The camp buzzed with restless energy as Bourkos entered, his sharp gaze sweeping over the scene. Soldiers hauled ropes in a brutal tug-of-war, their bodies straining, faces red with effort as cheers and jeers erupted from the onlookers. The smell of sweat and dust mingled with the distant clanging of practice weapons, the air heavy with the tension of men on the brink of war. Every corner of the camp was alive with preparation—sharpening swords, testing armor, even the occasional burst of laughter that seemed forced against the oppressive weight of the days ahead.
Amid the commotion, Juleios emerged, his voice a commanding presence above the din. "Bourkos! Long time no see! I was beginning to think you'd forgotten your old friend!" A wide grin lit his weathered face as he stepped forward, arms outstretched in mock reproach.
Bourkos clasped his arm firmly. "Forget you? Never. But returning to Thurii brought no shortage of demands. Time has been a scarce commodity."
