It's mid-August when Titus invites Percy to dinner. Percy brings Grandpa Pliny as backup. He's going to need it.

Percy is wearing his purple lined toga again and Gaius has convinced him to wear some of the gold jewelry people had left at their doorstep. The guards check Grandpa Pliny for weapons, which he doesn't have (obviously), but don't check Percy. Percy hands over Riptide anyway and the guards hold the bronze quill with reverence.

The Flavian family is outside in a courtyard Percy hadn't seen before. Titus offers Percy some grape juice, while handing Grandpa Pliny some wine. They do some customary greetings and small talk but Percy quickly excuses himself to go hang out with Julia, who is sitting on the edge of the fountain playing her harp. She's wearing all the pearls again. The adultier-adults continue to mingle.

"Hey," Percy says, feeling his fingers get itchy with nerves. 'Talking about feelings' is one of those things that sounds super easy until you try it and then it's awful and Percy is starting to regret this decision.

"Hello Perseus," Julia says easily enough. As if she isn't remotely worried about anything.

"I-um- I kind of like you and think you're very pretty, and easy to talk to. But I don't love you? I think I could someday, but um. I think your father wants us to get married, and - I wanted to know what you wanted?" AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!

Julia continues playing the harp but her eyes were searching Percy's. "You're secretly quite romantic, aren't you Perseus?"

"Uuuhhh…" Was he?

"I quite like you too. I never really expected to love my husband, but I think I could love you. You are bizarre in so many ways, but you are kind and make me feel powerful. I've never really felt powerful before," Julia says.

"I also wanted to tell you about Annabeth," Percy says, sitting next to Julia.

Julia's fingers skip a cord, but then keep playing. She nods for him to continue.

"Annabeth is… she was one of my best friends. I think I might have loved her. The last time I saw her, she kissed me for luck," Percy says. Julia is looking straight ahead, so Percy continues, "She was in the volcano with me, but she didn't come out with me. She's not… here. I think about her sometimes, and I thought it was important that you know about her before you agree to anything."

Julia stops playing the harp and lays a hand on Percy's knee, "I'm sorry to hear it. Thank you for telling me."

Cool. Cool cool cool. Cool. Everything is totally cool. "So, um, Julia Flavia, daughter of Imperator Titus Flavius Ceasar Vespasianus Augustus, do you want to marry me?"

"It would be my honor, Perseus Fillius Neptunus."

"Great," Percy says.

Titus was making his way over, so Percy stands up. "Anything you want me to negotiate?" Percy asks Julia.

"Will you move into my house instead of me moving into yours after our marriage? The palace is quite nice."

"I'll think about it? I'm only a guest in the Pliny household, and you probably wouldn't survive living in my father's house. It's underwater." Percy says. He kind of wants to keep living with the Plinys, but he also doesn't want to overstay his welcome. Something to think about later.

Titus arrives with Grandpa Pliny not far behind. "Perseus Filius Neptunus. If you would follow me? I wish to discuss the union of our two houses," Titus says. Titus leads Percy and Grandpa Pliny into an office, two Praetorian Guardsmen follow. "I want to offer you my daughter's hand in marriage and make you my official son in law," Titus says.

Grandpa Pliny had explained how marriage negotiations worked in Rome. Among the nobles of Rome, a dowry was usually offered, a political union agreed upon, and a date set. The date can be many years in the future because it was not unusual for girls as young as ten to be engaged to establish political alliances. Percy was also planning on a long betrothal. He was only fifteen, and his mom would get upset if he got married before his eighteenth birthday without her permission. Percy kind of saw this as the ancient Roman equivalent to getting a dad's permission to date his daughter. Now Percy and Julia can hang out together without it being a national scandal or something. Percy was also not blind to the financial and political benefits of being officially associated with the August family.

Discussions go on for about an hour. Grandpa Pliny helps. They agree to a three-year engagement, a large dowry, a public wedding, and a political alliance. By the end, Percy is engaged to Julia.

And exhausted. Mentally.

After the talks conclude, Percy goes back to the fountain and sits down within it, letting the water flow over him. "We're engaged," Percy says to Julia.

"Wonderful," Julia says. A small smile plays at her lips as she continues to play, "I was slightly concerned you would reject my father's offer as Uncle Domitian once did."

Percy stares at his fiancé (FIANCE!) "Titus… offered your hand to… Domitian?" Romans are weird. Percy knows this. But that's extra-super weird, right?

"On my tenth birthday. My grandfather insisted on it. Grandfather Vespasianus wanted to bind my father and uncle's bloodline together to ensure that they would work together and not try to kill each other. Uncle Domitian rejected the offer because he was already in love with Domitila," Julia says. Percy is reminded that ancient royal families were super inbred.

"Good thing you didn't marry him. Your kids would have been super—" Percy tries to find the word for 'inbred' but can't find the Latin equivalent, "Cursed."

"Cursed?" Julia asks.

"Yeah. If you marry someone closely related to you there is a very good chance your kids end up with health problems. Or crazy big chins or something. Cursed. Don't do it."

Julia considers this. It looks like she's going through a list of families in her head. Percy hopes her parents aren't cousins or something, that would be awkward.

"Oh, by the way, I got you this as an engagement present," Percy says to change the subject as he pulls out the dagger he'd made. If the praetorian guards had searched him for weapons when Percy came in, they would have found it. Good thing they didn't. Tiberius Alexander, who is standing along the walls of the courtyard with a handful of guards, look up intently at Percy and Julia.

Percy had broken the serpent's tooth in half and wrapped the broken end in leather to form a handle. He'd also paid a leatherworker to make a sheath and belt for it. "A dagger. I figured if this is an engagement present, Titus can't get upset that you carry it with you. If senators can carry daggers, then so can you."

Julia's eyes widened as she accepted the gift, speechless for a few seconds. "What is it made out of?"

"Sea serpent tooth."

"You do understand that this is a sacred object. The tooth of a monster."

"You can also stab people with it," Percy says.

Julia stares at Percy, then at the dagger, then at Percy again. "Thank you. This is amazing," Julia says as she reaches for the dagger. Instead of just picking it up, as Percy expected, she holds the dagger and leans forward toward Percy. After a brief moment of panicked confusion, Percy leans forward as well.

They kiss.

The fountain sprays about three times the normal amount of water. Percy and Julia get completely soaked by the spray. Her lips are warm.

Wow!

.

Perseus is floating in a familiar semi-dream space. He hears the prayers of his people. They ask for safe passage through the Mediterranean. They pray that their houses will not burn down today. They pray for a good catch. They pray Mount Vesuvius will not erupt again. They speak in Latin and Greek as well as languages Perseus has never heard before; he knows what their words mean.

A group of men pull an oak tree out of the pond in the shipyard and begin carving it into the correct shape for a hull. Perseus can feel it happening because a part of him is the tree.

He sees men and woman kneel in front of alters with lit oil lanterns. He smells the scent of thyme as bundles of it are burnt at alters. He smells crab meat as that too is offered to him in flame. An offering to the living god.

.

"Hey Tiberius Alexander, can I borrow two horses for the day?"

"No. And stop entering the Praetorian camp without permission."

Percy leaves camp and asks Domitian if he can borrow two horses for the day. Domitian says of course, and tells him he can get the horses from the Praetorian camp. Percy returns to Tiberius Alexander' tent. It wasn't a camping tent, more like one of those big party tents, or a circus tent. The big kinds where you can stand and walk around. Tiberius Alexander was sitting behind his desk doing paperwork.

Percy has a big shit eating grin on his face as he enters the tent. Wordlessly, the Praetorian captain sighs and points Percy to the stables.

"Hey guys! I need two volunteers to go riding for a few hours." Percy says, entering the stables. The horses looked up excitedly. Soldiers also gathered around outside the stables. Many of them had bowed their heads as Percy walked past.

"Prince! Hello Prince!"

"I am the fastest Prince! Pick me!"

"That is a lie! I am the fastest! I am much faster than Grass-Stepper!"

"Hello! Hello! Hello Prince!"

"I can charge an army without flinching! Are we fighting?"

"There's no fighting," Percy re-assured them, "I'm looking for a nice horse who can be patient with a new rider. My friend hasn't ridden in years." He eventually gets two horses. Grass-Stepper and Bone-Crusher. Bone-Crusher is the calm one.

As he's saddling the horse, he notices the saddle doesn't have any stirrups. He turns to one of the guards, "Hey soldier, do you know why the saddle doesn't have any—" he searches for the Latin word for stirrups, but can't find it- "saddle-steps?"

"Saddle-steps, my lord? Do you mean a stool?" The soldier asks, and points to a stool that was likely used to climb onto a horse. Percy tries to explain what a stirrup is, but he probably doesn't do a good job because the soldier looks confused.

"Never-mind," Percy says, and tells himself to spend some time with the blacksmith to make some stirrups later. He pats Grass-Stepper, then jumps on her back. "Follow me Bone-Crusher," Percy says to the other horse. The soldiers seem a little confused by the name, but the horses have no problems walking toward the Pliny family domus.

There, he helps Gaius get on the patient Bone-Crusher and leads the two of them out of the city limits. The area around Rome is quite hilly and remarkably rural. Within two or three miles, the city of Rome turns into forested hills with the occasional farm in the distance, especially if you stay away from the river. Percy had noticed this before as he walked and swam near Gaeta; there were a lot less people in the world than what Percy is used to. Grover would have loved all the wilderness.

Percy and Gaius talk about stuff as they ride.

Grandpa Pliny is currently in negotiations to get Gaius engaged to a senator's daughter. A woman named Cecilia Procolus whom Gaius has never met before. Gaius has finished the third copy of his uncle's natural history book series, and is now focused on starting his political career by becoming a tribune.

They have to get off the horses as they walk up steep hills, because without stirrups to put his feet in, Gaius keeps slipping off the saddle when Bone-Crusher walks up steep slopes. Percy doesn't, but he's used to balancing on the backs of Pegasi without a saddle so this isn't all that complicated.

They find some cool bugs. Mr. Pinchy does not like the cool bugs and aggressively tries to pinch them until Percy puts the bugs down. Then Mr. Pinchy clicks his claws together in victory.

"Do you know why Marcella is mad at me?" Percy asks as they walk uphill.

"Mom? Is she mad at you? Hm. I don't know. I'm still kind of mad at her for pulling me away from all the action the day you left. I wanted to record what happened after you walked out of the senate."

"You were there? At the senate meeting?"

"We were right outside. I think Mom got scared when you walked out with all the blood behind you."

"Were you scared?"

"Of you? No. I figured if you hurt someone, they probably deserved it," Gaius says.

Percy thinks about all the people that died during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and changes the subject. How do you make someone not-scared of you?

"Titus wants to visit Mount Vesuvius on the anniversary of the eruption. Do you want to come with us?" Percy asks.

"Sure. I'll ask mom to come too. I'm sure she'll calm down once she realizes you're not going around killing people all the time."

"Thanks," Percy says. He'll just have to be extra nice for a bit. Hopefully Marcella will stop being scared and they can get back to normal. Maybe he can talk to Marcella about swishing his soul? Would that help?

The rest of the day is fairly uneventful. When they get back to Rome, Percy works together with the Praetorian blacksmith and a leatherworker to make some stirrups so Gaius won't keep slipping off the saddle next time.

.

They head out to Mount Vesuvius a week before the one-year anniversary of the eruption. Percy could probably swim there in a few hours, but since Julia, Gaius, Marcella, Titus, Tiberius Alexander and about three thousand Praetorian Guards are coming along the trip takes a bit longer. They had to bring carts of food, tents, and water and stuff.

This is very different from the type of travel Percy is used to, where having a backpack with lunch in it is about as prepared as he gets. The Flavians are traveling in a covered wooden wagon with iron-clad wheels pulled along by four horses. The interior has pillows and painted sides. Still, Percy is happy to be riding Grass-Stepper because the iron clad wheels do not look comfortable.

They stop for the night halfway to Gaeta to build camp. As the soldiers are setting up the tents and digging holes for pooping, Domitian approached Percy.

"I haven't had the opportunity to congratulate you on your engagement Perseus," Domitian says extending his hand, "Soon you shall be my nephew."

"Uh yeah, thanks. It'll be a few years though," Percy says shaking the man's hand.

"Why wait? When I met my Domitila, I knew I wanted to wed her. We were married within a year. Julia is already seventeen, a three-year engagement seems unnecessary," Domitian says. Percy hadn't mentioned it would be a three-year engagement, so Titus had likely spoken to Domitian already.

"Uhh… I'm a bit young for that." Percy says.

"You are a man, a senator, a respected inventor. Once wed, you could officially move into the palace to get a better education-"

"Ignore my uncle, Perseus," Julia says, walking up behind Percy and placing her hand in his, "He is eager to become a general and oversteps."

Percy is confused.

"I am merely a fan of weddings," Domitian says with a smile, but quickly excuses himself to go talk to Titus.

"What?" Percy asks Julia once the man is gone.

"My uncle has been trying to petition my grandfather and more recently my father to be allowed to join the military and become a general for years," Julia explains, "Men in the Flavius family have joined the military for generations. It is a source of pride for them. But Domitian has always been turned away. Grandfather Vespasianus thought it was too dangerous to have both his sons in the military, and Titus would not endanger his only heir. Once we marry you would be more firmly established as heir and Domitian would likely successfully petition my father to be allowed to join the military and become a general."

"So now he wants us to get married quickly," Percy says.

"Precisely."

Percy shakes his head at the strange Angler Fish who can't just say what he wants. "I assume the senate also has a lot of unspoken desires and careful words."

"It's rare for a senator's words not to be carefully chosen," Julia agrees.

"It's a good thing I'll have you by my side then," Percy says, squeezing her hand.

.

"Perseus, I have been meaning to ask something," Titus says as the traveling group are gathered around a campfire eating soup and bread as his soldiers finish setting up camp. Perseus nods for Titus to continue. "I was told you ran Celsus through with your sword, but left no wound. Was that some kind of trick?"

Perseus pulled his bronze quill out from behind his ear and twirled it into a sword. The action exposed his left shoulder, where three gold markings seemed to be tattooed into the demi-god's arm. Next to Titus, Tiberius Alexander twitches but doesn't try to stop the demi-god. Even now, the guard captain does not like it when blades are pulled near Titus. "No trick. My sword doesn't hurt mortals. It'll still clash against mortal weapons though," Perseus says.

"You never hurt any of my soldiers when you fought with your sword," Tiberius Alexander says, "but did cut them when you borrowed a spear."

Perseus grins, "Exactly, I couldn't cut them with this blade even if I wanted to. I'll demonstrate. Gaius can you hold out your hand?"

Perseus' friend Plinius Secundus holds out his hand without hesitation, but the young man's mother reaches forward and pulls it back with force. Titus raises and eyebrow at this rude woman who would openly doubt a demigod. Perseus doesn't look insulted though, merely sad.

The woman, and Titus does not remember her name, holds out her hand instead. "If you would, my lord, test your sword on me instead," the woman says, eyes cast down.

"I would not have hurt him Marcella," Perseus says, "Riptide can't hurt mortals. It passes right through them."

"As you say, my lord," the woman says, keeping her hand outstretched. Titus has already forgotten her name. She is not important.

Slowly, very slowly, Perseus brings his sword down and through the woman's hand. The sword does indeed pass through her hand without leaving a trace. The woman pulls her hand back. Perseus looks sad.

On a whim, Titus holds his own hand out. "Could you demonstrate on me?" Titus asks.

Perseus once again brings his sword down slowly, this time onto Titus's hand. The blade is cold and presses down on Titus' flesh. It does not pass through as it did with the woman. Titus holds his breath for a second as Perseus pulls the blade back up. A small cut remains on Titus' palm.

Tiberius Alexander has his hand on his sword handle. "I thought you said it passes through mortal flesh," the Praetorian Prefect says with contained anger.

"Huh. I guess when your father was deified, you became a demigod yourself Titus," Perseus says. He says it casually, as if it is merely an interesting fact and not a re-evaluation of Titus' entire existence.

A demi-god.

When the senate had deified his father, the gods had listened.

His father was a god.

Tiberius Alexander held out his hand as well, "Prove to me this wasn't some kind of trick," he says to Perseus. Perseus lowers his blade down and through Tiberius Alexander's hand with little resistance. There was some resistance only because Tiberius Alexander was wearing gloves. The glove was cut in half but had hand within was unharmed.

Domitian raised his hand as well. The blade came to rest atop his palm and drew a drop of blood. Blood of a demi-god. Titus made eye-contact with his brother and sees reflected in them the same excited glint. They would tell the senate about this. They would turn it into a demonstration on the senate floor. This was one of the greatest political tools that had even been handed to them. Undisputable proof of godly blood.

It was also a dangerous precedent. The senate of Rome could sway the gods with a vote. If left unchecked, they would be able to declare an enemy of the Flavians a god as well. Something to be considered.

"Does godly blood pass down to girls?" Julia asked, holding her hand out.

"Of course it does," Perseus says with a laugh. His words prove true when Perseus' bronze sword cuts Julia's palm. Julia shares a look with her father. She has same glint in her eyes that exists in Domitian's and Titus'.

After Plinius Secundus and a few of the soldiers try their luck, none of them getting cut, Perseus laughs and turns his sword back into a quill. Perseus resumes eating his dinner casually. As if he had not just solidified the Flavian dynasty. As if he had not just publicly declared the August family the descendants of a god!

.

They get to Gaeta the next day. Someone had run ahead to let Gaeta know Percy was coming back and the village had come out to greet him. They're only passing through Gaeta today on their way to Mount Vesuvius, but they'll be back in three days for the one-year anniversary of the eruption.

Titus rides in first, with Percy a few paces behind and the rest of their traveling party behind them. Percy recognizes many of the faces as the refugees he'd lived with on the beach for over a month last year. The people of Gaeta had finished building the second apartment complex and the wooden huts on the beach had been completely removed.

There are three ships docked in Gaeta that will be carrying a section of the traveling party to the coast of Vesuvius. The ships are military vessels designed for the Mediterranean. The ships are clunky but they'll do.

Perseus' godly side feels stronger in Gaeta than he does in Rome. He recognizes many of the voices that call out to him as he rides past- he's listened to their prayers. Perseus waves and pulls a stream of water with him as he travels through the town. He wouldn't want to disappoint.

They've built him a temple; Perseus can feel it. He gets off his horse, waving the guard away as he does, and walks toward the temple. The crowd parts in front of him, bowing. His temple is a one room brick building near the temple of Jupiter. The temple has been plastered and the far wall has a mosaic in it showing Perseus protecting people from the volcanic flow with a wave of water. Two more mosaics on other walls are half finished, and there's a small alter with two oil lamps and pieces of crab shell on it.

Perseus breathes in. He's been in this room dozens of times in his dreams, but this is the first time he's physically stepped inside it.

"I did warn the people of Gaeta that it is bad luck to make a temple for someone who hasn't ascended yet," a voice comes from behind Perseus, "but they insisted on a temple, so here it is." Turning, Perseus sees the old priest of Jupiter standing just outside the temple doors. His eyes shine with a white light and the air fills with an electric energy that makes Perseus' hair stand on end.

"Uncle Jupiter," Perseus says, bowing a little. Perseus wonders if Jupiter is very different from his Greek Zeus side.

"So, you do have some manners," Jupiter says, "I had my doubts. Neptune's children tend to lack basic manners." Perseus immediately regrets bowing and is tempted to do something he'll likely regret, like splash the old man with sea water and flip him off. The wind picks up.

Best behavior Perseus. Best behavior.

"To what do I owe the honor of your visit, Uncle?" Perseus asks.

"I could feel my Titan father's power down on the surface, so I came to investigate. I see now that a piece of his blade is stuck within your arm," Jupiter says, "You will tell me how it got there."

Perseus frowns, raises his arms and tries to feel for a piece of the blade. When he presses down hard, he feels something embedded in his arm. When he reaches out with his godly senses, he can feel Kronos' power imbued in his flesh.

A shard of Kronos' blade, a shard of time, was lodged in his arm.

"I stole Kronos' blade from a pack of Telekhines, then exploded a volcano. A piece of the blade must have gotten stuck in my arm," Perseus says.

"When?"

"Last year."

The wind picks up with Jupiter's annoyance, "No. When are you from? What time period? You have a shard of time embedded within your flesh."

"Approximately two thousand years in the future," Perseus says. When his soul is swishes into his godlier form memories of his demigod childhood are vague, but he knows the basics, "Kronos will try to return. I was attempting to prevent it."

Jupiter considers this, "Good. I will send my son Apollo down to record all your knowledge of the future. Then my daughter Athena can plan for the war accordingly."

That's not a bad idea actually. Perseus is quite surprised. He's not used to gods having good ideas.

"One more thing before I go, boy," Jupiter says through the body of the old man, "Demi-gods have a lot of freedom to do as they please. However, once you ascend to godhood you will have to obey our ancient laws. That includes limiting any direct contact with mortals."

"I'd rather not," Perseus says.

"You have mistaken me for someone who was asking permission," Jupiter says, "If you do not obey the ancient laws once you ascend, I will personally throw you into the depths of Tartarus where you will rot for eternity. Unrestrained gods are destructive, even if they don't intend to be.

Direct interference from the gods has a tendency not only to kill thousands of people, but to destroy human ingenuity and independence. I have not spent thousands of years balancing godly influence and human hubris just for some half-blood to tear it apart in a misguided attempt to help."

On Perseus' shoulder, Mr. Pinchy is upset by the implied threat and waves his two little claws at the king of the Gods aggressively. "PINCH!" Perseus grabs his crab and quickly hides him behind his back.

Jupiter's eyes flash again, "Try not to destroy too much before you die, boy." Lightning flashes in the sky above and a clap of thunder seems to shake the air. Jupiter is gone and in his place is merely an old man in priestly robes who stares at Perseus with surprised mortal eyes.

"Lord Perseus," the old man says in Greek, "It is an honor to see you again."

Perseus says some bland pleasantries and quickly excuses himself. He walks out of Gaeta, over the beach and into the sea. There, he releases Mr. Pinchy who swims around and quickly pinches onto Perseus' clothes once more.

Perseus stares at his arm as he walks along the ocean floor. If he cuts the shard of time out of his flesh, would he return to the 21st century? Perseus' more human side rejoiced. He could see his mother again. He could see Annabeth and Grover again. Toilets. Wonderful, wonderful toilets.

In one month, he would turn sixteen. Whatever prophecy Chiron didn't want to tell him about would happen when a child of the elder gods turned 16. If he returned now, he could help the gods fight Kronos. He could protect camp half-blood. His fingers dig into the flesh of his arm.

Perseus is not so convinced. He is loyal to Rome. He owes the people who pray to him whatever protection or advice he can give. He is promised to Julia. He needs to protect Gaius, Marcella, Grandpa Pliny and all the people of the Empire. He needs to build better ships and help all the sailors. Perseus did not belong in a camp for Greek half-bloods or a school for children. He was to be the next Augustus of Rome.

He can feel his human side and godly side pull apart and disagree in a way they haven't in a while. The ocean water starts to swirl around him agitatedly.

Swish swish.

If he has a chance to return to his own time, not going back would be the same as abandoning Camp Half-blood. Leaving now would be abandoning Rome and the people who pray to him. Annabeth. Julia. Grover. Gaius. Sally. Marcella. Titus. Chiron. Augustus. Hero.

If he becomes a god upon his death, he can still fight the war against Kronos as a god instead of a half-blood. The timeline would be pushed back. Nico would be the child of the elder gods who survives against all odds, but Perseus would be there to fight along side him. Screw the godly rules of non-interference. He'll take his punishment after the battle.

All he has to do is:

Step 1) Become a god.

Step 2) Chill for two thousand years. Try not to get banished into Tartarus.

Step 3) Walts into Camp Half-blood with a bunch of cool warships or something and help kill Kronos.

Ok. Solid plan.

There are some details to work out, but Perseus has time. Satisfied, Perseus walks out of the ocean and returns to his friends in Gaeta.

.

The next day three ships set out from Gaeta and travel south to Mount Vesuvius. Domitian and many of the guards staying behind in Gaeta. Domitian apparently wants to look over the financials of Gaeta and how exactly the money for refugees was spent. The ships aren't big enough to carry all three thousand guards, so they only take three hundred.

They get to bay of Nepal's by noon. In the distance, Percy can see Mount Vesuvius. The mountain has a large section of its side blown off and is surrounded by a large area of dark grey ash. Areas that used to be full of people are now silent. Corpses are trapped within the solidified ash.

There isn't a strict line between area affected by volcano and area that isn't. Everything close to the mountain was buried. The area around that had experienced the rain of ash and pumice. As you got further away, the areas experienced less and less ash rain. On the edges of the grey, plants are starting to regrow.

The ships anchor near the coast and Percy walks his friends to shore. Some of the soldiers take rowboats to shore as well.

Titus picks up a clump from the ground and crushes it in his hand into ash. The wind blows it into his face and he hacks and coughs as the dust gets into his lungs.

Percy stares. He remembers the coughing of the refugees as they walk through the darkness inhaling ash. He remembers the coughing on the beach in Gaeta weeks after the eruption had ended. The sun is shining but Percy can feel the ash rain falling on his skin. His arm that had been cut open by Kronos' blade throbs.

"Perseus?" Gaius' voice breaks through his thoughts, "Is something wrong?"

Clouds have started to gather and it was raining specifically above Percy. Percy looks at his friend.

Gaius doesn't know this was Percy's fault. Gaius doesn't know Percy is the reason he almost died last year. No one does. Do they deserve to know?

"I have something I need to tell everyone," Percy says to him. He then turns to Titus, Tiberius Alexander, Julia and Marcella who are standing a few paces away and looking over at him due to the tiny raincloud above his head.

"The eruption of Vesuvius. It was my fault."

.

.

.

Author's Notes:

Ancient Rome had three kinds of marriages. "Confarreatio" was only for patricians (Nobles) and involved at least ten witnesses, officiated by both the priest of Jupiter and the Pontifex Maximus (top priest of Rome, a title currently held by Titus). This kind of wedding was usually only for the very wealthy. Confarreatio involved sharing cake between the couple. They had Ancient Roman wedding cakes! Which was more like a special kind of spelt bread, but close enough! They also sacrificed a pig- because Rome.

The other types of marriages (for the plebs, the vast majority of people in the empire) were "Coemptio" and "Usus". "Coemptio" ("By Purchase") involved the man offering the bride's family money (or cows or something) for her hand in marriage. "Usus" involved the couple living together long enough that people just went "yeah ok, they're married I guess". Usus was the least formal and generally not looked upon super positively.

Woman could avoid being under her husband's legal control if they spent three consecutive nights a year outside of her husband's home. Usually by going to live with her father and mother for a few nights. There's a lot of evidence of woman doing this and taking a yearly three-day vacation. This way they were officially still part of their father's household (even if they lived far away from their parents), and had a level of legal independence from their husbands.

Stirrups! Stirrups might have been invented in the second century BC (~300 years before this story) in India, where they had little loops for their toes. Stirrups made their way to central Asia and China before finally coming to Europe in the 600s CE. So about 500 years after this story takes place. Crazy.

Stirrups were a pretty big deal because it was hard to ride on a horse up or down a mountain without them, and they provided greater maneuverability and allow the rider to use two hands to hold stuff on the horse without falling off. Stuff like a shield and a lance. Which is important in cavalry-based warfare.

Deifying emperors. Not all Augustus' were declared a god after their death. At this point, the senate had only deified four men: Julius Ceasar, Ceasar Augustus, Claudius, and Vespasian. Deification was (at this point in time) a fairly big deal: they made a temple and had to hire a full-time priest to look after the temple. Vespasian was deified by the senate after his death, so in my book that makes Titus and Domitian demigods and Julia a legacy.

Nero, Commodus and Caligula were all Augustus', but they were NOT deified. Looking at you "Trials of Apollo."