But it turns out we didn't need to. The old centaur approached us at the mention of his name. "Good afternoon, my dear Sophia. What can I do for you?" Chiron said looking at Sophia.
"Well Chiron, my friend here consulted the goddess Hecate," she nodded looking at me.
"And she gave him a quest to find um...ah. Black medallion? And she also said to give you this scroll" Sophia said quickly. Chiron took the scroll from her hand and read the contents.
"Well children, it appears as if you have to go New Boeotia or Florida. There is a small remote valley in Orlando. Yes you wouldn't say remote. You'll meet some gods on vacation there so just ask around for a place called "Pythia's house" because you are going to have to consult the Oracle of Delphi. I will assign Professor Cathy as your chaperone. You are dismissed to her class."
As soon Sophia turned around her mouth gaped open and he seemed shocked about something that Chiron said. "Sophia, Sophia look at me. What are you thinking about?" She said in a very deadly flat tone to me, "Now my dear uncle, our chances of succeeding this quest go down by a notch of a mere twenty percent."
As soon as we came to the so-called professor's room, I knew what she meant. Let's back up a little shall we? Well anyways, is the one right from Hecate's headquarters and 5 rooms more. It was kinda dirty but apart from that, the external structure was amazing.
Whoever built this was an amazing architect. Okay, I'll probably stop now because I sound like a geek and I have to get on with the story. We went inside the building to see the professor for the first time.
She was in her twenties, short black hair and a kind yet determined tone in her voice. Then when she saw us she said, "Class temporarily dismissed. If any of you don't come back here, I'll make sure everyone is going to have the most severe punishment in their little puny lives."
Her tone was much too sweet it was terrifying. She made this threat sound dangerously like "If any of you don't come back here, I'll make sure everyone is going to have the most delicious chocolate cake they have ever tasted in their lives." Very intimidating.
The professor made a gesture for us to come closer. I found the nearest seat and sat down next Sophia. Because I don't have the knack to be Little Miss Grammy the Storyteller (no offense) she did it for me.
As soon as she finished the very important role, the professor said, "Woo-hoo! Let's get going people, Captain Cathy in the house!" All of my previous thoughts of her dissolved into that batch she made for that chocolate cake. I don't know what part she was so excited about Orlando or just the whole concept of going on a quest. Sophia whispered into my ear, "She's allergic to oranges by the way." Okay, scratch Florida the world's biggest farming industry in making that one specifically dreaded fruit. But turns out we we're going anyway.
When the professor got back to a more normal mood, she straightened up and looked at us. "Well kids, I know you've all heard the rumors that I take a certain dislike to citrus plants. In other words, limes and oranges."
"But I completely understand the importance of this quest. I am willing to sacrifice anything to join you. Just let me a pack a bag and make sure my health insurance is paid up. But I want to make sure all of you have the proper training first."
"I already haven seven years of training and level 10 in binding magic, but Unc- I mean Eugene just came here today. And he's our leader. Do you think there's still a teacher in the art he was assigned?"
She replied, "Oh my, and what possible art of magic may that be?" Her tone was not very expectant, like she thought I was assigned to party pooping duty or something really inglorious.
Sophia hesitated to tell her for a moment but then, "Ψυκηαγογειν". That one word was a total shocker that she was speechless. Then came the part where babble and stammers a reason out.
"But that is impossible! It was declared by the jury final two years ago that it was considered one of the forbidden arts. Do you understand what forbidden means?"
As soon as she stopped talking I bust in, "Yeah, we do clearly understand the definition of the word. But answer this question, is it possible that they may have a teacher or not in this so-called forbidden art?"
She took us outside and explained it to us, "I oversaw the trial and I have the video right here in my hand. Listen to this." The jury was bigger than the usual one here in America. About 800 people were there, all men. (She was in an oak tree videoing this looking through a window, our chaperone explained). The prosecutor on the left was a son of Dice, the goddess of justice, brother of the victim. Acting in defense was the son of Nemesis, goddess of revenge, accused of bringing the Titan King back to life.
Leading Irene, to be the first and only victim of the event. It took the whole league of necromancers to put him back to Tartarus. In fear of being prosecuted for intentional murder, he went to the Garden of Hesperides and bribed Uranus his freedom if would kill the girl. Uranus broke loose and a war was started. After we were obviously the winning side, Irene's brother and the man who started it all were brought to the court. Supposedly, the accused died choosing poisoned hemlock as his method of death. Chiron, acting as magistrate, declared that no man is allowed is to teach this art within the campus limits.
"Listen to those words. You see? A god can train you slightly outside the school boundary. It's perfect. But which god?"