After sunrises and sunsets that had passed, the promised land was upon them, welcoming them with glorious golden rays of the morn, blue sky, and the birds flying over them with a lovely song in their mouths.
Gazing from the window, Glaucia could not contain her glee when she saw their ship and the other two lowering their anchor as they docked smoothly in the harbour. She giggled and twirled with her puppy and kitten, knowing dull days inside the ship were now over.
"Look at you!" Mama Elpida laughed at the sight of the beautiful foundling, dancing around with childlike innocence, still deeply latching onto her psyche. "Now—what makes my Glaucia smile too brightly?"
"Land—land, mama!" She clapped as she joyfully told her.
"Yes, my dear. We are finally here."
"Vivinna!" She responded, kneeling before her as she took her mama's hand.
With delight, Mama Elpida kissed her forehead and said, "We will soon see your sister. I hope we will find where she lived."
Feeling the same exhilaration and lightheartedness, Papa Aegeus entered the room with a wide grin and a bag on his shoulder, ready to exit the ship. "Are you ready, my little family? We are here! Can you believe it?" His chuckle infected the two women.
"Well, my dear old beloved fisherman, before you leave us, may I remind you of your two goats?"
Papa Aegeus laughed. "Oh, yes, my darling. I will never forget them. No family is left behind!" His jest made Mama Elpida and Glaucia laugh.
Once the little family was ready, with their little possessions all packed, and their animals ready to go along, they lined up and prepared to exit the ship, together with the others who sought the same new and brighter beginning.
"Hold on to us, Glaucia." Papa Aegeus whispered to her ear as they began to move out. "Remember not to be afraid."
"Yes, papa." She answered, looking straight ahead as she observed the people before them.
"A new life waits for us, my dear." Mama Elpida added as she smiled and hoped to clear out the doubt she thought was sprouting in Glaucia's head.
"Yes, Mama." Glaucia smiled back.
The chatter clamoured as people walked out from the ship that sailed them away from the forsaken motherland. There was a vivid elation on everyone's faces, daydreaming of the new life they would venture into with more sunshine and an abundance of grain and olives. Though quite an acquaintance after days of sailing, some shared how they planned on going out and about when they set foot on land. One said he would seek employment in the bakery. One woman even said she wanted to learn how to weave. And most desired to meet their family, who had come before them during the first ships' arrival onto their chaotic shores.
The latter was also the same goal that Papa Aegeus and his family hoped to achieve. They had no idea how to find Vivinna, Neilos, and the children's whereabouts, understanding that the new land they were about to live in was vast and larger than their old island.
Amidst the booming cacophony that circled them, Papa Aegeus and Mama Elpida unknowingly prayed together that they would immediately reunite with their daughter and her family, no matter what tribulations they would face. Glaucia stared at the old couple's preoccupied countenance and moved her sight towards the rows of little windows where the blue sky was visible, telling some entity up above to grant what her papa and mama were praying for. She never knew then, but she was correct that the old couple were desperate to see their daughter and her family.
The long line of refugees had become shorter and shorter as pattering feet began to touch the ground of the land of milk and honey. Smiles and praises to heaven overwhelmed the harbour, adding to the growing crowd that drew towards them, greeting them for arriving safely on the new land.
"Welcome to Empurion!" One man shouted while giving fresh bread to the new arrivals.
"Empurion?" Papa Aegeus questioned, slowly descending on the large plank as he held on to the rope while guiding the two goats.
Mama Elpida was amazed to see the wonders of the bustling harbour as she followed behind her husband. "There are so many merchants here, Glaucia. Maybe we should tour those shops for a minute, don't you think?"
Glaucia nodded eagerly—a mask to hide away the anxiety that sparked inside her. She held on tight to her Mama Elpida's arm, with one hand gripping her big basket that carried her puppy and kitten, as they descended on the plank.
Once they set foot on the promised land, their eyes marvelled at the sight that welcomed them. The harbour was indeed a busy place where many merchants were thriving again. There were rows of shops neatly lined on the side—shops of a variety of food, clothing, and even livestock exhibited in the front, which fascinated the newcomers from the old place.
"Welcome to Empurion!" The man with a basketful of bread to share, happily greeted Papa Aegeus and the rest as he offered them each loaves of bread. However, something came to him when he got a good glance at Glaucia, especially with her silver eyes that were like clear glass under the beam of sunlight. "Goodness me!" He almost stumbled down when he looked at her. "Such beauty you are, my dear. You remind me of Ath—no, no. Ha! Ha! I am sure you will be the jewel of this kingdom. Here, have a bread and may Anax bless you."
"Anax?" Glaucia wondered, with eyes bearing a question and amazement.
The man nodded and smiled. "Yes, my child. The god of this place. The hidden son of Zeus. Anax Alloprosallos."
Glaucia imprinted on her head the name of the god, quietly repeating as if it were a hymn mandatory to be remembered. Papa Aegeus and Mama Elpida also gave quizzical looks while mouthing the long name of the new god that had welcomed them into his land.
"His name meant both tender and ruination. But who am I to judge this deity when he took us into this vigorous kingdom?" Papa Aegeus shared with Mama Elpida and Glaucia, while looking far at the vastness of the land. "The place is prospering! Who knows, we could even start selling some cheese or fish again?"
Mama Elpida agreed. "May the god Anax give us good fortune in his land."
The family rested on a bench that went around a little garden, located on the other side of the harbour, as they settled and stretched their legs after their days of sailing. They stared at the ships that carried them to their new life and began to appreciate the breadth and the details of its décor that covered the exterior. As silver eyes followed the pattern of the ship from one edge to the other, Glaucia then noticed that the bow of the large ship held a perceptible bust sculpture of a woman wearing a war helmet and an owl perched on her right shoulder. Her heart was beating fast as feet gradually moved closer to get a clear view of the décor. Glaucia's eyes never left that bust until an image appeared in her head of the same woman, who, astoundingly, had the same face as her.
Frightened by the vision, Glaucia shook her head, covering her face with her hands, and returned to her old parents for comfort.
As she sat beside Mama Elpida, a lady, followed by a man, shouted out to them as she ran and waved her hand high.
"Mama! Papa!" She looked at the old couple, whose faces were in complete disbelief. "Mama! Papa! Thank the heavens you are here! Oh, my!" Her eyes welled up the second time she reached out with arms wide open until they finally wrapped around Mama Elpida, who was frozen and could not utter a single word from her mouth. "Mama… mama…" Cried the woman who kissed the old mother's cheek.
Glaucia was startled by the stranger's familiarity towards the old couple. But upon looking closely, she hunches that the woman might be Vivinna, Mama Elpida and Papa Aegeus' daughter.
"Vivinna—" Papa Aegeus mumbled while still in pure shock to see her. "Vivinna! Oh, my darling!" The old fisherman went towards them, knelt before the mother and daughter, and embraced them altogether. "In Zeus's name! I am so happy to see you!"
With Neilos placing a hand on his wife's shoulder, soothing her, the family was now complete, reunited by such a chance that was truly once in a blue moon.
Glaucia was amazed to see such a beautiful sight of a family now unified after days of uncertainty, anxiety, and fear. There was love emanating from them, a love the foundling never knew yet appreciated by just observing them. Her lips curved into a smile while she kept on looking at them, and when Vivinna glanced up and caught her, her eyes widened, entranced by her beauty and the silver eyes that seemed to cast a spell on her.
Becoming aware of Vivinna's acknowledgement of the foundling, Mama Elpida and Papa Aegeus introduced Glaucia to her and Neilos.
"My dear," Papa Aegeus began, "This is Glaucia, your sister. Your mother and I adopted her after I found her washed up on the shore."
"You must be gentle, my dear." Mama Elpida told her in a hushed tone. "Our foundling has just gained her speech and is with child. She cannot tell you where she came from, for she could not remember a single memory about her past."
"Yo—you mean she had no idea who she was?" Vivinna asked, surprised to know about Glaucia's circumstances.
Both Papa Aegeus and Mama Elpida shook their heads in response.
"Not even a clue?" Neilos wondered with one brow raised inquisitively.
"No, my son. When she came to us, she was beaten by the waves, maimed, and was always afraid of anything. We even just learned she is pregnant while we were sailing. The poor girl was frail and orphaned with no past to remember." Mama Elpida explained more as she reached out and took Glaucia's hand.
Vivinna felt her soft heart crack upon learning more about the lovely lady. When she finally realised that Glaucia did indeed appear frail and innocent, she felt sympathy for her and even felt the need to hold her like a little girl.
"Oh my," Vivinna exclaimed as her eyes welled again with tears. "I am sorry, my dear." She whispered to Glaucia as she embraced her. "You are family now—my sister. Do not ever be afraid to tell us what you want."
There was inelegance with Glaucia, pondering on how to respond to such a welcoming gesture. Vivinna's soul, in some way, was like a mother dove; she was gentle and showed true affection when she approached her. Meeting a 'sister' was new to the silver-eyed foundling. When she hugged Vivinna back, her core began to understand a kind of charity that soothed the shaky nerves. Deepening on her thought, Glaucia pondered if she had had this sensation before, a sensation of sisterly fondness that her mind forbade her to remember.
After their embrace, Vivinna cupped Glaucia's cheeks, smiled at her, and affirmed to her that she would be her big sister. A sister she can rely on.
Glaucia giggled and said, "M—my name is Glaucia, big sister."
"Glaucia? That is a lovely name. I am Vivinna, and this is my husband, Neilos." She pointed to Neilos, who then politely introduced himself to the foundling.
"We named her Glaucia because of her eyes." With pride and glee, Mama Elpida told Vivinna.
"Truly—" Vivinna's hands then gently caressed Glaucia's cheeks, giving her comfort. "She is blessed with beautiful eyes."
"She is beautiful, and a pair of lovely silver eyes; she is like the goddess Athena." As soon as Papa Aegeus said the name, Vivinna and Glaucia gasped.
"Papa!" The older daughter reprimanded as if her old father had muttered a curse.
Papa Aegeus was confused by the reaction.
"I am sorry, Papa. I did not mean to be discourteous, but her name is no longer allowed to be spoken."
Puzzled, the old couple looked at each other.
"What?" Mama Elpida was intrigued.
"Yes, mama," Neilos answered. "Beseeching the old deities is forbidden now. Not a name to utter."
"But—but why? Olympus has fallen, and are we not allowed to honour their spirit?" A note of incredulity lingered in Papa Aegeus's voice. When he looked back at Mama Elpida, it was the same sentiment—the same wariness from the given information.
When Neilos was about to go ahead, Glaucia tapped his shoulder and pointed at the female bust on the three ships' bow. As his green eyes squinted and he got a clearer view of the object, he fumbled with his words before he composed himself again and contritely said, "Well, Glaucia, I do not know."
Drawn to the conversation, the rest followed their gaze and stared at the female bust, which was now more distinct under the direct hit of the sunlight. Vivinna's eyes grew wide in surprise. Mama Elpida was silent, indulging the beauty of the vessel, and Papa Aegeus's mouth gaped, not understanding why one of the land's orders had not been faithful to its actuality.
"I… I do not understand." Vivinna cut through the dead air.
"The god Anax does live up to his name—Anax Alloprosallos." Mama Elpida finally spoke, shaking her head.