The Secret
Percy stayed outside the infirmary, staring down at his hands, which still carried the tingling sensation of electricity. It had been far stronger than Clarisse's electric spear. Percy was pretty sure that before, he wouldn't have been able to take that kind of electricity running through his arms without at least letting out a scream of pain. Or at the very least ending up with a few scorched fingers.
But now, his skin seemed slightly tougher, which was why Percy had started pinching himself with a somewhat confused expression, because to the touch, it felt completely normal.
But pain… felt different.
And that was weird. Since when had that started happening?
Maybe since he killed the Hydra and felt something suddenly enter him, like he had sensed before. Now it felt like he could use the power shouts much more easily. Obviously, he still had to wait for the recovery time, but that only applied when using the full shouts. Because, for example, when he used FUS, Unrelenting Force, he could already tell he'd be able to use it again after just a few seconds compared to before.
Well, at least he had to be thankful that now he didn't go temporarily mute afterward. That was definitely a good thing.
He also found himself remembering what that chained woman had said.
"Gifts…"
He could feel it had something to do with all of this. Just like the disappearance of his tattoos, the ones that had made him into one of Miraak's dragon priests. And Annabeth's eyes.
And maybe there were other things he still had to discover.
But before he could think any further, a noise pulled him out of his thoughts.
"I refuse!" Thalia's furious shout came from inside the infirmary, making Percy glance in that direction for a moment.
"Thalia!" Annabeth's voice was heard just before the door suddenly flew open, and Thalia stormed out, only to meet Percy's gaze once again.
Her blue eyes were electric and faintly glowing, like there was always some storm hiding behind them. His green ones, in contrast, carried the deceptive calm of the deep sea.
She frowned the instant she looked at him, before her gaze dropped to Percy's hand, where he still seemed to be pinching himself. But the champion's symbol on it was perfectly visible.
She let out a furious huff before continuing forward under Percy's watchful gaze, and he quickly noticed that she seemed to be walking in a random direction… only to stop for a moment and then head off in another one.
"Thalia!" Annabeth rushed out of the infirmary and found Percy standing there, but only spared him a quick glance before running after Thalia.
Grover came out shortly after with a somewhat worried expression and walked over to Percy.
"Looks like that conversation didn't go very well," Percy said lightly.
Grover slowly shook his head.
"She woke up after several years, found out Luke is a traitor now, and that she's tied to some kind of tournament as the Champion of Olympus, one she can't back out of because Zeus himself chose her. So… yeah. It makes sense," Grover said, letting out a sigh filled with faint regret and a bit of old guilt.
"Well… yeah," Percy said lightly, unable to really argue against that.
Even so, Percy felt like Thalia's anger ran a lot deeper than just that.
But he didn't want to go ask her about it. She'd probably try to attack him again. Since, out of the only two times they had seen each other, she had attacked him without hesitation both times.
Though maybe that was just because she had only just woken up.
And she seemed like the kind of person who'd still be in a bad mood even after coffee.
…
"Thalia, stop! Please, you have to hear the rules," Annabeth said as she followed after the furious girl, who was walking through the trees. But once she came out of them, she found herself facing the beach, making her stop slightly in irritation after failing to find the way out of camp.
"Your life is on the line now that you're the Champion of Olympus," Annabeth said.
"No. No, I never asked to be," Thalia snapped as she turned around angrily. Though not all of that anger was directed at Annabeth.
"You're telling me Luke betrayed Olympus and now he's the enemy. That some kind of war against him might be coming. And on top of that, now I'm the Champion of Olympus in some stupid game. I was chosen by Zeus… after I had already rejected him before?" she said, her anger written all over her face.
Hearing those words, Annabeth frowned in confusion.
"What do you mean?" Annabeth asked.
"Yes. He came to me that day. He wanted me to prepare for a war… a prophecy… and when I rejected him…"
…
"I wonder if Zeus did the right thing by choosing Thalia," Chiron said as he looked out the window in the direction Annabeth had run off after her, while Percy could still be seen standing there, talking with Grover.
And the memories of that day, several years ago, began to return to his mind.
Standing right in the middle of Half-Blood Hill, in the dead of night, Chiron had been keeping watch as usual when he heard the sound of people approaching, fleeing from something.
When he moved closer to the area, he saw it was a group of demigods accompanied by Grover, the satyr guardian assigned to go find the daughter of Zeus. And behind them, the three Furies of Hades were chasing after them at full speed.
Chiron quickly drew his bow and nocked an arrow, prepared to save them.
But before he could do so, he saw the young girl leading the group bravely step in front of the Furies while shouting for the others to run to safety.
Chiron couldn't help but admire her courage as he raised his bow, ready to help her.
But he stopped, because the Furies didn't move any closer to the girl. Instead, they seemed to be speaking to her. Words Chiron couldn't hear clearly.
Then, it seemed the Furies said too much.
Because a bolt of lightning suddenly came down from the sky almost immediately, destroying all three Furies.
At the same time, the flash momentarily blinded Chiron, forcing him to shield his eyes with his hands. But when he lowered them again, what he saw made him freeze in surprise.
Because Zeus himself was standing there, right in front of the girl, looking at her calmly.
"Thalia Grace," Zeus's voice said, seeming to echo across all of Camp Half-Blood like thunder.
"Zeus," the girl said in surprise as she recognized him.
"Father," Zeus corrected.
"It's too late. I already heard what they said," Thalia said defensively.
"They were lies," Zeus said with complete calm, not seeming particularly bothered.
"So now you're going to tell me you don't want me fighting a war for you just to fulfill some fake prophecy?" Thalia said with a mocking tone.
That made Zeus look at her more harshly.
"The Great Prophecy is very real. And you must stand on the right side of it," he said.
"Didn't you just say they were lies?" she asked, staring straight at him.
Zeus shut his mouth with visible irritation.
"I have tolerated this rebellious phase… long enough," he said. "You are almost sixteen. A dangerous age. And for a daughter of Zeus, that danger grows with each passing day," he added.
"Whereas here…" Zeus said as he looked around, though a faint trace of disgust could be seen on his face as he took in his surroundings. But he continued.
"You would be safer. Better yet, you would be idolized by the other demigods, who would fight among themselves for the privilege of basking in your glory," he said, speaking those words with pride.
Which only made Thalia's frown deepen.
"The only demigods I care about are the ones who came here with me. And right now, I'm seeing that coming to this place was a mistake," Thalia said.
"So I'm going to get them, and we're leaving," she added before turning around to go after Luke and Annabeth.
"Thalia Grace, do not dare turn your back on me," Zeus said, his tone turning dangerous.
Thalia stopped instantly and turned around, just as angry.
"Listen to me carefully. I don't want to be your daughter. I will never be your weapon. Do you hear me? Never!"
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning came down from the sky directly above Thalia, and in the place where she had been standing only a moment earlier, a great tree appeared.
Chiron stared in shock at what had just happened, letting out a strangled gasp.
But before he could say anything, Zeus, who was still standing in the same place looking at the tree, turned his gaze toward him.
…
Chiron came out of his memories while still staring out the window.
"It has been six years since Zeus ordered me to keep this secret. And with every passing day, it weighs more heavily on my heart. But now… Thalia is free. Her secret will not remain hidden for much longer," Chiron added as he slowly shook his head.
Unable to understand why Zeus had chosen her as champion.
Of all people… her.