Chapter 9, Act I - The Time Skip.
Two years later...
You know, when Chiron had said I was going to take a field trip, I didn't think it would mean going through sixth grade again. This school year so far was largely hell, especially when Alecto got involved.
I was crammed on a bus with twenty-eight other kids on a field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Of course, I was interested, but I was assigned as an insurance of sorts, to keep an eye on Grover Underwood, who was keeping an eye on Percy Jackson. Grover wasn't much of a fighter, but he was alright with people like Percy.
I was getting real sick of seeing the school bully, Nancy Bobofit, chucking pieces of the most disgusting sandwich in history at the duo. "Hey, Bobofit, if you don't cool it down, we're gonna have a problem." I called out to her. She knew Percy was on probation, so he couldn't do anything to her. Grover wouldn't stand up for himself if it saved a life.
I, however, was not on probation, and I personally think getting bullied doesn't build character very well. Fortunately, I'd built a decent bit of muscle in the last two years. I wasn't bulky, but I had a figure more like Luke's. I was lean, and I think my strength was apparent enough when I dominated in the school's wrestling team, which I was surprised they had, honestly.
What kind of middle school had a wrestling team? Honestly. I didn't really want to be part of it, but Chiron insisted, and word got around quickly. So, suffice to say, Nancy backed down quickly. I figure Nancy had a reason for doing stuff like that, but personally, I didn't really care too much. She wasn't my assignment. Grover and Percy were, however.
Not long after, we arrived at the museum. I started listening through Chiron's tour attentively, but got bored really quickly when I realized he was only going through stuff I knew. I knew I couldn't separate from the group, otherwise I'd go exploring.
I was broken out of my thoughts when I heard Chiron address Percy. "Mr. Jackson, did you have a comment?" Percy's face went a deep red with embarrassment. "No, sir." He said blankly, trying to mask his anger at Nancy, because apparently she'd said something stupid. Big surprise.
"Perhaps you'll tell us what this picture represents?" Chiron said, pointing at a depiction of Kronos eating his kids. I started to tune everything out again, until Nancy mumbled to a friend, and Chiron spoke up again. "And why, Mr. Jackson, to paraphrase Miss Bobofit's excellent question, does this matter in real life?"
"I don't know, sir." Percy said, shrugging. "Mr. Lupin, perhaps you might have an answer?" Chiron asked me. "Well, Mr. Brunner, I think these myths matter in the modern day because they hold valuable morals and lessons, although they may not always be clear. As an example, I always like to think that the myth of Kronos eating his kids teaches us that we shouldn't turn our back on family." I started, making sure to address Chiron by his pseudonym.
"Our family might be different from us, but they give us different perspectives, and I think family can teach us more than you'd expect. Family's important." I finished, and Chiron looked impressed. "That isn't what I would gather from such a thing, but I do find myself agreeing. Very good, Mr. Lupin." He said appreciatively.
"Now, it's time for lunch. Mrs. Dodds, would you please lead us back outside?" He added.
I stayed back with Percy, Grover, and Chiron. I never explicitly became friends with Percy, but I was friends with Grover, and I think that marked me as good in Percy's books.
"Mr. Jackson." Chiron called out. Percy turned to face him. "Sir?" Percy told Grover to keep going, and I slid behind a pillar, hoping to escape his notice. "I hope you learned from my question, and Mr. Lupin's response." Chiron told him.
"About the Titans?" Percy asked. Chiron shook his head. "About real life, and how your studies apply to it." Percy made a small "Oh," at that. "What you learn from me is vitally important. I expect you to treat it as such. I will only accept the best from you, Percy Jackson."
Percy mumbled something about trying harder, then went outside with the others. "You know, Chiron, you really don't have to be so hard on him. His mother, as sweet as she is, places pretty high standards on him, too. You're his favorite teacher, and now you're pushing him." I said, emerging from behind the pillar.
He sighs. "I know, my boy, but I can't help but want for him to grow further. He has the potential to surpass even the likes of Achilles and Heracles, and I wish to see it. It saddens me, but I do believe it may motivate him, with time." He confides in me.
"Chiron, I can't tell you much, but I do know what's to come. He does surpass them, by miles. He's a smart kid, and he's crazy powerful, although neither are apparent for the first few years. He's never told anything important until last second at camp, so he looks dumb, and people still place high expectations. So I can't tell you to lighten the load, but promise me you won't leave him in the dark." I wasn't sure about telling him that much, but I really did feel bad. Going in blind into the Greek world must suck.
He gives me a calculating look, and agrees, before wheeling outside to join everyone for lunch. I took a moment to examine the steles around me, but joined everyone else shortly after. Apparently I was right on time, because I saw Nancy approaching Percy and Grover by the fountain, and she dumped her lunch into Grover's lap.
Percy stood, his face red, his fists clenched, but nothing was happening. I raised a brow. That was odd. The fountain should've exploded, dragging Nancy into it. After a second, though, the water lashed out, pulling her into the water. I decided to add a little more with my elemental magic, completely drenching her.
I was too far away to hear much, but Alecto appeared next to Percy, and I used my photokinesis to reflect light away from me, essentially making me invisible, though not to anyone with some kind of magical sight. I slipped back into the museum as the evil math teacher dragged the poor kid inside.
I knew I couldn't directly interfere, because this was an important moment for Percy. But Alecto quickly revealed her true self, and I pushed Percy away with aerokinesis from my elemental magic, and he barely dodged the hag's claws. It went like that for a while, where I assisted Percy in dodging Alecto.
I was getting impatient. Chiron should be here by now. My heart was pounding. I knew Chiron should be here, but what if... what if he was never supposed to arrive in this timeline?
I stopped using my photokinesis, and brought out a bow. "Alecto!" I called out. She paused, turning to me, her wings flapping as she remained in the air. I drew back the string, aiming at her, as an arrow made of light swirled into existence where an arrow would usually nock.
"Leave that kid alone, you filthy hag." I shouted, releasing the bowstring. You see, there's one super cool thing about arrows made of light. They aren't affected by wind or gravity. They're also insanely fast, speed of light and all. So the arrow flew true, and Alecto exploded into dust.
Percy turned to me, gaping like a fish. "You–" He started, but he didn't get to finish. "Yes, me. Now, don't ask questions. Come with me. You'll get everything explained to you very soon." I told him, dropping my bow into my inventory as I grabbed his wrist and dragged him back outside.
"Brunner!" I hissed as I arrived outside, Grover jabbering at the disguised centaur about the now dissolved Fury. "We need to talk. Grover, Percy, back in the museum with me and Mr. Brunner here." I demanded. Now, I also knew, worst case scenario, Percy might need Riptide sooner. So as soon as Chiron turned around, I nicked Riptide from a pouch on his wheelchair, and placed it in my inventory.
Moments later, the four of us were in the museum. Percy was pale, sweating, and shaking. I was ready to believe he was on the verge of a panic attack. Thankfully, Hestia actually equipped me for situations like this. I placed my hand on his shoulder, and activated Serenity Inducement. He seemed to calm down pretty much instantly, though he was still shaky.
"Chiron, I'm not sure you noticed, but our charge here kinda just got attacked by a fucking Kindly One. I could have sworn I warned you it was going to happen, and I seem to recall telling you to give him Anaklusmos. He needed to beat her on his own, and it was important he did that. But now, I had to save his ass, while you were sipping tea and reading a novel. He needs to see his mother, and he needs to go directly to camp." I told him in rapid Greek.
"I suppose it was my mistake. Very well. Mr. Jackson, I suppose it's time you learn the truth. However, I must tend to the kids for now, as they do not have any substitutes. I believe the Jackson residence is not too far from here, so Percy, if you would guide your two friends here, that would be wonderful. I will meet you three at camp this evening." Chiron said, promptly wheeling away. I scowled. Of course he immediately finds an excuse to leave.
Of course, I respect the old horse man, but he's infuriating sometimes. Percy was just confused that whole time. "Percy, we need to take you home. She needs to know it's time." Grover said gravely. "Time for what?" Percy asked.
"Grover, think about how that might've sounded to him, buddy. Percy, your dad wanted you to go to a camp for kids like you and me, and your mother knows it was only a matter of time before you had to visit this camp. She needs to know. You'll be returning next school year, alright? But we need to go now." I urged him.
He only looked more confused, but he seemed to trust us enough, because he relented. We walked for about ten minutes before we were in front of an apartment complex. Percy took us inside, and I glanced around, only slightly paranoid about more monsters. He quickly got us to his apartment, and he hesitated before putting the key in the door.
"Guys, before we go in there, I have to warn you about my stepdad, Gabe. He's a real piece of work. Just move to my room, second door on the left of the hall, and wait for me. Don't look back, alright?" He warned us, hands shaky as he put the key in the door,
Both Grover and I nodded. For some reason, I got the feeling that an unkind family was a familiar thing for me. Percy unlocked the door, and cracked it open, letting it open up wider. I almost vomited at the sight, honestly. The place was a wreck.
There were all sorts of things strewn across the floor, bottles of beer, cigarettes, cigarette boxes, dirty clothes, pizza boxes, rags, you name it. It stunk. Think of the worst smell you've had the displeasure of smelling, and multiply it by three. That's probably how bad this apartment smelled. But there was one more thing that made it worse.
In front of the TV was two figures, both identified by the System as Gabe Ugliano and Sally Jackson. Gabe looked like a sunburned, inbred walrus, to put it lightly. Sally looked like a mess, though it was clearly an unusual thing, given the circumstances.
Gabe was standing over a cowering Sally, a broken beer bottle in hand.
