Percy

'Praetor Jackson!' I turned around as I heard my name called, trying to suppress the groan that instinctually came up.

'What is it, Julian?' I asked calmly, though inside I was itching for this conversation to be over. The wargames were currently being held, which was one of my few sources of genuine happiness these days.

'Praetor Reyna wishes to meet with you now, sir.' Julian gulped hesitantly. From what I can remember, Julian was a shy little son of Mercury who had been indicted into the legion and instantly put into a messenger role because of his heritage.

I sighed at the news and dismissed the runner. Ever since the battle of the field of Mars, Praetor Reyna, my co-praetor had been trying to make up for the time in which Jason had been absent.

'You know, I know you feel responsible for Jason's disappearance, but you are allowed to take breaks, you know that, right?' A voice sounded behind me. Leila. Centurion of the fourth cohort, and my best friend apart from Jason.

'The Earth mother doesn't wait for breaks, apparently.' I said tiredly. 'Three attacks, 20 demigods in the last month alone. We don't even have enough trainers for this.'

Leila gave me a sympathetic look.

'This might be easier if you actually tried to work with Reyna.' Leila said drily.

I made a face. Leila sighed. 'Maybe not then.'

XIXI

Percy

The walk down to the praetor houses was relaxing. I could hardly remember the last time I had enjoyed a quiet walk like this. Before I became centurion of the first probably.

I had been raised in New Rome as an orphan ever since I had been dropped off there at three years old. I still had memories of my mother, though, my sweet caring mother.

Before she had had a broken beer bottle rammed into her neck by her abusive husband, Gabe Ugliano. It hadn't helped when I discovered that the reason she had married him in the first place was to mask my demigod scent.

My life in New Rome had been… Challenging. I had a penchant for breaking the rules, and disappearing for weeks on end.

After the… disappearance of Jason in the middle of the night shortly after being elevated to praetor, there was mass chaos in New Rome. The senate was in an uproar, and the immediate concern was to elevate someone to temporary praetorship until Jason could either be confirmed dead or returned to his position.

I saw my chance, and I took it with my considerable influence as Primus Pilus. The second I was able to, I started making reforms, including the creation of more imperial gold, increase in conscription, and the expansion of fortifications around the city, as well as a Cohortes Auxiliares. An auxiliary cohort made up of ex legionnaires from New Rome, who could be brought back into service in the case the city needed defending and was low on power.

I arrived outside Reyna's house. I hadn't moved into the second praetor house, as even though I had wanted the role, I wasn't exactly going to steal Jason's house and throw out all his stuff.

I'm not that heartless, despite what people might try to tell you.

I swiftly knocked on the door, and blinked with how quickly it opened up.

There was only one way to describe Reyna's state ever since Jason's disappearance.

Manic.

Reyna hadn't adapted as well after Jason's disappearance as I did, and it showed. Her raven locks braided along her back were more messy than normal, and her onyx eyes had an irritated look to them that never really went away.

'Reyna.' I tried for a smile, but found my face muscles weren't working properly, resulting in a crude grimace. 'Everything alright? I got Julian's message, this have to do with the bill?' I stage-whispered.

The bill in question was a controversial one put forward by a legacy so diluted in terms of godly blood, she could barely see past the mist. It was concerning the pegasi we kept in the stables, and a certain amount being provided for civilian applications.

It had been causing the legion a nightmare, as we knew it was a terrible idea, but most of the senate, who took any chance to undermine the legion, decided this would simply be a splendid idea to have untrained civilians flying around on winged horses trained for war.

Reyna shook her head. 'No, it's-' She took a deep breath, 'It's to do with us. Mars visited.'

It took me a moment to register the words, before it truly hit me what she just said.

'Wha-what?' I hissed. 'Don't tell me it's a quest.' I already knew the answer. The gods only ever visited Camp Jupiter if they needed a quest done these days, and even then sometimes they got the augur to do it for them.

Reyna sighed. 'I think you already know.'

I swore. 'Now of all times.' I gave Reyna an apologetic look. 'I am so sorry you have to go through this.'

She shook her head and let out a watery laugh, and I realised with a jolt that she was crying. 'It isn't your fault.' She tried in vain to compose herself. 'Good day, praetor.'

'Likewise.' I managed to return before she shut her door in my face.

Ugh. Another temper tantrum. Must miss Jason rather badly today.

I cursed the situation we were in as I made my way back to my villa.

XIXI

Percy

The atmosphere in the senate the next morning was tense. Many senators and their factions would be aware that there was something amiss, gossip had always been one of those things that I despised, but existed despite my efforts to stomp it out.

Reyna called the session to order. There was some mindless back and forth between the praetor and the senators before Reyna got them to settle down.

'Yesterday I was visited in my villa by none other than Mars Ultor.' Reyna paused to allow mutterings, rolling her eyes. 'Consequently, he mentioned having a senate meeting today, as the gods have something of great importance to announce.' Reyna glanced at me as she took her seat beside me.

'That was seriously all he told you?' I asked incredulously once she had sat down.

'Everything worth mentioning.' She returned dryly.

I nodded in understanding. Gods had a tendency of having more… personal talks with whoever they were visiting, apart from the official business they were sent on.

Suddenly, a large flash of light made everybody avert their gaze.

I rolled my eyes when I saw who had arrived.

I quickly stood up and bowed, before addressing the god. 'Lord Mars, what purpose does your visit have?' I asked respectfully.

He flashed me one of his savage smiles. 'Well, I'm happy you asked. The big man upstairs .' He pointed towards the sky as he said this, 'asked me to bring you guys a prophecy.'

Whispers broke out in the senate hall. 'Order!' Reyna shouted. I shot her a grateful smile, Reyna was one of the few people who could actually control the senate when they were whipped up into a frenzy akin to the one we were suffering then.

Mars waited for the whispers to die down before continuing. 'The prophecy calls for the hunting of the Giant King Porphyrion. Westwards to the mortal city of San Francisco is the key to completing the quest successfully.' The senate now exploded in a cacophony of shouts.

Mars simply continued, raising his voice so that it rang above all the others. 'Since this is such a high-profile hunt, Jupiter himself has called for the senior most of our children to undertake this herculean task.'

He turned and pointed at me and Reyna. 'Because of this, one of your praetors will be the one to hunt down the giant. ' Mars took a moment to survey the numerous reactions around the room, before his intense fiery red eyes found mine.

'This quest will lead you to your lost praetor.'

XIXI

Percy

I collapsed against the willow tree in the dead of night. It had to be me. I would have to fight the giant king. Reyna couldn't. Wouldn't. First the baggage and deterioration since losing Jason, and then just the difference in power. I am a child of one of the elder gods, no matter how hard she tries, Reyna can't compete with that.

And anyways, something told me Reyna was coming up with a plan

So I'd basically just been press-ganged into hunting and killing the being made especially to kill the king of the gods and neutralise all his abilities.

'Who are you?' A voice comes from behind me. I quickly whirled around to find myself face to face with the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. She had auburn hair, tied back in a ponytail, with silver eyes and pale skin that seemed to glow. She seemed to be around the same age as me.

She was dressed in a silver parka, with a quiver of silver arrows over her left shoulder, with an ornate silver bow sticking out from over her right shoulder.

My response died in my throat. 'Uh, wha-?' I say smartly.

The woman crosses her arms. 'Who are you? How did you find this place!' She hisses quietly, looked around. 'Are there more of you?'

I shake my head, trying once again to still my hands in vain. 'Listen lady, I have no clue what you're talking about.'

She huffs in exasperation. 'My bunker!' She proclaims, as if that should mean anything to me.

I looked at her expectantly. Hopefully she'll elaborate because I'm lost.

The woman looks at me with a strange look in her eyes. 'You don't know who I am, do you?' I shake my head and try for a smile, but it ends up coming out as more of a grimace.

'Sorry?' I try.

She shook her head and gave me a small smile. 'That is plenty alright.' She explained absentmindedly.

I nodded in understanding. 'Right.' I said awkwardly. I kept my body tense, you never know who you might meet after all.

'You are roman, no?' She enquired, studying my armour, especially the purple cloak trailing behind me.

'I admit, I do not usually congregate with men, but you have been… respectful, if maybe not giving me the due diligence befit for a goddess.' She said, although I could tell from her tone of voice that she wasn't offended.

Although my brain was still shorting out, I did manage to regain enough brainpower to kneel.

'I am sorry my lady, I admit I do not recognise you.' I said, trying to stay as respectful as possible.

'No, I suppose you wouldn't, after all, you are a roman.' That left my head spinning. You are a roman? So she was from a different pantheon?

'May I ask you your name, Great Goddess?' I asked, trying to force as much reverence into my voice as possible.

The woman made a face. 'No, none of that "My Lady" or "Great Goddess" nonsense. I don't have the patience for grovelling.' She said, turning to face me completely, staring me down straight in the eyes.

'I am Artemis.

Artemis?

Artemis?

'But, but you're Greek.' I stammered confusedly.

Artemis rolled her eyes. 'Yes, roman, I am greek. Very astute observation.'

I narrowed my eyes. 'Percy.'

'Pardon?'

'My name is Percy, not "Roman".'

'You seem plenty Roman to me.'

'I am the praetor of Camp Jupiter.'

'And pray tell, why should that matter to me?'

'I am the voice of the Roman pantheon in the mortal realm.'

'Good for you.'

I huffed irritatedly. 'To attack me would be to attack the gods.'

'Then I suppose it's a good thing I have no intentions of attacking you.'

'Why are you even here in the first place?'

'I have a bunker here, built before this camp existed. I return for supplies for my hunters every now and then.' She narrowed her eyes dangerously. 'Not that it's any of your business.'

'This willow tree is under New Roman jurisdiction.'

'I am a goddess.'

'Good for you.

'You are insufferable.'

'Look, you just let me have my time here alone, and I won't care what the hell you do with the inside of this tree.' I sighed. My patience already wore thin from the trying day I had just had.

Artemis stared at me impassively. 'Fine.'

She made her way to the trunk of the willow tree, turning back to face me. 'Good evening, Percy.'

She proceeded to step into the trunk of the willow tree, disappearing from view.

I sighed in relief, sliding down against the tree trunk as I slumped down in the ground. The moon shone brightly in the night sky.

I wasn't quite sure what to make of Artemis. She seemed almost… Nice? Frankly I had been scared she would pull an Actaeon on me and turn me into a deer, and have my own hunting dogs chase me, despite the fact that I didn't have hunting dogs.

Also, another minor detail I may have overlooked, wasn't the Greek pantheon extinct?

XIXI

Percy

A knock sounded on the door of my office, jolting me from the paperwork I had been going through, exacerbating my ever-present headache.

'Enter.' I said tiredly, pinching the bridge of my nose frustratedly.

I groaned internally when I saw who had entered.

'Praetor.' The nasally voice of Octavian greeted me.

'Augur. To what do I owe the pleasure?'

'Percy, you can't leave now.' Octavian whispered hurriedly as he closed the door behind him.

'Why's that?'

'If Reyna gains popular support in the senate during your absence, she could appoint another praetor. We both know you haven't been on the best terms since you allied with my party in the senate.'

'Reyna wouldn't dare. The possibility of losing face and credibility, especially condemning the heroic praetor who took on a dangerous quest in the name of Rome?'

I shook my head. 'Reyna isn't a fool. She'll bide her time until it is beneficial for her to speak out against me. She can only do so if I blunder militarily or politically. Until then, I am still the favoured praetor.'

'And why don't you just send the daughter of Bellona on the quest?'

I narrowed my eyes at the scarecrow of a legionary in front of me. 'I may be a great deal of things Octavian, but don't you ever mistake me for a murderer. Or honourless. I am taking this quest because I am the best equipped for it. Everything I do is for Rome, and Reyna, although we have different outlooks, is still a Roman.' I bit out forcefully.

Octavian backed away fearfully, eyes wide, having sensed his mistake.

'I-I apologise, praetor, I meant to insinuate nothing of the kind.' Octavian backtracked quickly.

'Out.' I said, massaging my forehead. The irritating augur wasn't doing my headache any favours.

The augur quickly scurried out of the room. I sighed and turned back to the documents I was overlooking.

XIXI

Percy

As I made my way to Reyna's villa, I mulled over the events of yesterday evening, but nothing made sense, and frankly I had bigger fish to fry.

I knocked on the door, taking a look at some of the plants around the walkway to the villa before being quickly pulled into the villa. I found myself face-to-face with Reyna.

'I suppose you're going.' Reyna said with a raised eyebrow.

'I will bring glory to Rome and the gods.' I returned.

'I'm sure you will.' Reyna returned noncommittally.

I nodded. 'I think you can already imagine why I'm here.'

'I have a couple theories.' Reyna said.

I consciously made the air around Reyna more humid, a good intimidation tactic I had learned a while back by accident.

'Let's make it perfectly clear then. If I learn that you did anything to jeopardise my position while I was away, I will stop at nothing to oust you from office.' I said, my voice a dangerous whisper.

'If you make it back.' Reyna said innocently.

'What are you implying?' I growled.

Reyna made a face of surprise. 'Oh, it's just that, well, you're going to be facing the king of the giants. Alone.'

'Are you threatening me?'

'No need, the giant king is more powerful than anything I could send at you.'

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose in frustration.

'Where did we go wrong, Reyna?'

'We "went wrong", the second you stole Jason's praetorship from him! And making his life difficult at every turn since he became praetor! You're jealous Percy!'

'Jason has been gone for two months Reyna! The gods have announced the second gigantomachy. We can't just sit by waiting for him to waltz back in one day.'

'You should have stayed Primus Pilus.'

'I do not take orders from you. And you know full well that I am a better statesman and strategist than Jason ever was.'

I then found a door slammed in my face yet again.

I sighed as I turned around and stalked away.

XIXI

Percy

The walk to the senate was slow, and I couldn't help but drag my feet at the thought of the task that I was accepting.

When I arrived at the senate house the place was already packed, and I noticed Mars mingling with a crowd of awe-struck senators.

The blustering fools have probably never even seen a god before, let alone spoken to one.

'Percy!' A voice called from behind me. I turned around to come face to face with Hank, the centurion of the third cohort. I remember I had helped him get the position with some good old politicking after his predecessor passed away during the storming of mount Othrys.

'Hank! How are you? It's been a minute.' I greeted him with a handshake. Hank was one of the few legionnaires I still liked, though we had barely spoken since the second titan war, especially since my ascension to praetor.

I made small talk with Hank until Mars stood up from his gaggle of adoring fans. 'I take it you will be accepting the quest?' He raised his eyebrows at me questioningly.

Deep breaths Percy, you've been preparing for this almost your entire life. Remember the goal. Remember who this is for. Head high. No emotion.

I walk down to the orator's circle of the senate house. 'People of Rome.' I called out, amplifying my voice so that the whole senate hall could hear me. 'I have accepted this quest, to rid the world of a monster. One so powerful, so destructive, it calls for the best we have to offer.'

I took a deep breath. 'I promise to the gods, and I promise to my people I will end the Gigantes king. And return to us our missing praetor.'

'Or die trying.'

AN:

Yup. New AU. Greek and Roman pantheons are separate, and not on the best terms. That's kinda it.

I decided to make this a prologue, just for the sake of pacing, and to give myself an extra chapter to introduce all the characters, relationships, and not go straight into the quest first thing.

I'll expand this in the next chapter even further, I'm still struggling with some of the pacing, but hang in there, I'm trying my best.