Go(o)d Friends

A Friend From Childhood

And so days passed. Ares trained Eurylochus to become a better, stronger soldier. But there was one detail he didn't tell the mortal, and that was that the person Eurylochus would be fighting was his own captain, Odysseus.

Swords clang together as the two sparred one day. Grunts and battle cries could be heard, though the crew never knew who was with Eurylochus. Well, everyone but a particular person.

After the sparring, Eurylochus was covered with sweat, panting as his legs felt like jelly for how long he had been battling with the god of war. The said god was covered head to toe with sweat as well, though he wasn't as tired as the other.

"Take a break," Ares said. "We shall spar once more after."

Groaning, Eurylochus obliged, too tired to complain. He sat by a wooden wall and tilted his head back, bumping onto it. He let out an exhausted sigh as he fiddled with his tunic due to boredom.

"Hi Eury," a voice greeted beside him.

With a startled yelp, the man jumped onto his feet and grabbed his sword in an instant, glancing swiftly at the source of the voice.

"Oh...hello Polites," the second in command calmed down.

Polites only smiled cheekily at the other's surprise with an amused stare.

The other grumbled at his grin and asked, "what are you doing here? Not that you can go anywhere on this ship, anyway, but still."

Polites laughed silently at the other. "Nothing much, brother," he said. "Just going to ask, when are you telling everyone?"

"...what?"

"Don't act dumb, Eurylochus," the smile turned into a thin line.

The said person shook his head. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm not hiding anything."

The kind man raised a brow at the other. "So, you're not trying to hide the fact that you're training with the God of War?"

"Wha-" Eurylochus choked on air. "H-how did-"

"Maybe if you guys checked your surroundings that day, you would have found me sweeping the deck."

The buff man's ears burned slightly in embarrassment. "Ah, I see..."

"No you didn't," Polites grinned cheekily. It got a smile out of the other.

"But you still didn't answer my question," Polites took a step closer. "When are you going to tell the crew? Why are you even training with Lord Ares in the first place?"

"You're not going to believe it, brother," Eurylochus grinned proudly. "But I have been chosen by the God of War himself to be his warrior!"

The other man gasped, his jaw dropped to the floor.

"Whoa, really?" His eyes sparkled.

The proud smile curled into a smirk. "Yes, really."

"Wow, Eury!" Polites clapped the man's back. "Chosen by the devil himself. I envy you," he jokingly added that last part with a grin.

Eurylochus laughed and wrapped his arm around the slightly shorter man's shoulder.

"Don't worry," he teased. "You might get your turn."

Polites slapped Eurylochus' shoulder playfully with a small smile on his lips.

"Yeah, or else it won't be fair," the man pouted. "Odysseus has Lady Athena, now you have Lord Ares. Where's my mentor?"

Rolling his eyes, Eurylochus chuckled. "Someday, maybe you'll get yours. Someday."