I am using Son of Neptune, an awesome book, as a base for some of the interactions and pacing for Aaron's time in Rome, at least to establish a base. I hope you like it.

After an amazing bath in the barracks ( Jason was smart and didn't let Aaron into the main city), Roman baths were everything he had been told about by Lupa and more. He felt clean, proper and generally better. His magic even felt stronger, there was so much earth magic in the air that he was able to reach his peak even if the air felt like it wasn't quite accepting of him yet. However what was the real kicker for his magic was the potent necromatic magic in the air in the form of the countless spirits lingering.

Shimmering purple warriors stood outside the armoury, polishing ethereal swords. Others hung out in front of the barracks. A ghostly boy chased a ghostly dog down the street. And at the stables a big glowing red dude with the head of a wolf guarded a herd of unicorns. None of the campers paid the ghosts much attention but a few looked angrly at Aaron. The little boy ghost shrieked something like 'Greggus!' and turned invisible, or tried too. Aaron could still see the veil of his presence, thanks to his own necromatic powers.

"Nice, but I can still see you kid." He reached out and grabbed the Ghost boy's shoulder, making actual contact to Jason's shock. Leaning down, he grabbed the boy's chin. "That's rude, yelling at me. Have I hurt you?"

The little boy looked ashamed and terrified but shook his head. " No... how are you touching me, I am a Lar, you shouldn't have this kind of power."

"I am a potent witch, stronger them most demigods even comparable to Jason here. I carried the Sky itself and my soul evolved, I fought the pull of the Afterlife with my living soul and came out stronger. Humanity's greatest gift is our power to change, to adapt and that is what I used to become so powerful. Now, are we freinds, you and I? My name is Aaron and I would like to be your friend, kiddo?" he offered the boy a small smile and the boy actually giggled.

"My name is Alex!" To his own shock, Alex hugged him tight. "I like your aura... even if your Greek... your not super scary, I can see that you care. We can read emotions and auras, and yours is really nice. You have a lot of love in you... and I can sort of see the past in people, even if Lady Juno is masking yours... I know you have a sister you care for and a brother. You take care of everyone. I am sorry I screamed." He rubbed his foot into the ground, with the cutest sad expression.

Aaron could not resist a hug once more. "It's okay, I'll forgive you if you be my little buddy and brother from here on out. Can you take care of me and Lydia?"

The boy giggled and bent down to tickle Lyida's chin. "She's pretty... you got it, dude! Oh... I am keeping you from D'Anthony, I'll see you later, kay! We can chat about your powers. I have never seen a mortal with so much skill. Bye!" With that the most adorable ghost shot off, into the crowd of other Ghosts that all seemed less hateful and almost endearing.

Jason was gaping. "You touched a Lar,... you do realize only children of the Underworld can do that?"

" I am a necromancer ontop of everything, I am not the best or most powerful but touching the Dead is like 101 for that kind of magic. Like seriously, just having access to that kind of magic lets you do that. Lar are what type of ghosts, I have never encountered them... I am sensing an aura not unlike Vesta's, so I am guessing House Gods?"

Jason nodded numbly. "Your kind of scary, you know that?"

"I could kill half of your camp with a single spell if I wanted to, of course I know I am scary."

" Could you really?"

"If I was determined and willing to die... sure. So could you, your intensely powerful even If I can sense your not entirely connected with your own power, but we'll get to that later. I am determined to make you my little buddy too." He smirked at Jason, who gaped offended. "Being the Son of Jupiter won't make me bow to you, my brother is the Son of Neptune and I am great friends with two of Pluto's kids. My adopted sister is a child of Venus... trust me, I know power. That won't stop me from making you my buddy, my friend. I adopt all kids I can and since I am older then you, at least two or three years, you are my little buddy."

Offended, Jason mumbled as he lead him away. "Your weird... did you know that Graceus meant Greek? You didn't seem shocked."

"I am fluent in Greek and Latin, magic spells require Latin to be cast. I could probably outspeak all of you guys and Latin's in your blood." He shrugged, not at all bragging. "Language is a powerful part of magic in general... which brings me to a point, why don't you practice. You have a potent potential for magic outside of your divine blood. I venture that your mother was clearsighted. Most clearsighted people are magical on some level, your gift actually points towards Necromatic. I could teach you if you want, the basics at least."

"Really?" Jason said as they stopped at the centre of camp, where two wide stone-paved roads met at a T. A street sign labelled the road to the main gates as VIA PRAETORIA. The other road, cutting across the middle of camp, was labelled VIAPRINCIPALIS. Under those markers were hand-painted signs like BERKELEY5 MILES; NEWROME1 MILE; OLDROME7,280 MILES; HADES2,310 MILES (pointing straight down); RENO208 MILES; and CERTAINDEATH: YOUARE HERE!

For certain death, the place looked pretty clean and orderly. The buildings were freshly whitewashed, laid out in neat grids like the camp had been designed by a fussy maths teacher. The barracks had shady porches, where campers lounged in hammocks or played cards and drank sodas. Each dorm had a different collection of banners out front displaying Roman numerals and various animals – eagle, bear, wolf, horse and something that looked like a hamster. Along the Via Praetoria, rows of shops advertised food, armour, weapons, coffee, gladiator equipment and toga rentals. A chariot dealership had a big advertisement out front: CAESARXLS W/ANTILOCKBRAKES,NODENARII DOWN! At one corner of the crossroads stood the most impressive building – a two-storey wedge of white marble with a columned portico like an old-fashioned bank. Roman guards stood out front. Over the doorway hung a big purple banner with the gold letters SPQR embroidered inside a laurel wreath.

Aaron smiled, feeling a sense of peace he just never felt in Camp Halfblood. This place was already better, organized and it cared for it's own people unlike the Greeks who threw their kids to the wolves... which technically the Romans literally did, but at least they cared for the survivors...

"So, this is your headquarters, color me impressed. It's call the Principia, right?"

Jason nodded and they headed together up to temple where D'Anthony's aura was waiting.

"""

The principia was even more impressive inside. On the ceiling glittered a mosaic of Romulus and Remus under their adopted mama she-wolf. The floor was polished marble. The walls were draped in velvet, giving the room a lofty appearance. Along the back wall stood a display of banners and wooden poles studded with bronze medals – military symbols. In the centre was one empty display stand, as if the main banner had been taken down for cleaning or something.

In the back corner, a stairwell led down. It was blocked by a row of iron bars like a prison door. He sensed something unfamilar there, and imagined so much extra... he wondered what was there.

In the centre of the room, a long wooden table was cluttered with scrolls, notebooks, tablet computers, daggers and a large bowl filled with jelly beans, which seemed kind of out of place. D'Anthony sat behind the table in one of two high-backed chairs.

"So, do I sit or is this a staending moment?" Aaron asked, genuinely curious.

D'Anthony smiled. " Normally you'd stand, but I like you. Your upfront, which is more then I can say for most. Sit, please, we'll chat for a bit. Jason, I will summon you when I have need for you. Which I will, as I believe he will be joining our people."

Jason nodded, and turned to smile at Aaron. "Please survive, I really want to know about my sister." And then he left, just like a perfect soldier.

The moment he was gone, D'Anthony sighed. "I heard from a Lar that you managed to befriend young Alex, that says a lot. You alarmed many of our people doing that, power over the dead... that's an odd choice for a mortal sorcer. I can see a story there."

"There is,... I lost access to Trivia, or Hecate... not sure what to call her here. I was told she has no Roman name, regardless when she defected I needed more power and sought the dead. They betrayed me and I was forced to evolve or die forever, without even a chance at rebirth. I chose to evolve."

"I am glad you did, I am no sorcerer but I am the son of Venus. Power and passions are tied, I can sense that much radiating off of you in waves. You would make a tremendous ally... even if the Tiber washed away the magic in your various artifacts."

Aaron scowled at that reminder. "I am magical enough to be touched by mystical metals now, so I should be fine... even if I'd prefer to smelt my own magical weapons. Sigh... so much to do. Anyway, how else can I help inform you?"

"How did you get invovled with the supernatural world? I have this feeling you were not born of Magic."

Sighing, Aaron leaned into his chair and gave his story. From meeting Percy's mom and his search for his father, to becoming a sorcerer through a deal with Hecate and his missions to bind himself to the gods. He mentioned nothing of Camp Halfblood, only calling it where he was trained. He kept any description to a minimum, not wanting to reveal anything.

After a few minutes he managed to tell everything he could, getting D'Anthony to nod. "Like your sister, Meggy, I too can sense emotions. I know you are not lying... but you are withholding things. I presume under orders?"

"Very much so, Juno has things in my past that must remain secret. I swear to Styx that I am no threat to you, that I am loyal to the Gods and to those that treat me well." As the sky thundered, soldifiying Aaron's words, D'Anthony gained a peaceful expression.

"Well, I can see no reason to not allow you to join so long as the Augur agrees... well Augur in training. The previous Augur passed not too long ago, so her nephew Octavian took over even if he is still in training."

Frowning, Aaron asked. "Can I learn this skill? I have some prophetic powers, all Sorcerers do. I want to see how you Romans read birds for the future."

"Huh, the Augur reads entrails?"

"No, that's haruspication. Aurgury is reading the patterns of birds. Trust me, with how dangerous Prophetic magic can be, you'd be as anal as I am with that type of magic."

D'Anthony frowned. "We can learn much from you, that is clear... Jason, I know your by the door, please lead Aaron to Octavian... and then get him to get some food. I can sense his hunger from here." He smirked and leaned over, shaking Aaron's hand warmly. "I hope we can be friends, or at the least allies. You are powerful, skilled and made an impact on the Lares in minutes, plus you have Juno's blessing. That is no small thing... you could be exactally what we need, or you could be a tremendous enemy. I hope it's the first one. It'd be a pity to have to kill you."

"I agree, so let's not do that."

"If you are able to find a weapon that suits you, we have War Games today, specifically Gladitoral combat. I would very much like to see how you fair, with or without magic."

Aaron smirked, knowing it was ordained mystically for him to be here on this day of all days. " A perfect chance for me to showcase my skills and worth to you Romans... seems like Fate, doesn't it?"

D'Anthony smirked, making his already handsome face even prettier. It seemed they both saw the connection there...

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

This was a whole lot of fun.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.