Chapter 2: Olympian Academy
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. Man this story is off to a great start I'm glad all of you like it so much. Let me tell you this story is going to go in a very unique direction. I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review what I have planned.
It had been 15 years since Medusa took Nico in and raised him as her own and since then her life had changed forever.
In a house near the lake, near the woods a teenage boy with brown hair was laying down when a shadow appeared over him and snakes hissed as Medusa bends down.
"Nico time to wake up." Medusa said shaking him awake.
Groaning Nico sat up and opened his eyes and turned towards her. "Morning mom." Nico said when he heard the hissing. "And to you all too."
Getting dressed Nico put on a tunic and a green sash before walking into the kitchen and sat down as Medusa poured him some water and handed him an apple.
"Today's the big day." Nico said causing a frown to appear on Medusa's face.
"Nico, are you sure you want to do this? This is a big step." Medusa said.
"Mom it's just school." Nico said drinking some water.
"But Nico I'm worried. What if something happens to you? People can cruel to those who are different." Medusa said speaking from experience.
"I'll be fine mom. I'll be back at the end of the day. I'll be back before you know it." Nico said eating his apple.
"You better." Medusa smiles ruffling his hair. "Do you have everything you need?"
"I think so." Nico moves his hand around the table and grabs a small pouch and put a water pouch, a fruit and some drachmas.
"So why do you have a dagger?" Medusa asks.
"Dagger? I didn't grab one of those." Nico reaches around and picks up a small dagger causing him to yelp. "You put that there." Nico said looking in her direction.
"Maybe I did, in case you meet any Goddesses." Medusa smirks.
"What about making friends? Is that acceptable?" Nico asks putting the dagger down.
"Of course, it is sweetie, no one too weird though and absolutely no girls." Medusa said.
"Mom." Nico groans annoyed causing Medusa to giggle.
"Alright, you better get going. If for whatever reason you don't feel comfortable there you don't have to go back." Medusa said.
"Alright Mom. I love you." Grabbing his bag and his walking stick, Nico walks over to Medusa and kisses her on the cheek.
"Bye mom." Nico said.
"Bye Nico." Medusa said as she watched him leave before sniffling as a tear ran down her eyes. "There he goes. I hope he'll be okay."
All the snakes on her head hiss saying not to worry and that she's prepared him for this day.
"Yeah, I know, but that's my little boy. Going to school. Tell me you guys aren't a little emotional." Medusa said but none of the snakes could deny their love for the little boy they've watched grow up.
In the 14 years, Medusa had taken Nico as her son her life had been filled with happiness. She no longer felt like a monster but like a normal living being.
Over the years she helped teach her son all about the world by teaching him everything she could.
When she wasn't strengthening his mind, Medusa was helping Nico learn to protect himself should she never be around.
Being a mother certainly wasn't easy but it was an experience Medusa wouldn't trade for the world.
In town, many teens were walking towards a large campus with many old Greek buildings and even an amphitheater that was at the base of a mountain range.
"Alright new students, welcome to Olympian Academy! Where people like you learn to be future of our home. Whether you want to learn a craft to improve your home, learn how to rule your kingdom if you're a noble, or to be a hero and help others Olympian Academy has something for all." A teacher said.
As all the students walked through the main entrance eager to prove themselves none of them knew the school had a very secret purpose. Named after the home of the Gods, the actual Olympians use this school as a way to scout for potential heroes or in some cases mortals that they can use to make demigods.
Sitting at the top of a high column a teenage girl with tan skin, grey eyes, and was wearing a green outfit that resembled gladiator armor with a shield strapped to her back.
"Hmm looks like we got quite the lineup this year." She said when she heard a hoot.
Looking up she saw a brown owl fly in with a scroll in its claws.
"Perfect. Let's see, any hero material in this group?" She asks opening it and reading the names. "Hmm Hercules, Theseus, ugh Adonis. That's a big no." She groans crossing his name off before putting her head in her hand as she scrolled through the list but her expression remained the same.
Flying up onto her shoulder the owl hoots at her asking what was wrong.
"Heroes, nothing but a bunch of men who think every problem can be solved by fighting. I swear everyone thinks like my brother. No one wants any wisdom or guidance they just want to punch something." She sighs pushing the scroll off the column causing it to fall to the ground.
Down below Nico was moving his stick along the path when it touched something. "Hmm." Bending down he picks it up to reveal it was the girl's scroll.
Looking down the girl's howl hooted loudly to get her attention. "What is it?" She looks down to see Nico picking up her scroll and gasps before leaping down. "Hey put that down!"
Nico lifts his head up as the girl runs over. "That scroll is mine."
"Oh I'm sorry. Here you go." Nico said handing it to her before walking ahead.
"Wait! What did you see when you picked it up?" The girl asks following him.
"Nothing." Nico replied.
"Will please look at me when I'm talking to you?" The girl asks running up to him only to stop when she saw Nico's eyes. "Oh I didn't realize you were…"
"What? Average? Different?" Nico asks.
"Blind." She said as Nico turns to her and chuckles.
"You know I always forget that one. Do you believe me now when I said I didn't read anything?" Nico asks.
"Sorry, about that. Usually, I'm a little wiser to these situations." She said.
"Well anyone can make a mistake. See ya." Nico said walking past her.
"Wait, what's your name?" She asks.
"Nico. Nico Stone." Nico said raising his hand to wave goodbye.
"Nico Stone?" She opens the scroll and looks for his name. "Hmm not much information on this one."
"Wow, sis a blind kid? That's pathetic even for you." An arrogant voice said causing her to groan knowing that voice all too well.
"What do you want?" She asks turning around to see a muscular man with brown hair who was dressed in a Spartan armor.
"Just thought I'd come to rub in the fact that I've already found the best future hero in this entire school." He mocks.
"Sure you did." She said crossing her arms not believing him as her owl flew down and landed on her shoulder.
"I did and let me tell you my approach and disguise are a million times easier than your student form." He said.
"At least my way of doing this doesn't involve lining mortals up and making them fight each other for your amusement." She said.
"Well while you were taking your time I swooped in and found the strongest student that joined today. His name is Bacchus and he is gonna be the greatest war hero to ever live. Looks like I win sis." He smirks.
"Great now leave." She said annoyed.
"What's a matter Thea? Feeling worthless because you can't find any heroes? Not like you can make any demigods either. What mortal in their right mind would fall for you?" He laughs walking away.
"I hate him so much." Thea said tightening her fist before her owl hoots saying they should just leave. "Alright, fine." She sighs as they walk in.
As the first day began, Nico along with many other students gathered in their first class they heard the clopping of hooves.
Looking to the front they saw a man with brown hair, a beard, and the lower body of a horse at the front of the class.
"Is that a centaur?" One said.
"Whoa, this school is pretty cool." Another said.
"Hello class, my name is Chiron and for the next year, I will be in charge of your education. So if all of you will take your seats we can begin." Chiron said as the students walked to a stool.
Feeling around the table for what his layout was like he sat down.
"Wow, this is pretty cool, don't you think?" A teen with bright blonde hair and some muscles said sitting next to Nico said. "Chiron is a master trainer of heroes."
"You trying to be one, someday?" Nico asks looking to his right.
"I hope so. What about you?" He asks looking to Nico when he noticed his cloudy eyes.
"Not sure yet. I just want to learn and make friends right now." Nico said.
"Oh uh…well I'm Hercules." Hercules said holding out his hand.
Nico reached out to shake it but when he did Hercules squeezed too hard causing him to flinch in pain.
"Herc are you trying to crush my hand or something?" Nico asks as he lets go.
"Sorry. I'm like crazy strong, but I'm not very good at controlling it." Hercules cringed.
"Yeah I can tell." Nico cringed trying to get feeling in his hand again.
As the class was about to start Thea walked down the hall when a figure zoomed by to try and grab her shield when she grabbed it pinned it to the ground revealing it to be a man with blonde hair, a headband and sandals with wings on them.
"Hermes, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Thea asks helping him up.
"I have a message from Zeus on Mt. Olympus for you." Hermes said reaching to his bag and pulled out a scroll.
"So Zeus has another child here. How is Hera taking it?" Thea asks.
"Not well." Hermes cringed. "Zeus just wants to ask if you can keep an eye on this one. He's a little more destructive than the previous ones. His name is Hercules."
"If Zeus asks, I must fulfill." Thea sighs.
"What's the matter with you? Not having a good day?" Hermes asks.
"Sometimes I wonder why I keep trying to guide mortals. They'd all rather join my brother and be mindless soldiers." Thea said.
"Well you gotta give him credit, he knows how to get attention." Hermes said.
"Getting attention is the only thing a warmonger like him knows how to do." Thea growls walking down the hall.
"Thea, you'll find a hero that will appreciate your wisdom and when you do more will come." Hermes said reaching for her shield only for her owl to peck his hand. "Ow!"
"Stop trying to rob me, Hermes." Thea said walking away.
Hermes looks to her and saw her owl giving him the "I'm watching you" look causing Hermes to cringe. Turning around Hermes flew off before any mortals saw him.
As the first half of the day came to an end, Nico and Hercules made their way to the cafeterium for lunch.
"Boy who knew learning could be so tough." Hercules said.
"At least they give us a break. Speaking of how many styluses did you break trying to write notes?" Nico asks.
"Four maybe five." Hercules said.
"Herc you really need to work on controlling that strength of yours." Nico sighs as they walked up to the food line.
"Uh want me to tell you they made for lunch?" Hercules offers realizing Nico can't see the options.
"That be great." Nico said as Hercules put a little food on both their trays before they walked away.
"See any places to sit?" Hercules asks.
"Never have." Nico said causing him to groan embarrassed.
"Right sorry." He cringed when he noticed an upper level. "Hey maybe there are seats up there."
Hercules and Nico walked to the stairs when a teen with long blonde hair stepped in front of them.
"Uh where do you think you're going?" He asks.
"Just up the stairs." Hercules said.
"Sorry, but this section is for royalty only and you two aren't royalty." He said.
"There's a royal section?" Hercules asks.
"Yes, it's the only time people like me can get a break from you commoners." He mocks causing both boys to glare at him. "Guards, take them away."
"Yes sir." The guards said about to grab them.
"Don't waste your energy. We'll leave ourselves." Nico said as he and Hercules walked away.
Up in the royal section, a teenage girl with long blonde hair was sitting down sipping her drink when he walks back up.
"Where did you run off to Adonis?" She asks.
"Forgive me Andromeda I had to dirty my hands with some commoners." Adonis said.
"You dirty your hands? That's a good one." Andromeda rolls her eyes before looking down below to see Nico and Hercules walking to an empty table.
"What a jerk." Hercules said as they sat down.
"Ignore it Herc, we don't need to lower ourselves to his level." Nico said.
"Except his level is actually above us." Hercules said when Thea walked in and noticed a large muscular teen with black hair heading towards Hercules and Nico.
Narrowing her eyes Thea was about to intervene when a hand blocked her path. Looking up she saw her brother was blocking her path.
"Sorry sister, but this is the perfect moment for me. How often can one of my warriors defeat a child of Zeus?" He asks.
"So that's Bacchus? Is that really the reason or is it because Zeus picked me to watch over his son and not you, Coach Wrath?" Thea mocks using his fake name.
"You better watch it or I'll shave that owl of yours." Wrath growls causing her owl to hoot at him pissed off.
As Nico was about to eat his lunch Bacchus walked over and grabbed his tray.
"Hey that's Nico's lunch." Hercules said as Bacchus turned to him.
"So?" He asks not caring.
"So get your own." Hercules said trying to stop him but Bacchus swats him away making Hercules crash into a table and food spills over him getting everyone's attention.
"Look who's trying to be a hero." Bacchus mocks Nico walks up and taps him with his walking stick.
"Hey." Nico said as Bacchus turned to look him in his cloudy eyes. "Hercules I appreciate the help back there, but I can fight my own battles. Give me back my lunch or else."
Almost instantly Bacchus, Wrath and most of the cafeterium laugh at this.
"I'd ask if you could see how stupid you look right now, but you can't!" Bacchus mocks.
"Ha ha mock the blind kid." Nico said sarcastically before adjusting his grip on his walking stick and swings it whacking Bacchus in the face surprising everyone.
Staggering back Bacchus glared at the blind kid who held his walking stick like a bo staff.
"It's a good thing that kid can't see because he's not gonna want to see how badly Bacchus is gonna destroy him." Wrath smirks.
"You start praying because it would take a god to save you from me." Bacchus growls.
As he swung his fist Nico ducks out of the way and whacks Bacchus with his stick again making him cringe in pain.
'Nico really knows how to use that stick.' Hercules thought impressed.
Nico swings his walking stick only this time Bacchus caught it in his hands causing his eyes to widen.
"Uh oh." Nico cringed as Bacchus punched him in the gut knocking him to the ground causing everyone to wince.
"Not so tough, now are you?" Bacchus tosses Nico's walking stick away as Nico stood up.
"Here it comes." Wrath grins as Bacchus moved in to strike Nico down.
Closing his eyes Nico felt a sensation in his toes as Bacchus threw a punch. At the last second Nico ducks under and delivers a powerful uppercut surprising everyone as Bacchus flew back a few feet crashed onto a table and food spilled all over him.
Hercules got up and poked Bacchus with Nico's walking stick but got no reaction.
"Yep, he is out cold." Hercules said and almost instantly everyone was shocked at what they had just witnessed.
Wrath drops his jaw in shock at what he saw, the student he thought would be his mighty warrior got beaten to a pulp by a blind kid.
"How in the name of Tartarus?" Wrath asks as Thea walks up next to him.
"Well brother, looks like your hero isn't all that. Just another dumb muscle head like you." Thea smirks causing him to growl in anger.
Thea looks over to Nico who was walking away from the crowd of fans with Hercules following him and couldn't help but smile.
From the upper level, Andromeda looks at Nico leaving the cafeterium and was intrigued by this.
As the sun was setting, Nico was walking with Hercules away from the Academy.
"I gotta say Nico that was incredible seeing you fight back there. How you nailed Bacchus, how you avoided his attacks. It was amazing, how'd you do it?" Hercules asks.
"Just because I'm blind doesn't mean I'm helpless." Nico said.
"Wow, all I know how to do is smash things." Hercules said.
"Even though I was born blind I never let it bring me down. Since I couldn't see I had to figure out ways to heighten my other senses and the other parts of my body that did work." Nico said getting his attention.
"Like what?" Hercules asks.
"By using my feet I can feel the vibrations of the ground around me and read people's movements, by using my ears I can listen to way people are talking and am able to pick up the small hints that shows if they are lying, by using my nose I can smell things most people don't notice." Nico said surprising him.
"How did you learn to do all this?" Hercules asks.
"My mom taught me. She wouldn't stop until she was sure I could take care of myself." Nico explained.
"Wow, your mom sounds amazing." Hercules said.
"She's the best Herc." Nico smiles.
"So I guess I'll see you tomorrow for class?" Hercules asks.
"I guess so." Nico said as the two of them shook hands but Hercules squeezed too hard causing him to flinch. "Herc too hard!"
"Whoops, sorry." Hercules winced as Nico held his hand in pain.
"We really need to get that strength of yours under control." Nico cringed.
"No arguments there." Hercules said before going home.
Walking into town, Nico walked up to a small cart. "Can I get some onions and okra?" Nico asks taking out some drachmas.
"You know olives are always a good option." Thea said walking up to him.
"Wait I think I recognize your voice. I met you at the gate this morning." Nico recalls.
"Good memory. I saw your fight today against Bacchus. It was very brave how you stood up for your friend and you certainly handled yourself very well." Thea said.
"Thanks." Nico said as the vendor handed him the vegetables. "You know I don't think I ever got your name."
"You can call me Thea." She said.
"Well Thea I hope we can get to know each other." Nico said.
"Maybe we'll see each other again." Thea offers before realizing what she said.
"You mean you'll see me." Nico said before rubbing his hand in front of his face indicating he was still blind.
"Sorry." Thea said.
"It's alright, goodbye Thea." Nico said walking away.
"Zeus asked me to keep an eye on Hercules, but since Hercules is hanging out with Nico, I'll just have to watch over both of them." Thea smiles as she watches Nico until he disappeared from sight.
Back at his house, Medusa was making a fire to cook their dinner when the door opened.
"Mom, I'm home." Nico calls out getting her attention.
"There you are." Medusa smiles putting a pot over the fire. "So how was school?"
"It was alright. I met quite a few people today." Nico said putting his bag and walking stick down.
"Any girls?" Medusa asks.
"No…well I met one briefly, but I didn't really talk to her much." Nico said thinking about Thea.
"So any friends?" Medusa asks.
"I met one guy, but I kinda got into a fight with someone." Nico admits causing Medusa to stop in her tracks.
Hissing all the snakes look to Nico to see if there were any bruises but when Medusa saw he was fine she sighs in relief.
"So are you gonna tell me exactly what happened today?" Medusa asks.
"You better take a seat mom, school is crazy." Nico sighs causing her to giggle as they both sat down for dinner.