"What do you mean you let Luke Castellan and his minions escape?!"

Percy's frustration radiated like heatwaves in the summer as he practically snarled at Chiron, his tone laced with accusation and disbelief. The centaur shifted uneasily on his hooves, a sheepish expression crossing his equine features as he struggled to meet Percy's intense gaze.

"We told you to keep an eye on him!" Percy continued, his voice rising with every word. "We even showed you the cursed object he so 'kindly' gifted us!"

Alabaster and Ethan stood nearby, their expressions a mix of annoyance and impatience, their eyes boring into Chiron with a silent demand for answers. Meanwhile, Dionysus lounged nearby, his laughter echoing through the cabin like the crackling of a roaring fire.

"He most likely thought that Luky simply stole the wrong shoes from his dear old dad," Dionysus chimed in, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Our dear centaur has always thought very highly of his students."

Chiron's frown deepened as he crossed his arms over his chest, a stubborn defiance flickering in his eyes. "Luke Castellan has always been an exemplary demigod," he insisted, his voice tinged with loyalty. "And he has been the leader of our camp for years."

Alabaster let out a groan of frustration, while Ethan's laughter turned cruel and mocking. "He also has a grudge against the Gods the size of Texas!" Ethan exclaimed, his voice tinged with exasperation. "We know that, and we've only befriended him like a month ago!"

The tension in the cabin was thick enough to cut with a celestial bronze sword, Percy squared his shoulders and continued glaring heatedly at Chiron. "You know what? Fuck it! We're leaving!"

Ethan and Alabaster fell into step beside Percy without hesitation as they stormed towards Cabin 3, their expressions a mix of determination and frustration. As they marched through the camp, they couldn't help but notice the wary glances thrown their way by some of the other campers.

As they made their way through the camp, their eyes swept over the other campers, taking note of the wary glances and hushed whispers that followed in their wake. The students of Elysium Prep, in particular, seemed to regard them with a mixture of concern and apprehension. Percy couldn't help but notice Chris Rodriguez, the new leader of Cabin 11, watching them with a wariness that mirrored their own, while Clarisse La Rue, leader of Cabin 5, shot them a suspicious glare.

But Percy wasn't concerned about Chris or Clarisse. After their recent quest, the campers had grown cautious of children of Hermes and Ares, wary of another betrayal like the one orchestrated by Luke and Ares. However, Percy knew in his gut that neither Chris nor Clarisse would ever betray the camp. However, Percy was confident that neither Chris nor Clarisse harbored any intentions of betrayal. All of Luke's minions smuggled their way out of camp during the cover of the night, while the trio were still back in Olympus. Chris and Clarisse may have been cautious, but they were loyal to the camp and its cause.

As they approached Cabin 3, Percy's jaw clenched with determination. He knew that time was of the essence, and they couldn't afford to waste a moment. With a nod to Ethan and Alabaster, he pushed open the door to the cabin, steeling himself for whatever confrontation lay ahead. They were going to get to the bottom of this, one way or another.

Percy's frustration radiated through the cabin as he slammed the door shut behind them, the force of it echoing off the walls. He collapsed onto the bed, burying his face in the pillow and letting out a muffled scream of frustration. Alabaster shot Ethan a knowing look, his lips quirking up in a half-smile at Percy's dramatics, though beneath the amusement, there was a shared sense of irritation at Luke's escape.

"What's our next move?" Alabaster's question hung in the air, breaking the tense silence that had settled over the cabin.

Ethan scoffed dismissively, his frustration evident in the way he crossed his arms over his chest. "Nothing! We are kids who assist to an exclusive half-blood school with adult demigods. They will take care of stuff like this, like always."

Percy lifted his head from the pillow, he slumped against the headboard as he turned to face his friends. "We need to contact Elysium Prep to fulfill what we promised Auntie Em. We need to pay our tab and make sure everyone knows to be respected the hospitality laws in Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium."

Alabaster waved a dismissive hand, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Already taken care of. I sent an Iris Message to our principal while we were waiting for the Olympians to gather."

Percy's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You did? When?"

Ethan let out a snort of laughter, shaking his head in amusement. "You were too busy worrying about Nico to notice anything else, Percy."

Percy's cheeks flushed slightly at the reminder, but he quickly pushed aside his embarrassment, his determination resurfacing. "Well, what now? We can't just sit around and wait for things to happen."

"Now we rest and recover," Ethan declared, his tone firm as he met the gazes of his friends. Alabaster was too responsible and Percy too loyal to sit still while Luke and his minions were free. So, it fell into Ethan to keep a level head in this situation. "We just came from a major quest. We did our part successfully, and we deserve to rest and recover. We'll go have dinner, pray our thanks to our godly parent, and then we'll go to sleep. We leave the rest to others, okay?"

Ethan's unexpected display of level-headedness caught both Percy and Alabaster off guard. They exchanged glances, eyebrows raised in surprise, but they could recognize the sound reasoning behind Ethan's words. Percy and Alabaster nodded in agreement, despite their instincts urging them to act. It wasn't easy to swallow their impatience, but they knew Ethan was right.

"Got it," Percy affirmed, his voice tinged with resignation. Alabaster echoed his sentiment with a nod, though there was a flicker of restlessness in his eyes. It was clear that neither of them was thrilled about the prospect of waiting, but they trusted Ethan's judgment.

After agreeing to Ethan's plan, Percy, Ethan, and Alabaster made their way to the dining pavilion as soon as dinner was announced. Despite the tension lingering from their encounter with Ares and the subsequent meeting on Olympus, they were determined to enjoy their meal and take a much-needed break.

Percy couldn't help but muster a small smile as he approached the buffet line. His cup was promptly filled with his favorite blue Gatorade, a gesture that didn't go unnoticed by the camp staff who knew his preferences. Then, to his delight, he found an individual pizza waiting for him, adorned with blue cheese and pepperoni. It was a small comfort, but a welcome one in the midst of chaos.

As he settled at his usual spot at the Poseidon table, Percy felt a pang of gratitude towards his father. He reached for a plate of sushi, knowing it was one of Poseidon's favorites, and offered it up as a sacrifice to the fire. With a solemn expression, he closed his eyes and offered a heartfelt thank-you to his father.

Despite the complexities of his relationship with Poseidon and how conflicted he felt about what he had done to Medusa, Percy couldn't deny the crucial role his father had played in his survival during the quest. From granting him Riptide to bestowing him with powers to control over water and healing him, Poseidon's blessings had been instrumental in their success. And for that, Percy was genuinely thankful, even if there were unresolved issues between them.

"Hey, old man of the sea. Thanks for the underwater power-ups and for keeping the sharks at bay. Your sushi's on the house tonight. Enjoy and keep those sea monsters in check. Later, pops."

As he opened his eyes and returned to his meal, Percy felt a sense of peace settle over him. The flickering flames of the campfire danced in the evening breeze, casting a warm glow over the gathering of demigods.

Percy grabbed his plate and found a spot by the edge of the beach, where the waves lazily lapped at the shore. It wasn't often he chose solitude, but tonight he needed it. The weight of the past month pressed down on him like a Titan's boulder.

He dug into his pizza, savoring the familiar taste, the tangy sauce mingling with the salt in the air. Each bite was a distraction from the chaos swirling in his mind, but it couldn't silence the questions nagging at him.

Why did Luke betray them? What was his endgame? And what did it mean for the future of Camp Half-Blood?

Lost in thought, Percy barely noticed the sun dipping below the horizon, casting the beach in a golden hue. The camp around him buzzed with life, but he felt strangely detached, like he was on the outside looking in.

As he finished his meal, Percy leaned back against the sand, staring up at the stars twinkling overhead. They seemed to hold the answers he sought, but their silent vigil offered no solace. With a heavy sigh, Percy pushed himself to his feet, and walked back towards his cabin. He did not feel like joining the campfire tonight.

The moment Percy returned to his cabin his attention went to the fountain that was flickering with a rainbow. Percy's heart raced as he accepted the Iris Message, relief flooding him as Nico's holographic form flickered into view. "Nico! You're awake!"

Nico managed a weak smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Hey, Percy. Heard your quest went well. Guess I owe you that drachma I bet on you."

Percy chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "You better pay up, buddy. But seriously, how are you holding up?"

Nico's smile faded, his gaze turning somber. "Not great, to be honest. These wounds might be closing up, but even with Apollo's blessing a wound made from a God's weapon does not heal so easily."

"I can see that," Percy's heart clenched at the sight of Nico's weary smile, the shadows of pain lurking in his eyes. Despite his relief at seeing his friend awake, a knot of worry tightened in his chest. "Man, it's good to see you up and about, but... you're not looking so hot."

Nico chuckled weakly, the sound echoing hollowly through the Iris Message. "Yeah, well, being a punching bag for a god tends to leave a mark or two."

The levity in Nico's voice couldn't mask the underlying exhaustion, the strain of his ordeal etched into every line of his face. Percy's fists clenched at his sides, a surge of anger rising within him. "Ares is going to pay for what he did to you, Nico. I swear it."

Nico's holographic form flinched slightly at Percy's fierce tone, but he managed a small nod. "I appreciate the sentiment, Perce. But right now, I just need to focus on getting better. The wounds may be healing, but the memories... they linger."

Percy's gaze softened, a pang of guilt gnawing at him. "I'm sorry, Nico. I wish I could have been there to protect you."

Nico waved off Percy's apology with a tired smile. "Hey, you did what you had to do. Besides, I had some pretty badass ghost guardians looking out for me."

Percy's stomach twisted with guilt. "Still, I'm sorry, Nico. It's my fault you got dragged into this mess."

Nico shook his head, his expression softening. "Don't blame yourself, Percy. You did what you had to. Besides, I've faced worse."

Percy's jaw tightened. "It shouldn't have happened. Ares has no right to hurt you like that."

"And he is paying for it right now," Nico chuckled as just in time Percy could hear the brutal scream from the Iris Message. "I can hear Ares' screams all the way to my chambers, my whole godly family has joined my father and Lord Horcus. I think they are even using Lord Hephestus' television channels to send a warning to all deities not to mess up with me." Nico sounded amused, as more screaming could be heard from the Iris Message.

Percy erupted into laughter, his shoulders shaking with mirth. "Ares is getting what he deserves!"

Nico's chuckle echoed through the Iris Message. "Oh, absolutely. I've got a front-row seat to the show. My whole godly family is in on it, relishing every moment."

The sounds of Ares' screams reached Percy's ears, a satisfying symphony of agony. "I can't believe they're broadcasting it on Hephaestus' channels. Talk about a warning shot!"

Nico's voice crackled with amusement. "It's like a divine PSA: 'Don't mess with the Ghost King or suffer the consequences!'"

Percy couldn't stifle his laughter as he listened to the agonized screams emanating from the Iris Message. "Sounds like Ares is getting a taste of his own medicine," he remarked, a smirk playing on his lips.

Nico's holographic image seemed to shimmer with amusement. "Oh, definitely. I think the entire Underworld can hear his wails right now."

The thought of Ares receiving his comeuppance brought a sense of satisfaction to Percy. "Well, serves him right," he declared, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I'm sure he'll think twice before messing with us again." Nico's eyes twinkled with mischief. " Anyway, enough about Ares and his screaming. How's everyone else doing? You guys okay after everything?"

Percy sobered slightly, the memories of their quest still fresh in his mind. "We're hanging in there. Ethan is being sensible for once. And I think everyone's just relieved it's all over."

Nico's gaze softened with understanding. "Glad to hear it. And Percy, thanks. For everything."

Percy's grin softened into a genuine smile. "Anytime, Nico. You know I've got your back."

With a final wave, Percy ended the Iris Message, feeling a renewed sense of relief. His Ghost King was safe and sound and that was all Percy needed to be able to sleep in peace.