A/N: This is mostly introductory stuff, but if you haven't read the Percy Jackson books, I urge you to read them before reading any further.
Chapter 2, Act I - The Chapter in Which the System Can Suck It.
I woke up with a start, and only felt the wind rushing around me. Then the realization came that I was falling. "System?! Maybe a bit of help!" I yell, probably muted by the wind. No response. I try yelling the same thing through thought. I wasn't really sure it would work.
It still didn't. But then I saw something that sparked hope. I wasn't sure when I was, though, but the System gave me knowledge of the Riordanverse. I can use that. That realization came with a large body of water coming into my vision.
"Lord Poseidon, help me. I know what happens to your son, Percy Jackson!" I pray. Moments later, I dissolve into mist, and in that moment, I decide I have a new favorite god. Next thing I know, I appear on a beach, facing a fisherman in khakis, a Hawaiian shirt, and sandals.
"Explain." The sea god says, a determined look across his face. "I need to give context for this first. But I need you to swear on the Styx that this stays between you and me, because this can severely impact the timeline if word gets out. I also swear on the Styx that I will give you the information I have, and that it will be accurate until someone acts to change it, to include the Fates." A clap of thunder rang out, sealing my oath.
The god takes a moment to consider, as he sizes me up, likely to determine if I was a threat. "I will swear to your terms. I swear on the Styx that the information you give me pertaining to my son will remain between us." Another clap of thunder rings out. "Now explain." Poseidon says neutrally.
"First, what year is this?" I ask. "It's 2003. Why?" He shoots back. "Alright. I've got two years before anything happens, then. Anyways, I'm not exactly from around here. I was someone from another universe, I think. I died, and got brought back to life in this universe by someone. I don't know who. Your son, Percy Jackson, is destined to be an incredible demigod. He undergoes a load of nigh-impossible tasks and trials in his life, and keeps surviving. I intend to protect him the best I can as well." Poseidon seems to grow older as I proceed to detail everything the System gave me, which was essentially all the details the books provided.
"I truly hope you're not lying, child. We both know Lady Styx would not take offense to her name like that lying down." He says gravely. "Good thing I'm not lying, then. I plan on helping him in any way I can from the instant he steps into camp, and now you know the upcoming threats, too, though I'm afraid you can't speak to anyone of it without risking Percy's safety further. Speaking of camp, though... Where are we?"
"I'm afraid I can't help you with transportation, but you will find that we're in Virginia, somewhere on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Is there anything else?" He asked me. "I can work with that. But yeah, there's one last thing I should ask of you. I'm not sure if this body had a life before this, or if I just appeared, but in any case, ask my mother, Hecate, if she's aware of me, and to check in on me. I should speak with her about every detail of this that I can." The king of Atlantis nods.
"That I can do. Farewell, child. I imagine we will meet again soon." The sea god says, dispersing into mist, whisking away over the Bay. "Thank you, Lord Poseidon." I quietly say.
"Now, to work. I need to figure out this Game System, but first priority is finding somewhere to stay." I think aloud. "Ding!" I immediately jump, and only calm when I see it's a notification from the System.
Quest Added!
Test the basics of the System!
Rewards: A place to stay, 2 drachma, and a visit from your mother!
I sigh. Push figuring out the System to the front of the priorities list, then. I started to think. I can't remember anything about games, much less how to operate one. I'm out in the middle of nowhere, away from society. So let's start simple. "Help." "Ding!"
What do you need help with?
"Completing the impossible quest assigned to me. I have nobody to ask, and I don't have memories of whatever past life I may have had, so I don't know if I'm supposed to know how to operate this or what." I reply, bitterness lacing my voice. So what if I was a bit bitter? I got yanked out of my last life, and shoved into a new one with very little memory, with high expectations placed on me already. Anyone would be bitter.
There was a moment of silence while the System pondered a response.
Fine, I suppose you'll need some of your memories. You get this one freebie. Next major quest skip like that will come with a price.
With that, memory of the last System's operations came flooding back to me, but nothing beyond the basics, unfortunately. Nothing that could link to my past life. I started testing the mechanics of the System, and found a couple things.
I found the inventory, with infinite space, skills menu, where I can view my powers, my skills, and my abilities, the status menu, where I can view practically anything about me, the quest book, where I can view all of my quests from before and ongoing quests, and the log, where I can call up past conversations, even ones with the System.
With that, another "Ding!" rang out. "Hey System? Is there a way to turn that noise down?" I ask.
No.
Quest Complete!
Test the basics of the System!
Rewards: A place to stay, 2 drachma, and a visit from your mother!
I grin as the drachmas appear in my inventory, along with a purple square. I pull out the square, and out with it comes a note with a single phrase.
"Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus." I muse. I couldn't help but laugh after a moment. That's the motto for Hogwarts. It means Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon in Latin. But aside from that, I knew what the note meant. I tossed the square on the ground, and said the phrase clearly.
The square started expanding, up and outwards, to reveal a fully pitched purple tent. I grin, then realize I shouldn't have known how to operate one of those tents, logically. But I just figured it was the System at work, providing more information.
I walk inside the tent, and marvel at what's inside. It wasn't far from an apartment. Just imagine an apartment without walls or a television, and you've basically got the inside of one of these tents. I quickly noticed my reflection in a mirror, next to an armor stand.
I saw a pale kid, maybe 10 years old, with paper white hair and fiery purple eyes staring back at me. "I see you got your hands on one of these tents. I can't say I'm not surprised at all." A serene voice rang out from the tent flaps. I turn to see a tall woman, with eyes shifting between purple, green, and black, her hair platinum blonde, all the while armed with what looked like a weasel and a black lab.
There's only one person I can imagine visiting me now, and with such odd companions.
"Hello, mother."
