"Transmigration? HUH?! What is that?! And how did my father find out?!"
Without realizing, he spoke out loud.
Evandro didn't know what that meant either. He thought for a moment as he lay down still dressed in the clothes he was already wearing, but before he could speak, Alexander's voice burst out, cursing with his mouth full of water as he washed his face using a small clay basin — similar to the one he used to wash his feet — with water and salt.
"Hey! What were you doing in that forest?!"
Evandro pondered for a few seconds.
"I was walking… You know… Observing nature… Breathing a bit of fresh air…
"Listen, I've been meaning to ask you for a while. What are you going to do now?"
Alexander adjusted himself on the mattress placed between the door and the table and frowned, surprised by the question.
"Why do you want to know?"
"Well… I might be interested in joining you on this painful journey."
He paused for a moment and continued while massaging his beard.
"Err… It's been a long time since I've had anything keeping me here; I saw more purpose in your life than I've felt in mine my whole life… You made me think.
"I think there's something good worth fighting for in this land… Err… Actually, I think there's something good worth fighting for in this world, something that's truly worth it… Alexander, son of Radamanthos."
He thought for a moment, as if in sorrow.
"I believe… That you have a noble reason. Fighting for mankind, who doesn't even know what it must defend itself from… But that always reminds me of something."
Evandro paused, waiting for a response, but Alexander was silent, even in his breathing.
"War. A revolution will always cause a war. I mean, is it worth it?"
He finished almost whispering when he realized Alexander had been asleep for a while.
'There's nothing special about him… But that's what makes him the most special of all…'
He thought he could've offered the bed to Alexander, but he knew Alexander's pride wouldn't allow it.
Alexander and Evandro fell into a deep sleep, but Evandro woke up several times during the night with strange psychedelic dreams that he could barely remember.
'A blur… That's all'…
…
The heated morning came quickly and in a rush.
Alexander got up and saw that on the round table there was bread in round clay bowls painted with two white stripes.
He couldn't help but feel happy inside — after all, he hadn't eaten in several days.
'I lost count… Could it be'—
His thoughts were interrupted by Evandro's pleasant voice.
"Come. Fill yourself with wheat bread and olive oil, with some alchemical properties to enhance satiety."
Alexander nodded, got up without hurry, and went to the mahogany chair he had sat in the night before.
The taste was surprisingly good to him; he couldn't help but be curious about the secret to such delicious bread. He was about to ask when Evandro spoke up first while getting up from the table to drink a dónti cleaner [1].
"Listen."
He paused and drank the bluish liquid in one go from the small clay jug also painted with two white stripes.
"I'm going with you."
Alexander frowned as he chewed the bread.
"Why would you go with me? Are you crazy to go on a suicidal mission like this?!"
Evandro gave a sweet and gentle smile.
"I can help you… And don't worry. I don't have a life to leave behind or anything to lose. You'll have to put up with me. That's it. I'm going, and there's nothing you can do about it."
He spoke so confidently that Alexander was truly impressed, but to seem more mature, he asked:
"What can you do?"
"I have good political and intellectual knowledge; I understand maps and nature, and I know everything there is to know about our Greek-Earth.
"Who knows… With the knowledge my uncle passed on to me about non-human beings, like alchemists, dragons, elves, and even the myth of dwarves… Err… The possibilities are endless."
Alexander knew that whatever he was going to do, someone like him could be of great help. The pros outweighed the cons.
'Actually, what are the cons?! The thing is, everything is happening too fast… But do I have a choice?'
He bit his lip discreetly.
"Very well! You're coming. But we need to know what we are or what we're going to do to start."
Evandro opened the cupboard on the wall near the table and took out a roll of paper, a quill, and a dark glass inkpot.
"At the very least, we need to record a few things. First of all—"
He cut himself off and thought for a moment. Then he hurried to the chair opposite Alexander's and sat down like someone who had just had the idea of the century. He started speaking, smiling, and gesturing.
"Let's get the king's attention first."
Alexander remained quiet, and Evandro pulled the paper across the table, grabbed the ink and quill, and began writing hurriedly.
…
"Look! The idea is to go to a smaller but important village and burn down a few places with no residents and leave a message that will undoubtedly drive the king insane.
"Something that'll throw him so off balance he'll lose reason or make rash decisions in the heat of the moment."
Alexander smiled subtly and pondered before saying anything.
'That's genius! What can I say? Maybe something that hits the king's ego…'
He glanced at the jug Evandro had drunk from earlier and had a sudden thought.
"What if we used alchemicals to draw in fire? Just one word, and something that can be easily understood."
They remained silent and thoughtful for several minutes.
Every now and then, Evandro picked up the quill but then dropped it again like someone who had a bad idea or forgot something.
…
Click!
A key turned in Alexander's mind.
"I know exactly the word."
...
[1] Teeth Cleaner