After our meal, the two of us went straight into sparring.
Heracles, as usual, had his heavy club slung over his shoulder, while I lightly swept my spear through the air, tracing the arcs of the new techniques I had learned in my mind.
"Astellon, your spear tip is too honest. Why not try swinging it a bit more deceitfully, like Jason’s tongue?"
"Haha, I’ll take that as a compliment. But given my nature, I think that might be a bit difficult."
We were exchanging light banter as we reached the edge of the forest. Suddenly, the peaceful air of the woods tightened, becoming as taut as a drawn bowstring.
Whoosh!
The sound of wind being cleaved echoed from the brush, and in an instant, a silver arrow buried itself in the ground at my feet. Heracles reflexively stepped in front of me, gripping his club, but I felt no killing intent behind the shot and raised a hand to stop him.
"Who's there?"
As if answering my question, a girl leaped lightly down from atop a massive boulder. She wore clothing reinforced with animal hides, and her eyes shone with a keenness sharper than any predator in the forest.
"So you're the rumored 'geniuses'? One is the son of Zeus, and the other is... the child of the stars."
Her gaze lingered on my silver hair. However, she didn't have the dazed expression other girls often wore; instead, her eyes were those of a hunter analyzing her prey.
They were eyes very similar to Heracles'.
I looked at her and asked, "Your archery is impressive. What is your name?"
At my question, she adjusted her grip on her bow and lifted her chin proudly.
"Atalanta. Chiron told me to train with you starting today. Especially you, Astellon."
She pointed a finger directly at me.
"The forest nymphs haven't stopped chattering about how handsome and skilled you are. I want to see for myself if you're actually faster than my arrows."
Hearing the girl introduce herself as Atalanta, Heracles turned to me with a grin of amusement.
"Look at that, Astellon. We've gained another sparring partner the moment we finished eating."
I smiled at Heracles' words, pulled the arrow from the ground, and tossed it back to her. As I did, I slowly opened my lazily hooded eyes.
"Very well, Atalanta. If even a single strand of my silver hair is grazed by your arrow, I will gladly admit defeat."
From that day forward, the three of us began to train together.
***
Time flowed by, and before we knew it, we had reached our mid-teens.
"Don't let your face make you careless, Astellon!"
With Atalanta's shout, an arrow tore through the air. Normally, I would have simply tilted my head to dodge it, but this time was different. Her arrow carried no admiration or curiosity—only pure, raw fighting spirit.
I lightly flicked the practice spear in my hand, knocking the arrow off its trajectory.
"Careless? I'm more serious right now than I've ever been, Atalanta."
I opened my eyes wide and kicked off the ground. While I maintained an air of effortless ease, my movement was a burst of explosive acceleration. I heard Heracles let out a surprised "Oh!" from the sidelines.
Atalanta didn't panic, immediately loosing three more arrows in rapid succession. But I already knew their paths.
No—my body was reacting before my mind could even process it.
Slipping through the gaps between the arrows by a hair's breadth, I closed the distance in an instant and stopped the tip of my spear right before her nose.
"My victory."
"...Again today... huh..."
Atalanta bit her lip in frustration, but she soon lowered her bow and nodded in acknowledgment.
The look in her eyes had changed; she no longer saw me as some "pretty doll."
That night, as the heat of the sparring match faded into the stillness of the forest, I was summoned by Chiron.
Under the soft glow of a fire, my teacher was organizing some old parchments.
"Your spar with Atalanta today was excellent, Astellon. However, I sensed a hesitation in your spear. What is it that you fear?"
I remained silent for a moment before answering.
"Teacher, to be honest, I'm not sure. My time here is certainly enjoyable. But... as the days pass, I find myself wondering what I can do with this power other than hurting people. Can the martial arts I've learned truly protect the peace of a kingdom?"
Chiron looked at me with a benevolent gaze and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Power is a means of destruction, but it is equally a means of protection. Astellon, do not use your natural talent simply for the sake of wielding it. Use that strength to create an 'order' where the people you govern can sleep without fear."
Order. That word carved itself deep into my heart.
"Peace enforced by mere force does not last. You must become a light that the people wish to follow of their own accord. Just as your name suggests."
The teacher's words lingered in my mind, following me into my dreams that night. I envisioned a path I would write myself—not with the spear or weapons I wielded to seize power, but to protect.
"...Thank you, Teacher. I think I've found my direction."
"I am glad if I could be of help."
The moment those words left Chiron's lips, my resolve hardened.
I would not rule through force. I would create a nation that was peaceful within, yet so powerful that no one in the world would dare ignore it.
I vowed to build a kingdom based on that ideal.
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