Reality.
Illusion.
Death.
Existence.
Alive.
He stared outside the window. He was in the attic again, getting an eyeful of everything outside yet seeing nothing. His mind just couldn't comprehend what was going on, even after seven full years of experiencing it.
Again, today, he found his mind thinking around nothing but those five words. His reflection stared back at him. If he had his original dark wind swept hair the image would have been easy to ignore. But with his bright red hair, it was a sore he just couldn't get rid of no matter where he looked.
He really loved it when it was shaved. It was one of the constant reminders that he wasn't home, he wasn't where he felt he needed to be.
Nevertheless, he was here and he was alive and he was rid of that corruption which was a lot more than he could ask for.
Yeah, dialogues such as those had been going on in his mind for hundreds of thousands of times over the span of seven years. It was the only thing he could do at the beginning, given that he was trapped within newly a born bundle of flesh that still didn't know how to use its nervous system.
And the conclusion of each and every dialogue was one word...
"Rebirth." he mumbled it out loud. It still sounded weird, far-fetched, unreal. Yet, he was literally the proof of it.
Joyous giggling came from below, making his crystal blue eyes drift downwards. The children were playing, a wonderful game of catch. Grey, a tall blonde kid with a missing tooth was making a mean face as he chased after the younger kids, all laughing and squealing in delight as they immersed themselves in the game. He allowed the tug on his lips to curve them upwards.
It was a refreshing view. A world with happiness. A normal world without fire and ash raining down from the heavens, streets littered with blood and corpses and best of all without the influence of divinity. A blissful world.
He took a deep breath, savored it and let it out. Most people didn't appreciate just how beautiful and invigorating fresh air was until they spent time in hell, where the air was literally to die for. He closed his eyes and tuned out the sounds, just letting himself bask in freedom.
Which he knew was very soon going to be taken away from him.
The door to the attic opened and Headmaster Timonah's stern form walked through. He didn't need to look back to know it was her, that expensive perfume she wore all but announced her presence the moment she decided to go up the stairs.
"Perseus." she called out.
He supposed he should be thankful that he retained his names even after being reborn into a new world. With a sigh, he stood and walked to her.
" Yes headmaster."
"You have a visitor."
Of course he did. Visitors were things that had frequenced his past life, why in the name of everything holy would they stop just because he was already dead and starting over in another reality. He forced a smile and let his eyes open wider comically as he stared at the older woman.
"Really?"
"Yes indeed." Headmaster Timonah answered " now hurry to your room and get changed, you wanna look good for them now don't you?"
They might be here to kill me, was what he wanted to say but instead opted for " Yes I do headmaster." and a frantic run to his room.
He had known this was coming from the moment he had regained consciousness in this new world. While he didn't expect to survive from washing down into the Sea of Chaos, he also didn't expect to feel the same when he actually did. It didn't take long for him to figure out he was reborn, being a baby just made things much simpler. But, he expected there to be differences. He'd always assumed there were going to be differences, that was the point of rebirth, to start over literally from scratch, from zero, except, he didn't start from zero, he still had his memories intact from his previous life.
The word 'Dry' has never had so much power in his life than it did in the last seven years. Point is, while he acknowledged the several differences in his physical state, there was one thing that remained from his previous life.
That feeling that he wasn't fully human. He knew, beyond a doubt that even now something else was within him, half his genetic structure was held by some form of other energy that wasn't human and wasn't divine. He didn't know what it was, but he knew it was there.
He Never really proded to know what it was or what it could do. Maybe it could summon lightning or harness winds or maybe control the oceans and the seas or cause the earth to shake and shit. He never really bothered. One thing he learnt in his past life was to never trouble trouble.
He also figured he would have more than enough time when the inevitable happened.
Today just so happened to be the inevitable. For all his show of wanting to o rush and meet his visitor, he took his time getting ready. A nice slow wash, steadily and evenly drying of hair, brushing his teeth again, straightening his shirt and wiping his shoes. Once he felt he was ready and he had kept the visitor waiting long enough, he walked towards the headmaster's office.
The throbbing vein on her forehead was expected and Percy almost felt himself chuckle at its sight As he pulled the door shut, the question ' Whose bolt has been stolen now?' died before it could get to his mouth as he caught sight of the visitor.
"Right. Now that you've decided to join us at long last" Headmaster Timonah said, standing from her chair and gesturing at the man" allow me to introduce, Perseus Jackson."
The man stood up and Percy felt a sinking feeling form in the depths of his gut. He was tall, broad shouldered, dressed in a very expensive white suit and black shirt without a tie. A very distinguished person it seemed, most people wouldn't know how to conduct themselves in such a presence. Yet, It was the rising horn like goatee and long hair and made Percy internally curse in Greek. Both were bright red, same as his hair.
"Well then, nice to meet you Perseus." the man said, leaning down and extending his hand for a shake" My name is Zeoticus Gremory, and I'm your father."