Training Courtyard – Moments Later
The courtyard grew still as the two men stepped into the sparring circle.
Erebus rolled his shoulder, adjusting his grip on the wooden blade. Across from him, Octavius unsheathed his practice sword with a flourish, a rare seriousness flashing in his eyes beneath the usual arrogance.
Their gazes locked. A current passed between them—old grudges, unspoken history, rivalry. And something more.
Octavius broke the silence. "All these years, and you still carry that ghostly calm. I wonder—how much of it is mask, and how much is you truly being dead inside?"
Erebus didn't flinch. "Enough to cut through the noise of your voice."
A flicker of a smile twisted Octavius' lips. "Good."
He lunged.
Their blades clashed—wood on wood, sharp cracks echoing through the yard. The first exchange was fast, deliberate, each man testing the other. Octavius moved like a tempest—fluid, fast, with the elegance of a duelist trained in high courts. Erebus countered with ruthless efficiency, compact movements born from years of battlefield combat.
Neither gained ground.
Nemesis watched from the stone bench, eyes wide with wonder. Around him, the soldiers had abandoned their drills. Even Lucerne paused, brows raised.
Octavius struck again—an overhead sweep forcing Erebus to parry and duck. He transitioned instantly into a backhand slice that Erebus narrowly blocked, then drove a shoulder forward to shove him off balance.
Erebus stumbled back, recovered, grinned. "You've gotten better."
"I've had reason," Octavius snapped, eyes burning. "You took her. Then put her in danger!"
The words hit the air like a whip crack. Erebus' stance tensed—but only for a moment.
"You don't get to say her name like that," Octavius hissed, launching another flurry of strikes. "You vanished. While she endured and fought her fears alone."
Erebus absorbed the anger in every blow. It came fast, reckless, but with undeniable power. He backpedaled, blocking each strike with tightening focus. The emotional weight behind Octavius' fury made him faster, more vicious.
Then—a slip. Not of footing. Of control.
Octavius struck low, then high, then aimed a direct thrust. Erebus twisted his blade sideways, redirected the attack, and with a precise pivot, stepped inside Octavius' guard.
He struck once—blunt tip to ribs. Then again—shoulder. The third landed as a swift upward arc that stopped just under Octavius' chin.
Silence fell.
Octavius froze, breathing heavy. Sweat dripped down his brow. Erebus' eyes held no triumph. Only a quiet, cutting understanding.
"You fought with heart," Erebus said, lowering the blade. "But in war, emotion gets men killed."
Octavius stared at him, jaw clenched, shame flickering across his face.
From the far end of the courtyard, soft footsteps approached.
Luciana stood at the edge, wrapped in a pale violet silk dress, her expression unreadable. Beside her, Leila stood. They had arrived just in time to see the final clash.
Luciana's eyes met Erebus'.
For a moment, no one moved. Then Nemesis broke into a grin and ran to his father.
"You won!"
Erebus crouched and lifted him, still catching his breath. "A spar, not a war."
Luciana's gaze lingered on the bruise forming on Octavius' jaw.
She stepped forward, composed but cool. "Is this how you teach our son about peace?"
"He asked to watch," Erebus replied, steady. "I gave him his first self defense lesson."
Leila whispered something to Luciana, who only nodded slowly, eyes never leaving the two men.
Octavius stood, wiping his face with the back of his sleeve. "I suppose... the hound still has teeth." Leila offered him a towel to which he immediately accepted.
Erebus didn't rise to the insult. "Call me what you want. But don't forget—I didn't bite first."
Luciana exhaled, her voice soft but firm. "Enough. This is a sanctuary, not a battlefield."
Erebus nodded, setting Nemesis down. "Understood."
Octavius turned and walked away without a word, his blade swinging at his side, pride wounded deeper than his body.
"Lord Caelus. The emperor wishes audience with you." Luciana told him.
Octavius and Leila turned back. Octavius glanced at Leila as if to ask the purpose. But she was ever clueless.
"Understood your highness." Octavius bowed half feeling humiliation to find out that Luciana had witnessed his weakness.
"Mama! Did you see how dade swung his sword? It was like this and then this!" He imitated Erebus' movements showing off and boasting about Erebus' skills.
"Oh sweetling. Your father knows how to control his strength. But you can injure yourself." She kissed him.
As the courtyard slowly returned to life, Luciana looked down at Erebus once more. He sat on the bench wiping off his sweat.
"You should be careful. Your wounds haven't healed yet." She said concerned.
Her expression was unreadable. But something in her eyes—curiosity, caution, perhaps even pain—lingered longer than either of them acknowledged.
And Erebus knew: her worries were no pretense.
He took her hand and kissed her.
"As you wish."
His mischievous smile caught her off guard. She could never understand what he was thinking.
Nemesis took her hand and kissed it too making her heart melt.
"Erebus, we need to talk. After I come back from father's council meeting." She said. Her expression was weary.
"Mama I wanna come too. Grandda said he has a gift for me." Nemesis stood up.
"Oh not at this moment. Your grandfather isa little busy. How about spending time with Hades and Apollonia? When he is free we can go together." She said.
Nemesis nodded feeling like an older brother who had to look after his younger siblings.
Erebus and Luciana took Nemesis till the chambers when they found Octavius standing outside Helios' chambers.
"Your highness." Octavius took Luciana's hand and placed a gentle kiss on the backside of her hand.
Erebus snapped. Nemesis too didn't like him very much.
Luciana pulled away her hand and nodded.
"Shall we then?" She said and took one last glance at her some and husband who were seething in rage.
Octavius grinned and entered the chambers after her.
"I swear by my name that I'll cut him open one day." Erebus growled.
"I hate that uncle Dade! He's always around mama." Nemesis pouted.