As humanity spread across the world, no longer bound by mere survival, the first settlements began to grow. Villages turned into cities, and cities into mighty kingdoms.
With civilization came war, ambition, and the desire for strength beyond mortal limits.
But humans were weak. They had no divine blood, no monstrous might, and no innate magic. Against the world's beasts and gods, they were fragile.
So, they sought a way to change that.
Among Hephaestus' incarnations, Bellerophon, the one forged from the Key of the Gate of Hephaestus, took it upon himself to ensure the worthy wielded the god's weapons.
He traveled the lands, watching as humanity struggled. He saw their suffering—their short lives, their helplessness against the divine.
And so, he offered them a path.
He taught them how to absorb the energy of the world, to temper their flesh like a blade in a forge.
This was the birth of the Warrior Path.
By circulating the energy of the world through their bodies, warriors washed away their human frailty.
Their bones hardened like divine metals, their muscles pulsed with untamed strength, and their flesh became as unyielding as a forged blade.
Some became faster than the wind, others could shatter boulders with a single strike.
These warriors became the protectors and conquerors of the new kingdoms, their strength forging empires of steel and blood.
But not all sought strength through the body.
There were those who looked upon the elements, the shifting winds, the roaring flames, and the raging tides—and sought to command them.
The goddess Hecate, the keeper of sorcery and the hidden arts, took pity on humanity's weakness.
And so, she gave them magic.
She whispered to those with sharp minds and unyielding will, teaching them how to channel the energy of the world—not into their flesh, but into spells that bent reality itself.
This was the birth of the Magician Path.
Those who followed Hecate's teachings could call forth storms, summon fire from the void, and shift the tides with a mere thought.
Some learned to command spirits, while others bent space and light to their will.
The most powerful magicians could stand against the gods themselves, their spells rivaling the wrath of Olympus.
Magic became the foundation of kingdoms and empires, shaping the world as much as war and steel.
At first, warriors and magicians existed in harmony, each respecting the other's path.
But as kingdoms expanded, so did conflict.
Some rulers sought to conquer through strength, believing only warriors could truly rule.
Others believed magic was the key to true power, and warriors were nothing more than brutes.
And so, warriors and magician never live together.