Chapter 3: New Friends
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. I'm glad you all enjoy this so much. And to answer some of your questions yes it will be a harem and I think you'll like what I did to some of my characters. I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
It was early in the morning at Olympian Academy as the sun was barely in the air, Thea was walking down the hall before entering a room that barely had any light in it.
"Gotta admit, I was surprised that you wanted to see me." A male voice said.
"Were you followed?" Thea asks as from the shadows a man in his early 20's walked out. He had black hair and skin so pale he looked almost dead.
"Yeah like anyone would follow me. In case you forgot among my brothers I'm the least popular." He smirks.
"Listen I just want to know if anyone with the last name Stone is in your domain." Thea said.
"Probably, you guys can scout all you want up here but, in the end, I end up with everyone." He chuckles.
"Hades come on; mortals will start to show up soon." Thea said narrowing her eyes.
"Boy you are just a ball of sunshine, hard to believe you're still single." Hades said holding out his hand and in a burst of blue flames, a scroll appeared in his hands. "Hmm let's see Stone. Stone. Hmm not seeing many with that name. What's so special about it?"
"I met someone yesterday and he only seems to talk about his mother, no father. I thought maybe his father was a hero." Thea said.
"Well sorry to tell you this, but there is no hero with the last name Stone. At least not in the underworld." Hades said searching through the scroll.
"Are you sure? Nothing?" Thea asks as Hades closes it.
"Well seeing as how I've been managing the underworld every day with no days off, I'm pretty sure." Hades said narrowing his eyes.
"Okay, okay I get it. Geez you really need a break." Thea said.
"Well unless you know someone else who would be willing to run the underworld, I doubt it. Do you know the last time a mortal prayed to me?" Hades asks.
"Actually, I can't recall any mortal ever praying to you." Thea said.
"Exactly." Hades said as in a burst of blue flames the scroll disappears. "Look if you're curious about a mortal have you ever tried oh, I don't know talking to him?"
"I barely even know him I don't have a strategy." Thea said.
"Hey neither did I and somehow I still got Persophone." Hades chuckles as Thea rolls her eyes at him. "Hey if I didn't learn to laugh at myself, I would have gone mad down there." Hades said pointing the ground.
"Point taken." Thea said.
"Look you're a smart one. I'm sure you can figure it out, but if you find any more heroes try to hold onto them for a little bit. I am so busy trying to sort through who goes where." Hades said.
"Ever thought of letting some of your dead do the sorting?" Thea suggests.
"Not a bad idea. It's not like they have anything better to do." Hades said as he walked to the shadows. "Three might be a good number. I'll put them right near the entrance. Make my job a million times easier."
"Uh Hades what about my problem?" Thea asks.
"What problem? Just talk to him." Hades said before disappearing in the shadows.
Flying in Thea's owl lands on her shoulder and hoots.
"Alright fine." Thea sighs seeing she was outvoted.
A few hours later, Nico was with Hercules sitting by the stone wall.
"Well Herc let's try something easy. Lift something up." Nico said as Hercules bent down and lifted Nico up with one hand. "Not me!"
"Sorry." Hercules said putting him down.
"Okay clearly you're strong if you can lift me with one hand but maybe we should try lifting smaller things." Nico said.
"Like what?" Hercules asks.
"Uh." Nico feels around and picks up a small stick. "Here try holding this like you would a stylus."
Hercules grabbed the stick and pretended to write when it snapped.
"Darn it." Hercules groans.
"Okay so it's the small things you need the most work with." Nico said.
"Clearly. I can't be a hero if I keep breaking stuff." Hercules said.
"Most people do not like that." Nico said as they stood up.
"Any ideas?" Hercules asks.
"Well uh try pretending your holding an egg but you don't want to break it." Nico suggests.
"Holding an egg huh?" Hercules said.
"You can't just muscle your way through everything. Sometimes charging straight in doesn't always work." Nico said.
"I guess you're right. So Nico I know I should have asked this earlier but why are you helping me out? I mean we don't know each other very well." Hercules asks as they walked through the front of Olympian Academy.
"Well no offense Herc but when you talked about your strength causing so much trouble it didn't make being blind seem so bad. You and I are different from others and I thought we should stick together." Nico said.
"Thanks Nico I appreciate it. Hey just a quick question is Nico your real name?" Hercules asks.
"Actually it's short for Nicodemus but I like Nico better." Nico admits.
"Yeah me too." Herc said opening the door and almost instantly everyone looked to them.
"Hey it's that kid who beat up Bacchus." A boy whispers.
"Are you sure he's the one? The other guy looks more of the fighter." A girl said.
"Nope they said it was the blind one." He said.
"I know you can't tell but everyone is looking at you." Hercules whispers.
"Hey being blind isn't that weird." Nico said.
"I don't think it's just because of that." Herc said when a few girls looked over at Nico and giggled.
"Are you the one? The blind warrior?" A female voice asks.
Turning around Hercules saw a teenage girl with black hair and a blue armor. This was Tempest.
"Uh that depends who are you?" Nico asks.
"My name is Tempest of the Amazons. I had heard you bested Bacchus in battle and I want to test your abilities myself." She said.
"Herc what am I looking at?" Nico asks.
"I think she's one of those amazons. A tribe of all-female warriors." Hercules said.
"Your friend is correct. Amazons are always looking for challenges and I want to face you." Tempest said.
"Sorry but you got the wrong guy. I'm not the fighter, Hercules is. I was just standing up for myself." Nico said.
"If you want to fight me I'd be happy to." Hercules offers.
"No!" Tempest snaps startling them both. "As a warrior when a challenge has been issued you must fight."
"But like I said I'm not a warrior." Nico said.
"Alright listen why don't you take a few steps back and let me talk to him." Hercules suggests.
"Very well." Tempest said turning around but the second she did Nico and Hercules ran down another hallway. "What the? Curses." Tempest growls following after them.
Running down the corner, Hercules pulls Nico into a room and closes the door.
As Tempest looks around she runs past the room.
"Phew that was close." Nico said.
"Wow Nico you're really popular now." Hercules smirks before Nico bonks him on the head with his walking stick.
"Hey!" A voice said startling them.
Looking up Hercules saw a figure with a weird contraption strapped over his eyes.
"Uh sorry is this your place? We were just leaving." Hercules said.
As the figure reached out Hercules cringed before he opened the window.
"Aah much better." The voice said rubbing his eyes.
With the light coming in the figure was revealed to be a boy their age with short black hair and brown spectacles. This was Icarus.
"Sorry about that it's been awhile since anyone has come in. Hope the place isn't too messy." Icarus said.
"I wouldn't know." Nico said as Icarus looked over.
"Wait a minute. Snarky, no shoes, blind. You're that kid Nico everyone's talking about." Icarus said.
"I like this guy." Nico smirks.
"Pleasure to meet you guys, I'm Icarus and this my workshop." Icarus said gesturing around.
"Wow Icarus you make all this?" Hercules said looking at all the inventions.
"Well I try to, since my accident it takes much more time to make something." Icarus said.
"Accident?" Nico asks.
"Yeah. Flew too close to the sun and paid the price for it." Icarus said grabbing a small vial and drops some liquid into his eyes. "Ugh still can't get used to this."
"You flew? How is that possible?" Hercules asks.
"Easy. My father is an inventor and he actually made a pair of wings for both himself and me, but when we were flying, I flew too high up and the sun melted my wings and hurt my eyes. Thanks Zeus I survived that." Icarus said.
"Wow I wouldn't mind trying that." Hercules said.
"I would rather not. I like being on the ground." Nico said.
"So what are you guys doing here?" Icarus asks.
"Hiding from a girl." Nico cringed.
"Why would you wanna do that? What guy doesn't dream of girls falling for him?" Icarus asks.
"If it was a crush it might be different but this girl wants to fight him." Hercules said.
"Who wants to willingly pick a fight with a blind guy? That's just mean." Icarus said.
"Tell me about it." Nico said when the door swung open to reveal Tempest.
"Found you!" Tempest declares causing Nico to yelp. "You can't run anymore!"
"Whoa baby!" Icarus said banging a hammer down getting their attention. "You gonna fight take it outside!"
"But I don't wanna fight." Nico said.
"Why? Do you not take me seriously because I am a woman?" Tempest growls.
"No I don't wanna fight you because I don't see the point. I'm not a person who gets in fights for no reason." Marcus said.
"So if you had a reason you would fight me?" Tempest asks.
"Well there's Coach Wrath's Warrior Training class. He always makes students face off." Icarus said.
"Perfect, we will fight there." Tempest grins.
"Thanks a lot Icarus." Nico glares.
"You're welcome." Icarus said oblivious to what he just did.
Later that day, as students were lining up outside on the field.
"Come on soldiers line up!" Wrath orders.
Up on the roof, a girl with platinum blonde hair, a feathery scarf, silver earrings and a bow strapped to her back.
"There he goes, lining up the mortals like their animals to sell." She scoffs.
"And he's even angrier than usual." The girl turns around to see Thea walk over and sit down next to her.
"Oh right, his supposed champion got beat up yesterday. Wish I was there to see it." She chuckles.
"So Luna what are you doing here?" Thea asks.
"Well first off I'm avoiding my brother. He keeps trying to set me up with someone." Luna said.
"Still?" Thea raises an eyebrow.
"He doesn't take no for an answer which really explains why he has so many demigods." Luna rolls her eyes.
"And what's the other reason?" Thea asks.
"There's a really strong female warrior in this class that could be a good addition." Luna said pointing down and Thea saw Tempest readying a training staff and eyeing Nico and Hercules like a mountain lion ready to attack.
"She seems to have quite an interesting the demigod and blind mortal." Luna said.
"It would appear so." Thea said feeling slightly nervous.
"Hey guys!" Icarus said appearing next to Hercules and Nico surprising them.
"Icarus, what are you doing outside?" Nico asks.
"Just thought I'd see your match. Amazons are fierce. Hope you can handle her." Icarus said.
"I didn't want to fight to begin with." Nico said bonking him on the head with his stick.
"But Nico you took down Bacchus easily. Why won't you fight Tempest?" Hercules asks.
"Because I'm trying to not give my mother an excuse to pull me out of this school. If she hears I keep getting into fights I'll be stuck with nothing but snakes for company." Nico said.
"Snakes? What do you live in the forest?" Icarus asks.
"Near one." Nico admits.
Hercules looks to his friend and saw the nervous look on his face.
"Well Nicodemus are you ready for combat?" Tempest asks.
Nico turned to her when Hercules steps in between them.
"Fight me instead." Hercules said surprising them.
"You? My challenge is for him." Tempest points.
"But I'm the one accepting it." Hercules said.
"And why would you do such a thing?" Tempest asks.
"Because I'd be a pretty lousy friend if I let Nico do all the fighting." Hercules said causing Nico to smile.
"Thanks Herc." Nico smiles.
"That's what being a hero is all about." Hercules smiles.
"Very well. If you wish to fight, I will fight but shall you fail I get to fight him as well." Tempest points to Nico.
"Fine." Hercules nods.
'He's fighting the Amazon so Nico doesn't have to.' Thea thought interested.
As Hercules and Tempest faced off in a circle of dirt Wrath stood to the side with the students.
"Alright whoever is knocked out of the circle losses." Wrath said
"Shame I would have liked to see that blind kid get his butt kicked." Wrath scoffs looking up towards Thea causing her to growl softly.
"Hey Nico be honest you think Herc has a chance?" Icarus asks.
"Maybe." Nico shrugs.
"Maybe haven't you ever seen him fight…oh wait." Icarus cringed.
"Yeah." Nico glares.
"Uh ladies first." Hercules said and almost immediately she whacks him with her staff causing everyone to cringe.
Moving in Tempest goes on the attack and Hercules was doing everything he could to not get whacked and not break his staff.
"That does not sound good." Nico said.
"Uh what do you mean? Herc seems to be holding up okay." Icarus cringed as Tempest knocked Hercules to the ground.
"I'm blind Icarus, not deaf. I can literally hear Tempest's attacks." Nico said.
"We should have let you fight her." Icarus said.
From up above, Thea and Luna were watching the beatdown as well.
"She's strong." Luna said.
"But she lacks restraint." Thea said.
Hercules swings his staff but Tempest blocks and kicks him to the ground.
"So pathetic." Tempest scoffs.
"Herc remember what I told you! Don't just charge straight in!" Nico calls out.
"Oh yeah." Herc pauses before sweeping his legs and trips Tempest surprising everyone as he jumps back and gets up.
"Alright, don't apply so much pressure. Pretend your holding an egg." Hercules said remembering what Nico told him.
As Tempest came in Hercules ducks out of the way and whacks her in the gut with his staff knocking Tempest to the ground surprising everyone.
Tempest wobbles back trying to stay in the circle but Hercules moves in and swings his staff again but Tempest blocks it.
Ducking under Hercules uses his strength and delivers a hard push knocking Tempest out of the ring.
"I-I lost." Tempest said shocked.
"Uh Hercules wins." Wrath said shocked.
"Oh yeah." Hercules smiles.
"And he didn't break it. Not bad." Nico smirks.
"Oh man! Herc that was amazing!" Icarus said as he and Nico walked over.
"Thanks, I'll admit that was a rough start but if it wasn't for Nico's advice I probably would have lost." Hercules admits.
"See, it pays to listen." Nico smirks.
Tempest looks over at them with a curious expression on her face. 'He taught him to do that?'
"Phew." Thea sighs in relief.
"You seem happy. Care to explain why? Is it because the Son of Zeus won or is something else?" Luna asks.
"It's nothing." Thea said walking away but Luna wasn't fooled easy.
That afternoon, Nico, Hercules and Icarus were sitting down at a table.
"Boy first Bacchus and now Tempest. You are really making a good impression." Hercules said.
"Well you helped out a lot in that last one." Icarus said.
"Feel free to step in and take the next fights from now on." Nico groans when Tempest walks over.
"Hey." Tempest said getting their attention.
"Please don't hurt me." Icarus flinched.
"Actually I wanted to say that I was very impressed. You think you boys have room for a girl in your group?" Tempest asks surprising them.
"You want to hang out with us?" Hercules asks.
"Yes besides if Nico could turn a klutz like you into a decent fighter imagine what he can do with me." Tempest said sitting down.
"Klutz? Hey I'm gonna be a hero." Hercules said.
"Gonna but right now I'm the only real warrior." Tempest said as both fighters glared each other down.
Slowly getting up Nico snuck away to another table.
"Boy your little group is just growing." Thea said sitting down.
"Thea? What are you doing here?" Nico asks.
"Just wanted to talk to you. You've been busy lately." Thea said.
"I'll say. I wonder how my mom is gonna react when I tell her this." Nico said.
"What about your father?" Thea asks.
"Never had one. It's just been me and my mom since I was a baby." Nico admits.
"Interesting." Thea said.
"Yeah my mom is tough but she's also very kind and caring. She was so worried when I told her I was coming here but she knew this was what I wanted and let me come to this school and I got to meet you and all my friends." Nico said causing Thea to smile.
"She sounds like quite a woman I'd like to meet her." Thea said.
"I don't know, my mom's not very social. She doesn't like company." Nico said.
"Shame." Thea said.
"Yeah looks you're gonna have to stick with just talking to the boring blind guy instead." Nico smirks causing Thea to giggle.
"Oh no do I have to?" Thea asks causing Nico to chuckle.
As they talked Luna was nearby looking at their little group.
"Well this is a unique group. What sparks your interest in these mortals Thea?" Luna asks looking down at the little group below.
That night, Nico was back at his home sitting next to a fire with Medusa.
"So then he actually uses the advice I gave him earlier and wins." Nico said finishing up his story.
"Smart boy. Maybe he could be a hero…if you stuck by his side constantly giving him advice." Medusa smirks.
"Yeah Herc is kinda hopeless without me." Nico admits.
"I can see it know, the Wise Nicodemus." Medusa smiles.
"Mom." Nico groans causing her and her snakes to chuckle.
"It's better than you having to do all the fighting." Medusa said.
"True but you didn't exactly raise a wimp for a son." Nico said nudging her.
"Very true, but that still doesn't mean I can't worry about you." Medusa said.
"Still if I call myself Wise wouldn't that anger Athena? She's like the goddess of Wisdom." Nico said causing Medusa to narrow her eyes and her snakes to hiss.
"Don't worry about that Nico, personally I don't think she's as wise as they say." Medusa said.
"Is everything alright mom?" Nico asks.
"I'll be fine. Why don't you got get some rest you have to wake up early for school." Medusa suggests.
"Alright. Goodnight." Nico said hugging Medusa before going to bed.
As Nico walked into the house, Medusa looked down at the fire thinking about the "Wise" goddess.
'My son is only a child and already he's proving to be wiser than you ever were. I wish you could see him so you could see how much of a fool you've been.' Medusa thought as the fire died.