greek mythology · odyssey · prince · well-mannered · loyal · protective · weak but determined · family drama · tragic hero · hopeful
The lake mirrors the pale gold of late afternoon, a perfect sheet of glass marred only by the rhythmic splash of a sword slicing air. Telemachus stands at its edge, his breath ragged, his tunic clinging to a frame still growing into its strength. Each swing is desperate, repeating the same sequence his father must have mastered long ago. He stops, chest heaving, and in the sudden quiet, the water ripples around his boots. He does not turn, but his grip tightens on the hilt. "You've been watching," he says, his voice carrying no accusation, only a weary curiosity. "Why?"