"Are you ready to begin?" Chiron asked.

  "Yes, I'm ready," Maddie replied.

  They stood at the archery range, an open field dotted with hay bales, each topped with large paper targets marked by colorful rings. Soldiers and Mythos trained together in these fields, cycling through comprehensive weapons practice.

  As she nocked an arrow, Chiron observed her form. "You're becoming quite skilled with that bow."

  A small smile played on Maddie's lips as she nodded. She loved her bow. It reminded her of the weapon she once carried?—only this one was easier to draw, steadier in her grip, and far more accurate. She and Chiron were the only two using bows, most everyone else used firearms, which unsettled her. She could use them, yes, but their concussive shockwaves disturbed her snakes. Though they lacked ears, they sensed vibrations, and gunfire sent them into a restless frenzy.

  Under Chiron's guidance, Maddie loosed arrow after arrow, each one striking its mark with lethal precision. She was deadly with a bow—especially with explosive-tipped arrows. Her archery practice continued for several hours, until the pair eventually decided to take a break.

  As Maddie slithered away from the line, she noticed Phineus in the training stall to her left, working alongside several soldiers. He wielded a distinctive firearm, a larger, heavier version of the weapons most of the soldiers carried.

  "I like this one," he remarked to a nearby soldier, eyes gleaming. "It's much bigger and more powerful than the last."

  "That's a GPMG—General Purpose Machine Gun, or M240," the soldier explained. "Usually requires a crew of two or three, but you look like you can handle it solo."

  Phineus grinned, "I certainly can." In one fluid motion, he lifted the weapon with ease, took aim at a set of distant targets, and unleashed a controlled burst of gunfire.

  "Remember, short bursts," the soldier advised. "Don't want to overheat the barrel, and full-auto burns through ammo too fast."

  "Understood. I love this thing!" Phineus rejoiced, clearly enjoying himself.

  Maddie turned her attention to the right, where her sisters trained alongside Veronica and several other female soldiers. They had been outfitted in sleek, dark-colored suits similar to Terry's—form-fitting gear that covered them from neck to toe, with an open section at the back to allow their wings full range of motion. Each suit bore a distinct design: Stheno's was detailed with vibrant red wave patterns, while Euryale's featured striking green accents. Their hair was pulled back, revealing new sunglasses that matched their suit colors. They carried compact versions of standard military weapons, sized for easier handling.

  Her sisters launched upward, carving through the sky above the training grounds. They snapped through aggressive aerial maneuvers, weapons firing with pinpoint accuracy, then descended in perfect formation. The moment they touched down, Stheno continued her assault on the ground targets, but Euryale stumbled and fell, her face planting in the mud.

  "You okay?" Veronica asked, running over to help Euryale to her feet.

  "I'm alright. I just didn't see what I landed on—my foot slipped."

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  Veronica helped wipe some of the mud off her body. "You've got this. Let's try it again. This time, keep an eye on where you're landing, okay?"

  Euryale nodded and leaped into the air for a second run.

  "Looks like everyone's progressing well with their training," Chiron observed.

  "Yes, they certainly are." As the two left the noisy training area to go somewhere quieter, Medusa said, "Chiron, I have a question for you—but it's not about training."

  "Oh?" Chiron raised an eyebrow, a curious smile brushing his lips. "Then it must be something far more intriguing."

  Maddie shook her head. "I wouldn't go that far, but... it's something that's been on my mind lately. Especially recently."

  Chiron's expression softened. "Well then, I'd love to hear what's troubling you."

  Maddie hesitated, carefully choosing her words. "If you had the option to walk on two legs instead of four, would you choose it?"

  Chiron paused and stroked his beard.

  "Considering that I've never walked on two legs," he said, tilting his head slightly, "I suspect that question is more about you than me, wouldn't you agree?"

  Maddie's cheeks turned red. "Yes... you're very perceptive."

  "There's no need for unease," Chiron said. "I've pondered that very question myself, many times. And I suppose if I truly wished for it, a god might even grant my request—perhaps for a great sacrifice or a deed that pleased them."

  "But you've never chosen to ask?"

  "No," he replied simply.

  Maddie looked down, deep in thought. "So... are you saying I should stay as I am?"

  "No. That is not what I meant." Chiron regarded her carefully before responding. "Gaining the form of a man would make me appear more like those I spend my time with, true. But they have accepted me as I am—not just in spirit, but in body as well. I have found many strengths in this form—advantages I would not trade so easily."

  She frowned slightly. "Then what are you saying? What's the best choice?"

  "Medusa," he said, voice steady and firm. "There is no such thing as the best choice—only what is best for you."

  "Could you offer me more guidance? I'm unsure of what that means for me."

  Chiron studied her. "Have you taken the time to weigh both what you would gain and what you would lose?"

  "Somewhat," she admitted.

  He nodded, then spoke gently, his eyes steady and encouraging. "Tell me—if you had long, flowing hair and could walk on two legs, what do you believe you'd gain most from it?"

  Maddie exhaled, gritting her teeth as she spoke with intent. "A life in the temple," she said slowly. "As a priestess, serving Athena. A stable, respectable existence... one of devotion and certainty."

  Chiron nodded. "A decent, comfortable life," he echoed. "And how does that compare to your life now?"

  She hesitated. Her fingers curling slightly at her sides, her snakes wriggling in slow, restless coils. "Different. A life I never thought I could have. New friends who see me for who I truly am, not what I was turned into." She glanced up at him and smiled softly. "Friends like you—for guidance."

  Chiron's expression warmed. "And a life... perhaps with someone else as well?"

  Maddie swallowed as she blushed.

  Chiron continued, "With... a particular young lieutenant?"

  Maddie's knowing smile deepened. "Yes. Perhaps."

  Then, sensing her hesitation, he asked, "But?"

  She sighed, a crease forming between her brows. "But that life is so uncertain," she admitted. "So unpredictable. And fraught with much danger."

  Chiron's face darkened to a serious frown as he waited for a moment, then replied, "I do not wish to pry, nor do I want to stir painful memories, but... was life in Athena's temple truly any safer?"

  Maddie's lips parted as if to argue, but no counterpoints came. Just a barely murmured, "...No. It was not."

  Chiron's voice softened, though it carried quiet conviction. "The truth is, life is always uncertain. Danger is not something we escape—it is something we live with every day. We all face risks, no matter which path we choose. So, better to not let fear be your guide." He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Make your decisions not by what seems safest, but by what you truly want from this life."

  Maddie looked up at him, her eyes searching his.

  "And perhaps," Chiron continued, his voice kind yet resolute, "in following what you truly desire, you will find the happiness you seek. A happiness I believe, without a doubt, you deserve."

  Maddie inclined her head in gratitude. "Thank you—not just for the training, but for your wisdom as well."

  Chiron nodded. "And thank you, Medusa. I'll see you again tomorrow."