CHAPTER -1
AN1: Hello guys, thanks for waiting for the next update. This first chapter has a significant time jump. The whole story will be non-linear initially before acquiring a sort of linearity in the future chapters.
The story will also jump from Archmaester Marwyn's point of view to the point of view of various characters of the story. This point of view will be completely factual, with parts of it acquiring a personal touch. They will be offering only a glimpse of what is to come and highlighting the important events.
It will be the point of view of the individual characters that will take the story forward. It explains in detail the events that occurred.
The story will eventually cover the past eight decades before the events in the chapter from the POVs of various main characters as flashbacks. This story will become linear from the beginning of the reign of Aerys Targaryen.
This story will not be the kind of story where the protagonist characters will stomp out all their opponents without breaking a sweat. I slightly dislike that genre of crossover stories as they make it a bit too bland for my taste.
AN2: Thank you so much for the review, guys. It was great that my story received such positive reception. I will try my best to keep improving as I go on.
DISCLAIMER: The credit for the characters and the world goes to George R.R. Martin and Rick Riordan. I just own the plot and some of the new characters I might introduce for the sake of weaving the story.
Olympia (Previously called the Island of Ib) - 211 A.C.
81 years after the arrival in the new world
With Percy
The moon was shining brightly in the starry and cloudless night sky. The moonlight had enveloped the whole city below him in its soft silvery virgin glow. Combined with the soft glow of the electric yellow lights of the interspersed street lamps, it created a mesmerizing effect. It generated a highly enchanting illusion of the city constructed out of glittering pieces of Gold and Silver.
At a distance, one could see and hear the soft waves of the dark Shivering Sea, creating a soothing sound as they crashed into the rocks of the shore and the stone piers of the port. They lapped up against the ships anchored in the harbour, making them bob up and down slowly with the waves.
Except for the rustling sound of the wind breezing through the trees, the distant sound of the waves, and the slight tinkling sound of delicate bells tied onto the said trees, everything was calm, peaceful, and silent. The scent of the sea spray, carried by the constant gentle breeze, permeated across the large open balcony attached to the bedroom where Percy was standing. The familiar sea scent made him relax slightly and temporarily uplifted his disturbed mood.
The soothing environment did not assuage the ever-growing pit of anxiety in his stomach. The events scheduled to begin tomorrow would have tectonic consequences. Percy seemed relaxed, yet a keen observer could notice the tension in his frame by looking at the tautness of his shoulder blades. He was well aware that the revelations of tomorrow would send ripples of shockwaves throughout the whole known world. It would have a far-reaching geopolitical and economic impact on the Known World.
The Unveiling would have more far-reaching consequences than the Unmasking of Braavos.
He forcefully shoved aside the thoughts plaguing his mind, which were the primary cause for his sleeplessness despite being bone tired. He rested his hands on the railing, with them on either side of his naked yet highly well-defined torso, and leaned his body against the white cold marble railing.
There was a slight chill in the air, with the white marble of the floor and balcony railing further exacerbating the effect of the sea breeze. Though dressed only in black slacks, Percy did not feel any discomfort. His highly captivating sea-green eyes took in the sprawling metropolis below him. His eternally messy raven black hair fluttered softly in the breeze, making him look ethereal.
Taking in the beautiful sight before his eyes, he could not help but feel a sense of pride in the city that his wife had designed and built. It was stunning, massive, and ethereal.
Its sheer beauty and majesty eclipsed any city in the whole of the planetos. It rightly deserved the title of the Jewel of the Empire even though the other cities of the Olympian Empire on the mainland of Essos had a far larger area and hosted a larger population.
The fact that he was the Emperor of such a large Empire was often overwhelming. He had never envisioned, even in his wildest dreams, that he would be thrust into a position of such enormous power and responsibility.
After the Giant war and the minor issue with Apollo losing and regaining his Godhood, he had thought he had finally retired from the divine world.
He had thought graduating high school in time and worrying about grades in his college would be his next challenge. He should have known better than to tempt fate. Even after two prophecies, he did not realize that it was never the best idea.
He was pretty sure he would have buckled under the pressure after the two wars. He most likely would have run for the hills had it not been for the constant encouragement and support of his friends and fellow demigods.
However, his then-best friend and now wife Annabeth was the prime reason he ever agreed to become the Emperor in the first place. Also, he could not have abandoned his loyalty owed to the Demigods of both camps.
Turning his head around to look at his wife, he observed that she was sleeping peacefully on her left side, with the white silken sheets of their bed pulled up to her neck.
The princess blonde curls of hair that framed her face seemed to sparkle in the glow of the moon that was seeping through the open balcony door. Her heart-shaped face, coupled with pink and plump lips, made her seem otherworldly. Even with her body covered by the silken blanket, one could easily see the breathtaking outline of her womanly curves. The prominent swell of her breasts was distinguishable as her chest rose and fell with each breath she took.
Her eyelids were closed, hiding her beautiful stormy grey eyes behind them. They always seemed to be full of affection and love when directed in his direction. Though, they could turn into a dangerously cold and calculating look within a fraction of a second should anybody try to harm or annoy her. At times she could be so terrifying that even the most courageous person would falter in their steps.
She had inherited the cold, calculative personality of her mother Athena and often utilized it successfully against her opponents. She had also become quite protective of him after the assassination attempt on his life in the senate three decades ago.
Annabeth was in a deep slumber. She was considerably exhausted after a very long day of work and the exuberant love-making they had engaged in when they had retired to their bed chambers.
Perseus had badly wanted to wake her up and talk to her about the doubts and thoughts plaguing his mind. Talking to her always seemed to alleviate his anxiety. This time, he decided against doing so. He wanted to ensure that she had enough rest before the voyage tomorrow.
Reluctantly, he turned his eyes from the highly enticing physique of his naked wife under the sheets towards the direction of the harbour. He could see that the ships of the 7th fleet prepared for their long journey to accompany the flagship- the Dawn Treader.
Annabeth was setting out on a half-year-long emissary expedition with their close friends Piper and Jason tomorrow. Their mission was to bring the Olympian Empire out of isolation after almost 80 years after its creation. The main goal was to start trade with the rest of the world while also opening up the Olympian Empire to visitors from the west.
They planned to visit Braavos first and then travel to other free cities. Then they would go on to meet the King of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros and various Lord Paramounts in Kings Landing for a possible alliance or at least a mutual trade agreement between the seven kingdoms and the Olympian Empire. Also, a rather unstated goal was to mutual non-aggression pact should things turn to worst in response to their military campaign.
A similar envoy comprising Travis Stoll, Katie Gardner, and Hazel was leaving for Yi Ti, Qarth, and Asshai. Their goal was, yet again, to open trade talks and enable cultural exchange. It was also necessary to open the overland trade route between Yi Ti and the rest of the free cities of Essos. The overland trade route would be beneficial in the long term for all parties.
It was a long and convoluted plan that had been in the works for almost a decade. It was finally time for the Olympian Empire to come onto the world stage after their long, arduous journey to reach where they were now. But even after eight decades, he still remembered the day when everything he knew was turned on its head. His life took an unexpected turn yet extraordinary turn that led him to become the Emperor of a vast nation on a completely alien planet.
FLASHBACK BEGINS.
Camp Half-Blood
It had been four years since the Second Giant War with Gaia had ended.
The seven of the prophecy: Percy, Annabeth, Jason, Piper, Frank, Hazel, and Leo, were gathered at Camp Half-blood. They were also joined by Calypso, Thalia, Reyna, Nico, and Rachel. All of them were enjoying a quiet evening of joy and laughter on the beach adjoining Camp Half-Blood.
They sat in a rough semicircle taking in the beautiful sunset that painted the sky in a very vivid hotchpotch of colour. The sea was also very calm. Light waves lapped against the beach sand, creating a very soothing atmosphere.
Piper was sitting firmly on the lap of Jason, who had his arms wrapped around her as she laid her head on his shoulder, both of them lost in their sweet world.
Leo, as usual, was fiddling with some nuts and bolts in his hands while Calypso was braiding parts of his long hair into small Jedi padawan style braids. Though he would often glare at her when she tugged on some of his hair harshly, it was clear as day that Leo was enjoying the ministrations of Calypso.
Frank and Hazel were shyly holding hands, sharing small kisses at intermittent intervals, discussing gods know what.
Nico, Thalia, Rachel, and Reyna were sitting as a group and were sharing jokes and laughing quite boisterously. Nico, additionally, sent small glares in the direction of Frank and got shocked in the arm by Thalia every time he did so. Much to the amusement of Reyna.
Percy, himself, was sitting with one arm on the sand and another curled around Annabeth's shoulder as she snuggled against him. Both of them contemplatively took in the beauty and tranquillity of the scenery before them. The calm and soothing sounds of the waves as they crashed into the beach further enhanced the peace of the setting. Looking towards the horizon while resting his chin on the top of Annabeth's head and holding her body closely, he cherished the familiar warmth of her body.
Percy realized that he had found something that was very precious. He had finally found his soulmate, despite how cliché it sounded. Percy took in the familiar sea scent permeating the surroundings and the subtle lemon flavour wafting from Annabeth's hair with a deep breath. He felt immensely content and at peace.
After their experiences in Tartarus, they were inseparable and had moved together into a small apartment in Manhattan. Though the frequency of their regular nightmares had settled down, they could not go to sleep at night without the other holding them or being close.
Since Tartarus and his mother and stepfather Paul's death in a freak car accident, she had been his rock. She had held him when the nightmares from Tartarus plagued him or when the grief of losing his mother overwhelmed him.
She had also helped him take in and raise his half-sister Estelle rather than letting her get lost in the foster system. Estelle, now 3 years of age, was a happy child though she did not remember her birth mother or father. Annabeth had stepped into the role of a mother figure for Estelle with flawless ease. Despite the lack of a constant mother figure in her own life, Annabeth had done an admirable job taking care of Estelle. Percy was confident that she would be a wonderful mother one day.
She was his mortal anchor even though he had lost the curse of Achilles, courtesy of a dip in River Tiber. Had it not been for her, he was sure that he would have long since given up the will to live.
He had wanted to propose to her for 6 months but was waiting for the correct time. He had decided that he would do it now, before his friends and family.
He disentangled his hand around Annabeth's shoulder in an attempt to reach into his pocket to withdraw the ring box when there was a blinding flash of light that startled everyone.
Immediately Percy was up, alert, with his sword uncapped facing towards the light source in a defensive position, and subtly pushed Annabeth behind him. Looking around, he saw almost everyone on the beach had their weapons drawn out and had settled into a defensive position. Facing the source again, he saw that the light had dimmed sufficiently. He could make out that the immortal who had visited them now was Lord Hermes and not an enemy. Recognizing the god before him, Percy lowered his sword to the side.
However, it was the grave and solemn expression on the usually relaxed immortal's face that sent alarm bells ringing through his head. Percy felt a deep sense of dread settle into his bones.
Before he could even open his mouth to ask a question, Hermes strode towards him quickly, in a no-nonsense manner. Speaking rapidly and urgently, he said.
"Perseus, your presence is needed on Olympus urgently. Time is of the essence, and thus I have come here to teleport you there directly."
Before he could regain his faculties and respond, Annabeth laid her hand on his left shoulder and squeezed it. She then started and started speaking.
"What is the emergency, Lord Hermes? Did not you, the Olympians, promise us that you would leave us alone? Haven't we done enough?"
The tone of her voice reached dangerous levels. Her eyes gained a hard edge that would have made even the most courageous people quake in their boots.
Hermes, however, was unperturbed. With a level tone, he said.
"This matter does not concern you, Daughter of Athena. This call is an emergency summon from the whole council itself and not just the orders of Zeus. And as for what is the emergency, the summon is only for Perseus. If he so wishes, he can tell you later once he returns."
Turning towards Percy, his face softened. His face showed sympathy and understanding.
"I know Perseus that we Gods do not have any right to ask anything more from you, especially when you were planning to do something important. However, this is a matter of grave and urgent concern and cannot wait."
Percy contemplated for a moment before nodding his head. He turned his head towards Annabeth and spoke.
"Don't worry, Wise Girl. I will get back as soon as possible. Try to gather everyone together at the Amphitheatre."
As he slowly stepped away from her and towards Hermes's outstretched hand. His heart clenched at the worried look plastered on her face. But before he could send her a reassuring smile, he was enveloped in a bright flash.
Mount Olympus
A bright flash illuminated the main street of Olympus, leading towards the Throne Room. Two men, one with golden blonde and another with raven black hair, materialized from the bright flash of light in the middle of the street. The man with black hair had his left hand on the right shoulder of the blonde-haired man.
The sight of Olympus never failed to awe Percy even though he had visited it many times before today. Its sheer magnificence and beauty always left Percy in awe. He also took pride in the fact that it was his very own Wise Girl who had redesigned and rebuilt it. She had rebuilt it to an even greater splendour than before when she was given the title of the official architect of Olympus after the Second Titan War.
Hermes did not wait for him to take the beauty of his surroundings and quickly tried to usher him towards the direction of the Throne room, striding towards it with quick steps. As he too quickly made to follow Hermes, he could not help but notice that the surroundings seemed unnaturally silent.
There were no sounds of shouts or the music of the nine muses or the chatter of the numerous nature spirits and the other minor gods. Looking around, he could not spot even a single living being on the streets.
Everything looked like an abandoned Ghost Town, albeit in very pristine condition. It looked as if the inhabitants had simply vanished, leaving behind all their possessions and belongings.
Just as he turned his head towards Hermes to ask what was happening, Hermes collapsed on his knees, clutching his head in agony. His physical body started to blur and flicker out. He immediately made an effort to support the messenger god and asked in alarm.
"Lord Hermes, are you Ok? What the hell is happening?".
When he tried to approach the god of messengers, he was blasted back by a wave of concussive energy. The blast resulted in him hitting his head quite hard on the wall of a shop, leaving him in a daze. It took him a couple of seconds before his eyes focused clearly on the god before him.
Lord Hermes was now on his knees, panting quite heavily.
Percy got up and cautiously made his way towards Hermes, who now was trying to stand up unsteadily. He almost lost his balance once again and would have fallen flat on his face had it not been for the efforts of Percy, who steadied him.
"Are you fine, Lord Hermes? What happened back then?"
Percy asked, quite concerned for the usually jovial immortal.
Hermes took a couple of deep breaths and stood up by himself straight. He muttered to himself quietly while staring at a distance.
"It is getting quite worse…. Don't know how much time we will have …".
He shot a strained smile towards Percy and said.
"Nothing for you to worry about, Percy. Just some minor jitters. Come on, time of the essence."
Hermes began walking towards the destination, albeit very slowly and less graceful than before. Percy walked behind the messenger god, though he could not help but feel the pit of dread forming in his stomach. Whatever the new crisis was, it seemed to be very grave. The eerie surrounding silence compounded his fears even more.
He just hoped that they were not about to be dragged into another war. He knew that none of the experienced campers could handle another war, and personally, it would break him. The scars from his journey through Tartarus were quite deep, and he had only a bleak hope of ever escaping from the clutches of the nightmares about that place.
They made it to the Throne room and, Hermes slowly grew in size and made his way towards his throne.
Percy slowly made his way towards the hearth at the centre, tended by Goddess Hestia. He caught the eye of the Goddess Hestia and gave her a small smile. She, in return, just gave a strained smile, much to Percy's astonishment. The room was utterly silent. The tension in the room was so palpable that it could be cut with a knife. The mood in the room was gloomy and dark, and the fireplace was flickering dangerously, threatening to burn out any moment.
Looking around, he could see that all the gods had a grim visages. Even the ever-cheerful Apollo was unnaturally quiet and Dionysius surprisingly sober. To his astonishment, Hades, his godly stepmother Amphitrite, and his stepbrother Triton were also present at the meeting.
Though he was pissed to be pulled into the matter of the Gods yet again, he knew that this was not a time to be his sarcastic self and create more fights than usual.
So reluctantly, he bowed to all the Gods and politely addressed them with a forced respectful tone as he bowed before them.
"My Lords, Ladies. May I know for what reason I have been summoned before this honoured council?"
He did not manage to withhold the slightly sarcastic tilt towards the end, despite resolving not to allow it to creep.
He finished his bow and stared directly at the eyes of Lord Zeus.
Lord Zeus's eyebrow and hands twitched slightly, but Hera's hand on his shoulder and a slight shake of her head made him take a deep breath. He held it for a moment and released it while momentarily closing his eyes.
Opening his eyes, he looked at Percy solemnly before speaking.
"The council has called you here Perseus because of a matter of grave importance. It seems that Gaia had a failsafe should she lose the war. Her failsafe plans have begun showing effects. The earth is dying, and it is only a matter of months before the natural disaster on a geological scale will wipe out all of the mortals."
Pausing to allow his words to sink in, Lord Zeus continued.
"Even we are experiencing a drain in our powers as our domains have started to become unstable due to Gaia's destruction. It is only a matter of time before we fade away to the void."
The silence in the throne room was deafening to Perseus. He could not wrap his head around what Zeus had said. He could see the life that he had planned on living with Annabeth come crashing before his very eyes.
His eyes widened in disbelief and shock, and he could only weakly mutter in response.
" How is it possible? How could this have happened? ".
This time it was Lady Athena who spoke up.
"We believe that when Gaia's physical body was destroyed, she ensured that even her metaphysical essence was also destroyed along with it. This action created an imbalance as, Gaia being a protogenos, was the very embodiment of her realm."
"Thus, with the loss of her metaphysical state, the earth has destabilized. As our domains are deeply connected with the earth, we are fading away. The mist will fade away in a couple of days as Hecate has rapidly lost power to anchor it. Mortals will be in direct casualties as the monsters will now start hunting them mercilessly."
Athena finished her speech by expressing a deep sadness, much to the shock of everyone. It had been millennia since the wisdom goddess had openly expressed any kind of emotion.
Perseus felt his whole world spin. His knees became weak as he stumbled backwards unsteadily as if he were drunk. A hand on his shoulder stabilized him, and he felt the shock quickly recede and experienced a warm feeling settle over him.
Looking at the person to whom the hand belonged, he could not help but let out a relieved smile at the familiar face of Hestia, who had a calm and understanding smile on her face. But even her calm demeanour could not belie the worry and sadness present in her eyes.
"Thank you, Lady Hestia," said Percy.
He sat down on a chair near the central fireplace conjured by goddess Hestia. He took a few deep breaths to calm both his mind and body before he stood up.
He swept his gaze across the room as he looked at the Gods. All of them were very miserable and resigned. Even though they had long since known their potential demise, they seemed as if they were still coming to grips with their impending doom.
Clearing his throat, Perseus asked respectfully.
"What is the quest that should I lead, Lord Zeus?"
His words startled everybody from their thoughts. Some of them looked as if he had spoken something intelligent. Percy felt he should feel insulted but kept his mouth shut, given the gravity of the situation at hand.
This time it was Lady Hera who spoke.
"What we need you to do Perseus is lead and guide the demigods, nature spirits, selected mortals to a new world. We need you to lead the remnants of the legacy of Olympus to a whole new dimension and forge a haven for yourselves. It is only a matter of time before the world starts experiencing catastrophes that will decimate all mortals in droves."
" So, we need you to assemble the demigods-both Roman and Greek and allow the mortals we guide towards the borders of the camp. Hecate has promised that she will do her best to protect Camp Half-Blood as long as possible to delay the catastrophes from levelling it. After you are all gathered together, we will transport all of you to this new world."
Lady Hestia added solemnly after her sister.
"This is no easy task, Perseus. The world you are about to go to is still in the middle ages and is very vicious and cruel. The morality of mortals there is questionable, and backstabbing is commonplace. While your enhanced physical attributes will be available to you, the metaphysical powers will not be easy to access. Your ability to control water or summon earthquakes will not be easy, and usage of those powers will drain your stamina very quickly."
Taking a momentary pause, she added.
"This world was once inhabited by us millennia ago, but our influence has long since waned to mere whispers. Subsequently, the magic of this world has started to drain away and is present only in small pockets. So be very careful as the people on this world will try to manipulate you into their games or outright snuff you out because of the access to magic that you and your people have."
Internally, Percy was panicking. Leading an army for defending Manhattan was one thing. Leading a group of people to establish a new home with hostile native inhabitants was a tall order.
Managing to calm himself down, he asked.
"Why me? I do not know anything about leading and ruling? How can you possibly expect me to do this?".
Poseidon answered softly, with a soft look in his eyes.
"Son, I know this is too much to ask of you. I know it is a heavy burden that you will need to bear on your own. Despite your friend's help, this is a responsibility that you must bear because no one else is ready or suitable for it...".
Percy cut him off.
"What about Reyna? Jason, or Frank? They all have been praetors for Rome much longer… They know how to lead… how to rule. Surely, they can be a better candidate than me…".
Percy knew the cost that this responsibility would take on him. If he were to fail, his family and friends could be left stuck in a situation far worse than death. Percy had enough of the guilt of the blood of his friends in his arms. He already had enough red on his ledger.
Surprisingly, this time it was Lord Zeus who spoke grimacing.
"No matter how much I loathe to say it, my brother is correct in this regard. You are the perfect person to lead the demigods Perseus. Each of your friends has flaws that make them unsuitable to rule. For my son Jason, it is his temptation to deliberate. For years in Camp Jupiter, Jason always relied on careful choices, compromises, and hearing both sides of a debate. He never chose what he wanted. He never knew where he wanted to belong. And this hesitation could kill him one day and is undesirable in a ruler."
Hera took over from her husband and continued neutrally.
"As for the son of Mars, he lacks confidence and suffers from low self-esteem while the Daughter of Bellona's fatal flaw is her ambition. She wants people to look up to her as a role model. This flaw leads to her becoming unsuitable yet again as she does not like to depend on others."
Lord Zeus then continued from where he had left off.
" A competent ruler acknowledges his shortcomings and strives to become better with the support of others. This drawback will make her a pariah and a ruler with whom one cannot seem to connect. And a ruler with whom the people cannot approach is no better than a tyrant. Additionally, both the son of Mars and Daughter of Bellona does not hold any influence over the Greek demigods."
Hera, after a brief silence, asked rhetorically.
"Do you know Perseus as to why you were able to rise through the ranks to become a Praetor in the Roman Camp? Fit so well into their lifestyle despite it being completely different from the Greek camp? "
Percy shook his head negative while Lady Hera continued.
"It is because of your dual nature. When your mother envisioned Lord Poseidon, she saw him both in Greek Form and his Roman aspect of Neptune. Thus, you are the strongest among all the demigods. Due to your unique parentage, you can also control your fatal flaw much better than your counterparts when it is necessary."
Percy was shocked by this revelation. He knew he was powerful, as a son of the Big Three, yet he had never expected to be the strongest of them all.
Yet, he was not convinced and asked sceptically.
"Me the strongest? … But I do not feel any much stronger than Thalia or Jason. And above that, I do not know how to rule. How do I manage that?"
This time it was his stepmother Lady Amphitrite who responded. Scoffing, she replied.
"You do not know the power that you hold in your veins, Perseus. Your power already was equal to that of a minor god, and surviving Tartarus has only made you even stronger and wiser. Don't you realize that you have fundamentally changed? That your friends, your girlfriend, and your mentor Chiron have not noticed the change in you?"
Pausing for a moment to let him ruminate over her words, Amphitrite continued.
"You have unconsciously started to adopt more of the Roman side personality that you have inherited from your father. Your laid-back Greek personality, which was the default before your fall, has started to get suppressed and comes out only among those whom you trust."
Percy could not help but agree reluctantly agree. He had started to notice that his personality had undergone a tectonic shift. Percy was much more guarded. He never trusted anyone blindly without assessing their motivations. The pit had influenced him in ways he could not comprehend.
Rarely did he joke around the other people. His eyes were constantly darting about looking for danger, noting down methods for a quick getaway. He realized that he had unconsciously let himself relax only in the trusted companionship of his friends.
While earlier he used to charge recklessly into a situation, Percy now had tactics planned before at hand. He was still reckless to some extent, yet he approached each crisis with caution. Though he was no master strategist, Percy could implement Annabeth's strategies flawlessly. He could improvise as the situation demands it to achieve the target. The Athena and Poseidon cabin had subsequently become very successful in Capture the Flag. Often other campers protested against them teaming up. Percy and Annabeth had become the ultimate team to beat.
Before he could ponder on his thoughts any further, Amphitrite continued in an assuring tone.
"You will be trained in the art of Statecraft, Politics, and Governance by me, Lady Hera, and Lady Hestia together. While Triton will tutor you on how to maximize the capability of your powers and master them."
To this, Triton gave a stiff nod nodding his assent. Hera looked miffed while Hestia gave an encouraging smile.
Amphitrite continued.
"The other champions will be trained by their parents in their abilities and various other administrative skills to aid you in the administration of your people. Your abilities will still give you a trump card should any of you ever find yourself in a tricky situation."
Zeus continued after a couple of seconds grimly.
"So, Perseus Jackson, are you willing to shoulder this responsibility?"
Percy was silent for a couple of moments. His face seemed to have adorned a cold and contemplative mask. Internally, he was terrified and highly apprehensive about accepting it.
He was terrified because he knew that leadership was a thankless job. He was apprehensive because he did not feel competent enough to lead a whole generation of survivors into the unknown. He did not feel confident not leading them into doom. He had not wanted to take a leadership position after the Titan War. Luckily, he had the help of the prophesized Seven to bear with him the burden of leadership during the Giant war.
It was a heavy responsibility and, he knew in his gut that it would take a toll on him personally and his relationship with Annabeth. He knew that he often would have to sacrifice his dreams and aspirations for the needs of the many. He wasn't sure if he could manage to do that. Bloody hell, he had just come out of two wars within a decade. He wanted a well-deserved break.
Nonetheless, he swept his gaze around the throne room, trying to get a read of how the gods felt about entrusting this responsibility to him.
The rest of the gods, except his father, his godly stepmother, godly stepbrother Triton, and Lady Hestia, did not look pleased that he was the one to lead. They seemed to have begrudgingly agreed that he was the best option in this situation.
While on the other hand, his father, his immortal stepfamily, and Lady Hestia seemed as if they were encouraging him to accept the responsibility on his shoulders. He thought about asking the gods a chance to speak and consult with Annabeth and his friends. He felt that this was a matter in which they too should have an opinion. This revelation affected them equally as well, but something stopped him.
He felt that he would be making a grave mistake if he consulted his friends. He sensed that this could be seen as a sign of weakness that could be later exploited by people with nefarious intentions. He ran the risk of being seen as a mere figurehead with true power resting elsewhere. Any person willing to manipulate him would take advantage of that to push forward their self-serving agenda.
He felt in his gut that this was the first test he had to pass to become truly worthy of becoming the leader of his people. While a good leader would seek the counsel of his advisors, it should be him who should take the final call on the matter at hand rather than dancing to the tune of his advisors. Though he was confident that his friends would not purposefully mislead him, he knew better than to open a potential weakness that others might exploit. So, he steeled his nerves and took a deep breath. Looking into the eyes of Lord Zeus, he said confidently without a waver in his voice, his eyes blazing with determination and resolve.
"I accept the responsibility that you and the council have entrusted upon me, Lord Zeus. Where and when do I start?"
FLASHBACK ENDS.
Sighing, Perseus shook his head to clear the memories of his past as he continued to take in the beautiful sight before his eyes. The training was brutal and harsh. Not in physically but mentally. It took all his idealistic thoughts, blasted them into smithereens, and had them thrown outside the window.
Despite the cordial and close relationship between him and his stepmother Amphitrite, she did not let him slack during training.
Percy was conditioned to show no mercy to criminals. To be impartial while meeting out justice. He learned to be self-independent but at the same time remember to respect and listen to the opinions of others. He learned how to stab a dagger into the heart of the enemy while smiling at his face. He was taught how to be a proper Roman first. Then, later on, he was taught the art of statecraft and politics in the roman way.
Most importantly, his stepmother was the only one who could teach him to show restraint and control his emotions to become as still as an undisturbed puddle of water. Just like she reined in the temper of his father when he went too far, she was the only one who could help him not let his emotions run rampant. She taught him ways to release his frustration without having to cause or destroy anyone or anything.
The Queen-Bitch, Hera, was the one who was hardest on him. She kept putting him through brutal and bloody illusions and simulated events to train him in politics and the art of reading people. She also roped in Aphrodite to teach him the art of seduction and the methods to resist them. Despite the lessons making him feel sick to his stomach, he still mastered them.
The only reason he did not become a mindless machine was due to Lady Hestia. She taught him how to preserve his true inner self and never let it get extinguished by the actions he would have to take to protect his people.
She taught him about morality, family, sacrifice, and honour from the perspective of an Emperor. She made him realize that, in the end, family and friends were the only things that truly mattered. Without it, all the power, wealth, and influence in the world was worthless.
Most importantly, she taught him how and when to yield and when to be firm in his principles. She taught him the lines that he simply should not cross, no matter what happened. Though she was gentle, she was firm in her lessons and did not allow him to slack. She was one goddess he hated to disappoint.
Despite him despising the training, he could not refute that it had proved helpful in many ways. It had often saved the lives of many people. Though he loathed to admit it, he was secretly glad for the training as it helped him mature into a great leader and better man. To become a man worthy of the title he held. Looking back, he and his people, who had escaped earth to settle down on Planetos- as called by the native inhabitants, had come far from when they had first arrived in this world.
The Olympian Empire presently now Stretched from the Bone Mountains in the East to the Forests of Qarth in the west covering about 2700 miles and from the Northern coast of Essos to the southwestern Border of the Painted Mountains and Southeastern Border of Red waste and the northern banks of the River Shakzhadan stretching about 1250 miles. The whole area of the Olympian Empire with the Island of Ib was about a whopping 3.37 million square miles. And it was about to get even bigger with the planned retaking of Qarth from the Golden company.
According to the intelligence reports from Nico, the Golden Company had seized and captured the city of Qohor when they had not paid their dues for a job done. This invasion proved to be the ideal opportunity to secure their western borders without being labelled the aggressor. The planned expansion would now take the western borders of the Olympian Empire to the River Rhyone. They could thus, control the complete eastern bank of the river Rhyone from Dagger lake and have absolute control of the riverbanks of river Qhyone.
They planned to rebuild the cities and settlements abandoned by the Rhoynar and open them up for resettlement. These settlements would also act as a buffer to any invading force from the west. Their eastern borders along the river would end north of the confluence point of rivers Selhrou and Rhyone. From there, they would only control the northern bank of the Selhrou river. This move would put them just outside the Sphere of Influence of the city-state Volantis. This planned expansion would increase the area to an estimated 3.5 million square miles and add about quarter-million people to their population.
Clarisse and Frank, with the aid of the 4th,7th, and 8th Legions, were going to recapture Qohor and drive out the Golden company within a week from today. And then proceed to consolidate the positions along the banks of Qhyone, Dagger Lake, and the northeastern bank of River Rhyone. They were already encamped within the Forests of Qohor and would deploy tomorrow.
Reyna commanding the 10th and 12th Legion would capture and consolidate the position along the southern part of the eastern bank of the Rhyone till the northern bank of Selhrou. She was ready to march two days from now from Roma Secundus, a fledgling city that was nearly completed.
Roma Secundus would be the Gateway to the hinterland of the Olympian Empire from the southeast and will act as a deterrent should the Volantese try to act aggressively. It was being constructed near the headwaters of the Selhrou river at the spot where two large tributaries merged to create the river. Flanked by two sides by rivers and surrounded by rocky hills behind it was neigh impregnable.
To ensure the Volantis did not cause any trouble, Reyna would also try to negotiate the new border regions with Volantis. It was also to assuage them that they did not plan to expand their territory further. And if needed, pay the necessary monetary compensation in gold.
To soothe tensions, Annabeth, Piper, and Jason were also going as ambassadors to the various Free cities to ensure that they, do not unite in arms against them. They were also to silently get them to ratify this decision by offering lucrative trade deals and riches.
This three-pronged move would finally be a strong statement of the Olympian Empire's entry into the politics and economics that governed the known world. It was a balanced show of force and might, all the while extending the olive branch of peace and trade.
The population under the Olympian Empire had also grown exponentially in the last 8 decades. The original refugee population had now become 10 million. Combined with the native population, the whole population amounted to around 12 million people.
The native unenhanced people, due to the advanced medical facilities and relatively peaceful environment, thrived and now lived longer up to 100 years. The local populace had become very loyal to the Empire. But this was not always the case. They were lucky that the plague had wiped out the native population of the island of Ib, the first landmass they had encountered when they had come to this world. It was now the present capital of their Empire – Olympia.
So, if any comfort, their initial settlements had not been contested by the natives. Only when they tried expanding to the Mainland of Essos did they meet any kind of hostility.
Just like the gods predicted, the native inhabitants of this world in the lands that they had arrived, did not accept them and were outright hostile. Their rise to power and prosperity was drenched in the blood of almost a quarter-million native inhabitants, nearly wiping out the barbaric Dothraki horse lords. Even though the non-Dothraki people and the slaves were happy about the genocide of their former masters, it still left a bad taste in his mouth. The young children, women who had surrendered, had been integrated into the Olympian society.
However, the destruction and genocide of this scale was the main reason they had completely cut themselves off from the rest of the world. No outsider was ever allowed to step foot onto the lands of the Olympian Empire. And even if someone did manage to enter the lands, they were immediately wiped clean of their recent memories by the children of Hecate. In this case, they had seen too much, instantly killed silently.
Lupa and her wolf pack killed some of the explorers. The wolf goddess had managed to come with them to the new world. But was stuck in her wolf body and had lost her immortality. Despite this, it did not make her any less intimidating. She ruthlessly ripped apart any outsiders, should she come across them before the patrols could apprehend them.
To prevent any unnecessary bloodshed, Percy had deployed spies around most cities of western Essos to spread misinformation about a deadly plague ravaging the Dothraki lands. One whisper here, another mummer there about a deathly disease, supposedly run rampant in the Dothraki sea was more than enough to keep the curious eyes away from their lands.
Another reason was that Perseus wanted to focus on the internal unrest that had germinated among a particular group of enhanced mortals during their war with the Dothraki Horse lords.
Along with 800 demigods and about 600 legacies, the gods had also chosen half a million clear-sighted mortals. They were between the ages of 17 to 25. Some even had small children along who were also allowed to accompany them. Though the selection seemed random at first, it was later discovered that they were all descended from demigod ancestors but were unaware of it.
The majority of those mortals who had accompanied him from their homeworld had accepted his rule and monarchy system. There were still factions that wanted to bring full democracy in place of the part democracy-part monarchy system that was in place. It had taken a considerable amount of time to prevent them from outright launching a full-fledged coup attempt.
A couple of violent dissenters had to be silenced permanently.
He also had to agree to a compromise to assuage the disgruntled people that he would not become a tyrant. But it was a long and tiring process and had taken the better part of his time during the 8 decades in exile.
Perseus was tired of his position. But he continued to rule because he had come to care about his people deeply. He was still in the physical prime of 29 years and had aged very slowly, thanks to the Gods, even though he was nearly 101 years old. He did not know whether to be thankful to the gods for giving him and his people a tremendously reduced ageing factor.
The selected demigod leaders and members of the ruling council – were given a tremendously reduced ageing factor of about 1/10th. This reduced ageing factor was to help them establish a stable and strong Empire. Additionally, it helped to slowly make the mortals who had accompanied them accept the quasi-monarchy government rather than a full-fledged democracy.
The demigods and legacies, on their part, were given extended life spans of about 100 and a reduced ageing factor of 1/5th. The mortals had an extended average life span of 100 years and a reduced ageing factor of 1/4th. This gift enabled them to live to an average of 350 years and 300 years, respectively. The Hunters and the Amazons had not retained their blessings. They had been freed from their oaths to their patrons before coming to the new world. Thus, they possessed life spans similar to that of the Demigods.
The surviving Dothraki had been quickly assimilated into the Empire population though they were not yet long-lived as his original people. Yet, they still lived longer lives than before their assimilation, thanks to the advanced medical sciences that the Empire boasted. But the offspring between the people from earth and the natives acquired enhanced longevity. They would age normally, till the age of 25, after which their ageing would slow down to 1/4th, enabling them to live up to 300 years.
Additionally, his people were physically more powerful, faster, and more durable than the native people of Planetos. Though he loathed to say it, they were physically and mentally far superior to any native human on the whole Planetos.
Both the women and men possessed an almost supernatural degree of beauty. They would, without a doubt, draw unwanted attention wherever they went. Even the enhanced mortals could give most of the beautiful noblewomen of Westeros and Essos a run for their money, let alone the demigods. He was afraid that should they open their borders, his people might become unsavoury targets of the slavers. The free cities of Essos still practised, much to his disgust, slavery and human trafficking.
He was also wary of them discovering the satyrs, dryads, and nymphs under Grover as his authority as the Lord of the Wild and the centaurs led by Chiron.
He did not forget the 1500 cyclops from the forges of his father led by Tyson. While he would not ask them to hide, he was still cautious about the hostility that would arise should the rest of the natives take offence. It was very likely that they might consider the cyclopes as abominations. The people of this world deeply detested magic or any sentient being not human. The genocide of the children of the forest by the Andals was sufficient proof of this fact.
He snapped out of his thoughts when he felt a soft pair of hands encircling his torso and the person laying their head on his left shoulder blade. A sweet yet concerned voice asked him.
"Are you fine, Seaweed Brain?".
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