AN: Firstly, I want to thank you all for following this story and for the kind review, appreciate it heavily! This chapter is rather long, but necessary. Enjoy!
Percy's eyes fluttered open, his vision hazy as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. The room was silent except for a softly lit candle next to him and the gentle murmur of voices that reached his ears, grounding him into the present. Percy tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over him, and he collapsed back on the bed.
"Easy there," a familiar voice said, laced with concern. Percy turned his head to see Reyna sitting beside him, her dark eyes filled with relief and worry.
"Reyna," Percy croaked, his throat dry and scratchy.
"Here, Percy. Drink this." She handed him a glass that was filled with golden liquid, which Percy took with trembling hands. He brought it to his lips and took a cautious sip, immediately feeling a wave of warmth and energy surging through his body, washing away the pain and fatigue.
Percy drank the rest of the substance in one gulp, feeling its healing properties working almost instantly. His vision cleared, and the throbbing in his muscles subsided.
"What happened? Where am I?" Percy asked as he scanned his surroundings, realising he was in what looked to be a medical room.
Before Reyna could answer, a large figure stepped into view. Percy's eyes widened as came face to face with a half-man half-horse creature. Another one of those hybrid creatures.
Percy's heart raced, panic setting in. "What... what is that?" he stammered, trying to push himself away.
Reyna quickly placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Percy, it's okay. That's Chiron the centaur, he's like the camp director here."
The centaur, Chiron, raised his hands to show he was harmless. "Hello Percy, it's nice to meet you. Reyna told me what happened."
Percy's breathing slowed slightly, but his eyes were still wide with shock. "So... My mom was telling the truth? She was right about the Greek gods and whatnot?"
Chiron nodded solemnly. "Your mother was aware of the dangers in this world having been what I assume a clear-sighted mortal. She did everything to protect you from this world."
Percy's heart clenched as he recalled the events from last night, tears welling up in his eyes. "My mom... she's..."
Reyna reached out and took his hand, squeezing it gently. "I'm so sorry, Percy," she said softly, her voice filled with empathy. The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the soft flicker of the candlelight. He could see the sorrow mirrored in Reyna's eyes, and for a moment, they simply held onto each other.
Chiron watched them, his eyes reflecting a deep understanding of their pain. He waited, giving them the space they needed to mourn. After a few moments, he cleared his throat gently.
"I should probably get going, but I want you to know that you are safe here at Camp Half-Blood. This place is a sanctuary for demigods like you and Reyna." Chiron said.
Percy took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "What happens now?"
The centaur smiled kindly. "Luke, one of our senior campers, will show you around. He'll help you get settled and answer any questions you might have."
As if on cue, a tall athletic boy with sandy blond hair stepped into the room. He had a relaxing aura, his presence seeming to lighten the previously moody atmosphere.
"Hey Percy, Reyna." Luke said warmly. "I'm Luke, I'll be your guide around camp!"
Percy and Reyna followed Luke out of the building, the warm sunlight of the morning contrasting the darker environment within the infirmary. Percy squinted against the brightness, his eyes slowly adjusting to the bustling activity that was Camp Half-Blood.
"Welcome to Camp Half-Blood," Luke announced, spreading his arms wide. "This is your new home, a safe haven for demigods like us."
The first thing Percy noticed was a large farmhouse that stood at the centre of the camp. It had a wraparound porch, and its walls were covered in ivy. Luke pointed towards it as they walked. "That's the Big House, where Chiron and Mr. D, our camp director, reside. It's also where meetings are held between cabin leaders if necessary."
The pair nodded, before Reyna decided to speak up. "Which cabin will we be staying in?"
For a second Luke's smile faltered, turning into a scowl, before he quickly reverted back to his charming demeanour. "In Camp Half-Blood, we all stay in our parents' cabins. But since you're both unclaimed, you'll be staying in my dad's cabin, Hermes, him being the god of travellers and all. Until you're claimed by another olympian, that's where you'll be living."
"How long does it usually take for our parents to claim us?" Percy asked, unsure if he actually wanted to know who his father was seeing as he had abandoned him and his mom.
Luke shrugged. "No one knows. It could take days, months, years, or even just never. The gods aren't exactly great parents."
They moved on, passing several other buildings and structures. To the right, a large arena caught Percy's eye. He saw demigods sparring with all kinds of weapons ranging from swords, knives and spears all with a high degree of technical elegance. There were also campers practising archery near a shooting range, most of the kids looking identical to each other due to their blonde hair and blue eyes. The fighting station would be a huge upgrade to his and Reyna's previous training ground, he thought.
"This is the arena," Luke explained. "You'll spend a lot of time here, learning to fight and defend yourself in case we ever get attacked by monsters. I'll actually be the one teaching sword combat."
They continued their tour, passing through lush green fields where campers engaged in various activities. Some were playing volleyball, others were practising magic or welding items at a forge. Percy noticed a beach in the distance, its surface reflecting the sunlight like a mirror.
As they walked, they came across a cluster of cabins arranged in a horseshoe shape. Each cabin was unique, reflecting the domain of the god it represented. Some were adorned with symbols and decorations, while others had specific architectural styles.
"These are the cabins," Luke explained. "Each one is dedicated to a different god or goddess. Like I said earlier, you'll be staying in Cabin Eleven, Hermes' cabin. It's the largest one too, seeing as we host the most people."
Sure enough, as they entered Cabin Eleven Percy was struck by how crowded it was. Bunk beds lined the walls, leaving barely any room to walk. Campers of all ages were buzzing around; talking, playing games, or sorting through their belongings. The air was filled with laughter and conversation, creating a camped but lively atmosphere.
Luke led them through the maze of bunks to a small, empty space near the back of the cabin. "You two can share this one," he said, patting an unoccupied bunk. "It's not much, but we make do. Everyone here is pretty friendly, so you'll fit right in."
Seeing as they didn't have any baggage, the trio agreed to leave the cabin and get some food. As they made their way out, Luke finally noticed the sword strapped to Reyna's waist. Being the swordmaster at camp led to a keen interest in weaponry, and so he couldn't help but voice his curiosity.
"I've never seen a sword like that. Most of the weapons here are made of celestial bronze and have a more... curved finish. Where did you get it?" Luke asked.
Reyna seemed somewhat cautious about answering. "My dad gave it to me," she replied firmly, signalling to Luke that she preferred not to discuss it further. Respecting her privacy, Luke dropped the subject, and the group continued on their way to the dining hall to grab a quick bite.
The next few days settled into a routine that felt surprisingly familiar, almost as if it was a normal weekday. They had physical conditioning classes to build their strength and stamina to prepare them from the fighting classes, alongside Greek classes. Surprisingly, despite Reyna usually being the academic one out of the duo, she struggled to keep up with the language much to Percy's amusement. After the classes, when all the campers were given free time, the pair headed to the fighting arena to practise their combat skills, although the sparring sessions they had were now completely one-sided. Percy, having lost his sword when carrying Reyna to camp was now forced to use a heavy longsword which he could barely swing, voiding him of his best asset which was speed and agility.
Today though, Reyna and Percy made their way to the fighting arena, buzzing with excitement for their first official combat class. They excitedly chatted among each other as they made their way to the arena, wondering how their current abilities would hold up against the other demigods. However, as they neared the arena, their excitement began to fade. The sight before them was intimidating: everyone present was from the Ares cabin. They stood in tight-knit groups, laughing arrogantly and showing off their weapons with exaggerated flourishes. Their loud, confident chatter filled the air, punctuated by hearty laughter and playful taunts.
The cabin leader, Clarisse, who was brandishing a devilish looking spear, caught sight of Reyna and Percy and let out a loud, mocking laugh. "Hey, look who's here!"
Another Ares camper, spinning his sword with practiced ease, boasted over to his siblings saying that he could take both of them at the same time much to the cabins amusement. The display of overconfidence was almost unbearable for Percy, the Ares campers clearly enjoying themselves as they basked in their reputation being the camp's best fighters. The sight of them, so self-assured and playful, only heightened his nerves.
Luke, who had been standing on the sidelines engaged in conversation with Chiron ran to the pair, a blush appearing on his face as a hand made its way behind his neck. He cleared his throat and addressed them, trying to mask his embarrassment. "Uh, it seems I made a bit of a mistake. I accidentally booked us for the combat class with the Ares cabin."
Percy's eyes widened slightly, and glanced around nervously at the Ares campers. Reyna, on the other hand, didn't seem nearly as intimidated.
"It'll be good practice for us," She told Percy reassuringly.
He rolled his eyes in retaliation. "Sure, good practice on getting beaten up—I think I'm already pretty good at that"
Luke let out a chuckle, before offering a reassuring nod to Percy. "Just give it your best shot, Percy. It might be tough, but Reyna's right. It's a great opportunity to push yourselves and improve quickly."
Percy begrudgingly agreed, before Luke shouted at the Ares cabin. "Okay, everyone, gather up!" He called out, his voice cutting through the chatter of the Ares cabin. The campers shifted, forming a line horizontally across the training area, with Reyna and Percy falling into place among them.
Luke began the lesson by demonstrating basic sword movements for defending, going through techniques to parry and block. Reyna managed to excel in that department, although when Luke started demonstrating slashes for the trainees to do, explaining the proper technique, Reyna struggled. For some reason, she seemed somewhat uncomfortable with the slashing approach instead favouring a thrusting offense. Luke noticed her discomfort and tried to help her technique which led to her slightly improving.
Percy wasn't doing much better than Reyna due to the heavy weight of the sword he was currently using. His movements were sluggish and ineffective, and even Luke seemed to pity him, knowing that he was capable of fighting much better with a more balanced weapon.
As the lesson drew to a close, Luke clapped his hands to gather everyone's attention. "Alright, it's time for duels! Does anyone want to challenge anyone?"
Clarisse, her gaze sharp and competitive, immediately stepped forward and pointed at Percy.
"I challenge that runt!" Clarisse declared, her voice carrying the fierce tone typical of the daughter of Ares.
Percy's heart raced, but he knew he couldn't back out of the challenge once the other Ares children started pushing him towards the playing field. He stepped into the arena, looking at Reyna for help, who simply gave him a sympathetic smile. Percy let out deep breaths, as he tried to calm his nerves. Clarisse, on the other hand, simply cracked her knuckles before retrieving her electric spear.
The duel began, and Percy immediately found himself on the defensive. Clarisse's aggressive style and powerful thrusts overwhelmed him, as he just barely managed to evade her attacks and avoid being pulverised, not bothering to bring his sword up knowing that it would just make his reactions slower. Eventually, Percy's luck ran out. In a swift, unexpected move, Clarisse closed the distance and delivered a powerful punch to Percy's face.
The impact was brutal. Percy staggered, his nose erupting in pain and blood. He fell to his knees, clutching his face as the blood streamed down. Clarisse stood over him, breathing heavily.
"You're weak," Clarisse snarled, her tone uncompromising. "You've got to be tougher if you want to survive out here."
Reyna, her eyes blazing with a mix of anger and concern, rushed into the arena to help Percy. She knelt beside him, carefully helping him to his feet and guiding him out of the arena. "Come on, Percy. Let's get you cleaned up."
As Percy was led away by Reyna, he winced with each step, trying to steady his breath. Reyna then glanced back at Clarisse, her determination solidifying into a resolve.
"Clarisse!" Reyna called out, her voice cutting through the murmur of the crowd. "I challenge you next!"
The Ares campers' interest piqued at the new challenge. Clarisse turned to face Reyna before breaking into laughter. "Come on then, it's your funeral."
Reyna stepped back into the arena, her gaze fixed on Clarisse. The crowd of Ares campers fell silent, their anticipation building. Luke, who had been watching from the sidelines, approached Reyna with a look of concern but also a hint of respect. "Are you sure you want to do this? Behind me, Clarisse is the best fighter in camp."
Reyna glared at Luke. "I'm not scared of her."
With determination etched on her face, Reyna brandished her golden sword, its blade glinting in the sunlight. The weapon drew a few impressed murmurs from the crowd, including a flicker of admiration from Clarisse.
"That's a nice sword," Clarisse commented. "But it won't save you."
The fight began with both fighters moving into their stances. Clarisse immediately launched into a series of aggressive strikes, her spear thrusting with fluidity. Reyna tried to follow the slashing techniques Luke had taught her, but her attempts were futile as Clarisse easily read her moves and managed to continue pressing her. Reyna found herself struggling to keep up, the only thing keeping her in the fight being her strong defence.
Frustration began to mount for Reyna as she found herself unable to get into the offensive. She gritted her teeth, her frustration evident as she struggled with the unfamiliar technique. Finally, in a moment of exasperation, she snapped.
"Fuck it."
She shifted her grip and abandoned the slashing technique in favour of her usual stabbing approach, now moving with increased fluidity as she managed to block a stab from Clarisse's spear before beginning her own offense. Reyna's thrusts were sharp and deliberate, finding openings in her opponents defences. Clarrise quickly became frustrated once she was forced to back off, struggling to keep up with Reyna's attacks.
With a well-timed manoeuvre, Reyna managed to knock Clarisse's spear out of her hands. She stumbled back, her eyes narrowing with anger. Reyna pressed to her advantage, pointing the tip of her sword at Clarisse's chest.
The Ares cabin gasped collectively, their shock evident having just watched the leader of their cabin being disarmed by a newcomer. Clarisse, visibly seething with rage, grudgingly admitted defeat. "I yield," she spat out, her voice dripping with disdain.
As Reyna lowered her blade, Clarisse shot a venomous glare at her. "Don't think this is over," she growled, her tone menacing. "You caught me off guard with your technique, I'll crush you next time."
As Clarisse picked up her spear and stormed off, the tension in the arena shifted to a sense of relief. Luke approached Reyna, his expression being that of surprise. "I guess you were right, your technique works perfectly well by itself."
Reyna, still catching her breath, gave a tired smile. "Thanks."
Percy, who was clutching a piece of tissue paper trying to stop the bleeding from his nose, joined Reyna, offering her a supportive grin. "You should try fighting Luke now," he teased.
Reyna wiped the sweat off her forehead. "Maybe next time? I'm kind of tired right now."
Luke nodded at Reyna, accepting her challenge. He then turned to Percy, although not before glancing at the longsword beside him. "You should get yourself checked at the infirmary. Also, you really need a new weapon."
Percy wasn't sure what he felt about camp so far. Since he had Reyna around, things were mostly good as no one dared to mess with her after news of the duel spread. But if it wasn't for her company, Percy was mostly miserable. He still mourned the death of his mother, and while he occasionally hung out with Luke, he was always busy teaching the other demigods whilst also managing his other relationships.
Percy also quickly realised he wasn't talented in any department, and he had no clue who his father could be. Luke quickly dubbed Reyna's mother to be Athena, due to her fighting prowess. As for Percy, he was perplexed. Seeing Percy's mixed performance, Luke considered the possibility that he might be a son of Hermes too, a jack-of-all-trades. Percy appreciated the attempt to boost his morale, but he knew deep down even Luke was clueless to who his true dad was. Chances were, he was probably just the son of some irrelevant minor god and he'd be stuck in the Hermes' cabin, forever.
"Percy, you ready?" Reyna's voice called out, snapping Percy out of his thoughts.
He looked up to see Reyna already adorned in battle armour, her sword strapped to her waist. Despite his lingering thoughts, he forced a smile and nodded. "Yeah, I'm ready."
Reyna grinned, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Can you believe it? We finally get to play Capture the Flag!"
The excitement in the camp was palpable as campers gathered for the game, splitting into two sections based on their respective cabins. Percy, being in the Hermes cabin, was teamed up with Athena and Apollo's. They were facing off against the Ares cabin, who had teamed up with every other parentage.
Luke approached Reyna and Percy as they prepared to join their team. "Alright, you two," he said, his tone serious but encouraging. "Today, I need you both to stay back. Reyna, I know that you're a really good fighter and want to be in the frontlines, but Annabeth's tactics involve a strong defence for us to win, so I need you both to defend the flag."
Reyna nodded, her expression serious. "Got it. We'll make sure no one gets past us."
As the game began, the battlefield became a flurry of activity. Campers charged into the fray, and the air was filled with shouts and the clash of weapons. Reyna and Percy took their positions near their flag, their eyes scanning the field for any sign of an approaching enemy.
For a while, it seemed that there wasn't going to be anyone approaching their flag. They engaged in conversation to pass the time, before they heard rustling from the trees ahead. Readying themselves for battle, five of Ares' kids appeared in sight, Clarisse leading the pack.
"I've been waiting for this moment." Clarisse snarled, her electric spear gleaming under the moonlight.
Without hesitation, Reyna and Percy sprang into action. They took their defensive positions with their backs to each other, preparing to fight off the cabin. Percy faced two of Ares' campers, who came at him with a series of aggressive strikes. He blocked and parried with all his strength, trying to his best to move his sword up as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, Reyna faced three opponents, including Clarisse. She expertly deflected strikes and countered with swift, precise moves, having gained extra tips from Luke the past few days.
Eventually, Percy managed to knock one of Reyna's opponents out of the fight after she had him disarmed. With just four remaining enemies, Reyna parried Clarisse's electrified spear and retaliated with powerful thrusts, before hitting her spear with the flat of her own blade and forcing the tip of it on one of her brothers, stunning and knocking him out of the fight.
With a burst of determination, Percy managed to knock out his two remaining opponents with the help of Reyna, leaving him free to assist her against Clarisse. Just as Reyna seemed to have the upper hand, with Clarisse barely managing to defend her strikes, Percy called out urgently.
"Watch out!"
Reyna turned just in time to see one of the Ares campers in the ground making a desperate attack from behind her, his sword aiming for her heart. Panic surged through Percy, and he instinctively thrust his hand out towards the attacking camper.
To his surprise, a powerful gust of wind erupted from his outstretched hand. The force was so intense that it sent the Ares camper flying through the air, crashing into the nearby bushes with a thud. The camper lay stunned and unmoving, having been completely thrown off balance by the sudden wind. The three remaining demigods fell silent for a moment as everyone, including Clarisse, stared in shock at Percy.
"Shit, there's no way you're Zeus' child" she muttered under her breath, Percy barely catching her words. Almost immediately, a green hologram appeared above Percy's head that showed the face of a man blowing a gust of wind.
The symbol of Aeolus, God of Wind.
AN: Sorry for this somewhat filler of a chapter, kind of needed it so that you can really understand some of the character dynamics and is setting up for the future. Things will pickup from here.
Lastly, I feel like there are going to be some complaints about Percy being really weak so I will just address them quickly. Firstly, the sword he's using is really really bad. Also, I'm not sure if Percy not being a son of Poseidon is a turn off to some of you but I really hope not, because firstly I've already written a bunch of battles involving Percy and his water abilities and to be honest it's somewhat limited, along with how I'm sure you've already read enough fanfictions of him having water abilities. The powers of Aeolus will allow him to have wind manipulation, including flying. Also, that may not be his only power, so bear with me.
Either way, hope you've enjoyed! Will try to my best to update daily.