Ch13
Magnus made it back to his cabin without any trouble. "Its still pretty early; I might as go back to bed," He said as he stretched a bit before falling onto his bed. He fell asleep right away and he soon realized he was in a room aligned with large Greek columns.
"Where am I?" He said as he looked around and saw a figure he recognized sitting in the chair in front of him. She wore Greek armor and he could see the resemblance to his cousin in her face while her long hair was braided down. "Athena," he whispered softly as he did a small bow out of respect. "What is the purpose of this visit?"
"Hello Magnus," she said with a nod of her head. The expression on her face was neutral she stared down at him. "You made the right choice not following your friends, I know it must have been difficult for you."
He looked away, "Yeah but I know that Annabeth really wanted to go and I just felt like that this quest wasn't meant for me." He didn't know how to explain it, nor did he want to say it to Percy and Annabeth but when he made the decision to not go he felt as if he should stay in the camp.
"True, my daughter followed you last time and took a big risk," Athena said with a sigh. "Three is a sacred number and breaking it wantonly will have many consequences." Magnus didn't answer as he stared at Athena. "Nevertheless, you chose well and your presence is greatly needed at the camp. Now I have come to warn you about something," she said in a calm tone.
"Warn me about what?" He asked looking into Athena's eyes which showed no emotion. In a way they reminded him of his cousin's eyes when she got mad or when she was thinking about something deeply.
"I reccomen you to stay at the camp. Do not leave it for now you are safer there for now," she said her eyes viewing him seriously. "I have been sensing something around the camp, the other Gods have not yet noticed but you should stay at the camp until this problem is resolved."
Magnus looked at Athena in surprise, "Safer from what? The monsters?"
Athena gave him a serious look that told him to not question it and he was thought that she wasn't going to respond. However, Athena sighed deeply, "Monsters may be the least of your troubles but do not worry in the future. I know your loyalty lies with Olympus and you would do your all to defend your friends and family. Do your best to be strong for the future," she said as she got up and looked at him with her piercing gaze.
Magnus opened his mouth and was going to ask her what she meant by that but the look in her eyes told him they were done. "Farewell Magnus Chase, stay safe and do not leave the camp until the current situation is fixed." The dream then turned fuzzy as it ended and the next thing he knew he was awake in bed looking up at the ceiling.
"What was that about," he muttered as he sat up and rubbed his eyes. He looked up and saw that it was morning, "Crap I better get ready for breakfast." He was already wearing his day clothes so he just washed his face and headed to get breakfast.
However, on the way, he was stopped by someone, "Hey Magnus have you seen Annabeth?" Magnus turned and saw his cousin's half brother Malcolm along with some other kids from the Athena Cabin.
Crap what should I say. I'll just play dumb. "I don't know Percy is gone too," he said trying his best to appear like he knew nothing.
Malcolm's eyes widened as he looked at his equally shocked cabinmates. "Ah ok, um thanks," he said as he and his cabinmates went to go eat.
Breakfast was pretty awkward as soon everyone realized that Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson were gone. He ignored the looks everyone was giving him and the whisperers of people trying to gossip about them. When Tantalus found out he threw a giant fit and said that they were not welcome back at camp. I doubt he will be able to enforce that, he will have to answer to their parents he thought as he got his plate and offered sacrifices to both Athena and Poseidon. Please keep them safe he thought as he watched the food go up in flames.
After breakfast, he went to the stables and found Silena Beauregard with the pegasi. "Hey Magnus all by yourself today?" She asked in an inquisitive tone.
"Yeah Percy and Annabeth must have run off somewhere," he said with a sigh. He felt Silena's eyes on him almost as if she were expecting him to say something else. He went over to one of the pegasi and started stroking its head. The Pegasus responded with a neigh as he patted its head.
"You really are good for the pegasi. Did Percy put in a good word for you?" Silena asked as she started combing another Pegasus next to him. He noticed that she was put a lot of emphasis on Percy's name but thought nothing of it.
Magnus laughed, "I don't know, probably not. I always seemed to get along with the pegasi and horses." It was true, they were always nice to him and were eager to let him ride them. They treated Percy better of course but they treated him almost as good.
"Yeah you have been here for a while huh?" Silena said right as he was about to get onto the horse.
He turned to face her, her face looked a little nervous almost as if she were forcing herself to talk to him, not that they haven't spoken to each other before though. "Um yeah I have been here for a while," he said as he got on the Pegasus. Maybe she just wants someone to talk to? He looked at Silena who nodded at her, she was pretty and all but she probably wouldn't be into a guy like him. "So I am going to practice with this one," he said. Silena nodded and gave him a small smile as the Pegasus he was on went and flew into the sky.
He felt her watch him the entire time out of the corner of her eyes. I wonder what her deal is? He couldn't help but shake the feeling that she was watching him for some reason. When he finished with the Pegasus he returned it and Silena approached him.
"You were really good. Almost as good as Percy," she said with a smile that appeared to be partially forced. "Its sad that he is gone, I wonder where he went?"
Does she want to know about Percy? She may be in the Aphrodite Cabin but she isn't a gossiper. "Yeah I know, I just woke up and he wasn't there," he said with a small smile. "Leaving me here all alone. So I'm not going anywhere anytime soon," he said with a small laugh as he felt that there was a bit of tension in the air.
He swore he saw a bit of relief in her face and she nodded head, "Well I hope everyone stays safe. Where are you off to now?"
"Oh um to Beckendorf I am going to help him in the forges and after lunch, we will patrol together," he said as he got his things. He swore he saw a hint of sadness on her face as she said goodbye to him.
"Well that was weird," he said as he made his way to the camp forges.
"Hey Magnus my man how are you," Beckendorf said with a smile as he looked up from a piece of metal he was working on.
"Great, just came back from riding the pegasi," he said as he set his stuff down.
"Can you help me with those shields? We need more of them for later along with swords and pretty much everything," Beckendorf said as he and some of his cabinmates were busily working on various projects.
"Sure no problem," he said as he went up to the station across from Beckendorf and began helping out with various tasks.
"So Percy and them left you all by yourself huh?" Beckendorf asked in a joking tone.
"Yeah what can I say they must have left in the middle of the night or something," he said smiling at Beckendorf.
Beckendorf laughed, "Yeah well don't worry I can keep you company if you get lonely. Are you still down to do patrols later?"
"Thanks, and yeah I plan to. I'm not the best fighter but I'll do my best," he said as he helped reforge a sword.
"Man you are pretty good, I mean you are not the best fighter but you are decent," Beckendorf said. "I mean you and Percy went on a quest together and all."
"Yeah thanks I try my best," he said as he helped put the sword in the water to cool. "The patrols have been getting crazier lately huh?"
Beckendorf sighed and nodded, "Yeah man, it doesn't help that Tantalus does not seem to care about the camp's safety. But that just means us campers have to step it up," he said smiling at him.
Beckendorf was a nice guy and he knew that he was a loyal friend. He reminds me a lot like Percy, they are both willing to do anything to protect the ones they love. "Oh Beckendorf how is your chariot doing? Did it get damaged in the attack?"
Beckendorf sighed, "It had a few dents nothing I can't fix though. Did you and Percy work on yours by yourselves?"
Yeah but as you could tell it wasn't the best."
"Well I don't mind showing you some stuff when you are free," Beckendorf said.
"Sure that would be cool," Magnus said. Beckendorf smiled at him as they continued to work until it was time for lunch. He went to get dinner with Beckendorf and some of his cabinmates but sat alone since he did not want any more trouble with Tantalus.
After lunch, he quickly went to get changed in his armor before meeting Beckendorf and the other members who were doing the patrol with them. "Nice to have you here Magnus," Beckendorf said with a big smile.
"Thanks, its good to be here," he said as Beckendorf counted heads.
"Alright everyone we will patrol together. Remember to stay close to each other and we will work with the other patrol groups when we can. Do not attempt to do anything too dangerous," Beckendorf warned. Everyone nodded as they headed towards the barrier of the camp.
They passed by Thalia's tree which looked almost devoid of all leaves and as if it had been dumped in acid. Its looking worse every day he thought as he remembered how she had sacrificed herself so that they could all escape. Thanks Thalia, we may have not gotten along but I hope we can help your tree get better. As he passed the tree he felt a twinge in his heart, he felt sorry for her. She didn't ask for that fate I wonder if she is suffering as she is poisoned he thought as they walked past it.
Annabeth cared for her a lot even though she was kind of a bitch to me he thought he as he reminisced about all the times they fought and she would beat him up until Annabeth or Luke would have to stop her.
"Alright everyone stay alert," Beckendorf said as they crossed the permitter. Magnus activated his shield and drew his sword as he looked around carefully. The area they were at was quiet but he would not lower his guard.
The campers in the group were also on alert as they walked around the border. That was when they heard the growl of a group of large creatures.
"Everyone get in positions," Beckendorf ordered. Magnus and everyone around them raised their shields and gripped their weapons as a group of large bulls came charging at them.
"Not them again," he muttered as Beckendorf yelled some orders. The archers in their group fired off some arrows while some of the campers attempted to stab at it. At least there aren't a lot of them this time he thought as he gripped his sword.
The bulls charged at their position. Magnus helped Beckendorf and some other campers with the bull closet to them. These things are tough he thought as he slashed at it with his sword. Beckendorf and the others were hacking at the bull from every corner. He stabbed the pull in one of its front legs and it roared and pain as it kicked him in surprise. He let out a cry as he felt the bull's leg kick his shield and he flew a few feet away and into some other campers.
"Magnus are you alright man?" Beckendorf yelled as he attacked the bull, eventually landing a fatal strike.
"Damn it, Yeah a little," he said as he felt his body spin and pain spread from his arm to the rest of his body. The shield took most of the attack and he felt his whole body shake while his shield arm was throbbing like crazy.
"Take it easy Magnus don't get hurt too quickly now," Beckendorf said as he slowly got up with the help of a few Apollo medics.
Magnus only nodded as a medic named Will Solace who chanted a prayer to Apollo while another gave him a small piece of ambrosia. Magnus felt the pain in his arm disappear and felt his body become better. "Thanks guys," he said as one of them handed him his sword.
"Don't force yourself too much," Will warned him.
Magnus smiled at him and nodded, "Thanks, I will try not to." The Apollo medic sighed as he patted his back and went to check on the other wounded (he crashed into a few others). Magnus inspected his shield and found a small dent in it. Crap doesn't look bad but Beckendorf can fix it later he thought as he gripped his sword in his hand as he watched Beckendorf and the others fight the bulls.
"Looks like we are slowly pushing them back," He noticed as he watched Beckendorf and a few others take down another bull. "But they sure are a pain in the ass," he said as he went back to the patrol group.
His arm was still felt a little too tender for him to use his big axe so he just used his sword and assisted where he could. He attacked another pull with Beckendorf, he was more careful this time to avoid anywhere it could attack him. With Beckendorf's help they managed to land a lethal attack on its neck causing the beast to moan in pain before falling down and disappearing.
"Good job Magnus; glad to see you are better already," Beckendorf said with a smile.
He let out a small laugh, "Thanks Beckendorf."
"Just try not to get sent flying again or your cousin will kill me," Beckendorf said.
"I'll try," he said with a smile as he looked at the remaining bulls. He and Beckendorf along with a small group of other campers engaged the remaining bulls. Magnus eyed them cautiously as he gripped his weapons as one of them charged at them. "Hey Beckendorf, how about we try to encircle it and go for its neck and limbs?"
Beckendorf looked at him and smiled, "Good idea Magnus, you really are Annabeth's cousin aren't you?"
"Hey," he said as he smiled back at Beckendorf who only laughed.
"Ok everyone, try and encircle it and go for the limbs," Beckendorf shouted. The campers in their group shouted in agreement as they made a formation while the bull charged at them while campers readied their spears and shields along with other weapons.
The bull charged at them and the campers quickly encircled them and started stabbing at its legs and neck. The bull roared in anger and shot fire at them but the front row had shields and did not hurt them. "Come guys lets attack them with all of our might," Beckendorf yelled.
The campers closed in on the bull and attacked it with spears and swords. Magnus charged with his sword alongside Beckendorf. They hacked at the bull's neck as it let out a loud roar of pain. The bull shot of blasts of fire in an erratic fashion some hitting campers some missing their target by a long shot.
Magnus's attention was on the bull, he slashed at it with his sword before piercing it and driving the blade down while Beckendorf landed a hit on its head. The bull let out a final groan as it fell and collapsed and disappeared.
"Nice idea Magnus," Beckendorf said as he wiped the sweat off his head.
"Yeah thanks, we still have a few more he looks like," Magnus said as he breathed deeply. His body was covered in sweat and he wanted more than anything to have a nice shower right now.
"Come on guys lets go we have a few more left for our patrol," Beckendorf said trying to sound as encouraging as possible. The other campers nodded, many were tired and some were wounded. Will Solace offered him a water bottle and a towel which he used to wipe the sweat off of his face. He drank the water and thanked Will as he looked at the remaining monsters.
Man today turned out longer than I thought he sighed as he helped Beckendorf with the remaining monsters. The few bulls that were left they took out without any trouble, they simply repeated their strategy with the last one. While the remaining monsters were killed. They just keep coming he thought as he slashed at another monster while protecting himself with his shield.
"Are you hanging in their man?" Beckendorf asked, his face looking tired and he was covered in sweat and his clothes stuck to him like a second layer of skin.
"Yeah I am, just a little tired," Magnus said with a sigh.
"Good lets finish this up then," Beckendorf said. With that Beckendorf led them to defeat the last of the monsters and led them back to camp.
"Man that was tiring," he said as they entered the camp.
"Yeah man there were a lot more today than usual," Beckendorf said with a sigh. "But you did good dude. Make sure you rest well."
"Thanks man I will," Magnus said with a sigh as he headed off to get a nice shower.
After he got a shower he quickly went to eat dinner and ignored Tantalus and his various insults he fired at anyone who he felt like insulting. I wonder how Percy and Annabeth are doing, hopefully, they find Grover soon he thought as he went to give some of his food as a sacrifice before finishing it. It is so weird sitting at a table alone not that I mind he thought as he looked at the Athena and Hermes tables which were full of people. I wonder if Percy ever felt lonely sitting here alone he thought as he looked up at the ceiling. Thinking about it he realized that Percy was sometimes more talkative with him during meals and practice since they did them together even if they were practicing with another cabin.
"I'm sure they will do fine," he said as he finished his food and decided to head over to the medic station and help out.
"Hey Magnus glad you can help out," Will Solace said with a bright smile on his face.
He nodded, "No problem I don't mind. To be honest this feels easier than being on patrol."
Will Solace laughed, "Yeah I imagine can you help me administer the ambrosia?" He nodded and helped Will and some of the other medics out.
"There you go," Will said as he gave some ambrosia to an injured camper. He handed Will some pieces of ambrosia that he cut himself as Will carefully wrote down how much was given to each camper and at what time.
"Thanks Magnus," Will said with a bright smile. "You know I don't know what it is about you but whenever you are here it feels as if you are one of us."
"One of us?" He asked curiously as Will wrote down some details of a patient on a notepad.
"You know a son of Apollo. It's just that when you are here you just radiate sometimes and it feels like you are a natural healer," Will said.
"Oh um thanks, I haven't been claimed but I don't think I am a son of Apollo. I mean I'm not good at music at all or archer," he said with a small laugh.
Will laughed, "Yeah that is true. But Apollo is the god of medicine and healing and you are really good at it for someone who isn't his son."
"Thanks," he said as he felt his face redden. He wasn't used to praise and Will was always friendly with him.
"No problem we enjoy you helping out here," Will said with a smile. Magnus only nodded as he helped Will with the last of the patients before heading off to bed in his cabin.