I yawned tiredly as I read the white board in front of me. The words that written there almost didn't make sense to me, they are floating around and sometime flickered to ancient Greek words. I tapped my pen on my table repeatedly and earned a look from Percy, he seem annoyed by the sound of my pen hitting the table. After a few minutes he confiscated my pen and I only blinked when my pen suddenly gone from my hand. I turned and narrowed my eyes at Percy. I tried to grab my pen from his hand and he moves his hand away from mine.

"Oi, I can't write Seaweed brain" I hissed at low tone.

"Then stop tapping your pen against the table" he hissed back "You distract me"

I rolled my eyes "Since when you care about lesson"

Percy rolled his sea green eyes "Since my grade are on the bottom. I want to improve it"

I blinked, tried to comprehend what Percy just said. I snickered a bit and Percy frowned at me, I covered my mouth and tried my best not laugh.

"Oh, God you try to get a good grade?" I asked in amuse tone "Did you bump your head on something or you just ate something funny in lunch?"

Percy opened his mouth to retort but I only shook my head and snatched my pen from his hand and proceed to tap my pen into his forehead hard. Percy let out a surprise yelped and he rubbed his forehead.

"Just forget about it" I said and began to write anything that I can read from the board "You are a hopeless case"

Percy elbowed me hard "Shut up! I'm not a hopeless case! Just because your grade is better than me doesn't mean you have to act like an ass"

I only grunted when his elbow made contact with my ribs "I'm concentrating here, don't bother me"

Percy only rolled his eyes as he leaned closer towards my note book, he squinted his eyes tried to read my handwriting.

"I can't read anything you write" he huffed and focused on the board, while twirling his own pen.

I stopped writing for a moment and glanced at his pristine notebook "At least I have something for me, unlike yours. It's as empty as your brain" then I smirked at Percy flustered face "Well, I's not empty. It's full of seaweed"

Percy shut his notebook rather loudly and smacked me on my face with it. A loud 'SMACK' sound can be heard throughout the class, along with the string of curses that escape my lips. I immediately glared at him, hand ready at the rather thick text book that opened in front of me, ready to smack the day out of Percy.

"Sorry" Percy said in innocent sound "I thought I saw a mosquito in your face, I just had to kill it before it could bite you"

My hand twitched at his explanation "Oh, really? Then let me smacked you back, to get rid of those seaweed that fill that empty brain of yours"

"Mr. Lockheart, Mr. Jackson" the teacher called our name

Both of us turned to face the teacher who gave us a disapproving looks "Could you explain about this to us?"

The teacher said while tapped the white board with his marker, I squinted at the terrible hand writing and almost pumped my fist in the air when I read about blood circulation on the board. Thankfully, I still remembered a bit and pieces about blood circulation on human body, from my previous live, and maybe because my father is Apollo. When I finished Percy only gawked at me, couldn't believe that I just nailed it. Before the teacher could continue his lesson the bell already rang loudly and the teacher dismissed us.

"I have to go" I said as I picked up my bag from the floor "Chiron will mad at me if I came back late again"

Percy frowned at my word "But, we barely hang out together"

I gripped the strap of my bag tighter "Well, it's almost winter holiday right? Maybe I can convince him to let me hang out with you for a few days"

Percy eyes lightened up "Promise?"

I gave Percy sad look "I can't promise you anything. But, I'll try"

"Did Luke still try to attack you?" Percy asked quietly.

I sighed and rubbed the back of my head "Rarely. Ever since I moved into the camp, Luke rarely attacked me. I's either he knew he didn't have a chance or he's planning something for me"

Percy hummed quietly as he watched the sea of other student crowded the hallway while chattering loudly about the next exam. We walked in silence towards our locker, but I can feel the tension in the air, like something watching me intently, I stopped and turned my head to the window on my right side. I could saw the football field that already covered in thin snow, and the thing that stood right in the middle of the field made my blood ran cold. I swallowed the lump that already formed on my throat. The Nemean Lion stood there in the middle of the field, its brown eyes watching me carefully, as if trying to find the right time to attack me.

"Reiner"

I turned to face worried Percy, the said boy only waved his hand in front of my face.

"Are you okay?" he asked me again.

"Didn't you se-"

My eyes widened when I turned to the football field again, the lion is gone and there's no foot prints or anything that indicate its existence a few moment ago. I closed my eyes shut for a moment before taking a few deep breath, maybe it's just my paranoia or I'm just simply stressed for the exam in the next few days.

"I thought I saw something" I decided to be honest with Percy "Right in there"

Percy followed my direction "I saw snow, piling up"

I frowned "I swore I just saw a lion there" then I sighed "Maybe I'm just being a paranoid"

Percy gave me concern look "Maybe you should spoke with Chiron"

"You right" I answered as I continued to walk to my own locker and opened it

Percy leaned on his locker door as he watched me intently "Since when?"

I glanced at him as I put a few of my books there "You mean?"

"You think you are being followed" Percy clarified "Since when?"

"Ah, before Halloween I guess" I said "But I saw that Lion two days ago, but it only watching me" Then I unintentionally shivered "Great, I have a stalker"

"Well" Percy looked at the school main door behind me "I have to go back now. My mom and I, uh, we want to buy something, together"

"Sure" I said "And say hi to her. I have a few business with the basketball coach, about the next game. So, see you tomorrow"

After that I began to walk into the basketball court, which is across the main building and I have to pass the football field. I shivered a bit at the cold and tightened my grip on my jacket, my eye watched the football field intently, as if expecting the lion would jump at any moment.

"Huh, I shouldn't jinx it" I mumbled as I kept walking.

Then yeah, I just had to jinx it. Out of nowhere, I felt something slammed me by my side and send me tumbling down towards the hill behind the school yard. I only grunted when my back landed on the school backyard, which is unfortunately deserted. Most of the student already went home, due to this morning weather forecast. I scrambled back into my feet and quickly tapped my silver bracelet, I managed to block the Lion paw. I pushed it back and sliced its face, only to fail miserably since it skin is as hard as a metal. I slowly took a few step back, creating some distance from me and the lion. The lion growled at me while moved towards me carefully, moved one paw after another carefully, as if it afraid that I will ran away if it made one wrong moved. It acted like a predator which cornering its prey. My grip on the sword hilt tightened, eye totally focused on the lion and oblivious to my surrounding, because if I lost my focus It could kill me instantly. I moved my feet back slightly and the lion jumped at me, I quickly sidestepped and ran my sword towards it side, created a small spark of fire when my sword made contact with its skin. I quickly spun around while tapped my other bracelet, within a second a Stygian sword appeared on my hand.

"Inside of its mouth huh?" I mumbled as I watched the Lion roared at me "Just how exactly I do that?"

I glanced towards my black sword, can I at least hurt it with these? I mean, I never saw anyone used this sword to fight with Nemean Lion. I glanced back at the Lion who now lunged towards me, I quickly raised my black sword and swung it against its face. The Lion roared in pain when the blade of my Stygian sword slashed its face, I only clicked my tongue in anger when I saw nothing on the lion face. It's still pristine, no wound or anything that indicate I just attacked it. But, at least the Stygian Iron hurt it. The Lion now more careful than before, it clearly avoided my left side, which wield the Stygian Sword. I need to end this, anybody could walk in and saw all of this, I swung my black sword towards the Lion face and it jumped back a few meters.

"Think Reiner, think!" I muttered to myself "What should I do in this situation?"

Then an idea appeared on my mind, but I didn't know if that idea will work. But, still I can't kill it unless I stabbed the inside of the Lion mouth. I stabbed my stygian iron sword to the ground while raised my right hand slowly. I closed my eyes and concentrated hard, I felt some kind of tug from the pit of my stomach and a mild headache came from my head.

"Serve me" I said darkly and opened my eyes.

The ground beneath me shook slightly as it opens, from the ground I saw a bunch of dead dogs, cats and other dead animal rose from its grave. They began to march towards the Lions who only crouched down, The Lion already on it defensive state. With that I quickly pulled my pendat, within a second a quiver full of arrow appeared on my back and a bow on my hand. I quickly activated the fire bow and aimed it at the Lion who busy fought with my undead army. I tucked my arrow on my bow string and pulled it back, my eyes focused on the Lion mouth, waiting for the right moment.

"There!" I yelled as the Lion opened its mouth to bite a dead humming bird who busy pecking at its snout.

The arrow whizzed pass by the dead dogs and embedded itself inside the Lion mouth. The fire began to spread inside the lion mouth, and the Lion stumbled back a bit, before it fell on the ground and not moving. The Lion began to melt into the ground and leaved behind its pelt, I panted hard as I waved my hand, and my undead army crumbled into a pile of ashes. I fell into both of my knees as I put both of my hand on the cold ground.

"Damn it!" I cursed slightly.

Slowly, I pushed myself up and deactivated all my weapon. I walked slowly towards the pelt and took it from the ground. I stared at it for a moment, before I heard someone chuckled at me from behind. I quickly spun around and froze at the sight in front of me.

Luke Castellan stood there, smirk smugly at me while pointed his Backbiter at my throat. I could felt the tip of his sword touch my Adam Apple, I glared at him and angry at myself for letting my guard down.

"Now, now. Put the Nemean Lion skin on the ground" Luke said.

"Fuck you!" I spat at him.

Luke only shook his head in disappointment while pushed the backbiter slightly, I flinched when I felt the back bitter dug into my throat, I felt something warm came from it.

"You never learn did you" Luke said flatly "No matter how hard you train yourself you never beat me Reiner"

I quickly grabbed the blade of backbiter, ignoring the stinging sensation came from my hand. I pushed it back towards Luke. Luke only sent me amused looks as he watched my blood dripped from my hand and stained the white snow beneath me.

"Oh my, such a bold move" Luke said in fake amazement.

Luke pulled his sword and I flinched when the blade of his sword cut the palm of my hand deeper.

"Get lost, or you will regret it" I warned him.

"And if I said no?" Luke raised one of his eyebrow then he laughed hard "Don't tell me you are going to unleash your dead pet army to attack me"

"Shut it, Luke" I growled in anger.

Luke stopped laughing as he twirled his sword on his hand "Whatever, I'll take it from you and made you understand for the third time, it's useless to fight me"

I tapped my black bracelet "And let me made you begged for your life Castellan, I'm going to hurt you bad" I smirked when Luke looked worried when my black sword appeared on my hand "Let's make you cry like a little bitch, just like last summer"

Luke charged at me and I quickly swung the Lion skin into my shoulder, I blocked his sword and quickly pushed him back. I swiped my feet under him and Luke stumbled back a bit, but quickly found his balance as he charged at me again. I quickly sidestepped and swung my sword at his left arm, Luke quickly twisted his body to face me as he block my sword.

"Nice" Luke whistled at me "You definitely improve from last summer" the he pushed me back "I'm still stronger than you Reiner"

Luke kicked me on my stomach and I stumbled back while cursing loudly at him. Luke jumped towards me while swung his sword down hard. I quickly raised my sword and parried his attack, a loud 'CLANG' could be heard throughout the whole school, but since it deserted no one noticed it. I gritted my teeth as Luke kept pushed the sword back into my face, my injured hand started to throb with pain. I pushed his sword down and did something unexpected, I punched Luke on his face hard and he didn't expect it at all. Luke stumbled back while held his cheek, blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. I took a step forward and punched him again, this time straight into his face, but Luke learned his lesson and caught my fist. His eyes glinted in anger, he tightened his grip on my fist while clicking his tongue in disappointment.

"I should expect that" he said slowly "But, then again you always manage to catch me of guard. I think the god is right, you are too unpredictable. No one can predict what exactly inside your head Reiner" then he chuckled "That's why Kronos want you, you act on your own accord, and no one can bound you" his blue eyes darkened and he scowled at me "That's why I never like you, because of you Kronos completely ignorant of my achievement and only focus at you! It's always been you!"

I quickly raised my sword at the same time with him, we both put our sword close to each other neck. I glared at him hard, while Luke kept his grip on my fist, his blue eyes never leaved my own.

"You and your pathetic anxiety" I growled "Always wanted everybody attention. The world isn't revolve around you Luke. Stop being a brat and admit it, that's there is always someone better than you!"

Luke face contorted into anger after he heard my word "You never know what is like to be me! After all, all of them focus on you! You always get the attention!"

"You think I want that?!" I yelled at him "Fuck! I didn't want any of that! I would trade it for anything if that's mean I can have a normal life!" I narrowed my eyes "Do you even know what I had to pay just to get all of this bullshit?! Everything had a price Luke, and believe me in my case, the price it's too damn high for something so stupid like this!"

Luke finally let my fist go as he watched me, studied me carefully. But he never removed his sword from my neck, nor did I. After a few minutes Luke finally lowered his sword and he suddenly slashed his sword towards my face, and that caught me off guard. I did one thing that cross my mind, more like my instinct. I grabbed the Nemean Lion skin from my shoulder and raised it up to protect my face. Luke sword made contact with the skin and I heard an angry growl escaped his lips, I removed the skin from my face and aimed my sword into his left arm, grazing a bit and Luke let out a cried of pain. Gritting his teeth Luke quickly thrust his sword into my leg and he did managed to stab it, I grunted in pain as I stabbed him on his right arm. Luke quickly pulled his sword back as he took a couple of step back while clutched his right arm, sweat started to appear on his forehead and he clearly in pain.

"Damn your Stygian Iron" he yelled at me.

I only chuckled at his word as I used my sword as a support "Heh, I could say the same thing about your sword Luke"

"Reiner!"

Luke growled in frustration when he heard a feminine voice along with a couple of footsteps.

"I'll be back Reiner" he said coldly "And next time, I won't be so forgiving"

He pulled something from underneath his jacket and he threw it on the ground. A bright green light enveloped him and he disappeared instantly.

"Teleportation device huh?" I mumbled "Well, that's neat"

I glanced to my right only to see Thalia ran towards me with her spear and her shield, you know the one with Medusa face imprinted on it, and it took all my will power not to flinch or wince at the sight of it. Behind her I saw Clarisse and Mr. Chiron not too far behind her, well, I guess I should felt glad since Chiron didn't bring the whole camp here.

"Are you okay?" Thalia stopped right next to me.

"Peachy" I said and rolled my eyes.

She glared at me "Are you being sarcastic on me Pretty Boy?"

"No, I'm not" I said and crossed my arm.

"Ugh! If you are not injured right now, I'm so going to take you down" Thalia growled while deactivated her shield much to my relief and her spear.

I limped towards her and flicked my finger into her forehead "Yeah, yeah. You can take me down all you want when I already healed" then I smirked at her "If you can"

"Now, now Hero" Clarisse grabbed me by my scruff and dragged me away from Thalia "Stop flirting and let's go back to the camp. Will is so ecstatic to see you again in the infirmary"

"Aw, someone is jealous" I teased her.

Clarisse whipped her head towards me and gave me disgusted looks then turned to Thalia "Can I punch him or do you want to punch him?"