"Little One."
"Yes, Lady Styx?"
The Titaness turned to him. Her obsidian eyes shone unusually brightly.
"Kymopoleia is... needed elsewhere," she said. "As such, your lessons with her are on hold for now."
She held up the blue orb. "I said that I would have you mature in mind, body, and spirit. The Storm Goddess claims you have tamed your inner storm. It is time for your body to be tempered too."
Percy watched as she stared at the orb, turning it ever so slightly. Unlike the last time, she didn't immediately call out to whoever he was supposed to meet.
"You may enter."
Again, there was nothing. No sound, no whispers, no ominous sensation. Just a light.
And Zeus arrived.
In contrast to Kymopoleia's bombastic entrace, Zeus was quiet. A simple flash, a silent bolt of lightning, and the god was there.
Percy stiffened. It wasn't that long ago that he had stood before the god and was nearly blasted just for existing. He doubted that a few weeks meant anything to a god.
"Sit," commanded Styx, conjuring two seats out of water. Percy wasn't sure if she was talking to him or Zeus, but he did as ordered. Given that the god also took a seat, it seemed he didn't know either.
"Your strength is great, Zeus" began the Titaness. From her sleeve dropped dozens, if not hundreds, of orbs. The demigod noticed Zeus said nothing at the lack of a title. "But the number of oaths you've broken is greater."
She paused. "My patience has its limits, Skyfather, and while I afford you gods some leniency for the formalization of my role as Oathkeeper, that does not preclude you from my jurisdiction.
"Prophecy or not." Zeus's eyes flitted over to Percy quickly, but he stayed silent.
Styx noticed Percy's look of curiosity. "Xenia. Laws of hospitality. In exchange for entering an unfamiliar domain, a place where he must be protected, he is expected to be a proper guest. As the face of this, he knows better than any of its rules."
The god pursed his lips. After confirming he wouldn't interrupt her, the Titaness continued.
"You gods know me as a spirit of vengeance. But I am so much more than that." With a flick of her finger, Styx willed all of Zeus's orbs to start floating around them.
"Gaze, little one. Gaze and see how your king of gods acts."
Percy wasn't sure what she meant, but he did as told, focusing on the closest orb to him. Suddenly, it cleared up, showing a scene of Zeus, clad in a toga from an unspecified era, gifting something to a woman in the fields. The woman kissed him and the god promptly picked her up before carrying her off. The scene then shifted, revealing the woman on her deathbed, alone yet smiling. Another man walked onto the scene and placed a coin in her mouth before covering her in a sheet.
"Oh Skyfather," sighed Styx. "Does your pride know no limits? To swear on my waters that you will make your lover a queen amongst women. How many kingdoms do you think exist, Skyfather?"
A queen amongst women. Poseidon had said the same thing about Sally.
A lump formed in Percy's throat. Were all gods like this?
He felt the voice in his head say something, but could not tell what it was saying, muffled as it was. Probably wasn't worth thinking about.
"However," said Styx, jolting Percy out of his thoughts. "Today I am a merciful Titaness. As the Oathkeeper, the Mantle of accountability, I have a role to maintain. As Hatred, a primal emotion of creation herself, I see to it that my will is done. But as Styx, your first soldier..."
She paused, before manifesting a table between her and Zeus.
"I will negotiate for the favor."
231. 231 orbs.
That was how many orbs Zeus managed to convince Styx to exchange. All for a "favor" that Percy had no clue about.
He wasn't exactly amazing at math, even with Ms. Dodds' help, but that didn't exactly feel like the two things were equal.
Styx twirled her finger, converging all of the exchanged orbs into a single one. There were still quite a lot floating around, and Percy noticed Zeus grimace when those returned back to her waters.
The Titaness handed the new orb to Zeus. The god took the orb and crushed it immediately, unfazed by the object's explosion of dust and wind.
"It is done," Styx declared. "Go inform your daughter."
Without a word, Zeus left. The Titaness turned back to Percy.
"You have one night to rest, godling. Your new training begins as soon as I bring you there."
"Huh?" He blinked.
"Rest."
Percy looked around the cave. "Um..."
Styx tilted her head. She reciprocated his action before realizing what he meant. "Oh." She raised a hand.
From her river, a broken bed burst out and fell unceremoniously on the riverbanks. Another motion and torn sheets, half a mattress, and even a bloodstained pillow came out.
"I'm afraid my river is... less hospitable than the storm goddess's palace," admitted Styx, and for a moment Percy could have sworn he saw embarrassment in her hate-filled eyes. "This is the best I can conjure up."
Percy managed a weak smile. "That's fine. Thank you, Lady Styx."
The Titaness studied him for a bit. She walked up to him, shrinking to match his height, stopping once her nose touched his. Before he could say anything, she plunged her arm through his head.
Percy involuntarily shivered at the sensation - but there was no pain. He felt her grab and pull at something, and swore he could hear a faint scream... but perhaps it was just his imagination.
After a second, Styx retracted her arm, nodding to herself and without another word, she returned to her river, sinking back into her depths. Percy sighed.
"Some things never change, huh..."
That night, the voice no longer whispered in his dreams.
"Oi. Get up."
Percy opened his eyes. Not that the nudge was necessary though - he'd already been awake. His instincts had been screaming at him about the presence of Stalkers for the past minute. A pack of girls surrounded him.
He just knew he wasn't going to escape them without a fight.
He slowly raised his arms above his head, keeping an eye on the arrow just inches from his face. "Um, hi."
The girl glared at him. "That's all you have to say for yourself?"
"Listen," sighed Percy. "I went to sleep in the Underworld on a broken bed and the next thing I know, I wake up above the ground and I'm about to be shot in the face with an arrow. I'm as clueless as you are."
"You call this piece of shit a bed?" asked the girl incredulously. She tapped the frame with her boot. "My wood shavings have less splinters than this junk, and this is wet."
That got a laugh out of him.
The girl resumed her scowl. "Well? Anything else you have to say for yourself, mister?"
"Percy."
"Phoebe. Now stop stalling."
"Lady, I don't know what you want me to say," insisted Percy. "My master and Zeus struck a deal or something and now I'm supposed to be training with whoever I'm with."
"No way," said the girl, her frown deepening. However, she did lower the arrow a little. "Anyone but us. We're the Hunters of Artemis."
"Uh..."
"Pack of girls who follow Artemis. Hunt forever, swear off men. Stuff like that."
Percy sighed as she put the weapon away. "You know, for someone as skeptical as you, you're taking this surprisingly well." She shrugged in response, calling for the other Hunters to stand down.
"I can tell you're not hostile," she explained. "That, and there's some stuff we hate more than boys."
"Uh-huh...?"
"Gods are worse," Phoebe spat out, helping him out of the bed. "Knocking up random mortal women, leaving them with demigods that serve as bait for monsters, doing whatever they want with no care for consequences. And damned if Lord Zeus isn't one of them. Poor Kal-"
She took a deep breath and tossed him one final look as the other Hunters began following them. "Come. We should bring you to Lady Artemis to figure out what's next."
It was a tense trek to their encampment. Though the girl - Phoebe - no longer registered as a Stalker to him, everyone else did, still wary of him.
Not that he'd blame them, if what Phoebe said about the Hunters were true.
"Stay here," the Hunter ordered, once they entered the camp. She slipped into the largest tent. Percy took a seat, keenly aware of all the stares directed at him.
Stalkers.
There weren't just Hunters here. He could see some wolves, feel some eyes from the trees - birds, maybe. Even the trees themselves seemed to stare into him. He shivered. This wasn't just a hunting party.
It was basically a miniature army.
After a few, very long minutes, Phoebe came out, along with two girls in tow. The first was a tall, beautiful girl with copper-brown skin and a circlet on her head.
The other was Artemis.
The first girl tensed up upon seeing him, but paused when Artemis placed a hand on her shoulder.
"At ease, Zoë," sighed the goddess. "This boy is our guest." She then turned to Percy.
"While I have no reason to suspect my Hunters, I need some confirmation of my own. Do you trust me?"
Percy's eyebrows furrowed. "You're not planning on killing me again, are you? Er, Lady Artemis?"
The goddess chuckled. "Not yet, boy. This shouldn't hurt... too much."
Before Percy could ask what she meant, Artemis placed a hand on his face. A jolt spread from her palm and through his face. She murmured for a few seconds before taking it off.
"As much as it pains me to say this," sighed Artemis. "As far as the boy is concerned, he is telling the truth."
Percy blinked. "You can just tell I'm saying the truth?"
"Apollo is... better," the goddess managed out. To Percy, it looked like it pained her to say those words. "But what my twin has, I too have to some degree."
"Then why didn't you do that the first time you saw me?"
Artemis raised an eyebrow. "The first time I met you, I was under orders to kill you. That was it. I had no reason to doubt my father's reasoning at the time."
"That's stupid!" exploded Percy, standing up. He ignored the dozens of arrows suddenly pointed at him. "How can you just... I mean... What?!"
The goddess wasn't startled by his outburst, raising a hand to have the Hunters stand down. Instead, she stepped forward, turning into an older version of herself and staring down at Percy.
"We are gods, boy. We act on our whims. We are capricious. We are powerful. Your lives are but blurs in our lifetimes, filling mere days of our immortal lifetimes. Why would I care about yet another mortal to be killed by my father's orders?"
Percy's anger flared up at her statement. Just because he was mortal didn't mean his life meant nothing. He balled up his fists, preparing to do something reckless.
And, perhaps he might have, if the voice in his head continued to whisper about how little the gods cared about him. He was close to exploding, on the edge of lashing out against Artemis and her Hunters. He thought of a happy memory, ready to throw a punch infused with the power of Lethe.
But ever since that night in the Underworld, when Styx and Zeus made the deal, the voice had been silent, unable to push him past the breaking point.
And in that moment of hesitation, Artemis spoke again.
"At least, that is what I used to think."
Seeing his confusion, she continued. "I've lived for many millennia. My time with my Hunters has given me a perspective I once lacked. And, I am not so stupid as to not recognize an innocent when I see one," sighed Artemis. "I saw your memories. And I realized something."
She gestured towards her Hunters. "I heard from Phoebe that she explained the Hunt to you, and what it is we hate the most. We've seen many maidens led astray, but more importantly, many more were used and discarded by gods. Not only are they irrelevant, but they are entertainment at most, cattle bred and cultivated for their mere pleasure."
There was some growling from the circle of Hunters surrounding them. Apparently, some of the Hunters knew all too well what she was talking about.
"You, who have been a pawn of the gods," continued Artemis, holding up his hand. Gently, she unballed his fists. "Turned into a weapon of a Titaness. Unsure of your role in the world. Unsure of what you will become. This is a struggle many of my Hunters faced when I discovered them."
Percy's anger slowly fell as he watched the goddess gently massage his palm with her thumb. "I just... I don't know, Lady Artemis. Why Lady Styx made a deal with Zeus - Lord Zeus - after the throne room thing. Why my dad abandoned Medusa and mom. Or why I can't just be a normal kid. I'm... I'm tired."
The goddess sighed. "I can't claim to know what Styx knows or does. She has always been a strange being, even among Titans. But she holds a soft spot for Zeus. My father was not always the shortsighted king he was today. He was the first to recognize her role, and she was the first to pledge her allegiance to him. It's why he could always escape her wrath. I wouldn't be surprised if he managed to convince her to forgive this transgression again."
Percy's shoulders slacked. "So she won't even stay angry for me, huh? That's how little I'm worth?" Artemis lifted his chin with her other hand.
"I cannot offer you much closure on the matter," she admitted. "I don't know what cosmic forces the Oathkeeper represents that binds you to her servitude. However, for as long as you're required to train here by your mistress, I can offer you a family. Would that be fine?"
The demigod looked directly into her eyes. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he managed out a single word.
"Please."
"Can you manage more?"
Percy nodded, audibly struggling. Zoë reciprocated the gesture, before strapping another set of weights to his feet and arms.
"Baby steps," she reminded him, as they continued their trek through the forest. "Do not force thyself to take on more than thee can handle."
"Gotcha," Percy gasped out. She looked back at him before rolling her eyes.
"I just- forget it." She took out a water bottle from her bag and unscrewed it, pouring some into his mouth. "Thou would think that several weeks of training would have taught thee thy limits by now. Drink, Son of Poseidon."
The refreshing water gave Percy the strength to fight off his exhaustion and he kept trudging forward. "Thanks, Zoë." She waved him off.
"I am Lady Artemis's lieutenant," she proclaimed. "It is only natural that I take care of those under my Lady's protection."
"Is it?" asked Percy. She looked at him. "Natural, I mean. Is it really?"
Zoë's eyes narrowed. "What are thee implying?" Percy raised his hands up.
"Nothing! Nothing. I just, you know, want to know." The Huntress studied him for a bit before exhaling.
She turned back to her bag and took out some dried jerky, offering him some. The demigod didn't hesitate before grabbing it out of her hand with his mouth.
It felt so good to eat meat again after weeks underwater with nothing but fish and seaweed. And he hated eating fish.
"I am my Lady's second-in-command," said Zoë. She wiped her fingers on a leaf. "Tell me, Perseus-"
"Percy."
Zoë glared at him for the interruption. He responded with a cheeky smile. After a tense second, she rolled her eyes.
"Tell me, Percy," repeated Zoë. Despite the glare in her eyes, Percy could tell by the exaggerated tone she wasn't too upset. "How much does thee know about the gods?"
"The Greek myths and stuff?" She shook her head.
"Not just that," she replied. "Pantheons of all religions, stories from sects of all sizes, from the Greeks to the Mayans, from Yoruba to Shinto."
Percy blinked.
"Every religion, nay, every culture, has its own view of gods," she explained. "Yet, they all follow the same principles. The most important is that a god is not a man. Perhaps a man may become a god, like..."
She paused for a second. Percy thought she was waiting for him to answer so he moved to speak, but she resumed before a sound got out.
"...Heracles." She took a deep breath. "Others believe that we have entirely distinct origins."
"And you? What do you think?" Zoë cocked her head.
"I have been alive for over two millennia and may be alive for several more. I've witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations, a few that I've participated in by my lady's side. My aim would make the greatest mortal jealous. Thy technology is but a passing fad in my eyes. Would thee not consider me a god?"
"Gimme a moment" murmured Percy.
Her words reminded him of Artemis's. Of how he was insignificant, that his life would end before she'd register it.
And yet, there was something off about how Zoë presented it.
"You don't call yourself a god," he said. "You've said a bunch of stuff that Artemis - Lady Artemis - said to me. Lots of similar stuff. But you never call yourself a god."
"No," agreed Zoë. "No, I don't."
The two sat in silence before Percy spoke up again. "Soooo, you going to explain or..."
She snorted. "I hold no domains. Nor do I aspire to. I am as my Lady asks me to be." Percy's mouth twitched.
"And what does she want you to be?"
"Her lieutenant." The demigod scowled.
"We're back where we started!"
Zoë burst out laughing at his frustration. "Must conversation always have a point, Percy? Can we not talk just to talk?"
His eyes softened, and he chuckled. "I guess so."
It wasn't long before the two started moving again. Zoë took the weights off Percy and the two dashed through the forest. Unlike the demigod, Zoë slung the weights across her shoulders and moved with little strain.
This was the body Styx wanted him to have.
"Alright, Percy?" laughed Zoë. The demigod shook his head, hands on his knees.
"How..." panted Percy. "Doesn't that feel heavy?"
"Of course it does. But I have been traveling with heavy baggage for centuries now. Pouches of rocks means little to me."
A Huntress slapped Percy gently on the back. When he looked up, he saw Celyn offering him a water bottle. He eagerly accepted it.
"Don't listen to her," said Celyn, giggling at how greedily he drank the water. "Zoë has always been ridiculously strong, even among the rest of us. Trying to compare yourself to her is pointless."
"Oh yeah? How?"
Zoë made a motion at the Huntress to hush but Celyn continued her teasing. "Did you know Zoë would wrestle stags by herself before she became lieutenant? I've even watched her go knock out a bear in a one-on-one match. Who knows what she could have done if she stopped holding-"
"Celyn."
Percy and the Huntress froze and turned turned to Zoë, who was sporting a cruel smile on her face.
"So," said Zoë. "It would appear you two still have some energy after today's training."
Celyn chuckled nervously and began backing up. "A-actually, I need to go get started on c-" Before she could escape, Zoë laid a firm hand on her shoulder. Percy took this as his cue to run - only to find that the lieutenant's other hand was already around his wrist. Despite his best attempts, he couldn't break free from her grip.
"Where are you two going?" asked Zoë innocently. Percy felt a cold shiver down his spine when he saw a malicious glint in her eye. "We have training to do."
Then, with barely any effort, she lifted the two of them up and carried the two back into the forest. Celyn turned to Percy with a resigned look.
"Here's another tip: pick a god and pray to them. You'll need it."
Kymopoleia stood defiantly before a horde of monsters. Waters swirled around her lashing out against those closest to her, but bouncing back before making contact.
"Step away, Greek," hissed a two-headed snake with legs. "This does not concern you. Your laws do not let you interfere."
The goddess glanced behind her, where a child was cowering behind her robes. She rolled her eyes.
"Frankly I couldn't care less what happens to the child," announced Kymopoleia. "However, ya have committed a grave sin against me. And that is all the reason I need." Her eyes shone brighter as she stepped forward.
"How dare ya get in my way."
One swipe. One swipe was all that was needed, and an army was gone. She tugged her robe out from the child's grasp and continued on her path.
"Wait!" yelled the child. Kympoloeia did not bother looking behind, choosing to keep walking.
"Thank you miss..." said the child, a little girl. She stumbled, before pushing herself up. "Um, what's your name?"
That got the goddess's attention. There was no way she could resist fame.
"Listen well, girl," declared Kymopoleia. She knelt down at the girl's level, ignoring the devastation around them. "Know that yer savior today is the goddess Kymopoleia, rule of the storms!"
"Whoa..." gasped the girl. "That's so cool!"
Kymopoleia beamed. "Yer a smart little lass, aren't ya? Know how to please one of us gods."
She then scrunched up her eyebrows. "Where are ya heading, lass? Children shouldn't be here."
"I dunno," replied the child. "I just remember running away from all those scary things. And then I ran into you!"
"And ya parents?" The girl cocked her head at the question.
"What are parents?"
Kymopoleia sighed, picking up the girl and plopping her on her shoulder. "Alright, child. I can't have my newest follower die so soon after meeting me. What say ye join me on my quest?"
"A quest!" The girl bounced excitedly on Kymopoleia's shoulder. "What kind of quest are we doing?"
"The greatest quest of them all," declared Kymopoleia. "We find one of the first gods. Primordials. What do you think?"
"Whoa... the first one?"
The goddess laughed. "Not the first one. But one of the first. She came a little later."
The little girl nodded sagely. "What is she the god of?"
"Goddess," reminded Kymopoleia. "And she was the first ruler of the seas, waters more vicious than my storms. I come to make sure she is asleep."
"Your waters are the strongest I've ever seen!" The goddess laughed
"My powers are but a puddle to her, lass. Come, let us venture on. What shall I call ye?"
The girl tilted her head, "Didn't you call me lass?"
"No, that's-" Kymopoleia sighed. "So be it, little one. From this day one, you will be known as Lass.
A/N: Well now, finally an update that doesn't take half a year to drop. Come yell at me at the Emerald Library if you want: discord . gg /elibrary
