First real Chapter guys!
Collin found Percy alone after a few days outside the Poseidon Cabin.
Percy had a distraught look on his face, probably thinking about Leo's demise. However, when Collin made it clear that he was about to talk to Percy, he put on a bright inviting smile and beckoned for Collin to sit with him on the steps leading to the door of the Poseidon cabin.
"Hey! I actually remember you. You're that kid from the Hebes cabin, aren't you?"
Percy remembered Collin? Why would a huge Demigod celebrity, one who turned down immortality, care about Collin?
"Yeah."
"So, what did you want to talk about?"
Collin grimaced. "My brother's dead."
Percy's smile faded, replaced with sympathy. "I know that feeling. But they're never really gone. They're in the Underworld."
"I know all that. But I want him back. You went down to Hades, right? I need tips," Collin said.
Percy shook his head, sadly. "I thought my mom was gone when I was 12. I understand you. But you can't bring someone back just because it'll make you feel better. That just makes you selfish."
"But hypothetically, if I went to the Underworld, what could keep my alive?"
"Look, Collin. Going to the Underworld to reclaim someone is wrong. Don't go down." Percy said.
"Please. You're my hero. I want to be like you," Collin tried again.
Percy sighed, looking into the horizon as if remembering fallen friends. "No you don't."
And he left Collin.
Collin thought about what Percy had said. He'd thought Percy would tell him to go at it and give him some epic advice about entering Hades. But Percy had tried consoling him instead, acting like a father. And while Collin really wanted a father, he also needed his brother. Collin couldn't give up on him, especially after all his brother had done for him.
He took out a short sword, around 3 feet long with etched Ancient Greek words, talking about Love, Death, Life, and all that silly Prophetic Garbage that lay on it. He'd once tried reading the symbols but he found that it was just inspiring messages. "Love till death", "Life is a marathon. Make sure you can run the whole way." and other messages that made him want to vomit.
What was interesting about the sword was that it had been wielded by Collin's brother. It was as integral to Collin's life as his heart, or his soul. He couldn't imagine giving it up for the world.
Maybe Chiron could help him.
He found Chiron teaching an archery class, one that thankfully, did not include Percy Jackson in it.
"Collin! My boy, what are you doing?" Chiron exclaimed as Collin walked towards him, still holding his sword in his hands.
He realized quick enough and put it back into it's sheath. "Chiron, I need to ask you something. In private."
"Just wait," Chiron said, "I have yet to finish this-"
"It's important. It's life or death!" Collin exaggerated his idea.
An archer snorted. "It's always life or death here, Collin."
Thankfully, Chiron ignored him. "Very well. Come over here." Chiron led him away from the archery class.
"What is it you want to tell me, young man?" Chiron asked.
"It's about my brother."
Chiron nodded. "That would be Camden would it?"
He winced. Hearing his name made him want to fall to the ground in sorrow.
"I need a quest." Collin said.
Chiron raised an eyebrow. "This clearly isn't Life or Death, Collin."
"It's important though! I need to bargain with Hades. I need my brother Chiron. I need him."
"Be that as it may, it's too dangerous to head to Hades, especially when one is only 13 years old," Chiron responded flatly, "Now, if you'll exc-"
"But Chiron! Atleast give me the chance to leave camp."
Chiron debated that in his head. Then, he looked back at Collin and said, "No."
He galloped off back to his archery class, leaving behind an even more dismayed Collin behind.
Maybe these people were right. They had been in more dangerous situations than Collin could ever hope to be in. They'd won two wars in less than a decade. They were obivously more experienced, wiser, stronger. Who was Collin to think of even going against their advice? Gods, one had had the wisdom and boldness to decline immortality just so he could go keep on living with his girlfriend. One had trained Achilles, a guy who's name still echoed through the camper's voices as they talked about their supposed family lines. One had destroyed at the bare minimum, a few hundred monsters while the other dude had kept a camp running for who-knows-how-long.
But he remembered how Percy Jackson and his friends had disobeyed the rules multiple times to do something heroic. And they had turned out fine. Collin could follow in their footsteps and achieve something worthy of Godly praise. And he'd be able to see his brother again.
Countless others had died fighting in the wars though. How could Collin be sure that he wouldn't end up like they had, some having been devoured by monsters, some having been kidnapped, unlucky others having ended up killed by their fellow Demigods in the Titan War.
At this point however, Collin couldn't stand the fact of living on while his Camden's soul drifted around in the Underworld or possibly, Charon's studio.
Collin couldn't wait. The longer he stayed up here, the longer his brother would have to wait for him to come back.
It was a crazy idea. Head into the real world all by yourself? That would surely get Collin killed. But then again, that would bring him closer to his brother.