A Raven's Blessing | Vax'ildan x OC | TLOVM

The Feast of Realms

Warnings: Strong and Sexual Language; Violence, Gore, & Death

(Dream sequence contains some physical abuse, you may skip the italic section if you are uncomfortable)

Athena was bent over in the sand pits as she spat some blood. She tried to stand as she was struck with the club on her back once again knocking her down. She was surrounded by members of the order with weapons trained on her Her entire body was covered in bruises and cuts from the relentless assaults of her training. 

She was only thirteen at the time.

She turned her head as the leader of the Ironamal stepped forward. His iron mask resembled a legendary wolf told only in myths simply referred to as Fenrir. And so that was his name. The wolf's teeth snarled on the mask accurately displaying his ferocity as the leader he was.

"You are disappointing us, child. I know you can do better than that."

His deep voice intimated her deeply but she was more afraid of what would happen if she showed that. 

"I promise, Grand Master, I will do better. Train harder," she choked out. Her mouth was filling with blood again. However, she would have done anything to make them proud.

"You must." He turned around and began to walk out of the training grounds.

"Again," he said. The masked circle prepared their weapons. With the ounces of her remaining strength, Athena stood up and prepared her sword. 

An order member lept forward, their weapons meeting in a clash.

Athena jolted up, her undergarments covered in sweat. Her breath was erratic as she felt phantom pains throughout her body. She blinked several times as her mind adjusted to the surroundings. She brushed back her hair that was out of her normal braided bun behind her. Once her mind recognized the bare stone walls, her breathing began to return to a normal rate. She was safe in her room in the group's new keep. Her room had only the essential furniture in it since they had just moved in. Though she didn't expect that to change.

She absentmindedly touched some of her scars that weren't normally noticeable in her armor or her day clothes. She felt the different texture of her skin, reminding her that her dream was a reality for her at a point in her life. Which made her more grateful that she was here.

Knowing she wouldn't go back to bed, she slipped on her regular black top and bottoms. Instead of her steel armor, she slipped on a brown corset over her undershirt before putting on her boots and putting up her hair in its normal style. She quietly left her room to make her way to the kitchen and dining room. She figured some water would help. She was momentarily surprised to see Percy also in the kitchen sipping on his own glass of water.

"Nightmare?" he asked. While Percy kept his own nightmares more of a secret to the group, it wasn't a luxury she had. Sometimes she would violently wake up if she fell too deep into sleep. When you are all sleeping together in the woods at some point, it was natural for the rest of the group to know as well.  

She nodded as grabbed a wooden cup and filled it from the sink. She drank the water in one gulp, feeling the cool water go down. It made her feel a bit better.

"It's wishful thinking to hope that they won't be," she said turning back to Percy.

"Indeed it is."

Athena never pried for information about Percy but she had heard of Whitestone's downfall from her studies in the order. Publicity had it covered that his family died of a disease, but she knew the real truth of their demise. The new ruling family of Whitestone, the Briarwoods, had his family killed. It haunted Percy just like her past did.