Simon kept staring into the wilderness below. Then he noticed a rocky hill, yet it looked as if it was once a great mountain like the one he was currently at the peak of, and he considered the possibility. He thought the hill likely eroded through time, containing a hidden old history of the past that this world has endured. The sight made Simon wonder if the place he was in was once a valley.
"Master, the hills down there, were they once a mountain?"
Hearing his disciple's voice, Ares snapped out of his trance of reliving the past, and he looked at Simon, looking away from the view below.
"I don't remember. As a god, I'm bound to forget details, and I'm afraid that one day I may forget what is most important to me, and it's all because of immortality. Though mortals think immortality is a blessing, it's a curse, and a terrible one. A curse that takes away what makes life most important and special. As time passes, I fear I will keep forgetting people who are most important to me. I'm afraid that I might forget her, too. So listen to me, little one, cherish the life that you have right now, for if you are bound by immortality, you too would be burdened with the passage of time and deaths of your loved ones."
Simon thought about Ares' words and learned something about his master. Despite Ares being strong and stoic a hidden pain akin to a never-ending wound was bleeding pain and old memories taunting Ares of his past. Ares was burdened with immortality that he couldn't get rid of, though Simon couldn't understand or truly know what Ares had been through, he was sympathetic."
"..."
The air was heavy and suffocating. Then a sudden voice pierced through the air, and Simon spoke
"It must've hurt... Seeing your comrades and family die and decay due to time, and even worse if they get killed in front of you..."
As Simon spoke he imagined his loved ones dying as he was undying and unchanging never to die or decay, The mere thought of such situations made Simon shiver in fear, He imagined Lucia, Elias, Selene, and Kaelis
All of them dying was unbearable to Simon. Though he wanted to sacrifice himself in his imagination, he thought he was afraid of death.
"Little lamb, it's not cowardice to fear death. To mortals it's instinct, yet do you know what is cowardice? It's not trying to fight against it even though it's fate, and this is my regret."
Ares spoke in a silent and stoic voice, yet he barely hid a pain within him.
"It's not the time to think of the past, Simon it's time to train."
Ares said with a stoic voice before standing up. Then a sudden heatwave hits Simon, causing him to look back, and he sees a pillar of flame raging intensely.
"Simon follow me."
"Yes, Master!"
Simon responded before getting up and going next to Ares, then whilst Simon was staring into the pillar of flame, he felt a sudden force pushing him in. Simon looked back to see Ares' hand extended, basically saying he pushed him in.
Simon fell to the ground and he got up
"Ow... Where am I?..."
He looked up to see a bright light, then he walked towards an edge to see the same bright light from above. He looked all around him and saw the same bright lights. He looked more carefully and noticed the surface of the light moving slowly, and the surface was orange and red.
Suddenly, Simon skipped falling, but before he fell into the light, a mysterious force lifted him. Then, just before he got back onto the platform, he looked up to see that the platform was a floating island in the middle.
Once he got up he looked in front to see an arena, suddenly while Simon was looking around Ares spoke into his mind
[Ares the God of War speaks into your mind with a stoic voice]
"Welcome Simon. Welcome to The Solar Crucible, an arena within the heart of a dying star known as Phoros."
Simon was thrown off by Ares' voice, shocked he spoke
"M-master? Is that you?"
[Ares the God of War scoffed yet continued]
"Indeed."
Simon then walked forward and entered the arena.
Suddenly, as he was about to go, chains made of molten rock extended outwards towards the island and held it up, suspending it in the air.
"Whoa, what was that?... Better question what is that even for?"
[Ares the God of War huffs in pride and he speaks]
"That Simon is for a trial and also extra support so this whole place won't collapse in"
Before Simon could react, he felt some little hands pushing him from behind; the hands were warm like a comforting campfire inside a dark and mysterious forest.
[Does the God of War give a small warm smile seeing the small creatures pushing Simon in]
"Ah of course... The Onibi small little creatures..."
Simon looked back to see little creatures in the shape of a fire. He looked more clearly and saw that the fire had faces similar to that of a human child he found the little creatures weirdly cute
"What are they?..."
Asked Simon curiously whilst looking at the creatures with his eyes shining with adoration
[Ares the God of War flinched before answering with a regretful tone of voice]
"They're the spirits of dead children. Children who died due to war, it's truly a shame... If only I had been wiser, then maybe these innocent souls wouldn't have to experience such pain."
Despite the trauma and bloodshed the children have experienced the Onibis smile like innocent and happy children
"Master, it wasn't your fault. War happened, you did your best, it's just an unfortunate fate for those who have been killed and murdered due to war."
[Ares the God of War gives a small reminiscent smile]