Chapter III:

"So…" Thalia drawled to break the silence as they dug into their first breakfast. The champions had been given magical plates and glasses that would produce anything they imagined. Reyna had chosen a simple bowl of oatmeal. "Are we not going to talk about the elephant in the room?"

Zia picked half heartedly at her fruit salad while the daughter of Zeus demolished her steak and eggs. Clearly Zia hadn't gotten a lot of sleep either. "Huh?"

"I believe this might be the first time a gathering of our pantheons has occurred." Reyna answered. "And under seemingly dire circumstances."

Thalia grumbled in agreement with a mouthful of steak, which Reyna found to be absolutely disgusting. Apparently the Greeks were severely uncivilized. How did Artemis let this girl become her lieutenant?

"So, there's a camp for Greeks and Romans?" Zia asked innocently. Reyna was now sure that she was the youngest after seeing her up close, but she was still a mystery.

"I guess Chiron's been hiding it from us this entire time." Thalia said as her plate refilled itself with even more over-medium eggs. "There's no way he couldn't have known about you guys. You too Zia."

Reyna was still trying to comprehend how there could be a Greek and Roman equivalent of their respective deities. Did they know about their other version? The thought also led to her hunch that Thalia and Jason were directly related, but she was unsure on how to approach that subject, so she chose to ignore it for the time being. Reyna did worry about Scipio, and if he had made it back safely. She wondered if there was any hint left behind as to where the trio had gone.

The rest of their time was spent discussing their camps. Reyna learned that the Egyptians had multiple "camps," that were more like strongholds called Nomes, and they were around the world in every country and continent. When Thalia explained Camp Half-Blood, Reyna was surprised to find out that they didn't have any demigods that would be considered of mature age, they were all teenagers. Likewise, Thalia was shocked to find out that Camp Jupiter had New Rome, where multiple generations of Roman demigods lived.

Zia also clarified what Aether had told Reyna about earlier, with their time situation. Apparently he had been more transparent to her, which irked her. The time outside the realm was extremely slowed down. Years could pass in the City of Light, but on Earth it would only be a matter of minutes.

After Thalia had finally finished eating (at one point it seemed like she would have never stopped, where she kept all that food was something Reyna didn't want to know), the three of them made their way outside to the courtyard. There, they found Lady Hemera standing next to a tall apple tree. Of course, like most things were in the City of Light, the apples were golden.

However, the primordial was not alone. A tall, muscular figure appeared from behind the tree. Objectively, he was overly attractive, purely eye candy and nothing more. Jason or Aether's attractive form was more of her type. Reyna and Zia didn't recognize him, but Thalia sure did.

"You, bitch!" Thalia yelled as she charged at the man in the loincloth.

Hemera quickly put an end to her nonsense by holding the palm of her hand out and causing the enraged Thalia to levitate. The man smirked obnoxiously as Hemera brought the squirming daughter of Zeus back to her original position. Reyna already hated him and Zia seemed to share the same sentiment. The three of them were already getting along pretty well.

"Who is he?" Reyna asked cautiously. Anything that pissed of a Hunter was probably not a friendly.

Thalia spat at the ground and cracked her knuckles, Reyna could've sworn sparks were flying out of her hair. "Heracles."

Reyna recalled the old legends about the great warrior, who was also known during Roman times as Hercules. But she still didn't know why Thalia had a grudge, and how it was possible that he was here.

"You can't possibly be mad about that still." The immortal hero said as he gave them a wide smile. "I see you took her title, what happened?"

Reyna figured that he was referring to the Lieutenant of Artemis and the circlet Thalia wore. She knew that for their Roman equivalents, the Hunters could only die in combat.

"Let's just say he was the world's biggest piece of shit to one of my friends." Thalia explained through gritted teeth. "How are you here, shuckface?"

Now it was Hemera's turn to speak. "We have imported his best qualities here, and you will train under his jurisdiction." She said sternly.

Reyna internally laughed at the thought, if these were his best qualities, she sure as hell didn't want to meet his full version. This man, if you could call him one, was just a buffed up Octavian. She really hated that augur.

"Clearly you left behind his brain." Zia joked sarcastically. Reyna was really starting to love the magician, she was like the little sister she never had.

"You will train with him." Hemera repeated. "All of you."

Reyna didn't think she could last two minutes in a room with him. "For how long?"

"As long as it takes."

And in the blink of an eye, the primordial disappeared, leaving them alone in the courtyard with Hercules.

Thalia wasted no time, and charged straight at him. Hercules didn't move a muscle as she barreled straight into him...and passed right through.

"My dear Ms. Grace, or should I say half-sister." Hercules chuckled as he re-solidified. "Can we not act civilized for just one minute? I know father wouldn't like that very much."

And with that, Reyna drew her weapon and began to circle the famous warrior. It was reminiscent of her recent battle with the hybrid monster, except this opponent was unkillable. The large Adamantine broadsword that appeared in his hand gleamed violently in the sunlight.

Hercules launched a vicious combination towards Reyna, which left her almost no time to react. She was barely able to parry him, and she knew that he was barely putting forth any effort.

"First rule. Never stop moving your feet." He chided before disengaging. "Unpredictability is your friend."

Even though Reyna heavily disliked him she did as she was told and began to prance like a featherweight boxer in the ring, constantly shifting her weight from side to side as she continued circling him.

But Reyna was still so locked on to her blade's positioning, that she lost track of Hercules position for a split second and he knocked the sword out of her hand instantaneously. Whether she liked it or not, he was one of the most skilled beings in combat to ever exist.

"Eyes on me, not your weapon." Hercules said as Reyna quickly picked it back up, pissed off at herself. "It's supposed to be an extension of yourself."

Soon enough, Thalia and Zia rejoined the fray and all three of them began to rotate around him. Hercules countered by splitting into three identical forms, apparitions, and locked on to each one of them. Reyna had never seen anything like it in her life.

It turned out that Hercules was almost bearable when actually teaching combat, and didn't flaunt the arrogant personality that he had inherited from the King of the Gods. The three of them sparred with the immortal as he individually coached them according to their weapon.

The four of them had been training for hours when Hercules finally stopped and called for a break. The Sun was now starting to set. The three girls were absolutely drenched in sweat and aching all over while Hercules remained completely fine. Unfair.

"I have to say, you guys were just as good as Aether promised." Hercules nodded his head in approval. "We will meet here again, tomorrow."

"Still hate you." Reyna heard Thalia grumble.

"Anytime, little sissy." Hercules rebutted.

This was going to be a complete circus. Reyna couldn't wait.