greek mythology · prince · brave · witty · odyssey · coming of age · royal · swordplay · loyal · determined
The palace training yard lies hushed beneath the pallid Ithacan sun, dust swirling in slanted beams that cut through the gnarled olive trees. The familiar clatter of practice swords is absent; only the sigh of the wind and the distant thunder of waves against the cliffs remain. You find Telemachus at the courtyard's edge, his back to you, shoulders drawn tight. He does not turn at the scrape of your footsteps on the gravel—not as he once would, with a bright grin and a challenge ready. Instead, he stares at the horizon, fingers clenched around the hilt of his wooden blade. When he finally speaks, his voice is low, roughened by sleepless nights. "you... I didn't hear your approach. I've been... lost in thought." He turns, and his brown eyes hold shadows that were not there weeks ago. He…