The crimson sun had barely begun to rise over the horizon when Orion collapsed backwards, chest heaving, sweat dripping down his brow. Across from him, Eris stood relaxed, twirling a small golden dagger between her fingers with the casual boredom of someone who had long since mastered chaos.
"You failed again," she said bluntly, walking over to him.
Orion groaned. "You don't need to say it like that..."
Eris crouched down beside him, resting her chin on her hand." You're skilled, especially for a human. That's not the problem." She flicked her dagger and it disappeared in a burst of red sparks. "You have the potential. I can see it. It's in your body- stardust,whatever."
Orion glanced up at her, breathing slowly. "Then what's the problem?"
"You don't know who you are yet," she said, tapping her chest. "You haven't found your style of fighting. You're trying to be too much all at once. A brawler? A tactician? A support fighter? Doesn't work. You need to move with purpose just to survive, but define yourself. Figure that out, and you'll unlock doors even you didn't know existed."
He closed his eyes, letting her words settle like seeds in the soil.
"Take a break," she said, already walking away. "You'll need it."
The clearing where Ker waited was quiet, cloaked in soft shadows that bent unnaturally. She stood like a statue in the centre, dressed in dark armour that shimmered like oil under moonlight. Her presence felt still, but intense- like the space that surrounded her forgot how to breathe.
"Come," she said, her voice low and melodic, like a whisper heard in the back of the mind.
Orion stepped forward, bow in hand.
"What exactly are we doing?"
Ker raised her hand. Black ribbons of smoke extended from her fingers and slowly wrapped around the training field, forming a dome. Stars flickered faintly above them, twinkling and distorted, like watching the sky from underwater.
"I am death's herald. My gift is Limina-the space between life and death," she said. "My domain is fear. Perception. Survival."
The ground cracked beneath them, and Orion suddenly saw. himself. Another Orion-confident, stronger, glowing faintly- walking calmly towards him with a blade.
"What is this?" he gasped.
"She is you," Ker said."But perfected. This is not a simulation. This is a mirror. She fights as you should."
The other Orion lunged, swift and brutal. The real Orion dodged the first strike but was so quickly disarmed by a countering move he'd never seen before.
"She adapts faster than you. She thinks quickly. She uses fear to beat you," Ker said, emotionless.
The training was merciless. Every time Orion failed, the mirror version changed tactics, growing sharper, more precise.
He was knocked down. Again. Again.
Finally, after what felt like hours, Orion grabbed a small dagger from the ground and landed a glancing cut across the copy's face.
The mirror shattered.
Ker nodded once. "Good."
"That was brutal..."Orion muttered, lying flat on the ground.
"You must learn that in real battle, skill isn't enough," she said. The winner isn't always the strongest. It's the one who walks away breathing."
He sat up. "You mean the one who is willing to do anything."
Ker's eyes flicked with subtle approval. "Exactly."
Orion walked into a large, shrine-like hall lined with weapons. SPearheads gleamed. Swords pulsed with quiet energy. There were bows of bone, staves of wind, and gauntlets that brimmed with elemental rage.
Susanoo stood at the far end of the hall, lightning dancing across his shoulder as he stretched.
"Ready?" he asked.
Orion nodded. "As I'll ever be"
Susanoo pointed to the rack of weapons. "Pick. Dont think. Walk, and let your body answer."
Orion stepped forward, slowly drifting past the weapons. They called out not in sound, but sensation. Some sparked with fury. Others hummed with steadiness. But one...
The bow.
Its handle was wrapped in silver leather, the string thin as silk, but taut like thunder. As Orion touched it, it pulsed softly with familiarity. Not power. Not dominion. Harmony.
"This one," he said.
Susanoo raised an eyebrow. "The bow, huh?"
"I've always loved it. Feels right.Balanced/
"A good choice," Susanoo replied. "But bows are useless in close quarters."
"I know," Orion said. "That's why I picked this, too."
He turned and grabbed a sword- a curved, short blade with a grip that matched the bow's hilt. Light, fast, not flashy.
"I want to learn both. But I also want to learn how to use a bow in close combat."
Susanoo blinked. Then a slow, proud smile spread across his face.
"You're insane," he said."I like that answer... that's the first thing you've said all day that reminds me of a god."
Orion stared at him. "That good?"
"It means you're finally stepping onto your path."
Susanoo clapped his hands, and the ground lit with glowing symbols-targets, moving illusions, and floating dummies.
"Training starts now. Show me you can dance with thunder."
They trained for hours. Susanoo hurled elemental attacks as Orion dodged and fired arrows at full speed. Each miss was corrected in real-time. Each slash with the sword was met with a counter until Orion adjusted.
Slowly-inch by inch, he began to flow.
The bow wasn't just for range. He spun with it, used it to block and strike. He fired at point-blank range. He used the curve to part. His movement began to blur between archer and warrior.
Susanoo nodded approvingly.
"Let's keep going," Orion said, breathless, alive.
"Then don't stop," Susanoo replied. "The storm waits for no one."