Athens had been in chaos since the assassination of King Silius. The streets were turbulent, the markets were fearful, and the palaces were filled with whispers. No one could believe that the king who had united the kingdoms and ruled the sea had fallen in such a mysterious manner.
In the throne room, Silius's younger brother, Melos, sat on a makeshift seat that wasn't a full throne, but a symbolic chair to govern the kingdom. His face was grim, and his eyes held a mixture of sadness and sternness.
Melos said loudly to the assembled crowd:
"Athens will not fall without Silius. Until we know the truth, and until stability is restored, I will lead a temporary government. I will not allow chaos to engulf us."
His first decision was to summon Peridos, the kingdom's most famous inquisitor. He was a tall, thin-faced man with piercing eyes that seemed to penetrate secrets.
Melos told him, "Peridos, my brother's assassination was unnatural. He wasn't killed in battle, nor was he betrayed in the battlefield. He died in a mysterious, unacceptable way. I want you to open a comprehensive investigation and reveal who was behind it, whoever it may be."
Peridos bowed and said, "Sir, I will search every corner and question every witness. The truth will emerge, even if it's in the heart of darkness."
Then Melos summoned Marshal Taraus, a large man with a thick beard, known for his sternness at sea.
Melos told him, "The sea is no longer safe. The pirates are growing stronger, and the Lamor and the Trunks threaten our trade routes. I want you to secure the Athenian seas and make every ship that flies our flag feel safe."
Taraus replied, beating his chest with his fist, "Sir, the sea is mine as well as yours. I will make the pirates fear the name of Athens again."
As for the land, he entrusted it to Silverus, the commander of the Athenian army. He was a stern man, his armor glittering, and his voice like thunder.
Melos said to him:
"Silverus, it is not enough for us to secure the sea. The kingdom's borders are threatened, and the neighboring tribes are watching for our weakness. I want you to fortify the roads and let every soldier know that Athens is still strong."
Silverus replied confidently:
"My lord, the soldiers of Athens know no retreat. We will stand at every border and allow no one to approach."
Finally, Melos turned to an elderly man sitting in the corner of the hall: Madus, his uncle and longtime family advisor. Madus was wise, taciturn, but his words always carried the weight of experience.
Melos said to him:
"Uncle Madus, Athens needs wisdom as much as it needs swords. I want you to be my advisor and help me make difficult decisions."
Mados smiled faintly and said, "I will be by your side, Melos. But remember... governance is not just about commands, but about accountability before God and history."
That night, the four—Peridos, Taraus, Silverus, and Mados—gathered around a large table in the council chamber.
Peridos, placing his hand on the table, said, "From this moment on, we are a provisional government. Peridos will reveal the truth about Silius's assassination. Taraus will secure the sea. Silverus will protect the land. And Mados will be my eyes that see farther than I do. Athens will not fall."
There was a brief silence, then Peridos said, "But sir, you must know... the closer we get to the truth, the closer the danger approaches us. Silius's assassination was not the work of a lone wolf. There is a hidden force behind it."
Melos replied sternly, "Then we will face it. Athens will not be ruled from the shadows."
Outside the palace, people were talking. Some saw Melos as a savior, others as a covetous king. But everyone agreed on one thing: Athens had entered a new phase, one filled with secrets and conspiracies.
In the heart of the palace, Perdus began his investigation, and mysterious threads began to emerge: coded messages, silent witnesses, and evidence suggesting that Silius's assassination was not just a crime... but the beginning of a larger conspiracy.