Run.
That was the only thing on Axiomel's mind.
His breath came out rough as he sprinted down the path, feet pounding against dirt and stone. His chest burned, legs screaming, but he didn't slow. Slowing meant getting caught. Getting caught meant pain.
Again.
Behind him, voices rang out.
"Get him!"
"Don't let that bastard escape!"
He didn't bother looking back. He already knew who they were. Same group. Same faces. Same idiots who made it their life's mission to break him.
Honestly, by now, he was surprised they hadn't succeeded.
I really don't die, do I? he thought bitterly.
If he had any special ability, it wasn't strength. It wasn't speed. It definitely wasn't talent.
It was surviving.
They'd thrown him off cliffs. Beaten him until his vision went dark. Left him bleeding more times than he could remember.
Last week was the worst.
They'd pushed him off a cliff without hesitation. He remembered the fall. The way his ankles shattered on impact. The way his arms bent wrong.
He should've died.
Instead, he woke up hanging upside down from a tree.
To this day, he had no idea how that happened.
Sometimes, a stupid thought crossed his mind. That maybe some goddess was watching him. Waiting for him to grow up.
The idea made him scoff.
"No chance," he muttered under his breath while running. "I'm not into old women pretending to be young."
Knowing the gods, though, one of them would absolutely do something like that. Aphrodite especially. Every story involving her ended badly for mortals.
He pushed the thought aside.
Then he saw it.
Home.
His mother's cottage came into view, small and worn, but more comforting than anything else in Sparta. Relief washed over him.
He ran faster.
"Don't let him reach the house!" someone shouted.
Too late.
The door flew open.
Eleni rushed out the moment she heard his voice. Axiomel nearly crashed into her, bending over as he sucked in air.
"Slow down," she scolded, gripping his shoulder. "You'll choke yourself."
She let out a small laugh when she saw his face, then followed his gaze past him.
The boys had stopped just outside the yard.
Eleni straightened.
"Get out," she said sharply. "Before I tear your eyes out."
Hesistation showed in the boys faces.
Their mothers had filled their heads with stories about her. A witch. A cursed healer. Someone who dealt with things she shouldn't.
Most of them backed away.
One didn't.
Caleb stepped forward, spitting on the ground.
"Woman," he said, eyes crawling over her. "Come with me." His eyes stared at her with full lustful gaze.
Axiomel felt his blood turn cold.
"Say my mother's name again," he said quietly, stepping in front of her, "and I'll rip your tongue out."
Caleb laughed.
"You?" he sneered. "Don't make me laugh"
"You remember your youngest? Isn't it funny how your mother lied to everyone that he got injured during a hunting accident. Funny how he came back without ears. I wonder what predator eat only ears?" Axiomel replied with a deadpan expression
The air went still.
Caleb's eyes darkened.
"I might be weaker than you," Axiomel continued "but don't ever say my mother's name again."
The other boys stiffened.
Wait… this guy did that?
Then it happened
Boom.
A massive burst of wind tore outward from Caleb's body. Leaves ripped from branches. Dust flew into the air. Pressure slammed down so hard it felt like being crushed. A small crater had form under his feet.
Axiomel moved without thinking, stepping directly in front of his mother.
He didn't shake. He didn't blink. He just stood there calmly, staring him down
Caleb's killing intent flooded the area. The other boys staggered, gasping for air. Even Eleni struggled to breathe.
Axiomel stood calmly, staring straight at Caleb.
The boys couldn't understand it.
Why isn't he afraid?
A hand landed on Caleb's shoulder.
The pressure vanished instantly.
Caleb froze, then turned his head.
A Spartan squad leader stood behind him, eyes cold.
Caleb clicked his tongue. "Tch."
He yanked himself free and ran. The others followed immediately.
Eleni exhaled slowly.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
The squad leader Yondu nodded. He had watched over Axiomel since birth, ever since Eleni had saved his wife, who nearly died giving birth.
All soldiers in Sparta one way or another were debted to her. She'd saved more lives than anyone could count. Including Axiomel's.
Yondu turned to the boy and sighed. "Didn't I tell you not to pick fights with them again?"
Axiomel smirked cockily. "I had it handled, I could've handled that punk myself old man."
Yondu eyes couldn't help but twitch with anger. "It seems you need a beating boy" "It's been quite sometime since you got a proper beating from me"
Axiomel couldn't help but feel a shiver down his spine. Flashbacks echoing through his mind
"Come I've grown.."
Smack.
"Ow."
"Don't talk back," Eleni said flatly.
"Alright, alright," Axiomel muttered defeatedly.
There was only one thing in this world he feared.
His mother's stare.
Yondu chuckled. This boy was something else; he never feared anything or anyone. Thinking back to the Agoge, when all the boys were cast into the mountains during a heavy thunderstorm, he had been the only one who didn't cry at the cracks of lightning.
Too bad his physique was incredibly lacking. Although his speed was exceptional, Sparta needed fighters, not runners.
If Axiomel could read his thoughts, he definitely would not have been able to keep his sharp tongue at bay. Sometimes, Yondu wondered if perhaps the lack of a father had made the boy so sharp-tongued; he could only hope the boy wouldn't lead him to more trouble.
He walked away, waving them a goodbye, but his expression couldn't help but shift as he remembered the king's words from that morning.
A god from Olympus was coming to Sparta.
Why? No reason was given atleast for now
Not any major god, but still a god regardless.
He trusted in the power of his king; the man was not to be underestimated easily. Yet, there was a sense of unease gnawing at him. After surviving countless life-and-death experiences, the thing he trusted most was his gut, and his gut never lied.
Yondu glanced up at the sky, hoping the next few days wouldn't end in blood.