VII: Guardians
-Nico-
"Can you please~ take a break soon I'm starting to go insane," I shouted over the loud banging in the background. Leo ignored me and continued to hammer away at his 'new weapon.' He's been attempting to make the same model for the past three weeks, and each day it turns out terrible. I will admit though when he finally pulls it off it will be insanely cool when used in battle. Until then, I have to listen to constant hammering when I'm trying to enjoy time with one of the few sane people on this wall.
The design he was making was a curved sword out of celestial bronze, and a handle of rope and stygian iron. The sword would have a slight curve toward the end of the blade to swing move smoothly and allow him to dodge better without risking cutting a limb off. He intended on making two symbols on the hilt. One would be a hammer, representing the children of Hephaestus. The other side would be a trident representing the three children of Poseidon. The presumed dead one, Percy Jackson, and the two living ones Kyle and Winter. He also wanted to be able to light the thing on fire, but I don't see that working well, considering its the main issue he's having while smithing.
Winter is a new demigod arrival at the wall. She is a daughter of Poseidon and apparently trained all her life just to come fight here on the wall. Why she would spend her life learning to fight when she could very well die on the first mission is beyond me. She has her own motives she refuses to tell us, which is fine in my book. Everyones gotta have some drive I guess.
Leo groaned in the corner picking up another far from perfect creation. "Don't know how you plan on making a 'flame sword of epicness.' Seems far from the realm of possibility," I started leaning back in my seat. Leo frowned and looked at the ground.
"I know you're constantly thinking about things realistically, but I have to keep trying. I could be one of the most powerful people on the wall if this works," he exclaimed beckoning the plan taped to the wall. I sighed and looked at the ground. I had to acknowledge his perseverance and determination. It seems to be the entire reason Leo and I are essentially partners now. Leo is the one who will fight through any bad situation and find all the good in things, while I point out things in a realistic way. I can never tell If he's biased saying no ones gonna die before each fight, or if he actually thinks that way.
Leo seemed to be let down for the day and picked up the mold for bronze arrowheads. In his time at the wall, Leo has become a master blacksmith. He sharpens the weapons for most people on the wall and creates brand new ones all the time. We have about three hundred demigods spread across the wall, and Leo has made about a thousand weapons on his own, not counting all the failures at making elemental weapons.
Leo had also become a better hero. For a long time, we demigods have thought we were heroes because we stabbed monsters or something like that. In reality, a hero is someone who saves lives and protects people. They want to help the greater good and try their best to make sure everyone's happy in the end. I might be the only one who can say it without being executed, but If the gods ever become worse than they are now, I would gladly rebel to position greater rulers.
A scream rocked through the air, and I turned to see Winter, the daughter of Poseidon, collapse at the anvil she was working at. Leo and I rushed over to her immediately. "Are you hurt? Did you cut yourself?" Leo concerned, barraging her with questions.
"Dream...Nightmare...Vision...Prophecy?" Winter said rolling over onto her back.
"What did you see," I said propping her upright. "You tell us everything and we won't interrupt you," I finished glancing at Leo. He took a long breath knowing that now wasn't the time to be a hot head. We all needed to be serious, or we could all die. Prophecies don't have good track records for us. Not having one for five years may have softened some of us up. Leo and I also knew the danger and horror of demigod nightmares. I don't get scared easily, but a nightmare I had long ago may be the only time in my life I was truly terrified.
"Ok," she began, taking a deep inhale. "I should mention before we start I couldn't make out anyone's faces or defining features, and I only think I know who one person was. Not to mention every event I describe happened in just seconds." We both nodded, motioning for her to continue.
"In the beginning, a crippled old lady was in an old attic. It was filled with dust and cobwebs, and she was sitting in a molded wooden rocking chair. The chair broke, and the woman fell to the ground. When she hit the ground the scene shifted to a much younger lady laying on the grass. I couldn't see her face, but green smoke seemed to be pouring from it. I assume that's Rachel because that's what you told me happened when she gave prophecies." Leo gave a slight nod of confirmation.
"I heard a voice that sounded like a dry, hoarse version of Rachel's speak. May the prince rise from the ash and rubble, it said. At that point, it had shifted again to show a man in a dark cloak surrounded by bodies." Winter paused and began to breathe heavily. "All the bodies were Camp Demigod members, dead and dismembered." This caused me and Leo to stir, but we didn't let off any emotion. We needed the full story before making assumptions.
"May the prince rise from the ash and rubble. A world on fire before his eyes. Let it burn, or save it, he must decide. Friends will be made with unlikely allies. Lies, truths, and illusions aside. Everyone has something to hide? Fire or Light one side shall rise." I rolled my eyes still sure to pay close attention to Winters story. That might be the most oblique prophecy I've ever heard. It even has a question in it! What prophecy has a question!?
"Then I started to see things again. One of the Artemis Hunters uniforms with a spear through it, connecting it to a pine tree. A group of people firing flaming arrows at a fleet of ships. A forest exploding into green flames." Winter seemed to be struck with a temporary realization as her eyes widened. I exhaled feeling bad for the clearly traumatized girl before me. I'm trying to protect your sister Percy, but there's not much I can do now.
"It was probably Greek fire," she continued slowly. "Another hooded figure drew twin swords on a moving horse, longish hair slipping from the front of the hood. As well as some type of battle in a destroyed corridor, both figures moving unthinkably fast." Hitches slowly accord in her breathing.
"The last one was the one that really scared me though. No one is ever innocent or guilty here. Everyones got blood on their hands, a voice told me. I saw a city I'd never seen before in flames. BURN THEM ALL! Another more deep and brutal voice said. I saw a wooden bow I know is Thalia's drop to the ground. BURN THEM ALL! The last thing I saw before waking up was two figures fighting over two seats in a massive empty room. One stabbed the other, and laid his body in one seat, before going to sit in the other himself."