The five stumbled back into the shaded corridor behind the arena, still buzzing with adrenaline. Their breaths came in ragged bursts, hearts pounding so hard they could barely hear each other.
Eliza leaned on Einstein's shoulder, her face pale but determined. Maria refused to let go of her hand, muttering curses and prayers under her breath.
Vinci wiped his forehead, his whole body trembling. Hawkings leaned against a wall, laughing breathlessly, his voice echoing in the stone passage.
"Did you see that bull's face when it saw itself?!" Hawkings wheezed, nearly sliding to the ground.
Einstein gave a shaky grin, trying to lighten the moment. "Yeah, it probably thought, 'Damn, I'm handsome!'"
Even Eliza cracked a weak laugh, though her ankle throbbed.
Maria turned, her eyes fiery. "Tomorrow… we're not improvising like that again. We plan. We go in as a team. No more near-death surprises!"
Vinci nodded fiercely. "We'll show them tomorrow. No distractions. Just our minds, our inventions… our true legacy."
They kept moving, guards flanking them on both sides. The crowd's cheers still echoed faintly behind them, a haunting rhythm that would stay with them forever.
They reached their guest room at last, and the moment they stepped inside, they dropped everything. Bags clattered to the floor, shields and ropes tossed aside. Hawkings flopped face-first onto the bed.
Einstein helped Eliza onto another bed, gently propping her ankle up with a folded cloth. Maria sat beside her, stroking her hair. Vinci went to the window, staring out at the moonlit gardens below, lost in thought.
Eliza let out a deep sigh. "I thought I was going to die in that sand pit today," she whispered.
Maria squeezed her hand. "You didn't. We didn't. Tomorrow, we stand before a king. And we do it together."
Einstein perked up, suddenly rummaging through his bag. "We need to prepare what to say — how to introduce the devices, explain the science, prove we're not sorcerers."
Hawkings rolled over, eyes half-closed. "Can it wait till morning? I need to remember how to breathe first."
Vinci finally turned from the window, his voice low but steady. "No… we do it tonight. We survived today because we adapted. Tomorrow, we win because we're ready."
A heavy silence filled the room, then one by one, they nodded.
They pulled out papers, sketches, metal parts ; laying them all across the beds like a chaotic, shimmering map of the future. Maria grabbed a pen and started listing points. Eliza dictated ideas, still propped up but fierce. Hawkings connected wires, checking circuits. Vinci adjusted small gears and lenses. Einstein scribbled notes furiously, muttering theories under his breath.
Hours passed like minutes.
Outside, the palace fell quiet. The moon climbed higher, silver light spilling across their papers and tired faces.
At last, Vinci put down his pen, his voice rough but strong. "Tomorrow, we don't just prove ourselves. We change history."
Eliza smiled, eyes glittering despite the pain. "Tomorrow… they'll remember us forever."
And as the others drifted toward restless sleep, their minds still burning, Vinci stood alone at the window, staring out into the star-splashed sky.
Tomorrow, they would show Alexander the Great ,and all of Macedonia ; what true genius looked like.
Tomorrow, the legacy began.
But as they worked , papers and metal parts strewn everywhere, heads bent close together ;the door creaked softly.
Katerina slipped inside, her steps hesitant at first. She carried a small woven pouch clutched in her hands.
Maria's face lit up. "Katerina! You came back!"
Katerina blushed, her gaze dropping shyly. She stepped forward and held up the pouch. "I… I thought you might need this," she whispered.
Hawkings jumped to his feet, nearly knocking over a pile of diagrams. "The bracelet! It worked!" he shouted, grabbing her hand gratefully.
Katerina nodded, her eyes shimmering. "I hoped it would bring you luck… I watched from far away," she admitted softly.
"Well, we owe you big time," Hawkings said, grinning. "You're basically our good-luck charm now!"
Just then, Einstein's phone let out a pathetic beep. He looked down and groaned. "Battery's almost gone… Maria! Please, the power bank!"
Maria rummaged in her bag and tossed it over. One by one, they connected their phones, cables snaking across the beds and floor.
"Thank the stars," Vinci muttered, plugging his in and immediately swiping through the screen to check his sketches.
While their phones charged, they pulled Katerina closer, showing her the inventions, letting her touch the gears and smooth metal plates. Vinci and Katerina ended up side by side, arranging parts carefully together. Vinci fumbled every now and then, sneaking glances at her face, while Katerina's fingers trembled as she sorted wires.
She wore a long, flowing tunic — a soft linen chiton tied at the waist with a simple cord, its folds draping elegantly around her. As she leaned forward to work, she gently smoothed the gathered fabric, her movements graceful and quiet.
The others shared knowing smirks, pretending not to notice.
After a while, Katerina stood abruptly. "You must be hungry… I'll bring food," she said, ducking her head and hurrying out before they could stop her.
They barely had time to miss her before she returned, balancing trays piled with bread, fruit, roasted meats, and honeyed cakes.
They all sat down, ravenous.
Katerina stood awkwardly at the edge of the table, hands twisting in her chiton.
"Hey, come on!" Einstein called, scooting over and patting the spot beside Vinci. "Sit! You fought bulls too, in spirit!"
Vinci looked up, startled, and immediately dropped his eyes to his plate. His face flushed a deep red.
Katerina hesitated, then sat down slowly beside him. She kept her eyes on her food, her cheeks turning pinker with every bite. Vinci cleared his throat, trying to focus on chewing instead of the pounding in his ears.
Maria and Eliza exchanged big, mischievous grins but said nothing.
As they ate, their phones hummed back to life on the side, screens lighting up like tiny stars. The energy in the room lifted instantly.
After dinner, they went right back to assembling ; gears clicking, pens scribbling, music playing from Einstein's phone on low volume.
Katerina stayed for a while longer, helping thread wires and sort small pieces, watching everything with wide-eyed wonder.
But as the night deepened, her shoulders drooped. She stood up reluctantly, adjusting the folds of her chiton and tying her wrap across her shoulders. "I have to go… I can't stay. I have to work early tomorrow," she whispered.
They all nodded, though Vinci's face fell.
"Thank you… for everything," Maria said, hugging her tight.
Katerina smiled shyly at Vinci one last time before slipping out into the cool night, the bracelet on her wrist glinting softly in the lantern light.
One by one, the geniuses crawled into bed, exhaustion finally overtaking the rush of adrenaline.
Tomorrow was waiting.
A king. A chance to change the world.
But tonight, for a few fleeting hours, they simply slept ;full bellies, charged phones, and hearts quietly brimming with new, unspoken hopes.
The bulls are behind us. Tomorrow, Alexander. Then… Aristotle.