Self Defense

As Chiron continued to scrutinize the gruesome scene before him, his gaze inevitably returned to the figure of Ezekiel lying unconscious amidst the carnage. There was something unnerving about the young demigod, something that set him apart from the others.

With a heavy heart, Chiron approached Ezekiel's prone form, his hooves thudding softly against the hard-packed earth. He knelt beside the boy, his expression a mask of concern as he studied his features.

"Ezekiel," Chiron murmured, his voice soft but filled with gravitas. "What have you done?"

But there was no answer, no sign of consciousness from the young demigod. Ezekiel remained motionless, his breathing steady and shallow as he continued to feign unconsciousness.

Sighing heavily, Chiron rose to his feet, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. He knew that he would have to report this incident to the camp council, to inform them of the tragedy that had unfolded on their doorstep.

But even as he made his way back to the camp, Chiron couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the pit of his stomach. There was something dark and foreboding about Ezekiel, something that filled him with a sense of dread.

As he entered the confines of the camp, Chiron's thoughts turned to the prophecy that had foretold the coming of a great hero, a champion who would rise to face the challenges of the age. Could Ezekiel be the one they had been waiting for, or was he something far more sinister?

As dawn broke over the horizon, casting a soft golden light across the training grounds, Ezekiel cautiously peeked out from beneath his eyelids. The scene before him was still, the only movement coming from the gentle sway of the trees in the morning breeze.

With a silent sigh of relief, Ezekiel confirmed that Chiron had indeed left, his presence no longer looming over him like a specter of judgment. Slowly, he pushed himself up from the ground, his muscles protesting the sudden movement after the ordeal of the previous night.

Wrapping the towel tightly around his body, Ezekiel cast one last glance at the lifeless bodies of the fallen demigods With a dark chuckle, he shook his head in disbelief at the sheer audacity of his actions a twisted pride in the creative methods of torture he had employed.

"Who would have thought, huh?" Ezekiel muttered to himself, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Seven children of Ares, It's not like I ever liked that prideful brute but this might have been a bit overkill..... oh well"

The morning sun cast long shadows across the training field as Ezekiel practiced his swordsmanship in silence, his movements fluid and precise. Chiron watched from a distance, his gaze narrowed in scrutiny as he observed the young demigod's every move.

After a while, Chiron approached Ezekiel, his expression grave and his demeanor tense. "Ezekiel," he began, his voice low and stern. "We need to talk."

Ezekiel paused mid-swing, turning to face Chiron with an innocent expression plastered on his face. "What's up, Chiron? Did I do something wrong?"

Chiron's eyes narrowed further, a glimmer of frustration flickering in their depths. "Don't play dumb with me, Ezekiel," he snapped, his patience wearing thin. "I want to know what happened last night. The training grounds are a mess, and seven of our camp's best warriors are dead."

Ezekiel's facade of innocence faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "Oh, that," he said nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders. "It was nothing, really. Just a little... disagreement."

Chiron's temper flared, his normally calm demeanor giving way to a palpable sense of anger. "A disagreement?" he growled, his voice laced with barely-contained fury. "Do you take me for a fool, boy? Seven demigods don't just end up dead after a 'disagreement'."

Ezekiel's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of defiance in his gaze. "Look, Chiron," he said, his tone brimming with confidence. "I don't know what you want me to say. They attacked me, plain and simple. I was just defending myself."

Chiron's expression softened slightly, though the fire still burned in his eyes. "Defending yourself?" he repeated, his voice tinged with skepticism. "That battle didn't look like self-defense to me, Ezekiel. It looked like a massacre."

Ezekiel shrugged, a casual smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Call it what you want, Chiron," he said dismissively. "But those seven thought they could take me on, and they paid the price. That's all there is to it."