Chapter Twenty-Nine: Dream Learning
I growled for perhaps the eighth time in the same class block. Yeah, that's right. Class. I had to go to school instead of join Annabeth in the battle meetings at Camp.
All the demigods were traveling back to Long Island, summer had been over for a week now, and they were able to leave school. Me? Oh no! Amphitrite, the Queen of Party Poopers, insisted I go to school!
I glared at the unlucky Greek history professor. My gaze hadn't wavered from him since the beginning of class. He was sweating bullets. I would have found it amusing, if I wasn't in such a foul mood.
I had gone through three classes now. My lunch was the next block up. Once again, I sat alone. Elise wasn't sitting with me, because it was unseemly.
I sighed and picked at my food, wondering what Ouranos told me what seemed ages ago, wondering at the mystery that surrounded me concerning the Fates. I wondered what the secret of the gods were. I wondered at when Kronos would strike. I worried that I wouldn't survive this war. I worried that Annabeth would die. Grover. My other friends. Only fairy tales had happy endings. This was reality.
Someone, who I called a friend, would die. I shivered. It was a horrible thought.
"Well, well, well!" Speaking of 'friends'…
I groaned. "Hunt, I know you hate me. I know you despise me. Don't dig yourself into a deeper grave. Just content yourself with glaring holes into the back of my head."
Hunt growled. "You made me the laughing stock of my friends. I have to work among the commoners and lower class!"
I stared at him. "If your friends scoff at the notion of work, then I don't think they were very good friends to begin with. How's Mako and Tolo? I haven't seen them lately."
Hunt sneered. "I wouldn't know. They're worms! Vlahas! I don't spend time with them anymore."
I looked at him and saw traces of Luke in his eyes. He was bitter, angry. I shivered again. I had just made my first mer enemy.
Hunt leaned closer to me and whispered into my ear. "Wava-us teliat rien, Percy!" [I wish you were dead, Percy.]
I went cold. I knew he meant every word. I stared at him. "You do, don't you?" I laughed dryly. "Well, maybe you'll get your wish?"
Nodding thoughtfully, I chuckled. "Maybe you'll get your wish. There is war above surface. I'm fighting in that war. I will probably die. Don't worry, Hunt. You'll most likely get your wish." I straightened up out of my seat and stared down at him. "Ava-us telia." [I forgive you.] With that, I swam away. I wasn't hungry anymore.
I sighed and relaxed outside. I found myself dozing slightly. Trusting my guards to protect me if needed, I fell asleep.
Once again, I was in a black marble pavilion. This time, however, only two people were there. Night and Ouranos.
"We blessed you. You will find that you can do many more things because of this blessing." Night purred.
I turned to face her, but she melted into the dark and reappeared behind me. Ouranos rolled his eyes. "Let my sister have her theatrics. I am here to actually give serious council. Don't tell Zeus or your father, until you are certain that they will receive you correctly. I do not know how Zeus views me. Therefore, it would be wise to keep our blessing you a secret. Keep everything about us, a secret, in fact."
I nodded. "Does this sorcery business have anything to do with you?"
Night sighed. "Noo…but I wish it had. I do so love sorcery. It's such a dark practice!" She dragged her finger down the nape of my neck. I suppressed a shiver.
I forced bravery and rolled my eyes. "Yeah, I expected that from you. By the way, why did you bless me? I was-"
"It doesn't matter what you might have said or done in the past, boy!" Ouranos gave me a minute shake of his head. I suddenly realized that Night must either not recognize me as the tourist who escaped her, or, if she did, then bringing it up might not be for the best. Ouranos continued.
"We summoned you to teach you your new abilities. You've already discovered the ability to influence and speak to dark creatures. The ability to create a star was also an ability."
His eyes twinkled like…well…stars. "Clever idea of yours by the way. Another ability is to create darkness. You can see through it, but no one else can. You will be able to emanate darkness. Also, Night's children will have no power over you. You will be immune to them."
I grinned. That was sweet.
Night smiled. "I'd imagine you'd like the creating darkness talent. After all, you used it so well against my own children back in Tartarus." She slid her fingers through my black hair, tucking wayward strands behind my ear. I swallowed slightly and glanced uncertainly at Ouranos. He nodded slowly, signaling that it was alright.
Night smiled at me. "You faced me down. You and that girl were terrified and yet you faced me. I like that." She smiled. "I know sorcery, boy. I've mastered it. I can show you if you like."
I wanted to decline, but the look in her dark eyes told me that accepting her offer was the healthiest option.
"I am honored that you would be willing to take the time to teach me, Lady of Darkness."
Night smiled at me, amazed. "It seems that this boy has a silver tongue! I like it!"
I forced a smile on my face. "It is my lady's presence. All things velvet and smooth are brought forth from me." I was gathering all the speech lessons that Triton had taught me to the front of my brain again.
Contrary to popular belief, I had listened to him and had taken his lessons to heart. Smooth talking could possibly get me out of a thousand and one different situations, so I had learned all I could. All I had to do was get practice.
Night laughed delightedly. "Listen to how sweetly compliments roll off his tongue, Ouranos! I am glad you chose this boy to bless. I am very glad at my decision to bless him."
I bowed. "My lady, my lord, perhaps you will answer just one, small question?"
Ouranos looked at me curiously. "Ask away."
I took a breath. "What is the secret of the gods that they keep so quiet? I have been led to believe that it could help win against Kronos and Tartarus."
Night and Ouranos glanced at each other nervously. "If you need to know, then you will find out. We cannot be the ones to alter fate. Not even the Fates can alter the fabric of Time."
Night laughed nervously. "I'll begin the first lesson of sorcery right now! First off! You must understand how magic actually works. It is your will. Magic is a force that can be bent and twisted to your will. It is alive and yet not alive. Magic is alive like wind or water, and yet is not alive, because is has no mind of it's own. It is wild, but can be harnessed."
I stared at her, transfixed. "How?"
She smiled. "Through words, symbols, physical items, or sheer force of will. We shall begin with symbols." She procured a piece of chalk and started drawing circles on the marble floor.
Ouranos shook his head and vanished. I listened and took in as much as I could. Night was having me draw perfect circles with symbols around the edges. I felt like Edward Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist.
Which brought me to asking a question. "Lady Night?"
She paused. "Yes?"
I gulped. "What about alchemy?"
Night sighed. "Alchemy is a scientific magic. You see, there are different branches of magic. Scientific, which is alchemy, Dark, which is sorcery or witchcraft, this can contain potions, symbols, and spells together. Dark Magic can be mixed with other branches of magic as well. Another is Ethereal, which is with only the mind guiding the magic. Symbolic is when you use the symbols I'm showing you now. Physical items, like wands, potions, and staffs help store and channel magic, but it is according to your will and can be utilized verbally.
"Which brings me to the last one. This is the most powerful, or can be the most powerful if you speak in the original language of the deities. The last form is Verbal Magic. The language you use when you speak spells is very important. If you use Ancient Greek to convey your desires, then the magic will be strong but not as strong as it could be.
"The language you are learning now, Sea Tongue, it is sometimes called, is extremely powerful when used for magic. I would advise you to learn Greek, but stick with Sea Tongue. However, if you learn the original language that my brother and I spoke before Greek was even thought of then it will be incredibly potent. There is only one language that is the strongest of all, though."
I stared at her eagerly. "And?"
Night shook her head. "I cannot tell you. It is something you must find that on your own. Now, let's get back to symbols."
I sighed but listened to her lecture.
Night was just starting into how potions and symbols could be used together when I felt myself slipping out of my dream. I tried to fight it.
"Don't fight it, boy. It won't work. I'll continue when you next fall asleep."
I nodded and slipped from my dream.
Opening my eyes, I realized that Telheim was shaking me. "My Prince, forgive us, but you were not waking, we became worried."
I nodded and yawned. "Thank you for waking me up. What time is it?"
"1:15, sir."
I yelped and bolted up. "My class!" Grabbing my backpack, I swam as fast as I could to class. I slipped into the classroom just before the bell rang.
My teacher gave me a perturbed glance but left me alone. I grinned. Being a Prince was great when it meant that the teacher couldn't pick on you.
I snickered and started taking notes only to realize that my new notebook was filled with the words that Night said to me. There was a little note attached to the book.
You'll find a textbook that I have made just for you, in your backpack. It has all your lessons. Fill out the homework each day, and I'll answer your questions and give you the next lesson each night. ~ Night
I smiled and started my magic homework. It was far more interesting that Calculus anyway.
