"A god's blood may run through his veins, but it's the choices he makes that will shape his destiny."----- Khaimah Peter
~~~~~~~
The night stretched long and unforgiving. Gravill lay awake beneath the stars, the cool earth pressing against his back as he stared at the sky. The constellations blinked down at him like silent sentinels, each one a reminder of the gods who ruled over the world — distant, untouchable, and yet impossibly close.
He wondered if Poseidon was watching.
If he even cared.
The forest hummed with life, crickets singing their endless chorus while the wind whispered through the leaves. Nicholas snored quietly against a tree, arms crossed over his chest, while Elsa curled up in her cloak, her breathing soft and steady.
Gravill turned the bangle on his wrist. The metal felt heavy, like it carried the weight of an entire ocean. His fingers tingled as he traced the ridges, and without thinking, he whispered the word again.
"Krýpsou."
The bangle unraveled, liquid light spilling into his hand as the trident formed. It gleamed in the moonlight, its edges sharp and unforgiving. Gravill ran his fingers along the prongs, feeling the faint hum of energy vibrating through the metal.
"You shouldn't do that out in the open," Nicholas muttered, voice groggy. He didn't even open his eyes.
Gravill sighed, letting the trident dissolve back into the bangle. "I couldn't sleep."
Nicholas shifted, rubbing his face. "No surprise there. You've got the entire ocean's expectations strapped to your wrist."
Gravill hugged his knees to his chest. "What if I can't do this?" he whispered. "What if I get to the training ground, and I fail?"
Nicholas finally looked at him, his sharp eyes softened by the dim firelight. "Then you fail," he said bluntly. "And you get back up. That's what being a warrior is."
Gravill swallowed the lump in his throat. "But what if I can't get back up?"
Nicholas leaned forward, voice low and steady. "Then we help you stand."
The words settled over Gravill like a blanket, heavy and warm. He didn't say anything else, just sat in silence until exhaustion finally dragged him under.
---
They broke camp at dawn, the sky painted in hues of pink and orange as the sun crept over the horizon. The forest thinned as they walked, giving way to rocky terrain and steep cliffs that loomed like sentinels on either side of the path.
The air smelled of salt.
Gravill's pulse quickened.
By midday, they reached the edge of a valley, the landscape unfolding before them like a forgotten kingdom. A massive stone archway stood at the far end, cracked and weathered, its surface carved with ancient runes that glowed faintly in the sunlight. Beyond it, Gravill could see distant figures moving — some sparring with weapons, others manipulating elements like extensions of their own bodies.
The training ground.
His heart thundered in his chest.
Elsa exhaled, her eyes wide with wonder. "We made it," she whispered.
Nicholas didn't smile. "The hard part starts now."
They descended carefully, loose stones skittering down the path as they made their way into the valley. The air buzzed with energy — a constant, electric thrum that made the hair on Gravill's arms stand on end.
By the time they reached the archway, a figure was waiting for them.
A boy, maybe sixteen, with dark hair and storm-gray eyes. He twirled a bronze sword in his hand, the blade glinting like lightning. His smirk was sharp enough to cut.
"New meat?" he drawled, eyeing Gravill like he was prey.
Nicholas stepped forward, shoulders tense. "We're here to train," he said. "Not to fight."
The boy laughed, a low, cruel sound. "Same thing," he said, pointing the sword at Gravill. "Especially for him."
Gravill stiffened. "Me?"
The boy tilted his head, eyes glinting. "Word travels fast," he said. "Poseidon's lost heir, dragged in from the wilderness." He took a step closer, tapping the flat of his blade against his shoulder. "Half the camp already hates you, you know. The other half just wants to see if you bleed."
Gravill clenched his fists, heart pounding.
Elsa stepped protectively closer to him, but Nicholas just sighed, rubbing his temples like he had a headache.
"Welcome to the training ground," Nicholas muttered.
The boy grinned, baring his teeth.
"You're gonna love it here."
---