really different paths, but Polydoces really hoped that they were real twins.And this hope is built on love and cannot be denied.

Then there is only one thing left to do.

He was kissed on the cheek.

"Good night, Castor. We have to get up early to-morrow."

"Polydoces." Castor did not respond as usual, but suddenly called his name in a very solemn tone.

"what happened?"

"What is your real impression of that person?"

Even if it was just a reference, Polydoces understood it immediately.The only direct allusion without any premise.

Polydoces was silent for a while before speaking.

"Honestly, I'm terrified of him."

He hugged his brother.

"I was afraid to see you move away from me and approach him. I was very jealous that he liked you so much. But it was not only because of love. Castor." Polydoces' eyes looked into the darkness. "He's so dangerous. I look at you following him like you're playing on the edge of a cliff. I'm just too worried about you."

"I know." Castor also stretched out his hand to hug and comfort him. "Sorry. Brother, you're right. I won't worry you any more."

Polydoces stroked his cheek lightly.

"Why did you suddenly think of him after so long?"

"It's all right," Castor said. "Really. Just a little bit sleepy. And... I remember you've been bothering."

"It's nothing to mind. I'm just worried about you."

"Well. Sleep, Polydoces, and good night."

In the night where all things are sleeping, the God of Day and Time still drives her chariot, walking alone in the infinite silence and shadow of the abyss.Her face shone far away, exuding a sweet fragrance.Her light is pure white and clean, bringing the time when all things are noisy.But the light that spreads infinitely on the earth can only illuminate herself in the darkness of the abyss.

The young Dawn hung down her rosy fingers, bringing people the beginning of awakening.

And she is the scale of time, making the days fly away day by day.

The days are flying by and all future things are about to happen.

The Argo pulled anchor and set sail.