After finishing his training with Kratos, Zelos was given free time, something his father often allowed once the day's sparring was over. Rather than resting, Zelos used this freedom to wander into the nearby forest. Though only six years old, Kratos trusted him enough to roam unsupervised, a decision that reflected how reliable Zelos' strength and control had already become.
Venturing deeper into the woods, Zelos prepared himself carefully. The forest itself was full of enchantments woven into its boundaries—protective staves that shielded the area and prevented most monsters from entering. Drawing inspiration from the natural barriers around him, Zelos began casting his own stealth magic, shaping it in a way that blended him seamlessly into his surroundings.
For extra safety, he layered another protective spell on top of it. This was his first real attempt at moving far from the forest's security, and though confident in his abilities, he could not ignore the unease that came with leaving. He checked and rechecked his preparations, unwilling to risk an early death through carelessness.
Once he was certain, Zelos took a deep breath and began.
"Levitation."
The spell activated instantly, and his body lifted from the ground. A grin spread across his face as the magic worked exactly as he envisioned. The sensation of floating eased the lingering fear he once had of heights. Slowly, he rose until the forest canopy lay beneath him. Satisfied, he released a controlled burst of wind from the soles of his feet, which propelled him forward, turning levitation into true flight.
Zelos soared beyond the enchanted boundary of the forest, passing through the protective stave that safeguarded his family. That barrier, he knew, existed to keep hostile gods and their servants from finding Faye. Exiting it was risky, but it was necessary for the test he wanted to carry out.
The first thing he did after crossing was to check his magic. He touched his chest lightly, ensuring his stealth remained active and that his form was still invisible to the naked eye. Confirming that it worked, he flew further, searching for a worthy target. Eventually, he found one: a giant fire troll resting on the ground, its heavy weapon lying beside it.
Zelos landed quietly, his presence hidden. The troll stirred for a moment, opening its eyes briefly, but seeing and sensing nothing unusual, it closed them again, drifting back into slumber.
'It seems the stealth is a success,' Zelos thought.
Summoning a glowing magic circle before him, he channeled power into it until it released a massive sphere of ice. The spell struck the troll directly, freezing its body solid in an instant. The flames and embers that clung to its form were extinguished along with its life. From the fallen creature, Zelos gathered the essence of the Fire Troll—an energy crystalized into a form that he knew could later be used to strengthen a weapon of his own.
Encouraged by the result, Zelos took to the skies again, continuing his hunt. Across Midgard, he searched for elemental trolls, seeking out five different essences—Fire, Water, Thunder, Air, and Earth. The search took time, but his efforts bore fruit. By the end, he had collected the cores of five fire trolls, three water trolls, and one of each of the other types. The collection satisfied him, giving him both material and confidence for the future.
As he prepared to return, something caught his attention. In a clearing below, a female magician was locked in combat with a revenant. She wielded plant-based magic, summoning massive branches and roots that twisted upward to bind her foe. Zelos observed from above, remaining hidden as he watched the duel unfold. The revenant, agile and dangerous, slipped away repeatedly by using teleportation, but the magician persisted, answering with one spell after another until she finally overpowered and destroyed the creature.
The fight stirred something in Zelos. Watching her manipulation of nature gave him new inspiration for his own path of magic development. He filed away every detail for later study, then turned and flew back toward the forest. Along the way, he noticed ravens circling high above, their glowing eyes carrying traces of enchantment. He recognized them at once—the Ravens of Odin, spies scattered across Midgard to observe all that happened. Carefully, he adjusted his stealth, ensuring they would not detect him.
After several cautious moments, Zelos finally crossed back into the protection of the stave. Faye hadn't questioned him when he arrived, which made Zelos quietly assume that his mother had not sensed his departure at all. That, more than anything, confirmed his preparations had worked.
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When Zelos returned, the first to greet him was Atreus, who had been waiting patiently near the doorway. Inside, Faye stood by the hearth, preparing a meal for the three of them. Kratos, however, was nowhere to be seen. It was not unusual—Atreus had once mentioned that their father often disappeared into the forest without explanation. Zelos understood the habit well enough. Knowing Kratos' past, he accepted these absences without complaint.
"Mother, can you teach me magic?" Zelos asked suddenly, his voice carrying more eagerness than hesitation as he turned toward Faye. She paused mid-motion, glancing at him with a knowing expression.
"Why? So you can run off again?" she replied evenly, her words cutting through any hope that his earlier adventure had gone unnoticed.
Zelos blinked, then gave a half-smile as though caught in a harmless game. "Ohhh, so you found out, huh?" he said, as if admitting it meant nothing serious, though both of them knew the risk he had taken.
Faye chuckled softly, shaking her head. "You are far too young to think you can fool me. But… yes, I will grant your request. If you wish to learn magic, then I will teach you."
Joy sparked across Zelos' face immediately. Unable to contain it, he scooped Atreus into his arms and lifted him high, laughing with genuine excitement. Whether it came from the ordinariness of his past life on Earth or from the lingering influence of the Essence, Zelos could not be sure, but when it came to the subject of magic, there was always a spark inside him—an unshakable eagerness to learn more.