Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson or Harry Potter.
The Ever Twisting Wind: The Gaean War
Interlude: Christy's Quest
Beta:
Late one evening, a tired and battered looking Christy McKinsey paid the cabbie that had driven them from New York City to Half-Blood Hill and began trudging her way over Half-Blood Hill whilst escorting a younger brother of hers. A brother that the busty redhead girl with long hair and an impressive figure, the girl who Andi rescued from Enceladus' camp months ago, had saved after a grueling Quest.
Well. Not a Quest. With Lord Zeus' ban against contact between the gods and the mortal realm, the gods couldn't exactly issue Quests. As such, despite it being entirely the same in content, it wasn't formally seen as a Quest and was at best regarded as a mission.
This even though said mission was triggered by news that had reached them in a surprisingly convenient way that suggested it had been the result of subtle divine interference. Basically, Camp had received an anonymous letter - an actual physical letter! - addressed to her that declared an eight year old demigod was in trouble and in need of her help.
Believing that it was best to at least check things out and agreeing with everyone's assumption that the letter was likely an attempt by a god to circumvent Lord Zeus' edict, Chiron had decided to believe that it being addressed to her was a sign that its author wanted her to handle it. Christy had been leery. She was still recovering from her traumatic experience with the Cyprian Centaurs. However, Chiron had convinced her to take it on, arguing that it would be a good way to get over her trauma.
And Chiron was right. Christy thought as she and her brother, Julius Avila, that she had rescued from a pack of Hellhounds and the two Empousai leading them, neared the top of the hill, prompting her to glance at the younger boy and offer him a smile.
Rescuing Julius and proving that I wasn't a failure was just the thing I needed to get over what happened in Washington. Christy thought as Julius smiled back.
He wasn't just a fellow Half-blood but also a fellow child of Apollo. He was family. He was her brother. A fact that he had proven by healing her with the familiar Vitakinesis that children of Apollo like them tended to inherit from their divine father after she'd been badly roughed up slaying the monsters that had been harassing him.
Proving she could save family even after what had happened to her was a balm to her troubled soul. It's proof that I'm strong. Strong enough to do what I want.
As the affirmation of her plans passed through her mind, Christy and Julius reached the top of Half-Blood Hill where they found Chiron waiting for them under Thalia's Pine Tree.
"Christy, is that-"
"Yes," Christy said, cutting off her excited brother with a smile. "That's Chiron, the Trainer of Heroes." Turning to the Centaur, she greeted her mentor. "Hi, Chiron, I'm back. This is my brother, Julius Avila. The mission was real. I rescued him from a bunch of monsters that were hunting him."
"Welcome back, Christy." Chiron nodded at Christy with a welcoming smile before turning to the younger child of Apollo and continuing, "And it is a pleasure to meet you, Julius."
"Hi," Julius said, blushing slightly as he looked at Chiron with a starstruck expression.
His smile broadening, Chiron nodded. "It is getting late, young man, and you must be tired after your trip here, so why don't I show you to Cabin Seven."
"The Apollo Cabin?"
"Yes, young Julius. It is indeed your father's cabin, which will soon be your home." Chiron said as he turned to lead them down the hill into Camp, though not before he turned to Christy. "Christy, I will handle showing Julius to your cabin. Stay here for a moment. Someone would like to have a word with you."
"Chiron?" Christy queried her mentor with a cocked eyebrow even as Julius looked between them curiously.
Offering her a reassuring look, the Centaur reached over and gently squeezed her shoulder. Christy, through long familiarity, managed not to flinch. Given her traumatic experiences with the monstrous Cyprian Centaurs, it would have been understandable for her to react badly to Chiron's touch. That she could stop herself from doing so was something she took pride in, especially considering Chiron was not only a man but also a Centaur.
"Just wait and see." Chiron said as he quickly withdrew his hand, aware that Christy could only tolerate his touch for so long before she broke down.
"Okay." Christy nodded, trusting the man who had all but raised her after her mortal mother had abandoned her at Camp when she was five.
Julius turned towards Christy with a worried frown. Seeing his concern warmed her heart and she offered him her best reassuring smile. "Just follow Chiron, Julius. He'll take good care of you."
Julius nodded. "You'll check in with me later?"
"Of course I will," Christy said with a nod. "Did you forget what I told you? I live in Cabin Seven too. You're just heading there ahead of me is all. I'll catch up with you in a bit."
Julius nodded and dashed over to her side to wrap her a grateful hug. "See you later then."
"Later, kiddo." Christy assured him as she returned the hug.
The two children of Apollo stood there hugging each other for a long moment before Chiron cleared his throat. Prompting them to pull apart at last and turn to the waiting Centaur.
"As sweet as it is to see the sibling bond that you have forged, Christy, Julius, it's getting late." He said with a pleased smile. "We really should make a move."
Christy nodded and gently pushed Julius towards her mentor. "Go ahead, Julius."
Her brother nodded and quickly scampered over to Chiron. He offered her one last wave over his shoulder before he finally let himself be led away into Camp. Christy returned the wave as she watched them leave, the Trainer of Heroes pointing out Camp's various visible landmarks from where they were as they descended Half-Blood Hill.
As she lost sight of them as they disappeared into the shadow of the hill, Christy let out a tired sigh and turned to Thalia's Pine before addressing the canopy of the tree where she sensed a powerful, inhuman presence.
"Are you the one who Chiron said is here to speak to me?"
At her question, a raven that had been perched in the branches of the tree cawed before addressing her in English. "It is indeed I, daughter of my lord."
A raven? Well, it is one of Father's sacred animals. Christy pondered as she looked up at the crow settled on the tree that marked Camp's border with the mortal world. So I suppose I shouldn't be surprised.
"And who are you?" Christy asked, eyeing the bird with a frown.
"You may call me, Onyx, daughter of my lord." The talking avian replied. "I am a herald of your lord father, the great god Apollo."
A raven named Onyx? Christy thought as she eyed the bird with plumage as dark as the gemstone that shared its name. Isn't that a little too on the nose?
She let none of her amusement at the creature's name show though and instead nodded. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Onyx. Might I know what you want from me?" Eyeing the sky nervously, she continued. "And is this safe? Isn't this meeting against Lord Zeus' edict?"
Onyx scoffed. "Rest assured that my lord took pains to prevent that from being the case."
"Oh?" Christy asked curiously. Her father had figured out a way around Lord Zeus' ban? How!? If it worked, maybe it could be applied more broadly and they could use the method to reestablish contact with the gods!
"Yes," Onyx nodded proudly. "You see, before the edict was issued, Lord Apollo wrote up a long list of things for his servants like me to do explicitly without his input and thus allowing him to circumvent the edict, in response to various scenarios that might occur when he was indisposed due to the edict. He even set aside stores of his divine powers to carry out the appropriate divine miracles in line with those responses too."
Christy nodded. That indeed sounded like something her father, the god of prophecy, would do. He might not have been able to predict the future 100% of the time, but his futuresight was still loads better than the average god and so he must've foreseen Lord Zeus' edict and what might need his attention during that time and left instructions for his servants to follow to deal with them.
Most importantly, considering the loophole that Lady Andromeda is exploiting, that Father is not directly interacting with the moral world or giving orders for his servants to do it, it's probably enough for it to count as a loophole to the edict.
The only unfortunate thing about it was that since it relied on Father's futuresight, it simply could not be applied more broadly. Its utility in getting around Lord Zeus' prohibition was limited to Father alone.
"So, I take it that you're here in response to my prayers-"
"Do you really want to become a Witch?" Onyx asked her, cutting her off.
"I do." Christy confirmed with a determined nod. "After what Lady Andromeda did for me, I feel a deep desire to serve her and repay her for everything she's done. I believe the best way I can do that is by becoming a Witch and stepping into the vacant role of her Wizarding lieutenant."
"Are you absolutely sure?" Onyx asked seriously. "You do know that what you're asking for, as your mortals say, isn't going to come cheap, right?"
"I'm sure." Christy affirmed.
Onyx sighed. "Well, you did finish that Quest to rescue your brother that Lord Apollo said could function as a test of your resolve and his instructions said to let you go ahead if you did."
"He did?" Christy asked, surprised.
The raven nodded. "As my lord stated in his instructions, 'you deserve it'."
"Thank you," Christy told him. "But, um… Just to check, will Father be risking getting into trouble for this? Even with the loophole he found, Father must be risking Lord Zeus getting on his case with this."
"Do not worry about it, daughter of my lord." Onyx assured her. "Lord Apollo has accounted for that even wrote in his instructions that you'd ask that and he said to tell you that he just needs to trade in a few favors with Lord Zeus and he'll be fine."
Christy smiled at that and offered her father a heartfelt prayer of thanksgiving. Hey Dad, I just wanted to say thanks for coming through for me, even if it means risking Zeus' wrath. I know it wasn't easy, and I'm beyond grateful that you took that chance for me. I promise I won't let your trust and effort go to waste. Your light is always with me, and I'm proud to be your daughter.
"I know you are thanking my lord for his aid, he mentioned you would. However, do not be thankful yet." Onyx warned her. "The change will rewrite your very being and so it'll be painful. Very, very painful."
"I am familiar with pain." Christy said grimly, suppressing the memories of the pain and humiliation that she'd suffered at the hands of the Cyprian Centaurs.
"I know," Onyx said with a sad caw. "Are you ready? Or would you rather wait?"
Christy considered the choice. Would waiting change anything? No, she didn't think it would.
"I'm ready." Christy told him her choice. "Let's do it now."
Onyx nodded. "Then let us begin."
With that statement, the raven was enveloped in a golden aura, a manifestation of her father's power. Taking flight, it flew to her and gently pressed its beak against Christy's forehead, causing the aura to spread and envelop her as well. The energy filled every fiber of her being, and she screamed like never before as her very essence was rewritten, transforming her into the Witch she desired to become.
A few days after her transformation into a Witch, Christy arrived at the Big House after being summoned there by Chiron. A summons that she had almost expected though not so soon.
I hope he's calling me for what I think he is. Christy thought as she jogged towards Camp's main administrative building from the Sword Fighting Arena where she had been practicing her new Wizarding magic. She might have an unnatural talent for mastering new spells, a gift from her father she was sure, and despite being only a Witch for a few days having amassed a surprisingly impressive repertoire but she still needed to actually learn and practice every one of them.
"Ah! Christy, you're here already?" Chiron asked as he spotted her approaching the Big House, a large structure painted sky-blue with white trim. The house featured a bronze eagle weathervane on the roof and wind chimes hanging along its wraparound porch. "I just sent Julius to go fetch you."
"Yeah, I came as soon as he told me that you wanted to see me." Christy told him as she climbed up onto the porch to join her mentor. "So why did you call me?"
"I see." Chiron said with a nod of understanding. "I called you because there is a letter for you."
Christy perked up at that. Did she dare hope? Ever since becoming a Witch, she had prayed to Lady Andromeda at every free moment, asking for the privilege of filling the empty role of the goddess' Wizarding lieutenant. As a result, she had been hoping against hope that she would soon hear from the goddess that she hoped to serve. She eagerly awaited a letter from Mr. Gardiner, the mortal father of Lady Andromeda's Dryad lieutenant, Katie Gardiner. As a reincarnated former Half-blood and counselor of Cabin Eleven, Katie was uniquely able to maintain correspondence with her father despite Lord Zeus' ban. This allowed their letters to serve as a loophole through which the goddess of Wizarding magic could stay in touch with the mortal world.
Smiling, the Trainer of Heroes reached into the bag that he'd slung across his shoulders and pulled out a letter which he proceeded to pass to Christy. Gesturing to a bench nearby, Chiron continued. "Feel free to take a seat and read it, Christy."
"Thank you, Chiron." The daughter of Apollo said distractedly as she quickly sat down and eagerly opened the envelope.
The letter, written in Mr. Gardiner's hand, as required to circumvent Lord Zeus' prohibition, was addressed to her despite their never having corresponded directly. Though the words were carefully phrased to appear as such, they effectively conveyed the goddess' intent.
Dear Ms. McKinsey,
I hope this letter finds you well. According to Katie, Lady Andromeda, the goddess of Wizarding magic, has heard the request that you have so earnestly made through your prayers. The goddess has told Katie that she is deeply flattered at your desire to serve her as her Wizarding lieutenant. From what she shared with me, Lady Andromeda was touched by your dedication and the sincerity with which you have offered your loyalty. Especially since her actions in rescuing you were not done with any expectation of repayment, least of all your loyalty.
Katie assures me and I believe it is true that she rescued you because it was the right thing to do, driven by the compassion and sense of justice that define her nature. From what I have learned of her, the goddess views every being under her protection with equal care, not a desire for followers or repayment.
Christy nodded in agreement with the man's assessment of Lady Andromeda. She was truly the most sincere and best of the gods of Olympus.
I am sure that she understands your eagerness to repay her kindness, and that she likely wishes you to know that her grace is not something that needs to be earned or repaid.
I'm sure that's exactly what Lady Andromeda thinks. Christy thought, continuing to nod in agreement.
However, I am also sure that Lady Andromeda understands the importance of duty and the desire to serve a higher purpose, which you have so passionately expressed. Therefore, Katie tells me that Lady Andromeda is open to the possibility of you taking up the mantle of her Wizarding lieutenant. This role is one of great responsibility and requires not just loyalty but also capability, wisdom, and the strength to uphold the values she holds dear. It is not a position to be taken lightly, and Lady Andromeda insists that before any official appointment, you must prove your worth.
Which is only to be expected.
The goddess, as Katie informs me, believes that true leadership is demonstrated through actions, not just intentions. Thus, according to Katie, to test whether you are worthy of the position, she would like to see you undertake a Quest that will test your abilities, your judgment, and your resolve. A Quest that will challenge your skills, both as a Hero and a Witch.
Yes!
Katie is confident in your potential, Ms. McKinsey, but she, and her goddess, wants to ensure that you are fully prepared for the challenges and responsibilities that come with being Lady Andromeda's Wizarding lieutenant. The tasks she has in mind for whoever assumes the role will be difficult, and they will require you to push beyond your current limits. They are designed not just to test you but to help you grow into the role you aspire to. It is only after completing these tasks successfully that I imagine that Lady Andromeda will consider officially appointing you as her Wizarding lieutenant.
YES!
The Quest you are about to embark on will not be easy, but Katie says that Lady Andromeda has faith in your abilities and your dedication. As she tells me, the goddess looks forward to seeing how you rise to the occasion and prove yourself worthy of the role you seek.
Make your way to where ancient lines entwine under the peak upon which sits Isolt's famous old home.
No idea what that means, though I'm sure you'll be better able to make more sense out of it.
Yes, she did. Or at least she had a clue. Though she wasn't exactly thinking about deciphering what was clearly a line of prophecy at the moment. She was still feeling too euphoric that she was being given this chance at all!
YES!
With respect and best wishes,
Mr. Gardiner
"YES~!" Christy cheered as she finished reading the letter.
"I presumed that you have received good news?"
The daughter of Apollo nodded. "It was great news!"
"Are you willing to share?" Chiron asked curiously.
"I need to complete a Quest." Christy explained. "Once I do, I'll get my dearest desire."
Lady Andromeda's Quest had involved Christy traveling to Mount Greylock, where Isolt Sayre's old home, which had become Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the North American Wizarding school, occupied the highest peak. However, her journey did not take her to the storied school itself. Instead, thanks to further lines of the Prophecy she'd picked up along the way, she'd been guided to seek out a hidden cave on the mountain, protected by Pukwudgies - short, gray, large-eared magical humanoids native to the Wizarding United States. This cave granted her access to the leyline nexus beneath the school, which was the true destination of the Quest.
A Quest that had taken her all the way from Camp Half-Blood to Berkshire County in western Massachusetts, where Mount Greylock was located, and which led her to facing numerous monsters along the way. She had encountered a flock of Stymphalian Birds shortly after leaving New York, stumbled into a smithy of Hyperborean Cyclops while traveling through Connecticut, and had the misfortune of encountering a Hydra from a Monster Donut shop upon entering Massachusetts. But after having negotiated for access to the cave from the tribe of Pukwudgies that lived around and guarded the cave that contained the path to the Mount Greylock leyline nexus. Something that had required her helping them get access to some special herbs that were protected by a Dryad. A deal that required her to give the nymph all the spoils she'd earned from defeating monsters on the Quest up to that point.
It had been a loss that greatly peeved her at the time, but it had been necessary to proceed with her Quest. However, that failed to compare to her situation now. Not when she now found herself confronted by a Mania with the appearance of a small specter that resembled a highly deformed fetus on the very cusp of reaching the leyline nexus that was the goal of her Quest.
"Just my luck!" Christy cursed as she took in the grotesque sight of the monster she now faced. "What did I do to deserve facing something as unsettling as this!?"
"YoU Do NOt ReCOGniZe mE!?" The spirit of insanity, madness, and crazed frenzy asked in a voice that reeked of its derangement.
"Recognize you?" Christy asked with a frown. Why would this Mania expect me to recognize- "No! No! It can't be!"
Letting out a horrific sounding laugh, the spirit metaphorically stabbed a knife into the daughter of Apollo's heart and brutally twisted it. "iT mOsT DEfiniTEly CaN! I Am tHe SpIRiT oF ThE fEmALe hUmAN fEtUs SiREd By YoUR rAPeS DuRInG yOuR tImE aS a PlayTHiNG Fo tHe cYPriAn CEnTAuRs! I aM tHe DaUghTeR THaT yoU AbOrTeD, mOtHeR!"
The confirmation of Christy's deep fear had her shaking her head in denial and she had to resist the urge to step back from the spirit in shock and horror. Retreating from a Mania with a grudge was a bad idea. Her training told her that… But heeding it right now was proving difficult. Extremely difficult.
"I WaS dRiVeN To MaDneSS bY bEinG DEnIeD a ChAnCe At LiFE deSpITe mY InNOcEnCe. I cOuLD unDErSTAnD IF i hAD bEeN a CyPrIAN CenTAUr. gIViNg BIrTH To OnE oF tHe MoNsTerS ThAt HaD TorMeNTed YoU wOUlD bE tOo mUcH tO AsK! BuT I WaSn'T! I WAs a HuMAn! BuT, MoThER, YoU KiLLeD Me BeFORe i wAs BoRn aNyWaY!"
"No! NO! NO~! That can't be true!" Christy cried out in pained denial.
The Mania replied by letting loose another horrific laugh before adding, "YoU mAY dEnY iT aLL YoU wAnT, MoThER, BuT YoU cAnnOT ChANgE tHe TrUTh."
With that cruel statement, the Mania unleashed a burst of crimson energy, conjuring a cloud of floating particles of dried blood around it. The cloud shaped itself into dozens of tentacles resembling umbilical cords, each ending in vicious claws, which she launched at Christy. Reacting on instinct, Christy spun on her feet and Apparated out of the way, narrowly avoiding the lashing, bloody tendrils.
As she rematerialized behind the Mania, she found the spirit rapidly spinning around to face her, tripping over its stubby toddler-like legs in the process. If it did not look so monstrous, the fall would have looked cute. Or perhaps caused worry considering how hard the spirit fell. However, Christy had no room to feel either, not when despite its fall, the Mania once more attacked her with her grasping, clawed tentacles. Acting with more conscious thought this time, Christy Apparated out of the way of the assault.
As she rematerialized, Christy quickly activated the Invisibility Spell she had charmed into the necklace she was wearing, rendering herself invisible. She then tossed the torchlight she had been using to navigate the cave aside. As she did, she silently offered thanks to the gods for choosing her few Wizarding spells wisely. Between that and her transformation into a Witch by her father giving her an uncharacteristic talent for wandless Wizarding magic, she felt incredibly fortunate. The latter was especially beneficial since she hadn't yet had the chance to get herself a wand.
Thanks to all that, I might just be able to live through this.
As she loses sight of her, the Mania let out an angry roar. "HiDInG WoN'T SaVe YoU, MoThEr! No MaTtER WhERe YoU HiDe, I WiLL HUnT YoU DoWN AnD DeStROy YoU!"
Using the limited Audiokinesis that she'd inherited from her father, Christy threw her voice so that it didn't give away her hidden location and addressed the Mania as sincerely as she could. "I'm sorry."
"sORRy!? SoRrY!? Do YoU HoNeStLY ThINk SaYInG sORrY Is EnOUGh, MoThEr!? ThAT aPOLOgIzInG WoULd Be EnOUgH tO GeT Me To FoRgIVe YoU FoR dENyiNG mE oF LiFe EvEn BeFORe i WaS BoRn!?" The Mania roared angrily, whilst lashing out with her tendrils at random, seemingly hoping that she would be able to catch the invisible Christy in her grasp.
"I know just saying sorry is not enough. That it will never be enough, but it is all I can offer."
"No! ThErE iS sOmEthInG eLsE YoU CaN OfFeR!" The Mania roared as she scattered her tendrils and reshaped the blood that made them up into bullet-like pellets that she proceeded to shoot out in all directions around her. "YoU cAn DiE!"
Responding to the buckshot of blood that the spirit had fired, Christy quickly ducked behind a rocky outcrop and weathered the attack safely.
"I'm afraid I can't give you my life. I still have things to do!"
"WhAt AbOuT Me!? I HaD ThInGs To Do ToO! A WhOlE LiFe WoRtH Of OpPorTuNiTiEs! HoWevER, YoU sNuFFeD ThAt ChAnCe OuT, MoThEr!"
"I know that." Christy tells her dead child as she snuck away from her cover just as one of the Mania's reformed tentacles lashed out at it and smashed it into rubble.
Though… Is it really true that I can't offer anything that the Mania might want?
"ShOw YoUrSeLf, MoTHer!" The Mania angrily demanded whilst whirling her tentacles around her like a blender and began tearing apart everything around her with a greater efficiency then it ever had before now.
Keeping well away from the Mania and frowning at the way the spirit's actions meant that Christy couldn't just sneak past her. Maybe she could Apparate past it, but doing so would cause her invisibility to fail and that would give the Mania all the chance she needed to kill her.
I really wish my Apparition range wasn't so bloody limited!
However, sadly it was and she was forced to once more dive for cover as the Mania turned her bloody aura into projectiles again. This time however, she changed them into inches long stakes that threatened to impale her.
As she huddled behind yet another of the cave's rocky outcrops, Christy thought to herself that she needed to come up with a way to get past the Mania. She couldn't complete the Quest without doing so. Whatever solution she might have, it had to be one that did not have her to actually hurt the spirit. She had hurt the girl enough already, she could not bring herself to hurt her again.
But what kind of solution to getting past the Mania would involve me not fighting her?
"GiVe Me YoUr LiFe, mOthER! OnLY ThEn WiLL I Be SaTiSfiEd!" The Mania roared as she lashed out all around her with her clawed tendrils once more.
The Mania's madness revolves entirely around her lost chance at life. I use that, can't I? Christy pondered as an idea came together in her mind.
"I can't do that." She spoke to the spirit via audiokinesis once more. "But I might be able to offer you something that you might be interested in."
"WhaT CoULd YoU PoSsIbLY OfFeR Me, MoThEr!?"
"If you can stop attacking me, I'll drop my invisibility in a similar show of trust and tell you."
The Mania considered the matter, the tendrils of blood around her weaving through the air restlessly as she thought over Christy's suggestion.
"VeRY WeLL! I WiLL LiStEn!" The Mania said as she stilled but did not dismiss her sanguine tendrils.
She's willing to take the risk to hear me out but not without being prepared should she be betrayed. Christy thought as acting in accordance with their agreement, she turned off her necklace's Invisibility Spell. It's what I would do.
"So, MoThEr, WhAt CaN YoU OfFeR Me ThAt YoU ThInK I WoULd FiNd WoRtHwHiLe?"
"You want a chance at life, right?" Christy asked, getting a nod from the spirit.
Seems I was right.
"Well, then I am willing to allow you to reincarnate as my next child."
"No! I WaNt To Be ReBoRn NoW! I WaNt YoU To Be PrEgNaNt RiGhT NoW!" The Mania demanded.
"Look, I understand your impatience but how am I going to do that? It's just the two of us here and as the saying goes, 'it takes two to tango' so…" Christy said, trailing off helplessly.
"I might have a solution for that," Lady Andromeda said as she appeared in a flash of crackling rainbow lightning. Upon materializing, she quickly scanned her surroundings and breathed a sigh of relief. "It seems my assumption was correct. The nearby leyline nexus is hiding my presence." Finally turning to Christy and the Mania, the goddess of Wizarding magic continued, "As I was saying, I've been watching everything, and I can fix the issue of you not being able to get pregnant without help, Christy."
The daughter of Apollo blushed at the goddess' words, her mind wandering to lewd places. Given everything she had just recently endured in Enceladus' camp, she wasn't sure if she was ready for anything intimate. But… If her goddess desired her in that way, she would do her best to be open and willing.
"Not like that, Christy." Lady Andromeda said, shaking her head in amusement before she instead addressed the Mania. "If I may?"
Clearly having more of an idea of what the goddess had in mind, at least more so than Christy did, the spirit nodded enthusiastically.
Nodding back, Lady Andromeda extended her power and wrapped the Mania in her green aura. A moment later, the spirit was transformed into a crimson orb of energy that floated into the goddess' hands.
Oh! I think I get what Lady Andromeda has in mind now.
Turning towards Christy, she asked. "Are you ready?"
"Yes, my goddess." Christy said with just a hint of trepidation. Could anyone fault her? Considering what she was signing up for by agreeing, anyone would be nervous!
Nodding back once more, the goddess transferred the red orb that was the Mania into Christy's womb. The orb shot into her body like a crimson bullet that caused her to stagger back slightly.
"There, I'm done." Lady Andromeda said with a satisfied nod. "Congratulations on becoming the mother of my first Half-Blood, Christy."
"Your Half-Blood!? What do you mean by that, my lady?"
"You see, since I was the one who reincarnated your daughter and she doesn't have a father - I refused to let her maintain any relation to her original monstrous father - I stepped into that role."
"T-That…" Christy said, too moved by how much her goddess was willing to help her that she was lost for words. "Thank you so much! I'm incredibly grateful and deeply appreciate your kindness!"
Raising any child of hers that had been fathered by a monster was not something she could live with. She had after all only promised the Mania that she would let her be reborn as her child, she never said anything about keeping her after she was born. But now that she was Lady Andromeda's Half-blood instead? She would be happy, even honored, to raise the child.
"Don't sweat it, Christy." Lady Andromeda told her with a reassuring smile. "I'm sure that you will be a great mother to our daughter, but for now you need to go finish your Quest."
Christy nodded in understanding.
Offering her one last smile, Lady Andromeda teleported away.
Once the goddess was gone, Christy looked down at her abdomen, where her daughter, conceived with the goddess, was now growing. She boggled at the fact that she would be a mother soon. By the gods! She had only just turned sixteen! And she was going to be the mother of a Half-blood? Even if she was a Half-blood herself, that just made it more intimidating because she already knew firsthand how difficult it would be to be a mother to one! A teenage mother no less! It was insane! Yet… She found herself looking forward to it.
Suddenly, a chunk of rock of the cave roof loosened by the Man- No, her daughter's earlier rampage fell to the ground, startling Christy out of her ponderings.
"Right. I'm still on a Quest." Christy said with a little nervous laugh. "Accio torchlight!"
Her summoning spell magically pulled her electric light into her waiting right hand - still functional, thanks to its durable construction and the Unbreakable Charm she had cast on it.
"Time to finish this," Christy reminded herself as using the light from her torch, she quickly made her way through the darkness of the cave, the flickering glow guiding her toward the cavern's end where her destination awaited.
A few minutes later, Christy finally reached the end of the cave, which opened into a vast underground cavern dominated by a large, glowing lake. The lake shimmered with magical energy from intersecting leylines that flowed through the water. Each leyline emitted a different color, creating a vibrant and ethereal display of lights across the lake's surface. These colors merged into a brilliant white at the lake's center, where a single nexus point existed, radiating an intense, luminous column of light upward.
The cavern walls were illuminated by the radiant energy, casting shimmering reflections and creating a mystical ambiance. The cavern featured intricate rock formations and a sense of immense scale, with towering walls that added to the grandeur of the scene. In the background, a structure resembling ancient ruins of what might have been an old fortress stood partially submerged in the lake, likely connected to the Wizarding school far above at the top of the mountain.
"It's beautiful!" Christy could not help but gasp as she caught sight of the leyline nexus and stood transfixed by it for a good long moment.
"Okay. Enough getting distracted." Christy reminded herself once again after finally shaking off her awe. "I'm not here to sightsee. I've got a Quest to complete."
Putting actions to words, she stripped down and pulled her swimsuit from her pack, changing into the sleek, high-neck one-piece in vibrant neon green. The suit featured a minimalist design with thin white trim along the edges, accentuating the bright color, high-cut legs, and an open back.
She would have worn the swimsuit all day to avoid stripping naked and changing in the middle of a cavern. However, when she tried wearing it under her clothes that morning, it felt so uncomfortable that she abandoned the idea. Swimming in the lake naked was just as unappealing, so she had no choice but to change into the swimsuit now.
Once changed, Christy immediately dove into the glowing lake and began swimming toward the brightly lit nexus at its center. As the water touched her skin, she was pleasantly surprised. It was much warmer than she had expected for an underground cavern. She had anticipated icy cold temperatures, but the warmth likely came from the magic of the leylines flowing through the lake.
None of the lake's many animal denizens, whose shadows she could see swimming through the water, gave her any trouble. Perhaps they recognized her as being on a Quest for their mistress, the goddess of the wild, or it was because she carried the goddess' child in her womb. Whatever the reason, the animals of the lake gave her a wide berth.
This is surprisingly nice. Christy thought as she enjoyed a good swim to the center of the lake.
After a few minutes of relaxed swimming, Christy reached the nexus and the soothing white light washed over her. Although it should have been blinding, the magical light did nothing of the sort. Instead, it filled her vision with calming whiteness. Treading water now that she had reached her destination, Christy let the magic pouring out of the leyline nexus wash over her. Let it fill her mind and body.
It's time. She thought to herself as she looked up at the stream of magical energy from the leyline nexus that shot up to the cavern roof to power the Wizarding school.
"I, Christy McKinsey, daughter of Apollo," Christy began, looking at the cavern roof with solemn determination as she continued to tread water. "Swear on the River Styx my eternal fealty to Andromeda Aurae, goddess of the wild, breezes, and Wizarding magic. To my goddess, I pledge unwavering loyalty and devotion."
Supernatural thunder filled the cavern as the Styx recognized her oath.
"I, Andromeda Aurae, goddess of the wild, breezes, and Wizarding magic, hear and accept your Oath," the familiar voice of her goddess boomed as the echoes of the thunder created by her Stygian Oath faded. "Both as my servant and my Wizarding lieutenant!"
With her goddess' declaration, the magical energy from the leyline nexus flowing through Christy's body was joined by a surge of divine power. Instead of merely passing through her, these energies began to flow into her, enhancing her strength. Christy felt warmth and light flood her senses, filling her with an overwhelming euphoria. Every cell in her body seemed to vibrate with pure, joyous energy, enveloping her mind in bliss. The sensation grew so intense that she screamed out in euphoric pleasure, each wave building upon the last until she was gradually overwhelmed by the sheer exhilaration. Until at last, she eventually passed out.
Discreetly returning Christy to Camp Half-Blood after she had passed out in the lake under Mount Greylock, Andi couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. The surge of power that had filled Christy, marking her as Andi's Wizarding lieutenant, had been overwhelming, causing her to pass out in the middle of the lake and almost drown.
I really should have thought of the possibility of that when I sent her to Greylock. Andi thought as she rematerialized back in her palace. She had been so concerned with the need to hide her actions, clearly in breach of Father's edict, using the overflowing magic of the leyline nexus and it being below the earth, and out of his sphere of influence, that she had completely overlooked the danger of having Christy going through her ascension whilst swimming in the middle of an underground lake. An oversight that had forced her to intervene to save the mother of her as yet unborn youngest child and risk the discovery of her defiance of Father's ban against contact with the mortal world. I can only hope that Father didn't notice, or at least will overlook, my flouting of his decree.,
"Andi! You're back! Good!" Wendy said as she blew into the entrance hall of Andi's treehouse mansion as a breeze before reforming into her humanoid form. "I have some news - unfortunately, it's bad news - that I need to tell you."
"What news?" Andi asked with a frown.
"We just received word that while Nico and Bianca were searching for the captured Doors of Death, Nico was pulled into Tartarus. He ended up in the Mansion of Night, where he was captured by the Protogenos of night, Nyx, who then handed him over to the twin Gigantes, Ephialtes and Otis."
Alarmed by this, Andi shot Wendy with an angry frown, her eyes literally aflame with anger in the forming of supernatural green fire. "And where was Bianca in all this?"
"Bring waylaid unfortunately." Ida said as she stepped into the room. "It seems that at the point that he was captured, Bianca was being kept too busy to rescue him by Kakos."
Andi frowned. Distracting one of the di Angelos so they could capture the other had been a smart move on Gaea's part. In the Earth Mother's situation, she'd have done the same.
"Where's Nico now?" Andi pressed. "Where did Ephialtes and Otis take him?"
"To their base in the Coliseum in Rome where they plan to use him as a trap to bait the Seven by threatening to kill him on the Kalends of July." Ida dutifully informed her.
Andi nodded and began drawing up plans in her mind on how she could rescue Nico. However, she hadn't even really got started when she was interrupted by some quite unexpected visitors.
"Hold your horses, Andromeda!" Clotho of the Fates urged as she and her sisters teleported into Andi's palace.
"Yes! Wait, Andromeda!" Lachesis added just as forcibly.
"Wait a moment, Andromeda!" Atropos finished emphatically for the three of them.
"And why should I?" Andi said, crossing her arms as she stared at the three ancient women with silver hair and bony arms, each dressed in hooded, white robes.
"Because if you head out now to rescue the son of Hades," Clotho began.
"It will ruin the tapestry that we have woven for his fate." Lachesis continued.
"And that could lead to the failure of the Prophecy of the Seven." Atropos took her turn to speak next.
""Do you want that, Andromeda Aurae? Even if it might lead to the destruction of Olympus?"" The Fates said, speaking in creepy unison as they looked at her with eyes full of damning accusation.
"Save the theatrics," Andi said, snorting. "I hear you. I'll back down. For now. But if anything changes-"
"Then, we will let you know what you can do." Clotho offered.
"And cannot do." Lachesis continued.
"We promise you." Atropos finished for them.
"You better," Andi told the Fates dismissively as she turned to leave. They might be some of the most powerful deities but they were in her palace. She would not debase herself before them. Thus, she showed her back to them as she went to relax. It had been a long day and if she couldn't go save her friend, then it was time for her to unwind. "You can show yourselves out."
Done and done! Thanks to Nameless as always!
Nice this was a fun interlude to get into! We already got little commanders for our breezy spirits, our nature friends and now we have one for the wizarding world. Christy, despite the hurdles she has gone through, reached her journey's end in a way of speaking and gained her reward.
Nameless: If you're wondering why we didn't write out all the adventures that Christy went through, it's actually pretty simple. She's simply not our MC. Basically, we are adding this story to add on to the story, not to write a side story. Thus, we only kept the most important bits to the main story. Hope this is acceptable to everyone.
I personally enjoyed the Mania scene the best. It felt powerful and it was a confrontation that just reflected the emotional turmoil of her situation. The clash with her unborn child and what she is willing to do to amend her decision that brought her some peace of mind? Amazing.
Nameless: So TD13Beens on FFN asked us a good question about whether we'll be giving a full rundown on what the retroactively created myths around Andi. Here's my reply… Apologies but we have no plans for that. As interesting as that might be, we are more focused on pushing the story forward. If you're inclined though, we'd happily allow you to have a go writing it up. Though, we'd like veto rights on whether anything is considered TETW canon.
I say go for it! It'd be a fun read from my readers perspective.
You know what to do! Smash that review button and tell us what you love! No flames and peace off my peeps!