Chapter 8: 3 Gifts & 3 Warnings

You shall go west and face the god who has turned
You shall find what was stolen and see it safely returned
You will enter the gambling flower and find the children time neglected
You shall delve to the Erebos and time will find your loyalty tested
You shall be betrayed by the one who calls you a friend
And you shall fail to save what matters most in the end


Surprisingly, some campers had come to wish him luck; Silena, Travis, Connor, Beckendorf and Katie Gardner. He didn't expect it, considering many of them had avoided him, and Percy was still quite angry about it. But he did have to give them some leniency; after all, he was the child of someone who was supposedly suffering eternal punishment for swallowing his children. That did put a damper on things.

He packed lightly, keeping some extra clothes and a toothbrush. The camp had loaned them one hundred dollars of mortal money and twenty golden drachmas for 'non-mortal transactions'. He and Annabeth were also given a canteen of nectar and a Ziploc bag full of ambrosia squares for emergencies only.

Annabeth has her magic Yankees cap, which was apparently a gift from her mother, Athena, on her twelfth birthday. She also had a long bronze knife hidden in her shirt sleeve. Meanwhile, Grover wore his fake feet to pass for humans and a Rasta cap to hide his horns. He kept his reed pipes, though Percy wasn't sure how that'd be useful.

Percy hiked up to the tall pine tree that used to be Thalia, the daughter of Zeus. He truly felt sorry for her. A sad fate for someone innocent. Despite his own heritage, he was lucky in some way. He had some gods, his own siblings, who were fighting to protect him. It may have been for their own reasons and gain, but he would take what he got.

Chiron was waiting for them in his wheelchair. Next to him stood Argus, the head of security. Percy knew his story and his connection to Hera. He had paid attention to what Chiron taught him and Annabeth's classes.

He heard footsteps behind him. Luke came running up the hill, holding a shield in his arms.

Annabeth blushed, the way she always did when Luke was around.

"Glad I caught you," Luke panted. "Just wanted to say good luck. And Percy, I figured you didn't have one so I thought you could use this."

He handed Percy the shield he was carrying. It had some intricate patterns on its rim, streaking towards the middle, which had a perfect circle, met right at the centre from three points, forming a triangle. It seemed sturdy but surprisingly light. Something about the shield seemed awfully familiar, but Percy couldn't quite place the feeling.

"Thanks Luke," Percy said. Even after all that had happened, he had gone out of his way to give him a magic gift. Percy was grateful.

"Tap the shield in the middle."

Percy did so, and the shield swirled and rotated, shrinking towards the middle. Then, finally, it wrapped itself around his left forearm in the form of a vambrace.

"Woah," he said, examining the vambrace. "Cool. Thanks a lot man."

"Listen, Percy," Luke looked uncomfortable. "I know it seems that people are ignoring you. We're not. It's just a bit of a shock you know, seeing who your father is. But a lot of hopes are riding on you. So just… kill some monsters for me, okay?"

He gestured for Percy to come to the side.

"Look, going on a quest, you're going to be pushed to your limits."

"Have you been on one before?" Percy asked. Luke sighed, staring out towards the sky. His scar seemed to glint darker than ever in the shadow of the dark clouds above.

"Two years ago," Luke said. "It was… a long journey. Every moment out there is filled with danger. Monsters lurking where you least expect it, so you need to be prepared. And the gods, well they don't help at all Percy. Out there, you're on your own and you can rely only on yourself. And well, remember the gods are split on this problem. Some of them will try and deceive you, because of… well you know why. Don't let them get to you, and more importantly, don't let them manipulate you. You'll figure it out yourself man."

They shook hands. Luke patted Grover's head between his horns, then hugged Annabeth goodbye, who looked like she might pass out. He was about to make fun of her when Chiron caught his arm. He wheeled towards a corner to talk to him in private.

"Look, Percy, I really am sorry. I should've trained you better. If only I had more time. Hercules, Jason, Perseus— they all got more training. A lot more experience. You're going out there, completely new and vulnerable."

"That's okay, Chiron. We have to deal with the circumstances handed to us. I just, I wish…." Percy wasn't sure how to explain. He wished he had a cool magic item or a proper weapon that could help him on this quest so he could fight alongside Annabeth and Grover. All he had was a set of powers he could barely control in life-or-death situations.

Chiron smiled as he understood what Percy was hinting at.

"Don't worry Percy. I'm not letting you go out there defenceless. Do you think the gods, your siblings, would let you go on this mission without any tools?"

From his coat pocket, he procured three objects. The first was a pen. It was an ordinary disposable ballpoint, black ink, removable cap. Probably cost thirty cents.

Percy raised an eyebrow, not following, as Chiron handed it to him.

"How does this help?" Percy asked. Chiron's eyes twinkled as he looked at him.

"What have I told you Percy? Looks can be deceiving. That is a gift from Poseidon. I've kept it for many years, not knowing you were who I was waiting for. You may not be his child, but I sincerely believe that the sea god would like you to have this weapon. Uncap it."

Percy removed the cap, and the pen grew longer and heavier. Then, in half a second, he held a shimmering bronze sword with a double-edged blade, a leather-wrapped grip, and a flat hilt riveted with gold studs. It was the first weapon that actually felt balanced in his hand.

"The sword has a long and tragic history that we need not go into," Chiron told me. "Its name is Anaklusmos."

"Riptide," Percy translated automatically.

"Use it only for emergencies," Chiron said, "and only against monsters. No hero should harm mortals unless absolutely necessary, of course, but this sword wouldn't harm them in any case."

He looked at the wickedly sharp blade. "What do you mean it wouldn't harm mortals? How could it not?"

"The sword is celestial bronze. Forged by the Cyclopes, tempered in the heart of Mount Etna, cooled in the River Lethe. It's deadly to monsters, to any creature from the Underworld, provided they don't kill you first. But the blade will pass through mortals like an illusion. They simply are not important enough for the blade to kill. And I should warn you: as a demigod, you can be killed by either celestial or normal weapons. You are twice as vulnerable."

"Good to know."

"Now recap the pen, I have the other two to give you."

Percy touched the pen cap to the sword tip, and Riptide shrunk back into a ballpoint pen.

The next item was… a ring? It was a small ring, a dark black stone embossed in the middle. Chiron placed it on his middle finger.

"Huh," Percy said, examining it. "Never really been one for jewellery, but who am I to deny a gift?"

"Rub around the stone and concentrate."

Percy did so, and the ring began to glow. In his hands formed a long spear, black as a nightmare. It was slightly cold to the touch.

"A spear? Never really gotten the grasp of using it, but it should be a good weapon to use."

"The weapon was given to you, as children of Kronos do have an affinity with long polearm weapons. Zeus's thunder bolt as a bronze javelin. Poseidon has his trident. Demeter of course wields both a sword and a scythe. Hera uses a staff. A scythe wouldn't be of good taste for you, considering it was your father's primary weapon. But a spear should serve you well. The weapon is made of Stygian Iron."

"Stygian Iron?"

"The most powerful metal of all in the pantheon. Even monsters fear it, far more than the other metals. The metal is mined and forged in the underworld, and cooled in the River Styx. Because of that, only children of Hades, or other Underworld deities, have the power to wield that weapon. However, as we discussed, your father and yourself have a claim to the powers of the Underworld. The spear will allow you to wield it. Be extremely careful when you use it."

"Why?"

"Stygian iron is very different to Celestial bronze. It has the ability to harm mortals as well. And unlike your sword, which sends the monsters straight to the abyss, Stygian Iron has the capability of absorbing the essence of whatever monster it defeats. You must use it with extreme caution. Will it to disappear and let's get to your final weapon."

Percy did so as Chiron gave him a coin. On one side of the coin was a diadem engraved below an image of a peacock feather. On the other side were images of grey clouds with streaks of lightning.

"Flip it."

Percy did so. A bow formed in his hands as soon as he caught the coin. Outfitted on his back was a quiver. Percy looked at the bow. It was a sleek steel bow. There were Greek inscriptions along the bow; they looked like some blessings of the Olympian gods. The quiver was loaded with three types of arrows: standard metal, celestial bronze, and stygian iron.

"Twist the bow next to the sight pin," Chiron said.

Percy twisted it, and the bow disappeared. The coin reappeared in his palms.

"Cool," Percy admitted. Then he realised something.

"The elements," Percy said, looking at Chiron for confirmation. "Each weapon completes a portion of my powers. That's why they made three for me?"

The centaur smiled as though he was waiting for Percy to realise it.

"Indeed Percy. The sword from Poseidon, God of the Seas. The spear from Demeter, mother of Persephone, Queen of the Underworld. The bow from Hera, wife to the Lord of the Skies. I told you, many may want to kill you, but many also wish to help you. Your sisters most especially."

Percy glanced back at his weapons, concealed in ordinary forms. He was famous for losing pens and random things. A curse of ADHD.

"You can't," Chiron said.

"Can't what?"

"Lose your pen or coin. It's enchanted. They'll always reappear in your pocket. Try it."

Percy threw his pen as far as possible. It disappeared into the grass.

"It'll take a moment. Check your pockets."

Sure enough, the pen was in his pocket.

"Okay, that's cool. But what if a mortal accidentally sees me pulling out a sword?"

Chiron smiled. "The Mist is a powerful thing."

"The thing from the Iliad? The thing that concealed monsters and gods from humans to blend with their reality. Isn't that what Hecate controls as well? It still exists? Oh," Percy realised. "That's how everyone else at Yancy forgot about Mrs Dodds. Grover said you changed their memories. The mist?"

Chiron nodded. His face lost some of its smile as he continued. "But, with that being said, I have some warnings for you Percy. Things you need to remember while you're on this quest."

Percy frowned. He had a feeling he wasn't going to like this.

"The first one is about your father Percy. You're the son of the titan lord. While it may seem like you have many weapons and powers, you also have a lot of drawbacks. One thing as I'm sure you've noticed Percy, you have his short temper and…. to put it kindly, violent tendencies."

Percy started to speak, but Chiron held a hand up.

"I know you do not mean it at times. But that does not change the fact that you have those mannerisms. From your time at Yancy alone, you managed to gravely insult two people for childish reasons, you tore down a wooden door with your bare hands, the strength of being a titan's child, and threatened your English teacher and headmaster with bodily harm when they opposed you."

Percy looked away in embarrassment.

"I do not say this to shame you child, but to enlighten you. You can't change this fact about yourself. But you can control it, Percy. And you must learn to. I have no doubt you'll encounter many gods on this quest. They're not so forgiving of rudeness. Lose your temper against one of them, and no amount of protection from other beings will shield you Percy. So, for your sake, for your companions' sake and for the sake of the quest, please reign in your emotions."

Percy nodded, not trusting himself to say anything.

"Secondly, I wish to warn you to tread carefully around your sister."

"Which sister? Hestia?" Percy asked. Chiron shook his head.

"The Queen of Olympus. Hera," Chiron corrected. "While I do believe she's acting for your survival, Lady Hera has very rarely interacted with mortals. The only person who gained her favour was Jason, which only lasted until he left his wife, Medea, and therefore exposing himself to her wrath. For some reason, she appears to be fond of you, or at the very least interested in your arrival. I like to hope she truly wishes your best, especially with Demeter and Hestia involved, but I ask you to be careful as well. Do not let yourself be pushed by the whims of the gods."

Percy remembered the stories he'd learnt about Hera. She had her good and bad. She had her whole situation with Hercules and the other children of Zeus, namely Apollo and Artemis. Even her own son, Hephaestus. But she also had some redeeming qualities. She got Aphrodite married to Hephaestus to stop a war from erupting from the male gods. She kept the Olympian Council together. Despite his later faults, she helped Jason because he didn't have a divine parent to assist him.

The gods were very complicated. Hestia herself explained how Zeus worked as the king of Olympus. They had their faults, but they also had their strengths. Percy promised Chiron to remain careful.

"The last warning I give you is, again, to do with your father. If he managed to cause your birth, there's no telling what else he has done, and what he's capable of Percy. I have full conviction he'll try and speak with you. I may have claimed earlier that Hades is the main possibility for this theft, from what the prophecy states, but even then I'm not without doubt. I do not wish to rouse more panic; Olympus is already in major disarray. But I can only imagine he'll attempt to interfere, to intervene for his own dark purposes and agenda. Tempt you or manipulate you into joining him. He'll fill your head with chances of glory and false promises. I truly can not tell you to ignore and defy him, that is a path for you to decide. But I can warn you. Be ready for his interference. You must choose your destiny. The fates will be watching over you."

Percy hated the constant reminder of the fates. Their words echoed in his head constantly.

"So your story begins, Child of Time. Will you choose to defend the ones who take you in, who need your strength? Or will you defer to your father's brethren and become their weapon? The path is yours to take Destroyer. The divine world will mould to your decision."

He shook his head. Now was not the time to be distracted. He needed to focus on the mission at hand. Find the stupid bolt, and hand it to his paranoid brother to stop his siblings from fighting one another.

The quest felt real now. Percy had weapons, a mission and companions to fight alongside him.

"Chiron…" he said. "When you say the gods are immortal... I mean, there was a time before them, right?"

"Four ages before them, actually. The Time of the Titans was the Fourth Age, sometimes called the Golden Age, which is definitely a misnomer. This, the time of Western civilisation and the rule of Zeus, is the Fifth Age."

"So what was it like… before the gods?"

Chiron pursed his lips. "Even I am not old enough to remember that, child, but I know it was a time of darkness and savagery for mortals. Your father, Kronos, called his reign the Golden Age because men lived innocent and free of all knowledge. But that was mere propaganda. The Titan king cared nothing for your kind except as appetisers or a source of cheap entertainment. It was only in the early reign of Lord Zeus, when Prometheus the good Titan brought fire to mankind, that your species began to progress, and even then Prometheus was branded a radical thinker. Zeus punished him severely, as you may recall. Of course, eventually the gods warmed to humans, and Western civilisation was born."

"But the gods can't die now, right? I mean, as long as Western civilisation is alive, they're alive. So… even if I failed, nothing could happen so bad it would mess up everything, right?"

Chiron gave him a melancholy smile. "No one knows how long the Age of the West will last, Percy. The gods are immortal, yes. But then, so were the Titans. They still exist, locked away in their various prisons, forced to endure endless pain and punishment, reduced in power, but still very much alive. You are living proof that the Titans still hold some sway over mortal matters. May the Fates forbid that the gods should ever suffer such a doom, or that we should ever return to the darkness and chaos of the past. All we can do, child, is follow our destiny."

"Our destiny… assuming we know what that is."

"Relax," Chiron told him. "Keep a clear head. And remember, you may be about to prevent the biggest war in human history."

"Relax," he said. "I'm very relaxed."

When he got to the bottom of the hill, he looked back. Under the pine tree that used to be Thalia, daughter of Zeus, Chiron was now standing in full horse-man form, holding his bow high in salute. Just your typical summer camp send-off by your typical centaur.

"So," he turned to look at Annabeth. "You said the only way to determine if you're any good is out in the mortal world?" He looked ahead, past the camp barriers.

"Well then," Percy continued with a smirk. "Ladies first."


Author's Note: 3208 words. Not too bad, considering this is mainly meant to be a filler chapter. The main aim was to give Percy his weapons, the conversation between him and Luke, and mainly for the conversation between Percy and Chiron. It's not all sunshine for Percy, he has major problems, and many things are going to make this quest tough for him. But it's going on a good path so far. I should hopefully have time tonight so I can write another chapter and get it out by Sunday hopefully. Let me know what you all think so far. Appreciate the reviews coming so far, love to see more and more as the story expands.

Important Note: I'll personally leave this up to you readers. Would you like Thalia to join the hunt, or not? If you decide for her to not join the hunt, she'll be introduced a lot quicker in the series, or else I might keep her story more intact to original, haven't made up my mind on it yet, but I'm giving you people that choice, let me know in the reviews.

Also, like you saw last chapter, new prophecy. Things will change in this book. I'm sure some of it is obvious, but curious to see what people guess might happen through this book, shoot down any ideas and guesses in reviews. As the book delves further, I'll start opening up polls for pairings for other characters. This series is going to be much much longer than the original because I plan on doing deeper character development on many other characters, so start thinking of character pairings.

Next chapter, the quest will officially begin, so that's something to look forward to. Now for the reviews:

skotos07: Wow indeed :)

Anaklusmos404: This version of Percy will be a lot more adept and talented. That'll be a similarity between him and Annabeth, he's an extremely brilliant tactician, shrewd, and extremely good at manipulation. But, his academic knowledge, while better than canon Percy, will still need working on, that's one of his shortcomings. And as explained by Chiron, he easily falls victim to his short temper, and other volatile emotions, which is important to his character development. Happy to see you're enjoying so far.

olvitsi: Appreciate it. I will continue writing it, just that there are slight hiccups within my upload schedule depending on school. Glad you're enjoying it.

titus5: Yup, most definitely. There view of Percy will be different, as in some aspects he's an equal to them, and in many others, he's more closely related to them than any other demigod. It brings both good and concerning factors for the gods and those will be capitalised on. But I'll be portraying the gods in a slightly more different way, more accurate to how the Greeks and Hesiod did, because it builds for a better story line and plot.

UU TWO: Yeah badass Percy is fun, and there will be some sense of that in Percy's combat skills. But not going overboard, because his flaws are what makes this story good. Appreciate the review.

Lord Kronos1950: Yeah it's weird for me as well when I write it. I constantly have to correct myself, changing father, uncle and aunt to siblings. Glad you're enjoying it.

Death Fury: Thank you :)

That's it for the reviews today. Keep them coming, I love reading them constantly. Again, will try and upload on Sunday, because today is Friday so I'll have time to fit in an extra chapter; we shall see.

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See you in the next chapter

SpiritsOfTheWorld