"Oh. Finally, you're here."

When Percy let go of the Mako shark, his brother was already waiting. Sitting at the edge of the sand bank that led to chasm as ocean spread before them. Looking irritated.

Percy realizes that he probably had made him wait at least an extra day longer.

If it hadn't been for the nice lady who reminds him of mom, he might be still stuck in the Lotus Hotel.

So… "Sorry."

Triton rolled his eyes and patted the spot next to him.

Not knowing what else, Percy sat there.

It was awkward.

"I guess you have some questions."

He looked at his brother and nod.

Some is misnomer. Try a lot.

"Well. Go on. Ask."

Percy didn't even hesitate.

"How am I not getting crushed by the current? No. How can I breathe underwater? I don't have gills… do I?" He adds the last part while rubbing his neck. Checking if he somehow, magically, grows a set of gills without him knowing.

His brother looks at him incredulously. "That was your question?" He asks in disbelief.

Percy hides his face. Here he goes. Embarrass himself in front of the only god who so far haven't threaten to turn him into animal. Or being jerkass. And give him chance to asks without doing ridiculous stunt (except if he counts going here, but considering LA is in California, Percy has feeling he would end up here one way or another).

"It is because you are Father's child." Triton explained. "Any demigod child born of Sea deities, not just father, can breathe underwater and they don't have to fear that the current will drown them, or get crushed by water. You are only wet and down if you want to and you just not have to want it, but consciously make it happens."

Huh, Percy mused, finding it interesting. "Wait. If water doesn't make me wet, then how am I wet when I was bathing?"

Suddenly he was filled with images of mom trying to bathe baby-him, but he was dry.

Triton look at him funnily. "Well. Your mind connects bath with getting wet, so your power adjusts to it. That and bath tends to be exception."

"Oh."

"I thought Chiron would tell you." The god commented. "It was pretty standard ability all children father has. Even if their real power lies elsewhere, they are still able to breath underwater, considering first and foremost, Father is God of the Sea and King of Atlantis—an Underwater Kingdom."

Percy's mind latched at his explanation. "Real Power?"

"Not all children of Gods share same sphere of power." Triton explained. "That is even more true if said God, or Goddess, has multiple domains. Take children of Apollo for example. They are either good archers, superb healers, or gifted musician or artisans. Once in a while, there would be one who gifted with Logic domain of their father."

"What about Prophecy?" Percy's thought flashed back to his audience with the Oracle.

Triton winces. "That's even rarer than Logic, and let's just say… the last one doesn't have happy life because of it." He then mumbled something under his breath. Too faint and too fast for Percy's ear to pick up. "Either way. Multiple children of same god can have different powerset. Immortals not an exception. Aside from being Messenger, which mean I can crash a Demigod's Quest and deliver message or gift without tipping the Ancient Law and get our Uncle in my case, I am God of Navy and Calm Seas. My elder sister, Rhodes, is Goddess of Rhode Island, branch off Father's Earthshaker domain. My younger sister, Kymopoleia, is Goddess of Violent Sea and Storm, branch of Father's Stormbringer domain, and my baby sister Benthesikyme, who rules the waves, but she is more of Nymphs than goddess, like our mother. In our father's demigod children, often, is their ability with water. Though there are some who inherit domain of Earthshaker."

"Who?"

His brother mulls about it. "Shen Lun." He answers. "From 1900. Though he was being framed for causing earthquake in California, as a Legacy through being descendant of Periclymenus, his real powerset is something different altogether."

"Peri-who? What's a Legacy, now?"

"Periclymenus, our nephew, and member of Argonauts. He has ability to shapeshift into various animals. As for legacy, well, some demigods who are lucky to grow old and start their own family, their children can inherit the divine blood and power. The longer the family line last, the weaker the ability become, until the blood become too diluted with mortal and all that left is aura that they are more than your average human. Though it depends on strength of the Divine Ancestor. The Big Three, in particular, could pass their power further than most deities. Injections of divine blood down the line can help revive it, though. Last time I check, Shen Lun's direct line still has the gift, even if it wasn't causing earthquake at will. Though I think the newest one is demigod on top of being a legacy. Or so the gossips went. I don't really check on my half-sibling's lineage, some lines get too muddy and hard to track what with marriage, adoption, and changing identity; and that one family resides in Canada."

Percy got cross eyes at the massive infodumps.

Triton laughed. "Too much, huh?" He teased. "Well, then," standing (floating?) up, he turned to Percy. "I won't hold you any longer. Here, take this."

Percy receives three pearls.

"Hold on them. When the time is right, crush them under your feet. They will bring you back to safety. They are one-time use only, so be careful." Triton sighed. "I'd like to get spare. In case something happens, but whenever I tried to get more, I cannot, so I can only give you three."

They… don't look much. But Percy won't say it to Triton's face.

"Thanks." Percy replied. "Is… is our Father…?"

"Ancient Laws. If not you'll be seeing him already." Triton sighed. "But enough of what ifs. I rather have you focus on yourself for now. You are about to enter the Underworld. Not to mention, your Track Record of Getting Into Mess doesn't inspire confidence."

Right. Underworld. Find the Bolt and get his mother back.

"I'll have something to do here, so you have to swim back yourself." Triton regard him with cool gaze. But his lips tugged upwards. "Be safe, Perseus Jackson. And remember. Be careful and always be on Guard."