•.°𓊝༄𓇼

THERE IS DUTY IN SACRIFICE. Nanami knew this well. In the name of her responsibilities she had given up her innocence. She lost all sense of naivety and child-like wonder. In its place is the knowledge of the complexities and realities of the world. Heroes are destined to face great challenges, suffer, and ultimately meet a tragic end. They could not always escape their unpredictable and cruel fate. The tale of Achilles is a prime example of this; a hero who knew what the Fates had in store yet fought bravely in spite of his demise. Death was inevitable, even for the strongest of heroes.

  This would not be the fortune to befall the son of Lord Poseidon. With the daughter of Lady Brizo as his sworn sword, he will succeed.

  The deafening clash of metal meeting metal resonated between the four marble columns in the deep. Angry grunts coming from the throat of a young child as she fought to hold her mother off. Droplets of blood swirled in the water, frustrating the twelve year old further. From the beginning of morning till now, she was restless and craving the cut of flesh, unable to get the upper hand. Her own laceration stung. A product of Brizo, who stood with a perplexing expression.

  "Little one, there is no reason for this anger." Brizo took a step forward, the point of Nanami's saber inches from her throat. She was reminded on many occasions that her daughter is still human, ruled by emotions.

  The girl with ocean blue eyes peered upward, her hand steady despite the trembling of her bottom lip. Nanami had the high honor of guarding Poseidon's son — granted the Fates push the children in the same path. It should make her feel a sense of fulfillment, yet, she felt like drowning. The heavy weight of her prophecy. She will protect a life at the cost of her own. "At this rate I'm going to fail." She huffed while wading through the water encasing the mother-daughter duo, putting a larger gap between the two. "I haven't managed to hit you once in the past two years while I've been bleeding and bleeding. I don't care what the gods say, I'm not meant to be a guardian."

  Brizo did not understand the conflicts her daughter was feeling. She wished she could, truly, but human emotions were below her. Though she does try on occasion to see from the girl's perspective. "Nanami, my sweet girl, you are still just a child." Brizo closed the distance with her fingers brushing a strand of Nanami's dark hair from her face. The black mane creating a halo of shadow. "The Sea God does not expect you to be born a warrior, it takes training, years of it."

  "My entire life has been spent studying battle strategy, arsenals, and different styles of combat. Yet I'm still unable to win against you, it's not fair." Nanami huffed like the child she is.

  "Pouting and throwing a pity-party will not help you accomplish anything. You want to be a hero? Be the brave warrior of the sea?" Brizo's eyes hardened while her touch remained gentle, "put in the time and effort, give it your all. You do not need to be the guardian just yet."

  "What if I do?" Nanami sheathed the saber at her side, brows knitted together, her fists clenched and unclenched. Knuckles cracking earning her a disapproving glare from her mother. "If he shows up to camp needing me while I'm still a novice?"

  "Then you grow together."

  Nanami cracked her pinky finger, "I'm supposed to protect him and be good at it — more than good. Exceptional."

  Brizo shook her head of chestnut curls, lips drawn into a comforting smile as her hands took Nanami's. "You are meant to be his friend first and foremost. His sword second." The goddess looked upon her face, feeling grief at the sight of the thin cut on her right cheek. She released one hand to graze her thumb over the wound, healing it completely. "You will face many challenges on this path, but you will be who you are meant to be."