Chapter 2

(A few thousand years on earth, a long time in the void)

Percy sat on his throne, absorbed in playing a beautiful black violin. Lost in the music, he didn't notice as someone cleared their throat behind him.

Startled, Percy jumped slightly and turned, only to relax as he saw it was his mother and father standing in the doorway of the throne room. "That was beautiful, Percy," Nyx said, smiling warmly, while Erebus nodded in agreement.

Percy smiled softly before waving his hand, causing his violin to vanish into nothing. "Did you guys need me, or did you just come to listen to me play?" he asked, his tone casual. Nyx nodded in response.

"Percy, the Titan war is approaching swiftly by Earth standards. We need you to return to Earth to assist a demigod in reaching the Wolf House," Erebus explained solemnly. Percy's expression turned serious as he absorbed the gravity of the situation, nodding in understanding.

"I can see the importance of Zoe's role, especially as Artemis's Lieutenant, but what makes this girl so special?" Percy inquired, his confusion evident.

Erebus and Nyx exchanged a knowing glance before turning back to Percy with reassuring smiles. "You'll understand soon enough," Nyx replied cryptically. Percy accepted their response with a nod, recognizing that pressing the issue further wouldn't expedite his mission. Percy smiled at his parents before vanishing into shadow.

As Percy arrived on Earth, he immediately sensed his surroundings, recognizing the sights and sounds of a California forest. Standing in a clearing, he took a moment to survey the dense foliage around him, the scent of pine mingling with the earthy aroma of the forest floor.

His senses honed in on a presence nearby, and he turned his attention toward the treeline to his left. There, he spotted the girl, quietly observing him from the cover of the trees. Percy could sense her cautious demeanor, her gaze wary yet curious as she assessed him, likely trying to discern whether he posed a threat.

With a calm demeanor, Percy remained where he was, making no sudden movements as he met the girl's gaze.

"I can see you, you don't need to hide," Percy called out to the girl. He watched as her eyes widened in shock, but she remained concealed within the shadows. Percy sighed softly, his expression gentle yet resolute.

"Please come out. I have no intention of harming you, and I don't want to forcefully drag you out," Percy urged firmly, his gaze fixed in her direction. He could sense her wariness, her hesitation palpable even from a distance.

Slowly, the girl emerged from the cover of the trees, her spear and shield held before her in a defensive stance. Percy offered her a reassuring smile, his demeanor calm and non-threatening as he waited for her to approach.

Percy's smile remained warm and reassuring as the girl cautiously approached, though she stopped a few feet away, her posture tense and defensive.

"You can put down the weapons. I'm not here to hurt you. If I wanted to do that, I would have dragged you out of the tree line," Percy reassured her, his tone calm and earnest.

The girl regarded him with suspicion, her gaze wary as she questioned his abilities. "How would you do that?" she asked skeptically.

Raising an eyebrow, Percy demonstrated his powers by using shadows to forcefully lower the girl's weapons, causing them to drop to the ground much to her shock.

"That's how," Percy replied simply, his expression serene as he watched her reaction. "Now, I was sent by my parents to help you reach the Wolf House. What is your name, girl?" he asked kindly.

"Reyna Ramírez-Arellano," she introduced herself, her tone still tinged with suspicion but showing a hint of relaxation. Percy offered her a reassuring smile before responding, "Well, Reyna, my name is Perseus, or Percy as I prefer to be called."

Reyna nodded, relaxing her body as she did so. Seeing her composure change, Percy smiled before continuing, "I understand you're trying to reach Rome, right?" Reyna nodded affirmatively in response.

"Good, then let's go," Percy declared, releasing his hold on her weapons. Reyna bent down to retrieve them before standing up once more. "Do you just carry them around like that?" Percy asked, surprised.

Reyna nodded her head. "How else would I carry them?" she asked with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. Percy chuckled at Reyna's sarcasm, appreciating her quick wit. With a wave of his hand, he caused her weapons to shrink into bracelets, one appearing on each wrist.

"There, much better," Percy remarked, laughing at the shocked expression on Reyna's face. Her eyes widened in astonishment as she examined the bracelets, clearly impressed by the display of Percy's abilities. "How did you do that?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I'll explain on the way," Percy replied cryptically, turning to start walking. Reyna quickly followed suit, catching up to him as they embarked on their journey to the Wolf House. As they walked, Percy wrapped them in shadow before exiting closer to their destination.

"So how old are you, Reyna?" Percy asked questioningly. "I'm twelve," she replied quickly. Percy nodded before looking ahead. "How old are you, Percy?" she asked, returning the question.

Percy looked thoughtful before shrugging his shoulders. "Honestly, I have no idea. Where I live, time moves differently. On Earth standards though, I've been around since Ancient Greece. So however long that is."

Reyna's curiosity was evident, and she stopped in her tracks, staring at Percy with wide eyes. The notion that this boy, who appeared no older than fourteen, had been around since Ancient Greece was utterly shocking to her.

"May I ask where you live?" she inquired cautiously, her voice tinged with a mixture of curiosity and uncertainty.

Percy considered her question for a moment before receiving a mental message from his parents. "You can tell her everything, Percy," he heard his mom's voice echo in his mind.

With a nod, Percy turned to face Reyna, his expression serious yet open. "I live in a place called the Void, a realm beyond Earth where time moves differently," he explained, choosing his words carefully. "It's where my parents, Nyx and Erebus, reside as well. They're primordials, beings who existed before the gods."

Reyna's eyes widened further in astonishment as she processed Percy's revelation, realizing the magnitude of what he was sharing with her. Percy waited patiently, giving her time to absorb the information, knowing it was a lot to take in.

"So you're a primordial?" Reyna asked tentatively, her curiosity evident in her tone.

Percy shook his head softly, clarifying, "I wasn't born a primordial, no. I was adopted when I was eight and raised in the Void. I'm technically a demi-primordial."

Reyna nodded as she absorbed the information, her expression thoughtful. "Should I be bowing right now?" she asked with a hint of humor, her tone laced with uncertainty. "I don't feel like offending a demi-primordial."

Percy laughed, his amusement evident as he shook his head. "I am not like the arrogant Olympians; I do not require someone to bow to me," he reassured her, his voice warm and relaxed.

Reyna smiled, happy that she hadn't offended Percy. "What was being raised in the Void like?" she inquired.

"It was an experience for sure," Percy began, his voice reflective. "With the time difference, I'm technically older than most of the second-generation Olympians, but I never felt it. I've been to Earth more times than I can admit, so I've seen the world change a lot."

He continued, his tone thoughtful, "My parents raised me in the Void to the best of their ability, while making sure I didn't turn out like most of the Olympians. I may be powerful, and probably stronger than most of the younger Olympians, but power comes with responsibility, something that is far too commonly abused by the gods."

Reyna nodded in agreement, her expression thoughtful. Percy's words resonated with her, and she found herself admiring his maturity and wisdom. He seemed far more level-headed than any god she'd ever heard of, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of respect for him.

"By the way, your weapons are unbreakable now. When I transformed them, they absorbed some of my essence, fusing them with primordial energy."

Reyna looked at him in surprise, before she looked at her bracelets. Percy noticed her confused look before quickly commenting, "Just think about them in weapon form and they will change. When you want them to return to bracelet form, just think about it and they will change."

Reyna nodded before thinking about her weapons in weapon form, and looked in shock as they appeared. Where they used to be pure celestial bronze, they were now celestial bronze, but infused with a black and silver metal.

She grinned before willing them back to bracelet form and turning to Percy, smiling before giving him a hug. He looked surprised but laughed and returned the hug.

"Thank you, Percy," she said, gratitude clearly evident in her eyes and voice. "You're welcome, Reyna. Just don't stab me as that will hurt a lot," he replied warmly. Reyna laughed before summoning her spear and playfully jabbing him in the side with the flat end, causing him to laugh before pushing it away.

"Out of curiosity, Percy, do you bleed red like me?" Percy shook his head. Summoning a knife, he cut his palm slightly and showed the wound to Reyna, who marveled at the silver blood coming out of the wound.

With a wave of his hand, the wound closed and the blood disappeared. "Nope, I bleed silver like my parents. That'll be a fun mess if the gods ever find that out." Reyna laughed before nodding in agreement.

The two continued to converse until after some time, Percy stopped them. "Reyna, we're approaching the Wolf House. I can't go any farther as the gods don't know of my existence yet. Be careful once you arrive and listen to what Lupa tells you, as it is the only way you will survive to reach Rome," Percy stated firmly.

Reyna looked at him, surprised by his tone before she nodded to show she understood. Percy smiled and waved his hand in the direction of the Wolf House. Reyna turned to look at him before jumping up and planting a kiss on his cheek before turning and sprinting towards the Wolf House, leaving Percy in a daze for a moment before he grinned and vanished into shadow, back to his home in the Void.

When he reappeared on his throne, Percy noticed his mother and father sitting on their thrones, both wearing knowing smiles. "I take it the mission went well?" Erebus asked, his laughter evident in his voice. Percy's cheeks flushed as he realized his dad had seen Reyna kiss him.

"Ugh, Dad, you're embarrassing me. Stop it," Percy muttered, feeling a mix of amusement and embarrassment. Erebus only laughed harder, thoroughly enjoying his son's discomfort, while Nyx smiled softly at the exchange.

"Sorry, Percy, it's my job," Erebus replied, still chuckling. Percy groaned, burying his face in his hands.

"Percy, pretty soon it will be time to reveal yourself to the gods. You must be prepared for when that happens," Nyx said, her tone becoming more serious.

Percy nodded, feeling a sense of anticipation mixed with apprehension at the thought of revealing his existence to the gods. He settled back into his throne, lost in thought about when that time would come and what it would entail.