Dian was excited, waiting with bate breathe as he saw Alexandros walked down the stairs with Medea behind him, entering the perfectly circle and empty basement. His eyes cold and ready. The boy frowned. "Um, hello?" His voice, more ice than sound, send odd warmth throughout Dian's soul.

  Medea strode just behind him, smiling. "Oh dear boys, I had forgotten to introduce you." She then snapped her fingers, and both boys swayed as her magic flooded their minds, educating them both in the history she knew of them both.

  Warmth seemed to gather in Alexandros' eyes, as well as something beyond empathy. "Wow, you've been through so much, such a burden... thank you for agreeing to help me." He walked over to Dian, throwing his arms around him with more strength than his meager mortal form should have managed.

  Moved, Dian hugged him right back. "Uh, thank you, really. I mean, I am getting way more out of this than you are." Seperating, they shared a look that would solidify between a connection that, as time progressed, would be limitless.

  Chuckling, clearly amused, Medea drew their attention. "Today we are going to establish our training and learning schedule. Alexandros, as you are my full apprentice, which most of your peers start at ten, you are in fact allowed to remain here until you are old enough to enter the Olympian Rites. That give us exactally two years to get started, which is less time than you realize. To help this, we will also explore your Dreamscape, and train there... all of us will work there.

  Dian, you will help instruct Alexandros-"

  "Xander is fine." Alexandros interrupted. "My name can be a mouthful."

  She smiled. "Xander, then... Dian you will instruct Xander in martial combat, as well as helping condition him to a higher level. Do not worry about going to far, I am a master healer. From there you will both spend several hours, after breaking your fast, on your studies. Magic is an academic art, you will need to understand all that has come before you to truly manifest the powers within you. Then, you will practice more combat with Dian, only this time adding in your learned magic into the lessons... finally, you will heal yourselves with my help, as I refuse to allow you to only be a brute as most modern heroes are.

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  Dian, I will not have you only be at tool. When Xander is studying general magic, I will work with you on controlling your divine powers. Though only a legacy, my powers as sorcereress magnified the negatives of my ties to Helios... I understand your suffering, better than most. Together, we will work on learning to harness your powers, your purpose and help you gain as much control as is possible.

  Then, together, as you sleep, in the Dreamscape, we will work on a reviewing what you have learned, as well as mastering Dream Magic. This magic is... underused, the rarest of magics humans master, which is foolish as Dreams connect Life and Death. Prophecy, Power, Knowledge, Healing... so much can be manifested through Dreams, and as is it in fact my truest, most trusted magic... you will both master it!

  Now, before we start, there is one more thing. Xander, you need a tool to channel your power, as you are human your body can only handle so much power at once... so I have a wand for you." And she, from literally nothing, manifested a wand before them. It was beautiful, shaped like a glorios rose, only pure silver, emenating soft magic. "This will help allow you to manifest power without risking burning out from your own powers."

  The other boy took the wand, which started to shimmer, his eyes widening. "I felt it... bind to me."

  "Wands tend to do that, they are made for a person, not the other way around. This wand was my own, my training wand, given to me by my Aunt Pasiphae when she helped train me so many centuries ago... I thought it only fitting to pass it onto you."

  Tears started to fall down Xander's face, prompting Dian to hold his hand. "Thank you,.... thank you."

  "No more tears, my love... it is time to begin. Dian, you are the expert in martial combat here, if I remember correctly you were raised by a Champion of Ares?"

  Shivering at the memories she brought up in him, Dian nodded. "Astrid, my Aunt... She is not only Ares' Champion but his daughter... she is very, very scary." He froze, fear filling him. "Wait, no one knew I was praying to Lady Hecate, everyone saw my madness as a boon to war!" He started to choke, when Xander tightened the grip they had on each other's hands.

  Medea smiled, soft and sad. "I have already informedy your kin that I will be taking you under my wing, that you have become the Gaurdian of Hecate's Champion in training. They were very proud, and very confused but they accepted it." That did relieve his worries, at least a bit. "So.... shall we get started?"

  Nodding, Dian reached out, summoning his Thyrsus to his hands. The symbol of Dionysius and Menead's in general, it was the only gift his mad Mother had left him. "I want to see where his conditioning is now, let's get started by jogging around the room."

  Xander cringed. "I have... I am human, entirely mortal, remember that."

  Dian just smiled. "I would never judge you... now, show me what you can do."

  The trust in Xander's eyes would start in Dian a healing he never foresaw as possible... and boy was he grateful for it.