Special thanks to The Tangerine Cat for co-authoring this story with me and to Manram for beta-reading it.
Disclaimer:
We don't own Type-Moon or Percy Jackson and the Olympians content.
Camp Half-Blood:
Camp Half-Blood was a renowned cradle of many of the greatest heroic demigods history witnessed, protecting the young sprouts and nurturing them in order to reach their true potential. It might not look like much, but it was all some of these lost children had after a turbulent life of hardship prior to discovering their nature.
It was home, regardless of how terrible life had been so far, and it kept them fed, housed, and safe from the many monsters thirsting for their blood. Even now, many young blood trained in the field filled with ringing of clashing steel and grunts under the protection of the barrier keeping their home safe.
Only…it couldn't protect them from the assistant instructor.
A kick sent a charging son of Ares crashing into his comrades. Their formation destabilized, the demigods scrambled to maintain cohesion only for their efforts to be put down as the man pierced through their ranks, weaving through their strikes and picking off the weakest link one by one.
Two spearmen encircled him, attacking simultaneously with valiant warcries. The instructor remained unfazed, batting away the one in front of him and nimbly turning to kick the second one in one move. With their attack thwarted, the overly enthusiastic demigods were suddenly left wide open to the ensuing strikes to their knees, immediately incapacitating them as they fell to the ground.
The man tilted his head, avoiding the incoming arrow before he flicked the spear on the ground in front of him to his hand and threw it at the archer. It would've been a clean hit, had it not been for a new trainee intercepting it with a shield. Taking note of the bodies writhing around him, the instructor kept searching his surroundings for two particular trainees amidst the ones still standing.
'A small shield wall formed to protect the best archers she had left, while the rest of the forces encircled me to use as cover.' EMIYA surmised, face locked in cold stoicism as he watched the hesitant demigods slowly closing in. He took a step forward, and the demigods tensed and readied their weapons. They certainly didn't appear as threatening as they hoped to be, but their courage was commendable at the very least.
Two archers fired, their arrows easily deflected by the white-haired man before he promptly ducked as the other two shot right after. He would have commended them, if he wasn't forced to block the fifth arrow aiming for his chest. His attention turned to the fifth archer, unclaimed, but likely a son of Apollo judging by his talent with the bow. The first two archers were already aiming at him again, while the others were getting ready.
'Two pairs alternating to keep me suppressed while the best one exploits any opening he finds.' He noted, discarding his weapons and picking up a pebble along with a shield. Without warning, he charged at the shield wall at full speed. The sudden attack made the demigods worried, but they didn't panic, huddling even closer together and planting their feet firmly on the ground.
A touch of reinforcement, and he threw the rock at the first shieldman in his way. The projectile struck the demigod's knee, the impact forcing him to wobble momentarily and unintentionally tilt his shield a bit too high. EMIYA hopped on the shield and used it to jump over the first hurdle, immediately bringing up the shield just as the protectors of the archers threw their spears at him.
His descent marked the beginning of the end, as the archers' protectors began to eat the dirt alongside their fellow demigods. The bowmen tried to offer support, though their aim faltered after their arrows struck their friends instead, having been used as meat shields. Their inexperience showed upon after that mistake, their orderly volley falling to disarray while they tried to make some distance.
They weren't fast enough, and showing their backs to the assistant instructor was never a good option. EMIYA broke the spear coming at him, before grabbing hold of the demigod with a knowing smirk when he took a look at his bulky stature.
"Mercy?" The kid pleaded, feeling uneasy about the sudden menacing look on the man's face. It was never a good sign when he did that.
EMIYA didn't answer with words, but rather by hurling the armored demigod at his bow-wielding companions as he screamed. The archers turned around to see the incoming mass, their eyes widening before they were knocked down and pinned under their dazed comrade's weight.
With the archers dealt with, EMIYA turned to the remainder of the forces, whatever confidence they had before visibly crumbling. The young demigods looked to each other, knowing their chances of victory were slim to none. They sighed, before taking formation and charging at the indomitable figure.
Today, much like most days, they die like men…men who scream as they get kicked, smacked, and thrown around the training grounds, but men regardless.
Watching the show along with Grover, Percy felt their pain from the comfort of his seat just outside the grounds, wincing as an older kid got swept off his feet and stomped in the stomach. That hurt the first time he went through it.
"Oh, you're the new squirt? You don't look like much." A voice said, as a bulky girl hurriedly put on the armor. "Nice of you to show up just to watch me win." She said, roughly shoving her way past him to get a sword.
Percy took a look at the unruly girl and snorted. "Win what, exactly? Fastest to taste dirt?" Percy asked, smirking as the girl glared at him. Grover laughed before he quickly cleared his throat when the big girl glared at him.
"Watch what you say, little squirt. You don't want to mess with me." The girl threatened him, roughly grabbing his shirt as some other Ares kids joined her.
Percy didn't seem concerned by the gesture, his attention shifting to the field to see his pops looking at him. Sharing a look, the two nodded and the boy turned to the burly girl and raised his hands in surrender.
"Much better, midget. Out of my way." The girl said, pushing him again before rushing into the field along with a couple of Ares kids. Some of the others looked slightly more optimistic, namely the Ares kids, as they brought their weapons against their shield, calling her Clarisse.
"You alright, Perc?" Grover asked, shaking his head at the belligerent daughter of Ares. "Don't let it get to you. Clarisse is like that with everyone." He said, frowning when he noticed his friend was actually very calm and unbothered.
Straightening his clothes, Percy hummed casually and stared at his watch. "Any second now." He said, counting the seconds until a loud thud rang in front of them. He looked to see Clarisse, beaten up all over as she laid flat on her back. 'Six seconds, he's still taking it easy.' Percy noted, crouching next to the girl's fallen body. "On a scale of one to ten, do you know how stupid you were?" He asked, tilting his head when Clarisse didn't respond. Percy casually grabbed her hand, waving it around before letting it fall over her face.
"Looks like teach went ham on her." Grover quipped the cracks over her armor and the missing spear, giving the bully a few test slaps to see if she'd wake up. "Remind me never to get on his bad side." The satyr said, gulping as looked at the mounting bodies on the floor. He never got used to the sight of a single mortal beating the crap out of campers until they either gave up or couldn't continue anymore like he was leisurely disassembling furniture.
Looking at the defeated Ares kids, Percy needed to tell his pops to take a picture after the session's over. Watching the rapidly dwindling number of demigods, the boy began to put on his armor and stretch. He was used to dueling against EMIYA on a regular basis, but he never had to fight him as part of a team. Percy knew about the supernatural, he even fought against a monster or two under his pops' supervision, but this camp and being a demigod was new, not to mention his friend being half goat.
'What's next? Is Auntie Eudora a fish too?' The demigod idly considered, unaware his thoughts made the lady in question crack the cup she was drinking from as a sudden irritation built up inside her. Her eyes narrowed as she turned in the direction of Long Island, believing someone might have spoken rudely about her.
A chill traveled down Percy's spine, the boy looking around and wondering where the sudden cold came from. He was supposed to settle down in the Hermes cabin and get familiar with the place, but when he heard his godfather was teaching, he was too curious not to give it a try.
Percy didn't really care about being a demigod all that much, and was more glad to spend time with his pops. He also got to meet some of the children who stayed at their home back in New York for a while, and they showed him and the others his pops brought the ropes.
There are a lot of things still going way over his head, but after a lot of learning, now was a great time to blow off some steam. The young demigod ducked under the body thrown at him, smirking at the calm counter guardian as he entered the arena.
"I hope you're not too winded, old man." Percy broke the silence, his casual comment belying a readiness to react at any moment as he carefully walked around EMIYA, waiting for an opportunity to pounce.
"You don't need to worry about that." EMIYA replied, his eyes following Percy without worry before he sighed. "I can take the three of you on without a problem." He added with a subtle quirk of his lips.
Wait…Three?
"Can't get past you, can we?" A teen lying on the ground said, jumping to his feet. Smiling mischievously, he twirled his blade and took a stance. Though he spoke and acted casually, the young man's eyes were blazing with excitement. "You owe me ten drachmas, Annabeth." He said, just as a beautiful girl also stood up from the pile.
"The plan still worked, Luke." Annabeth replied, glaring at Luke before she sighed and took her position facing him, the three of them surrounding EMIYA. Shield and spear in hand, she quickly analyzed their surroundings and took note of where the weapons and bodies were.
"Using your forces to wear me down, while you hid yourselves between the bodies until you either found an opening or all the demigods were defeated." EMIYA commented, turning his sights from Percy to Annabeth. "Yielding an inch to take a mile, though I guess you had to change the plan when your hard hitter is not around. You did well." He complimented her with a smirk, one she mirrored.
Although she didn't get him to spend as much effort as she would've liked, they're going to have to make do with what they gained.
"I don't know about that, old man. You don't look tired." Luke interjected, pointing his blade to Percy. "But we still have a decent replacement for Thalia." He quipped, turning to the young boy and grinning at him. "Percy, right? I'm Luke, it's nice to meet you." He introduced himself, his demeanor shifting when the counter guardian lunged at him.
Their swords collided, and Luke was pushed back as his feet dug into the dirt. The young man didn't seem surprised, eyes following the two blades EMIYA traced with undivided attention. Their blades collided again and again, and although Luke remained on the defensive, he still kept a firm stance in the fight.
Percy and Annabeth did not remain idle, instantly charging at the man. Swords took form around them, and Percy quickly brought his shield up only for the girl to push the two of them away.
"Don't let yourself get pinned, moron!" She warned him as they rolled over and kept moving under the bombardment. "He'll just fire a volley behind you if you hunker down!" She added, grunting as a sword smashed against her shield yet still pushing through the temporary numbness in her arm to stay on the move.
"Easier said than done, don't ya think?!" Percy said, jumping over a body and swinging at the sword flying his way. He winced as he felt the vibrations trailing up his arm, rolling over on the ground and hurriedly ducking under another projectile. It wasn't the first time he got to deal with his pops's barrage of weapons, but this was different from the usual practice.
It felt like he skipped a few levels here!
"Could use a little help here!" Luke called out, side stepping a kick before blocking the incoming slashes with the flat of his blade. The teen's eyes shone briefly, jumping over the incoming blow and striking from above.
EMIYA blocked the blow, releasing one of his swords before grabbing hold of Luke's hand. His muscles tensed, and he violently slammed the demigod to the ground. "This is the end." The instructor said, twirling his sword and preparing to deliver the final blow.
Luke flinched, letting go of his sword when his wrist was twisted. Gritting his teeth, he tried to resist despite being pinned down before he caught sight of something at the corner of his sight and gave the man a wicked smile. "I don't think so, old man." He replied as a sword fell next to him, the demigod taking hold of it and diverting the incoming blow away at the last moment. With the decisive blow thwarted, Luke immediately attempted to capitalize on their close distance, striking with his sword as fast as he could.
EMIYA released him and backed away before Luke's attack could land, casting a cursory glance to the side to see Percy panting, his hand still outstretched as he smirked. "Watch your back, pops." He said, grabbing the closest weapon he could find and running at the guardian.
EMIYA heard the whistling sound coming behind him, turning around and deftly catching the incoming spear. He was starting to think he underestimated these brats a bit too much, as the three were upon him in the instant it took for him to deal with the spear. With narrowed eyes, the guardian swiftly twirled his spear and swung at Annabeth, dealing with the daughter of Athena with a swift hit to her jaw.
Swords appeared in time to block Percy and Luke's attacks, before a steel tipped boot slammed into the older boy's stomach. Luke was sent flying before his body rolled on the ground, his armor broken as he clutched his midsection while gritting his teeth.
Annabeth tried to shake off her disoriented vision and make some distance, but was swept off her feet before she had the chance. She grunted as her head hit the ground, her vision blurry before EMIYA's foot pinned her down. Disarmed and with her head spinning, Annabeth sighed and lied down, yielding.
With the two seniors dealt with, it was time to finish the last one standing. Seeing the battle was hanging on his shoulders, Percy Jackson decided it was time to put his countless hours of training to use…and performed a swift and strategic retreat. One of the lessons his pops taught him was to know when to back down and consider a different approach, and he was not keen on getting a beatdown on the first day at camp. EMIYA nodded in approval, satisfied knowing the brat didn't forget his teaching…but it didn't mean he's getting off the hook so easily.
He threw the spear at the fleeing Percy, the weapon yanking the kid by his shirt and nailing him to the nearby tree. The boy most certainly did not yelp, but he did flinch at the harsh sensation of the bark against his back. Realizing there was no escape, he dropped his weapon and raised his hands, sweating profusely as his pops's outstretched hand slowly fell down.
Standing alone amidst the groaning and defeated demigods, EMIYA casually dusted off his hands and took his foot off Annabeth. "Session is over." He declared, crossing his arms as the healers hurriedly stepped to begin their work. It was a decent exercise for them to deal with a batch of injured fighters at the same time, so the guardian made sure they attended to judge their response time and how effectively they were able to organize the wounded.
The injured let out sighs of relief at the sight of their Apollo comrades, their presence illuminating the cruel darkness they suffered through. The healers quickly shared water and nectar among the wounded, and the fallen slowly got back to their feet one at a time.
"You were decent enough this time…I almost broke a nail." The instructor commented, smirking at the looks he got from the demigods. Most of them just huffed and turned their heads, while others gritted their teeth and booed him.
"Get off your high horse, geezer!"
"We'll get you next time, you monster!"
"You just like bullying us!"
Ah, yes. The fresh scent of salty, indignant brat tears. The general reaction he was used to after a 'fun' group exercise like this. "You can look forward to dinner, keep up the good work." He added, his smirk widening when their attitude took a complete turn.
"You're the coolest, teach!"
"Your lessons are the best, lord and savior!"
"We love you, great instructor!"
'All too easy.' EMIYA chuckled, his amusement carefully hidden as he watched the demigods sing his praises right after he beat them to a pulp. It was one of his perks as the reigning kitchen champion for years now, he supposed. No matter how harsh his lessons might be, they wouldn't risk meal privileges being shifted back to others. "Clean the place up, then you're dismissed." He instructed, receiving nods before he walked up to Percy. Pulling the spear out of the tree, EMIYA took a moment to look at his godson before he snorted when the kid gave him a smug look. "I've never seen a loser look so smug before." He said, wondering what sort of reason the kid had for his proud smirk.
"You have eyes, but you do not see, old man." Percy said, his tone exceedingly somber as he shook his head and clicked his teeth. "While the others are currently writhing in pain, I played a major role in the fight and only got a few scratches." He explained, puffing his chest with a wide smile.
EMIYA hummed, considering his words before he nodded in agreement. "You definitely did. It was a pragmatic move." He complimented him, his sharp hawkish eyes assessing him closely before he gave him a smirk of his own. "Since you're still in good shape, you'll be having remedial lessons." He informed him, his words making the other kids pale.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm smart I kno-wait what?" Percy stopped nodding once the weight of EMIYA's last words began to set in. His eyes opened widely, color slowly draining from his words when the chestplate he wore suddenly fell. The boy felt like the arena suddenly got a few degrees colder when his pops started doing stretches before he beckoned him without arming himself.
"Remember, hand-to-hand combat is as important as fighting with a sword, Percy." EMIYA explained, his demeanor notably more menacing with his focus now fully centered on his godson. "You need to know how to use your body just as well as your weapons. Since you're still full of energy and all warmed up, this is the perfect chance to get some good sparring in." He said, a bit too cheerfully for Percy's liking, given how the other demigods suddenly didn't feel so injured as they hurriedly got away from him.
"The newbie's dead."
"He seemed like a nice guy."
"Wanna bet how long it'll take before he bites the dust?"
'I can hear you, jerks!' Percy screamed internally, his lips twitching as he suppressed the urge to shout. Knowing the pain awaiting him, Percy's brain worked overtime and an idea came to mind. It was overly simple at heart, but he heard his pops say the simplest solution was the best most of the time. He took a step forward…and winced terribly, his hand cradling his left side as he coughed. "I don't think I can do this, instructor. I think I broke five or six ribs." He said through coughing fits, ignoring the way his demigod peers deadpanned at him as he focused on the ultimate goal.
"Percy?" EMIYA's voice called out to him, the gentle tone igniting the flames of hope in the young boy.
"Yes, instructor?" Percy replied, raising his head and making sure to keep one eye closed to stay true to his act…
…wait, when did his pops get so close?
"Clench your teeth." EMIYA spoke, cracking his knuckles as his shadow loomed over the young demigod. It was at this moment Percy knew, his acting skills would not actually get him an award one day, and that the simplest option was not the best when it comes to his pops.
"Pops? Ever thought of, you know, maybe not doing this?" Percy's mouth spoke before his brain could catch up, sweating even more when EMIYA slowly turned to him. His limited experience with monsters and Eudora mood swings taught him it was never a good sign when someone turns slowly to you.
"Maybe…just not now." EMIYA answered, his earlier amusement cast aside as his smile disappeared. Readying himself, the guardian took a deep breath and waited for Percy to attack.
Percy was quick to catch on the shift in attitude, realizing play time was over. The demigod set aside his casual snark and quickly guarded his face, looking for any openings in his opponent's guard before he took the plunge. The spectating demigods were almost impressed by the newbie's composure, believing he might actually put up a good fight given how he threw himself at the lion's jaws so boldly.
That belief didn't last long once it was made clear the boy's skills haven't caught up to his confidence yet.
Laying on the ground, beaten and groaning as his peers were before him, Percy's stamina thankfully ran out before lunchtime. Looking up at the sunny sky, the young demigod took deep breaths as Luke and Annabeth looked down on him.
"Still with us, Percy?" Luke quipped playfully, reaching out to the newbie and pulling him to his feet. "How many fingers do you see?" He asked, raising three fingers in front of the clearly unamused boy.
"Twenty." Percy answered dryly, wincing as he felt his head hurt…along with everywhere else on his body. "Tell me you got the plate of the truck that hit me?" He asked, the two boys grinning as the girl next to them rolled her eyes.
"Sorry, I don't rat out my family." Luke responded, slinging Percy's arm over his shoulder when he noticed the boy wobbling a bit. "We're gonna get him patched up for lunchtime, old man." He told the guardian, smiling when the man nodded. "Let's go, you two, before Percy starts seeing more fingers." He joked, before they left.
EMIYA knew the sneaky teen was using Percy as an excuse to avoid cleaning duty, but he decided to let them off the hook. Luke and Annabeth were among the most diligent trainees, second only to a certain thunderbird with a tendency of quest hunting a bit too much. 'I hope she's doing well.' He idly thought, before shaking his head. That girl was capable of taking care of herself without a hitch, though he didn't know why she was so fixated on completing quests and traveling all the time. When he asked Luke and Annabeth, the two gave him weird looks and shrugged, saying they were equally stumped.
They were lying through their teeth, of course. Thalia most likely swore them into secrecy given even he was kept out of the loop, so EMIYA simply left the matter be. She'll come to him when she feels ready.
With his lesson over, the archer walked away from the arena and headed further into the woods. Following the familiar trail, the man enjoyed the peace and quiet as he walked on his lonesome, passing by the fields where the Demeter kids worked and finally reaching a small clearing. A small, inconspicuous cabin laid there, bathed in the unusually fresh air and fragrance of the flower field beside it along with the archery range.
A quaint little corner the camp's hearthkeeper told him about, a place made for him to rest whenever he wished. He was skeptical about it in the beginning, but then the little lady frowned and chastised him until he was forced to accept. Much as he was curious about her insistence on the matter, EMIYA had no intention of earning the wrath of all the Olympians in the country by rejecting the grace of the goddess of the Hearth.
A troublesome lady.
Stepping inside, EMIYA was welcomed with an interior vastly different from the classical look on the outside. Despite appearing to be much like a simple cottage, his 'residence' had all the amenities he'd need for the household and then some within it. Whoever made this certainly didn't have to worry about any budget, given the lavish decorations and extensive kitchen tools he was given.
Settling into his usual routine, the guardian cleaned himself before beginning to prepare lunch. Casting aside all distractions, EMIYA fell into the comfortable task as he readied two plates, along with two slices of cake he brought with him. Setting his plate on the dining table, he carried the second serving and put it on the small table in front of the small table set in front of the cabin's hearth and began cleaning the utensils as he waited for his guest.
Three knocks rang from the front door, before it was opened as a lady wearing a brown dress and shawl stepped inside. "Hello, Emiya." She greeted the man warmly, approaching the hearth and smiling as she gently took the tray placed there and sat at the dining table.
"Greetings, Lady Hestia." EMIYA dried his hands and hung his apron, offering a nod to the lady as he sat in front of her. His nose twitched at the sweet scent of marshmallows, but didn't comment on it seeing the goddess looking at him so softly as she gently tugged back a tuft of her flaming red hair.
The two fell into a comfortable silence as they started eating, the guardian calmly tasting his work and gauging any possible changes he could make to improve the flavor next time. Hestia seemed content, judging by the happy smile on her face as she took in the delicious mixture of flavors eagerly. Not many followed the old ways when making offerings nowadays, especially to her, but EMIYA always made sure to prepare a serving for her after cleansing himself.
'I guess doting on him was the right move.' She thought, relishing in the sincerity and purity of the feelings he put into making the meal. Even though he didn't pray to her, she could tell he put his all into making this offering as he does with all his food…all for her. None in her family ever pay attention to mortals, even ones who can see past the mist, which meant she had this mortal's tasty offerings all to herself…to a point at least, but it didn't mean she wasn't going to make the most of this special bond.
Watching the smug smile on Hestia's face, EMIYA sighed and shook his head. It was best not to rack his head wondering about the thoughts of a deity, that will only lead to further headaches and a dead end. Once the meal was done, Hestia was kind enough to help him clean up before the two of them sat by the hearth.
"...I need your help, Lady Hestia." EMIYA said while watching the lady tend to the flames, feeling the soothing warmth drifting from it and enveloping the household as the goddess turned to him.
Hestia's brown eyes shone a bright red briefly, the serene lady's smile faltering. "You still wish to go?" She asked hesitantly, concerned over the stunt the mortal was trying to ask of her.
"I do." EMIYA answered resolutely, gesturing to the small bag next to him. "This is something I must do, but it has to be done quickly while Percy is busy with camp." He explained, bowing before the lady. "You're the only one who can help me."
Hestia remained silent, carefully weighing her options before she finally accepted. EMIYA was a calm and reasonable person, so he must have a plan given where he wanted to go. "...fine, but first take this." She said, gently tying an unassuming bracelet around his wrist. "This will bring you back when you're done. All you need to do is call for me." She instructed, her focused look as she took to checking his bag not unlike one of an aunt worriedly checking everything before her relative went on a field trip.
EMIYA held back from snorting, letting the lady look through his things as best she could. Her adorable attempt to help aside, he hoped he would have enough time to do his task before Percy could notice.
He'd never hear the end of it if the brat thought he left him here alone.
Standing in front of the goddess, the man nodded. "I'm ready." He said, his gaze steady and unflinching as the flames began to envelop his body.
"Don't do anything reckless." Hestia warned him, before he disappeared with a snap of her fingers. Left alone, Hestia sighed at the man's stubbornness and started tidying up the cabin. Quickly realizing there wasn't much else to do, the goddess left the little cabin and returned to her duty. 'Please don't do anything stupid.'
The Underworld
Gazing at the bleak land around him, EMIYA wasn't surprised to find himself gazing at the imposing palace in the distance as he stepped foot on the shore of the river Styx. After Hestia sent him to the Dead on Arrival Studio, the guardian found Charon and paid for the ride past the river, the ease with which the ferryman switched attitude when he saw cash almost impressive to a degree. Looking around him, his reinforced eyes could spot the long line of souls standing around idly, as well as the fields sectioned off with barbed wire some distance away. 'The fields of punishment and Asphodel…' He noted, his eyes stopping briefly when he spotted the verdant plains far away and standing out amidst the sea of dread.
A massive creature landed in front of him as soon as he was left alone on shore, the strong gusts of wind and sand ruffling the Wrought Iron Hero's cloak as he stared at the three-headed dog observing and sniffing him curiously. EMIYA watched the three heads cautiously, anticipating the watchdog's arrival yet expecting a more violent response. Rather than snarling and barking at him, the three heads kept pushing each other to sniff him, their tail wagging something fierce as the guardian cautiously extended his hand.
The middle one excitedly pushed its head against his palm, rumbling when the guardian scratched his head before the other two started pushing to get his attention. EMIYA stood there, perplexed by the situation as he rubbed the other two heads while getting a breeze of dog breath blown on him.
Going in, EMIYA was ready for some struggle before the dog was appeased, having already asked Hestia about it in the past when he was preparing for this trip. He didn't know what made Cerberus so friendly to him, but he had no intention of complaining.
'Well, this is better.' He thought, looking at the middle head as it tilted adorably. "Can you let me through? I just want to talk to your master." He asked, knowing a phantasmal creature of this caliber could easily understand him.
Cerberus huffed, rolling on its side as the ground trembled and looked at him expectantly as wagged its tail some more. It would've been almost cute, if his tail didn't make the rumbling sound of an explosion every time it hit the ground. Still the message was clear, and if a belly rub was all EMIYA needed to do to pass, then it might not be so bad.
EMIYA deadpanned, sighing as he looked at his watch. "Twelve twenty-three, I'm going in." He said, biting the bullet and rubbing the giant dog's belly as the rumblings got even louder. Was this dog going to break the ground under them, he wondered, hoping it can go back to doing its job soon.
"Enough, Cerberus." A cold voice echoed from the faraway palace, reaching far and wide in the underworld. It seemed Hades already knew he was here, and his patience with the little show reached its limits.
Cerberus's ears flattened as it stood up, looking slightly saddened as it made to retreat with a whimper. Looking at it, EMIYA couldn't help but frown, sighing when he couldn't shake off the pity he felt for the dog.
"Hey." EMIYA called out to it, reaching into his bag and pulling out three rubber balls. He smirked, seeing the giant creature immediately brighten when he spotted the balls. "I heard you like these, here." He quipped, throwing the rubber balls to the excited dog. Once it caught them, Cerberus's heads began chewing on them as it sped away to its guarding spot once more.
EMIYA watched the hound silently until it was gone, a ghost of a smirk appearing on his face before he turned to find himself standing in front of the doors of the palace. 'How convenient.' He snorted, feeling slightly thankful for the skipped trek across the wastes. The entrance opened upon his approach, closing right after he entered. Paying no heed to the intricate and luxurious decorations, he advanced deeper through the hallway under the gazes of Hades' servants until he reached the throne room where the person he sought awaited him.
A regal man in a black chiton sat on an impressive throne made from the finest minerals, carved intricately with scenery of death next to an empty throne brimming with life and plants. Judging by his slightly messy white hair and stern eyes, Hades wasn't enthused by the sudden, unannounced visit. Though it was hard to tell for certain when his face seemed to be locked between grumpiness and reticence.
"You shouldn't be here." The ruler of the underworld spoke, watching the guardian intently. Power radiated from his chiseled form as he leaned his cheek against a closed fist, one the god of the dead noticeably did not subject EMIYA to. A show of force, perhaps to test him? Whatever his intentions were, Hades hid them well.
Well, he didn't get smited on sight so he must have done something right, or maybe the stone cold look Hades had was actually indicative of a good mood. Either way, EMIYA offered a respectful bow. "I came seeking an audience with you, King of the Underworld." The Wrought Iron Hero replied, remaining steady and composed even as the god teleported right in front of him.
Hades stared deep into his eyes, a hint of purple flashing in his black eyes. "What is it you seek?" He asked, watching the man's reaction attentively. Seems like he was intrigued now, the eerie aura receding as his imposing shadow loomed over EMIYA.
EMIYA craned his head to meet the god's gaze, his smaller figure remaining stalwart and unmoving. He was already prepared for such scrutiny and worse by journeying here, and he wasn't returning without getting what he sought. There was no other path.
"I wish to make a pact with you, Hades."
Thank you for reading the chapter! I hope you enjoyed it.
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Next Update: Eden Candidate.