17. Planet Serra

Percy's pov

Percy mist travelled back to the library after delivering Ari, Taz, and Diana in Long Island. He doesn't know what they will tell the gods and others, what went down in Las Vegas but he knew that he shouldn't be anywhere close to Camp when they got back.

The library looked exactly like when he had left three days ago. He had been following the trio in their quest from a good distance, only discreetly helping when they were about to be overwhelmed. Fighting a goddess had not been on his agenda but when he heard that she had been the one messing with his life, he could not sit back and let her talk anymore. She truly had gotten on his nerves like no other.

"Oz, can you tell me more about Serra?" he asked him in his mind. Before he had left the library, he had asked Oz, if he had wanted to come. Oz had responded by disappearing into thin air and replying in his mind. Apparently, the emblem on his forearm let them form a bond within their minds, so now if he wanted to ask him something. He didn't have to talk and Oz did not have to form a physical body as it took too much energy. Over the days, he had tried to make conversation with Oz but it seemed he was like an A. I and a small part of a scholar's soul than another person.

"Serrans are a proud species and would not like asking for help. They are much like humans in their appearances. Two eyes, a nose, a mouth, two arms, and two legs. Their skin colour is more towards violet as is their blood. Most females are taller than males. Serra is a lot smaller planet than Earth." Percy had gotten used to Oz's straight answers by now.

He pictured the being Oz had described. Then he adopted that look to match his own. His hair grew a bit more and changed to brown, his eyes turned violet, his skin adapted a similar purple as a hue. His height remained the same, though. His look was changed enough that he could blend in.

He then walked to the casket that contained the runestones that will create a portal out of this planet. He picked them up and felt the power coursing through them. "Okay Oz, how do I make a portal to Serra?"

"Arrange the runestones based on their size from bigger to smaller in a U shape. Then speak these words 'I summon the power of the all-powerful cosmos to take me away, to rip a hole in space, a gateway to my destination. τοποθεσία Serra."

He arranged the runestones like Oz said and observed the base of the portal he created. He made sure he had enough necessities in his backpack. Thankfully, he could summon food with Hestia's blessing anywhere and didn't have to pack any of it. He slung it across his shoulder and chanted, "I summon the power of the all-powerful cosmos to take me away, to rip a hole in space, a gateway to my destination. τοποθεσία Serra."

He felt the power in his words, the runestones started trembling and simultaneously blasted a black beam which churned together and formed a midnight portal. He took a step forward only to look back once more to the planet he was leaving, one that had been his home for seventeen years. It's time to leave it behind. The thought ran through his mind as he turned back to the black portal and stepped through completely.

Going through a portal is disorienting. He felt as if his insides were ripping themselves and twisting around. He also had the overwhelming urge to puke which was hard since he hadn't eaten anything. Soon enough the other side of the portal opened up and he was thrown out, falling face-first into the ground.

His body was aching. Groaning slightly, he slowly sat up on the grass. Wait, grass? Sure enough, he was in a dense forest. He decided that this must be Serra. It was definitely different than Earth but he didn't know if that was a good thing or not. The winds rustled the treetops, and soft chirps could be heard. The tree trunks were a peculiar shade of red unlike the murky brown on Earth. The sky was a shade of dull yellow instead of blue with streaks of white clouds floating.

The black portal that had delivered him here was also nowhere to be seen but that was to be expected since Oz had said you could only use it once.

Percy stood up and brushed off the dirt from his pants and observed his surroundings. He still had his backpack in one piece and riptide was also in his pocket. A low snarl brought him out of his thoughts. He uncapped Riptide and brought it out in its three-foot-long bronze glory. The creature was something he had never seen or even heard of. It had the body of a big gorilla, the head of a wolf, and is covered in grey fur. Its eyes were completely black showing the wild beast in them.

The creature jumped in front of him and growled threateningly. Usually, Percy would be confident that he could take it on but this was a whole different planet, he didn't even know if his sword could hurt it and he didn't if it had any special abilities either.

Percy tried to slowly back away in an attempt to run but the creature obviously saw that its prey was escaping so it lunged at him with its claws out. It was faster than any other monster and by pure luck, he was able to dodge the fatal claws that were meant to rip out his heart. He quickly retaliated by slashing at its arm. The arm cut off and turned to soot. Guess that's what happens to it instead of exploding into gold dust here. The monster snarled and looked even angrier. It lunged again; Percy deflected its claw but it bit into his shoulder instead. A searing pain ignited in his shoulder. The beast then tried chomping off his head but Percy quickly pushed him away and struck Riptide into its chest. It let out a painful howl and collapsed into black ash.

Percy clutched his shoulder in pain and capped Riptide and put it back into his pocket. He heard clapping from the trees. He gripped Riptide in his pocket. A man around his 30's jumped down gracefully from the tree landing on his feet like a cat. He had long black hair, with emerald green eyes. He also had the signature purple hue in his skin writing him off as a Serran. The man had many assortments of weapons on him. Percy did not know if this man was a friend or foe, best be cautious.

"That was a good fight, young Serran," the man congratulated him. He looked curiously at the hand that was in my pocket. "That metal was one I have never seen in my life. What was that sword made out of?"

Percy did not want to expose that he had a sword made out of godly metal without know how the people in the universe would take it. He subconsciously adjusted his injured arm only to feel a lot of pain. He softly cried out in pain and clutched the shoulder. The man's expression turned concerned. He stepped forward only for Percy to step back.

He looked like he wanted to come closer but must've thought against it because he said, "You can follow me back to my home. I will be able to look at those injuries and treat them better there." As if sensing Percy's reluctance to that, he added, " I won't hurt you. I also have some food at home and the howl of the gorum should have alerted others of his kind. You won't be able to fight anymore."

Percy sighed in defeat, "Alright." He followed the man through the forest. His house was shockingly closer to the forest than he had expected. It was a humble home, a two-story wooden house. Though he suspected it was stronger than ordinary wood because it looked like it was here for centuries. The man led him inside and gestured for him to sit on the chairs. I sat down slowly and he brought out what I assumed was a first aid kit. He applied some kind of potion on it that made the pain simmer down and worked on it while talking with him.

"I feel that you may not know this so, let me introduce myself. My name is Bernard Serif. You may call me Bern. Who might you be, sakarm?" Which meant fighter, it must be Hermes' blessing to know all languages. It must extend to outer space too though Percy doubted Hermes predicted that he might end in another planet someday.

For now, he has to make up a new name that he could use on a daily basis in the universe without others linking it to Percy Jackson of Earth. "My name is Rimor Elpis."

Bern continues working on his injuries while asking questions and talking about himself sometimes. "Tell me what was a young Serran such as yourself doing in the jungles while most of the planet is attending the crowning ceremony? "

"The crowning ceremony?"

Oz helpfully told him, "The crowning ceremony on Serran is when the king retires in death and a successor is made the ruler. All citizens of Serra are invited to the capital to witness the ancient tradition."

"I was...I got lost?" was his smart reply. "What about you? Why ever aren't you at the crowning ceremony?"

Bern looked surprised that he asked that question which made him even more confused. Bern started looking at him like he was a species of alien that he had never encountered. Percy shifted uncomfortably under Bern's scrutinizing gaze. "The king wouldn't take my presence in the ceremony very kindly neither will the rest of the Serrans."

"Why not?" Percy couldn't see why he would be a public enemy even if he had just met him.

Bern looked directly into Percy's inquisitive eyes and answered," How do you say we bargain a bit here; I answer that question if you answer mine?"

Percy bit his lip and contemplated his choices. "Fine. But you answer mine first and I will answer anyone question you have."

Bern sighed and had a faraway look in his eyes. "I was once the successor of the old king, meant to be the next king of Serra. But I did not want to rule this planet. After my eighteenth name day, I made the decision to leave and be a ranger as was my dream. My father was angry, to say the least. The people had thought I had abandoned them and turned my back on them. My younger brother was then raised to be the next ruler. Nonetheless, my family and many of the people shun my presence. Hence, why I am not at the crowning ceremony now."

Percy sat there in silence processing this information in his head and mulling over it. His thought process was broken by Bern sitting on a chair beside him. It took a moment for him to notice that all his wounds were bandaged or healed completely. "Rimor, I would like for you to tell me honestly who you are."

"What do you-" Bern interrupted, "Honestly. I know that your Serran appearance is a disguise. You do not know things a Serran would and I have never known there to be an Elpis family in Serra either."

Percy groaned in defeat and told him the truth. His instincts told him that Bern was a trustworthy person. "My given name is Perseus 'Percy' Jackson and I am from Earth." Percy changed his appearance back to what it was originally. His raven black hair returned in its messy untameable glory, his skin turned back to its tan colouring and his eyes returned to their mesmerizing sea-green colour.

Bern sat there stunned. His dumbfounded expression made Percy snicker quietly. "Bu-But how? Many in the universe have heard of your quests on Earth although it is a forbidden planet. Maybe only a few details but have heard of your name nonetheless."

"Well, you're fighting against the gorum was excellent. It makes somehow makes sense. I can see that you are not lying either" he mused to himself but Percy still heard it.

Percy then went into the story of how he arrived here leaving out a few details that he thought that the people in the rest of the universe should not know. By the end of his story, Bern sat there silently looking at Percy like he was a puzzle. "So, now that you know most of my story, what's a ranger and a name day?"

Bern blinked twice at the sudden questions and chuckled at the confusion of Percy at the simplest of terms in the universe. "A ranger is a protector of the universe. Rangers are spread all over the universe who enforce the laws of Chaos and Order throughout the universe. A name day is the anniversary of the day a being was born and given its first name."

Percy nodded in understanding. A thought then occurred into his mind. He was on another planet. Without a place to stay at. With no one he knew. "Hey Bern, do you know a place I could live or stay till I find a place?" he asked calmly but inside he was panicking.

Bern shook his head sadly, "Unfortunately, Serra does not have many visitors. So, we do not have extra space or houses for that matter."

He must have understood Percy's predicament because he offered him to stay at his home. Percy shook his head, "I couldn't do that. You have already helped me a lot Bern."

Bern still insisted that he had extra space that no one used anyway and he would also love to help Percy train and learn some new tricks himself. Percy finally reluctantly agreed, "Fine, but I will pay rent while I stay here, 'kay?"

Bern agreed although he had protested that it was not required many times before. Just like that Percy had found a new home with the ex-ranger and the pariah of Serra. He trained with him, Bern taught him much about the universe, whatever he thought necessary unlike Oz who would've dropped all the facts on to him, important or not. Somewhere along the way, Percy had grown a strong bond with the retired fighter.