Now it was harmless again and history wrote itself forward the way it was supposed to.
Savitar smiled down at Simi who'd fallen asleep in his arms. "You and I are cursed to understand how the tiniest decision made by every being can go onward to affect the rest of the universe. I know what should happen . . . what needs to happen. And if I stop something as simple as a rock throw, it could cause catastrophic consequences. However, unlike you, I don't see the future until after I act. The moment I do something, I then see everything unfold from that point on. You are lucky. You will always see the future before you act."
"But I didn't see my sister's death."
"No. The Greek Fates, when they cursed you, blinded you to the fate of those closest to you. Anyone you care about will be your blind spot."
"That's not right."
"Well, kid, brace yourself. This one's even worse. You also will never be able to see your own future or the future of anyone who seriously impacts your future."
Acheron ground his teeth at the injustice. "Can you see it?"
"It's why I'm here."
"Then tell me what you see."
Savitar shook his head. "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. If you knew what was ahead of you, you'd avoid doing the very things you must do in order to have it unfold properly. One small innocuous decision and your destiny will be altered forever."
"But you can see your future."
"Only after I've set it into motion and can't change it."
Acheron shook his head as he pondered which of them was the most cursed. The one who was blind or the one who saw it instantly and was powerless to stop it.
Savitar clapped him on the back. "I know how confusing it is for you to have all this power and knowledge and not know how to channel it. Or tap it."
Acheron nodded. "It is hard."
Savitar smiled. "That's why the first thing I want to teach you is fighting."
"Why fighting?"
Savitar laughed as they walked. "Because you're going to need it. There's a war coming, Acheron, and you have to be prepared for it."
"A war? What kind of war?"
Savitar refused to answer. Instead, he shook Simi awake. "Little one, I need you to return to your akri and stay on him while he fights. Don't worry though, it's only pretend fighting. No need for you to come off him to protect him."
Simi nodded sleepily before she obeyed. She drifted onto Acheron's arm.
"Move up, Simi," Savitar said to her. "Go to his neck where you won't be hit."
Acheron frowned at his orders. "Can she feel a blow when she's on my skin?"
"Yes, she can. And if she's stabbed while she's there and it wounds you, it will wound her too. Guard your demon, boy."
The next thing Acheron knew, they were alone on a beach. "Takeshi!" Savitar shouted.
Black smoke roiled out of the earth.
Acheron stepped back as the smoke cleared to reveal a man in armor the likes of which he'd never seen before. Blood red, it was made of shining metal. Wickedly carved blades curved up over his shoulders while a neck piece came up to cover the lower part of his face. All that could be seen were his eyes and the red scrollwork tattoo that was drawn across his forehead.
His black hair was tinged with red tips. His eyes slanted exotically like a feral cat and they were a deep, blood red. But the moment those eyes fastened on Savitar, they lightened with friendship. The metal around his neck folded down from his handsome face to show a man no more than a year or two older than Acheron.
"Savitar-san," he greeted with a crooked grin. "It's been a long time."
Savitar inclined his head to him. "And I'm calling in a favor."
With one hand resting on the hilt of his sword, Takeshi tsked as he looked about the beach. "Sav, you can't keep doing this. I'm running out of places to put the bodies."
Savitar laughed. "Nothing like that." He stepped back to allow the two of them to size each other up. "Takeshi, meet Acheron. Acheron this is Takeshi-sensei. Listen to him and he'll teach you to fight in ways you can't imagine."
Takeshi narrowed his gaze on Acheron. "You would have me train a new god?"
Savitar leaned in and whispered something to Takeshi that he couldn't hear.
Takeshi nodded. "As you wish, brother." Stepping toward Acheron, Takeshi smiled and knocked the staff out of Acheron's hands. He let out a long sigh of disappointment. "I have much to teach you. Come and learn the art of war from the one who invented it."
Cocky, Acheron went with him—after all, he was a god now, surely he could fight. At least that's what he thought until Takeshi pinned him to the ground with a move so fast, he hadn't even realized the man had gone into motion until Acheron was face down in the sand.
"Never take your eyes off your opponent," Takeshi said before he moved back and allowed Acheron to rise. "And never think you don't have to work for a victory. Even now, you could surprise me."
Acheron frowned.