Chapter 3 - Only The Beginning
They all looked shocked at Chiron, Arc sensing a much bigger picture happening around them.
"So I was right about you." Arc mused. All eyes turned to him, confused looks sent his way, as they all followed his line of sight.
A glowing symbol appeared overhead of Leo, a symbol of the Forge. "Hephaestus." Arc smiled kindly, meeting his eyes. "Leo Valdez, Son of Hephaestus. Annabeth, Butch. Why don't you two take Piper and Leo on a tour of the camp, Jason will catch up with you soon after." He finished. He was listening to Jason in his mind, 'correct' him once more, Vulcan, in his mind. Arcmelos and Chiron waited as they left, albeit a little reluctant to go, watching as they made their way to the centre of the Camp, before they continued.
"Do you remember much from. Anything? Your life growing up for instance?" Arc wondered, eying Jason critically. He paused for a moment, trying to remember something that would help, looking to them once more.
"I remember a sister? It's a little fuzzy." He sighed. Arc's back stiffened, his feeling was right. He looked to Chiron beside him, Chiron sensing the truth as well.
"Well, if you're related to who I think you are, yes you do have a sister. She's a Hunter now, currently helping in the efforts of finding my brother." Arc sighed, shaking his head. "You already know the gods." He continued after a brief pause.
"Except for you, yes. Juno, Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto and so on." He finished.
"But that's the Roman gods." Chiron sighed, the puzzle pieces falling in place. Arc hummed in answer, looking to Jason once more.
"The gods are currently fighting themselves. You see, after Greece, came Rome, a little brief stint in the UK in the middle of the two but that didn't take off for them." He waved off unimportantly. "Then after that, they came to the US, always moving West with the changing times. That is where they've stayed ever since, atop the Empire State Building. The Roman aspects of themselves are currently fighting for control, which is a side they're not very fond of." He finished, looking over Jason.
"Jason, may I see your arm," Chiron asked politely. He nodded, extending his right arm out, the two watching as Chiron rolled up his sleeve. Tattooed onto his skin was an Eagle, SPQR tattooed underneath, followed by twelve slashes.
"Well, he isn't lying." Chiron sighed, looking over the boy. "I hoped he was."
"Why? What is it?" Arc wondered, eying the tattoo, seeing nothing like it before.
"It's his Regiment and Rank." Chiron began, rolling back down his sleeve. "The eagle represents the Legion and the slashes his rank, couldn't tell you what that is though." He sighed, wheeling himself into the house.
"SPQR?" Arc wondered, following him in, Jason in tow.
"It's Latin. Senātus Populusque Rōmānus, more freely in English, The Senate and the People of Rome." Chiron said as they sat around on the sofa inside.
"Have a seat and lie down, I'll see if I can do something about your memories." Arc sighed. He watched as Jason got comfortable on the sofa, waiting for a moment before beginning. "Ready?" He wondered. Jason nodded his head, closing his eyes as the Dark Mist swirled around the room, blanketing the room in eternal darkness.
Arc opened his eyes, ignoring the gasp from Chiron, stunned at what was happening around him. Jason's eyes flickered open, a startled gasp ripping from his chest as a scene played out once more, something akin to what happened in Cabin Three. He watched as a White Aura made its way around the room, standing over Jason as it touched his forehead, a pained cry coming from the boy before him.
The connection with the Mist was shut off, much like before, but more violently this time, the light filtering through once more as Chiron wheeled himself forward in alarm.
"I. I remember something. A woman dressed in black a- a gat skin, and... Howling." Jason breathed hard, struggling to catch his breath.
"Well, it's a start." Arc sighed, his breathing laboured. He sat on an armchair behind him, sweat dripping from his face, having to work through the pain of something powerful trying to block him out, outside of his area of expertise.
"You alright, Arcmelos?" Chiron wondered, looking to the Minor god in worry. He nodded minutely, the movement barely noticeable as he mumbled.
"Yeah. This is way out of my area of expertise these days. Minor gods and gods, in general, don't like other gods encroaching on their areas of expertise unless permitted. If I was a Demigod there'd be more I could do, but with my powers changing for better and worse, I'm not much use as I used to be." He sighed, feeling a little better as his breathing began to slow down. "We need to get to the Cabin of Hypnos, they will be able to be of more help, they can interfere in other areas." He breathed.
He was startled from his lapse in recovery as the door burst open, Annabeth and Rachel rushing in, Piper in between them, unconscious.
"What happened?" Arc demanded, his tone tired.
"We were in Hera's Cabin when this happened." Annabeth began, looking alarmed up at the Minor god. "We were explaining the new world around her, she touched the statue of Hera then blacked out." Arc nodded, humming in thought as he stood up shakily, his energy returning little by little, drawing the energy from the Dark Mist nearby. He watched Jason stand, helping the girls place her gently on the sofa where he was lying, looking up to him.
"She'll be fine, Chiron and I will look over her. Annabeth, can you take Jason to Hypnos Cabin and explain to him that Jason has no memories, see if they should be able to help." He sighed, looking over Piper. He watched her nod, ushering Jason away from Piper as he followed reluctantly, Rachel in tow.
"I'm going to go and get some strength back from my Cabin, I'll come back in an hour to check up on her." He sighed, looking to Chiron. He nodded in concern, smiling slightly as he left, sensing Chiron beginning to care for Piper.
He entered his Cabin, the strength coming back to him with every step, sighing as he sat heavily onto his bed, bouncing slightly as he closed his eyes. He awoke sometime later, Annabeth shaking him awake, staring down at him in concern
"You okay? You seemed dead to the world." She worried. He yawned, as he pushed up from the bed, stretching as he stood. He hummed, nodding his head as he looked down to her.
"Yeah, just needed to get some of my energy back, what's up?" He yawned once more.
"Well, Clovis did help." She began, watching him nod for her to continue, his face growing serious. "And you were right, it is Hera. She's done something to Jason, wiped his memory of everything." She sighed, watching as the tears began to well in her eyes. "And I'm now scared for Percy, because. What i-if the same has happened to him and he-" She cut off, the tears flowing. He was shocked to see Annabeth like this, she was usually so calm and collected, the one on top of things.
"Hey. We will find him, alright? if there's anything that he'd remember if his minds been wiped, it will be you. Remembering someone you care for will always pull you through. Look at me and Thalia, for instance. She got me through Tartarus and the hold on Nyx. Percy will remember you, trust me." He sighed, wrapping his arms around her, hugging her in comfort.
"Yeah. You're right." She breathed, clearing her throat. "I need to stop acting like a Child of Aphrodite and start acting like the Daughter of Athena." She settled, her eyes focusing back to its steely determination. "If he doesn't remember me, I'll make him remember me." She grinned mischievously. He laughed in response, shaking his head. They wandered to the exit, making their way back to the Big House, discussing further details on the interactions with Clovis.
"Right, so. We know that for whatever reason, Hera has switched Percy and Jason around. Jason for some reason is connected with the Roman aspects. Maybe he's the reason the gods are struggling with their other personalities." Arc muttered, looking to Annabeth. She sighed as they ascended the stairs of the porch.
"Could be, it just doesn't make sense as to why." She grumbled, almost pulling on her blonde curls in frustration.
They entered the living room, Piper sitting up and alert, Jason in the chair opposite her.
"Sorry I didn't come to check on you, I apparently needed more rest than I realised." Arc sighed, looking down to the girl before him. "Dinner is starting any moment now, so let's get you both over there and get something to eat." He smiled. As the words left his mouth, the Conch horn sounded in the distance, the four making their way over to Dining Hall. He sat at the table assigned to Chiron and the Camp Director/ Visitors, sitting opposite Rachel who smiled up at him.
Dinner went by as it always did, Ares Cabin being the loudest and largest, nothing new there, Athena being the quietest. He looked over at Annabeth, sensing the sorrow in her as the events of late hit her once more before the face morphed to determination. He smiled sadly to her, thinking of Thalia. He hoped everything was fine for them all.
"Campers, we have a few announcements that will be discussed during the Campfire, there will be no sing-along tonight." Chiron smiled sadly, some of the campers groaning in disappointment. Arcmelos stood at the back, along with Chiron and Rachel, following the mass of Campers heading to the Arena. He watched the three new arivals ahead of him, making their way separate from the other campers, watching as they sat to one side with each other, a few gaps in between to the nearest person.
"Hello everyone." Arc smiled, looking out to them all. "I have a few things to discuss in regards to myself here and the ground we've made on finding my brother." He began, looking to them all. "I had a brief meeting with Zeus earlier today, and he has permitted me, to look after the Camp while Dionysus is away on Olympus." He smiled out to the campers, chuckling as they cheered, much to his surprise.
"How did the search for Percy go?" Will wondered, staring across the fire to him.
"Unfortunately, the Fates have forbidden me to look for him directly, so I have been using my powers over the Dark Mist to uncover a few things. It is only a working theory, but myself and Annabeth seem to think Hera is involved in some way, regarding his disappearance." He stated, the sound of thunder rolling in the distance. "As I said, Zeus, it was a working theory, we're not saying it is her." He sighed, hearing the thunder roll once more, a little closer this time.
"Alright, you've made your point." He muttered under his breath. "None the less, the trail Annabeth and Butch followed has brought us a new trail of sorts. Chiron." He smiled to the Centaur, backing away slightly.
"Thank you, Arc." He smiled, looking to his right. "As Arc said, Annabeth and Butch followed a trail to the Grand Canyon and we've unfortunately lost sight of a Satyr, Gleeson Hedge." He sighed, his tone changing. "But, Hedge was protecting and watching two new additions to Camp, Leo Valdez. Son of Hephaestus and Piper McLean, unclaimed which is odd. But I suppose with the conflict between personalities on Olympus, the lapse in judgement can be overlooked." He finished looking to the crowd.
"What about Jason? Is he not welcome here?" Piper demanded, her tone bitter and expression appalled. Arc sighed as he stood beside the Centaur once more, addressing her.
"He is welcome here, whenever he likes. However, he isn't our kind of Half-Blood. He belongs to the Roman aspects." He began, looking over the blonde boy before him. "Jason, you couldn't have survived this long without a weapon of some form, what do you have in your arsenal to show everyone here what I mean." Arc wondered looking to him.
The Camp watched as he stood forward, making his way to the centre beside Arc, the firelight dancing off of his face. He looked to Piper and Leo, watching as she flicked an imaginary coin in her hand. He produced a gold coin from his pocket, mimicking the motion Piper used, the Camp gasping as the coin extended into a golden Lance.
"This is just one of two weapons it can be. If the coin lands on heads it will change to a Gladius, tails this Lance." Jason said automatically.
"Can't say it beats Arc's weapons, but it's still impressive none the less." Jason heard from someone in the seats closeby, looking up to the Minor god beside him, a questioning look shooting his way.
"Yeah that's true, but it's so much cooler than Clarisse's spear, Lamer, if only it had electricity." Arc heard someone mutter. Arc smiled in secret, knowing something they all didn't. The Camp watched, stunned once more, as he thrust the Lance to the sky. Atop the spear came sparks, a lightning strike hitting the tip as it fizzled around the spear, looking to the camp as it shot to the fire before them; the smoke rising high into the air.
"That better?" Arc grinned, looking to the Child of Ares, nodding enthusiastically.
"He's a child of Zeus?!" Annabeth gasped through the disappearing smoke. Arc laid his hand on Jason's shoulder, patting it lightly as the Lance shimmered back into the form of a coin.
"Not Zeus, Jupiter. His Roman aspect. Hence why he isn't properly one of us." Arc sighed, looking down at him. "But as I said, he is always welcome here regardless, Zeus Cabin has been empty for quite some time now." He looked out to the camp once more, feeling Jason's eyes on him as he studied the god before him.
"If I might ask two things?" Jason wondered, a professional manner coming through his tone. Arc hummed for him to continue, a slight nod of his head. "What are your weapons?" Jason wondered. Arc smiled, hearing the Camp groan around him.
"It's a very long list." Arc grinned before continuing. "Back when I was a Demigod, I used to visit Hephaestus quite often. I built a little reputation for myself amongst the gods, in a good and bad way. I helped Hephaestus a lot growing up with quests and such, he had a bit of a soft spot for me in the end. The very first set of weapons I received were from my Father, however, from the Forges under the Sea. A set of Bronze Dusters." He sighed, his rings shimmering to the dulled metal, the look sad from lack of use for years.
"I then went to Hephaestus as I mentioned, him helping me forge new weapons over the years." He explained, his rings shimmering to each one, all of them ranged in varying forms, crossbows to sniper rifles. "Except two." He sighed, his expression turning sad as in his hand appeared the first of the two melee weapons. "This was my Father figures sword growing up, it holds a special place in my heart, alongside this war axe, belonging to my mother figure. They died a few years ago, protecting my Camp in London, while I was here, unaware of the happenings." He finished sadly, the silence filling the Camp.
"And the other?" Arc wondered after a moment of Silence.
"Well, I was wondering what it was you did, like powers wise?" He wondered, the crowd groaning once again, jokingly, at the long story accompanying them.
"Why, we've heard this a million times, every time a new camper asks." He heard Clarisse mutter to herself. He laughed once more, shaking his head as he looked to Jason.
"I don't think there is enough time for me to tell you the whole story, it is again, a long line of events. Long story short, I was born in a thick layer of Mist that Nyx planned on killing me with, so she could raise me as her own as a godkiller to Dethrone the gods, but it didn't work. I ended up being raised in London, at a camp there where I eventually made my way to Olympus, receiving training from Hecate for the Mist, Hephaeustus for anything regarding the Forge, Ares to fight better and Apollo. Well, that was a happy accident, he ended up giving me some knowledge of Healing, after I killed Artemis' sacred animal, creating Enemies for life." He grinned, thinking back on the events.
"Then fast forward to Summer past. I died, escaped through Tartarus where I met Nyx who told me her plan of making me a godkiller, nearly succeded and gave me control over the Dark Mist. I was subsequently given godhood because of the warring Darkness inside of me. It would create a problem for the gods if they let it be. So my powers are now, control over water as a Son of Poseidon and control over the Dark Mist." He grinned, to the shocked Demigod before him.
"But enough of me. This Camp has heard this story each time a new Camper arrives." He grinned, gazing out towards the campers. "This Campfire is about you three, but you mainly." He finished, standing back as Jason and Chiron stood in the centre.
"Indeed. Rachel, is there a Prophecy in any way that is related to Jason?" Chiron wondered, watching Rachel carefully, who stood quietly in the shadows this whole time beside Chiron. The Camp watched as she stood motionless for a moment, before swooning and nearly collapsing to the floor, being caught by a chair that shimmered from the Dark Mist.
"Child of Lightning, beware the Earth. The Giant's Revenge the Seven Shall Birth, The Forge and Dove shall break the Cage, And death unleash through Hera's Rage." The green Aura that takes over Rachel, the Spirit of Delphi, dissipated. Rachel came too, staring around at her surroundings, standing with the aid of Arc's hand.
"Go get some rest." He whispered to her, watching her nod in response. He watched as a few Nature Spirits came over, guiding Rachel back to her Cave she prefered to stay in, to rest.
"Is that Green smoke normal?" Leo wondered, concern in his voice.
"Yes, it's quite normal for Rachel, nowadays. She hosts the Spirit of Delphi, a contract that hasn't been entered in a very long time with a new host." Chiron answered, looking to the Newly acquainted son of Hephaestus. "Now, in terms of the Prophecy laid out before us, what is this to do with Giants?" Chiron pondered, looking to Arc for answers. He sighed as he looked to the sky towards Olympus, getting the go-ahead from Zeus to discuss the new Major prophecy to the Camp.
"Well, when I called the meeting a few days ago when I arrived back, I already knew of a new prophecy. One that the gods feared was slowly coming true, involving the Giants. " He sighed, hearing the murmurs from Camp. "The prophecy goes as follows. Seven half-bloods shall answer the call, To storm or fire the world must fall. An oath to keep with a final breath, And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death." He stopped, his words hanging on the last line mainly.
"And I fear it might have been indirectly caused by me." He sighed, eyes downcast to the floor as the camp stared at him in silence.
