Chapter 11: Descent to Absolution
"Izzy, where are you taking us?" Eli said.
"Just follow."
"Well, wherever it is we're going, I hope it's close."
"What, scared some Titans might show up?" Ellie asked, her best attempt of lightening the mood.
Eli didn't reply to that, which is an answer in and of it itself. The fact that Ellie didn't take the chance to tease him also told me more about her nervousness than anything she could say.
It's only been a few hours since we defeated Eos and Helios. I don't even know if it could be called a win, more of a desperate retreat.
But we should be okay for now. Izzy had promised us safety and supplies, which aren't the words that come to mind when she brought us to a subway station. At least here the only threat was overzealous security guards. We tried to recall how mortals our age would act as she walked through the open, musty building, and struggled to keep up with her pace without running. She was the only one unhurt, and Izzy was never one to slow down for others. Worse, it was hard to keep track of her even when she didn't want to hide. Vanishing had become second nature for her.
Eventually she brought us to the train tracks and jumped down without hesitation. Nobody looked up from their phones. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. There was a certain magic in confidence. Consciously trying to be inconspicuous only makes you more suspicious. Maybe that's why Izzy was so good at what she does.
We followed from a little further back, helping each other down and onto the gravel path. The hairs on my arms pricked the instant my feet hit the ground, survival instincts kicking in as I intrinsically knew that I was not safe.
Izzy continued walking, unhurried – relaxed, if anything, taking comfort in the quiet and isolation. But from the dull orange glow of the lights, I could see her shoulders bunched up and her neck tensed.
That was strange. Seeing her nervous at all was unusual, especially when she's in her natural habitat.
"This way," she said, more to herself than anyone else. We had no trouble keeping up with her here.
I shot Felix a worried look and found him already giving one to me. Everyone on the team has grown and matured in some way. A few quite drastically. Izzy was the only one who hasn't. Despite multiple life-changing encounters, she was still the same person as the one who left camp. So why was she so nervous when we were the safest we've been since we started this quest?
My hand glided towards my golden coin. A futile gesture. Felix did his best with our remaining supplies to save my hands. I don't mind the scars that the dracaena's fangs would leave, but if I don't get any more nectar and ambrosia, I won't be fighting for a while.
Worse, Jun was out of commission. The big man swelled half again his size, the bandages hidden underneath his strained clothes making him look like an overstuffed turkey. He forced himself to move naturally despite the pain.
Izzy stopped in front of a thick door marked 'Maintenance'. She paused for a second to pick the lock and inched the door open.
Somehow, we found an even darker tunnel. Dust coated everything except for a small, straight trail, as though the poor engineers who had to go this way always took the quickest route in and out.
The suspense killed any surviving optimism. With Izzy as a guide, she won't even try to lighten the mood. I doubt she could. Something told me she needed it the most.
"Izzy? Should we be expecting a fight?" I asked.
"Don't think so."
Well, that was reassuring. But I kept quiet. Snide remarks won't be any help.
Izzy froze. I summoned my gladius, wincing at the biting pain in my hands, and held the glowing sword aloft.
"Thanks," she muttered. "Should be around… here."
We gathered round a crack in the wall. No – it was a little wider than that. The walls to either side of the fissure were made of different material, too. Red bricks on the left and smooth concrete on the right.
"Must've been a mistake," Felix said. "The subway tunnels are probably extensions of an older network, but someone screwed up and left a gap."
"Like when you cut a piece of tape and come up short?" Eli asked.
"Something like that." Felix turned to Izzy, frowning. "But how did you find this place?"
She didn't respond. Her eyes were drawn into the dark reaches of that gap, coherent thoughts pushed out by memories. From the way she set her jaw, they couldn't be pleasant.
Ellie put a hand on her shoulder, and she flinched, almost cowering before she realized who it was.
"Hey. You're not alone anymore, you know?" she said, using a voice people would reserve for rescued animals.
I don't know if her words did more harm than good, but at least it got a reaction. Izzy bit her lip and gave the smallest nod, then walked straight into the darkness. Ellie went second without a second thought.
Jun grunted as he pushed himself through the fissure after her. The look on his sweaty, reddened face made me wince. I imagined his barely reknitted skin peeling off once more.
Eli followed, then Felix, then me. It was worse than I imagined. I thought the others would wipe away any bugs or spiderwebs but being last in line was a poor choice. The insidious feeling of being followed, of knowing that there was an empty space behind you that could be hiding anything without your knowledge, grabbed my neck and wouldn't let go. It was the feeling of lying in bed at night after watching a scary movie, forcing yourself to believe that the odds of having the monster being right over your shoulder is almost nothing. Almost.
The close confines pinned my head into one position. My neck started to cramp up. I shut my eyes and pretended I was back in camp, sneaking into the colosseum with Alex and Vanessa to wreak havoc on unsuspecting charioteers.
The pounding in my ears stopped, a knot in my chest unravelling. I focused on the next step, the cadence of my breath, the rhythm of my heart, my fingertips brushing against the solid walls. One step. One step. One step.
Then my hands lost purchase, and for a horrible second, I felt myself falling, vertigo forcing the contents of my stomach up my throat. I snapped my eyes open and came back to earth, letting out a shaky breath.
The others weren't much better. Izzy, of course, had forged ahead. Her relentless pace forced us to keep moving. Fortunately, we didn't have to go for very long.
We passed through much, much older tunnels, the brick road alternating with dirt and soil at points. Izzy brought us to a wide alcove that reminded me of the barracks back home. There were cubbies cut into the walls to act as cramped bunk beds and a smattering of rickety furniture. If there were any signs of life, they scurried away from the soft glow of Imperial gold weapons.
Izzy reached into one of the recesses and pulled out a bag, unzipped it, and tossed something to me. I fumbled the catch as she threw more stuff to the others. It was a granola bar, the homemade kind that was only a little softer than stone and nearly as durable. Tasted like it too.
We looked for a place to sit, gave up, and laid down on the packed earth with backpacks as pillows. Izzy moved like a squirrel from nook to cranny and produced more food than we could eat in a day. She gathered a pile of sticks and bits of paper, struck a match, and made a small bonfire, throwing a little more fuel for the flame. It was little comfort, but we huddled around it like cubs. Only then was she satisfied and joined the rest of us in eating.
We eyed each other. Whose turn was it to speak up?
"Izzy?" Eli asked, breaking the silence. "Could you tell us how you found this place?"
Izzy ignored him, choosing instead to fidget in place and stare at her granola bar.
Eli frowned and opened his mouth to demand an answer, but Jun touched his shoulder and shook his head.
Ellie scooted away from Jun and closer to her. She didn't say or do anything else. She didn't have to. Some people can't function with that kind of pressure. They need time, and patience, and space, but like everyone else, they still need companionship. It's just that Izzy needed a simple presence and nothing more. It's been nearly a year, but I think I've finally figured out that Izzy needed something I couldn't give.
We made quiet conversation. When we ran out of things to say, Eli was the first to talk.
"Where do you think we are?" he said.
It was a while before anyone answered. We'd settled into our seats and got as comfortable as we could. Nobody was eager to go from the moment's peace and return to more serious matters.
Of course, the onus was on me to get morale back up. I opened my mouth to speak. Felix beat me to it.
"Hard to say. We didn't really learn American history or geography in the legion. Still, if I were to guess… this far south, I'd say that this was dug out by miners for coal or something."
"Wouldn't we be deeper underground?" Ellie said.
"Maybe this was just for transport," Jun suggested.
"No, then there'd be railroads or tracks."
"Okay, you big fucking nerd," Eli said. "Let's hear your idea."
"Thanks, asshole," Ellie said, smiling sweetly. "I think this is just an old subway system. It became obsolete, and nobody felt the need to remove it, so here it is."
"Close," Izzy said. "This is the Underground Railroad."
"Under…" Ellie blinked. "There's no way. We're somewhere in Texas, right? It doesn't go this far."
"Slavery was still alive when Harriet Tubman died. Others continued her work. Some got far."
We waited for Izzy to elaborate. She didn't.
"How far?" I asked.
"I don't remember exactly," Ellie said. "Tennessee, I think?"
"Louisiana," Izzy corrected.
"Jesus. How do you know all this? Is it – this isn't connected to the Labyrinth, is it?" I said.
Izzy frowned. "The what?"
"Nothing," I said quickly. Stupid. Reyna made it clear that we weren't supposed to talk about the Labyrinth. If people knew that there were magical tunnels that lead straight to the heart of camp, we'd have riots.
"It's just, uh, something I remember from a video game."
Everyone rolled their eyes. Eli finally looked interested. Izzy didn't believe a word I said, but I don't think she cared either. She understood the need for secrets.
"But this is great," Felix said. "We need to get to Florida anyhow. What better way to travel than through the tunnels? The Titan siblings chasing us will use their chariots. We can stay underground and get there no problem."
"You want us to walk through five states?" Jun asked drily.
"Better than risking another fight with them. You guys realize that, don't you? We're only alive because they underestimated us. If they'd worked together from the beginning and fought for real, we'd be dead in minutes. The next time we fight a Titan, things won't be the same."
"He's right," I said. "Besides, remember what Reyna said. There's no doomsday clock. We have all the time in the world. If we only surface for food and supplies, I think we can make this work."
"But that could take months," Eli said. "I've been down here for hours and I'm starting to forget what the sun looks like. Are you telling me that you can stay sane living down here for that long?"
"I'll do whatever it takes. I'm not going to fight one of those things again. And if I have to, I'd want to be able to use both hands," I said, lifting them up. In the dull light, I could see blood encrusting the bandages. My fingers didn't extend fully.
"I guess," Eli sighed. "This is all going to be worth it, right? We're doing this to save the world? Because sometimes I forget why we're all risking our necks out here every day. I'm not scared or anything, but…"
"Just a little longer," Felix said. "There shouldn't be any more fights from here on out. Technically, we weren't even supposed to fight at all. We should be on a yacht right now, cruising down to Puerto Rico and then renting a boat to wherever the hell Circe's island is."
"Oh, that's right," Ellie said. "We don't even know where we're going."
"I think having the son of the sea god with us will help."
I stared at the ground and still felt their eyes on me. As if I knew the answers. I had no idea how to get there either. I don't even know if my powers would do anything. It was a heavy burden to carry, yet it was somehow exhilarating. It was reassuring to know that people trusted you that much.
"I'll find a way," I said. "If Reyna could find it when she was a kid, then we can too. I think she mentioned finding a nymph in Puerto Rico who led them there. We just have to follow her footsteps."
"Right," Felix said, a small smile dancing on his lips. "Did she say anything else?"
"Not really. She told me everything she remembered, but like I said, she was just a kid."
"Okay," Ellie said, that same snide smile taking over her face. "But did she say anything else a little more… personal?"
"Uh… no?" What was going on? Did they somehow know about Reyna's past? No, there's no way she'd blab about it to anyone else.
"Of course, of course," Eli said with an increasingly annoying look on his face. "But did she say anything – " he wiggled his eyebrows " – intimate?"
"Okay," I sighed. "Alright. I don't know what's got into you people. One minute we were talking about the quest, and now we're off the rails again."
"Can you blame us?" Jun said. "It's the only thing interesting going on in your life. We don't want to hear about swordsmanship or video games or the NBA for the millionth time."
"Please," I scoffed. "You're even worse than me. It's been nearly a whole year, and you only noticed Ellie after she almost died. Not much of a lady's man either."
"What's that supposed to mean?" he said, frowning. Even in the dark we could see him reddening. We laughed, and none louder than Ellie.
"But seriously," she said. "You talk a lot, but never about yourself. Not really. It's nice to be reminded that our fearless leader is human, you know? Besides, that's what everyone brings up in camp when we have nothing else to talk about. When we need to take a break from reality, it always goes back to speculating who's dating who, and you two are like the biggest power couple in camp."
"You think so?" I said.
"Gods, you really are stupid, aren't you?"
"I thought people were just crushing on Reyna."
"I'm sure there are plenty who do, but nobody's made a move because we just assumed you two were together," Ellie said. "You are, right? Together, I mean. You're only playing dumb to keep it undercover?"
"Uh…"
"Jesus, dude," Eli said. "Even I can tell that you're made for each other."
"Please, you're the worst one here," Ellie said, rolling her eyes. "You were practically drooling over that gladiator chick. 'Did you see that girl? How old do you think she is? Is that her natural eye colour? Do you think she's single?' Gods, it's a miracle our guards didn't just kill you."
"Hey!" Eli said. "That was private!"
"It wasn't private when you talked about it back in the car. Did you think the others couldn't hear you just because you kept your head down?"
Eli surged forward and tried to tackle Ellie, but she was ready for it. Ellie twisted and caught her twin in a headlock and gave him a noogie.
"Those people make me nervous," Jun muttered. "They're dangerous. I think it's best for everyone if we never meet them again."
"Really?" I said. "I thought you'd be the most appreciative of them. Say what you will about their motives, but they know what they were doing."
"No. They're more trouble than they're worth. All that talk about liberty and revolution. Obsessing over an ideology corrupts people, even if they have the best intentions. The person with big ideas and the person with swords should be two different people."
"Wait." Eli got out of his sister's chokehold with surprising ease. "Do you really mean that? I mean, they're not so bad, aren't they? I even think they're good."
"What, at fighting? Sure, but – "
"No, at being decent human beings. They go around helping people, freeing slaves, killing tyrants, that kind of stuff, right?"
Shit. I should've known this was coming. Every boy's dream was to go on adventures with his friends to destroy evil. Spartacus was the epitome of that dream. Eli would be someone he can easily convince. The problem is, I can't honestly say that he'd be in the wrong.
"Eli? Where are you going with this?" Ellie said.
"Don't hate me," he blurted out. "But you saw those guys, right? They knew what they were doing. And I know the legion's been good to me, but some things are just so fucking toxic, you know? Don't do this, always do that. Chase power. Be selfish. Trust your fellow man in war, but when you're off the battlefield, it's okay to backstab them for your own ambitions? And worse, that mentality works. It's what put Rome on the radar and made us stay there. I just think that… maybe it's time for a change. And Spartacus is offering that."
What can I say that hasn't been said already? "I don't think it's a good idea," I said. "Grass is always greener on the other side and all that. Still, Spartacus might be a little unhinged, but so are we."
"What're you saying?" Eli said. Ellie turned to me, worried.
I took a deep breath. "I'm saying that you're not a child anymore. You risked your life and proved yourself in battle. That says more about you than any letter of recommendation ever could. And I consider you a friend. Not because you're Roman, but because you're you. It doesn't matter what you choose to do in life. That shouldn't come between us. You're your own person. I can't force these decisions on you."
"Percy," Ellie begged.
"Of course," I said, holding up a hand. "You should think long and hard. We might end up fighting on the same side if all goes well. But you really need to ask yourself if this is what you want to do. And even if it's the wrong decision, I trust that you can make it right."
Eli's eyes shone. "Thank you, Percy. That means a lot more than you think. It feels… nice. To have a choice."
He seemed to drain energy from Ellie. Felix was staring at me too, and even Jun looked unsettled. But what can I do? Eli's right. The legion was not a healthy environment. I liked it well enough, but it could be so much better. I know I should be grateful to have a place to call home. But sometimes I wish I had a choice. I was just giving Eli that opportunity.
"Least I could do," I said. "You guys do realize that you have a choice, right? My job is to convince you to stay with the legion. If I ever have to force you, then it's already too late. So make your choice."
"Okay," Izzy said suddenly. "I can do that. I'll try."
That was a little out of left field. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised since it's Izzy, but what made her speak now?
"I ran away from home," Izzy said. "I used these tunnels to get to camp. From New Orleans.
"My dad was a singer there. He performed for tourists, with a small band, one gig after another. It was great. But the better he got, the worse he became. I get that he won't always have time for me. I've known since I was a little girl. But one day he disappeared into his work. Nothing was ever good enough for him.
"Then my mom came back home. She'd heard his prayers and finally answered. But she left just as suddenly. He kept trying different sounds. Didn't work. Lost friends. Made enemies. Then one day he decided that his next big idea was to use me. If his voice couldn't attract my mom anymore, maybe a demigod's might.
"Who was she?"
"Calliope."
"The Muse?"
"Yeah."
Izzy, singing? It was hard to imagine. But then again, she always spoke in a strange, lilting tone, purposely breaking up her sentences. I always thought it was out of anxiety or something. Instead it might be to stop herself from going into any kind of rhythm. But while she was always reticent, she was never shy or quiet. Even now she spoke with a clear, strong voice. I guess it's hard to notice someone's voice if they never talk.
"It worked," she continued. "Mom came back. They were happy for a while. But they kept pushing me, harder and harder. It was never enough. I could never be like my mom. So, she disappeared again, and this time my dad blamed me.
"I hated them. Hated their anger and resented their happiness. They used me. Everything I did was always for them. I hated my voice. Hated music. Wished I could melt into the darkness and disappear. One day I did.
"Ran away and stayed away. Found a tunnel. Went deeper. Explored. Met others like me. Talked about a Camp in San Francisco. Went that way."
"Wait. How old were you when you ran?" Ellie said.
"Eight."
"And you came to camp when you were… eleven?"
"Twelve."
"And… how much of that time did you spend underground?"
Izzy bowed her head and rubbed her temples. She averted her eyes and rolled her shoulders, curling into a ball, trying to hide in plain sight. Everything was making a bit more sense.
"I know I shouldn't. I'm bad enough now. Even worse then. But I just wanted to run. Hide, and pretend I never lived. You know?"
The others sat up, trading worried glances. But we shouldn't worry about her anymore, right? She trusted us enough to speak up. We need to respect her courage.
"What made you leave?" I asked.
She took a moment before answering. "I'm still trying to find out. I think I made the right decision. Not sure. I'm changing too much. Not the same person anymore."
"You've changed?" Eli asked with a frown. Ellie shut him up with an elbow.
"Yes. I would have run away. After the yacht. But I stayed. I don't know why. Being with you makes me feel… strange. I can be quiet without being ignored. That's never happened before. It feels… good? Like I make a difference."
Ellie smiled. "I think that's called happiness, Izzy." She shifted beside her and slowly put her arms around her shoulders.
Izzy froze, eyes darting. Then her muscles relaxed, and she leaned a little into the hug, her lips shaping something like a smile.
The good mood stayed for the rest of the night. We were careful not to pressure Izzy too much. Ellie's hug, which lasted all of five seconds, made her curl up in a ball and step away from the conversation. I guess she was done with social interaction for who knows how long.
With her leaving, though, the energy drained out of our talks until we fell asleep one by one. It felt like more like a long, slow blink, especially since being underground made me lose track of time.
Once everyone was up, I decided to occupy them with an inventory check. Izzy's food stores were only enough for a couple more days and we were out of nectar and ambrosia. Cash wasn't quite as bad, unless you factor in airplane tickets for the trip from Florida to Puerto Rico. I guess I should be grateful that Felix had saved any money at all. Still, it did put a damper on our moods as Izzy led us to another of her boltholes.
"How do you remember this path?" I asked. "I haven't seen any signs or markings."
"I went back and forth for almost a year, trying to decide if I should go to camp."
"Still – "
"And I kept notes of the directions. I read that escape plan every day for months when I first arrived. Now it's harder to forget than remember."
"Do you still have it?"
"It was our bonfire last night."
I cracked a smile. Maybe she was changing after all.
The next few days were much like this one. Stumbling in the dark with a vague sense of foreboding building with each step, barely keeping sight of each other, trying to stay sane by way of inane conversation, but we were coming up with other ways of keeping busy.
"Where are you going?" I said one night. We were spent after a whole day of walking, and Jun was walking away from our camp.
"Practice. Can't get rusty."
"You're injured."
"No better time."
"Fine," Felix said. "Open all your wounds. It's your body. Just try not too bleed too much, alright?"
"Noted." Jun didn't comment on the sarcasm and walked away to get some privacy – which, in nearly pitch darkness, wasn't very far at all.
There was nothing I'd like more than to get some sleep, but Jun did have a point. Healing my hands won't mean anything if I've forgotten how to use them. I stood and followed him.
"I'm coming too," Eli said, getting to his feet. He grabbed his sword and stretched on our way over. He was still overenthusiastic, his movements a little excessive, but that bottomless well of energy had been sharpened. Battle had changed the naïve boy into a learning warrior.
Jun was unsurprised to see that we'd come along. He went through his strange forms, flowing from sweeping lunges and feints into brutal cuts and parries, his sword leaving a translucent trail as it ravaged the air.
I summoned my own gladius and almost dropped it. The reassuring weight became a burden with my hands ruined, and I fumbled the first step of my usual warmup. I cursed, tried again, and forced myself to make it work. Before long I moved through my own routine, but what was supposed to be a combination of efficient Roman and dynamic Greek swordsmanship became stiff and clumsy. Only when I held my sword in both hands did I feel confident in my strength, though that required a different set of skills. I'd have relearn everything.
Frustrated, I turned to Eli for a change of pace, maybe crack a joke to relieve the tension and calm me down. Instead I was greeted with a surprise. Eli began his own exercises without imitating me or Jun. It was the basic stuff we taught to every legionary in camp with small variations I didn't recognize. I was watching him make his own style. It was sloppy, impractical, and redundant, but there were a few good moves, and one or two that I might have trouble doing.
Eli had a level of focus I've never seen him achieve, one he got after finally doing away with the recklessness and inferiority complex. Disturbing him now would break all that. I turned instead to Jun. He was about as a conversational as ever, though there were a few subtle changes in his style that gave me an excuse to start a conversation.
"I don't think I've ever seen you do a cut like that."
"There's a lot I have to do," Jun said. "I thought I was pretty good, all things considered. Guess I should've known better. Fighting a Titan was… interesting."
"That's true. None of the usual tactics work."
"Yeah. Need to adjust on the fly. Doesn't help that they all have magic too."
"Still, they're not invincible. Prometheus doesn't seem very strong, and Spartacus almost killed Selene."
"And some are invincible. None of us can challenge Oceanus or even Helios."
I stayed quiet. "Do you have something in mind?"
"Maybe. But like Felix said, they're not even taking us seriously. It's like we're preparing to fight a lion who turns out to be a chimera. Though if we do find the spear of Trygon, everything should be equalized. A weapon that kills with a scratch… that would be very useful."
"If we can use it. There are plenty of good fighters in the legion, though we really only use spears in formation. I can't imagine using anything other than a sword against a Titan."
"I think you should wield it. Your quest. Your reward."
"I'm not that good with a spear, though."
"Then learn."
I sighed inwardly. Oh, Jun. Always the direct approach.
Still, he had a point. I try to keep my mind only on the next obstacle, the next step. Never the long run. I guess deep down, I was always hoping someone else would change things and I wouldn't need to do anything. That illusion was gone. It's time I moved from recognizing the problem to working on a solution.
I tossed my sword in the air and summoned the spear. It was like betraying a friend. The Imperial gold felt dead and clammy in my hands, nothing more than a pointy stick. I've used it in the past, sure, and I was half-decent at throwing it, but I would never choose it over my gladius. But I had to admit, it was a lot easier to use a spear than a sword when there are holes in your hands.
I took a page out of Eli's book and went over the fundamentals they taught in camp. It was worse than useless. These moves were meant to be used in formation with a disciplined army, all jabs and thrusts. They can't be used against most monsters, let alone Titans. But I forced myself to go through them all the same. Work on the absolute basics – footwork, grip, balance.
I had to change the way I stood, feet a little further apart, knees bent sharper. My back became one sore bruise far too soon. I was working with different muscles. The vitals I targeted would be different. Maybe now I can reach a Cyclops's eye and triceps, but if I was close enough to get the kidneys or heart, it was probably a mistake.
Damn. Even my approach was different. The way I used my sword was all about creating opportunities, forcing my opponent to make a mistake and pouncing when they did. With a spear, I had to make sure that they would never even make a decision. The fight must always go my way or I'm dead.
I ran out of breath before the other guys even finished their warmups. And that was just from the basic drills. I haven't even explored other styles, where I would use the spear as a staff as well.
"You know," Eli said with a grin, "I don't think I've ever seen you so pissed off. It's actually making me feel good about myself."
"Thanks," I said, planting my spear on the ground and leaning on it. "That's reassuring."
"You're welcome. I might even be a better swordsman than you by the time you learn how to use a spear."
"I think I'm more likely to get a wife and three kids before you learn how to fight."
Eli cackled. Though I didn't really believe my own words. He had the makings of a great fighter. Maybe he wasn't the fastest learner, but with his speed and determination, there's no telling how far he'll go.
"In fact, I feel so bad about you, I might even give you advice. Can I see that last move again?"
"Really? Or do you just need a break, old man?"
"Shut up and swing that sword already."
Eli smiled and obeyed. He raised his sword and swung down to parry an imaginary blade, then immediately stepped forward and raised the tip to where an opponent's neck would be. It was a basic but useful move, though not the easiest to pull off. He didn't do it quite right.
"Good, but not perfect," I said, nodding. "You waste too much energy bringing your sword too high, and if you bring it up again that fast, you'll pull a muscle."
"I disagree." Jun stepped forward. "It's excessive, sure, but Eli's fast enough to do it and turn it to an advantage. Put some force behind the swing. For example – "
Jun demonstrated the same move twice as fast, sword flashing in two swift strokes that would have knocked the sword out of his opponent's hand, if not snapping it altogether.
"Sure, sure," I said, summoning my own gladius. "But not everyone's as strong as you. He can do this instead – "
I repeated the move and matched his speed, but only because I removed all the unnecessary movements.
"Uh-huh," Eli said. "Or I can just do both."
He did the same thing I did, adding a strike right after the disarm that would have cut an enemy's knees before bringing the sword up. There was a little of Jun's simple brutality in there and some of my efficiency too, catalysed and combined with his blinding speed.
Turns out I was wrong. Eli could be much, much better than either one of us.
That was how the rest of the evening played out. Jun and I took turns advising Eli, though we were students as much as we were teachers, learning from each other's techniques. It was doubly true for me, since I found that some fundamentals translated very well to the spear. Slowly but surely, we were improving.
When we came back to camp, I was surprised that the others had weapons out too. Ellie and Izzy had daggers out, crouched in front of each other, ready to pounce, while Felix stood by with his arms crossed.
"What the hell is going on?" I demanded.
"Teambuilding exercises," Ellie said. Izzy agreed with a solemn nod.
"We were just talking about our last fight," Felix explained as the girls circled each other. "And how we got our asses handed to us. Ellie found out that she was a lot better at fighting in close quarters. Izzy felt like her knifework's a little rusty, so they decided to practice."
"And you're okay with all this?"
"You kidding? I finally get to talk about anatomy without anyone falling asleep. No, Ellie, the kidneys are a little lower. You won't be killing anyone like that."
The rest of the week – or was it month? – followed the same pattern. We walked and talked all day, using every stop to practice. Sometimes the twins would practice together, or Izzy would teach Felix how to use a knife. Jun trained like he had more hours in the day, the burns on his body both motivator and deterrent. It was strange to see them grow apart while their bonds strengthened. Worse still that I didn't feel like I was a part of their growth sometimes.
I suppose that was inevitable. They're more than just teammates, after all.
My own training was going painfully slow. I was too entrenched with swordsmanship that forgetting was as challenging as learning. There were days when I failed to make progress, get frustrated, and switch back to the sword. Those usually went even worse, and I would only be more frustrated.
I was the only one left worrying about our quest. We finally came together in the safety of this hidden corner of the world. Everyone else enjoyed the peace and quiet, training and talking together. It was wonderful, but my mind always goes back to the Spear.
It should be smooth sailing. Florida. Puerto Rico. Circe. Trygon. Home. Things will only go wrong four or five more times. So, it wasn't much of a surprise when Izzy gave the bad news a few days later.
"We're out of food," she declared without warning. We were all finished with training for the day, Jun being the last to return as always.
"What do you mean?" Eli said, waving his can of soup. "We have enough Campbell's soup to drown Percy."
"For now. This is one of my last safehouses. We'll have to surface for more."
"Alright, no big deal. We'll just go to a Walmart and get a ton of snacks."
"We'll run out by the time we get to Florida. Besides. I don't know if these tunnels go all the way there. Even if they did, I don't know the way."
"Then we resurface. Cross the next four states by car."
"Right," Ellie scoffed. "Because that went well the first time, and every other time after."
"No. I have a better idea." Izzy took a deep breath and held it for a long moment. We were used to it by now and waited as long as it took for her to prepare herself.
"My biggest store is in New Orleans," she said, exhaling as she spoke. "I have everything there. Food, money, supplies, nectar and ambrosia. Maybe enough to get us a flight to Puerto Rico from New Orleans instead of Miami. I don't think the Titans will search the skies. It should be safe."
"That's great," Eli said. "Perfect, even. Why wasn't that the plan since the beginning?"
"Eli," his twin snapped, but it was too late. Izzy started to sweat, balling and uncurling her fists, struggling to get her breathing under control. By the time her anxiety attack was over, Eli was appropriately embarrassed.
"That's where I'm from. So many bad memories. Can't go back. Don't want to. Promised I'd never run away again. Can't believe – can't believe I'm considering this. Don't know how I'll be."
"Izzy." The coldness in my words made her look up. "You have to do this. You know we believe in you. But you also know that there's more in stake here than yourself."
Ellie glared at me for my words, fuming, but Izzy smiled, and relief flooded my chest. I'd guessed right. She was tired of being treated like an invalid. Treating her like an equal instead, a legionary, a soldier, gave her the purpose and confidence she needed. If I'd been too kind to her, that was proof that she hadn't changed at all.
Instead, Izzy nodded and got to her feet. "You're right. I – I'll do this. The way out is not far from here. One or two days. Please, just… I need time. And thank you."
She walked away. Nobody was sure what she did, but when we awoke the next day, there wasn't a trace of doubt left in her.
She brough us to another set of twisting tunnels, this time with a small incline that grew sharper with each step. The earth and stone gave way to concrete and bricks and eventually we exited out into a subway station. Weird how we kept coming back to them.
Then we stepped outside, and I almost wanted to go back in.
We were in a residential area, away from the tourists traps and garish decorations I imagined New Orleans would be covered in, like an extravagant version of New York. Somehow, that made it even more jarring. The city was soaked with a quiet pride, of their survival and success, of making their mark on the earth. Everyone carried themselves with purpose: the bustling men in suits chattering into their phones with the same vigour as the street performers who complemented and competed against each other.
Izzy led her pack of strays into the streets. We stuck to each other like lost children and trailed after her. For once, Izzy was the one who was most comfortable. She'd spent so long underground that she must be used to the culture shock of resurfacing. The rest of us had forgotten the sight of other humans in the weeks we spent in the tunnels. Judging from the way people wrinkled their noses, it might have been months.
Slowly the tension faded as the city welcomed us. The hot and humid air carried a thousand scents as Izzy navigated through street vendors hawking food and wares. Beads jangled on bracelets as people laughed freely, a spectrum of colors arrayed on clothes and skin and hair blending in a human tide that washed over us. We fought against it, waded into it, before finally giving in and joining it.
Soon we were speaking and laughing too loudly at everything, as if to prove to ourselves that we were more than shadows clinging to life in sewers. Jun tried to ignore the stares and giggles coming from a gaggle of girls. The twins chased each other down alleys and between stalls. Even Izzy started to warm up to the company of other people, a hesitant smile splitting her face as she came alive.
We were giddy and exhausted by the time we reached our destination, clad in an assortment of random accessories and holding in a day's worth of food. We'd forgotten our quest for the day. I think my team deserved that luxury at least.
Only Izzy stayed focused and continued guiding us despite the distractions. Something else was drawing her to the destination, something that scared her more than our mission to save the world from monsters.
She stopped at a pier just before sunset, the time of day when people retired to their homes only to reemerge with completely different personas, eager to spend whatever wakefulness they still had and transform them into memories with strangers and loved ones alike. I thought we'd be away from all that by going to the riverside, but then I remembered we were in New Orleans.
"We're going on board," Izzy said, pointing to a small ship. It was dwarfed by its older sisters and looked more like a steamboat than a cruise. Yet like the city itself, it was overflowing with pride. The word Paragon was set in gold and green lettering on its side.
"Wait," Felix said. "Are you sure about this? Won't Oceanus sense us immediately?"
I shook my head. "Neptune and Oceanus have control of the seas. Rivers have their own gods."
"How do you know that?"
"The same way I know that Jupiter has control of the skies, but not of outer space."
"Still…"
"It's the fastest way to my safehouse," Izzy said. "In fact, part of my stuff is onboard. Assuming nothing's changed."
"How is that possible?" Eli asked.
"I used to perform here with my parents. It was like a second home, the crew a second family. Most of my good memories were made on this old tub."
Even Felix let up after seeing her smile. "Alright. But we should make it quick, just in case."
"The next stop is only a couple hours away," she promised.
We boarded the ship. In retrospect, I should've wondered why we had the audacity to wander on board uninvited. Izzy had guided us with so much confidence, however, that we stopped questioning her decisions long ago.
It came as a surprise when someone approached us, frowning, and even more surprising when he stopped dead in his tracks.
The old man had a face like an old canvas jacket, browned and wrinkled by time and the sun, shaded by his dark captain's hat. Yet the crow's feet and lines around his wide mouth suggested that he smiled more than he frowned. He did just that.
"Isabelle?" he whispered.
Izzy didn't reply. She rushed forward and leapt into his arms, burying her face into his shoulder. The old man caught her and joined her in crying.
The two of them embraced for an eternity, breaking apart only when the man pulled back to cup her face with his hands.
"You look so much happier," he said. Izzy grinned and hugged him again.
"I've missed you, old man."
"Likewise, little bird. But where are my manners. Who are all these people?"
"Friends," Izzy beamed. "My best friends. This is Eli. He's a little stupid, but he's kind. The one who looks like him is Ellie. She's even kinder, especially to me. Jun is the big one. He's nice, but he pretends he isn't. That's Felix, who's the gentlest person I've ever met even if he thinks he's not. And that's Percy. He makes everyone else happier."
My heart warmed at her introductions. I don't think anyone's ever said that about me. Izzy was a different person here, face aglow with the bone-deep happiness of meeting someone you've loved your whole life.
"It's good to meet you all," the old man said, lifting his hat. "Alistair Laville, captain of the Paragon, at your service. Normally I'd kick you off my boat, but any friend of Izzy is family to me. How may I help you?"
"Nice to meet you too," I said, stepping forward and shaking his hand. He crushed mine. "We won't be staying long, unfortunately. Izzy said you could take us downriver?"
"For sure, for sure. Is that all? She may not look like much, but the Paragon still has some life in her."
"I know," Izzy said. "For now, we only need to head down to the airport, because we… well. That's a long story. Is there somewhere we can talk?"
"You still remember the parlour?" Alistair said with a devilish grin. Izzy gasped and took off running.
"There she goes," Alistair said, walking after her. "Just like I remembered. Always said, she could do a better job pushing this boat than our old engine ever could."
We followed his lead. There were other passengers on board, some staring and wondering how much we paid to get a private tour of the boat. Alistair brought us to a wide room on the deck of the ship, a lounge outfitted to resemble a 1900s smoking room. Dark wood panels lined every surface, burnished light reflected off their veneer under dangling lamps. Tables and couches filled the space, decorated with gilded metal and white cloths, with a bar covering one side of the room. Izzy sat at one of the tables.
We sat with her, Alistair taking the spot right beside her. No sooner had we all seated did Izzy blurt out our story from the very beginning.
She told him everything. Reyna assigning our team for the quest, Mars crashing the senate house, getting attacked by Oceanus. Everything. Strangely, we were the ones who were slack jawed by the end of it. No mortal should ever know the affairs of the legion, no matter how close they were to us. But Alistair must not be an ordinary mortal, because he took it all in stride, nodding thoughtfully as she went along.
"We figured that they'll easily find us if we travelled by normal means, so we went underground instead and walked all the way here. And so here we are."
"My," Alistair said. "That was quite a tale. And you need my boat to continue your quest, yes? To find this spear?"
"Yes, but we're out of supplies," Izzy said. "I have some stored in the city. We'll get to those before heading to the airport."
"Does that mean you have time to spend the evening with me and the Paragon?"
Izzy's eyes shone as she looked at me. "Can we?"
We really shouldn't. But what difference will a few more hours make? And, I was ashamed to admit, I had an ulterior motive.
This is going to be our final stop. No more practice. No more pep talks. One last stretch to the finish line. It'd do well to have my team rested up and happy before we travelled. That way I won't have to think of anything to say.
I think I needed this too.
"Sure," I said. "But we have to leave by tonight."
"Perfect!" Izzy exclaimed, leaping forward and wrapping her arms around my neck for a split second before jumping back and scampering off to gods know where.
"I've never seen her this excited," Ellie said. "You must be a great man, Mr. Laville."
"Please, just Alistair. And all the greatness is with Izzy. What she's been through… no. This is not the time. There are a thousand things I want to ask the young lady, but it might be a while before I see her again. No. Let this evening be spent with joy. Now, do you have any embarrassing stories to tell about her?"
We talked as much as we could about Izzy. It was an embarrassingly short conversation. Alistair nodded knowingly, like he expected nothing less.
"But she's changing," I said. "Like Ellie said, we've never seen her like this. After this is over, after we win the war, I'll make sure she spends more time here with you. It would do all of us some good, I think, to step out to the mortal world every now and then. We're losing too much contact with the real world."
"You keep saying 'mortal', as if you're not," Alistair said with a small crease in his brow. "What are you, exactly?"
"You don't know?" Felix said. "But Izzy explained everything."
"Yes, but I didn't understand anything."
"Then why didn't you say so?"
"With her, it's sometimes best to listen first and ask later. That much, at least, I do know. It's everything else that's making my head hurt."
Well, no going back now. "How familiar are you with Roman mythology?"
"You mean like Zeus?"
"Oh, boy."
We weren't even halfway through when Izzy came back. She brought with her a stack of plastic lunchboxes stuffed with nectar and ambrosia, canned food, and a worrying number of knives. She handed the medicine to me and I casually popped them into my mouth as we continued explaining.
Even with the five of us talking, and confirmation from Izzy when we got to the more unbelievable stuff, Alistair looked like he wanted to call CPS or 911. But I knew that changed when he saw my eyes starting to glow in the dim lighting, getting brighter with every piece of ambrosia I ate.
"Incredible," he breathed. "Then Isabelle – wouldn't that mean – "
"Yeah," she said. "My mom."
"Who was she?"
"Calliope."
"Ahh," Alistair nodded. "That explains a lot. The way your father chased after her endlessly, the way he always seemed to sing better with her. I always thought that was because of love, but – "
"It wasn't," Izzy said sharply. "Whatever it was, it wasn't love. Just another trick of the gods."
"Isabelle, your father was not a perfect man. He was a good friend, and even I didn't recognize him whenever he goes too long without your mother. But he loved you. He still does."
Izzy tensed. All the merriment went out like a light, and she was back to becoming the same creature she'd been in the tunnels.
"He's alive? He's here?"
"Not here, no. But I can call him – "
"No."
"Isabelle…"
"Please, Uncle. You know what he's done."
"I know, but… he's a good person at heart. I know he is. I'm sure he loves you, deep down."
"Does he? Why did he keep hitting me, then?"
Alistair had no answer for that.
There was nothing more to talk about. The conversation was over, to the relief of everyone on the table. Alistair managed a weak smile.
"Well, if that's everything you need for the day… you all look like you've had a rough time. There's a shower you can use in my room. It's right over – "
"Thanks," Izzy said. "I know where it is."
She left the parlour without waiting for a reply. We followed her, making sure to thank Alistair for all his help and hospitality. The old man just nodded. I think he was glad for some time to think.
His cramped but cosy room was nothing special and neither was the bathroom next to it, but it was a sight for sore eyes. We took turns using it, and in an attempt to look like a good leader, I went last. I regretted that decision when Izzy walked out with a cloud of steam trailing behind her.
The miniscule drops of water were like a warm meal. I've forgotten what water felt like after weeks spent underground. The anticipation drove me crazy and the wait was worth it. Water did more than just clean me as it swam in rivulets down my back. The water restored my vitality in a way that not even ambrosia could do, and I made sure that I reached every inch of my skin.
When I walked out, the others were nowhere to be seen. That was fair. Everyone needed some alone time, at least for a moment. I took the opportunity to wander, eventually finding a spot for myself where I propped my arms on the boat's railing, taking in the surrounding river and reaching out with my senses.
The tantalizing power of water danced in the periphery of my mind. Combat was its only purpose for as long as I could remember, but I've forgotten that it had the ability to ease my soul too. It was nice to forget about the war for a moment and swim in comfort, even if it was temporary.
The day grew darker, light fleeing between the leaves of willowing trees bowing on the riverbank, leaving us in the embrace of twilight. The sun sank in the sky and turned the colour of a hearth, a few shades darker than the globes and lanterns dangling from boughs alongside the river. Crickets and frogs replaced the chirping of birds gone to roost. The smell of earth and rain wafted from deeper inland.
Passengers clad in simple, comfortable clothing milled around the deck, leaning over the edge to talk over dark waters or stare off into the distance.
Then from a raspy old speaker, music started to play, cellos and trumpets and a piano dancing together in a steady tune that steadily ramped up. It was almost immediately overshadowed by the sounds of the real instruments playing near the parlour. Tables and chairs have been moved away to make room, and musicians materialized to invite people onto the decks.
No way in hell would I ever dance in public, but the smell of food lured me out. In the small crowd I spotted my team chatting away, stuffing their faces as slow as possible. I drifted toward them and followed their example.
My team and I stuck together throughout the evening in the unfamiliar situation. There's always someone in camp who'd bring up the idea of a party or prom every now and then, but nobody wanted to risk looking stupid if nobody followed them. The only festivities we had were the feasts after practice battles or parties shared privately with roommates. This many people at once was too much.
But the music took its toll. Slowly people put down their drinks and snacks, grabbed their friends, and wandered to the dance floor. It all started with one adventurous person making a fool of himself as his friends laughed at him. But soon they joined him in the ridiculousness, and everyone else came forward all at once. The deck was swarmed with people dancing with the confidence that you get when you're among friends.
"Come on!" Ellie said, tugging at Jun's arm. He grunted and groaned but failed to hide his smile as she led him away from the group.
Eli was already dancing with a total stranger. Izzy was nowhere to be seen as usual, until I spotted her in the parlour in deep conversation with Alistair. That talk needed to happen undisturbed.
Felix and I were still hesitant, but he broke down when Eli waved him over. I still shook my head no. I'm not sure why. There was a funny feeling in my chest, something like guilt and reluctance.
I looked at them and smiled. There was so much joy in their faces, yet I only felt sadness. We've spent the past few weeks living underground just to stay alive, training every day for the next inevitable fight. Before that we'd barely gotten out of impossible situations by luck, and even then, we've all been hurt.
That was just too much to ask from anyone. Isn't this what we should be doing? Enjoying life, being happy, spending time with loved ones? Why did we have to struggle for survival every day? Is it really selfish to want happiness?
I couldn't be prouder of my team. But this is what we should be doing. No more wars. No more fighting.
"What's on your mind?"
I didn't jump when Izzy appeared beside me. You get used to it.
"Nothing. Well, a lot, actually, but nothing productive."
"I can understand that," Izzy said. She leaned back against the railings. I shot her a sideway glance. Something's different. She stood a little straighter, her eyes a little darker. Even her hair seemed duller.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"I'm not sure."
I tensed at her tone. It's the one I used to berate myself whenever I thought of the night Octavian left. Wondering what I should have done. What could have been.
The next words Izzy hears will change her, and I had no idea what to say.
I opened my mouth anyway.
"Thank you, Percy."
I tried to hide my relief. "For what?"
"Trusting me to fight my own battles. I don't know what to do. There's so much more to me than I thought. My life was about survival. Making it through each day alive. Then I met you guys, and I started to think that I can be something more. And just when I thought I was getting somewhere – "
"You get pulled back," I said. "Like nothing's changed. And you wonder if anything you did matters in the end. If everything you've been through means nothing just because someone else complicates things. They don't even need to do anything. Their existence is enough."
"You have someone like that too?"
"Yeah. Though not quite as bad as you have it, thankfully."
"How do you deal with it?"
"I don't. I just stick with the people that make me happy and hope that when I'm forced to face him, I'll be a better person. If present me can't do it, maybe future me can."
"That's surprisingly lame."
"I don't have all the answers. I'm just as confused as you. You might even say we're on the same boat."
"Please stop talking," Izzy said, smiling.
We stood there for a while, watching everyone else have fun. Suddenly I found that very stupid. Why do I have to deny myself happiness? Everyone has their own issues. Izzy and I even have one in common. Eli was out there with a missing eyeball. That didn't stop him from laughing himself to tears.
I pushed off the railings and stood before Izzy, putting on my most serious face. Then I bent my knees and bowed in the most ridiculous curtsy I could think of.
"May I have this dance?"
Izzy smiled and did a much more elegant bow. Suddenly I realized that along with her singing, she might also be a very good dancer. I might have made a terrible mistake.
"The pleasure is all mine," she said.
I took her hand and dragged her straight to the middle of the deck. I had no idea what to do, and whenever that happens, the best move is to copy someone who looks like he does and hope for the best.
Izzy laughed as I did my best dying alpaca impression. Then she started moving, and I wasn't the only one who stared. Izzy did more than dance to the rhythm. She set her own tune, guiding her body through a second set of music that only she could hear, forming a harmony and countermelody that took the musicians' efforts and evolved it.
I still haven't processed the fact that she was the daughter of the greatest of the nine Muses. But seeing her in her element – her natural state, not the one she was forced into – it was unmistakable. She moved with music as I did with water.
She took my hands and tried to teach me, but not even her divine heritage could make me a good dancer. Izzy finally gave up when I tripped over my own feet and faceplanted.
"Gods, you're impossible," she laughed.
"Are you… kidding?" I gasped between breaths. "You're the one… who's impossible. You're insane!"
"Then let's keep going! I might be the only person in the world who can teach you how to dance."
"I'm… exhausted," I said. I wish I was joking. Not even the training we did in the tunnels pushed me this hard.
I waved off her attempts to convince me otherwise and stepped away from the dance floor and a gaggle of dudes tried to squeeze in the spot I left. Izzy recoiled at the sudden attention, but Ellie stepped in and saved her, glaring at the guys who swarmed her. They were about to try again until Jun appeared. They dispersed very quickly after that.
I took a breather at the edge of the boat, relying on the water to revive me. Night had set in and the first stars blinked into existence in the sky. I hadn't even noticed. Time worked differently back there, determined by the person in front of you. If music does for Izzy what water does to me, she'd probably dance till I died of exhaustion.
By the time I felt like I could walk straight, most of the dancers had walked away. They were still hanging around in the area, but quiet talks among friends and significant others was its own kind of magic. It was the kind of conversation that quickly became blurry memories, details muddled into one warm feeling.
Soon the only people who were still dancing were couples. I only recognized Ellie and Jun in there, holding each other in their arms and moving slowly to the music. The bass and trumpets stopped, replaced by the soft keys of a piano.
"It sucks, doesn't it?" Felix sighed as he sidled up beside me.
"I'm happy for them. It's been a long time coming. They deserve each other."
"But it still sucks."
"Oh yeah."
We stood together for a while before I realized there were two people missing from our party. My eyes bulged when I saw Eli slow dancing with a complete stranger like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Are you seeing this?"
"I know, right? They grow up so fast."
I scanned the crowd for Izzy and was relieved when I couldn't find her. I don't think my pride could take it.
Then I heard singing.
Everyone on the boat turned to see who it was. Izzy was seated on a stool, her ratty clothes and frizzy hair far overshadowed by the music from her lips. She was better than perfect. The piano struggled to match her precision. Each word was an aria, slipping into the air like doves. The melody was simple, removing any distraction from her voice, enchanting anyone who heard her. She controlled the song. She controlled the dancers. She was in command of the ship.
See the pyramids along the Nile,
Watch the sunrise from a tropic isle.
Just remember, darling all the while,
You belong to me.
The song was perfect. The words tugged at my heart and made me feel loved and, at the sight of those people in different stages of love, I felt very, very alone.
Then I remembered the ring I wore on the first finger of my left hand. I touched it, feeling every groove, every dent, every scratch in the metal, and remembered the brief contact when she slipped it on to the palm of my hand.
Well. Maybe not totally alone.
Author's Note
Friendly reminder that I can't reply to reviews when they're made as Guest.
Wow, this took a minute to write. Thanks again for your patience! I hope the wait was worth it.
This chapter was one of the hardest 'slow' chapters I've written so far, because it's about a character I didn't fully understand. Izzy has only been a small presence at the back of my mind and the story, and I was focused on developing the others first. Still, I wanted every character to have their own arc, and it took a while to figure out how to write her character. Combined that with my writing habits and stress from other things, and this has been a long time coming. I actually wanted to edit it one more time before uploading, but then I'd never finish. At least the end result is very long - I think my longest so far.
Before I talk about the elephant in the room, the main challenge with writing this chapter was its place in the story. It has a pretty standard structure so far other than the meandering mini-arc with Spartacus. This chapter is meant to get the story back on track, take a break from all the action, develop a character, tie up loose ends, show everyone else's growth, and set up potential storylines for the future. That's a tall order and I think I did well, but I guess we'll see.
The interactions between all of the characters come so much more naturally. They all have a stronger voice and have distinct personalities, so I never have any trouble figuring out who should talk and when. But I still wanted to challenge myself. I think I've gotten pretty good at writing snappy dialogue and one-liners, but I feel like my prose is weak. That's why I tried to use more descriptive and (hopefully) beautiful language for this chapter. It's a little out of place, but this is the best time to do it.
Finally, Izzy herself. She's the only question mark left out of all the characters. I didn't want to make her a typical 'quiet character who becomes hyperactive after one conversation with the protagonist', but at the same time, I wanted to show some growth. In the end I decided that it's okay for her not to get a full arc. Taking that first step is huge for someone at her position, and showing the start of her growth is already character development. To really reinforce the idea, I wanted to show that her struggle started far before the story, and that her role in this book is only a beginning for a much longer process. And I think that's a good thing. I hope you do too.
Up to this point, I've been pretty direct with my character development, usually outright stating how and why they've grown. But I decided to try subtler hints - changing the way Izzy speaks depending on her mood, changing how other characters interact and perceive her, trying to talk about her less often and taking a step back to let her grow on her own. Please let me know if this is effective or even noticeable, or if it's just too vague.
On a more minor detail, there have been some people who say that Percy's far too weak, and i sort of agree. The kind of action I like to write and read are quick and dirty fights that leaves everyone exhausted, hurt, or dead. I have no idea how an actual master swordsman would fight, but I can imagine how someone would fight when they're desperate, and I always loved seeing that. Personally, I think that good action should rarely occur, and when it does, it should be brutal and quick, just like real fights. Overly long fights are boring. However, it's so hard to show power levels in that way. I don't want to make Percy too strong, otherwise he'll roll over every obstacle. I also don't want him to be too weak, which is dishonest to his character. So far, I've been stacking the odds against him: fighting in the middle of a chariot race in book 1, being hunted down by wolves in book 2, and in Drowned, he has to fight while leading a team. The only time he really shines is when he fights in a safe environment, like practice battles in Camp Jupiter. I think I'm doing a pretty good job with the combat so far, but I understand that there are weaknesses. Please let me know if you have suggestions to overcome that.
That was a long author's note too. Moving on to more fun stuff: Izzy's song is actually real! It's called 'You Belong to Me' originally by Jo Stafford, but the version I had in mind was performed by Courtnee Draper for the game Bioshock Infinite. It's so good! Definitely worth a listen.
I've recently reread A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie (amazing as always) to refresh myself before continuing to the Trouble With Peace. I've also finished the Faithful and the Fallen series by John Gwynne, which was pretty good, but I felt like it wasted a lot of potential. Currently I'm reading the Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. Only a few pages in and I already know it's going to be great.
In other news, I've also started playing Hades on my Switch and it is amazing. I'm also watching the League of Legends World tournament and that's been even better. Hoping that Fnatic makes it out of groups and expecting DWG to win the whole thing. They are unstoppable. Oh, and I've been watching Haikyuu and the Boys. Both are great!
At last we come to the question, with a twist: do you agree with how Percy handled Eli and Izzy this chapter?
I can't believe it's taken me this long to add this question as well: how would you rate this chapter?
Overall: x/10
And if you really want to go the distance:
Plot: x/10
Character development: x/10
Dialogue: x/10
Prose (quality of writing): x/10
It's been a long awaited chapter, and a very long one too. However, like Percy said, this should be the final slow chapter. If you've been reading my author's notes, you should know that I always start stories with a clear idea for the ending, and we're in the endgame now. Drowned should end in 4-5 chapters, at which point the next book will begin. I cannot be more excited.
Thanks again for reading my work and my thoughts. Please leave a review! I always love hearing from you guys. Until next time.