"You have learned much over your time here, Perseus." Percy kept her eyes downcast, her body slanted forward in a formal bow. "Thank you Great One."
She felt the Demon Head's gaze for a moment longer before he disappeared with a final swoosh of his green cape.
Percy exhaled deeply before straightening back up.
"He is right, you know." The ravenette tilted her head to the side to see Thalia al ghul leaning casually against the wall. "You have improved, you are not solely reliant on your impressive abilities with a sword or your powers over water." The brunette picked her nails absentmindedly, her expression was unreadable. "You have become the deadliest woman alive, capable of beating anyone in single combat." Finally, Thalia raised her gaze and met Percy's eyes. "You know what it is like to end lives, yet your morals remain and you refuse to kill innocence."
The demigod got the distinct feeling she was being observed, evaluated. "Your year of training as agreed is almost up, I for one am most curious to learn what you will become."
The daughter of the Demon's Head smirked at Percy before she too disappeared.
-
Once Percy finally reached her room she let out a heavy sigh. It was no secret that Ra's al ghul had invited her to a year of training in hopes that the famed 'heroine of Olympus' would join the ranks of his shadows.
Of course, Percy was still undecided on that little issue.
For the first time in her life, it seemed as though Percy could do anything she wanted, with no bad grades in school or gods to stop her. She could go anywhere, do anything, be anyone.
Her mind first went to her mother and her little sister, yet she immediately shook that thought from her head. Percy had been keeping tabs on her family as she trained with the shadows, they were doing fine without her, they were safe. Now that she was a fully trained assassin her family wasn't just in danger from Greek monsters but from any mortal enemies she might make.
Not that I have any yet.
No, her mom and baby sister were safer if she stayed away.
But that begged the question of what she would do.
She could join the shadows, that was the reason the Demon's Head had invited her to Nanda Parbat. The league had taught her so much, yet she knew deep down that killing innocence would never sit right with her. She may no longer be a hero but her morals would remain the same.
No, she also couldn't stay with the league, and since the camp wasn't an option she was back to square one.
Stripping off her training garb, Percy shrugged on her 'night robes'. She snorted despite herself at the proper-sounding name.
Ready for bed and feeling exhausted, the daughter of Poseidon sighed as she climbed into bed. Since she wasn't on duty nor had any training sessions the next day, Percy was allowed to sleep in. She fully planned to do just that.
Her thoughts still lingered on Thalia's question as she slowly drifted off to sleep.
What am I going to become?
Awaking with a strangled scream, the ravenette sat up in the bed. Sweat was dripping down her face as she frantically searched the room. A few moments later she realized what she was doing with a frown.
I can kill a man in a thousand different ways yet I'm afraid of a stupid dream.
Shaking her head to clear her mind, she slowly dragged herself to the edge of the small bed with a groan. There was no way she was going back to sleep after that.
So, dragging her feet across the floor she changed into her training clothes, deciding she wanted to hit something after all.
On her way out she grabbed her katana as well, it was probably best to keep training with the foreign weapon.
The walk to the main training hall was surprisingly quiet as Percy only passed guards. It was odd though, Nanda Parbat always seemed to be bustling with activity, secret assassin headquarters or not.
Yet now the only sounds came from the group training outdoors.
The silence meant that most of the island's occupants were gone on assignments, leaving the headquarters echoing silently with their absence.
Finally, Percy reached the large training hall. It wasn't quite as big as the one outside—which was a given—so it was less used. Perfect for a demigod who wanted to train without everyone watching.
Granted this was the league of assassins headquarters so someone was always watching, but that's beside the point.
Unsealthing her katana, Percy held the deadly blade evenly out in front of her, making sure her stance was well balanced before slashing the sword at an imaginary foe. She smirked to herself as her body moved naturally with the blade, the sword becoming an extension of her arms.
She moved through different stances and techniques for the rest of the morning.
Percy would have continued to do so if it weren't for the person who cleared their throat behind her. In a smooth motion, Percy sheathed the sword and faced the...child?
The famed daughter of Poseidon stared down at the small child known as Damian al ghul owlishly. What did Thalia's son want?
"May I spar with you, Medusa?"
'Medusa' was the name she had chosen during her stay with the league, it was her quote-on-quote assassin name.
"You can call me Percy." She eyed him a moment longer, "and yes you may."
The little kid bowed to her respectfully before drawing his blade. "Thank you, Lady Jackson."
Percy smirked down at the kid before unsheathing her sword yet again. She had yet to fight the young heir of the Demon, though from what she heard the youth was rather adept when it came to the sword.
He was not to be underestimated.
They circled the mat a couple of times, getting a feel for the other's stance. Percy discovered that the small child preferred a direct approach, valuing accuracy and precision over brute force.
Smart, considering the wee lad barely reached to her chest.
Damian was first to strike, leaping forward to go for a low slash that would unbalance the demigod.
Unfortunately for him, Percy immediately saw what he was doing and lowered her sword just enough to block the slash.
The little assassin frowned as their swords met.
As the youngster ducked away to give himself some breathing room, Percy had to admit that the kid was a natural. If the two had met just a few years before there was no doubt that Damian would have won.
Damian moved with speed and accuracy, however, Percy was faster.
She landed small precise hits on him, slowing him down and gradually giving her the upper hand.
Throughout the spar, Damian surprised the experienced demigod. He never once got frustrated, even when Percy got hit after hit on him. The kid kept a level head and made clever moves throughout their spar.
Percy drove her katana forward with a jab, purposely leaving an open on her left side. It wasn't too big that the kid would suspect something, but it was too good an opportunity for him to give up.
With a sloppily hidden smirk, Damian twisted his blade towards the 'opening'. Percy was ready and with a flick of her wrist, she pulled the move Luke had taught her all those years ago.
The little devil's katana landed on the other side of the mat with a clang and Damian could only stare at it stunned as Percy's sword went to his throat, ending the match.
The heir of the Demon tsked, walking over to pick up his blade. He turned back to the demigod and bowed respectively. "Thank you for the spar lady Jackson." He eyed her with an indifferent look. "It was adequate."
Percy smirked down at the small assassin. "You are a good fighter Damian, one of the best I have had the pleasure of facing in fact."
The young al ghul glowered at her words with a scoff, "I am no clod lady Jackson, you held back the entire fight!" He balled his fists as his scowl deepened. "I am no child! I am a warrior and should be treated as such."
Percy only shrugged."I didn't hold back because you are a child, but because you are mortal, I've fought gods, titans and giants...I have to hold back for mortals."
Her words didn't seem to resonate as Percy had planned as the kid only tsked again.
"I should be better than that lady Jackson."
She studied the wee lad for a moment, before finding the right words to assure him.
"Your height is a good thing in a way." The young boy tilted his head and peered at her questioningly. "In what way Lady Jackson?"
She leaned forward and flicked the boy on his forehead. "It's Percy to you." She said, "And to answer your question, it makes your opponent underestimate you."
The small child only scoffed, "How does that aid me in combat?"
The demigod shrugged. "When they pull their punches or don't give their all it leaves you with an opening to slither past their defences."
Damian scrunched his eyebrows together, appearing deep in thought. "But you didn't underestimate me."
"No, I did not." She said with a chuckle.
"Why not?"
At the kid's question, Percy found herself staring forward solemnly, remembering grim times. "I have experience fighting those that are more than they appear."
"From your days of fighting as a daughter of Poseidon?" She stared down at the child, "Just how much did your mother tell you?"
He only smirked. "Enough."
The demigod opened her mouth to respond, however, a voice from behind the duo interrupted.
"Come, Damian, your grandfather awaits."
"Coming mother."
The young boy bowed respectively to Percy once again before sauntering over to his mother. Thalia eyed her carefully making Percy twitch uncomfortably. When the daughter of the Demon nodded at her all Percy could do was stare as the mother-son duo disappeared down the hall.
Shaking herself from her stupor, Percy raised her sword and begain to practice yet again.
A single shot rang out, followed closely behind by a steady stream of gunshots.
Nanda Parbat was under attack and most of its assassins were away.