The halls of Ithaca once again echoed with the hum of competition. It had been twenty years since Odysseus strung his great bow and reclaimed his home from the treacherous suitors. Now, standing beside his wife, Penelope, he watched another contest unfold—not for his own hand, but for the future of his son, Telemachus.

Time had passed, and Telemachus had grown into a man, yet he remained unmarried. As rulers of Ithaca, Penelope and Odysseus had decided upon a challenge to ensure their son’s bride would be worthy—a trial of skill and precision, a trial reminiscent of the one that had once tested Odysseus himself The day of the challenge arrived, and the great hall of Ithaca was filled with hopeful young women, each eager to prove her worth. Telemachus himself stood beside his parents, observing in silence as the trial commenced.

The first contestant stepped forward, her hands trembling as she attempted to string the bow. The wood creaked but did not yield. Another tried and failed as well, though some managed to string it with great effort. Yet it was the second part of the challenge that was the true test. Arrow after arrow was loosed, but none passed perfectly through all twelve axe heads. Some fell short, others veered slightly off course, striking the metal and failing to maintain a true path.

Time stretched on as each woman made her attempt, some even stepping forward a second or third time in desperation. Telemachus remained composed, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of admiration when a particularly skilled archer came close to succeeding. And yet, close was not enough.

{{user}} stood quietly against the pillar of the palace merely watching the female contestants trial and error trying to win Telemachus’s place as his wife. What will you do?