"Lord De'Ricci…"
Antonius sat all the way there until the afternoon.
George Sphrantzes has never gone through this kind of things before as a member of the ruling class, sitting here all day not taking a bite of food since the morning with this man doing his work. He definitely does not want to simply chase away this fellow bothering him here as it unsuits his image as a well educated classical Roman, but he also cannot go for lunch or dinner now as it would appear he has some free time now. Thus, he must think of an excuse.
"Lord De'Ricci…." George Sphrantzes stood up. "Pardon me, I need to go to the washroom…"
Antonius followed without hesitation. "I shall escort you there."
George Sphrantzes ran out of words, he led Antonius into a quiet corner and asked him his purpose of visit and at what cost would he be satisfied and leave him alone.
"I would like to ask you some questions about the court." Antonius went forward grabbing George's hands tightly towards him and asked with eagerness in his eyes.
"Carry on please." The poor George Sphrantzes could not dodge that pair of tough sea faring hands of Antonius and could only hope that this nonsense can end soon.
"What is the emperor's attitude on us?"
George Sphrantzes knew that this question will come. "The empire and the autocrat of the Romans commend the heroic partners from the Serene Republic of Genoa for its role in mediating the operations for peace in the empire, and the autocrat recognises the valuable support provided by the honourable gentlemen Lord De'Ricci, Lord Giustiniani and regional and bilateral partners, that helped make the self defense of the Roman people possible."
Antonius seems confused. "Huh? Then?"
"Then what?" George Sphrantzes asked back. "Do you need a medal? A certificate? I will take the honour and initiative to present to you if you need it."
George Sphrantzes stammered for a while, looked around and then grabbed onto Antonius' arms and whispered. "Sorry, Lord De'Ricci, I know that my statements make no sense, but this is the template of response given by my higher ups, thus have this in mind, whatever I say, are instructions given by my superiors, I am just the man caught in between passing the message."
"Your higher up…."
"Yes, my superior." George Sphrantzes pointed towards the sky.
"I see." Realising this, Antonius remained silent for a while, then continued in a determined tone. "Listen, George, I am talking to you because people say that you are the most intellectual being in the Roman government."
"I dare not take the title." George rejected the compliment, humble as always.
"Listen, I want to leave Constantinople."
Now it is George Sphrantzes' turn to be silent.
Seeing this, Antonius added on. "Same to Giovanni, he also wants to retire now peacefully and leave the city, thus I am here for the reward of the contract your emperor previously offered us."
"Pardon me, Lord De'Ricci." George paused Antonius. "I am not in the position to grant you the reward promised by his majesty, and I cannot promise you anything."
"I don't need you to promise me anything." Antonius continued staring. "I need you to help us remind your emperor, he said that we can trust him, then he better maintains that level of trust… In the world of the mercenaries and every Genoese, contract is the number one priority you need to accomplish and fulfill before anything else… If you cannot fulfill the contract, why make it in the first place?"
"I will send your remarks and concerns to his majesty."
"Word by word." Antonius grabbed George's hands harder.
"Yes, word by word." George replied helplessly. "Now may I go?"
"No. I have two more things I need to ask from you."
"What is it?" George now only hopes that this form of unbearable torcher can end soon."
"I need knowledge." Antonius took a deep breathe and answered with his eyes sparkling with the luminous light of the thirst for intellect. "I need everything! I need books, I need teachers, I need a new thinking, I need a new mindset, I want to know how to rule, how to lead, most importantly, how does this world function."
"…And…"
Antonius leaned forward whispering in George's ears. "Tell me, does God really exist? Where was the supreme being when all of those good Christians and defenders of faith are dying hopelessly in the sacred city blessed by the Virgin Mary, right under a monastery where god should watch?" In the end of his sentence, Antonius almost seemed to be bellowing out beneath his breathe trying to control his volume preventing these treacherous thoughts being heard by the third pair of ears, but what he could not control is his emotions in his words.
"…"
"I need answer, I am like a lost lamb that needs guidance, and trust me, I am not the only person with such thoughts." Antonius spitted out his words one by one.
"I am not in the position to answer this question." George Sphrantzes answered. "But I can refer you to the new Ecumenical Patriarch in Hagia Sophia, he is much more professional in offering guidance to… lost souls like you."
"Thank you." Antonius seems to be a little bit disappointed.
"Cheer up, I admire your spirit to pursue for knowledge and the truth of the world." George Sphrantzes glanced at the tall man before him and encouraged him. "Although there is not much I can give you at the current moment as me myself is still on the path pursuing for more knowledge, but…"
"… But?"
"I can pass you the craft of Mathematics… That is the field of study I have been researching for years, the findings of Euclid, works of Archimedes, geometry of Theodosius, collections of Pappus, designs of Anthemius, conics of Eutocius…. They are like the stars, dim as an individual, but illuminated the entire blank void with their collective strength armed with the power of their knowledge, mathematics."
"What does studying Mathematics give me?" Antonius asked reluctantly."
"Mathematics makes you a logical thinker." George Sphrantzes answered without hesitation.