Chapter 4:

Aidon walked down the familiar gravel path that snaked through Camp Half-Blood, the sun slowly dipping below the horizon, casting a soft orange glow over everything. His thoughts swirled like the wind that tugged at his hair. He'd just had a long conversation with Aria, and for the first time in a while, the weight that seemed to constantly hang over his shoulders had lightened—slightly.

But there was a sense of foreboding in the air that wouldn't leave him. It wasn't just the usual tension that came with living in a place full of demigods and monsters. No, this was different. It felt like something was building—an undercurrent of tension that no one could ignore, not even the carefree Jade, who always seemed to have a smile in every situation.

As Aidon passed the cabins, he caught sight of Soren and Igor in the distance, and his stomach dropped. The tension between the two was palpable, even from far away. Igor stood tall, his broad shoulders hunched forward, his fists clenched at his sides, clearly itching for a fight. His green eyes gleamed with restrained anger, his jaw clenched tight. It was an unmistakable warning sign that something was about to explode.

Soren, on the other hand, was calm—eerily calm. He leaned casually against the cabin wall, arms crossed over his chest, his usual aloofness on full display. His dark blue eyes, almost unreadable, seemed to take in the situation, but his stance remained relaxed. It was as if he were evaluating the storm before it broke, without a care in the world.

Aidon felt the familiar tension rise in his chest. He hadn't seen this coming. He had known about Igor's temper for a while now, especially around Soren, but it had never escalated like this.

He took a step closer, barely able to make out the words being exchanged. Igor's voice was low, but Aidon could feel the anger vibrating in the air.

"You think you're better than me?" Igor growled, each word heavy with disdain.

Soren's response was quiet, almost dismissive. "I never said that."

Igor took a step forward, his fists shaking with barely contained fury. "Then stop acting like it," he snapped. His voice was full of venom, his anger boiling over.

Soren didn't even flinch. He just stood there, eyes distant, as if he were watching an animal throwing a tantrum. "You're making this into something it isn't," he said flatly. "Just relax."

Aidon watched as Igor's face reddened, the muscles in his jaw tightening with frustration. He could practically see the anger radiating off of him in waves. And yet, Soren remained calm, almost too calm, like he had no fear of what might happen next.

"Who are you to tell me to relax?" Igor growled, his voice rising. He took another step forward, fists trembling at his sides. The tension in the air thickened, becoming almost suffocating. Aidon's heart raced as he prepared to step in.

But then Soren's voice cut through the tension like a knife. "I don't have time for this," he said, his tone indifferent. He turned his gaze toward Aidon, meeting his eyes for a brief moment. For a split second, it was as if Soren was giving him permission to step in if he wanted, but the look in his eyes made it clear that he didn't care whether Aidon intervened or not.

Igor's gaze followed Soren's, and for the briefest moment, Aidon thought the anger would boil over. Igor stepped forward, a dangerous look in his eyes. But just as quickly as it had started, Igor turned and stormed off, muttering under his breath. His retreating footsteps echoed in the silence left behind.

Soren didn't move. He didn't react. His arms remained crossed, and he stared after Igor for a moment before his gaze shifted to Aidon.

The air between them felt heavy, like the aftershock of a storm. Aidon took a step closer, his voice hesitant. "Thanks for handling that."

Soren didn't respond immediately. Instead, he glanced at Aidon, his expression as unreadable as ever. "It wasn't handled," he said coolly, his voice low. "Igor's just too angry to see reason."

Aidon nodded, though he wasn't sure what to make of Soren's words. It was as if Soren had become a force of nature in that brief exchange—calm, detached, almost emotionless. He never showed fear, never showed anger. It was like he was above it all.

"You're not exactly the most vocal guy, are you?" Aidon asked, trying to break the tension, but his voice came out more serious than he intended.

Soren didn't seem to hear the attempt at humor. Instead, he glanced over at the camp, his eyes narrowing slightly as if searching for something in the distance. "Not unless it's necessary," he said flatly. His words were simple, but there was a weight to them, an undercurrent of meaning that Aidon couldn't quite grasp.

Aidon mulled over his words, trying to understand. He was used to the constant noise, small talk, and endless chatter filling the camp. But Soren? Soren lived in the quiet, in the moments between words, between breaths. There was something unsettlingly precise about it.

Aidon took a breath, feeling the weight of the quiet air settle in around them. "Is this what it's like here?" Aidon asked, glancing back toward the training grounds where Igor had disappeared. "Fights like that? Every day?"

Soren's lips twitched ever so slightly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Mostly bad days," he said, his tone dry. "But it's nothing to worry about."

Aidon wasn't sure if he should feel reassured by that or more anxious. The air still felt thick with the echoes of Igor's anger, and Soren's calm demeanor only worsened it. If Soren was right—and he usually was—it was just another bad day in a place where things were never quite as simple as they seemed.

"I'll keep that in mind," Aidon said, though his words felt hollow.

Soren didn't answer. He just turned and started walking away, his steps quiet, almost as if he were disappearing into the very shadows that seemed to follow him. Aidon stood there for a moment longer, watching him go, before turning to face the rest of the camp.

The weight of what had just happened lingered in the air like a storm that hadn't quite passed. There were unspoken things between Soren and Igor that Aidon couldn't begin to understand. And then there were things between him and Soren too—things that were just as difficult to grasp, but no less important.

Aidon took a deep breath. The tension in the camp wasn't just about monsters and gods anymore. It was also about the people, the strange, complex relationships that seemed to twist and shift under the surface.

It didn't matter on Aidon's level, though. Relationships were something he didn't want to deal with. It isn't right to trust another person if you don't even know or trust who you are.

Thank You for the follows:
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TheWildestOne
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