Should I start a new story when I do Sea of Monsters of keep it as a part of this?
What do yout Think of Aaron? Is he interesting, fun and engaging?
This chapter is dedicated to BeckTheProgram and Death Fury for their encouragement and engagement in this story.
The next morning, Aaron and Percy each found a form letter on their bedside table.
I knew Dionysus must've filled it out, because he stubbornly insisted on getting my name wrong:
Dear_ Aaron Mathews_ ,
If you intend to stay at Camp Half-Blood year-round, you must inform the Big House by noon today. If you do not announce your intentions, we will assume you have vacated your cabin or died a horrible death. Cleaning harpies will begin work at sundown. They will be authorized to eat any unregistered campers. All personal articles left behind will be incinerated in the lava pit.
Have a nice day!
Mr. D (Dionysus)
Camp Director, Olympian Council #12
Having expected this, and having decided that he was staying at the Camp ( he could have graduated highschool as it was, years of studying in the library to compensate for life on the streets ensured that.) Aaron decided to stay in his cabin while Percy went out to practice with his sword. It was a hot day and the cabin he was in never strayed above eighty degrees. It was the perfect place to start piling on the potion work, since it was the next part of his training.
As he ground his herbs, lavender and mint and sage, with a mortal and pestle he imagined his conversation with Percy the night before. It had been particularly short and simple but for some reason it stuck with him.
"Your staying? Why?"
Aaron smiled, shrugging. "I like it here and I can study the craft without borders here. If I move in with your mom, much as I would love to see her frequently, I would be restricted in all fields. I couldn't train under Chiron, practice the craft with help, master my archery or get a grip on my Trident work. I would set myself back by a full year or at least several months and that would just suck."
"I get that..." Percy sighed, turning away. " This should be easy. No more school and all of the crap that comes with that but there's mom to consider. For the first time, I have the chance to live with her for a whole year, without Gabe. I have a chance be at home and knock around the city in my free time."
Nodding, Aaron sighed. "But you'd also never get in any training. Luke is still out there and I cannot see Annabeth not chasing after him as soon as she gets a sign. I can't see you not joining her."
Percy flushed a little. "Any pros to you staying with us?"
"I'd get to teach you and your mom magic and we'd get to hang out. I wouldn't be homeless, I'd get to hang around your mom, We'd be able to spar together, you can teach me to swim better then the little we have managed so far... there are some other things but I can't think of them."
The decision had been hard but in the end he kept up with his choice to stay at Camp. He would become powerful here, strong and mighty and capable... someone to be feared and respected. It was the whole reason he gained magic in the first place and he planned on honoring that idea. When Percy returned from his time in the outside world, he would be amazed and dazzled at the new skills and powers Aaron had managed to accumulate... of course, that wasn't counting on the fact that he would be frequently visiting Percy and Sally.
A sizzling in his mortar alerted him to the completion of his minor potion. Drawing his attention fully from his thoughts, he turned to the mortar with a happy smile.
Placing the bowl on his side table, he placed a hand on either side of it. "Okay, now just add water, a dash of salt and cast the spell." Humming softly, he focused on the constant pull of cold energy in his blood, pulling on it to fuel his spell. "Incante: Firmans perpeti atque otium tension" Power flooded the little bit of water, boiling it even as the bowl started to spin. Over and over again, he chanted the spell and channeled his power, stopping when he felt the bowl start to push against his power. Releasing the magic, he looked over and saw a disgusting seaweed green solution that smelted nothing like Lavender or Sage... " Perfect! A soothing paste, I am badass."
Stuck in a little swirl of happiness, he almost didn't notice the letter that appeared in a swirl of wind, landing softly before him.
"The hell?" Curious, and a little afraid since he had no idea what the hell kind of magic could do that or if the object was cursed, he held back and didn't touch it. Not that it mattered as the letter floated up, and the words on the page began to echo in his mind.
Aaron,
I am sorry to say that I am leaving, as are all my siblings and fellow mages. We choose to join Luke and Kronos.
There was a pause, his eyes wide with shock and horror. " Are you kidding me? Alabaster, why would you do this? They'll kill you!" He wanted to scream out but before he could, the letter continued to speak to him.
We are not the only ones, many will join our cause in the coming days. A cause worth fighting for, one that I know you will never accept. We cast a spell, a divining of your true nature. You would never fight for Kronos, your too loyal to Percy and yourself to ever join him. I am sad to hear this, we wanted you to join us. Your a rare talent with magic, you'll never be the most powerful but you will always be skilled.
I can tell.
Mother is also joining us, I'll give you a moment to embrace that.
"Even Hecate is joining you? That's... my ride here, she is the whole reason I am allowed in camp. If she's left then that means..."
Surely you know that means that you are no longer going to be allowed in camp. Her technical betrayal means that the connection to all realms will be denied to her subjects, which you are a part of. I am sorry for that, but it means that you will have to leave Camp. I know how much it meant to you, and for that I am sorry.
However, I still wish to tell you why... why we are leaving, why we are joining him. You've earned that much...
It comes in layers, first we are tired of the unclaimed being tossed aside. Many of them are actually the children of the main twelve and they are still be ignored by their parents. Countless many are left to die in the real world, most are just tossed in a cabin we can barely fit in and left to rot because our parents are given no respect or glory. They cannot give us a place to stay or any form of care...
The gods are a divine mafia, gutless bullies that use and abuse us all. We want to tear apart Olympus and the Western world and rebuild it with something more honest.
The invitation for you to join our side is open, but not for long.
Please make a better choice then we divined.
Yours,
Alabaster C. Torrington
Almost too much, Aaron collapsed into his chair just as the letter crumpled itself up and fell onto his side table. The silence in the room was almost haunting, leaving him stunned, almost afraid to even talk or even breath. What could he do, what should he do? Only one thing was really clear.
"I have to report this... but then what?"
Shakily, he stood, quickly putting away his paste in a container, before making his way out of the cabin. The empty grounds and searing heat was abominable but oddly comforting as he mindlessly drifted. He had aimed for the Big House but for some reason he went the opposite way and ended up drifting towards the pavilion. The crackling of fire drew his attention, where he saw a cute little girl around the age of nine sitting there, poking it with a stick. She was dressed a little odd for the heat, a scarf on her head and her body covered in a brown robe looking thing. Yet she didn't seemed warm in the slightest, maybe she was a Vestal Virgin?
"Hi... I haven't seen you around here." He approached, feeling a paternal surge of energy as he looked at the cute little girl. "What's your name?"
She smiled at him, a mix of shock and pleasure in her warm brown eyes. "I know you, your Aaron." She beamed a happy smile at him. "Your one of the heroes that went on that dangerous quest."
"Yeah, I am." He approached her, standing as he looked into the massive hearth. " Do you mind if I stay here for a minute. I need to pray and it feels easier when I am near the sacrificial flame."
She just shrugged. " Sure."
"Thank you... sigh..." Closing his eyes, and feeling her presence, Aaron tossed in his freshly made soothing paste. 'I don't have much, and I am sorry for that... but I suspect that you know that you know the truth of Hecate's betrayal. I have to leave this place more then likely, and I guess... well I guess I wanted to apologize and swear on Styx that I am not choosing Kronos. I have no plans to either." He heard a ripple of thunder above him from invoking the name of the great binder. "I know in these troubling times, I must seem so unimportant but know that I am loyal to my brother and he is loyal to you lot. I am loyal to this Camp... It must not mean much but that is the truth...
Before I go, I have some ideas that might mitigate the wars to come, the damage and betrayals. In his letter, Alabaster said that a big part of why they are leaving in the living conditions of the children unclaimed in Hermes' cabin, actually even his kids are being forced to live in ridiculously tight quarters. They are the only cabin that actually gets sick because of that. I was thinking, maybe, you can make a cabin and name in honor of Hestia. She is the Goddess of the Home and Hearth, I cannot see her minding. She is neutral territory for the gods, so maybe it would be a good place for those without a home... Just food for thought...
I'll leave tonight, after I inform Dionysius and Chiron of what I know about the other mages... thank you for letting me be here why it lasted. Like the first day, I still appreciate all that I have been given. Food, shelter and opportunities…
Thank you.'
Smiling, Aaron turned and smiled at the little girl. " Thank you, I'll be going now. It was nice to see you, whatever your name I-" He stopped, looking at her hands, where the very soothing paste he had just cast into the fire now lay. "Is that my paste?"
The girl opened it up, frowning at the nasty smell. "I never understood why most beginner potions smell so bad, no matter how effective they become later. It is a pity... " Smiling as she closed the jar up, she looked over to him, her eyes gone and in their place tiny campfires. " I heard your prayer child, and it is a wonderful idea. I will see what I can do... now, you best get your stuff ready... after talking to Chiron and my Nephew of course. I am afraid that you are right about your invitation, It has or will be revoked shortly." Soft and sweet, she reached over and brushed her hand across his face. Warmth flooded his spirit and some of his grief, pain and shock faded away. " Since you offered to me, I can do at least that for you. Now, off you go. You do not have much time."
Stunned, he turned on heel and marched away, obeying the orders of the Goddess he sort of talked down too...
'Please don't smite me... and please take my idea to heart. We need to start mitigating the damage before it spikes too much... please, please let everything be okay.'
Sighing long and slow, he made his way to the Big House, quickly finding Chiron and Mr. D playing Pinochle. They turned to look at him, concern and boredom respectively in their eyes.
"Aaron, what is the matter, Child?"
He stood there for a long time, waiting to speak... and then, finally, he just handed the letter over to Chiron. " There is a lot we need to talk about."
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
There will be a sequel- But should it be in it's own story or part of this one?
Invigorate and ease tension.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika