Maticoris was completely obsessed with mathematics and ignored worldly affairs. Mentoticeles was different. He didn’t mind spending time dealing with various matters. Moreover, mathematics gave him a meticulous mind, making him quite adept at managing the Institute, arranging manpower, and formulating plans. That was why Davos let him serve as the head of the Institute. Maticoris raised both hands in approval of this.

“I will consider this matter,” Mentoticeles answered prudently.

“I understand the principle of this ballista!” At this moment, Maticoris came to Davos excitedly, pointing at the drawing and shouting excitedly, “Look here! Look here! The most important things about this ballista are these two: one is the bowstring made of tough animal tendons, and the other is the pulley that can pull the bowstring with less effort. Also, look, the longer its sliding groove, the farther the range will be, because the bowstring will be pulled back as far as possible, so the rebound force given to the stone will be greater… I think the Syracusans are stupid. Using only one pulley is too simple and laborious to use. Actually, making a pulley system and fixing it at the end of the sliding groove will easily pull the bowstring to the end of the groove. Give me the best carpenters and materials, and I will soon make a better ballista than theirs!”

Maticoris’s confident expression satisfied Davos. He smiled, “I just told Mentoticeles that I will let the mechanics from the legion’s engineering battalion serve as your assistants at the Institute of Mathematics. Moreover, Theonia has the best cattle in the entire Western Mediterranean—Lucanian cattle—and can supply you with a large amount of high-quality beef tendons at any time.”

“Great!” Maticoris finished speaking and walked out with the drawing.

“Maticoris, I have an idea.” Davos hurriedly stopped him. “If we could relatively accurately know the landing point of the stone before the ballista shoots it, it would be very helpful for the operator to hit the target accurately.”

“This…” Maticoris and Mentoticeles didn’t feel Davos’s suggestion was an extra burden; instead, they fell into deep thought.

“I have another idea.” Davos said seriously, “I think that no matter how much force or at what angle we throw an object, the trajectory of the object moving in the air should be like this—” Davos extended his finger and drew different arcs in the air.

Maticoris and Mentoticeles stared intently at Davos’s moving finger, thoughtful.

“If there is no wind and the ground is at the same level, centering on the highest point of the trajectory of the thrown object in the air, the trajectories on both sides should overlap if folded…” Davos spoke in a measured tone.

The two men seemed struck by lightning, their expressions suddenly becoming extremely excited.

“L… Lord Archon, is this another… t… this is another revelation from Hades?!” Mentoticeles asked stammering. Similar situations had occurred a few times before. When Davos discussed matters with them, he would occasionally propose novel ideas. After verification, they all turned out to be correct. Each time, it allowed them to achieve breakthroughs in mathematical theory research and greatly expanded their knowledge.

“You can think so.” Davos smiled mysteriously.

“Come! Come! Draw the trajectory carefully for me to see now!” Maticoris excitedly grabbed Davos’s hand and pulled him outside without explanation.

Davos understood his meaning. The living room floor was paved with marble, so naturally, they could only draw on the dirt ground in the courtyard. Thus, he followed him out of the living room without minding.

***

“Mother, come look quickly! What is Father doing in the garden with those people? They’re trampling your flowers!” At the window of the second-floor bedroom, Cynthia pointed at the three men including Davos in the courtyard and shouted loudly.

“Shh!” Crystoia made a shushing gesture and whispered, “Don’t wake your little brother!”

She came to the window, peeked down, frowned slightly, then turned back and smiled. “It’s nothing. Your father and a few uncles are discussing mathematical problems.” Although Crystoia loved flowers, she was a woman who understood the big picture and would never embarrass her husband in public.

“What is mathematics?” Adoris asked curiously from the side.

“It’s a very interesting subject. Your sister will soon learn it,” Crystoia said softly with a smile.

“Can I go to school too?” Adoris asked longingly.

“Of course.” Crystoia stroked his head gently. “But you’re still young; you have to wait another year.”

“I don’t want to! I want to go to school with Sister now!” Adoris said dissatisfiedly.

“Brother, stop fussing! Listen to Mother, or I won’t let Father tell you stories tonight!” As soon as this was said, Adoris quieted down, though he pouted.

“Mother, is it really okay for me to go to school and study with other boys?” Cynthia said hesitantly to Crystoia. Cynthia was already seven years old. According to Greek tradition, a girl could marry at 16. She already understood many things. From a young age, her biological mother had taught her by example how to be a good woman in a Greek household. In her memory, her mother had never left the residence. Yet now, she was to study in public, day after day, year after year, with many boys. This made her feel somewhat uneasy.

Crystoia pulled Cynthia to her, combing her slightly messy long hair, and said gently, “Child, do you know how lucky you are! Except for Theonia, girls like you in other Greek city-states spend most of their lives confined in their residences, busy raising children and managing housework. They don’t know what the outside world is like, haven’t seen the games, haven’t enjoyed plays, haven’t even seen the sea. do you want your future life to be like theirs?!”

Cynthia looked fearful and shook her head vigorously.

Crystoia continued with emotion, “Your father is a great man! He spent much effort persuading the Senate to give you girls the same opportunity to study as boys. When the time comes, not only you but also girls from other citizen families will go to school. Cynthia, you won’t be lonely at school. Study hard, prove that we women are not inferior to men, and don’t let your father’s efforts be in vain!”

Cynthia nodded, seemingly understanding yet not fully.

In fact, although the social customs of the newly risen Theonia City-State Alliance differed from other Greek city-states and were relatively open regarding women, Davos still encountered opposition from many senators when he proposed “letting girls go to school with boys” in the Senate.

Davos was able to persuade them with a passage that resonated with everyone: “…Let the daughters of Theonia citizens also enter schools to learn more knowledge and skills, and learn how to get along harmoniously with boys. Knowledge will make them more cultured, elegant, and wise. When they grow up and marry, they will have more common topics and hobbies with their husbands, reducing the possibility of husbands going out to brothels for pleasure, ensuring family stability. It will allow them to manage family affairs more wisely and not be deceived by cunning slaves. It will enable them to raise children better. For future citizens of Theonia to develop good habits in early childhood is crucial for their entire lives!…”

***

In this era, without electric lights, once it got dark, most people went to bed, except for a few rich people who used candles for lighting to continue working. Because they slept early, they also rose early in the morning. Often, people started getting up and moving after the rooster crowed. But for industrious Theonians, most rose even earlier, often when the sky was not yet bright and stars still twinkled in the night, preparing for work after sunrise. Only children disliked getting up early and would start washing only under their parents’ urging.

But today, 13-year-old Patroclus got up very early. He hurriedly finished washing and helped his mother bake bread, which greatly relieved his mother: her always mischievous son had truly grown up after experiencing the Crotoniate invasion.

At the dining table, his mother asked with concern again, “Clus, do you really not want me to walk you to… school?”

Patroclus shook his head like a rattle drum. “No! When those bad guys from Croton came, I delivered letters to several nearby villages alone to warn them! Even Uncle Agilas praised me as a brave warrior. I’m so big now, and the school is right in the city. If I still need you to send me, how embarrassing would that be!”

“But—” His slightly worried mother had just spoken when she was interrupted by Patroclus’s father, Pariandros: “Let him go alone!”

Pariandros looked at Patroclus with a serious expression. “Listen to the teacher at school. Do whatever they tell you to do. If you behave badly, I’ll beat you!” The illiterate father naturally hoped his son could write and count and have a better future, but being rough, he couldn’t say better encouraging words and could only scare the child in his usual tone. The Patroclus who often talked back today answered obediently, “I know, Dad!”

Just as Pariandros felt surprised, a knock sounded on the door. “Who is it?”

“It’s me.”

“It’s Uncle Agilas!” Patroclus cheered and immediately rushed to open the door.

“Little Clus should go to school today, right?” As soon as Agilas entered, he smiled and touched his head, saying, “I brought you a schoolbag, a stylus, a few wax tablets for practicing writing, and a small folding wooden chair. You’ll need them for school.”