Hey, I'm alive! And it's my two year anniversary on Fanfiction!
So now we start into the Roman book, Chalice of Aganippe. The majority of the chapters will focus on that quest, but I'll cut back to the Greeks and other missions once a chapter.
Review Responses
Thanks to everyone who read the Goosemaster's stories, especially Lord of Death and Time.
What happened to Alabaster, Terra, Holly, and Paul? (IWANTCOLOREDRAIN)
That's for me to know, and you to find out.
Is order alive? What about void and helix? (guest)
Order, Helix, and Void have all permanently faded.
Mermaids Forever- Please, I have asked my readers to be patient. I have a notice on my profile stating that updating is difficult.
Divine Protector of Skyrim- I know how you spell steel, but since this is a type of weapon making metal, I changed the spelling to steele.
Boomerang- I stated last chapter that I would not copy and paste Reyna's last name since its too long, so I changed it to Farley.
Pyro daemona- Unfortunately for you, this is a story about family so the Perzoe will be minor and most likely occur in the sequel.
On with the story then.
Disclaimer: All rights to respectful owners.
Sorry for all the fight scenes that probably don't matter that much to you guys, but I thought it would be nice to have some action along with more intros on the characters.
Previously,
From the emperor's dais, David stood and a hush fell over the crowd.
"Let the trials begin!" He called.
It was time to fight the first centurions.
What Eli hadn't explained to the siblings was that you fought Cohort's centurions at random. They drew the names from a hat in order to mix things up a bit, because everyone was being stuck in the quickly crowding fifth cohort. They had changed these rules after Eli had fought. Also, with two people fighting, Max would have the opportunity to fight the one of the centurions from each cohort while Amy could fight anyone he didn't fight.
Cassie stands from the praetor's seat beside David, holding an ancient looking helmet, which gleams a spectacular gold despite the obscuring rust. She removes a thin slip of parchment and unfolds it.
"Amy Last, your first opponent in the arena shall be Leila Campbell, centurion of the fourth cohort," Cassie declared.
Internally, Amy sighed with relief. Though her physical powers of the elements weren't as strong as some of her other siblings, her powers of time, prophecy, emotions, and needs worked more in the mind. She could sense that a quest would come to Camp Jupiter soon, though it was unclear because it was not made by her sisters, the three fates. In order to be on that quest, Max and she had to prove that they were worthy and able to fight. Yet it would be too suspicious that they could beat the legion's best centurions. Leila was an unaggressive fighter, however the eighteen year old was level headed and often had a good strategy. It would show the praetors and members of the Senate that Amy could think on her feet and wasn't a beginner to fighting if she beat Leila.
A slim Indian girl dressed in the normal Roman warrior attire entered the arena from the opposite side as Amy had. She had a gladius sheathed at her side and imperial gold breastplate and shield. Her deep brown eyes, like the color of overturned soil, scanned Amy like she was judging the best way to start this.
As Roman tradition called, the two walked forward and shook hands before taking several strides back. David stood once again and held his fist to the air. The crowd roared as Leila drew her gladius. A lesser cheer was made for Amy as she drew the sword her father had given her so long ago. Glancing swiftly to the side, Amy saw Max sitting on a bench with a cup of water. He gave her the briefest of nods. She turned back to Leila.
Leila charged forward, not in a rash, angry way however. She kept her sword in front of her ready to block any of Amy's strikes. Yet before the older girl could reach Amy, the daughter of Ananke took two long strides forward and met Leila's blade with her own. Leila's dark eyes narrowed as she gave this move a quick assessment. Yet before she could decide what to do next, Amy had her blade twisting around Leila's. The daughter of Ceres reacted quickly, turning her body with her blade as not to lose it. But Amy was faster. She leapt backwards and then to the side to reengage Leila. The two exchanged quick thrusts, but Amy could tell Leila was tiring. In order not to cause the girl too much embarrassment, she twisted her blade in the same disarming maneuver she had attempted earlier.
Leila fell for it. Faster than a viper, Amy had her blade untwisted and wrapped around Leila's blade the opposite way. She flexed her wrist and the blade went flying ten feet away from the pair. Before Leila could think about retrieving her gladius, Amy's swordpoint was on her throat.
From the emperor's box, David stood. He held his hand in the tradition she can live gesture with his thumb up. Amy stepped back from Leila and offered her hand as a good match handshake. Leila hesitated before clasping hers in congratulations.
After retrieving her blade, Leila left the arena to head to the side bench where Max was sitting. A legionnaire handed her a cup of water which she accepted gratefully. Amy sheathed her sword while she waited for her next opponent.
Soon Cassie stood and drew a name from the helmet. This time it was Hank, the centurion from the third cohort who had explained the rules to Max and Amy in the catacombs. The fight wasn't much of a fair one. Within two minutes, Amy had knocked him out with the butt of her sword, as gently as she could so he wouldn't have a pounding headache when he woke up.
The crowd who had cheered vigorously for the Roman centurions the first two fights, quieted a little after Amy defeated Hank. As the medics carried Hank out of the arena, Max motioned her over to the bench. She grabbed a cup of water and sat down beside him.
"You're doing well, sis," Max commented.
"Thanks. How'd you do in your fights?" Amy asked him.
Max shrugged. "I lost to Nathan, a first cohort centurion, so I didn't get to fight Reyna."
"After he beat Gwen, Larry, and Marcus," Leila said. "Honestly, you guys are good. Nathan's been training for a long time and Marcus doesn't get beat that often. He's a beast when you give him a gladius and get him angry."
The siblings chuckled lightly. "I wonder who you'll fight next," Max pondered.
Just then the legionnaire tending to them nodded towards Amy. "Water breaks over," She said. "You're needed back on arena floor."
Amy nodded in gratitude to her. "Good luck!" Max called after her as she left the sidelines. She waved her hand lightly at him as she stepped onto the sandy floor of the arena.
Cassie was already holding the slip of parchment when Amy looked up. "Jason Grace, centurion of the first cohort," She called in a loud clear voice.
Murmurs ran through the spectators like a wildfire. From what Amy had heard of Jason, he was a respected fighter in the legion. Plus his parentage and powers as a demigod would make him a tricky opponent.
The familiar blond boy who had eaten dinner with them last night strode into the arena. From the way he walked, Amy could see that he was not cocky, but only confident. The deafening cheers for the son of Jupiter made sense along with his attitude.
Jason stopped a few yards away from her before the two shook hands. He drew his gladius as he sized her up. Amy carefully observed him back.
From a few moments deep concentration, she could see that the edge of his imperial gold blade shimmered slightly. A small electric current must be running over it she decided. Not as strong as a shock that Jason's Greek sister, Thalia, would be able to produce, but still one strong enough to cause the opponent some numbness to the arm after fighting for a while, making them more susceptible to disarming techniques. She would have to be careful how she proceeded with winning.
After another moment's pause, Jason leapt at her. Amy could now see that he was was much better at controlling the winds than using lightning volts. His leap took him farther than a normal twelve year old should have. Two can play that came. Amy sprang into the air to meet him, using the training she had received in the Void to make her spring match his.
Their blades met with a shower of blue sparks as Amy felt her fingers get a little numb. They twisted and spun in an almost deadly dance, though killing was strictly prohibited in the duels. Maiming, however, was given the blind eye. Jason swiped at her feet but she jumped over his blade and jabbed at the back of his neck. His blade caught this too as he moved with lightning speed. The duel was not nearly as quick as the one with Leila had been and certainly longer than the one between her and Hank. Her hand was becoming more increasing numb and she knew she must end this soon.
Jason tried a disarming move on her, but she jumped backwards before it could take effect. They circled each other, trying to catch their breaths. Feigning being distracted, Amy glanced confused up at the stands.
It worked. Jason leapt towards her in her moment of confusion. Amy vaulted into the air. His eyes widened in a split second of surprise before Amy spun in the air and kicked him in the chest. He went flying across the arena floor with his blade skittering in the opposite direction. Before he started to rise, Amy had closed the distance and stood with her foot on his chest, sword at his throat.
Once again silence filled the Coliseum. Amy knew she had used some unorthodox moves, she had been training with her more Greek like siblings for too long not to, and beating Jason was no small feat. She stepped back from Jason and sheathed her sword.
Cassie recovered first. "Congratulations, Amy Last," She said, though the compliment sounded off. "You will be fighting Centurion Kate Williams of the second cohort next."
Amy turned to give Jason a helping hand up, but he was already standing. He gave her a long calculating look before leaving the arena.
The next centurion didn't hesitate before entering the arena. She was medium height and muscular. Her black hair was held back in a messy bun at the back of her head. Her hazel eyes scanned the arena as she shook Amy's hand.
Assessing her opponent, Amy realized this would be a tough fight. This older girl was well trained in the art of sword fighting from the worn callouses on her hand. Her pre battle stance showed that she knew what she was doing. Amy too readied herself.
Realizing after a long moment that Kate was waiting for her to make the first move, Amy darted forward her plan already in her mind. Kate reacted, her blade meeting Amy's thrust.
The whole crowd was on the edge of their seats as Kate and Amy's blades grappled together, neither seeming to gain any winning advantage. Kate was light on her feet and well trained, but the match was still close.
Kate thrusted downwards over Amy's head. Whipping her blade up to meet the older girl's, she realized what Kate had done too late.
It was a complex disarming maneuver, easily recognizable. However there was little a sword fighter could do to prevent being disarmed, even it you did notice it.
She should have realized what was coming. It was a silly mistake to fall for it. Even so, she reacted with viper like speed as her blade was knocked from her hand.
Cheers began to break out as the crowd saw Kate's blade on Amy's throat. However, David stood and held up his hand. Silence fell swiftly over the arena as the spectators began to notice Amy's sword, which she had grabbed before it had fallen onto the ground, on the back of Kate's neck.
"Rarely has there ever been a tie in the centurion fighting," David said loudly. "But our ancestors planned for such occurrences," He stopped and nodded to Reyna.
Reyna stepped forward. It was clear that this was a test, to prove whether or not she had knowledge of the Roman traditions and if she could lead the crowd. Reyna's legs trembled ever so slightly as she stood in front of the crowd, but her voice was clear and strong.
"Romans, in the event of a tie, the centurion would determine whether or not the opponent was worthy to move on. Centurion Williams," Reyna nodded down at Kate. "Your decision is needed."
Kate stepped back from Amy and sheathed her blade. The daughter of Proserpina bit her lower lip as she considered the choice she had to make. Amy watched her face anxiously. The nineteen year old demigod was a good opponent to lose to, but if Amy could move on to face Eli, she would perhaps not only prove her own worth but Eli would be given the respect he deserved in the legion.
"I have decided," Kate said. "Amy Last is a skilled fighter and a worthy opponent. She should move on and face Centurion Cadrin."
From the water station, Max's face broke into a grin as the crowd broke into applause. Leila gave her a thumbs up from where she sat. Amy could tell Leila held little bitter resentment towards losing a fight.
Kate grasped her hand in a handshake. "Good fight," Amy said.
"You fight well," Kate replied. She gave Amy a quick smile before she strode out of the arena to thunderous cheers.
Cassie stood as the cheers died down. "For your final centurion fight, you will face Eli Cadrin, centurion of the fifth cohort-" Boos echoed through the arena at the mention of the fifth cohort. Cassie waited impatiently for them to stop. "If you can defeat Centurion Cadrin, you will fight David, praetor of the twelfth legion fulminata."
Shock rippled through the crowd. Amy guessed that not many people got to fight a praetor. Though she knew she could at least tie David, Amy had to let Eli win. It would bring both of them respect while not detracting any from the praetors. If a mere teenager, no matter if they were a child of Chaos, were to beat the well trained praetor, David would lose some of his authority.
Amy turned and headed to the side bench for a quick swig of water. As she gulped down the water, Max spoke.
"You had me worried there for a moment," He commented.
She smiled at him. "But I came back."
"As I knew you would," The corners of his mouth tugged upward into a grin.
Amy looked back at him for one long moment before she entered the arena. Eli was already in the center, waiting for her. His face was calm, much less surprised than the other Romans around the stadium. He gave her a slight incline of his head as they shook hands. She did the same as they backed away from each other.
Eli drew his sword and she finally got a good look at it. The blade was imperial gold, like all the other weapons Amy had seen, but it had a slight blue light drifting around it. She guessed it was her prophecy self seeing this as something to come. Puzzled by this, she refocused on the battle.
Thinking almost simultaneously, they both began the battle at the exact same time. Eli was an excellent fighter, as good as or better than Kate and probably tied with Jason. She could feel the amount of raw power he held as their blades met. His powers as a child of Neptune seemed to be rarely used because of the Romans fear of the sea god.
He was quick as they exchanged parries and thrusts. It was just as difficult as it had been fighting Kate. His blade slashed across her shoulder blade while one of her strikes cut his knee.
But she was tiring and she knew he had realized it too. When he tried his next disarming trick, she resisted the force for a moment. However he only pushed harder before kicking out her feet from under her. Just as she had beaten Jason, he finished with his foot lightly on her chest and the point of his sword under her throat.
The crowd seemed stunned for a moment before breaking into hesitant applause. Eli offered her a hand up and she gratefully took it. They exchanged brief smiles before turning to look up at the praetor's box.
"Congratulations to Max and Amy Last for their bravery in their fights against the centurions. Tonight at evening muster, they will be offered a place in the legion. Legionnaires, training will resume in half an hour, at four o clock. Please view the paper outside the armory for the abbreviated schedule," With that, David turned and swept from the praetor's box, Cassie right behind him. Reyna paused, looking over the arena for another moment before following after them.
The departure of the praetors must have been the cue for the spectators to leave. A low din filled the coliseum as people stood, gathering their things and chattering with friends as they exited.
"Good job," Max congratulated Eli. Amy started, she hadn't noticed her brother leaving the water bench to come talk to them.
Eli smiles. "Thanks. I was worried for a moment that you-" He nods at Amy,"- were going to wipe the floor with me. You want to come with me? The fifth cohort's doing strategy training until evening muster. But first we can stop by the bath house and get showers."
The siblings followed Eli out of the arena and New Rome. After washing off in the bath house, they headed down the main Camp Jupiter road. The strategy training took place in the back dungeon room of the Via Principia. Despite the boring name, the training was actually pretty exciting. With forty kids in a large stone chamber, it was impossible not to feel the excitement of this activity. Unlike the other drills the Romans had to complete, strategy training was not physical but engaged the mind. Low Roman tables and board games were all over the room along with a few electronic games. The ghosts seemed to enjoy this education since they could actually participate. A short blond boy with a martyred expression stood by a large map of ancient as Vitellius, the fifth cohort ghost, described how they whipped the Greeks with their superior strategy. But as Amy turned away, she heard the boy ask Vitellius why they didn't send two distracting groups. Vitellius responded with vigor and the two headed to a map on a table with small troop units to discuss options.
Max and Amy ended up playing Settlers of Catan, a domination game with Eli and another girl named Jennifer. They had to use their resources they gained from random rolls of dice to expand their empire to win. Nearby Gwen played chess with an older girl while Dakota played another game in the corner.
The two hours went by rather quickly. Soon it was time for evening muster. Once again, Max and Amy sat on the side wall while the Centurions called role and got the ghosts to line up. The standard colors ceremony was done before David motioned for Amy and Max to come to the front.
"Romans!" He announced. "Today we watched the newcomers, Max and Amy Last, fight in the arena after the auguries proved favorable. They are qualified to serve."
"Ave!" Hail! The campers shouted.
David motioned the senior officers forward—one from each cohort. Nathan, as the most senior centurion, turned to them.
"Recruits," He asked, "Do you have credentials? Letters of reference?"
"No," Max said firmly.
"None but their victories in the arena," Cassie added.
Mutters swept through the crowd. Amy guessed it wasn't often that the newbies beat centurions.
David nodded but he seemed a little angry. At who, Amy had no idea. "Will any legionnaires stand for Max Last?"
"I will!" Eli stepped forward.
The fifth cohort pounded their shields against the ground. .
"My cohort has spoken," Gwen said. "We accept the recruit."
Cassie smiled ever so slightly. "Congratulations, Max Last. You stand on probatio. You will be given a tablet with your name and cohort. In one year's time, or as soon as you complete an act of valor, you will become a full member of the Twelfth Legion Fulminata. Serve Rome, obey the rules of the legion, and defend the camp with honor. Senatus Populusque Romanus!"
The rest of the legion echoed the cheer.
"Will any legionnaires stand for Amy Last?" David said again.
A silence filled the Camp. Amy desperately wanted to disappear at that very moment in embarrassment. At the very least she wanted to grab Max's hand for comfort. But he already was standing with his new cohort.
It seemed like a very long time, but it had only probably been ten seconds before someone spoke. "I will stand for her."
Amy's head snapped up. Kate from the second cohort grinned at her as they pounded their shields against the ground. Amy let out a sigh of relief as Larry, the other centurion, confirmed that their cohort had spoken. Slightly dazed, she hardly heard Cassie's customary introduction to the Legion as she stood with her new cohort and David dismissing the cohorts for dinner.
Two months later, May 30th
Camp Halfblood
Bianca di Angelo
Bianca sighed as she pulled her suitcase out from underneath her bunk in the Hermes cabin. Now that the summer session at Camp Halfblood had officially started, the Hermes cabin was filling up quickly again. The returning older campers needed their bunks back. She and Nico were sharing the one of the tiny corners in the cabin.
Cautiously, Bianca looked around the cabin to check that it was completely empty. Then she pushed her suitcase into the shadows of the wall. Instead of smashing into the plaster, the luggage disappeared. Bianca slowly smiled. Ever since she had found out Hades was her dad, Bianca and Nico had been spending the last week of each month down in the Underworld training with him. Since they lived at camp, Hades wasn't technically breaking the ancient laws. Plus Hestia was usually there, so she could be counted as their current guardian. Persephone had been there the first visits too, but now she was back in the mortal world with her mother Demeter.
Those weeks spent with their dad were the highlight of Bianca's lonely months at camp. Hades taught them how to control the shadows and summon spirits. Down in the Underworld, it was easier to do such things than up in the mortal world. Their father taught them how to wield their blades. Both of the di Angelo twins had improved rapidly. Often they fought two against one on their father or Thanatos. Hades also summoned the spirits of the dead for them to learn more, not only in battle strategies, physical activity (like running alongside the Styx at five in the morning) and fighting, but in regular studies too. Hades usually let them take some day adventures to various spots all over the world, since they weren't allowed to leave camp asides from their monthly visits to their dad. They had visited the stony peaks of the Adirondack mountains in New York, the crystal beaches of Mexico (both of them disliked this spot for its proximity to Poseidon's domain) and many other spots.
Nico and Bianca had just returned from the Underworld that morning. This particular visit had been thrilling, since Hades had introduced to them shadow travelling. Neither of them had been very good at it, but their father had warned them that it would take time, and they were determined to master it. They had taken to sneaking out of the Hermes cabin after curfew to practice their shadow powers in the dark forest. Hades had cautioned them that no one at camp should know their heritage. He promised he would reveal it when the time was right. But now their night time practice sessions would have to stop. The Hermes cabin was simply too full to risk being caught sneaking out.
Asides from the fact that they would have to stop their nightly training, Bianca was glad other campers would be returning. After winter break, more campers had left camp, making it feel almost deserted. Jillian and Annabeth had both returned to their respected homes in New York and San Francisco. During the remainder of the school year, Jillian returned a few times and Annabeth came back for Spring break. But they weren't the ones the di Angelos wanted to see. They hadn't heard a peep from Jackson or Fern Last since they waved goodbye to them on the winter solstice.
Unexpectedly, Bianca and Nico had befriended Clarisse la Rue. Despite her tough demeanor, she was a superb sword fighting teacher and had dueled countless times with them over the winter and spring. She sighed again and checked her watch. Half an hour until the campfire.
As Bianca was standing up, Nico rushed into the cabin. "Bianca! Bianca! Guess who's here!" He said excitedly.
Bianca frowned at his expression and obvious glee. She hadn't seen Nico this happy since... The corners of her mouth tugged into a huge grin as his words and attitude sunk in.
"They're back?!" She exclaimed.
Nico was grinning too. "Yes!" He grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the cabin.
There, standing in the central green, where two figures Bianca had longed to see the whole winter. As the di Angelos rushed out of the cabin, Fern turned towards them, her hazel eyes sparkling.
"Fern!" Bianca gave her friend a bear hug. "You're back!"
From her side, Jackson laughed. "You didn't honestly think we'd miss the summer session, did you?"
Bianca laughed too, before giving Jackson a hug also.
"How have you been? We haven't seen you guys in, like five months," Bianca said.
Fern slung her arm around the twins' shoulders. "Come on. Let's go drop our stuff off in the Hermes cabin then we can go catch up."
Feeling better than she had in months, Bianca smiled even bigger before following her friends.
June 9th
Camp Jupiter
Amy Last
Life at the Roman camp wasn't bad. Kate had been super helpful with Amy adjusting to legion life, though she didn't let her slack off for a second. The two dueled frequently, which kept Amy on her toes. Most of the other legionnaires in the second were kind but they had gotten there by letters of credentials, not by fighting skills as Amy had hoped.
Though they were in different cohorts, she got to see Max everyday, yet not as much as she would have hoped. She often ate dinner with Max, Eli, Reyna though she was busy with the upcoming praetor election, Gwen, Dakota, and Jason despite their differences in cohorts. Sometimes even Kate joined her. Also, Max and Amy go to train together. Usually, you trained with your cohort. However there were a few practices that required two cohorts. The cohorts would rotate so everyone had a chance to fight with all others.
Even with the busyness of being a Roman, Amy still missed her siblings dearly. She wondered if Percy and Imogene had returned to the Greek camp and if Alabaster, Paul, and Holly were all right. She longed to see her parents too, especially her father Chaos. Repeatedly she pondered if he had the same heavy burden on his shoulders.
But tonight, excitement and anxiety bubbled like an overflowing goblet throughout the room. Tonight was the first match of death ball, like paint ball except with acid, poison, and fireballs, for almost three months. Apparently the poison for the most recent games of death ball had been too strong, knocking out most of the players hit for a week and seriously depleting the medical supplies. Chemical engineers had set out fixing the concentration and tonight it was finally ready to be used.
At the conclusion of dinner, the cohorts gathered on the FIeld of Mars, where small fortifications- walls, ditches, tiny houses suspended off the ground, had been erected. David stood in front of them and explained the rules. They would be playing knockout, where a player could take two hits from one of the guns before they had to leave the game. Which ever team had the most players at the end of ten minutes would win the round and proceed to fight another team. However the legionnaires could only use the paintball guns, loaded with deadly substances of course, to hit others.
First, the third and fourth cohorts would face off. Then the second and fifth cohorts would compete. The victor of the first match would challenge first cohort, the standing victors of the game. And the winner of the second vs. fifth match would face the top dog of the third battle. The cohort that came out on top would be crowned the champion of death ball.
The primary round began as the large buzzer went off. Immediately, shots were fired. Amy along with the other cohorts who weren't playing duck behind their shields as paintballs whizzed over their heads. One young girl was too slow and got slammed in the face. Lucky for her, it wasn't too acidic. The third and fourth cohort were pretty evenly matched, but the third seemed to be gaining a slight edge. Reyna fired off shots with a fury Amy realized could only come from this most likely being Reyna's last time to play deathball before she assumed the position of the praetor. As the buzzer sounded, the players froze in place as the game officials, located on top of the observation tower, counted up the members of each team still in the field. The officials conferred briefly before one stepped up to the podium at the top of the tower.
"And the winner is... The third cohort!"
Cheers erupted from the said cohort. Several more shots were fired into the air as a symbol of their victory while others pumped their fists in the air. The fourth cohort looked a little put out, but still shook hands with the third. As the third and fourth cohorts left the field, the second and fifth got into their positions. Max gave Amy a sly grin from where he was crouched behind a parapet. Amy smiled deviously back at him as she checked that her gun was loaded.
The Field of Mars was silent as the buzzer made its customary five second countdown. On the final beep, the battle began with a chorus of loud yells and noise from the paint guns. Despite what the rest of the legion thought, the fifth cohort were actually pretty good fighters. Plus they had Max, who had a mean sniper shot, and Gwen, who had excellent aim from archery. The match was pretty even. Amy managed to take out three older kids before she felt a slight pain on her right leg. Swiftly glancing down, she noticed that she'd been hit. Whipping her head toward the direction, she'd been shot, she saw Max grin widely at her again. Amy stuck her tongue out at him before firing a shot in his direction. He smirked before hitting four kids from the second cohort.
Not to be outdone, Amy fired a shot a running fifth cohort member, but the blast never hit him. All around her, she could hear cries of dismay as the others realized that their guns weren't working. Suddenly, the buzzer which was normally green during the match, flashed gold. The spectating legionnaires drew their weapons and looked around, some in fear, others in anticipation.
"Romans," A voice spoke. From behind one of the wooden barriers, a young man in light armor stepped out. Instantly, all weapons, including the now useless paint guns, were pointed at him.
"Wait!" Cassie called. The legionnaires looked at her in surprise as she kneeled. Then recognition crossed their faces as they knelt before the god Apollo.
Apollo couldn't have been more than twenty two in the current form he was taking. His golden blonde hair was cropped short, but the ends had grown out a bit to hang down around his ears. With eyes bluer than a sunny sky, he looked over the Romans. He was slightly stocky, but his armor was that of an archer's, lightweight and non restricting to the arms, but protecting his chest. An impressive polished chestnut bow was slung across his back along with an intricately patterned quiver of arrows.
For several long moments, no one uttered a single word. Then Cassie must have realized Apollo was waiting for them to talk first.
"Lord Apollo, what brings you to Camp Jupiter?" Cassie said respectfully.
Apollo smiled a brilliant smile like he'd been waiting for this. "Why, Cassandra, I just wanted to visit my favorite Romans," The legion seemed to sigh with relief. "And I need a favor," Apollo added.
The tense environment was back. "Of course, Lord Apollo, what can we do for you?" David asked. Amy guessed the praetors and most of the legion knew the consequences of angering a god. The normally brusque praetor seemed to have a polite respectful tone in him.
"Lately my poems and songs seemed to have, how do you put it? Suck. They seem to suck. You know, I think I'm just not inspired. I'm without a muse, you could say," Apollo look around at them, as if waiting for someone else to say something. But no one did, so he continued.
"I want a quest to go to Mount Helicon and retrieve me some of the inspirational water from the Aganippe spring. I cannot go there myself for it is heavily guarded against gods. But you, Romans, can go."
"Lord Apollo?" Cassie asked tentatively. "Do you mean the Mount Helicon in the ancient lands?"
The god of archery laughed. No one else laughed with him. "Oh no, I would never dream, well actually I can't dream, but I would never think to ask you to go through the Mare Nostrum. Mount Helicon shifted with Western Civilization to Sahale Peak in the Cascade Mountain Range," He paused. "I feel like I'm forgetting something," He glanced over the legion before his eyes fell on Octavian. "Oh I know, a prophecy!"
He closed his eyes but they almost immediately snapped open, a glowing green now instead of blue.
"You shall leave the place of roman probation,
And climb the mountain of inspiration.
Aided by the god of tides,
A grudge so old to wound pride.
Take the chalice of old chivalry,
for the god of prophecy,
Memory stands in shattered glass,
To be found by the sorcerers alas," Apollo hissed in an ancient sounding voice. His eyes closed when he was done. When he reopened them, they were back to their normal blue color.
"There's your prophecy. And by the way, you should bring at least five people on this quest. One of them should be this guy here-" He gestured towards Max. "He's got a wicked aim."
"Thank you Lord Apollo," Cassie said. "How will we get the water to you?"
"I'll know when you return to Camp. Until next time Romans!" Apollo smiled once more, waved, and disappeared in a flash of golden light.
So a quest? What do you think of my prophecy? Anyone going to try and decipher it?
Hoped you enjoyed the chapter.
Leave me comments, questions, and concerns in reviews! Review with any errors you see, I didn't check it over.
And I still have the poll on my profile for your favorite character in this story! Nico is winning so far #GhostKingForever
Thanks
~SnowWolfe6631~