* At nightfall, a gigantic land of ice stretched out in front of me. I have known harsh winters since my arrival in this world, but I must say that this one is above all. To tell the truth I even began to fear for the life of my mounts, I almost regretted not having brought Aïsha with me. For some reason she was like a "whisperer". She was able to speak into the ears of animals and they adored her. If she had been there she could have relieved these brave beasts with very gentle words. Alas, I will fear that she too will die of cold. The storm lasted a while longer and then suddenly stopped, much like turning off a fan, it was a really, really weird feeling. However, this sudden disappearance of the cold left us facing this magnificent aurora borealis. Definitely I will never get tired of this spectacle *.
- Okay, we'll set up camp here.
-Super ... In the middle of nowhere. * Said Dimitri *. Do we know where we are at least?
* He turned his gaze to Brenda who wasn't planning on saying a word *.
-I have not got the faintest idea. * Lars replied *. But we have to crib somewhere. Let us take advantage that the storm has calmed down to rest the horses.
-Lars not wrong. * Said Aaron who was in the lead *. These brave beasts need rest. * He stroked his mount *.
* Aaron Asamoi, also dark skinned, has curly hair unlike most of us with a square cut. He is rather tall, around six feet tall and a remarkable shooter. I took him with us for his talents as a scout and his ability to spot figures with the naked eye. Still, he is of a strangely pacifist nature, which is disconcerting for someone like me. After his intervention we made a campfire that we had a hard time lighting then Maggie cooked us something with the little ration we had. Dimitri had planted a stake about twenty yards from us and tied Brenda to it. He personally took care of feeding her with a spoon. Arianne was still bewildered by how careful he was with her *.
-What happened between these two? * You asked me discreetly *.
-I put them together in the same unit at the time. Dimitri has often had the habit of entrusting her watching his six. But after the betrayal of the Morabe things got worse and they saw each other only as mutual enemies.
* I took a shot of my potato stew and gave my plate to Adrien *.
-For me ? * the kid wondered *.
* I smile at him, a sign that he could go *.
-I say betrayed but Morabe's actions are surely legit. At least as much as mine.
* Later the storm returned but much less violent than the first. I gave instructions to sleep two under the covers so that I could warm each other up. Before they could even rejoice Maggie had already decided to sleep with Arianne. Aaron had decided to warm up little Adrien and Dimitri and Lars found themselves between guys. I volunteered to watch the fire and watch Brenda. In reality it was a pretext for a much more urgent matter. I stood up and walked over to Brenda who had her eyes on me *.
-You do not sleep ? * I asked *.
-You trained me to deprive myself of sleep and to be able to settle for little to sleep. * She said with a proud, almost arrogant smile *.
* It was true, she was one of my best men. I wanted tough ones and my faith I made monsters a little too tough. Seeing her gaze I gave him a sly smile *.
-I see you learned your lesson well. Unfortunately I need you to sleep.
* I got behind her and started to strangle her to force her to sleep. She struggled as best she could at the beginning and it must be said that she had not lost in force, but I remained her master and she my student. She eventually bowed to my will and passed out. I then got up and put a blanket over me so I wouldn't catch a cold before sitting down by the fire. I then recited a mantra in Greek, staying focused on an image in my mind *.
-I was starting to lose patient, tell me.
* This voice I would recognize it even if I had pierced eardrums. When I opened my eyes I was again there or everything to begin with, no that was not it I was not in the temple of the acropolis, but in a gigantic city of the Greek world. I admit that my heart skip a beat again and I did not know where to give a head *.
- Come on, let's go for a walk.
* A beautiful young woman with long blond hair dressed in a white tunic clung to my arm and dragged me with her through the streets of this city. Strangely enough I also wore old clothes like the day where I was * ....
-Dead ...
- Calm down, let's take advantage of the city. *She says*.
* I took a closer look at the young blonde and ticked off her identity *.
-Athena?
-Surprise surprise. How do you find me in this form?
* She was different from the milf I had met when I died. There she was much younger, more radiant and even freer. She strutted as she wanted in the city without worrying about the eyes of the people. At one point she let go of my arm and began to spin around. She was laughing, jumping, dancing, I had never seen her like that before. She stopped turning and stared at me with a happy smile as if I had done something for her *.
-Finally ... Finally thanks to you it is restored again ... * She said *.
-I have difficulties to understand. Where are we ?
* I felt a gust of wind blow. Athena's hair was flying and she pointed to a huge white lighthouse by the sea *.
-Welcome to Alexandria ... My dear Sebastien.
-ALEXANDRIIIIIIIIIA .....
- Softly or everyone will hear you. * She told me, hiding a laugh with her hand *.
* Did I scream? There is something ? Am I on earth? Back in the past? In the city which bears the name of the king of the conquerors, Alexander the great. Iskendar first of the name. Alexandre le grand. I had so many questions in my head that I felt like I was going to have cardiac arrest *.
- Calm down calm down. * Said Athena as she hugged me *. Inspire ... Expire ... Inspire .... Expire .... Alright.
* She stepped back and gave me a delighted smile *.
-And now you're okay?
* The shock had passed I was in Alexandria by I do not know what magic. But it all ends up fitting into my mind *.
-I get it.
* As I said earlier I had something urgent to do. Every 6 months every year Athena and I get together for a general review of my progress. Until then she did not have enough influence to give free recourse to her powers but since my outburst in the North Athena could finally express herself. And this city of Alexandria in his subconscious is the proof. Finally I say that, are we really in her mind? *.
-So you understood everything eh? We are in Alexandria but at the same time not at all.
-Are you saying that all the people here are unreal?
-Who knows. One thing is sure they are watching you.
* I noticed the awkward looks that passers-by were giving me, probably my appearance was foreign to them. No that's not it, there were people of all races in Alexandria, I think my behavior must have influenced their gaze. Acting like an idiot got me attention *.
-Come on, I'll show you something awesome.
* She pulled me by the arm again and again she took me to a place I never imagined going even in my wildest fanfictions *.
-The great library of Alexandria. *I said.*
-Yeeess, but not the same, this one is even better than the original.
* She led me into the big library, and she bore her name damn well. There were books of all types ranging from mathematics, medicine and philosophy but Athena showed me the part that interested me the most. In front of the door was marked "Bellum". Or War in common language *.
-After you. * She said, bowing slightly *.
* I entered Bellum and my God it was not the same people at all. I felt like I still had to travel in a dimension. The proof is that this time I had my jacket and my pants again as well as my rangers on my feet. I started to walk through the countless rows of books and saw names each more improbable than the next *.
-Rommel? Guiderian, Atilla, Augustus, Napoleon, Georges S Patton ....
* I almost suffocated when I read his name *.
-Ulysse Grant ... Li Mu, Wang Jian ... Nimtiz, Mc Arthur ....
* What are the names of all these military legends doing in one place? All these generals these strategists, they are * ...
-Eh yes. * Tells me smiling Athena *. You have above all the knowledge and military knowledge accumulated of almost all the greatest strategists in history. You can have access to their knowledge. But it's not just generals, it's also scientists and politicians who have contributed to the military world. And all this knowledge is now held by Sebastien. Or Nahel if you prefer.
-I can't believe this. But wait, why didn't you introduce me to such a place earlier?
-When you arrived here my influence in this world was close to zero, but thanks to you and your recent exploits especially the last one .... I was able to recover enough strength to bring it into this world. And then the library was destroyed after Vietnam war.
* So I couldn't believe it. I, who was asking myself certain questions, here I am with a fucking helping hand. *
-However, the library will only be available once a year. You can spend a maximum of 3 days there, but time in the human world will also flow little by little. I will therefore recommend that you choose your works well.
-It was too good to be true. * I sighed *. It's still a fucking tactical advantage. With that I will be able to practically create what I want, see even ...
* No ... In real life it's also a thorn in the side, if I rest on this bookcase I will bite my fingers. Athena is a goddess but she is not all powerful. Until then I did very well, I will continue my momentum, I must not take all this knowledge for it but also that I make good use of it. In the library there was a sort of young girl who rehearsed books, she had to act as an assistant. She was petite in a tight black dress, blonde hair with freckles *.
- Assistant give me ... I mean what is your name?
-Anaïs Sir.
-Be careful, your number of books is limited to 3 so be careful. * Said Athena *.
* Another restriction, what's next? *.
-And you can't take the whole life of a general, you need a specific chapter of his life or a specific part.
-I see, this library is a lot more boring than it seems.
-Is not it ? * She told me smiling * an idea of Kennedy.
-Who ? * I said amazed *.
-Go make your choice.
-Anïs bring me ....
* I was silent for a moment thinking, after all I had access to so much and then I raised my finger *.
-Huan Yi China of the Warring States, Vlad Tepes against the Turks and bring me Operation Rolling Thunder from 1966 to 1968.
* The assistant bowed and went to get them for me. I turned to Athena and saw that she had a rather strange look when she was staring at me like she was afraid of something *.
-What's the matter ?
-You ... You only chose psychopaths and a bombing operation. The choice of guerrilla is essential but I have the impression that you do not have to think of the future. * She told me *.
-On the contrary, it is surely the best possible choices currently. I already have an idea of what to do and these books are only there to put me on the voice.
* The young assistant comes back with my books and damn they weigh a ton *.
-If you say so.
* We returned to Alexandria to a place that appeared to be Athena's home. A large noble building with garden and even guards. She offered me a room, there I was going to concentrate entirely on developing my next plan. These books were great, you just had to open it to be immersed in the general's psyche, turning the pages made us discover a new side with each faith. I live it as if I were them. But it was fucking tiring because it was like reading a novel *.
-What took me to want to probe the minds of these madmen? * I sighed *.
* That said I also had questions to ask. When Athena came to find me in my room in her more than provocative nightgown I took the opportunity to ask her *.
-Tell me what awaits me in the North?
* She had a glass of wine in her hand and was looking at the horizon *.
-It is not marked Oracle on my forehead, I am the goddess of war.
-Don't play with words, I'm talking about this unpleasant feeling I've had since I got there. I feel like I have left the mortal world, as if everything around me is threatening. Tell me Athy .... The magic has indeed disappeared from this world is not it?
-A thousand years ago, indeed, magic really disappeared from this world.
-A great man once said that anything that comes before the "but" doesn't count.
-BUT, there are still in this world remnants, remnants of magic, wells of sources. If they are found it may well be ...
* I got up annoyed and plaque against the bedroom wall. She lost her glass of wine, which shattered once on the ground *.
- You told me ... Damn you promised me that there was no more source of magic, and now you tell me that maybe there is? * I was shouting *.
-These springs or as humans call them, "Dragon Blood" come from the corpses of mythical creatures. You will recognize them by their purple color often forming a lake. You can call it magic, but biologically it's just blood.
-And from a geological point of view?
* She propelled me back with a blink of an eyelash and I found myself lying on my bed. She was right above me with her eyes full of lust, I quickly understood what state she was. She held me up with her arms and damn she was strong *.
-From a geological point of view it is 3 times more efficient than oil. With the knowledge from here and this freshly discovered energy you could easily create the weapons of your dreams to see decades of progress jump.
* I suspected the magic is really formidable. But next my concern was that half drunk goddess above me. She leaned forward and looked me straight in the eye *.
-Tell me Seb ... Do you hate me?
-No ... Not in the least.
-So you love me don't you? If so, relieve me ... I'm fed up with this loneliness, fed up with waking up every morning thinking that I'm going to be alone again. You know even a goddess needs tenderness.
* I easily released my wrists from her grip and put my arms around her hips. I looked her straight in the eye then leaned down and whispered in her ear *.
-It was enough just to ask.
* End of chapter *