New Kratos chapter means new interactions with old characters, and a good ol' fight at the end to cement some bro energy.
Camp-Half Blood
The morning dew hit Kratos' nose as soon as he stepped out of the Big House, the camp was already busy as the children made their way to the mess hall.
"So, what's on the to-do list?" Mimir asked.
"First, we eat, then we speak with Chiron. He will know how to spread our message." Kratos proceeded to the mess hall, last night's dinner was a new experience, perhaps todays will be just as unique.
Breakfast was a mix of poultry eggs, pork, biscuits, and fruits. Kratos had to admit, it tasted good.
"You should try putting them all together in a biscuit, makes for a great to-go breakfast." Kratos looked up from his food, standing to his left was the red-head girl from yesterday.
"Who are you?" Kratos asked.
"The names Rachel Elizabeth Dare, nice to meetcha." She stuck out her hand, Kratos looked at her for a second before meeting her half way and shaking. This child was very strange.
"Kratos." He simply said.
"And I am Mimir, smartest man alive."
"The pleasure is all mine Mr Head." The girl giggled - at what Kratos could only assume was a joke.
"Why do you disturb us?" Kratos asked, done with his meal.
"Oh I just thought I would give you two the camp tour…I'm also kinda bored, not a lot for an oracle to do without a big quest." Rachel shrugged.
"You are an oracle?" Kratos asked as he stood up, his plate was taken away by one of the attendants.
"Not just any oracle, the oracle of delphi!" Rachel beamed with pride, her shoulders straighter than before.
"Is it true that the spirit of the oracle transfers from maiden to maiden? I've heard the stories but I've never seen it." Mimir spoke up.
"Yep."
"Fascinating,"
Kratos looked out, the camp director was currently swarmed by children as he led them away to practice. Perhaps Chiron would not be available for the immediate future. He looked back to the Oracle, her tour would do for now.
"This tour," Kratos interrupted, "Let us begin." Rachel nodded before motioning to follow her.
Leaving the mess hall, Rachel led him around camp. The morning sun brought out more campers than yesterday afternoon. They started at the lake, then they moved to the lava wall, next the amphitheater, around to arts and craft station, the forest, and finally started making their way back to the cabins.
Rachel had been talking non-stop since they left, either bringing up "fun facts" ,as she called it, or speaking on any of the activities they usually host. Capture the flag seemingly was the most liked among the campers.
As they walked by one of the empty fields, Kratos spotted the son of Poseidon. He was among a crowd of younger campers, all around Atreus' age, all holding wooden swords meant for sparring. The young man, Percy Jackson as Kratos recalled, wielded his sword with incredible mastery. It reminded him of old Spartans generals in his youth, who were so secure in their expertise they could handle their weapons without a thought. It spoke volumes to Kratos.
"You probably know him, but that's Percy." Rachel said.
"So that's the lad who everyone keeps talking about, now I see why." Mimir spoke up from below.
"He is a formidable fighter." Kratos analyzed the son of Poseidon more. He goaded one of the younger children to attack him, as the wood sword came down towards his head, Jackson deflected the blow deftly and tripped up his opponent. After a quick talk, Jackson picked the child up letting another one take a swing at him. Like before, Jackson deflected the blow away with his sword and tripped them.
"Right now he's teaching…self-defense?" Rachel scratched her head, before nodding to her own statement, "Yeah, that's right. Sometimes we have our older campers teach courses to our newbies. Percy is one of the best swordsmen in camp, so he's more than qualified to teach. Hey, maybe you can give a lesson one day. You've probably been in a ton of fights." Rachel turned to Kratos as he continued to analyze the spars.
Jackson had stopped being the center of attention, dispersing the younger children into pairs and watching them practice together. He walked in between all the groups giving advice as they went along. The way he not only wielded his sword, but analyzed his students and gave them helpful advice was enough. Percy Jackson was a skilled fighter, if he was one of Kratos' spartans he'd easily become one of his most prized soldiers. But those days are long gone, and Kratos is in no way qualified to lead an army anymore.
"Let us continue." Kratos said as he turned away from Jackson and his students.
As they made their way to the cabins, Rachel continued to speak of Percy, starting with how they met.
"And then he tried to cut me in half, totally not the best first impression!" Rachel was unique among mortals, one of the few to be able to see the world as is. A mist had formed between the mortal world and that of the gods, Rachel happened to be the few who could see past it. The idea of a mist clouding the eyes of all mortals was perplexing to Kratos, he did not remember such a thing existing. Just another of the inaccuracies that confounded him.
"We'll end here, these are the cabins, each one is built around each Olympian until last year when the camp started adding more cabins for other gods." Rachel stopped in front of the cabins.
Kratos looked at the cabins, unlike yesterday when they were mostly empty, they were full. "Chiron said there was an issue with the gods claiming their children, and the son of Poseidon made them swear to fix it. Is that why the new cabins were made?" He asked.
"Kinda," Rachel pointed to the Hermes cabin, "The gods didn't claim their children as much as they used to so they would all go to the Hermes cabin. If they didn't claim their kids the camp didn't know where to put them. Not sure why they don't just let kids sleep wherever but no one asks me for advice." Rachel shrugged.
"The gods are slow to change, that is not new." Kratos said.
"You said it, not me." Rachel put her hands up, "In any case, we have the usual, everyone from Zeus to Dionysus. We added Tyche and Hecate cabins this year, and already have a couple more cabins being planned soon. Maybe you can add another?" The way she said it sounded more like a greedy merchant trying to pawn off one of their wares than a child.
Kratos did not respond to her hypothetical, his eyes landed on the largest of the cabins - and one of the more emptier cabins. "That belongs to the children of Zeus?" Kratos asked.
"Yeah, that's for big Z, why?"
"It is quite empty, like the Poseidon cabin." He remembered the sons of Zeus and Poseidon from yesterday, distinctly how there were no other children of said gods. In fact, the Hades cabin was also empty. How strange.
"Oh that? Yeah, Percy said the big three made a pact to not long have kids after World War 2, cuz of the Great Prophecy. You must be out of the loop if you haven't heard that one."
A pact to not have children? Well the children of Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades were usually the strongest among the demi-gods. Kratos was living proof of this. But to come together willingly and stop having children? Obviously the pact did not last long, the mere presence of the Zeus and Poseidon children were evidence to that.
"I have." Kratos said.
"Well to be quick, we have a few kids from the big three. Percy of course, than we have Jason he's the son of Big Z,"
"I remember." They only briefly met in front of the Big House.
"Lastly, well, Nico isn't here but he comes around every once in a while." Kratos raised his brow.
"Nico?" He asked.
"Son of the big guy down under, and I don't mean Australia." Kratos didn't know who Australia was, but he assumed Rachel meant Hades.
"Is he gone often?" Kratos turned to the Hades cabin.
"Pretty often, he's a bit of a loner type, probably gets that from his dads side of the family. Percy told me he used to be a goofy kid when they first met. Aside from him, Jason has a sister named Thalia who hangs out with The Hunters of Artemis. We have a tree named after her." Rachel pointed to the tree on the hill overlooking the camp.
"Ah yes, the one with the dragon." Mimir said.
"We know the story." Kratos told her.
"Good, that about covers everything at camp. Any questions?" Rachel asked.
"Now that you ask," Mimir started, "We're trying to get the word out, looking for a lad named Atreus. Know anyone who can help?"
"I assume it's your kid?" Rachel looked to Kratos, who nodded, "Well we aren't very tech heavy here, I mean I can barely get a cell signal in camp." Kratos didn't understand what she meant but didn't stop her.
"Do you have any options?" Mimir asked.
"Not here, no, but there are plenty of ways to get your word around. Lord Hermes runs a distribution center in New York, he can get your word out. After all that's kinda his deal."
"Hmm." God of Messengers, and incredible pain in Kratos' rear. The god never stopped talking until his inevitable end by kratos' hands, and talked with a bravado unbefitting of a dead man. The idea of speaking with him again was not pleasant, but Rachel was correct. Hermes was certainly the best way to get the word out.
"Where can I find this distribution center?" Kratos asked.
"It's a weekend so it's closed, you'll have to wait until tomorrow. I usually have to go there for Chiron to get our check for the Strawberries we sell. I tried telling him to let me set up an online storefront but he said he doesn't understand the internet. Can you believe the only computer we have on camp was from the 90's? Chiron can afford to buy some old antiques for himself but I can't buy a computer? Hypocrisy I tell you." Rachel crossed her arms, obviously annoyed with the activities director.
"Uh…huh," Mimir feigned his agreement with Rachel, not quite sure what she said.
A quiet beeping rang from Rachel, she pulled out a small black box like Kratos saw the mortals use, "Sorry, that's just my phone," She quickly tapped it before putting it away, "I have to get going, got homework to do, I assume you'll be alright without me?"
Mimir couldn't help but chuckle, "We can manage lass."
"If you ever need me don't hesitate to find me, I have a nice cave just outside of camp. It's very nice, lotta cave drawings and comforters, you'll like it." Rachel waved goodbye as she left, leaving Kratos and Mimir alone.
"Talk about a spitfire, brother." Mimir sighed.
"She spoke like a woman possessed." Kratos agreed, he was surprised the girl had any breath after all that talking.
"Indeed. With that settled, I presume that tomorrow we search for Hermes?" Mimir asked.
"Yes, Hermes will help us spread our word."
"You don't sound too pleased by that." Mimir noted.
Kratos scoffed, "I do not have fond memories."
"Not the most pleasant to be around, got it. Well, the day is still young, we can still look around camp if you like."
Kratos remembered passing by a training facility during his tour with Rachel, it was easy to find it as it was near the armory. Inside, the dummies were made to look like monsters, with very elaborate costumes placed onto them. A few of them even had armor to mimic a real fight. The one that got Kratos' attention was a machine built to look like a cyclops, twice his height with moving parts to match the ferocity of the creature. Its feet were bolted to the floor but its arms were given free movement with a large wooden club. And it was currently being occupied.
"It seems we weren't the only one to think of training." Kratos said.
Ahead of him using the machine was the son of Zeus, Jason. He looked like he had been using it for a while, sweat collected on forehead, he breathed hard, the grip on his sword was loosening, all signs of prolonged combat. The longer he watched Jason fight, the quicker he realized just how formidable he was. Like Jackson, Jason was an adept swordsman, but more than that he was excellent at more than just a sword. With a flash of gold, his sword transformed into a javelin. The pole arm deflected a blow that would have easily crushed his smaller sword, and used it to poke at the cyclops from a distance.
"You look real tasty!" The mechanical cyclops said; Kratos didn't know how due to its mouth being shut.
"Shut up." Jason bit out as he transformed his javelin back into a sword, swinging at the ankles of the creature.
Just as he landed another blow the cyclops swung, but Jason was over extending he was going to get. Jason realized this too late and closed his eyes bracing for impact…but it never came.
"Over exertion will dull your senses, you should know this." Jason opened his eyes, and saw his savior.
Kratos had rushed to block the blow with his shield, and shrugged the club away. "You were sloppy." Kratos looked towards Jason.
The young man could only chuckle, "Thanks," Jason composed himself, looking back at the cyclops. "But I think you just made it more difficult for us."
The cyclops had been silent for a moment after Kratos deflected its club, but had whirred back to life, "Player 2 joined! Increasing difficulty mode to Extreme! Please note that the Hephaestus cabin is not responsible for any injuries or deaths resulting from Mecha-Clops, thank you and enjoy your beating."
"Are you fit for a fight?" Kratos asked.
"I was about to ask the same to you?" Jason laughed as he gripped his sword again.
The cyclops roared and brought down its club, Kratos and Jason rolled to opposite sides away from the impact. With its guard lowered, Kratos tossed the leviathan axe at its eyeball, but was blocked by the cyclops' other arm. Jason went around its other leg and stabbed his transformed javelin into its ankle. The cyclops would have buckled if its legs weren't locked into the floor.
"On your left brother!" Mimir shouted as the cyclops brought its club up to sweep at him.
Kratos switched to the blades of chaos and threw them at the cyclops unoccupied shoulder. He yanked himself out of the club's reach, landing on the faux-creatures shoulder. Kratos implanted one of his blades deeper into the cyclops and put the other away to summon his axe. Using the axe and blade combined, Kratos drove both into the cyclops shoulder and willed their elements to freeze and burn their target.
"I have an idea, bring it down!" Jason yelled as he deflected another of the cyclops' blows with his javelin.
Kratos nodded and moved onto the cyclops' head, he reared back a fist and brought it down. The force was enough to jerk its head down, but it was not enough, even with another slam it was not enough to bring the head down low.
Kratos tapped into that infamous rage of his, no longer holding back, "RAAARGH!" Kratos yelled as he brought both fists up and slammed them down on the cyclops' head. The force was enough to bring it to level with Jasons' javelin.
With his target now positioned, Jason threw the javelin with precision. His aim was true as the javelin sunk into the cyclops' eye-ball, the faux-creature roared in pain not quite finished. Kratos wrapped his chains around his target's neck and jumped off. WIth a great pull the chains, now burning bright orange, separated the head of the cyclops from its body.
"Ex…treme diffi…culty, beeeeaten." The cyclops' last word slurred to an end, no longer operational.
Jason let out a heavy breath, and sat down, exhausted. "Thanks, that was tough."
"You were careless to leave yourself open like that," Kratos said.
The young man couldn't help but chuckle, "You're still on that?"
Kratos relented, instead walking up to Jason and putting his hand out, "You did well."
Jason met his hand and pulled himself up, "So, you're Kratos, right? Names Jason, Jason Grace."
"So I have heard."
"A pleasure to meet you lad, I am Mimir, smartest man alive!" Jason looked down to the head hanging from Kratos' belt.
"Huh, talking head. Thanks, for stepping in, I would have been feeling that for a week." Jason rubbed his shoulder.
"It was only practical." Kratos said.
"Oh?"
"We came to use the facilities, but found you using them." Kratos told him.
"You saved my butt either way, so thanks." Jason said.
It was then that a bunch of campers rushed to their spot, most of them looked like they had just come from the forge. Hephaestus children.
"Holy crap they destroyed Mecha-Clops!" One of the children exclaimed.
A girl, older than the rest, came stomping to Jason upset. "Uh, hey Nyssa, sorry about the equipment." Jason chuckled to defuse her.
"Do you know how long we've been working on this!? Months!?" Nyssa cradled her forehead and spoke in another language Kratos did not understand, exasperated.
"Do not lay the blame on him, I was the one who cleaved its head." Kratos said.
Nyssa looked up, she looked as if she lost a bit of her color, "Oh it's not a big deal, we can fix it no problem!" She waved her hands to dismiss it.
Kratos nodded, perhaps he's done enough, collecting his items, Kratos made to leave.
"See ya back here again?" Jason asked.
Kratos thought for a moment, "Yes, you will."
Mecha-Clops was something I added into Camp Half-Blood for this story, I thought it would fit right in. Rest in Peace this short lived, well made, training dummy.