Hey guys! Update time again for everyone! I'm writing on my phone once again. Hehe. Imma eat some seafood after this. So get ready all you Leo Lovers out there! It's time to introdouce the blacksmith/ machine maker!

Chapter 17

Percy had his sword pointed to Jason's throat. Jason and Percy were currently sparring partners. They had some practice a couple of times in the middle of the spectating soldiers gathered around them.

Reyna nodded at them from her place in front of the crowd. "Very good." She said as Percy seathed back his sword. "But I think your swords don't fit you very well." She stated, coming forward. "Every soldier needs a sword that fits him perfectly, like an extension on their body. The swords you are wielding don't seen to fit you exactly."

"Well, yeah." Percy admitted, handing back his sword. "It feels really out balanced. "

"Mine too." Jason said, handing back his own.

"I suggest you two visit Leo." Clarisse said from the side, a deadpanned expression on her face. "He's a blacksmith just a few blocks away. He can figure out what kind of weapon is for you just by watching you fight and doing a couple of trial-and-errors." Then she scowled. "But he can be kind of... quirky. Annoying and would've been mistaken as a jester if he weren't covered in grease all the time."

Reyna nodded. "Visit Leo. Piper can show you the way."

"Uh," Jason timidly raised his hand. "Who's Piper."

"She's a daughter of one of the Richmen in the kingdom." Reyna replied. "She's sweet, kind. But she's also a rebel. She helps out here with training or at the blacksmith's. "

"True, true." A girl said, emerging from the crowd. She had choppy brown hair which looked like it had been cut by a knife, and eyes that seemed to change color every time she moved her head. She was beautiful, Percy had to admit, but not exactly his type of girl. She wore a simple, peach colored shirt with sleeves that puffed slightly on her shoulders and a brown skirt that reached just above her ankles.

"Piper McLean, at your service!" She shook the two knights' hands.

"Percy Jackson." Percy smiled casually.

"Ah, yes." She girl, Piper, nodded. "The one who bathed miss LaRue in horse dung." Percy swore he saw Clarisse glare daggers at them, but Piper didn't show any sign of noticing someone staring at her murderously.

"I'm Jason Grace." Jason said, flashing her a smile. Piper returned it. "Nice to meet you."

"Okay, I think we should go now." Percy said. Piper nodded at him. "Let us go, now."

"Leo!" Piper called, knocking on the door of a quite small wooden shack. There was a chimney on the roof spewing out smoke.

"Come in! It's open!" A muffled voice came from inside. Piper shoved open the wooden door with a little difficulty and ushered the two knights to come in.

The place was actually larger than is seems. There were piles of weapons and parts of machinery laying around in a distant corner. A few pools of water, working tables, and random boxes were sacttered around. A few anvils and forges at the left wall were lined in a row. And on the right wall were shelves of tools and random doohickeys.

A boy who looked no older than Percy and Jason was hammering a sheet of metal on an anvil. He had curly brow hair that sticked out in all places, oil and grease stained his clothes and face and he had quite elvish features.

He put down his hammer and wiped his hand on a nearby cloth, making his way towards the trio.

"I'm Leo Valdez!" He greeted, holding out his hand. "The best blacksmith around!"

Piper snorted. "You're the only blacksmith around with your father off to Greece!" She said, rolling her eyes.

Leo shrugged off her comment. "So you boys are the new recruits?" Leo asked.

"Yeah." Jason said. "We need a couple of new swords, actually. The ones back in the arena don't really fit us."

Leo nodded. "Alright." He said, beckoning them to follow him across the room to a place where there was nothing scattered around. Just a clear area in the forge where you could roll around on the floor if you wanted to.

Leo went over to the pile of swords and other weaponry. He took out two wooden swords and tossed them to the soldiers. "Those are the standard swords that might as well fit everyone." He said. "I use them to examine how a soldier fights and what kind of sword I should make." Then he glanced at them with that crazy grin Piper was so very used to. "Now, you spar."

Jason flipped his sword in the air, catching it by the hilt for the twentieth time. "Dude, Jason." Percy grumbled next to him. "Will you stop flipping your sword?"

Jason grinned at him mockingly. "Nope!" He exclaimed, flipping the sword the again. Percy groaned.

"Try this, Percy." Leo said, interrupting. He handed Percy a sword made of iron with a leather hilt. Percy took it and swung the sword several times before handing it back. "Nope." Percy sighed. He had been through as much swords as Jason had tossed his own. But none seemed to fit Percy.

Leo groaned. "Man, this is one tough cookie! But I'm not giving up!" He stated, storming back to the forge.

Percy sighed and sat back down on the small wooden stool. He started to fumble with the pile of weaponry behind him and accidentally knocked over a pile of swords. He fumbled with them, trying to pick them up and then, he saw one that caught his eye. It was bronze, with a smooth leather hilt. The blade seemed to have a tint of green.

"Oh, no." Leo's voice said from behind him,startling Percy. "That sword's not for you, Perce. I'm afraid it's for no one. Apparantly, it's cursed."

"Cursed?" Percy questioned

"My great grandfather was a blacksmith too." Leo nodded. "He made that once for a soldier. It never fit. No soldier could weild the blade, complaining it was to heavy. But he simply couldn't rid himself of that blade. For decades, soldiers tried them out but never chose the sword. Dad figured it was cursed. According to him, the blade was made by the seaside and the sword accidentally fell into the water, nearly carried away by a riptide. And so it was named." Leo shrugged. "But pfft. Ledgends." He rolled his eyes. "It's just another sword that hasn't found it's weilder yet."

"Can I...?" Percy asked.

"You're welcome to try it." Then he glanced at Jason. "But don't flip it."

Percy laughed, taking the hilt in his hand. He sung the sword and for once, Percy felt lile he was actually in control of the blade. He felt a sensation like it truly belonged to him.

His sea green eyes lit up. "Yeah. This is the one!"

"Well then the curse is broken!" Leo laughed.

"Hey, Jason." Percy glanced at his cousin, standing up. "Wanna spar?"

Ok guys I am so sorry to end this chapter like this. I just really wanted to write this. The next chapter will be coming out either this very night or tomorrow! I promise! Also: MORE PERCABETH TO COME.

~Apollo'sPirateDaughter