Here we are again with the next chapter!
Apologies for takin a while but just wanted to get it right. Consider this the big jump into the next Act.
Hope you guys are getting excited as I am!
CHAPTER 15: SEE YOU SOON
Gods damn stupid piece of shit. Can't believe I gotta… with this fucking… I just wanna… son of a bitch. Motherfu–
"Arthur," D stopped me.
"...fine." I replied in my head.
This sucked.
There was a tense silence as we committed to the punishment dealt to us. Rightfully so, I suppose. There was a moment where I caught him catching his breath after rearranging about a dozen tables and thought it'd be enjoyable to poke a little fun at the meathead.
Maturity isn't always my strongest suit.
"Getting tired over there?" I mocked. "I guess those big muscles are just for show– "
My eyes just managed to catch his slight bit of movement that allowed me to react to one of the massive hammers nearby that Emile effortlessly threw at me. Immediately, I brought my shield up but wasn't expecting the sudden weight of the hammer making contact, nearly throwing me off balance. I peaked over the shield to see his dumb face smirking.
"They're more than just for show, pal." He rolled his shoulder. "Cute little shield by the way."
Not going to lie, that was impressive. But you think I'm going to admit that? What are you, crazy!?
I scoffed. "Yeah, cute. Just like how you fight. No wonder I kicked your ass yesterday… in this very room."
"Huh, so the sons of Ares are pretty shitty liars too."
The more I spoke to him, the more I got agitated. "All I know is that I'm not the one that got their big head smacked around like a pinball machine."
"I'm sorry, who got thrown through the window again?" he egged on.
"And, who got speared through a table again?"
At this point, the both of us had completely stopped what we we're doing a while ago and got heated with each sentence.
I glared at the son of Hephaestus with a burning intensity whilst the son of Ares in me was doing the talking. "Do you really believe you can stand in front of me… and beat me in a one-on-one, ol' fashioned fistfight?"
He began rubbing his hands together, cracking his knuckles like he was already preparing for a rematch. "Let me tell you something; you and me? one-on-one? No Chiron, no special help, no nothing? The answer is simple; I will beat your ass like a hammer to an anvil."
The two of us started inching closer.
"Maybe one day we'll find out." I scowled.
He looked amused. "Oh, you better hope that day never comes."
"How's everything lookin–" Jake walked in through the door and immediately just sighed. "Wow… well at least that table is upright."
Like a sign from the gods, one of the legs on that very table snapped in two as the rest of it crumpled over. It was probably holding on for dear life.
We kept up the next hour or so like this which meant we had to skip breakfast. I think the both of us silently agreed we didn't want to be in each other's company any longer, so the quickest way to do that was to just put our heads down and get this over and done with. The two of us picked our sides of the room and started there. Emile had appropriately put his earbuds in, and for a good 50 minutes, we actually got some real work done.
Whilst he had his music to listen to, I resorted to humming one of the old military cadences' Mom would sing. I never knew the name of it but it was about the family of an airborne ranger. I always liked the tune to it and I basically hummed it on repeat to help me get through the tedious labor.
I didn't even realize Emile had pulled out his earbuds and was just staring at me until he said, "would you mind… if you STOPPED humming that song!"
Asshole…
"I can hum if I want to," I simply replied.
He exhaled slowly. "Look, I know you can but I'm asking you to stop. You've been humming the same thing for the past 30 minutes and I can actually hear it through my music."
"Well if you're asking, then I'll stop."
"Thank you."
So I started whistling.
"Arthur, pettiness does not suit you," D sighed.
It looked like Emile was ready to snap. I don't know why, but he's the only person I actually enjoyed pissing off. I was hoping he'd retaliate, instead he turned his music up and went back to work. I did too. Only five minutes passed until something else came up again.
I never actually watched him work before but when I did, the look on his face was just annoying me. The dude was almost smiling, as he worked. Completely in his own world. Like he was actually enjoying what he was doing. This guy needs to get a decent hobby.
Like… you're just going to smile whilst I'm busting my ass off over here?
"Arthur," D grumbled but I ignored him.
"Hey." I got his attention. "Could you not smile like that?"
I had the satisfaction of watching that dumb smile immediately drop.
"Oh, so you can hum but I can't smile?" he said.
"Yep."
I went back to my humming.
"Seriously… STOP humming!"
It was funny. I could actually start to sense his anger, as if I could almost hear his own heart beat and blood pressure.
He continued. "This isn't the Ares Cabin where you can just act like a stuck-up douchebag who thinks he's better than everyone else."
Ohohoho, yeah he's a little shit isn't he?
"How about you stop being so overtly happy about doing shit work you moron."
"Yo guys!" Travis called through the window. "The Demeter cabin is hosting a picnic, later for lunch. Heard Billie's making her signature garlic bread again, so you know my waistline is not gonna be happy about tha–"
"It's a bad time, Travis!" The two of us shouted in unison as we stared at Travis and then back at each other.
"Alright…" Travis cautiously made his exit.
We continued staring at each other.
"I'm going for a water break," Emile said, stone-faced and not breaking eye-contact with me as he went out the door.
I tried going back to work but about a literal three seconds went by until he came storming back in and we were staring off once more.
He approached me. "You know what I just did? I just walked out that door, saw a group of other campers and was about to start bad-mouthing you behind your back but I stopped myself, because my mama told me that anyone who talks behind someone's back is a coward."
Not going to lie, I was kind of surprised. "Wow, you know that's actually really mature of you."
"I know… that's why I'm going to tell it directly to your face."
"...okay."
Nevermind.
"I don't like you."
Great start.
"I think you're a poor excuse for a demigod. The way you punch? It's like being hit by a child who hasn't eaten in three days."
…what?
"You are the worst thing to have walked through those borders and it makes no sense that you walked through them and he didn't. And now there's no one…"
It was like he was spewing out everything he's been holding back since I got here.
"...except for you."
No one else could have said that with any more animosity.
"Are you done?" I said, the words he was saying to me weren't really registering. At this point, I was just sick of this guy's rambling. I've been as honest as I could but he doesn't want to hear me out, so there's nothing else I could do.
"No… if we were in the wild, I would eat you. Even if we were in separate food-chains, I would go out of my way to eat you."
Again, with these weird analogies.
I just listened, not sure whether to be hurt or confused.
"If I was a–"
"Emile! Arthur!" Jake burst into the Forge. "Again!?"
To be honest, I was kind of interested in where Emile was going with that last one.
We figured out that the only way for us to actually get some work done was to have someone physically be there to supervise us. It was humiliating but it did the job and the two of us spent the rest of the clean-up not saying a single word to each other. It took a little while longer but we finally got done with the Forge, around the last straw of the hours, Sherman had to come in for extra supervision as things were getting heated again but other than that there were no more tense back-and-forths.
"Childish back-and-forths," D said.
Whatever…
Once we got the green light, Emile and I immediately went our separate ways. I know Chiron said to meet him afterwards to continue our discussion but my first instinct was to head back to the pavilion overlook. I just needed that space again. The view was still stunning, this time with the sun high in the sky as it reflected off the water like glitter. For once, I just wanted to think about nothing until I realized how hard that was to actually do.
"I have words, if I may share them," the spartan asked politely.
"Go for it," I submitted.
"Though you were provoked. That was not an appropriate reaction. Bursting out like that. Need you be reminded?
I continued to block that memory. "Low blow, D… but you're right. It's just… how can I walk away? Everyone says that; 'Walk away', 'Turn the other cheek' but you can't walk away from everything. Sometimes you have to stand your ground."
"Standing your ground and striking back are two different things, Arthur," D replied. "It feels good, maybe. You tell yourself that you 'did something' but all you did was prove that you cannot control yourself. You must be stronger, you must be better. A weak man may find any reason to lash out. A strong man is capable of finding a reason not to."
"But not defending myself, not fighting back. That shows weakness, doesn't it? Can't even stand up for myself."
"Your mother never struck back, is she weak?"
"...no." I admitted. Of course Mom wasn't weak, but I still struggled to understand. "So I just shouldn't get mad? Just ignore it and go on with my day all happy?"
"I never said you did not have the right to be mad."
"Then what are you saying?" I said with a little more strength in my voice. "You're supposed to be a spartan. Aren't you guys all about being kick-ass warriors, who don't take any shit? I've seen the movie, you guys are always angry. I've tried everything but somehow it all just leads to violence. Violence is in my blood and being the son of the literal 'God of War' is just the nail to the coffin. I'm not my Mom. Maybe, I should just accept it."
"From what I understand, that movie is not entirely accurate, but now I want you to listen."
"Not like I have a choice."
He waited until there was absolute silence, not only silence in where we were but also waiting until my mind paid full attention.
"Arthur," he began, "you think being capable of violence is a curse but I do not believe that. You must first have violence within you before you can have the discipline to control it. That is the virtue of non-violence. In my eyes, there is nothing virtuous about living a life abstinent of violence if you cannot commit in the first place."
I guess that makes sense.
"Of course it does. Violence is a weapon, and like any weapon, its purpose comes from the user. Take your spear; In the hands of an old man, it's a walking stick. In the hands of a warrior, it becomes so much more. The power of any weapon is born from here…"
The pendant softly hummed as it began to radiate. I looked down at my chest to see a faint red glow in the area where my heart would be.
"...but only when tempered by the mind of the one wielding it."
The faint glow began to move, taking shape on my face as I felt a slight heat on my forehead.
"That is what makes a true warrior. A true spartan. Your mother understood this, and in time, you will too. So I am not asking you to let go of your anger, Arthur."
"What are you asking?"
"To wield it."
To wield it… if things weren't already confusing enough. I hadn't really understood what the old spartan was talking about. None of it still makes sense to me. I get angry, I act. I'm 'wielding' my anger, aren't I?
It's honestly been a terrible start to the day, no thanks to that whole morning with Emile. It became apparent that disassociating was not helping. I appreciate D trying to get through to me but I don't think I was in the proper mood for it. There's no point in stalling anymore, it was time to head over to the Big House and get started with Chiron. That's what I really need to focus on now. I stood up, dusted myself off and went on my way. Since classes were still happening, the number of wandering campers was at a minimum so I was optimistically expecting a nice uninterrupted walk. I was walking past the cabins until I got the jumpscare of my life.
"Didn't see you at sparring today, slick."
My whole body did a 180 towards the voice only to see Flip sneakily leaned up against a wall of one of the buildings.
"Jesus Christ, Flip!" I exclaimed.
"Christians aren't going to be too happy you said that."
"Not right now, man. I'm busy."
"Oh, sure you are." He started strolling alongside me. "Heard about last night. And you were at Chiron's for how long?"
"Like I said; busy."
"Oh okay, well did you manage to talk to Chiron about all the shit that happened?" he asked. My mind paused, unsure if I had the liberty to tell him. "Where are you going now?"
My brain farted. "Uh… I'm going for a walk."
Flip just laughed. "Great, guess I'm going on a walk too."
"No, dude I'm fine."
"Nah, I'll tag along."
"No!"
He swiped my clear 'no' away with a laugh.
"You're being followed," he mocked.
The next couple minutes I did everything I could to shake Flip off but nothing was working. He was just way too persistent about tagging along. I know he knows part of what's going on but after the talk with Chiron, I'm pretty sure this was something he wouldn't want open to the public so I assumed secrecy.
"...I haven't heard from you since the 'Royal Rumble' at the Forge, it just got me stressing a little bit."
"I appreciate that, Flip, but seriously I'm fine–"
And just when I thought one was too much…
"Heard you got your ass kicked by the Hephaestus kids," Val joined the conversation. It was like she materialized out of thin-air.
Have they just been waiting for me?
"Ooh, double-team," Flip smiled.
"Okay, the both of you, just stop." All three of us stopped just before the hill leading up to the Big House. "Look, guys, I appreciate you two looking out for me but I think I should do this on my own."
"Cool. Opinion noted, but I think we're going to ignore it anyway," Flip said.
"Arthur, we're the only two you've talked to about anything," Val said, "and what, you've been here for a couple weeks? We've been here for the majority of our lives. We can tell when something's going on. You're going to want our help."
"Hate to admit it but the moron's right," Flip added.
"Fuck you."
I looked at the two who were staring right at me. Almost everything I've done, I've done alone. And as much as it can suck, I'd rather be alone than having to be responsible for the life of someone else. The last time I had that responsibility… well, we all know how that turned out. But these two don't give me the impression they'll take no for an answer and maybe they are right about some things.
"So, the both of you really want to come?"
Flip and Val just gave me a disappointed look like that was the most stupid question I could have asked.
I sighed. "Alright then, I guess we're all going."
"Great, so what's the situation with you and Chiron?" Val asked.
"I think it's better if I let him explain."
Knock, knock, kno–
The door swung wide open as Argus stood in the doorway, each of the hundreds of eyes scanning the three of us.
"Argus!" Flip shouted abruptly, "My man!"
"I'm here to talk to Chiron," I moved on.
Without delay, Argus made way for all three of us to enter. I was once again met with that smell that reminded me of my grandparent's house. The combination of furnished wood and carpet. Argus led us up and just outside Chiron's office.
Weird, how I was literally just here yesterday, picking up where we left off.
Argus gave four consecutive, clean knocks and for a second there was no reply until we heard the approval of Chiron's voice through the door. Argus nodded towards me as he turned the handle. Walking into the room, everything was laid out exactly the same as I last saw it. If anything it was cleaner. Chiron stood behind the desk taking off his glasses like he was just finished reading something.
"Ah, Mr Pride, there is much to–" He looked up and was surprised by the two extra individuals. "Miss Aldara and Mr Ganzorig, an unexpected visit."
"Sorry, sir," I apologized, "I know you probably want this kept discreet… but they're in this as much as I am now."
I was waiting for some form of disapproval but the centaur just smiled. "Good."
The three of us got settled in as the door shut behind us. Chiron had his arms crossed in his usual stance. We thought it appropriate to have a little recap so as to catch Flip and Val up to speed. It was a fairly lengthy recap and Chiron made sure to leave out no details. Hearing it again made me remember the whole scale of it all and started bringing back some of the pressure. Val seemed the appropriate amount of interested and concerned, it was clear that the relation to the nightmares flicked a switch in her head. Flip, however, reacted with the most unsurprised, nonchalant…
"Alright."
…I've ever heard.
"With Gaea's return being imminent, I cannot divert my attention nor shift the entire focus of the camp," Chiron said. "I'll have to rely on you to look into this."
"Are you saying, we're going on a quest?" Flip perked up.
Val frowned. "Aww, man, does that mean we have to go to the oracle? But she talks so slow."
"You need not worry about Rachel's riddles, Valerie, for this endeavor will not be under the guidance of a quest," Chiron answered. "Among normal circumstances, it would be, but these are not normal circumstances. Therefore, the four of you will forego this mission with no prophecy."
"Wait, the four of us?" I questioned him.
Right then, we heard another four knocks at the door.
"Come in!" Chiron said.
And coming right through the door, three heavy steps stomp against the wood. Taking up most of the door-frame, with that dumb looking face, was Emile Forrester. All my senses just had an electric shock.
Both of our eyes grew wide upon the sight of each other which turned into immediate disgust.
"Oh, my day just got a whole lot better," Emile said, which I assume was sarcastic.
"You've gotta be kidding me," I complained, rightfully so. "Chiron, do you want to tell me why you put me in a room with this obnoxious, oversized son of a bitch."
"That's a lot of big talk, coming from a small man," the Hephaestus boy scowled.
Meanwhile, Flip and Val were just silent watching this whole spectacle unfold.
"Gentlemen," Chiron interjected. The two of us still glared at each other. "This decision was my choice and you shall respect it. I had my discussion with both of you and If you haven't yet realized, the both of you have very similar goals."
Our faces twitched.
What could I possibly have in common with this guy?
"I'm sure we all would like to see our Birch safe and alive."
Dammit… but there's still no way I'm working with him.
"That's all I'm here for." He looked me dead in the eye and scoffed. "To be honest, I couldn't care less about the nightmares or 'rogue demigods'. Makes no difference. If there's a chance to save Birch, I'm taking it… "
"You'll be taking my fist down your throat, that's what you'll be takin–"
"Arthur!" Both Chiron and Dienekes said. If only they could hear each other.
The look on Chiron's face told me everything about what I should do next. And as much as I didn't want to. I sat down and shut my mouth. Emile did the same. There was a sudden intense silence as the mood of the room tried to calm itself down.
Flip broke the silence. "Hey, uh, Chiron? As much as I'm all for 'the more the merrier', isn't Three kind of the lucky number? And going past that means…"
"We'll be fineeee," Val said.
Wait, going past that means what?
Chiron again, scruffed his goatee. "I understand your concerns, Phillip. In all honesty, I was not expecting the two of you and I doubt any of the four of you will step out now. Though, considering this is an 'unofficial quest', I do not expect any major… catastrophes."
Flip adjusted the collar of his jacket.
"Hold on." I raised my hand out of instinct. I definitely needed some clarification. "What happens when we go over three?"
"Oh, you know, people dying, going missing, the whole thing failing, etc," Val delightfully answered.
It took my mind a while to process that properly. "Uhuh… welp, see ya, Emile!"
Chiron sighed as the Hephaestus boy laughed in the background. I was hoping for Chiron to eventually agree but I already knew what his answer was. It didn't deter me from going out there and finding Birch, but it just made me more pissed at the person who is clearly going to continue being a burden on this whole quest… mission… thingy.
With a silent tension filling the room, accompanied by subtle grumbling and mumbling, Chiron proceeded to outline what exactly our next steps should be. We are to leave during the night, past the curfew to further secure the overall 'secrecy' of the mission. Camp staff will be notified so, thankfully, we won't get eaten by any of the harpies. Chiron will handle the reasoning of our absence if it were relevant. Next, Argus will be waiting just outside the camp borders ready to take us back into Manhattan where this 'associate', whose name is still kept in the dark, will meet us and go from there.
So far, this mission was very much an investigation of some sorts but we should be prepared for anything Chiron says. The others looked fairly relaxed but who knows what they're thinking. I, for one, am feeling the pressure. I felt like there was an expectation, whether set by myself or the others. I was chosen to handle this. I don't need another messup.
"Question, Chiron. Well two." Val piped up. "How safe is this 'associate' of ours and where are we meeting him?"
"You need not worry, Valerie." Chiron stood confident. "I feel safer knowing he will be there. The anonymity is simply for security. He said to meet you in Chinatown."
"And, what exactly is he helping us with?" Emile spoke.
"He will lead you in the right direction," Chiron answered. "He was to be your only source of guidance in that world but…" His gaze shifted to Flip "... I suppose that is not the case any longer."
It took a minute for Flip to process all eyes were on him but as soon as he got the context, he let out a disappointed sigh. For some reason, Emile and Val understood immediately, Val even chuckled slightly, but I had no idea what they were talking about.
"Uhh…"
Chiron tilted his head, in slight surprise to my confusion. "I thought you would have told him."
"Yeah," I said. "Told me what?"
Flip took a deep breath. "I don't think we have to–"
"Jackass over here fought for Kronos," Val speedily cut in.
"Thank you. Valerie." Flip glared at her. "We really needed that. I appreciate your contributions to this conversation."
"You're welcome," she smiled.
"Huh?!" I exclaimed.
"Okay, let's take a couple steps back here!" Flip was quick to add-on. "First off, I was peer-pressured; not really much of a choice back then when you're the son of a minor god. Second… I never really liked that whole experience. When they were giving out pardon's after the war, I came straight back."
I feel like there should be a lot more context added to that. Either way, I have just learned something very new about my, usually, private friend. Doesn't change how I think about him. Like Chiron said, I really have no biases to this.
"No need to explain yourself, Phillip," Chiron said. "You're not the only one. What I mean to say is that Mr Ganzorig here has experience in the world outside our camp and I'm sure they are valuable insights, if he chooses to share them."
There was a mutual exchange between the two that I wasn't quite able to catch but something was silently discussed.
"Now, I believe that is all. Any questions?"
It wasn't a question but my mind drifted to the memory of the mysterious warrior that I faced during the capture the flag game. It was a detail too crucial to simply leave out. So, I told Chiron about the whole encounter. The eerie singing, the ashen armor, the strange accent and the unique spear. I've already told Flip and Val everything that happened and Flip still looked like he was trying to figure out. Whilst I was telling Chiron all of this, he started off mildly concerned then quickly grew to an almost panic-like state.
"Those were the words?" he asked wide-eyed. "You swear those were the exact words he sang!?"
My body did a double-take at the sudden drop in his demeanor. "Yes… Chiron, what's wrong?"
His eyes began moving side-to-side rapidly, like his brain was going a billion miles per hour. Everyone in the room watched him intently, seeing a side of the wise centaur we thought we'd never see. He started muttering to himself and I only managed to understand a few phrases.
"Impossible… but the Doors… Gaea…"
I managed to catch his quick glance to the empty gap among his decorations that once held the spear of Achilles. Chiron almost looked pale.
"Argus!" he beckoned. "I want you to double your watch, double the patrols, double the security… double everything!"
I could tell that all of us, even Emile, were starting to get a little worried. Argus was getting a little anxious as well, especially with the mountain of orders he just received.
"Chiron," Val was the first to speak. "Care to tell us what's going on?"
He gripped the edge of his desk, still muttering with a few heavy breaths in between. It took a moment but he managed to calm himself down. He was still a little on edge but he seemed to have reverted to his mostly composed self.
"There are things… even with all that you have seen and have been taught… that are difficult to understand." Chiron then turned to me. "And if what you say is true, Arthur. And my suspicions are correct. Then all of you must be extra careful."
Flip leaned forward. "Okay. Sir. This is getting a little creepy so would you mind telling us what we should be careful of exactly? I mean this wouldn't be our first wackjob demigod or monster we've come across. And they didn't seem hostile in any way."
"I understand where you are coming from, Phillip. But that's what I'm afraid of. They were here, unannounced and uninvited. They may not be hostile but we still do not know their purpose, and I think it's best we keep it that way."
"And so, you're not going to tell us who you think it is?" Val popped the question.
"No," he responded almost immediately. "I'm sorry, but I have not the heart to tell you."
That just made it more concerning.
"What if we come across him again?" I asked.
He paused for a moment as a grim expression took over his face. "If they are who I believe them to be… a fight should be your last option."
More silence enveloped the room.
Emile coughed. "Well, that's comforting."
Chiron let out a big sigh. "Again, I'm sorry to put this on all of you but you know your mission, you know what needs to be done."
He looked at me when he said that.
"I suppose all that is left to do is to prepare yourselves. The rest of the day is yours. Do what you deem appropriate. Come night, you will venture into the unknown. And remember, this endeavor is not for any god or superficial duty we are taught to uphold. This is for the camp. More importantly, for the people within it. This is for us."
Chiron looked at each of us, as if he watched his words linger on in our minds. After that final piece, the four of us exited the Big House and were left standing on the porch overlooking the entire Camp.
Val leaned up against one of the handrails. "Well, this just got a lot more interesting."
"Rogue demigods," Emile uttered into the breeze, before side-eyeing me. "So it wasn't even a monster."
It was a cheap little jab but all things considered I decided to let it slide. Well, technically Dienekes told me to let it slide but still I'll take maturity points.
"Didn't know there were any out there, still."
"Oh, there's a lot, Val," Flip said. "I mean 'rogue' is not really the term we use but I guess it doesn't really matter."
"No it does not," Val replied in a strange manner. It was like a combination of bitterness and regret. It seemed like Flip knew exactly what she meant but he wasn't telling me.
"Hey, Arthur. Out of curiosity, did you manage to catch some of the names from the four that attacked you?" Flip asked me.
Obviously I remembered the name Nathaniel Phorran but I had to think hard to remember the others until two of them came to me. "Yeah. Nathaniel Phorran and then there was a Trish and a Clarence, I think. Didn't catch the fourth guy's name."
"Geez, Nate's still around, huh?" Val said.
"Always liked him," Flip admitted. "Never lost his 'nice' streak. Popular for that very reason. I only know Trish by reputation. And Clarence; chill guy, smarter than he seems."
"You know a lot about them," I said.
"Like Chiron, mentioned. I was them. At least for a while."
Val scratched her head, and again tapped her foot. "So, what, are we meant to stop them?"
"'Investigate', I think is what Chiron said. Which could still very well lead to that," I answered. "But the priority is Birch. Get him back. We have to. We don't know what they might do with him. It's my fault he's there in the first place."
"Got that right."
Oh, fuck off.
It seems like his only place in this conversation is to irritate me, in which case he's doing a perfect job. I took a heavy breath as I started making my way towards him but Flip promptly put himself between us.
Brave. Foolish. But brave.
"I'm surprised somebody actually gave a guy like Arthur a run for his money," Val commented.
Not what happened but, okay.
"Like a fox digging into the henhouse," Emile nodded proudly.
"What?"
I was happy that Val found his metaphors, or whatever you want to call them, as confusing as I did.
"Wanna go for round 2?" I confronted him.
"Oookay, slick, let's just bring it back a little. How about a do-over? Hi, I'm Flip…" Flip took Emile's hand and shook it, resulting in a physical reaction. "...ow- wow that is a strong grip. You should not pick a fight with this person."
Val seemed to find all this entertaining. "Arthur did."
Flip continued. "Exactly. Which is why, since we're going to be working together, we should find alternative forms of communication."
"Apologies, Flip," the son of Hephaestus softly smiled. "I just have a bad history with assholes who try to get on my nerves."
"Funny, so do I," I retorted. In honesty, that was in bad taste considering my literal bad history but I wasn't wrong.
"Oh yeah… a lot more interesting," Val chuckled, followed by Flip's nervous laughter
Emile started heading down the stairs. "I'm gonna hit the hay. I'll see you guys later. Oh and Arthur…" his smile dropped.
He proceeded to say something in a language that I was unfamiliar with. The only thing I understood was the clear aggression in his words. Flip and I looked at each other in pure confusion.
"I think he just said… 'stay the fuck out of my way' in Samoan. Or something like that."
The two of us turned towards Val.
"What?" she said, completely unaware. "This place has a Languages class, you know. Chiron always says, 'being multilingual is a great way to survive in this world'. I took it as an elective…"
Our faces were blank.
"Seriously? You guys didn't– nevermind."
I looked back down to see Emile lumbering away as he thrusted his middle finger up in the air right at me without even looking back.
… fuck that guy.
The rest of the day felt like a blur. After the conference at the Big House, the four of us went off to do our own things. I think Val said she wanted to get some more practice with her rapier. Flip said he'll just 'hang around'. And I decided to spend the day with my siblings. Though, it all felt so secondary compared to what's about to really happen. Amongst the combat training and winding down in our cabin, I wasn't really in the moment. I said the right things, acted the right way but my mind was somewhere else. Usually being around a personality like Sherman always cheered me up but every hour I felt like I was counting the individual minutes as they went by.
I couldn't decide whether I was anxious or excited. I just knew that I couldn't mess this up. I don't know what I would do with myself if I did.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Gods, monsters and all that… but right now it comes down to helping a friend. A friend in need.
'Failure'. A word that did donuts around my head. I couldn't stop thinking about it.
Eventually, the sun came down, dinner went by and all the cabins were starting to fall asleep. I had already prepared my little rucksack beforehand. Packing everything I thought we might need and that was available to me. Food, spare clothes, a map of Manhattan, first aid kit which Will happily lended to me. He must have known what was going on. I contemplated bringing one of the spears but decided not too. It wasn't a problem of sticking out like a sore thumb, the Mist handled that. It just felt too clunky. My shield should be enough. It's served me well so far.
I laid still in my bed, dressed and ready to go, as I awaited my opportunity. The discussed meeting time was 'past curfew', so I waited for the official 'lights-out' before I started making my move. Once I heard what I needed to hear. I patiently waited a few dozen more minutes until I was confident the cabin was fast asleep. Only hearing the loud snoring of my siblings, I leapt down from the top bunk like a feather. I put on the boots Mom got for me, grabbed my rucksack and started heading straight for the cabin entrance. The whole thing felt like a slick getaway.
"Where are you off to?"
My heart skipped a beat. It was the last thing I expected. He was usually the heaviest sleeper out of all of us but I turned around to see Sherman wide awake, sitting up on his bed.
Shit.
"Umm…"
"Okay, yeah don't even try."
I sighed, knowing I couldn't lie my way out of this. "Look, I gotta go man."
"I can see that." There was something odd about the way he spoke. He was definitely suspicious of me, observing everything I was saying. "You leaving?"
Despite the simplicity of the question, there was a lot of meaning behind it. After everything, I think he thought I was leaving-leaving. Like that one camper. I didn't know what to tell him. Obviously I couldn't tell him the whole purpose of what I was doing but I had to give him something.
"Nah, man." I put down the bag and took a seat next to him. "But, I've got somewhere to be."
"Quest?" he asked, almost disappointed.
"Something like that."
"I could tell you've been acting weird all day," he said. "You going to tell me what it's about?"
"I want to… but I can't."
"Of course." He sighed.
Sherman seemed to respect it, which I quietly thanked him for.
"Is that all you're bringing?" He gestured to all my packed items.
"Yeah… why? Is it bad?"
He laughed. "Hey, it's your first quest, man. I ain't judging."
"Well I'm not alone."
"Thank the gods for that. You'd be dead the moment you set foot out of camp."
"Hmm, probably."
I'm going to miss these small conversations. It'll be weird not having him or any of my other siblings around for however long.
"I would have let you go, you know," Sherman said out of the blue. "If you wanted to really leave and not come back, I would have let you…"
It was strange seeing sincere Sherman and I wondered what he meant by that.
"... just as long as you don't die out there."
I was about to start giggling, thinking it was a joke until I saw the seriousness in his face. It was a silent communication but I acknowledged what he said with a simple nod. I felt the time start to go by and sadly had to start saying farewell. Just before I went, he said he had one more thing for me.
"Wait, but this is your knife," I said, looking down at the combat blade that he kept close at all times.
"And it was her before me, and someone else's and someone else's and on and on… and I'm giving it to you, Artie. Just feels like the right thing to do."
"I don't know what to say."
"You don't need to say anything. It ain't celestial bronze but after seeing the shocking lack of weapons you're bringing, I thought I'd give you at least one."
"Thanks, Scarface."
"Ah, don't mention it."
The both of us stood up as I grabbed my belongings once more and Sherman quietly escorted me to the door of the cabin. Before leaving, we shared one final exchange between each other. I clasped the forearm of my brother as he clasped mine. At the same time, I felt a soft vibrance that came from my pendant, almost like a show of approval.
"See you soon, Pride."
"Sooner than you think, Yang."
Seems like I was the last one there. Argus and the three of them waited for me at the top, next to Thalia's Pine Tree.
…who is actually perfectly fine and alive, now? I don't know. It was a little confusing when Clarisse explained it to me.
As expected, they were all packed and ready to go. Val had on her vest with a sling bag slung across her back. She had the dagger to her side but she didn't look like she was carrying any weapons either. Not that I could see anyways. Flip had on his signature jacket, along with the small leather satchel. Again, if he carried any weapons on him, he kept them hidden. Meanwhile, Emile was carrying a whole set-up. He had with him a stuffed backpack and attached to its side was what looked like a massive stick wrapped in various rags. On his torso was what you called a 'bandolier' if you were a cowboy. Essentially, a leather belt with various pouches and pockets that hang across his chest. Underneath all that he had on a hoodie, that looked like it needed to go up a size to fit him properly, that hid the mystery bandages that covered his right arm.
Me? I just had my green 'Cabin 5' overshirt, a rucksack, my bracer shield, Sherman's knife tucked behind my back and a facade that made me seem more confident than I actually was.
There wasn't much discussion. As soon as we were all there, Argus immediately led us down and out of the borders of the camp. The first time I've been out since that fateful day. We even passed by the exact spot it all happened.
From the day Mom left, the first week at school, running from the Hellhounds, finding out I'm a descendant of ancient Sparta, Capture the Flag and now I'm here. Funny how it all works like that. And something tells me it's only the beginning.
Just outside the forest and back on the road with the strawberry signs, was a car waiting for us. Argus quickly entered the driver seat as the rest of us got inside. Flip, Val and I were cramped in the back seat whilst Emile took the passenger seat. Flip did call shotgun but Emile took it anyway. Everyone was quiet. It was the middle of the night and there was something on all of our minds. What have we gotten ourselves into? What can we expect? Are we ready for this?
I remembered the last thing Chiron said to me before the four of us left the Big House…
As the other three left the room, Chiron quickly pulled me aside. He looked at me dead in the eye.
"This is your mission, Arthur," he said. "They'll need you. Lead the way."
…
I couldn't stop thinking about it. It was a pressure I was experiencing for the first time.
I never saw myself as a leader but Chiron is entrusting me with it. I don't know why. I'm clearly the least experienced one here.
And now, apparently, Dienekes wants me to wield my anger? But before I could try and wrap my head around it all. The engine to the car started, and we were on our way.
