Why a year? Demigods have so many advantages, I need a reasonable amount of time to give my oc a fighting chance... even the weakest demigod starts off super strong, faster, durable and they all heal faster. Some more so than others, I needed a realistic time to develop.

I am sorry for the change, but the last story sucked bad. All tell and no show...

Everything about this story is superior...

Turns out the terms and conditions for being a priest was rather simple, you just had to use and honor magic and Hecate. Treat her with honor and reverence, make sacrifices, research magic. Basically all he had been doing for the entire time he had been practicing. It was all rather simple and he pleased with that. The only thing that was new was that if Hecate needed him for a task, he would have to do it, no different than if he was her son or champion. In return, she had to protect him and empower his magic if certain conditions were met, or if she felt like it. Really, she got more out of it than he did, typical of the gods of myth and legend.

Still, there was nothing he couldn't agree to.

"You'll need to sign it if you plan to stay." Hestia said. "You need a god's protection to linger here without divine ties. That is just how it is."

And so the scroll was signed with a pen he had on him, causing the scroll to vanish in a swirl of shadows. "I really cannot wait till I can apporate or teleport."

The Goddess of the Hearth laughed. "That will take some time, but in theory if you master Mist control enough you can do both within reason. You are capable, I read your soul to see where you've come so far. You've made tremendous progress, be proud of that." A horn sounded suddenly. "Ahh it's time for food, if I were you, as a guest you are allowed to go to Dionysius' table. Be careful, my nephew has a tremendous temper and you are less protected than the others. So be careful. Oh and please come again, I would be delighted to speak to you again."

She vanished then, in a swirl of fire, and he hurried and followed the demigods that pooled out of their cabins and made their way to the pavilion to eat dinner.

In all, there were maybe a hundred campers, a few dozen satyrs, and a dozen assorted wood nymphs and naiads moving towards the Pavillion, an impressive sight and amount of mystical energy.

At the pavilion, torches blazed around the marble columns. A central fire burned in a bronze brazier the size of a bathtub. Each cabin had its own table, covered in white cloth trimmed in purple. Four of the tables were empty, but cabin eleven's was way overcrowded. Poor Percy had to squeeze on to the edge of a bench with half his butt hanging off. Rowan knew from Hestia why that was, the gods not claiming their damned kids.

Rowan turned and saw that Grover sitting at table twelve with himself, Mr. D, a few satyrs, and a couple of plump blond boys who looked just like Mr. D. Chiron stood to one side, the picnic table being way too small for a centaur.

Finally, Chiron pounded his hoof against the marble floor of the pavilion, and everybody fell silent. He raised a glass. "To the gods!"

Everybody else raised their glasses. "To the gods!"

Wood nymphs came forward with platters of food: grapes, apples, strawberries, cheese, fresh bread, and yes, barbecue! Rowan's glass was empty, but Grover said, "Just ask what you want, just no alchol."

Rowan smiled. "Lemonade, please. Pulpy please." It filled with perfectly balanced sweet and sour juice, he was pumped.

Grover passed him a delicious looking caesar salad, and he piled it onto his plate. He stood, whole everybody was getting up, carrying their plates toward the fire in the center of the pavilion. "Sacrifices?" He asked Grover, who nodded. "Thought so." He hurried over and tossed in some salad. "Hecate and Hestia, thank you for everything, always grateful."

When everybody had returned to their seats and finished eating their meals, Chiron pounded his hoof again for their attention.

Mr. D got up with a huge sigh. "Yes, I suppose I'd better say hello to all you brats. Well, hello. Our activities director, Chiron, says the next capture the flag is Friday. Cabin five presently holds the laurels." A bunch of ugly cheering rose from the one table filled with burly, ugly looking kids. "Personally," Mr. D continued, "I couldn't care less, but congratulations. Also, I should tell you that we have two new campers today. Peter Johnson." Chiron murmured something."Er, Percy Jackson," Mr. D corrected. "That's right. Also Rowan, the newest mortal priest of Hecate. Hurrah, and all that. Now run along to your silly campfire. Go on."

Everybody cheered. They all headed down toward the amphitheater, where Apollo's cabin led a sing along. They sang camp songs about the gods and ate s'mores and joked around. Or rather, everyone joked with everyone but not him. No one talked to him, looked at him. He might as well have been invisible, and he could not figure out why that was...

And then, a black with with a ton of muscles approached. "Name's Charles Beckendorf." They shook hands. "Nice to meet you, Rowan."

"Same... so who's your parent?"

"Hephaestus."

"Nice."

"How'd you get into Hecate's service?"

"Oh that, well it's a short story." And so he told it, before he finished the boy nodded.

"Well, maybe you can help me with enchantments, always helpful." he smiled and Rowan felt warmed to his core, and very, very welcome. Charles leaned in. "Sorry about the others, they, well... it's cause you are mortals. A lot of them have issues with mortals but most of it's because a mortal was claimed despite so many never being claimed."

That made him flinch. "Sorry. I didn't mean any harm."

"It's not your fault, you didn't even know of our world until recently. I Just thought you ought to be aware of why you were being excluded...anyway, come down to the forges and I'll work on making you a weapon. You cannot wield magical metals, you aren't divine, so you need something special."

Moved, he hugged the boy who patted his back. " Thank you Charlie."

The boy laughed. " Not a problem."

And finally, Rowan felt welcome.

Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was a joy to write.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.