After leaving the kingdom, I was able to meet the much-talked-about Chiron after several days had passed.
"You must be Astellon. I have heard much about you. I am Chiron, and from today onward I will be teaching you together with the other children."
Breaking the silence of the forest, he appeared: a centaur sage with a human upper body and the lower body of a horse.
Confronted with a being I had only ever heard of in myth, I lost myself for a moment, but soon recovered the dignity befitting royalty and bowed politely.
"Yes! I look forward to learning from you, Teacher."
After that, I followed the footsteps of Teacher Chiron, who would now become my mentor, and headed deep into the forest while listening to his explanation of the rules of this place, as well as the martial arts and knowledge I would be learning from here on. By the time I came to my senses, a modest but sturdy dwelling had appeared before my eyes, where I would be staying from now on.
"This is where you will stay. I do hope you get along well with the other children."
From that day on, formal lessons began. Chiron's instruction was harsh, but to me it was nothing more than delightful play. Swordsmanship, spears, bows, and even all manner of strange and difficult-to-handle exotic weapons.
For an ordinary human, it would be hard to master even one of them in a lifetime... but I was different in that regard.
"Astellon. You are the fastest-growing of all the children I have taught. And your level is already... far beyond the realm of ordinary humans."
"You flatter me, Teacher."
Even with Teacher Chiron's praise, I did not grow arrogant.
Instead, I wielded every weapon as though it were an extension of my own body, smooth yet sharp. My silver hair streaming behind me as I swept across the training grounds, I looked like a meteor cutting through the night sky.
After training ended, as I wiped the sweat from my back, a heavy voice came from behind me.
"...Astellon."
"Hm? Who... ah, it's you. Heracles."
When I turned my head, there stood Heracles, a demigod who inherited the blood of Zeus, the chief god.
He possessed overwhelming might beyond anyone else here, and I had also suffered defeat at his hands in our sparring matches. Yet after many bouts, we had proven ourselves equal in skill—fated rivals and, at the same time, close friends.
"You look pretty tired."
"I was just with Jason."
"Ah... I understand. You've had a rough time."
At Heracles' brief reply, I gave a wry smile. I knew full well that enduring Jason's chatter and boastfulness, with his absolute faith in Heracles' strength, was a trial harsher than a life-and-death struggle with a lion.
"It'll be mealtime soon. Are you going to eat alone again this time?"
"Hmm... well, I suppose so."
At Heracles' question, I scratched the back of my head. It was because of the rumors that had spread not long after I entered the forested mountain. The tale of a boy whose beauty was like a star fallen from heaven had spread in an instant.
The boys became friends quickly enough through sparring, but the problem was the girls.
Even while sparring, they would freeze and stare blankly at my face, or suddenly hand me letters while talking about some "fated bond," making it difficult to even eat in peace.
"I had expected as much when I heard it from my parents, but I never thought it would be this bad. Why are they so obsessed..."
"...."
"But why are you asking?"
"Eat with me."
"...All right."
At Heracles' words as he came up to me, I accepted, since it was not a bad thing.
Seeing what had happened to me, Heracles would often come over when I was alone, spar with me, or eat with me.
"Come to think of it... you seemed to be training just now. What were you doing?"
"Spears."
"I see. Then... let's have a match sometime later, Asterion."
Smirk
"Really?"
As I spoke with Heracles, I heard those words and answered with a smile full of fighting spirit.
"This time will be different."
"That's what I was going to say."