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Aether

As the ship came into view of Aether, Falco and Rowena both stepped forward and stared at the Red-Columned Palace in which they had both been born. Taurus had indeed put his serfs to work to repair the Palace, but there was something off about it, like none of the people whom the High Priest of the Earth Bull had forced into serfdom had been trained labourers.

Slavery was rare in the world, only being practiced in the Commodian Republic, which would make slaves of those it conquered and bring brutal retaliations to slave uprisings, the city state of Minerva, which actively counted on slavery, even exploiting it, and finally, the Cambyses Empire, itself a conquering state, albeit not as much as the Commodian Republic. In contrast to its western counterpart, the Cambyses Empire did not make slaves of those it conquered, but rather allowed them to keep their customs and religions, and unfortunately those they conquered often did practice slavery and so it was, that it was tolerated in that great state. Beyond those parts of the world, slavery was non-existent.

On the subject of slavery, Achilles had once told Falco: "When it comes to slaves, the land they live on will always be worth more than their labour and they will always join your enemies. It is best just not to have them, let people live free."

Falco could do naught but nod. Taurus would have been better off getting professional labourers to repair the Palace rather than forcing people he had made serfs to do it. The Divine Deucalion of Aether could not help but wonder if Taurus' decision to put the serfs to the task of repairing buildings may have come from a desire of not having to pay anyone.

"Falco, look!" Rowena exclaimed, pointing out at the dock. Waiting for them was none other than Taurus' second-in-command Sarpedon.