I ran out of the class, ignoring the shouts of Father Mitchel to slow down.

I've got another training session with Triton today!

Training has been fun in many aspects- I've swung a sword!- but other things weren't as fun. Like having to learn every single sea deity and their courts' names and allies. There's so many.

Learning new languages is fun though. I think I really like languages: Halmaheran, Greek and Latin already came so easily, and my English and Ancient Tongue were slowly coming along.

The Ancient Tongue is the language of the gods, similar yet different to Linear A-Greek (the oldest version of Greek). Triton said that the gods once spoke it around mortals, and that is where the mortals learnt to speak. That doesn't sound quite right to me, but I suppose that he would know better than me.

Triton told me that I'm not technically allowed to learn the Ancient Tongue just because I'm not a god, but I pouted and he caved surprisingly quickly, trying to justify himself by saying that as a prince it's good to have the upper hand and a secret skill. I don't believe him at all, but I agreed to learn it as long as I kept it secret.

I'm very good at keeping secrets, though Triton doubted me when I told him. I've kept him, Ms Athena, Mom, and Gabe's treatment of me all secret from each other and the rest of the world. But I suppose his doubt of me means that it's working.

I wonder what he'll be teac- "Oof!"

"Percy, how many times do I have to tell you to be aware of your surroundings when you run?"

I looked up, surprised to see that I've run into my brother waiting for me at the school gates, making small talk to some moms waiting for their own kids.

"Triton!" I cheered, wrapping my arms around his waist. "You're picking me up from school?"

One of the moms tittered, saying something about me and Triton being adorable.

"Yes, I have to take you to training. We're going somewhere new." Triton ruffled my hair, offering his hand.

"Is it very far?" I asked cautiously, "Cause mom is making Salmon for dinner, and I don't want to miss it even if she cooks it."

He chuckled, "I'll get you back home for dinner. Come on, don't you want to go exploring?"

That's too tempting an offer for me to resist.

I grabbed his hand and tugged him forward, "What are we waiting for? Let's go!"

"Patience, Percy."

"Aren't you the one who likes to say that the sea doesn't like to be restrained?"

He tugged on my earlobe, "Cheeky brat."

I gave him a grin.

oOo

We're in Libya. We're in Libya.

"Why?"

"This lake is sacred to me," Triton explained. "Lake Tritonis is mine; once the inhabitants of this area worshipped me and I ruled over them."

Huh. "Cool."

"Cool?" He frowned down at me.

"ενδιαφέρων" I offhandedly corrected. (interesting)

Triton's gotten me to to talk more often in Greek and Halmaheran, which is a good exercise, especially since Triton is lost when it comes to English slang.

He tried to copy me and use 'sick' when he praised me for my fighting stance, but it sounded wrong in his voice and I nearly made myself sick laughing. He no longer uses English slang.

"Ouch!"

Wha- Triton threw a spear at me!

"Pay attention, be aware of your surroundings!" He chided.

"I was!" I defended myself, "I was aware of the lake and its inhabitants."

He sighed, "Aware of your battle surroundings. Too many are lost because they become distracted in battle, even mock-battles. You have to be better than that."

The deep melancholy in his eyes is back. I knew that he wasn't seeing me, but rather Pallas.

"Sorry," I muttered. "I'll do better."

He nodded, shaking away his pain.

"Good. Now, spear up! I'll show you a new move."

oOo

I collapsed backwards into the lake, tiredly letting myself stop floating and sink to the bottom.

Triton looked down at me, amused, from where he was walking on top of the water.

"One day, you will need to fight for days without stopping for rest, and you have to be ready for then."

"Then is not now!" I protested, "We've fought for hours. I need to go home soon, let me rest!"

He sat down on the surface of the water, then let himself slowly sink down so he was floating next to me.

"I know, you are doing remarkably for your age- I am not dismissing you." He said softly, "I just want you to be better."

That's something a lot of adults say; Mom, Triton, Ms Athena, even Sister Mary (the best teacher) said it. I think that it means they care, but it really does feel like I'm not good enough.

"Sorry," I mumbled.

"What do I tell you, Paidi mou?" He smiled softly at me, brushing a hair out of my eyes.

The endearment was one that he said sometimes, usually when he looked at me and saw someone else. It meant 'my child' and I didn't mind being called it- even if it fit someone else better.

"If nobody tells me, how am I supposed to know?" I replied tentatively.

"Exactly," he said. "Ignorance and naivety is not your fault, you aren't old enough for it to be on you to know. Pallas did the same, used to blame herself for not being as wise as…" He shook his head as if he was trying to clear a bad thought. "The point is, I'm here to teach what you don't know yet. There are things you should know, but don't, and that isn't your fault. You'll achieve much, Percy, you just have to be patient and learn as you go."

I don't know why he was telling me this. Why now? We're training with the spear, not reading books. But I knew that he was just trying to impart some knowledge, so I nodded my head and accepted all he told me.

"Good. Éla," he offered me a hand. "Let's get you cleaned up before dinner, shall we?"

Translations:

Ela= Come

Paidi mou= my child

A/N

So, Percy starts training with Triton! I added the translations of the greek at the bottom, and I'll be doing that everytime there's greek/halmaheran/latin/whatever. Okay? Cool.