Well, it turns out I wasn't named after a cartoon dog, thank the gods. My full name is Odysseus Ward. Not too bad of a name, I guess. At least it isn't Garfield.
Life in this new body is taking some getting used to, naturally. After all, being shoved from a 19 year old's body and into a 7 year old's.
Anyway, my new home is far better that my old apartment in my previous world. It's a fully detached house with quite a number of rooms, along with one room dedicated to being a library. And thanks to what I believe is from me being a child of Athena, I have a newfound love, perhaps even obsession, over books. I've been dying to go into the library room and reading every single piece of paper in there.
Of course, the reason I'm living in a large house like this is because of my father, Alexander Ward. He's an honest to gods rocket scientist, working for NASA. I can see why he caught Athena's eye. Speaking of Athena, my father is well aware of the Greek gods and mythology in general, though he doesn't particular care for it. I wouldn't be surprised if he saw me as a baby by the doorstep, shrugged and took me in. Though he did get a note from Athena explaining why he found a baby in front of his house.
And while my father may seem rather aloof on the outside, evidence around the house shows that he's a rather caring man. Whilst he was at work, I went through his room, looking for information about my new situation. Inside his cupboard, I found an album containing pictures of him and I at amusement parks and fairs. It was a rather wholesome book. And whilst I was looking through his room, I found a rather interesting letter from a certain centaur. It looks like I'm going to Camp Half Blood when I turn 11.
A year before the son of Poseidon enters into the story.
4 years to prepare for the rest of my life. Seems like an adequate enough time.
The first thing I had to do was to store some key information. And to do that in the most effective way, I opened the NOTES feature that I was given when entered this world. Though opening it was an accident, since it opens by thinking it to. I created several notes from the information I could remember from the books. Prophecy analysis, enemies and spies, and items I can get to further my goals.
Though the disappointing thing about the NOTES feature is that the 'interface' takes up my whole vision, so I can't exploit it to make myself over-powered.
It was a really nifty power to be honest. Of course, I also tested out the INVENTORY feature, and true to its word, I could carry a seemingly infinite number of items. My mind ran thousands of ideas of how I could exploit this. Could I carry humans in it?
Oh, the possibilities.
Now, for me to succeed in this world as a demigod, it was important for me to learn how to control the mist... Except I have no clue how to do it. There are very brief mentions of it in the books, and Thalia says Chiron taught her how to do it, but the books never actually state how someone does it.
In House of Hades, Hazel manages to do it for the first time, but that was because she... related it to her powers! That's it! Somehow, I have to relate it to my demigod powers! Except I'm a child of Athena, I don't have the ability to pull precious metals like Hazel, nor can summon lightning like Thalia. My strength is within my mind. Perhaps I should focus on the mind aspect since I'm tricking the brains of others. And lucky for me, I have an entire school full of test subjects.
The school I went to was relatively normal, though a bit higher quality when it comes to their science department. It seems that I had no friends before I came to this world. Rather sad when you consider the impacts of a lack of socialization for a child.
My first day in this school was very disorientating. Since I was born and raised in the UK, the new school system was quite a shock. I mean, I was almost late since I had no idea what to wear. Usually, I would have a uniform or something. Then, when I went into my class and the first thing everyone did was stand up and say a sentence at the same time? To a flag? I just mouthed the words, completely confused.
And later, when my small, 7-year-old bladder begged to be rescued, I raised my hand and when the teacher nodded to me, I said, "Miss, may I go to the toilet?" Everyone looked to extremely shocked. That was when I released, this was my first time talking since I arrived in this world. And it appears I retained my accent.
The teacher looked very much out of it, "Mr Ward, I do believe that's the first thing you've said since joining the school!" She exclaimed. Ah, that must be why she didn't bother calling out my name in the register. It seems previous me was quite antisocial, which actually works to my benefit.
I briskly walk out of the classroom, and on my way out I hear someone say, "I didn't know he was British..." Well, I guess I'm going to be the subject of the rumour mill today.
"Maybe his white hair is a British thing as well?" Another whispered. Oh right, I forgot pure white hair was uncommon amongst... most if not all, people. Perhaps I should've picked a less distinct colour. Damn my need to feel special.
Later in the day, my class was immediately given a geography quiz. "Okay, I know a bit of world geography, I should be able to do it" I think to myself,but I blanched after looking at the questions. It was American Geography, and one of the questions asked us to list all 50 states of the USA. Well, shit. I didn't even know there were 50! That's a bit over excessive, isn't it? And they want me to match up flags to each state! Why do the states have flags!? At that point, just declare sovereignty and become a country! And why are they asking me this! I'm meant to be 7!
But the worst thing? The kids around me were writing on the paper, as if they actually know this shit!
I look through the test, filling in the answers, most of them were utter bullshit. Honestly, at some point I made up states. However, this would be ample opportunity for me to test out the Mist. "Come on, Athena," I think to myself, "I'd love some help with manipulating the mist, hell I'll even burn some roast chicken for you" I close my eyes, waving my hand over my test. I feel a sensation coursing through my veins. I feel my mind desiring for the correct answers. I feel the atmosphere changing.
I open my eyes and look at my paper. At first, there seems to be no difference. Still completely incorrect. But before I could do anything, my teacher comes up behind me, "Ah Oddie," She says, "I see you've already finished." The teacher immediately takes my answers to her desk, before I could say anything. I watch her facial expressions. She places my paper on her desk and sits down. She then looks at my answers. I look of shock comes on her face, before her expression becomes dazed and confused for a second. As she starts moving her red pen, her face becomes normal as if nothing wrong happened.
My heart falters as she gets up from her seat. Did the Mist not work? Perhaps I shouldn't have tested it on something so risky. I think it might be from my godly mother, but it seems that tests and exams now hold a higher place within my heart.
The teacher places down my answer sheet in front of me. Instead of seeing plagues crimson crosses, I instead see a horde of ticks. I look to the top corner of the sheet. 50 out of 50. 100%. A+. The Mist fucking worked. I am absolutely getting my mother the finest roast chicken from Costco. Wait, does Costco even exist right now? I don't remember when it first opened, but since the current year is 2000, then it must be a thing. Oh well, a question to answered later.
"Good job, Oddie" The teacher smiles, "Full marks and first to finish!" The praise warms my heart. Wait. Shit. Did me being a child of Athena make me a teacher's pet? Oh, fuck no. Shit.
The teacher walks away, so I look at my answers. Yeah, they're definitely wrong. I'm pretty sure Cybertron isn't part of the 50 states. However, when I dart my eyes away from it slightly, I see the word Cybertron replaced by Wisconsin. Huh. I've never heard of that place before.
I probably shouldn't be happy that I cheated, however a child of Athena should be resourceful enough to get themselves out of any problematic situation.
The school bell rings and my first day of this institution had finished. I walk out of the school gates and see my father waiting for me in front of a car, his white hair blowing in the wind. Hm, this might be my first conversation with him. Yesterday, when I first came to this world and he called my name, he simply told me that he was going to work, before leaving, not letting me say a word. I was rather perplexed by it but understood after deducing his personality.
He silently nods to me, and we both get into his car.
"...So how was school?" He gruffly says to me. It's clear that he doesn't expect an answer from me.
"It was fine. I aced my geography test" I bluntly answer. I almost laugh at the shock on his face. I wonder how I'll explain my accent.
"H-how? Why? What?" He questions, confused, before looking at me exasperated, "Y-you've been watching too much Doctor Who. Haven't you? I knew it was mistake to buy the DVD" He sighs, as if he genuinely expected this.
"Uh... No, it's not" I deny. I might as well give him a somewhat believable lie, "It's a child of Athena thing" My father abruptly stopped the car, giving me a bewildered look. Fortunately, we were at a red light, else I might've ended up in the Underworld before I planned to. "H-how did you find out!?" Oh shit. So previous me didn't know yet. Okay, okay. I can bullshit out of this.
I gave my father a deadpanned look, "Really? I see lizard people selling hotdogs, Minotaurs wearing college jerseys, and fish-men stealing bread from ducks. Oh, and then there's the owls following me around." Damn, with the lies I'm spitting, I should be a son of Hermes! I've always been told that I could've been an actor if it weren't for the oppressive dictator controlling half the planet.
The man sighs, laughing a little bit, "You were always too smart for your own good."
"I suppose that's why I got 100% on my test" I smirked.
"I suppose so..." My father mockingly retorted, though in good fun, "And I suppose the sudden maturity in your language and tone is from your mother"
"Seems like it"
We remain silent for the rest of the ride. My brain goes through millions of possibilities of what will happen next. Will he show me Chiron's letter? Take me to Camp Half Blood? Who knows.
The car stops, and we both walk inside our house. He leads to his room, and as he opens his closet, I realise what he's about to show me. "Oddie," He says, pulling out a letter, "I was planning on telling you this when you were older, but you've found out already. However, I was told that when you learn of your... heritage, monsters and horrific creatures would come after you. Honestly from the way they told me, I expected Hades popping out of the ground and kidnap you."
"Hey, hey, hey!" I stopped him, "Hades isn't that bad!"
My father raised his hands in apology, "Okay, Okay! Sorry. But anyway, it... seems dangerous for you to remain untrained on how to protect yourself, and guns don't work on monsters, even if I could see them. So, when the summer holidays start next month, I'm taking you to a place with people like you, and they'll teach you how to survive."
The man had an unnatural look of sorrow on his face, as if he wasn't used to the emotion.
"That's okay, dad" I grinned, trying to soothe him, "It'll be like a summer camp. Won't it?" To be honest, it is.
That got a laugh out of him, "Yeah, I guess it will" He rubs my head, smiling.
It was at that moment I remembered one of my plans that I wanted to enact, "Hey dad..." He looked down to me, wondering what I was going to say, "Could I get a small loan of $1000?" The look on his face was enough to make me burst into laughter.
I laughed even more when he realised, I wasn't joking.