I'm back! Here's the next chappie. Kind of a filler, but you learn some stuff. And I think you'll like the end... Here you go! - Spathi

March 1, 2011

Percy's P.O.V

For months, I learn how to forge. At 5 in the morning, I wake up and collect materials. I mine bronze from the original Mt. Olympus, silver from the original Mount Orthrys, gold from the seven hills of Rome, and iron from around the House of Hades. Cedalion also had me go to Norway for some steel. It was freezing up there. I collect lava from the original Mt. Etna for a magical heat source. At 9, I go hunting for monsters. Cedalion taught me that the teeth of serpent monsters absorb venom, so he has me collect as many as possible. I also collect poisonous materials from monsters, specifically pit scorpions (Which can get really annoying because I can't slice them in half. I have to crush them with the flat side of Riptide so I can salvage the venom. Not to mention that they have to be alive while I'm doing it.), and centaurs (I try not to attack them. Instead, I leave a pot of root beer out in the open, and watch as they get sugar high and pass out. Then, I walk up to them, and siphon a bit of blood from them.). Cedalion just tells me what I need to get, and I go collect them. At 12, I grab some lunch and start working at the forge. After 6 hours of working, learning new techniques, and experimenting, I eat dinner, and train with my water powers, Riptide, and Undertow. Now, I can use my water powers without becoming super tired afterwards. I've learned how to dual wield with Anaklusmos and Antirevma. I can also make basic weaponry and technology. My muscles have become toned from all of the forging I've done. I haven't used any of the stuff I've collected, which confuses me. I managed to make myself a monster-proof iPhone. It doesn't attract monsters, and it masks my scent. Cedalion told me that I smell like a demigod son of Triton when I carry it. I'm assuming that's good. I put the pictures I took on the disposable onto the phone. I've also taken selfies in front of Ephesus, Stonehenge, Big Ben, the Pyramids of Giza, and many other tourist attractions. I also made myself brown contacts that correct my dyslexia and allow me to see through the mist full time. This morning, I went through my normal routine. As I start working at the forge, Cedalion calls me over. He shows me 5 giant jugs of water.

"Each of these jugs have water from one of the five rivers of the Underworld of it. Today, you're going to learn how to make Celestial bronze, Imperial gold, Stygian iron, Orthytic silver, and Bone steel." he says.

"What's Bone steel?", I ask.

"It's from another pantheon, but it's rather useful.", he replies. I am surprised. I knew there were other gods, since I met Carter and his sister, but seriously, how many types of gods are there? I can barely remember the names of the gods in one, no need to add unpronounceable names from other mythologies as well.

For Celestial bronze, you'll need to temper the bronze you've collected in the lava from Etna. Then, cool it in Lethe water. For Imperial gold, take the gold to the top of the original temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus in Rome, and make a fire. Heat the gold in the fire, and pray to Jupiter. Lightning will strike the ore. Take it back here and cool it in the waters of the Cocytus." Cedalion said.

"Wait, but won't Zeus realize that it's me?" I ask.

"No. Because you're in Rome, and the flame of Western civilization is in America, he won't be able to see who you are." he responds. I still don't get the entire Western Civilization concept. But whenever someone tries to explain complicated things to me, I zone out, so I guess there's no point in explaining it to me.

"For the Stygian iron, you need to submerge the iron in the water of the Styx. Let it sit there for 13 seconds, then take it out and let it dry. For Orthrytic Silver, you need to add a drop of your blood to it." he continues. I interrupt him.

"Wait, what?", I say.

"You have to add a drop of your blood because you want it to recognize you as it's master. This way, only you can wield your weapons. If any one else tries, the metal will become extremely heavy, and you won't be able to pick it up." Cedalion replies.

"Are all weapons of Orthrytic Silver like that?" I ask.

"No, but it will be beneficial to you if you do.", he says.

"Now, after you add your blood, make sure to heat it up, then cool it in Acheron water. This is the reason why Kronos's scythe stings when it cuts you. The soul draining thing is something else, some type of dark magic. The last one is the hardest one. First, you need to find a Titan." I stop him.

"WHAT? I HAVE TO FIND A TITAN." I yell.

"Yes, that's what I said. Pay attention. Now, after you find the Titan, you need to defeat the Titan and get some blood. After you do that, find a drakon and do the same thing." he grumbles. I yell at him again.

"WHAT THE HADES DO YOU MEAN FIND A DRAKON." I scream. Cedalion sighs.

"Bone steel is hardened in the blood of whatever creature you want it to be most effective against. You need to obtain the blood of the toughest monsters so that you can kill them more easily in the future. Anyways, once you get that, harden the steel, and dip in the Phlegethon water.", he explains.

"Well, schist." I mutter.

"Happy hunting!" Cedalion grins at me, and walks to his forge.

2 weeks later: March 15, 2011

Percy's P.O.V.

The past two weeks have pretty much sucked. I made Celestial bronze, Imperial gold, Stygian iron, and Orthotic silver in the first 3 days. Then, I went monster hunting. I tracked an Aethiopean Drakon across the Horn of Africa, just so that I could get some of its blood. After knocking it out, collecting its blood and teeth (drakons are apparently serpent monsters too.), and killing it, I went to Epirus. From there, I found a hellhound and collected its blood. I went on tracking monsters, and collecting blood, until I had covered the ones that I see a lot. After a week, I had gotten every monster I could think of. Now, I had to tackle the big problem: the titan. I spent days trying to figure out which Titans I could actually track. Hyperion and Krios were out, seeing as they had been sucked into Tartarus's face. Bob was obviously out, which made me sad. Koios and Kronos were out, thank the gods (or myself). Oceanus? Maybe, but I didn't know where to find him. I had no idea where the Titanesses were, so that was a dead end. Atlas was in San Francisco, which would be suicide. Prometheus was a slippery coward, and he was most likely in the United States. Calypso and Leto were big no-nos, for obvious reasons. So who could I go after? After 4 days of contemplation. I decided to try looking around the original Mt. Orthrys for ideas. That brings me to today. I am currently hiding in a bush at the top of Mt. Orthrys, because Atlas and Perses are both standing 10 feet in front of me. My thoughts right now? Schist. I didn't even know that Perses was around, and Atlas is supposed to be holding up the sky! Who's holding it now? I sit in the bush and listen to the Titans' conversation. I could leave, but I need to know what the Hades is going on right now.

"How are you out from under the sky, Atlas?", Perses asks. I'm wondering the same thing.

"3 months ago, the sky just lifted from my shoulders, and I walked out. Now, I'm out here, hiding from the gods. How long have you been out here?", Atlas replies. What does he mean by the sky just lifted from his shoulders. How'd that happen?

"Oh, about 3 decades, give or take." Perses says nonchalantly. Wow. If he's been out here for 30 years without the gods noticing, I could stay in Greece forever!

"Wow. Quite the long time." Atlas responds. At this point, I'm bored of the conversation because of my ADHD, and the bush is ridiculously itchy. I try to vapor-travel away, but I snap a stick as I shift to do so. Damn stick. I look up, where both titans are staring at me, surprised.

"Schist."

Cliffy! That's a wrap for this chapter! See you next time! - Spathi