Check out Titans Rising: Curse of Olympus by BeckTheProgram for a good time!
This story is so much better now, I am enjoying writing it more then I can explain. I love the path, the structure and the desperation for power. I love the way I am making his path to power work far better here... enjoy! It gives me more power to flesh out his growth and his relationships to others.
They ended up walking to a cave, Aaron and Alabaster, only it wasn't a normal cave. On the outside, Aaron saw dozens of runes and sigils carved into the side, often colored in with what he assumed from the color was blood. Around the outside of the cave was a ring of what looked like more sigils and runes carved into the ground, wafting with what looked like heat above it. It was strange but the moment he crossed the barrier of carved symbols he felt safer, stronger and more secure.
"What was that?"
Alabaster turned to him, smirking a little. "That was a protective ward, several of them actually. We cast them around this place so we can practice magic safely. That you have access to my mother's blessing allows you to find this place at all. Otherwise during Capture the flag everyone would use it for something. No, we made this. We, those with magic in Camp, made this place as a secure place to learn and practice magic. It allows us to make mistakes and not screw everyone over and gain their fear. I brought you here to explain the rules, what this talisman means and to give you some supplies. Sound fair?"
"Sure... so where do we start?"
"Let's start with this coin... first off, I am assuming you offered it to my mother as a sacrifice?" Aaron just nodded, giving Alabaster the chance to move on. " I thought so, that sacrifice awakened energy that my mother could use to create and bless this. All of her magic, as the Goddess of Magic, requires energy from other things to cast. That is a law of magic, all of it requires channeling energy from something be it the self, the earth, the Mist, Sacrifices or prayer. There are other places of course but that 's for later. Now since you offered an object of personal value, she was able to bless it with her magic and that gave you access to magic... or rather, it gives you access to her magic.
All beings have magic, or the power to connect to it. Some people, clear sighted mostly, have a stronger connection and sensitivity to it and the power they share with the earth as one of the children of the Earth. Demigods and legacies have a second tie, to their ancestors domains. To be a witch, you need sensitivity to the flow of magic that naturally connects you to the Earth, this power allows you to also draw on God power or other sources of magic, but you lack that. My mother's blessing mixes that energy in you with a tiny connection to her domain, to her magic personally, allowing you a small level of power. You need to harness and master this power, so you can develop a sensitivity to magic so you no longer need this talisman for power. You'll notice it working as your clear sight gets stronger."
Aaron nodded. " Wow, that's... a lot. Wait, since she blessed does that mean I can stay here? I mean they are going to kick me out in a few weeks if I lack a patron."
"Yeah, it does. Mom only chooses worthy candidates, so you have to prove yourself. I imagine soon, probably once you get a basic control over your new powers, she will give you a quest to prove yourself. To help with that, I have some stuff for you. First, a chain for your talisman so you can always have it on you. I'll enchant it so it won't just fall off or be stolen, so don't worry about that. You also need a weapon, but divine weapons won't even let you touch them. So you'll need an enchanted weapon, which we have actually. We make them in drove, those of us that specialize in craftsmanship. What kind of weapon though... your pretty big and tall, so a small sword wouldn't be wise. You'll need protection since you can't take damage like us or heal like us, so I will have to get you a nice shield too... hmm... I am pretty sure we have both of those actually. I'll show you how to make protective spells on your clothes too, so you can take more blows and not die with a hit from a monster... might seem like we are favoring you a lot but you'll need a lot to just keep up, trust me."
"Thank you, for all of this. I really appreciate it... oh and why did your mom heal me? I feel like all of my wounds are healed. I feel stronger then I have in a while."
Alabaster, who was walking deeper into the cave, turned to him. " Magic is hard on the body, she probably doesn't want you to die from casting."
"Regardless, I appreciate it."
He started to follow Alabaster into the Cave, which started to light up considerably through the usage of magical torches that gave off no smoke. The walls were covered in drawings and runes and sigils like outside, making him feel more and more safe as they moved into it. Eventually they reached a door, which Alabaster opened, revealing a massive workshop. There were dozens of cauldrons over fireplaces with a few random kids working over them, a large library in the distance with scrolls and books and other things. Herbs dangled from the ceiling, dancing like willow branches giving the place an ethereal feel to it.
"Wow... this is... amazing."
"It is, isn't it. Most kids don't even know about this place, I doubt even Chiron is aware of it's depths. He can't get in here... oh and the Gods other then mother, cannot hear in here. So there's that." He smirked back a little, looking smugger for some reason. " Now, let's get you ready...since your human, you might want to practice some archery since your body can only handle so much strain. We can get you a bow with arrows that naturally return to your quiver, but that might take some time since magic like that is hard to cast... hmm...let's start with the sword, shield and armor. That is more important."
And so that is what they did, moving to a section where some kids were hammering pieces of metal harshly, filling the room with rings and peals. Alabaster moved him past that room into a much quieter room filled with clothes, armor and weapons of all sorts.
"Wow, you guys made all of this?"
"Yup. Celestial Bronze and Imperial gold is rare, so we try to find ways around it... we can't make the weapons are durable, celestial metals are divine after all... but we can make them pretty powerful. Enough to disperse monsters and give you a reasonable fighting chance. Let's get you fitted with your armor first, you'll need something that can blend in since you lack the power to generate the Mist enough to really hide your clothes... so let's go to the hoodies."
The hoodies in question were beautiful and came in dozens of sizes, with one particular one being pitch blade only glowing with soft green runes. "I made this one. It is woven with Kevlar, to make it stronger. It is woven with powerful spells but it pretty generic, you'll learn to make your own better one some day I'm sure. But for now put it on. Don't worry about the heat, it is designed to cool you down as well."
Aaron trusted his new ally, putting on the hoodie and instantly feeling the magic of it cool him down and secure his body. "So it's durable and it is cool, anything else?"
"It has a recharging power and it is self restoring. It took time and supplies to craft that, so we don't want it to get destroyed so easily."
"Nice, very nice... what about my weapon?"
"Depends on how you want to fight. Let's start with the basic sword and shield, something that we give everyone here until they find a weapon that fits them better. You should know that all of our weapons turn into bracelets or whatever to hide them from mortals, and only need your touch to be summoned. Simple but effective, but you'll have to get used to channeling your power to summon them without touch, a helpful trick. Or you could hide them in the Mist, but that is pretty advanced, I'll teach you that later."
"Thanks... and thank you for helping me. This is the nicest thing anyone, bar your mother, has done for me... ever actually.
Alabaster smiled. " The other gods are pretty uncaring, but mom is pretty great. She takes care of her own as much as she is allowed, even when the others don't. We don't have a cabin, so she commissioned this place to be made for those with magic. She knows we have no way for her to teach us, so she has us create the library for future generations to help each other. She guides us to this place with clues and visions and if we are being abused, as it happens to some of us, she curses the abuser. She's claimed you, my guess, because your unwanted and abused and value choice. You made the choice to help yourself, which is her biggest thing. Don't waste her generosity though, or you'll regret it."
"I won't, nor Will I waste yours."
"Be sure you don't... since your here, and I know you didn't see the introduction video, I might as well explain some things to you... like the gods being able to divide their essences, Iris messaging, and some divine laws... stuff you'll really want to know, especially if you want to practice magic or just plain survive here. Then we can get you your first grimoire."
''''
After a few hours of lessons, getting his assigned stuff including an epic sword and shield that turned into soft hemp bracelets, Aaron followed the kids in the cave towards the main part of camp. He saw dozens of other kids were all walking towards a large pavilion, roofless and with a fire in it's center with a little girl poking at the flames. They walked from the cabins and other places, with some literally walking from the trees. It was an amazing feeling, watching such a sight.
"This place is amazing..."
"Yeah... it is." Alabaster said, his tone harsh and pained.
"What's wrong? You seem upset."
Alabaster turned to him. "Nothing, just... nothing I can say here. When we are back in the cave, I'll explain it better. Promise. Anyway, you are going to be sitting where guests would normally sit, with Mr. D and Chiron. Everyone else sits with their cabin."
"Where's Percy sitting."
"With the other Unclaimed kids, with Hermes' cabin."
"Oh... wait all Unclaimed kids and Hermes' kids are together..." He allowed his mind to wonder and a simple answer came to him. " ... is it his Traveler god status or what?"
."Well, yeah. Hermes isn't picky about Sponsoring people and that includes other Demigods be they unclaimed or not children of the main twelve Olympians." This time Alabaster's tone was hateful and filled with rage.
"Why not just make cabins for the other Gods, or one for Hestia and have them in that one. I mean she is a family goddess, I cannot see her minding." Thunder rippled overhead, the cost of speaking divine names. "Maybe not... but I do have to ask, how can't your mom claim you? I mean she was given power over all realms in Myths and she seems to be pretty important even to modern Wiccans. I can't see her not be important."
"You'd think so, wouldn't you..."
They didn't speak after this, with a pained silence growing between them as they approached the Pavilion and slowly he found his seat... right next to Grover unfortunately, at the same table as Dionysius and Chiron, Table Twelve. It was an awkward sight, watching the other tables fill out but it finally gave him a chance to really evaluate the various demigods now that he wasn't recovering from a concussion.
The pavilion itself was lovely, despite the four empty tables. Each cabin, and therefore each God, had their own table, covered in white cloth trimmed in purple in a sign of royalty and opulence. Torches blazed around the marble columns, radiating a warm and comforting light that left chills down his spine due to their connection to Hecate's symbols. A central fire burned in a bronze brazier the size of a small couch, it's warm reaching to the far edges of the pavilion and it's fire seemed a richer red then normal fire. Deeper somehow...
'Where did that little girl go?' He looked around, sighing when he realized that he may have missed out on meeting a Vestal Virgin or whatever they were called for the Greeks. 'Maybe I'll see her again another time... I hope so.'
One cabin was filled with blonde kids, each with grey eyes that stood out almost as much as their seriousness and calm. They seemed like Valley kids, and he knew they were Annabeth's siblings, looking damn near identical to her. All tanned and mostly really pretty, they spoke softly to each other with many looking around with disgust at the raucousness of the other tables.
Another table, filled to the brim with aggressive and loud and massive kids that radiated a dark sort of trouble making. Bullies and abusers, they reminded him heavily of his father the lot of them, though less entitled oddly... it was a weird thing, but it seemed Demigods actually looked like whatever their parents represented. If he had to guess, he would say they were the children of Ares... but that was just at theory at best at the moment.
Then there was the opposite, a table of utterly flawless and beautiful and gossipy children sitting together. Nothing matched, not hair and skin type or color, not height or weight. They were just immeasurably pretty in the greatest way, and even that wasn't consistent. Some were regal, others had a girl next door beauty and some had an athletic beauty. It was strange but he knew their mother was Aphrodite, and that left him wondering one thing...
Actually all of the tables and their kids so close in age left that one thought in his mind.
'How could a god have so many kids this close in age? Can they be pregnant with more then one kid at a time? Wait, Alabaster said they could be in many places at once. That would explain a lot actually.'
The last table that drew his interest was Percy's table, filled past the brim with so many kids that many were sitting with skin tight closeness to each other. Poor Percy was actually on the edge, looking quite dour and oddly pleased at once. Alabaster looked pissed off, plain and simple, as did a great many of the kids.
"Aaron." Soft and powerful, Chiron's voice cut through his thoughts and drew his mind to the handsome Centaur. "Your drink, the glass will allow you to order anything none alcoholic if you should choose it."
Amazed, he nodded and placed his hand on the glass in front of him. "Cranberry and white strawberry juice mixed with green tea!" In an instant, that very concoction swirled around, filling the glass entirely. "Wow... I hope I never truly get used to magic."
"As an newly found Acolyte, I don't doubt that you will." Chiron's words were like cold water crushing over him, leaving him to shiver as the man stood to full height and pounded his feet against the stone floor, silencing the loud kids. " To the Gods!"
Only really meaning towards his new Patron, he raised glass and called out with the rest of them. "To the Gods!"
In an instant, Nymphs appeared with all sorts of delectable of all types. Far too used to hunger, it was hard for Aaron not to fill his place with a million other things. He settled for a lovely spinach salad filled with chicken and a roll. He almost settled into digging into his food when the kids started meandering towards the fire, tossing in the best parts of their food.
" Scuse me." he said to Chiron.
Standing, he hurried to the fire and tossed in his roll and some of his yummy salad.
'Thank you, Hecate for making me your acolyte. Thank you for giving me a future I can mold. Thank you for the power of choice and the help of your amazing son. Thank you for the Hope for a future I would never have had otherwise'
The scent of burning and delicious food filled the air, making it hard not to dive head first into his food minutes later... and he actually did. It was something almost religious, something only those that have starved could understand, the glory of having security of food. The struggle not to stuff his face and hoard the food was painful.
"What made you agree to her path?"
Turning to Chiron, he realized that no one else was paying attention. A thin layer of the Mist had swirled around them, most likely from the powerful Centaur. He appreciated the privacy.
"She is popular in modern faiths, I so I thought that maybe she wouldn't mind helping me. I can't remember anything overly bad she did and anyone can use magic if they practice, so I figured her path would be best for me." He did not say the less respectful things, like Zeus being a monster and most other gods having a history of abusing their followers.
"Are you sure you can handle this path and all it takes? Hecate's path is not an easy one, she makes vague promises but asks for a lot. Are you really ready for this?"
"I have no choice but to be..."
"""
When everybody had finished eating their meals, Chiron pounded his hoof again for our attention. The sound was obnoxious, ringing painfully in his ears.
Mr. D, still not drunk, got up with a huge sigh. "Yes, I suppose I'd better say hello to all you brats. Well, hello. Our activities director, Chiron, says the next capture the flag is Friday. Cabin five presently holds the laurels." A bunch of ugly cheering rose from one table, the one with the ugly and aggressive kids, leading credit to that being the War God's children. "Personally," Mr. D continued, "I couldn't care less, but congratulations. Also, I should tell you that we have a new camper today. Peter Johnson." Suddenly Chiron murmured something, his face not too pleased with Mr. D even if he hid it well. "Er, Percy Jackson," Mr. D corrected. "That's right... oh and I must introduce our newest acolyte and representative of Hecate, Aaron Mathews. "
The moment he said that, something changed. It wasn't a hush or anything of that nature but several of the kids from the Hermes table looked at him. Their green eyes focused on him with concentration, power and curiosity... Alabaster nodded to him, with a rare kind smile on his face.
'I guess those are my Sponsor's kids... cool. Hope they are okay with me being their mom's acolyte. I know Alabaster is, but the rest... if they are as screwed over as Alabaster said they are, some might be jealous.'
Thankfully Mr. D wasn't finished. "Hurrah, and all that. Now run along to your silly campfire. Go on."
That unleashed the floodgates and the kids all but trampled each other. Somehow he managed to find his step brother, sitting next to him and squeezing his arm softly.
"How was your day, Percy?"
A weary but happy smile crossed his brother's face. "Awesome and weird... I can control plumbing! I made it explode and knocked this awful girl named Clarisse away." He leaned in, whispering softly. "She wasn't too happy about that, neither was Annabeth, I got her too."
"Wow! Pity I missed that." Oddly, he felt a weird spike of heat from his talisman, and his fingers went to it passively.
"What... what's with the whole being an acolyte of Hecate? Were you lying before, about being new to all this?" His eyes were wide, bordering on hurt and annoyed.
Aaron shook his head. "I made an offer to her... and she accepted it. I don't want to return to Gabe, and now I don't have too. This is the best path for me, I think."
"I can't blame you for that, honestly I feel the same."
"""
Before he went to sleep, Aaron was visited by Chiron however, the massive centaur compacted in his wheelchair. "May I come in?" He said, after knocking softly.
"Of course." Sitting up, he quickly pulled on his pants, sitting on the edge of his bed as the trainer wheeled himself in. He looked tired, almost mournful. "Are you alright?"
His smile in return was passive, complex and hard to read. "I will be, child... I will be. Now, I have a few questions, namely how you managed to invoke Hecate here in the first place. This place is filled with light and love, and your not a Demigod. She would be unable to just come to you as you lack an innate connection to her or magic."
Unable to mask his squirming at the man's stare, even if he had done nothing wrong, Aaron opened up. "Prayer and I sacrificed an object of value to her. It was a gamble but it worked... and for that I am grateful."
"And are you aware of the risks? That come with that?"
"Not entirely, but honestly it is worth it. I was living in squalor and misery before. I can make my own future now... and for that, I will always be grateful."
"Which is why I say it is dangerous, she offers power only when you are desperate enough to ask for it ." The Centaur sighed. "You must be careful. Being an acolyte to Hecate is like being a Hunter of Artemis, though with less protections or powers. Unlike the Hunters, who are blessed with immortality and powers but a strict path, you are given tools to carve your own path and make choices on your own. That is the differences between what you are and what Percy is. He is bound to the wheels of Fate, and until recently you were not. You have given yourself to Fate and with that you lost many choices, as many as you have gained. Do not forget that child."
" I won't... ever." he tried to hide the fear he felt, realizing that maybe there was far more to all of this then he had been told.
"Be sure that you don't... you are not really human you know, not any more. Magic users are closer to Nymphs then they are human, should you become too enticing you will be turned entirely as has happened in the past. Be careful."
"I will be. Thank you, Chiron... I appreciate it. I really have no idea what I am doing, I am simply hopeful... and honestly that is terrifying..."
Chiron's eyes turned to his bracelets. "I see your armed, I assume it is from the Children of Hecate?" Aaron nodded. " Good, you'll need it. The main reason I came here is to let you know that you are allowed to participate in Camp activities while you are here. If I were you I would at least take classes on Greek language, Archery and sword play to get you the skills you need to survive. I would be rather displeased if you died, you are one of the few who are a reasonable challenge at Pinochle."
Laughing, Aaron could almost not answer the old man. "I will win one day, Chiron, of that you can be sure."
"We will see, Child, we will see."
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a lot of fun to write.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.