That Othea's Academy stood like a fortress carved by the gods themselves. Its main gates, of dark iron interlaced with ancient inscriptions, opened for a long path flanked by tall trees that filtered the light as if they selected who deserved to enter. The sound of the steps echoed on the polished stone floor, marked by glyphs that seemed to glow softly when touched by sunlight.
As they crossed the gates, the demigods passed through the central gardens, where enchanted fountains gushed with water in floating spirals and statues of ancient gods and guardians seemed to watch in silence. The grey stone towers of the Academy stood around, each with a distinct function: wisdom, war, healing, doctrine.
In the center, a large courtyard of white marble opened, surrounded by colonnades leading to vaulted corridors. The air was clean, perfumed by mystical flowers cultivated by priests and guardians of the Melli's temple. Above all, there was silence not that of absence of sound, but that of a place where knowledge and power walked side by side.
There, each wall seemed to contain stories. Each shadow, a promise.
The great training hall was lit by the warm glow of torches attached to stone columns, casting shaky shadows on the worn marble floor. The air carried the smell of sweat and iron, mixed with the quiet murmur of the newbies who lined up rigidly under the watchful eye of the veterans.
In the center, a severe-speaking instructor walked slowly, hands crossed on his back. His eyes examined each face with the coldness of those who have seen hundreds as they pass through there — and fall.
"Welcome to Othea's Academy. I am the instructor Crucius, and will be accompanying fencing and combat training. You are here to prepare for the great moment of your lives: the ceremony of coming of age." the teacher stopped, narrow eyes landing on the line of demigods. "When you step into the central temple, hundreds of divine eyes will be upon you. That is why you must show that you are worthy to walk this path."
The newbies stiffened. Some tried to hide their nervousness with a firm posture, others clenched their fists. Cale, among them, observed everything more restrained. He had eyes attentive, but body withdrawn.
Cale didn't blame others for being tense — the idea of being judged by gods was scary enough. But what bothered him was the feeling in the bottom of the stomach. One that warned that something would go wrong.
"After the ceremony, some of you will go back behind these walls, and start the journey by performing dangerous missions. Being a deity goes beyond granting blessings to humans. We are here to keep everything in order. We are the arms and legs of the gods of Keonna, the Universe. We will be at your service. And so, weakness... will not be tolerated."
Cale felt his heart accelerate. It was as if the air itself became denser with the presence of the instructor Crucius. Cale took a step back, pulling the hood to cover more of the face. An almost instinctive impulse — disappear in the middle of all.
What was that feeling?
"Now pay attention, because we will start by evaluating their physical abilities. For this, some veterans will evaluate it as well."
The demigods spread out in the arena, and the air was filled with voices and noise of metal. Cale stayed where he was, watching others with cautious eyes, trying to go unnoticed.
Don't be seen. Don't attract attention.
Lucky for him, it would be easy to hide with the arrival of two veterans who called the whole tenção for them. One of the newbies gasped.
"My goodness, it's the Aries!"
Raising his head, Cale watched the two veterans enter the arena. And immediately felt something.
Tum-tum.
Tum-tum.
The feeling of the world spinning slowly did not bother Cale, who widened his eyes slightly under the hood. It was impossible not to follow with the look of that man with broad shoulders and blond hair that formed curls near the back of the head. The beauty of that guy was such, that Cale had never seen before.
Among the veterans, a young woman with light armor and elegant posture took the lead. She walked as if dominating the environment, and her voice echoed safely:
"It seems that we have interesting talents around here" she said, crossing her arms, smile loaded with charming provocation.
The group closest to Cale rejoiced at the desired attention.
"It's Talia!", whispered someone next to Cale. "They say she took down an army alone in the last war, was considered a peacemaker."
Cale raised an eyebrow. He remembered this "war" — a territorial dispute between local gods that had caused more logistical disruption than actual destruction. His father, always pitiful, provided supplies to both sides. Neutrality saved his village. A detail that Cale never forgot.
"I see you recognize us, this is a great start", she smiled even more satisfied. "Let's see what you are capable of: take your weapons!"
The rookies ran to the supports. Training swords, wooden spears and shields began to be distributed. The sound of blades crossing filled the arena. Crucius and the veterans watched everything closely.
The demigods seemed eager to begin the demonstration. After all, there was an important part of the ceremony where they could show off a little. But Cale seemed to be the only one not interested.
After all, he did not know how to fight.
That Talia was really good at the art of fighting. Her movements were calculated and safe, watching closely their movements and taking advantage of the gaps. Cale was impressed in a way.
"Hey, you won't say anything to them?" Talia turned to the guy behind her.
A shiver ran through his spine.
Intimidating.
Strong.
Quickly Cale lowered his head and felt his whole body tremble. That person had a strong presence... Although strong was a weak word for such a definition.
"They are pathetic", Cale heard him say, that deep, hoarse voice that sounded like a fierce growl.
"Hey, hey, don't be like that with them. It's just the first day. They still have a lot to learn. Look at these little faces!"
The guy snapped his tongue and crossed his arms, annoyed with Talia's comments.
One of the rookies looked at him curiously, and his trembling voice asked the golden question.
"By any chance... are you the famous Aries warrior?"
Again the guy turned his eyes to the newbie, who held his breath. Sighing, he replied.
"So? Knowing who I am will not make you better."
The newbies were elated at the same instant, and Cale was curious to know more.
"Yes, yes, we have the brave guardian with us. But don't think this will make it easier for you. Come on?!"
The answer came in the form of agreement between those present. Many glances were cast in the direction of Aries, some full of admiration, others of veiled envy.
Cale kept away. He picked up a short, hesitant sword. The weight seemed strange, as if the gun was wrong for him — or he wrong for it. Tried to imitate a blow, missed the time, almost tripped.
"Damn..." grumbled low.
"Pfft!"
He froze. He looked in the corner of his eye. A group watched him, muffled laughter escaping.
"That was... pathetic", released one of the guys.
"And that hood in the heat? Does he want to draw attention?"
Exactly what Cale wanted to avoid.
Before he could answer, a sharp voice swept the space.
"You are more pitiful."
It was Aries. With his arms folded, the warrior watched everyone with almost bored disdain.
"Aries..." Talia tried to appease him, pulling him by the cape. "It doesn't have to be like that."
Ignoring, he walked up to Cale, took the sword from his hand as if he were taking a stick from the ground, turned it in his fingers, and assumed a combat posture.
"If you think you can do better than this brat, try to take the sword out of my hand."
An uncomfortable silence spread. Then a rookie took the challenge — and was disarmed in seconds. Others came. One by one, Aries blocked, deflected and counterattacked with economic and devastating movements. Even surrounded by three or four, it seemed to dance between the blows, as if each opponent's mistake was predicted before they attack.
Cale watched without blinking.
He had seen his sister train with their father, and knew the elegance of the gods in combat. Aries, however, was different. There was something rough there. Wild. A restrained anger that gave strength to every movement. It was like seeing a tamed beast — but only to a certain extent.
When he finished, all the rookies were on the floor, panting. Aries threw his sword to the ground and looked at them.
"Before you make fun of others, you should learn to fight."
Talia just let out a muffled laugh.
"Did you need to show off?"
"Quiet."
"Haha" she looked behind Aries, finally noticing Cale there. Cale was about to leave when she grabbed him by the shoulder and forced him to turn. "Hey, don't you think you're forgetting something? A thank you, perhaps?"
Cale pulled his own hood, but the tilt of his head was clear.
"Thank you? For what?"
"What do you mean 'for what'? Although you are a denial in your movements, Aries helped you. At least be grateful, newbie."
Turning to face her, Cale crossed his arms.
"I don't remember asking for help."
"Now your—"
Aries stopped Talia from advancing on the boy, and kept watching him closely. Cale prayed to be ignored. Being the center of attention was the last thing he wanted.
It was not his intention to sound ungrateful and disrespectful, but the last thing he wanted was to be the center of attention in that place. How would Cale survive for a month if he was already attracting trouble?
"Whether you ask for help or not, your lack of skills is a big problem. How do you plan to perform when it's your turn?"
"Not all gods have chosen to present great competence in fights. And yet they ascended to their thrones with glory."
"And you think it would work for you?"
"Young, strong, unequalled... and yet I see not a shred of divinity in you."
Aries' expression became obscure at the same instant.
The small and subtle provocation of Cale was enough to destabilize the moment. Aries' gaze fixated on him with restrained fury. Well, it was understandable, after all basically said that he was not worthy to be a god.
His tongue looked mischievous that day.
"You don't seem like someone who cares about who is unmatched or not" said Aries, looking at Cale with a sharp look.
Cale's eyes moved slowly until he found those of Aries. And quickly he deflected before he was noticed. Unlike the other demigods, Cale did not appear any strength, nor seemed interested in fighting.
"Nor do you seem to be someone who truly cares about what others think" he replied, a slight smile pulling the corners of his lips.
The silence lasted for an instant, as if there was an invisible current passing between the two. Aries frowned, feeling a strange discomfort grow in his chest. He had already dealt with countless warriors, received praise and challenges, but this boy... This boy seemed to see something beyond what anyone ever saw.
Talia pigarred, breaking the moment, and turned her attention to the other students. Aries looked away first, as if Cale was just one more face in that arena. But Cale could not do the same immediately.
For the first time in a long time, someone had intrigued him.