A Talk With Hearth

Percy was in a catatonic state as Hestia led him toward his campfire before snapping her finger, materializing a couple of seats before gently pushing her nephew to sit down. Percy shook his head, dispelling the surprise haze in his mind before asking a question.

"How did you know my name?"

"Your father told me. He told me of your birth. Even if he didn't tell me, I will still know. I have my own ways after all."

Hestia reply cause Percy to calm down. If Poseidon told Hestia, that means the other gods will not know of his existence, ensuring his safety from his uncles' wrath. He didn't fear them per se, he just didn't want to be bothered with monster attacks or stray lightning if he can help it.

Hestia rise an eyebrow as she studies her nephew face. "You not scared of my brothers' retribution?" she asked, a little intrigued by his nephew bravery or foolhardiness.

"Not really. Unless they send legendary monsters like the Nemean Lion, Chimera, or Lernaean Hydra, then I won't have any trouble killing them," the reply she got shock her, not because the statement is arrogant, it because he spoke in a tone that said he just stating a simple fact. It either mean that his nephew is too prideful and will get himself kill with that kind of attitude, or he is that strong that any monster below legendary level is no threat to him.

"Besides, its not my first fight with monsters' groups." Percy talking broke Hestia out of her musing

"I already fight with 8 monster groups, 5 with about 5 to 10 monsters, 2 with about 15 to 30 monsters, and 1 with over 30 monsters." the statement that came out of Percy's mouth meanwhile cause her mind to came to a stop.

'A group of 10 monsters already hard enough for a single huntress to fight, never mind a regular demigod, especially one as young as him' Hestia thought before deciding to question her nephew to see if his telling the truth or not.

"You kill all those monsters? You sure you didn't make up the number." she question the son of Poseidon.

Percy looked at the goddess of hearth with blank stare before deciding to answer the best he can.

"I'm not sure about the numbers, I don't really bother counting them. If you want to know the truth you can just see my memories, I don't mind" the earnest answer he gave cause Hestia to blink in surprise before deciding to check her nephew memories.

To her surprise, trying to see her nephew's memories is a challenge due to some kind of block in his mind. She wandered whether she should brute force it when the defence was lowered and she soon traverse through hi nephew's mind before arriving at the memories she looking for.

Imagine her surprise when everything Percy said is true. Heck, he might even understate some details. Calling her nephew strong was an understatement. He is powerful, a force of nature in his own right. She remembered earlier when she though her nephew lack of fear towards her brother was either from foolhardiness or his strength. She believed it to be the latter.

She retreated from her nephew mindscape only to be meet with a cheeky smile.

"Believe me now?" his cheeky question was answered with a pinch on both cheeks, causing the demigod to whimper in pain.

"Be more respectful to your elder, dear nephew." as she spoke those words, she released her nephew's cheeks from her hold.

Percy rubbed his cheeks, before pouting at the smug goddess in front of him. He formed an orb of water from the vapour before placing it on his cheeks, elevating the pain and healing it at the same time.

Hestia looked at the orb in surprise. In her very long life, she had never seen any son of Poseidon to turn the air surrounding them into water, most using the nearby water source. In fact, now that she thought of it, Percy had shown power greater than most children of Poseidon have had.

She remembered in the memories that her nephew could control the earth in a degree that he can manipulate it easily. His control over wind and lightning is also beyond normal, allowing him to control the elements as he please. And his water manipulation is at least twice as good as his other elements.

Her nephew is a prodigy, Hades, prodigy might be an understatement. He is a monster in term of his power and skills, supressing many other demigods and legendary heroes who already reach adulthood in terms of power.

She is going to have a talk with Poseidon. Her little brother must have known of his son true capabilities. She wondered what the young boy planning now. Asking upfront should be the best option as he clearly trusted her, probably from his father talking about her.

"Percy, what do you wish to do in the future?" she asked her nephew, who already healed his cheeks from her onslaught.

Percy, already stopped rubbing his hurt cheeks, only took a split second before answering his aunt question. "Probably trying to set up some base in the future, for future use of course."

Hestia nodded her understanding at her nephew answer. However, she wanted to make sure her nephew really knows what he wanted to do. It not as simply doing things, it's the purpose in his action that she wanted to know and made clear to her nephew.

"You planning to build some base in the future," she parroted her nephew's words.

"But why, why did you want to do it? And before you going to say for contingencies or other answers, I want you to really think of what you want to do? What is your ambition? What do you wish to actually do in your life?"

Percy mind went blank when he heard his aunt question. It's the same question he actually asked himself earlier but decided to store it of in hopes of finding an answer in time. Hestia asked him the same question but she clearly want him to answer her soon.

He planned to tell her of his plan but was stopped when he planned to speak. Why does the answer he thought of feel so empty, like he didn't mean it? Is it why his aunt asked him to truly think of his answer so he can think the answer he that truly came from his heart?

But if creating a base to place his loots or as resting ground, the why did he wanted to do it? Why did he didn't have any conflicting thought of creating safehouse? Is it because he actually wanted to build it? Then why did he feel his answer about the purpose of his safehouse felt so hollow?

Maybe he wanted to build a base, just not for the reason he thought of. Then what is the reason he wanted to build it? Why he wanted to do such thing if not for his own use? It's not like he planned to build it for the greater go-

His eyes widened as he was struck by epiphany. He did wish for his safehouse to be used for greater good. But the safehouses are only one of the means that will help, he will think of many ways to help.

Hestia looked at his nephew with a slight smile. Earlier, she wanted to break her nephew out of his spiralling thought, only to hold herself in the last second when she saw it. Her nephew had come with his conclusion to her question. Now, she should ask her nephew about it.

"So, have you found the answer you truly believe?" she asked the young son of Poseidon, preparing herself for the answer, as it will determine his true character.

"The base, safehouse, I want to make them. But their purpose is not just for me. It was only a mean to an end. The reason I wanted to build safehouses is to help other demigods when they have to their journey to the camp."

"Heck, the safehouses is only one of the means. I wanted to find new ways to help demigods live and not worrying much about monsters. I heard from Dad that demigods didn't live too long. I wanted to change that."

"I want to make sure demigods get to live longer. I wanted to help find ways to make demigods stronger so they can survive fighting monsters. I already had one perfect thing that I can taught the other demigods"

"I already had a rough plan just now. First, I travel around the country, creating safehouses and safe ground for demigods to rest and not worry about monsters. While travelling, I can try to find or discover other techniques, skills, abilities, or power that I can teach other demigods."

"That is what I want to do. To help demigods survive the world." he answered with conviction and pride, knowing that is what he truly desire, and he will go with everything he got to do it.

Hestia's heart shook as she heard her nephew ambitions. Someone with such noble goal, to help others like him live to old age. Her nephew really possessed a hero's heart. To have such a nephew, she is really lucky.

Unlike other gods, who either see the demigods as either pawns or entertainment subject, she really cared for the many demigods. Its just it is hard for gods to truly care. Being ancient in age, they were detached from mortal concern, making connecting with their children difficult.

She wished the others showed that they actually care. But in reality, it's either they care but cannot show it because of the Ancient Law, or they just distant themselves from their children, in fear of being heartbroken when the time come for them to traverse the Underworld. Such is the pain of being a god or goddess.

However, if her nephew plans come to fruition, then less demigods will die from fighting monsters. She then thought of her nephew's word, some of the thing he said intrigued her.

"Percy, when you said you had a perfect thing to teach demigods, what did you mean by that?" Hestia inquired.

"Oh, its Celestial energy."

"Celestial energy?"

"Well, its –, "

As Percy gone in explaining the details of Celestial energy, Hestia still reeling from the fact that her nephew, a 7 years-old actually knew about some stuff that even the gods knew nothing about. She listened to her nephew explanation but her mind is only half there. The other half still shocked by her nephew intelligence.

Thankfully, being a divine made it so she can literally split herself into multiple persons so listening to her nephew while having a crisis can be done at the same time. Very convenient. So, when Percy finished talking (read: lecturing/rambling) Hestia shifted her attention to her nephew.

"Do you think every demigod can learn this Celestial energy?" Hestia asked.

"I think so. Not really sure but I saw every living thing have it and I already use it so why others can't." he replied,

She nodded at the statement. While only Percy can use it for now, doesn't mean in the future other can't use it to. She taught more of his nephew ambitions and decided she will help him with his goals. With a resolute heart, she decided to gift her nephew a precious gift.

"Percy, I want you to close your eyes. Don't peek or I'm going to pinch your cheeks again," Hestia threaten him.

Percy, fearing his aunt pinches, closed his eyes. He suddenly felt a finger poking his forehead. Before he could ask anything, a wave of power suddenly gushes into him, causing him to feel the warmth of fire inside his body, residing inside him, cannot be removed but can be manipulated.

As he opened his eyes, he question his aunt, "Aunt Hestia, what di-"

"I give you mine blessing. Now, you can create and control fire in dome degree. It will help in the future, I'm sure of it." his aunt cut him off while telling him what she did to him.

Percy just nodded before focusing on the foreign feeling. He felt the heat, the burning sensation before letting it out through his hand, causing a small flame to burst from his finger before snuffing out.

"You should fo- ", whatever Hestia about to say was stop by the flame formed on her nephew's hand. The fact that Percy can create a fire without guidance in a short time meant that her nephew control is at a terrifying level.

"It was easy really. Its not to hard," the cheeky tone in her nephew voice was not unheard by the Goddess of Hearth.

Narrowing her eyes, Hestia decided some form of punishment is necessary, to avoid her nephew from growing a big head of course. She slowly walked, like a cat stalking a mouse.

Percy, too busy celebrating of his control of his aunt's blessing that he not realized Hestia already moved. When he turned his head, its already too late as Hestia already moved next to him, a smile that did not reach her eyes and hands raised, like a snake ready to strike.

Realising the danger, Percy decided to do the best thing to ensure his survival, beg for mercy.

"Wait Aunt Hestia, I'm so- "

lunge*

"OUUUUCCHHHH!"

A pained scream, almost similar to the one happened in the afternoon, was heard, sending the wildlife to scramble through out the forest out of shock and fear. Shock from the loudness of the scream, and fear for the creature that cause the scream to occur, whether it screamed itself or it tortured its victim till its scream. Neither answer portrays the creature as a peaceful beast so fleeing for their life is the best option.

*

Percy rubbed his aching cheeks, subjected to another brutal attack. He pouted at his aunt while muttering something suspiciously similar to 'child abuse'. Hestia, being the kind goddess she is, ignore her nephew's rambling.

Percy slowly dropped his pout, before focusing on creating a fire. This time, he was able to maintain it for a minute before it flickered but it did not dampen his spirit. He knew that it will take time before he can create a fire the size of a basketball so he was patient in his attempt.

However, Hestia did not expect her nephew to be so calm and even seem to expect and accept that he cannot create a big fire when he received her blessing. She shook her head. Her nephew already has a good mentality and expectation on how others power work. He will definitely master her blessing in a few months.

Her though was interrupted by a big yawn. She looked at the source, which of course originated from the only person in the camp. She smiled gently at the source.

"You should really get to sleep Percy. You can train with your new power in the morning," said source tried to fight of the sleep but a raise of Hestia's hand and he quickly subdued, not intending to feel the pain of 'cheek abuse' again.

Percy moved toward his tent before entering it. Laying on his back on his sleeping back, he closed his eyes before drifting toward the realm of Hypnos.

Hestia looked at her nephew before hearing a soft snore. Finally convinced of his nephew slumber, she walked away, snapping her fingers in the process. As she walked away, the slightly messy camp cleaned itself, the cooking instruments were washed, the loots stored back into the sack and any other mess were cleaned.

As she walked towards the outer part of the camp, she cast one final glaze on her nephew's camp, before bursting into flames. The flame slowly disappeared, revealing nothing that could be connected to the encounter.

*

Percy slowly woke up, slightly groggy before shaking away his sleepiness. He walked toward the campfire, his mind slowly waking up, before he remembered last night event. He shook his head. Now is not the time to be thinking about something that could just be a dream.

As he slowly remembers the night event, he starting to be unconvinced that it was a dream, He clearly remembered that Hestia gifted him ability to create and control fire. He slowly remembered what he did, before his hand suddenly engulf in flames.

"Its not a dream," he whispered to himself, before it turned into a big smile. A gift like this will definitely help him, especially as he finally has an ability that will make him not need to use the 'cursed object' (read: fire starter).

As he looked at the rising sun, he felt that his journey, while still on the beginning track, had shown him the path that he should take. As he slowly cleaned the camp (he gave a prayer of thank to Hestia for helping him clean up) he looked at the horizon before saying,

"Looks like I know what I should do next,"