If you have any suggestions for Aaron's coven, please add to the list. I have a few people I know will be there, but not too many. A few stand out.

Soft singing, the warmth of a mother's love, imbued with magic, danced into his ears and sank into his heart. It was hard not to cry, Aaron had never felt that sort of love, it was tugging on parts of his soul he long though dried up. Slowly he managed to wake up, and saw that he was in Sally's lap, she was petting his hair, singing to him softy some sort of lullaby. She saw him looking at her, and smiled. "There he is."

He blushed. "You have magic you know, your song is magical."

She blinked. "Really?"

"It's not shocking, water is the essence of life and healing, so really that you can heal with your voice... you might have the gift of witchcraft in your essence, you could be a powerful witch if you wanted to be." He was sure of this, but it was almost instinctive, which was odd to him making him wonder if Persephone was giving him the knowledge.

She smiled, radiant and loving. "I would like that, to give my son a better life... I owe him, so much and so dearly."

"Yes, you do, you really do... I will see about bringing you some things to study, if you'd like." She nodded and he felt nothing but love in her aura.

She blushed suddenly, turning away. "I... I may have already studied some of your magic." She gestured to a book in on her other side, a leather bound journal he had personally started recently where he put his notes on magic and his interpretation of it as well as some projects he was working on. Magical arrows, better blade enchantments and mind protecting spells... but the best spell was the one Sally had stopped on.

He smiled, grabbing the book. "This is my pet project, the sum of all of the magics I've learned in almost six months. A Staff, one to channel my magics, both necromantic and nature. I got the idea from Dionysius and his Thyrsus, Poseidon and his trident. A medium to conduct greater magic and to store magic into, for greater spellwork. It would also have some interesting spells in it, like something to return me home in times of need, and a barrier spell.

I have been learning crafting from the Hephaestus kids, and nature magic from my grimoire and the Nymphs and Children of Demeter and Dionysius. This would be a mixture of both, imbuing a piece of wood with spells, binding blood, and potions until it became something to be feared. It would be durable, powerful and really give me the means to fight with demigods. I realized, well I constantly realize, how powerful demigods are, even weak ones. I need all the advantages I can get."

She nodded, eyes wide. "That would be impressive. I saw that you were going to craft it from Thalia's pine tree, why that?"

"Pine trees are symbols of fertility and power, as well as channeling the essence of the future. But most importantly, as an evergreen, they channel immortality! Ambitious but I have the means to become immortal. All sorcerers have this potential actually." He sighed. "More than that though that tree was crafted by Zeus, from his powerful Daughter and is imbued with a noble sacrifice that created a barrier. It, by nature, should channel immeasurably more power than any mere tree, and be better for my magic. If I am to save Medusa, to matter otherwise, I need all the advantages I can get." He stood up, and sat next to Sally. "So... what do you want to know about magic? If I had to choose, I would have you focus on learning to see better, your gift is likely strong but it is weakening right? With age?" She nodded. "I thought so. You need to refocus, to make it better, and sharper, and that would be a great place to start. I'll show you some exercises that will really help with that."

She nodded then leaned in. "I heard you were trying to create a coven... maybe I could join?" She looked at him with a loving expression only parents were capable of. "I heard how good you were to my son, and I saw how nice you were to Tyson. Maybe, I could repay you by helping you help others, and this would also keep me in my son's life more, I can help him in ways I might otherwise be never able to..."

"I would love that, Sally. I really would." And like that, He gained his first follower, one of many... or, so he hoped. "Our first project, and my constant work, is to heal Medusa. I have some ideas... all starting with laurel leaves, the tree of eternal youth."

"""

For the next several weeks, Aaron's life progressed thusly. He studied magic, trained in weaponry, sparred with Percy, hung out with Tyson and taught Sally magic and combat. Sally was actually wickedly talented with a blade, turns out that was where Percy got his talent and so he made her a silver blade that she wielded happily to learn with her son but only after a spell to ensure they could not cut each other. Sally learned incredibly fast and quickly discovered a talent for healing spells and wards, Aaron happily helped her create a grimoire with those spells he had learned. She was an expert cook, so she also found potions effortless. After two months, Sally was regularly supplying Aaron with healing potions for camp, something the camp really appreciated. The potions were simple, she was new to magic after all, but anything was helpful.

Things were going so well that, after about two months, when he had been training in magic for eight months, and Percy and Sally took a drive to the home of one Medusa. They were nervous, but armed just in case Medusa attacked. Or well, the others were nervous, Aaron knew their oath was binding and felt nothing but confidence. Today was the start of his attempt to fulfill his oath.

"Aaron, I was worried you would never be here." Medusa's tone was a touch bitter, but also oddly hopeful. She turned to Sally. "I see you've made another person a witch, one that holds the essence of a Naiad inside."

Sally nodded, smiling tightly. "One that will cut your head off if you threaten my son again."

Medusa sighed. "Loneliness, eons of it, has burned away much of my sanity. Only hope keeps me from harming others now, you would never understand the burden dear."

Aaron stepped between them. "You are both right, but for now let's focus on healing Medusa, or well starting the process." He turned to Medusa. "I realized, through my studies, that one spell will never be enough. We need to work in layers, stripping the magic bit by bit, weakening it until it breaks under it's own weight. Curses are built in layers, even the most simple ones. They have to have layers to last.

Today, we are going to invoke the essence of Laurel leaves, which were blessed by Apollo and draw on the essence of the Sun and Earth all at once in a way few other things do mystically. With that power, that magic that is the essence of youth and life, we are going to cast a corrosive spell that will, in theory, start to weaken the magic holding your curse in place. Even if we fail and it does nothing we can at least get a better assessment of your curse."

Medusa nodded, and he got the feeling she was smiling at him. "A wise idea, you study well."

"I do, the grimoire Persephone gave me is wonderful. I never realized how much power nature holds, most medicines are made from plants so I shouldn't be shocked really. Now... start, we need to be under the sun for this to work."

In an instant, they got started. Percy kept guard, being oddly quiet with his blade at the ready. Sally and Aaron crafted a magic circle with the ashes of laurel leaves and salt and several other things. In the center was a sigil for youth and life and light, around the circle were sigils for power, peace, earth, sun and nature.

Medusa looked uncomfortable after a while. "Aaron, you are so new to magic, are you sure this is safe? Did you make this magic?"

"Oh it is, I didn't make this. This ritual is one in my grimoire, tweaked mildly for the right purpose. The spell itself is designed to invoke the essence of a substance, a tree or plant or whatever. The sigils inside the circle are meant to focus on whatever we are seeking to focus on, in this case, life and light and youth. I am not strong enough to heal you on my own, even with Sally who is naturally more powerful than me given her divine naiad blood. So I aim to work in pieces.

Magic is all about channeling power from energy, in or outside of the witch. I choose to draw power from Nature and the essence of Laurel leaves, invoking those ideas. It will be tiring, and I will be unable to channel magic for a few hours, maybe the whole day, but I will be able to help you in some way I think... now, if you trust me, get in the circle and ready yourself."

The monstrous lady shuddered, smiled and walked into the circle. She stood fast and nodded. "I am ready."

Sally and Aaron gathered around Medusa on either side and held out their hands. With great focus the uttered the spell that would change everything, including Aaron's fate, now and forever.

"Laurealis essentia, Iuventatis et lucis, Hanc creaturam infunde Tuam benedictionem. Maledictam eius vide: det ei potentia spiritus tui."

Purple energy shot across the runes until the sigils all glowed a bright lavender. Light radiated around Medusa who screamed, however, no one worried for her, the sound was one of sheer joy not pain. Aaron felt the dark magic of Athena burn against their magic, a heavy corrosive energy like acid. Their magic was like a basic solution, slowly rendering the acid into a less harmful form bit by bit.

As Aaron expelled his energy, falling into darkness once more as he used too much power for a mortal, he smiled and knew that he had succeeded if only slightly... and one day Medusa would be free...

:::

"Such magic, he may be able to help me." Kronos whispered as he watched the mortal boy tap into the essence of nature and his own human lifeforce to undo, if only slightly, a goddess' curse. The pulse of energy, of clashing magics, drew his attention quite a bit even from Tartarus. He had been casting a wide net, looking for potential followers."If Luke fails to garner me the Golden Fleece, then the boy may be what I need, using his mortal magic to heal my essence... yes... that may be exactly what I heed. How have humans grown."

And with that, the Lord of The Titans changed his plans, if only slightly, knowing that the boy would one day be a force of nature all his own and very capable of helping the Titan Lord one day should all else fail...

Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was a real joy to write, one of my best chapters.

Essence of Laurel, of Youth and Light, shed upon this creature your blessing. Sear off her curse, let your power grant her the potency of your spirit!

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.