The instant the dark corridor released them, the cool air of Olympus' forests swept over the trio. Shafts of golden light filtered down through towering evergreens, carrying the distant scent of pine and sun-warmed earth. The low hum of life here contrasted sharply with the volcanic roar they'd left behind.
Their keyblade gliders skimmed low between the trees before slowing to a graceful stop in a wide clearing. Metal clinked softly as each of them deactivated their glider form, boots pressing into the moss-covered ground.
Helios inhaled deeply. "Olympus," he said with a faint smirk, glancing toward the distant peaks. "Feels like forever since I was last here."
Kurai crossed her arms, scanning the treeline with an idle flick of her eyes. "Try not to get captured again while we're here."
Skuld tilted her head, catching the faint echoes of voices carried on the breeze. "I think I hear them… this way."
They followed the winding path toward the outskirts of the city, where an old stone mansion stood amid a manicured courtyard. The training yard behind it rang with the clash of steel and the thud of impact.
Helios slowed as they rounded the corner, holding an arm out to stop Skuld and Kurai. "Wait."
The three stepped into the shadow of a column, watching the scene unfold.
Helga stood in the center of the yard, her tall, athletic frame moving with a mix of precision and raw force. Her blonde braid whipped with each turn, green eyes locked on her opponent with a fierceness that could cut stone. Sweat glistened against her fair skin, tracing down the white tank, the fabric marked by faint scuffs from earlier blows. Her military-style cargo pants allowed freedom of movement, and her heeled boots struck the ground with sharp authority. Even fatigued, she radiated the poised danger of a seasoned predator.
Opposite her stood Tempest, the Amazon warrior Skuld had once bested in the colosseum. Her stance was low and balanced, dark eyes cold as steel. She moved with a harsh, calculated rhythm, each strike designed to punish hesitation.
Zack stood just outside the sparring ring, leaning casually against a post. His blue eyes gleamed with energy, his blade propped against his shoulder as he called out, "That's it, Helga! Keep your guard up—she's just testing your reach! You've got this!"
Helga blocked a downward slash from Tempest, boots skidding against the stone. She shoved back hard, twisting her hips into a counterstrike that Tempest narrowly deflected. The Amazon's lips curved in a faint, grudging smirk.
"Better," Tempest said flatly, stepping back into motion. "But you're still too slow here." Her wooden training blade darted forward, tapping Helga's ribs before the blonde could shift.
Helga's teeth clenched, but she adjusted instantly, the next exchange faster, sharper.
Zack, never one to keep his mouth shut, gave an appreciative whistle. "Not bad. But you know, Tempest, you could go a little easier on her—don't want to bruise that perfect face."
Tempest didn't even glance at him. Her next attack came low and sudden, forcing Helga into a backstep.
Zack grinned wider. "Ah, so you're playing hard to get. I like it."
Without warning, Tempest's blade snapped toward Zack in a sudden side swipe. He leaned back just enough to let it pass, laughing. "And she's feisty too. Definitely my type."
Kurai's lips twitched in faint amusement. "Is he always like this?"
"Yes," Helios said under his breath, his own smirk forming as Zack ducked another half-hearted swing from the Amazon.
Skuld stifled a laugh. "I almost feel bad for him."
"Don't," Kurai replied coolly. "He brings it on himself."
As they continued to spar Helga caught one of Tempest's strikes and used the momentum to pivot, sending the Amazon stumbling a half step. Tempest's smirk widened—not in frustration, but in approval.
"That's more like it," Tempest said, resetting her stance. "Again."
The next exchange became a blur—wood ringing against wood, boots scuffing across stone. Helga's form was improving by the second, her raw power tempered by Tempest's merciless guidance.
Zack clapped his hands. "That's what I'm talking about! You're gonna make me look bad at this rate."
"Already do," Tempest shot back between strikes.
Helios leaned one shoulder against the column, watching with a measured eye. "She's come a long way in a short time," he murmured.
"Is it a short time? It's been a week for us but I wonder how long it's been for her?" Skuld asked. "I mean sure, she's stubborn. Reminds me of someone. But I doubt that progress can be made in a week." Her eyes flicked to him knowingly.
Helios ignored the jab with practiced ease, still watching Helga adjust her footing to match Tempest's speed.
A particularly forceful exchange ended with Helga disarming Tempest for the briefest of moments before the Amazon swept her leg, sending the blonde tumbling backward onto the mat.
Tempest's wooden blade stopped just short of Helga's throat. "Not bad," she said, stepping back and offering a hand.
Helga took it, standing smoothly, her chest rising and falling with the exertion. "You're faster than you look."
"And you're stronger than you think," Tempest replied.
Zack strolled in, grinning from ear to ear. "And I'm more charming than both of you combined."
Helga gave him a flat stare. "You're also more irritating."
"See? She's warming up to me," Zack said, winking before looking over to the direction of Helios when he finally noticed the trio watching. "Hey! You guys didn't say you were coming back today."
Helios stepped forward, Skuld and Kurai following. "Wanted to see how our newest recruit was doing," he said.
Helga's eyes met his briefly before she smirked. "Better than the last time you saw me."
"Clearly," Helios replied. "Keep this up, and you'll be able to hold your own against more than just a sparring partner."
"Don't worry," Helga said, brushing a stray strand of hair back into place. "I'm not here to play nice."
"Good," Kurai said simply, her voice carrying a tone that could have been approval—or threat.
Zack clapped his hands together. "Alright, ladies, let's take five before we break something expensive. Drinks are on me—well, technically on whoever stocked the kitchen which is me, but you get the idea."
Tempest rolled her eyes and turned away, muttering something about "Captain Eager" under her breath.
Skuld chuckled softly as Zack tried—and failed—to get a response from her. Helios simply shook his head, the corner of his mouth lifting. The energy in the yard was sharp, but it was also alive. And in times like these, that mattered.