The Legend of Theikos Allslayer

What does it mean to be a hero?

That was the question I asked my dad when I was younger. well, younger than I am now. Being eight and a half years old means you're still young, right?

I hope not.

Anyways, I don't really know why I decided to ask this question. It might've been because he kept telling stories about how he killed the Nemean Lion with nothing but his bare hands, and how he traversed the very depths of the Underworld for the search of an oversized dog. Or how he learned the way of the sword to become the greatest hero of all time. Who really knows?

The bottom line is, it was supposed to be a lighthearted question. Small talk, I think it's called. But I never could've imagined that such a simple question would lead me down a path of adventure, friendship, love, betrayel, death, and Fate.

My name is Theikos, and I am the son of the strongest demigod to ever live.

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"I can see you've improved quite a bit."

I was currently laying my back against a tree, slowly letting the cuts on my hands and legs heal. It only took a couple of seconds to heal completely.

"You didn't HAVE to go for my legs." I mumbled, irritated and slightly embarrassed that he made me fall mid-swing. Seriously, who goes for the legs? To his own son, nonetheless?

"I didn't have to, yes, but I did. So, no." He said grinning, as if that was some kind of clever retort.

"What's that even supposed to mean?" I asked while getting up. It's always frustrating knowing how and where you're about to get hit, and being able to do nothing about it because your own dad is too fast!

"It means stop whining." He came up to me with a knowing grin and lifted my arm up. "See? Nothing. You're just overreacting."

Groaning, I pulled my arm back and headed towards our little cabin. Once inside, I laid my practice sword to one side and grabbed my bow, marching back outside to the targets. There I see my dad, bow already at aim.

He shot.

"Tomorrow's your big day, Day. How are you feeling, excited?" Dad asked with a serious voice, getting ready for another shot.

I had to stop mid-shot to really think about the question.

I was excited, yeah. The idea of going out on your own, adventuring, fighting monsters, and learning about the mortal world has always been my dream. And tomorrow, I can finally do just that. I've been so excited, I couldn't stay still for the past week!

But...

"A bit nervous, I guess?" I said, both to my dad and myself.

"It'd be weird if you weren't. Only four and a half years old, and you're already going on an adventure most halfbloods these day could only dream of. Though, that isn't really saying much." He mumbled the last part, but I still heard him.

He shot another arrow. A bullseye like always. "Just remember, don't let it dictate what you can and cannot do. Nervousness is only there to show you that, even after everything you go through, you are still human in part."

"I thought you don't like humans?"

Dad shook his head. "I don't like being SURROUNDED by them. Humans are soft, simple creatures. So easy to hurt, so easy to break." He dropped the bow to his side, turning to face me. His serious face softened, while his voice smoothened over. "But," he started, "They have amazing minds, always adapting, and always solving with their ambition alone. They know the value of life, and they know they can never accomplish everything in such a short lifetime. That is why I praise them, why I consider them so... amazing. They care and believe, so I shall care and believe in them, even if only a little. As both a hero, and a god."

There was a long pause, him returning to his archery, while I absorbed all of what he said. After a while, I asked him another question.

"Dad?"

"Yes, Day?"

"What does it mean to be a hero?"

He paused for a second, looking at me from the corner of his eye, before continuing.

"What brought this on?"

I shrugged my shoulder. "I don't know, just asking."

Once he shot another bullseye, he put away his bow and asked me, "What do YOU think it means to be a hero?"

I shot.

"I guess, to get what you want."

Dad raised his eyebrow. "And what is that to you?"

I smiled brightly, looking dead straight at my dad. With the utmost confidence, I said

"To live a life worth living again."

... ... ... ... ...

"HAAAHAAHAAAA!!!"

He started laughing.

"Hey! What are you laughing for?!" I screamed angrily, thinking he's laughing at me.

He started laughing harder, blasting it to the sky.

I pouted.

It became a lot tamer after a while, only chuckling a bit. "Hehe," he chuckled. Looking at me with an almost serene smile, he exclaimed, "Then, I believe, those are the meanings of a hero."

I looked at him in confusion.

Dad gave me a pat in the head. "What I am trying to say, Day, is that the meaning of a hero is what you perceive it as." He said, while walking back to our cabin. I followed.

"I think," he continued, with the biggest smile I've ever seen him wear, "you're going to be one hell of a hero some day, Theikos."

From the way he used my actual name, I just knew, either good or bad...

Something is going to happen in the future, something great.

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