Chapter Text
A small figure, dressed in all black, crept through the shadowed room making his way to the moonlit balcony, where a tall figure stood. He took slow measured steps before freezing, when he was signaled by his partner.
His partner signed for him to stay low and hang back. Nodding, [M/n] dropped into a crouch as his partner continued forward, before lunging at the figure. Unfortunately, he made a mistake.
On his jump, he had pushed to hard from the ground and his shoes made a sound agaimst the stone floor, alerting Æschylus to the attack. The man stepped to the side, reaching out to snatch Kadins leg to spin around and fling him back.
Unsheathing the kris knives at his hips, [M/n] darted forward but Æschylus easily disarmed him, tossing him back towards Kadin. They both sat up as Æschylus approached, frowning.
"Apotychía," Æschylus stated, clicking his tongue. "Perímena perissótera apó tous dyo sas, an kai ta kataférate kalýtera apó ó,ti písteve i Béla." (Failure. I expected more from the two of you, though you did better than Bela assumed you would.)
[M/n]'s eyes dropped to the floor, shoulders drooping as Kadin grumbled unhappily at his side. Æscylus stepped forward, dropping into a crouch in front him. The man was silent, before he reached out a hand and pressed two fingers underneath [M/n]'s chin so the boy was forced to look him in the eyes.
"Poté min epitrépete stous állous na doun tin ítta sas, epitrépste móno se aftoús pou empistéveste ritá kai akómi kai tóte kánte to me feidó." (Never allow others to see your defeat, only allow those you trust explicitly, and even then do it sparingly.)
Æschylus pulled away, putting his full attention on both of them. "Tha prospathísete xaná se dýo evdomádes. Méchri tóte tha proponeíste káto apó ti Nyx kai to Erebus." (You will try again in two weeks' time. Until then you will be training under Nyx and Erebus.)
As one, twin black panthers slipped from the shadows, forms rippling like water. The two shifted to their knees and bowed their heads in respect to the creatures.
"Nyx, Érevos. Échoume tin timí na máthoume káto apó esás," [M/n] and Kadin chorused. (Nyx, Erebus. We are honored to learn under you.) The panthers rumbled in unison before Nyx stepped forward, blue eyes glowing softly.
"Kai mas timá na didáskoume —" (And we are honored to teach—)
"—tóso pollá yposchómena mikrá mikrá." (—such promising young cubs.)
Erebus flicked his tail towards the two, beckoning them to follow.
They stood, dipping into shallow bows to Æschylus, who hummed and dipped his head.
Kadin and [M/n] rushed after the panthers, who were slipping in and out of the shadows with ease. The twins ducked into a training room that had plenty of spaces for them to hide.
"Tha xekinísoume me to skieró perpátima," Nyx stated. (We shall start with shadow-walking.) It took a second for the two to realize she meant stealth training.
"Tha sas máthoume pós na perpatáte," Erebus added, making Kadin frown. (We will teach you how to walk.)
"But, we already know how to walk."
"Xéreis pós na perpatás san ánthropos–" Erebus refuted. (You know how to walk like a human—)
"—dynatá, tsakotá kai chorís chári." (loud, clunky, and no grace.) "Tha se máthoume na perpatás ópos emeís—" (We will teach you to walk like us—)
"—san skiés kai neró. Tha eísai charitoménos kai siopilós, ikanós na kryfteís sta pio lamperá fóta." (–like shadows and water. You will be graceful, and silent, able to hide in the brightest of lights.)
[M/n] and Kadin shared looks of awe, before turning back to the panthers and nodding, excited for the lesson to begin.
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[M/n] slipped through the shadows, footsteps completely silent. His muscles were pulled taut as he stepped from toe to heel, putting everything Nyx and Erebus had taught him into practice.
Across from him, he knew Kadin would be doing the same thing even though he couldn't see him. He fell still as Kadin slipped partially from the shadows, so [M/n] could see him.
'You, low. Me, high.'
[M/n] nodded, creeping closer as he slowly unsheathed his kris knives.
As one the two lunged for Æschylus, with [M/n] diving for his legs while Kadin went for his torso. The kris knife scraped the outside of Æscylus' leg as he dodged, twisting to disarm the smaller as Kadin flew past him, barely grabbing onto the railing on time.
[M/n] held in a yelp as his wrists were twisted, forcing him to drop his knives before he was released. Æschylus was quick to get to the railing so he could haul Kadin back over the side, and drop him beside [M/n].
"Kalýtero apó tin proigoúmeni forá," Æschylus praised. (Better than last time) The two's eyes lit up in delight. It was rare to be praised by the man but his students knew he cared about them. "Eláte, mikrés skiés. To deípno eínai sýntoma kai oi nearoí dolofónoi chreiázontai tin enérgeiá tous." (Come, little shadows. Dinner is soon, and little assassins need their energy.)
"Entáxei," They chorused, following their teacher out the door, excited for the dessert their teacher would gift them. (Okay.)