The trip back to Camp Jupiter was a long one. The cars would switch drivers every couple of hours to ensure they got as much driving time as possible, but the trip was projected to take three days still. Despite knowing he had to switch with Reyna soon, Frank couldn't sleep. His mind was still reeling from everything that had happened over the past few months. Consciously, he knew he had grown, but it all happened so fast; he still felt like the kid who had just lost him mom, shooting arrows in the backyard.

"What's bothering you, Frank Zhang?" Reyna asked from the driver's seat beside him.

Frank sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Just a lot on my mind, Prae—Reyna," he said, quickly correcting himself. Reyna handled herself with so much confidence, it was hard to come to terms with the fact that they held the same rank.

Frank could have sworn he saw a thin smile trace Reyna's lips. "You've been on a great journey. It makes sense you'd be thinking about it."

As she spoke, Frank felt weirdly comfortable. He had always been a little scared of Reyna, but since she brought the Athena Parthenos to Camp Half-Blood, she felt warmer. "You know about my family. A little bit anyway. My grandmother told me about how I would return to Pylos and bring my family full circle. But it felt… anticlimactic. They weren't happy to see me; it didn't feel much like a victory." Frank paused for a moment. In his heart, he knew he was happy he did what his grandmother foretold, and he was proud of that accomplishment. At the same time, he couldn't help but feel underwhelmed with the result.

"Frank, I do not know much about Periclymenus," Reyna started, "But I know he was an Argonaut, much like you. And he was a leader. During his time, Pylos was a powerful kingdom and one of the capitals of human civilization. And now? You're a leader of Rome. You handled yourself well out there. I've never seen the Legion fight so fiercely. You have become a powerful leader, just like the Prince of Pylos. In that way, maybe you have brought your family full circle."

Frank didn't know what to say. The similarities that Reyna drew between them made Frank realize he wasn't a far cry away from Periclymenus. He had never really considered that fact. In his mind, Periclymenus was a larger than life hero, a prince. He probably looked like Piper's dad in King of Sparta. The Prince of Pylos had accomplished a lot, but maybe he and Frank were more alike than he initially thought. Perhaps even the prince had been just as self-doubting as Frank.

"Thanks, Reyna," Frank managed to say, a lump caught in his throat.

In response, Reyna simply nodded. They drove in silence for a moment, before Frank asked, "So, what comes next?"

As Reyna signalled to switch lanes and checked her blind spot, she said, "Hm?"

"Well, I mean, we beat Gaea," Frank said, "We lost people. We need to prepare. But I don't know. What are we preparing for? First, there was the Titans, and now Mother Earth. What could be worse? And how do we even get ready for it?"

"Rome has always faced its challenges with strategy, with strength, and with valour," Reyna told him. "You know this, as do I, and as does the Legion." Her voice softened, and she continued, "I know you're worried about how to lead the Twelfth through whatever might come our way. I felt the same at the end of the last summer. But don't worry. You have a strategic mind, you have strength, and you have valour. You can lead the Legion through the next threat, and you won't have to do it alone."

Man, had Reyna always been this awesome? Frank thought to himself. "Yeah, you're right. We've got this," he said. As he spoke the words, he knew them to be true.

"That we do," Reyna said through a kind smile, despite seeming very focused on the road ahead of her. "Now, get some sleep. I'm eager to give you the driver's seat in a couple of hours."

With his worries quelled, Frank descended into a peaceful and dreamless sleep.