And… Here is your next chapter! I'm sorry I haven't posted a chapter for ages, but I've been busy. I'll try and post one more often! But for now, here's a long chapter! Enjoy!
Disclaimer – I am NOT Lynette Noni or Rick Riordan. I do NOT own any of the characters (except the ones I created)
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"Wow! That's so sad Luka. I'm sorry you had to leave Jordan. I saw him at my farewell party. He's definitely changed from what you've said about him before. In fact, he's going to marry the princess of Tryllin."
"Arranged marriage from our parents?" Luka is sceptical, but I assure him it's because Jordan loves the princess, Dix, because of his feelings and not because of an arranged marriage. Rowan tugs my sleeve, gesturing with his head toward the Big House.
"I'm sorry Luka, but Percy and Annabeth are leaving this morning. We want to say goodbye."
"No problem. Well, it's been nice to meet you Aylvair. I hope we see eachother around camp more often." As I get dragged away by Nico and Rowan, I smile back at Luka. It felt great to know someone like me was here.
Percy and Annabeth are being surrounded by hordes of campers. When Rowan, Will, Nico and I finally reach them, they look a bit tired from saying goodbye so many times. Percy's face brightens when he sees me though.
"Hey Aylvair! Hope you feel at home here. I did and so did everyone here. Even little Nico." I turned my head to look at my half-brother but he's not looking at anyone. He's staring at the ground, red seeping into his cheeks. I thank Percy and shake his hand. I hug Annabeth and wish her and Percy a safe journey home. It was nice to have met them.
"Thank you for everything you've done for me. I owe you guys big time. Even if you wanted to kill me at first sight." Percy and Annabeth grinned at me, all of us remembering their stupidity. I hug Annabeth one more time, each of us not really wanting to let go. But I let go first, because I know if I hug her for any longer, letting go would be even harder. We break apart and her and Percy get into their car.
"We all wish you a safe journey home and we're glad you could come and visit us. You even brought us a new camper and we're grateful for that too." Chiron's smile was fatherly and it made my heart swell with sadness. The smile reminded me of Zain, my father. Percy started the engine but before he could hit the gas, a boy from the back of the crowd shouted;
"Chiron! Dare's having a prophecy!" Chiron turned and galloped over to a red-head near the front of the crowd. Percy and Annabeth jumped out of the car and raced over to the girl's side. She was sitting on the ground, green smoke pouring out of her mouth. In a voice that didn't sound like one she had, she started sprouting words. Someone frantically wrote down what she said.
Four will take a stand when the oldest god rises again,
The Mage, the Healer, the Shifter, the Lost.
One will suffer in the outer space,
One will perish for helping as the cost.
One will find out the truth.
Once the prophecy was over, Dare returned to normal. Everyone was crowding around the person who'd written the prophecy down. People were talking to eachother, some worried and some excited.
"QUIET!" Chiron's voice silenced everyone, and it sent small shivers down my back. Chiron was dangerous when he wanted to be.
"Camp leaders. Come with me to the Big House. Everyone else. Go back to whatever you'd be normally doing." The crowd slowly dispersed, and everyone went back to doing their activities. Except, now everyone was waiting to see who'd they be sending off on the newly prophesised quest. Will and Nico followed Chiron toward the Big House. Percy and Annabeth followed Chiron too.
"Let's go. We'll go find something to busy ourselves with. Maybe we'll go back to Luka." Rowan definitely didn't want to stick around. I shake my head.
"No. I want to eavesdrop." I stated. Rowan shook his head.
"I'm sorry but there's no way to get in there undetected. Someone will see us."
"I'll become invisible. I'll make you invisible too. We can eavesdrop then." I grab his arm before he can say no and drag him toward the Big House. I turn us invisible on the way, not caring who sees us suddenly disappear.
Once inside, I can hear murmuring voices coming from the main room. Rowan's right behind me as I slowly open the door and walk in. Nobody looks in our direction and I'm grateful. I pull Rowan over to behind the couch. We listen and watch.
"Chiron, who are we going to send? The prophecy said the Mage, the Healer, the Shifter, the Lost. That's four people. This isn't good Chiron." A girl with a body of rugby player was talking.
"Yes, Miss la Rue. I know that sending four will be perilous, but we have no choice. A prophecy has been made so we must follow it. We first should first look at each category. We'll look at who the Lost would be."
"Nico. Nico di Angelo would be the Lost", Percy pipes up. I look at Nico who is scowling in Percy's direction.
"I am not the Lost Jackson." His voice is icy and the room drops in temperature. Will wraps his arm over Nico's shoulder, but Nico just shoves him off. "I am notgoing on this quest."
"Mr di Angelo, if you are indeed the Lost, then you will have to go on the quest I'm afraid." Nico huffs but doesn't continue to argue.
"Chiron, if Nico is the Lost, then maybe I might be the Healer. I mean, Apollo would be the obvious choice for the Healer and I'm the only one that can't draw an arrow. I'm only good at healing."
"Solace, if you're doing this for me, I highly suggest reconsidering what the prophecy said. It said; One will perish for helping as the cost. That obviously means someone will perish helping the others. And plus, the other Apollo campers would be just as good as you." Will just rolls his eyes and ruffle's Nico's hair.
"So. It has been decided. Will shall be our Healer and Nico shall be our Lost. That leaves us to figure out who the Mage and the Shifter are."
I felt Rowan shift his position and I know we're in trouble. My Meyarin powers make it seem in slow motion but I can't stop him from letting go of my arm. By the time it happens, it's too late. Rowan becomes visible for everyone to see.
"Hi?" He looks sheepish and I feel sorry for him. Chiron doesn't look pleased.
"Mr Laevie, would you kindly tell us how you came to be hiding behind us in plain sight?" He looks in my direction, but no one can see me yet. I'm still invisible and I'm glad of it. My cheeks are hot and I really don't want to be caught on my second day here.
"I-I…" Rowan stutters, not really knowing what to say. I decide to help him out. Reappearing, I calmly explain what we were doing.
"I'm sorry Chiron. I was curious, and I let my curiosity get the better of me. I dragged Rowan into this mess, so you really shouldn't punish him. It was all my doing." I hang my head.
"Very well Miss Erraeya. Since you've heard this much, there is no point from not letting you hear the rest." I am very thankful Chiron doesn't kick me and Rowan out for eavesdropping.
"Thank you sir." I sat on the ground next to Rowan. He mouthed a thank you and I smiled at him.
"Right, back to where we were before we were interrupted. We still need the Mage and the Shifter. I am guessing the Shifter will be someone who can shapeshift. As for the Mage, I have absolutely no ideas." I nod and try and think. But I can't because of Rowan's aura. It's an interesting colour, a mix of yellows, browns and greens. It's constantly changing. Like the Shifter.
"Chiron! I think I know who the Shifter is. I think it's Rowan." Everyone looks at Rowan again and colour seeps into his checks.
"Is this true Mr Laevie? You can shapeshift into animals?" Rowan swallows. He gives a tentative nod before shaking his head and then nodding again. He sighs.
"It's true Chiron, I can shapeshift. Except, it can only be animals that can fly or woodland animals. Like, I couldn't turn into a lion but I could turn into an eagle." Chiron strokes his beard, thinking. He finally comes to a conclusion.
"It seems like this is becoming easy. Will is the Healer, Nico is the Lost and you, Rowan, are the Shifter. If this is how it is, then I am suspecting that the Mage is a child of Hades. If this is true, then that child must be Aylvair." I know my mouth is open is shock, but I couldn't help it. Me? That couldn't be right. I'd only just arrived at CHB and they were already sending me off on a quest!
"I'm sorry Chiron, but, I've only been here for what? 2 days? I can't go on a quest!" All through this speech, I remember what Chiron told Nico. How Nico couldn't get out of the quest. If Nico couldn't get out of the quest, what hope did I have? Chiron sighed and rubbed the space between his eyebrows.
"As you heard from me before, Miss Erraeya, if you are the person in this quest, in this case, the Mage, then there is no way you can get out of the quest. You must go."
"But- But…"
"There is to be no more said. We have our four questers. Now, everyone, back to your daily activities." Chiron shooed us out of the Big House.
"Well, I guess we should pack some things for the trip." Will didn't look excited at the prospect that one of us that went on the quest was going to die but there was nothing we could do. Nico, Will, Rowan and I were going on a quest. One of us were going to die.