When Zelos finally came home, Faye greeted him in her usual calm manner, showing no difference in her tone or behavior, which reassured him that nothing suspicious had been noticed. Zelos quietly applied the anti-detection spell on the artifacts he had just forged and also de-equipped them, allowing them to rest inside his soul.
To his surprise, the artifacts were not dormant at all; they were still continuously absorbing primordial essence from the environment around them. This effect was not limited only to the artifacts themselves, for their activity also stimulated his own soul, forcing it to passively draw in traces of primordial essence as well, which in turn was making him stronger every passing minute.
The only drawback he observed was that the rate of absorption was slower compared to when the orbs had been directly consuming primordial essence from their original sources.
For the first time since arriving in the God of War universe, Zelos found himself with no immediate projects or goals to pursue. There were no experiments left undone and no urgent rituals waiting to be completed. Instead, he allowed himself to focus on cultivating his relationships with the people around him.
He began spending more time with Atreus, sharing quiet moments with Faye, and continuing his sparring sessions with Kratos. This became his new daily rhythm, something far more grounded and simple than what he had lived through up until now. For once, Zelos decided he would take things slowly, at least for a while.
Training Atreus became his main priority during this period, and unlike before, he began to push him at a much higher intensity. Archery was the central focus because Atreus was not yet permitted to accompany Kratos and Zelos on hunting trips, something that always bothered the boy and fueled his eagerness to improve.
"The more you repeat the same action, the closer you will come to perfecting it. Discipline in training is always more important than talent, and that is something you must never forget," Zelos explained, as Atreus struggled to hit fast-moving targets conjured by Zelos's magic.
The targets darted unpredictably, and despite repeated attempts, Atreus missed nearly every shot. Frustration grew inside him until he finally snapped, smashing his bow against the ground in anger.
"AGHHHHH!" Atreus shouted, striking the dirt again and again, while Zelos simply watched, waiting for him to calm down.
"What is this? You lost your patience because you cannot accomplish something instantly?" Zelos asked plainly, his words sharp enough to sting.
"This is impossible! No one could ever hit these kinds of targets," Atreus shot back angrily.
Without saying anything further, Zelos raised his hand and shifted the same target Atreus had been aiming at. Only now, he increased its speed even further, so much so that the objects blurred out of sight completely, invisible to the naked eye. Though Atreus could no longer see them, he could still feel the disturbance in the air as they passed.
Taking Atreus's bow in his hands, Zelos closed his eyes for a brief moment, steadying his breathing. He then opened them again with calm focus and began firing in rapid succession. Every arrow he loosed struck its mark. Each target froze midair when hit, one after another, until all of them hung motionless. Barely five seconds had passed before the exercise ended, and Atreus could only stare wide-eyed at the motionless targets and then back at his brother, utterly shocked.
"Never rely solely on your eyes to see. Calm your nerves, and use your other senses together with your instincts. Your eyes will not always be able to perceive your opponent. There will be times when you must listen to what your instincts tell you. Here, put this on," Zelos said, handing Atreus a blindfold.
Atreus took it reluctantly, frowning. "Why would I need a blindfold to learn how to aim? Doesn't that defeat the entire purpose?"
"Just trust me and wear it. You want to become stronger, don't you? Then see this as your chance," Zelos replied, and though still unsure, Atreus accepted his words. Deep inside, he wanted to prove to his father that he was strong enough to stand beside him, so he tied the blindfold firmly around his eyes.
Once Atreus was blindfolded, Zelos conjured a new set of moving targets. This time, however, he set them to actively attack Atreus, with the added assurance that he would heal the boy immediately after every strike.
"These targets will attack you directly. Defend yourself and fight back," Zelos instructed. Atreus looked confused, but prepared himself anyway.
The training began, and within moments, Atreus was overwhelmed. The targets struck him again and again, each hit leaving him more frustrated and sore. He shouted in pain and annoyance, his complaints echoing between strikes.
"Cut it out, this really hurts!" Atreus yelled.
"Would you rather feel the pain now, or would you rather die later because you failed to strike down a moving opponent?" Zelos countered coldly. His words silenced Atreus, who clenched his fists and tried harder to fight back despite the pain.
Following his brother's earlier advice, Atreus attempted to calm himself and focus not on sight but on sound, movement, and instinct. Yet the targets continued to batter him, each strike shaking his concentration. The process was long and exhausting.
For over two hours, Atreus endured this relentless training. He failed to hit even one target, but Zelos saw something worthwhile: Atreus was beginning to react. His body twitched slightly toward incoming strikes, his posture adjusting unconsciously to threats. Though small, these were the first signs of true instinct forming.
"Congratulations. You have just taken the first step on your journey toward becoming stronger. If you keep discipline and follow through, you will one day be able to hit even an enemy moving as fast as a raging blizzard," Zelos said. He then healed the bruises and aching body of Atreus, restoring him to health before ending the day's training.
Meanwhile, above the hill, the figure of Kratos stood silently, watching his two sons train in the clearing below. His eyes stayed on Zelos for most of the time, and there was a faint satisfaction in his expression. Everything Zelos was teaching Atreus reflected the very lessons Kratos himself had once drilled into Zelos.
Though he might not completely agree with pushing Atreus into such harsh methods at his young age, he could not deny that the message and discipline Zelos was instilling were sound. To Kratos, the foundation mattered more than the pace, and in this moment, he approved of what he saw.
Beside him, Faye was also watching, her face calm but her eyes filled with approval as well. She could see Atreus struggling, but she also noticed the way Zelos guided him—firm but never cruel, demanding but not dismissive. It was a style that carried both the discipline of Kratos and the patience of her own teachings, a balance she rarely expected to witness.
"It seems that you have managed to avoid what you once dreaded," Faye said quietly, her words carrying both comfort and meaning.
Kratos grunted in response, a sound that for him was close to agreement. He did not need to say more, because Faye understood him, and his gaze remained fixed on his sons, the corner of his mouth tightening ever so slightly in what might have been pride.