A new age of Divinity: Theomachy

Preparation for God Games

The next day, Beth woke up, and saw a note on the floor of her cabin. She got off of her bed and read the note, which looked like it had been written by Nate's hand. His handwriting had always been barely legible, but she figured it out after a while. This note was unclearly saying that they should spar in preparation for the God Games. She knew that the God Games were less than a week away, so she figured it wouldn't be a bad idea. She knew that his handwriting was uniquely awful, so the Athenian Warriors would not be able to recreate it. She put on some sweatpants and a t-shirt, then after getting her combat boots on, she went to go see Nate. When she saw him, Beth was surprised to see her friend dressed in his armor... although it didn't look like it protected much.
For his torso he was basically just wearing a white t-shirt that had long leader sleeves underneath. His wrists down to his elbows were protected by bracers made of a metal she had no idea about. The chest portion of his shirt was also protected by a thin layer of the same metal his bracers were made of. This allowed him to move absolutely freely while also being protected. Pants had the same metal running down the sides so he could easily use it to block if needed.
"Hey, Beth, ready to lose?" He asked while tossing his sword from hand to hand casually.
"I think I should be asking you that question," She replied as she snapped her fingers and called a spear to her hand "Let's go."
The two sparred for a while and both showed off their new moves, but something told Beth that he was still holding back. She was throwing absolutely everything at him, and of course, nothing even came close to landing. He was as cocky as ever, but for some reason, she felt like he wasn't showing her everything she had. She had developed her special ability called Quick Thought, which was also used by children of Ares. It essentially let her slow down time, but it was as if he wasn't affected for some reason. Any time she would use it, she would be unable to hit him. She didn't understand how he always seemed to know when it was coming... oh right... mind reading. Still, the way he moved while slowed down in her perspective was slightly terrifying.
After they finished their sparring session and were cleaning up their armor and weapons, Beth asked "Okay, seriously. Why was my Quick Thought not working on you?" Nate didn't even look back at her but he did start laughing, giving her all the proof she needed that he had been holding back "Hey! We agreed to go all out!"
"No, we didn't," Nate replied while sheathing his sword again "You said you were ready and then we got started. I don't remember there ever being an agreement like the one you just said." He stood in front of her and flicked her on the forehead "Details, dummy."
The two continued to prepare for the God Games and they just ended up tiring one another out. Sure Beth couldn't land a hit, but that didn't mean Nate wasn't getting tired as well. Dodging and blocking still took up energy and he was in constant motion so he was constantly using up energy. His eyes seemed to glow brighter when he was tired and she tried to use this as an opening, but even that wouldn't work.
"Hey... so who else was picked for the God Games?" She asked while they sparred.
"Honestly, I wasn't paying attention," Nate admitted while swerving around a swing from her sword "Either way, I'm making sure it comes down to you and me at some point. A fight between us during a four way free for all would be crazy." The two continued to spar and joke around while still remaining focused on their upcoming match.
He grabbed her wrist when she swung down at him and she asked "How long has it been since you were last chosen for a God Games?"
"'Bout a year and a half." He threw her arm down and palm struck her in the nose, which knocked her back. "Normally they just randomly pick out Warriors, so it's been a while since most people have gotten to be embarrassed in front of their parent."
"So... you and I have..."
"Never been in the royale together, no."
"Wow."
"Yeah, now that you're out of the Athenian Warriors, you realize how many special privileges you guys got, huh?"
"Oh, my Gods. Are you still upset about that?"
"Yes, but you know what? I've already explained why I don't trust them at best, and despise them at worst, so we're not gonna hash that out again... wanna get something to eat? I think there's sausages somewhere around here..." He looked around while putting his sheathe on his hip and Beth just stared at him "What?"
"Did... you just ask me to suck your-"
"Stop. Stop it. Fucking stop it," Nate told her quite bluntly "It is sausage day. They do this every week before the Demigod Communions."
"Oh... right."
"Yeah."
"Sorry."
"I feel like we hang out and eat a lot."
"It is a routine of ours."
"Should I go get us a spot in line or?"
"Yeah, yeah. We should go."
As the sun finished rising, the camp was all clearly getting ready for the Demigod Communion, which was becoming even more exciting thanks to the God Games. An arena was being set up at the back of the camp and everyone was pitching in with decorations. Children of Demeter and Freya were using their powers over nature to help people put up banners. Weapons and pieces of armor were being forged by children of Hephaestus. Children of Thrud, Magni, and Modi all helped make the lanterns different colors of lightning, whether it be blue, yellow, or pure white. Nate was helped by lightning torches on fire with his bifrost. Ever sincere had learned how to throw balls of the divine flames, he had been delegated to lighting torches for the Demigod Communion, because purple with barely noticeable rainbow outlines were just cooler looking than orange ones. The Valkyrie were helping put up decorations as well as the Dwarves helped the Hephaestus children create more chairs and anything else that was needed.
"This place always tends to come together during the week before Demigod Communion," Beth said as she stood next to Nate.
"Yeah, I agree," He replied while lighting several torches ablaze "Hel, even the Athenian Warriors are helping people out." They looked around and saw that Nate was right, they were helping out people who weren't even affiliated with them "Guess they're not fully scumbags, huh?"
"I suppose that was all I wanted to see... so that was all I chose to see."
"Eh, we've all got blindspots."
"Even you?"
"Am I a part of everyone?"
"Yes?"
"Then yes."
A little ways away, Mikayla used her magic to turn a few centaurs into horse statues. She figured that since they were basically mindless creatures anyway that no one would really mind. She looked around at everyone and waited, but no one even batted an eye, so she just went along with her day as if nothing had happened.
Children of the Norse chef of the God, Andhrímnir, were helping to make the food. There was any type of food that could be conceived, and then some that they all just came up with out of thin air. Any ingredients they had, they would use because they never wanted to waste any food or anything that could be used to make food. The camp was all ready for the Demigod Communion, there was just one thing left to do, and that was to wait.