This was a fun chapter, a bit hard to write, but still...

Five months later

Months passed, and Rowan lived life as a Camper. For five months, he honed his craft, mastered magic to the highest degree he could as well as swordplay and archery. He got pretty good as far as he was concerned. Agnes was a fantastic teacher as it turned out, he learned a whole bunch of things, how to better control the Mist and summon objects, to detecting auras and divination, to honing the magic of fire and sight.

His favorite lesson was on harnessing his mental powers, using the Mirror to scry. Though not it was not an easy lesson.

"Focus within, and connect to your instinct. Sight is all about seeing the chaos of the world and finding a stream of order within it. The Scrying mirror helps you focus, a great way to find mastery of this is to find the present first. Look into your mirror and search for those you know, watch them and move onto the past, and then the future." Agnes told him.

So that is what he did, reaching into his memories to focus. He picked Percy, and focused on him, curious as to how he was doing. To his shock, it was hard, his head ached as he focused on the mirror. The world splitting before him as a foggy image formed on the mirror. Soon though, an image of Percy formed from within and he saw him... looking weaker, his muscles not as well defined.

Clearly he was not training and that was concerning. "He really ought to know better... maybe I should visit him... but first, I have to master that stupid astral projection spell and help Nico and Bianca." He groaned, that damn spell took more effort than all of his other magic put together, he hated it. Agnes told him it was due to him, as a mortal, lacking spiritual flexibility. He hated it regardless. "I need to start teaching them before the binding spell on their aura ends..."

And so, he continued his work, determined to make it all matter, even when it never felt it would...

"""

"Shocking, isn't it?" Charlie told Rowan, who smiled at him warmly. They had just walked into the Lobby of the Empire State building, into the elevator playing Muzak. "That Mount Olympus is just up here?"

Rowan nodded. "Oddly so, I really never would have guessed. The magic is beyond anything I could manage, or imagine."

Soon they were standing on a narrow stone walkway in the middle of the air. Below the, was Manhattan, from the height of an airplane. White marble steps wound up the spine of a cloud, into the sky. From the top of the clouds rose the decapitated peak of a mountain, its summit covered with snow. Clinging to the mountainside were dozens of multileveled palaces-a city of mansions-all with white columned porticos, gilded terraces, and bronze braziers glowing with a thousand fires. Roads wound crazily up to the peak, where the largest palace gleamed against the snow. Precariously perched gar-dens bloomed with olive trees and rosebushes. I could make out an open-air market filled with colorful tents, a stone amphitheater built on one side of the mountain, a hippo-drome and a coliseum on the other. It was an Ancient Greek city, except it wasn't in ruins. It was new, and clean, and col-orful, the way Athens must've looked twenty-five hundred years ago.

"This is amazing..." Pollux said. " I saw it last year, but still it's incredible. I think your the first mortal to see this ever, Rowan."

They followed the path, where some some giggling wood nymphs who threw olives at them from their garden. There were hawkers and people eating ambrosia, and just living life. It was a happy place, but that sort of offended Charlie, given the hardship the gods forced on their mortal kind... it was wrong.

"This place, it's the opposite of Hades' palace, a reverse copy. I think he made it because he's lonely. He really deserves better." Rowan said, his tone bitter and harsh, stunning the demigods.

"Be careful." Charlie said. "You never know who is listening."

"I know."

Steps led up to a central courtyard. Past that, the throne loom. Massive columns rose to a domed ceiling, which was gilded with moving constellations. Twelve thrones, built for beings the size of Hades, were arranged in an inverted U, just like the cabins at Camp Half-Blood. An enormous fire crackled in the central hearth pit. The thrones were all filled, each with beings of so much power the air actually stung their skin and senses.

Rowan actually cringed, looking at them, his eyes fixing though on Hades who sat on a smaller silver throne on the far side.

"Welcome, Demigods and... mortal witch, to Olympus." Zeus started. "Your kin's theft of my bolt would have restricted you from coming, but I was convinced to allow you here. But be warned, should you try anything funny, you will be destroyed."

Charlie swore he saw Rowan roll his eyes...

And soon they were mingling, gods with their kids, Demigods just chilling with terrified peace. Rowan was by the Fire, talking to Hestia, though about what he had no idea. He was curious though...

""

"You did well, hiding Bianca and Nico." Hestia started, making Rowan jump. "I am goddess of Home and Family. It is natural that I would know of them." She followed up with. "I will help you mask their presence for a time, but I would get to training them soon. Be careful though, less you draw my family's wrath."

"That it the goal, we mortals do the hard work and you gods smite us anyway."

She sighed. "I wish it were not so, but sadly I cannot change it. What I can do it promise you safety, and a warning. Hecate has defected, to my father, you will need to find yourself a stronger, more healthy anchor to our world."

That made the boy freeze. "Great, any suggestions?"

"My family would never, despite my loyalty and service, allow me to act as anchor...nor would they allow Hades to do that same, too much bias there, but perhaps there is another? Keep your heart open, and search for good things, dear boy."

And the dear boy just groaned. "Yeah, yeah... thank you, though, Hestia, I appreciate it."

"Now, be careful, dear boy, and find your peace where you can... you need it, you are the most vulnerable as a pure mortal."

And as he left her, he looked around searching for a perfect ally... and saw the perfect target, one who would no doubt love to be his patron, given her past...'She is perfect. Dedicated to her family history of helping a mortal, and powerful... this is perfect!'... and so he walked straight to her, and kneeled.

"Excuse me?" Hera said, stunned. "Can I help you?"

"Yes, my lady... I have a request, one you can fulfill." He felt eyes on him, but he masked his fear of those eyes with nothing but focus.

"And that is?" She looked at him, her face so stunning it was hard to examine. She had long brown hair, perfect brown eyes, and a silky dress made of rainbows.

He looked up smiling. "I am in need of a patron, one that can help me better serve Olympus, to prove my worth so to speak. I thought long and hard and I realize that despite your power, you have no anchors to earth. No priests, no champions, or children. I wanted to rectify that. I am a skilled sorcerer, a skilled warrior. I am of pure human blood, so I am not tied to any enemies of yours. I choose to serve those through which I can make the best impact, and I choose to serve you, if you will have me."

There was a deafening silence, but Hera actually pulled a stunning smile so perfect his soul ached. "I would be happy to have you, dear boy... and I will keep your word as binding, as you swear into my service as my champion."

"Hera, you would-" Zeus started, only to be stopped by Hera's glare.

"I deserve an agent in the mortal world, Zeus, and now I have one. The boy proved worthy, loyal and skilled, I will accept him. Rise, Rowan, and become my Champion." There was a round of hesitant applause, and Rowan turned, seeing Hestia nodding towards him with an air of being impressed about her. "How will you start your service?" Hera asked.

"I will continue to master my magic, so I am not worthless, and perhaps honor you by bringing more into the service of the gods. There needs to be more demigods at camp, there are so few. I could help find and escort them to Camp? That has been on my mind for some time." And it was true, it had, even if he had been a bit too focused on his own training to the point of ignoring others.

"Very well, this is your task. Chiron, please remember that and supply him as he needs."

Chiron bowed. "Yes, My lady."

And so, Rowan gained a greater purpose than he had before, one that would at the least keep him in the favor of the gods, for all the good that would do for him...

::

Hera rarely felt respected, she was the Queen of the Gods and most hated her. To have someone so publically honor her felt good, right and she loved it... she would protect his mortal, and through him protect her family, her kingdom...

She would not let Zeus ruin this for her, not not, now ever.

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

This was a joy to write.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.