Chapter 1

The Olympus gleamed under the moonlight, its marble columns reflecting an ethereal glow that contrasted with the darkness of the night. In a secluded corner, far from the bustle of the Solstice celebration, stood a solitary stone bench. There, a figure was silhouetted against the starry sky: Artemis, the goddess of the hunt and the moon.

Who dared to claim that the immortals were incapable of feeling? Who denied their ability to mourn loss with the same intensity as mortals? The image of the gods as cold and distant beings was an illusion that faded before the reality of their emotions.

Artemis, with the wisdom of millennia etched in her silver eyes, gazed upon the vast panorama of Olympus. Immortality had forced her to witness the relentless passage of time, teaching her to assimilate losses as part of the immutable order of fate. However, that resignation was far from the coldness some attributed to the gods.

The memory of Zoë Nightshade, her best friend and sister-in-arms for over three millennia, was a fresh wound that bled in her immortal heart. Tears, like silver pearls, streamed uncontrollably down the goddess's face, defying her legendary stoicism.

The music of the celebration resonated in the distance, a distant echo that could not penetrate the bubble of pain in which Artemis had immersed herself. "My friend is dead," she thought bitterly. "She will never return to my side." Everything that had been Zoë vanished in an instant when she raised her to the stars, leaving a void almost impossible to fill.

Engulfed in her sorrow, Artemis did not notice the presence approaching stealthily. Suddenly, a young male voice, yet laden with a maturity beyond his years, broke the silence: "Milady, I beg your pardon for the interruption, but are you alright?"

Startled, Artemis turned around. Her eyes, still wet with tears, met those of Percy Jackson, the son of Poseidon. The young hero looked at her with a mix of concern and understanding that completely disarmed her.

"What do you want?" Artemis snapped, trying to regain her composure. "Do you think I am a damsel in distress who needs your help?" She cursed herself under her breath, aware that her harsh tone revealed more vulnerability than she intended to show.

Percy did not retreat before her hostility. "I'm sorry, Lady Artemis. It was not my intention to find you in this state. But I am sure that sharing the pain can help," he said with a sincerity that surprised her.

"Why do you care?" Artemis asked, her voice still cold but with a hint of curiosity. "Just so you can brag to your friends that you saw me like this? Why aren't you at the celebration?"

Percy let out a bitter laugh. "I've never been one to seek attention. Why would I want to be there? I'm not even the hero of this mission. Zoë and Bianca were.

I let both of them die when I could have saved them. They are the true heroines, far greater than I will ever be. It would be disrespectful to their memory if I enjoyed myself at the celebration while they gave their lives."

In that instant, Artemis began to understand why Zoë had respected this boy so much. Despite his pain and guilt, he did not seek attention or pity. His honesty and respect for Zoë were evident, and that moved her deeply.

Percy sighed and began to walk away. "Anyway, Milady, I have great respect for my mother. She taught me to never ignore someone in distress. If you ever want to talk, I will always be here for you. Do not consider it a debt. I swear by the Styx that I will never mention this encounter if that is your wish."

Something inside Artemis stirred. An inner voice whispered that if she allowed this man to walk away, she would lose the opportunity to find someone to trust. It was an inexplicable intuition, a premonition that sprang from the depths of her being.

"Wait, Jackson," Artemis called, her voice barely a whisper choked with pain. "How can I know if I can trust you?"

Percy looked at her with an intensity that disarmed her. "Lady Artemis, I swear my loyalty. I swear by the Styx and the honor of my mother that I will never betray your trust," he said with a firmness that contrasted with his gentle smile. He sat down beside her on the bench, joining her in her pain with a gesture of silent understanding.

Artemis observed his sincere face, his unwavering determination. She found herself feeling a mix of skepticism and hope. For millennia, she had built an impenetrable emotional barrier, protecting herself from pain and betrayal. But at that moment, faced with the honesty of this boy, something inside her began to crack.

"Why did it have to be her?" she asked to the air, speaking to no one in particular, as the first tear, held back since Percy's arrival, traced down her cheek.

A warm embrace enveloped her, and as she turned, she found Percy beside her. Her instincts screamed at her to push him away, that no one could touch her without her permission.

But the persistent thought in her mind prevailed, and for once, she decided to follow it. She surprised herself by leaning further into his embrace, feeling a strange sensation of comfort that grew with each passing second.

Tears flowed freely as she buried her face in Percy's shoulder, still not understanding why she trusted this demigod, whom she barely knew, so blindly. Perhaps it was his selfless act of bearing the sky for her, without seeking recognition or glory. Perhaps it was the trust that Zoë had placed in him. She didn't know for sure, but her heart whispered that she could entrust him with her life, and in that moment, a wave of security washed over her, dispelling any doubts she might have harbored.

When she finally regained control of her emotions, Artemis looked up into Percy's face, not separating from his warm embrace. She saw her own tears reflected in the young hero's eyes, and something inside her was moved even more.

"I failed them, Lady Artemis," Percy said in a broken voice. "If I had been just a little stronger, Zoë could have been by your side. I am responsible for the deaths of people. That is my burden."

Artemis looked at him incredulously for a second before stepping back and slapping him hard. The blow echoed in the silence of the night, laden with a mix of anger, pain, and frustration.

"You, foolish boy," exclaimed Artemis, her voice trembling with emotion. "Her death was not your fault. Thanks to you, she regained her faith in men. Don't take all the responsibility on yourself. Atlas was to blame, and Bianca's death was an inevitable tragedy.

Her departure fulfilled the prophecy: 'one will be lost in the land without rain.' Dying in the desert was her destiny, as cruel as it may seem. You can't change that, so don't blame yourself."

She took Percy's hand and squeezed it tightly. "Perseus Jackson, you are someone who has earned my respect, and I will never abandon you. Like you, I will always be here if you need to talk. Allow me to share your burdens, Perseus, just as you did with mine."

Percy wiped away his tears with his sleeve, a small smile forming as he extended his hand to her. "Friends, Milady?" he asked, his voice trembling with emotion.

Artemis, without hesitating for a second, stood up and shook his hand firmly. "Friends," she responded, her voice resonating with a mix of relief and satisfaction. "My first male friend in centuries," she whispered to herself.

They turned to leave, each in an opposite direction, but both stopped at the same time and turned around, this time facing each other. Almost in a trance, they began to walk towards each other, drawn by an invisible force emanating from the other. They met in the center, standing very close, their bodies almost touching.

Artemis looked into his eyes, her silver orbs shining with an intensity that disarmed him. "I would hate to see you become a bad man," she said softly, almost a whisper, her words carrying a mix of warning and hope. "Do not make me regret this friendship."

She leaned forward and enveloped him in a quick hug, a gesture that surprised both of them equally. "I look forward to our future meetings," she added with a small smile that left Percy breathless. "Goodbye... Jackson."

As she walked away, Percy's words echoed in her ears: "See you soon, Artemis." What Percy did not know at that moment was that the red thread of fate binds those destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstances.

His encounter with Artemis was destiny written by the stars long ago, a chapter that Percy would remember in the years to come as the moment he met the true face of a goddess who would one day own his heart.

The night of Olympus enveloped them as they parted, each carrying with them the memory of a moment that would change their lives forever. And in the sky, a new constellation shone brightly, as if Zoë Nightshade smiled upon the unexpected friendship that had been born from her sacrifice.

To be continued…