Finishing up polishing a few swords I was testing out while trying to decide which one to use, I felt their weight. Some of them felt heavier than my axe. I swung them, thrust, but it felt awkward.
"You seem different," Drew questioned.
"What makes you think I'm different, considering I have the exact same psychopathic deadpan face twenty-four hours a day?" I sketched a smirk, locking eyes with Drew.
Drew, sitting on the bench and resting her chin in her hands, fixed her gaze on mine with a smile.
"Yeah, you look like a cold idiot, not to mention arrogant, but you've never cared about swords before. Seeing you test every single one of them makes me wonder... Are you going on a quest?" she asked with a smile.
"Well, Mr. D is letting me play this game of Capture the Flag," I replied, racking the xiphos back on the shelf.
Drew's eyes widened.
"Seriously? That is so unfair! I wanted to play too," she complained, pouting.
"But why aren't you using your axe?" Drew asked, standing up.
"Chiron banned me from using it, since I might actually kill someone," I answered, smirking.
Drew stepped up right beside me.
"Got something in mind?" she asked. I nodded.
"Yeah. The only ones that really suit me are the makhaira or the kopis, but I'm torn on which one to grab," I replied, staring at the curved swords.
"Good luck. I'm heading out to take a shower," Drew said, starting to walk toward the exit.
I fell silent, turning my gaze back to the kopis.
I picked up the kopis and spun it, feeling a strange sensation. I preferred my axe, but this would do. What would it be like to fight with a sword? I'll probably take a beating, since I don't want to use my powers, but with Seismic Sense, I should be able to adapt to the situation.
I looked toward the door with a smile, noticing Gus standing there.
"You look happy, child," he noted, making me simply nod in response.
"Just excited. Mr. D and Chiron gave me permission to play Capture the Flag," I said, grabbing a sheath and holstering the sword.
"That's great. I hope you have fun," Gus said, though his expression looked off, which made me stare at him.
"Did something happen?" I asked.
"Well, winter is tough on us satyrs," Gus answered me with a smile.
"Got it," I replied, turning back to hunt for some leather armor.
I found an old chest piece that was well-maintained. The main section covered my chest and back, leaving the sides open. It should fit. I slid my head through the top and put it on.
"Let me help you," Gus stepped up behind me and yanked the leather straps. The chest piece snapped perfectly into place.
"Pull it a bit tighter. Needs to be snug," I said.
Gus pulled, making me wave my hand for him to stop. He tied everything off with a smile. It was snug and didn't restrict my movements at all.
I found the arm and shoulder guards, strapping them tightly onto my forearms while Gus finished buckling them across my back. Finally, I buckled the wide leather belt over everything, clipping the kopis sheath onto it. I already had my boots on; all that was left was a helmet.
"You know you didn't need to get geared up right now, right? Before the game starts, your allies help you out," Gus noted.
"Well, I didn't know that, but it's better to be prepared. Which helmet should I use?" I responded, looking at the helmets with blue and red plumes.
"Depends on your team. Most of the battles are led by Cabin 5 and Cabin 6," Gus answered, making me let out a sigh.
"Both of them hate my guts. Honestly, I don't care which side I fight on, since my sister is the one making the call," I said, turning to Gus.
"Well, I'm heading back to the cabin. What about you?" I asked.
Gus waved his hand, smiling.
"Well, since your punishments are done for the day and dinner is just a few minutes away, I can take a little break," Gus said.
"All right. I'm taking off. See you tomorrow," I said, stepping outside to walk back to my cabin.
"Stay safe, Caleb."
I just waved my hand back at him.
Reaching the cabin, I sat down on my bunk and closed my eyes. The training routine flashed through my mind: the image of the man spinning the axe, his stance, and his strikes.
The scene replayed like a movie inside my head, but I couldn't pull it off like that son of a bitch. I just couldn't. It was bordering on frustrating. I clenched my fists, letting out a sigh. I opened my eyes, stood up, and started knocking out my exercises.
Hours slipped by. Aside from the satyr who brought my dinner, nothing else happened. After grinding through one hundred and fifty reps, my body was burning up. Sitting down, I watched Katie walk in with my siblings.
"I heard you're getting in on the game," Lucas spoke up, grabbing a small set of leather armor.
"Yeah. Mr. D and Chiron allowed it," I replied, standing up with a smile and helping him strap up his chest piece.
"Well, just don't kill anyone," Miranda noted, smirking.
"I'll try," I said, cracking a smile as I watched Katie helping Mel, and Olivia helping Miranda. Within a few minutes, everyone was geared up in leather armor.
But what caught my eye was Lucas, Mel, and Olivia carrying scythes, while Katie and Miranda were sheathing kopis swords identical to mine.
"What about the helmets?" I asked.
"We're going with blue. I accepted the offer from Cabin 6," Katie answered, adjusting her bracer.
"Why not Cabin 5?" I asked, skeptical.
"Caleb, no stupid questions," Miranda fired back, throwing me a mocking look.
"My bad. All right, ladies. After you," I said with a smile, gesturing toward the door.
Katie smiled, followed by my sisters, and walked out. Lucas looked up at me.
"Caleb, how did you manage to grow so much? Can you teach me?" he asked, his voice pumped up, leaving me a bit embarrassed.
"Yeah, sure. Let's move," I replied quickly, nudging him out the door.
I watched the campers, completely hyped up, making their way toward the dining pavilion.
When we arrived, I could already see Annabeth with her siblings, along with Luke and Cabin Eleven, huddling over a map on the table.
"So why are we outnumbered?" I asked, noticing the Aphrodite, Apollo, and Hephaestus Cabins gathered around Clarisse's table. I saw Nyssa staring at me with a smirk. Standing beside her were what looked like her siblings. One of them was standing next to Silena, who looked absolutely furious with me.
"Well, you can thank yourself and Luke for that," Annabeth replied, making Luke shrug his shoulders.
"Not my fault. Helena started it," he claimed, glancing toward a girl who was staring at him with a cold smile. She was tall and athletic, with a deep sun-baked tan, glowing golden hair, and a face that was slightly peeling from sunburn. I thought I'd seen her before.
But the bow she was holding was what really caught my eye.
It looked to be forged from celestial bronze with a polished golden trim. Greek inscriptions ran along the wood, resembling sunbeams, and the silver string contrasted sharply with the faint glow the bow emitted.
Arching an eyebrow, I looked at Clarisse with her spear, and then at Luke, who was holding a sword that looked different. It definitely wasn't from the camp's armory.
"Hey, hold on. How come everyone else gets to use their signature weapons and I don't?"
Luke just gave a smile and shrugged.
I looked over at Chiron, who was smiling next to Mr. D.
"Enough. Let's get to the plan. Caleb, you stay here, and Luke with Cabin Eleven will be here. Cabin Four will pair up with Cabin Six, and Cabin Twelve will take this spot," Annabeth explained, but my attention drifted toward the twins, who were grinning.
They had dark, tightly curled hair—a very deep brown that matched their dark, expressive eyes. They had the athletic build typical of someone who trained with a sword every single day. Aside from their orange camp t-shirts and baggy shorts, they had small grapevines woven into their hair.
"Caleb, are you listening?" Annabeth questioned.
"No. And I'm not playing the part of your bait," I said, looking down at the map, causing everyone to stare at me like I was speaking a foreign language.
"Clarisse and the Ares Cabin are going to come straight for me, without a doubt. And since that girl won't stop staring at Luke, I'm pretty sure he's a prime target too," I explained, looking over the map and cracking a smile.
"Here's how it's gonna go: Luke and I will stay right here, along with Cabin Eleven, hidden. We'll be their bait and their main target while the rest of you go win the game," I said.
Annabeth stared at me.
"Why do you think that?" she asked.
"Since Aphrodite isn't going to come after me, that just leaves Hephaestus for you guys to deal with," I answered, pulling on a blue-plumed helmet that reeked of sweat and old metal.
"That's actually a great idea, Caleb. You and I will be the bait," Luke agreed with a smile, slipping his own helmet on and looking at me.
"Luke, stop. Stick to my plan," Annabeth snapped, clearly irritated.
"Helena wants to beat me, and Lee is going to follow her lead. The two of them are siblings and incredibly close. She wants to prove she's the best," Luke explained.
"HEROES!" Chiron announced, drawing everyone's eyes to him.
"You know the rules. The creek is the boundary line. The entire forest is fair game. All magical items are permitted." His gaze shifted to me with a smile, making me grind my teeth. That son of a bitch centaur had to be testing me.
"The flag must be prominently displayed and cannot have more than two guards. Prisoners can be disarmed, but they cannot be bound or gagged." Chiron stomped his hooves, observing every camper.
"No killing or maiming is allowed. I shall serve as your battlefield judge and medic," Chiron announced.
Everyone was armed, grabbing shields and swords from one of the tables. I just stood there.
"Caleb, take this," Katie said, holding out a shield, which I waved away with my hand.
"Don't need it. You guys just stay safe," I said with a smile.
Katie simply nodded.
"You're weird," a voice spoke up.
Turning around, I saw one of Annabeth's sisters, though she had darker skin. Same eyes, same blank expression.
"You guys look like robots with that face. Must run in the family," I said, looking at her.
"No. You're just weird," she said deadpan.
I saw the rival team starting to head out.
"Later. I don't want to chat with you weirdos anyway. Luke, let's move," I said, turning around.
"Chris, don't let Connor and Travis do anything stupid. Only show yourselves once the enemy reveals their hand," I heard Luke say.
Looking over, I saw two guys who had to look like twins.
They were tall and lanky, with wild, curly brown hair. Their faces had sharp, angular features that almost made them look like elves. Both of them carried a sarcastic smirk on the corner of their mouths.
Right next to them, holding a sword and shield, was a very tall kid with deeply tanned skin, pitch-black hair cut very short, and dark eyes. He had broad shoulders and muscular arms. He gave Luke a serious nod.
"Let's go, Caleb. I know a good spot," Luke said.
I nodded. We plunged into the forest with Cabin Eleven trailing right behind us.
I followed Luke, watching the snow blanket the trees. The silence felt comforting to me. Soon, I began to hear the sound of rushing water. We reached a creek.
"The rest of you hide among the trees and keep your eyes shut. Helena is going to use her trick to blind us. Caleb and I will handle it, and once the flash fades, you guys advance," Luke explained to his siblings, who nodded in agreement.
Luke took cover behind a tree, and the Hermes Cabin bolted toward the tree line, away from the riverbank. I walked over to a tree right next to him.
We stood there, completely still. There were no fireflies around, and it was a freezing cold night. The darkness might have been an issue for them, but for me, it was a privilege.
A few minutes later, a horn echoed through the woods.
"Let's move, Caleb," Luke said, stepping out from the tree line with a smile.
Using my Seismic Sense, I was surprised to detect multiple people running toward us.
"Hold on. They're coming," I said, drawing my sword and spinning it.
Luke paused, stepping up right next to me.
"When the big blonde raises her hands, keep your eyes shut," Luke noted.
I gave a nod.
And, as if it were destiny, charging straight through the creek with a sword in her hand and a bow slung over her back, the tall girl locked her eyes on Luke. Standing right beside her was Clarisse, who cracked a smirk the second she spotted me. Trailing behind them looked to be the entire Ares Cabin.
"Honestly... I think we called it," I said, dropping into my stance.
"Yeah," Luke replied.
We caught the sound of laughter echoing from the trees as smoke bombs began dropping all around.
"GET THEM! CHARGE!" someone bellowed.
"Seriously, Connor..." Luke muttered under his breath.
The Ares Cabin split up. Clarisse was already right in front of me. She thrust her spear forward. I lunged to the right, spinning my body and aiming my sword at her arm, but Clarisse spun along with the motion, and the tip of her spear clipped the blade of my sword, deflecting it away.
"YOU'RE MINE, THORNE!" Clarisse barked, making me smile.
(POV: Third Person)
Clarisse, wearing a feral grin, spun her spear over her head. Caleb didn't back down. He tilted his body, letting the tip of the weapon graze right past his helmet. Gripping the kopis with both hands, he raised it and smashed it down onto the shaft of the spear.
The heavy impact generated a resounding crack that vibrated in the ears. Clarisse stumbled back, but she lunged right back into the fray. She swung the spear sideways, aiming to sweep his legs; Caleb jumped, striking his curved blade down against her arm.
Clarisse snarled, swinging the butt of the spear against his head. Caleb took the hit, but he just smiled. Holding the sword with his right hand, he chopped downward. Clarisse twisted her body, blocking the strike.
Caleb and Clarisse traded blows in a savage rhythm, completely relentless. Neither could gain the upper hand. Neither backed down. It was sword against spear.
All around them, the battle was pure chaos. Screams echoed, blades clashed, and sparks flew through the air. Ares campers charged forward, shoving with their shields. Others from the Apollo Cabin launched arrows from behind the shelter of the trees. The Hermes campers scrambled for cover, leaping over fallen logs. One of them dumped a pile of branches right into an Ares kid's face; another slammed his shield against someone's leg as they sprinted past. A camper tried to slash Travis with a sword; he dodged, swept the guy's foot, and sent him crashing face-first into the dirt.
To the side, but further away from Caleb, Luke moved fluidly, completely unhurried. Every time Helena struck, Luke simply parried with a smile, tapped the tip of his weapon against hers, and stepped away. Helena tried to slice, trying to land heavy blows, but Luke anticipated her every move. Helena went for a vertical slash, but Luke sidestepped, slipping into her guard, and cracked the pommel of his sword against her forehead.
"This anger makes no sense. Your quest was different from mine, Helena. Why all the rage?" Luke asked with a smirk.
Helena took a deep breath, already exhausted, but she stared him down with a mocking sneer.
"The difference between us, Luke, is that I didn't have to sacrifice my companions on a quest. You failed and used our cabinmates just to escape Ladon!" Helena spat, completely furious.
Hearing that name, Luke felt his scar burn. His heart ached as the memory of his failed quest rushed back. Turning dead serious, he locked his eyes on Helena.
Helena charged forward, but she missed her strike. Luke, ice-cold, struck her wrist, forcing Helena to drop her weapon. Helena leaped backward, ripping her bow down in seconds, raising it, and letting an arrow fly. Luke's pupils narrowed. Within a fraction of a second, he jerked his head, dodging the arrow as it grazed his helmet.
"RAIN!" Helena screamed.
Arrows began flying faster, one after another, like a downpour. Caleb looked up at the sky, sensing the wood of the arrows, but he immediately regretted it as a sharp pain flared in his ribs.
Caleb noticed a tear forming in his armor and looked over at Clarisse, who spun her spear, sending a splatter of blood flying from the tip.
"Don't get distracted. Use your axe. You're horrendous with a sword," Clarisse taunted.
"Don't need it," Caleb replied, spinning his sword despite the burning pain in his ribs. But his ice-cold expression made Clarisse raise her eyebrows.
Clarisse lunged forward, striking out. Caleb ducked in perfect sync, spun on his heel, and with a sudden burst of speed, materialized right next to Clarisse, whose eyes widened in shock.
Caleb, seeing her guard wide open, went to strike, but his eyes widened as he sensed an arrow flying straight toward his back.
In a split second, he clenched his teeth, drove his heel into the ground, pushed through the pain, and spun his body around. He swung the kopis through the air, slicing the arrow clean in half. Immediately after, he ducked underneath a spear strike from Clarisse, leaving her completely stunned.
Another arrow flew in, but Caleb spun his body like a top. His sword clashed against the tip of Clarisse's spear, shoving her backward, and within a fraction of a second, he deflected an arrow from the side, sending it flying away. Everyone froze for a brief moment, staring in sheer disbelief at what Caleb had just pulled off. Clarisse stood dead in her tracks, her smirk completely vanishing. Caleb simply let out a heavy sigh.
Sensing two more arrows flying toward him back-to-back, he batted one away with his blade and then leapt into the air, letting the second one whistle harmlessly beneath his feet.
Caleb caught sight of an arrow heading straight for Luke's back. He sprinted forward, watching Luke dodge the first shot, but the second one caught him right in the arm. Caleb materialized right by his side, and sensing another arrow targeting Luke, he swung his sword, slicing it clean in half before it could make impact.
Further away, Chiron was monitoring the clash. To his left, Gus was sitting in a chair, casually sipping his Diet Coke, while Mr. D watched the whole thing with absolute boredom.
"Knowing who his mother is, I expected more," Chiron noted.
"Yes. The boy is horrendous," a raspy, irritated female voice spoke up.
Chiron turned around.
"Gentlemen," Adrasteia said, bowing respectfully to Mr. D, who merely gave a dismissive wave of his hand, eyeing the battlefield with utter apathy.
"Are you interested in young Thorne?" Chiron asked.
"I am, but the boy lacks any real foundation," Adrasteia replied, her eyes locked on Caleb.
Chiron fell silent, as did Adrasteia, both tracking the chaotic fight unfolding below.
Luke looked over at Caleb with a grin, and the moment three Ares kids lunged at him simultaneously, he was already moving like lightning: he slashed one across the arm, shoved the second to the side, and swept the third off his feet with a swift kick to the shin.
Caleb rammed his shoulder into a camper trying to flank them from behind, and the two boys ended up fighting back-to-back—Luke striking with calm, surgical precision; Caleb hitting hard, utilizing brutal, heavy swings, each perfectly covering the other's blind spot.
Clarisse lunged forward. Caleb parried, throwing her spear off course with his blade. Clarisse spun her weapon, releasing a sudden crackle of electricity. Helena tried to line up a shot on Caleb, but Luke intercepted her line of sight, forcing her to fall back.
Both boys cracked a smile right in the middle of the absolute chaos.
More campers swarmed in, trying to box them in. Caleb smashed his sword against a kid's shield, shattering the wood and shoving him backward. Luke dodged a sword strike and cracked the kid's wrist, forcing him to drop his weapon. Clarisse tried to swing at Caleb, but a Hermes kid swept her legs from underneath her, forcing her to scramble back. Caleb spun around, parried an Ares boy's blade, and rammed the pommel of his sword straight into Clarisse's stomach. She let out a sharp gasp, staggering back several paces.
Luke noticed Helena quietly backing away, putting some distance between herself and the main brawl. She lowered her bow and hoisted both hands high into the air.
"EYES!" Luke roared, prompting Caleb to shut his eyes tight and push his Seismic Sense to its absolute limit.
Luke closed his eyes, throwing his arm up to shield his face. Clarisse, tracking Helena's movements, smirked as she shut her eyes and turned her head to the side.
In a split second, a blindingly intense golden light exploded all at once, enveloping the entire area. You couldn't see a single thing; the sheer radiance burned through the darkness. The entire battlefield ground to a halt instantly. Amidst the chaos of screams, some campers groaned with their eyes clamped shut, while others collapsed straight to the dirt. A collective murmur of agony echoed through the woods.
Helena was breaking into a cold sweat. She dropped to her knees, feeling blood begin to trickle from her nose. Sighting Luke through the haze, she raised her bow. Tears welled up in her eyes as a bitter memory flashed through her mind, fueling her rage even further. She aimed directly at Luke's head. Blood dripped from her mouth, staining the tip of the arrow crimson. With a tight grin, she released the bowstring.
The arrow whistled straight toward Luke, whose eyes were still closed, but Helena's smile froze solid as she watched Caleb—his eyes closed as well, with blood dripping from the edges of his eyelids—slice the arrow clean in half.
In the blink of an eye, Caleb charged straight at Clarisse.
Clarisse still had her eyes shut tight. Before she could even sense his presence, Caleb buried a fist directly into her stomach.
Her eyes snapped open in absolute shock, but it was already too late.
The pommel of the kopis caught her jaw with a resounding crack. Clarisse's head snapped back violently, and her vision spun out of control.
Caleb didn't let up.
He grabbed her wrist, clenched his fist, and landed a heavy punch square on her nose.
Taking the full force of the impact, Clarisse collapsed backward onto the dirt, completely knocked out.
Caleb opened his eyes as loud cheers of victory erupted around him. He looked over at Luke, who was grinning and flashing him a thumbs-up. Caleb simply let out a sigh and jogged toward the front line.
Annabeth was standing tall, hoisting the red team's banner high, flanked by Katie, Miranda, the twins Castor and Pollux, alongside a few other Athena kids.
"How... how did you do that?" Caleb heard Helena ask as she pushed herself up, staring at him in absolute terror.
Caleb completely ignored her.
The moment Annabeth crossed the boundary line right alongside Luke, everyone seemed to snap out of it, exploding into roaring cheers. The banner began to shift.
The crimson fabric vanished. The wild boar and spear were replaced by the owl of Cabin 6.
The Cabin 11 kids hoisted Annabeth up onto their shoulders, and a genuine smile finally broke across her face, catching Caleb by surprise.
Chiron galloped out from the tree line and blew into a conch horn.
"The game is over! The blue team wins!"
(POV: Caleb)
I let out a heavy sigh, feeling a burning sensation in my eyes. I definitely overused my Seismic Sense, but I guess it paid off. My detection range actually expanded.
I look over to see a few Ares boys staring at me with pure fear in their eyes. I lower my gaze and spot Clarisse, who is actually smirking on the ground.
I walk over to Helena, who won't stop staring at me.
"Thanks," I say, making her bite her lip.
"How... how did you manage to do that?" she asks.
"Well, because I'm better, and honestly, I'm just flat-out awesome," I reply with a smirk.
"No vulgar language, please," Chiron chided.
"Yeah, yeah. My bad," I say, making my way over to my siblings.
Katie, noticing my ribs, rushes up to me.
"Are you okay?" she asks.
"Yeah, yeah. Just a few scuffs, nothing major," I answer.
"Let's go celebrate. Am I allowed to, at least?" she asks, looking over at Chiron as he helped carry Clarisse away.
"Yes. For tonight, I will allow it," he answers with a smile.
Everyone started cheering, celebrating the victory, and we made our way back toward the amphitheater.
The shouts of joy made me smile, since our team was in the minority, thinking about it logically.
"But why didn't you grab the flag?" I asked Katie, who cracked a smile.
"I could have, yeah, but it would have just made us a target," Katie replied, watching Mel, Olivia, and Lucas running and laughing with the Hermes kids, alongside Miranda, who was smiling and chatting with an Apollo girl.
I threw an arm around Katie's neck, making her smile. Together, we reached the amphitheater. I sat down on the curved stone tiers with some difficulty because of my injury. Looking around, I realized each cabin had its own designated spot. Right beside me were Katie and Lucas. I noticed a few Apollo kids already grabbing their lyres. Next to them was a completely empty space, and right after that, the Ares Cabin.
The bonfire crackled loudly and glowed with vibrant colors, shifting between purple and gold. Chiron arrived and stood tall in the center area, supervising the campers.
They started handing out s'mores while the Apollo kids sang camp songs.
But the blonde girl, who stood nearly six and a half feet tall, stopped right in front of me. I looked up and locked eyes with her amber, almost golden eyes.
"So, want a rematch?" I said with a smirk.
"Caleb, stop. Helena, everything is fine," Katie spoke up, shooting me a side-glance, as if to say, Shut up, you idiot.
The girl looked at Lucas, who was sitting right next to me.
"Could you give us some space? I want to heal your brother," she said in a raspy voice, as if she had been crying.
Lucas opened his mouth to reply, but looking at my ribs, he simply stepped aside for the girl.
Without asking for my permission, she ripped my shirt open, making me shiver as the cold air hit the wound.
"Eat this," the girl said, handing me a treat.
I ate it and immediately felt my HP recovering. It has to be ambrosia.
"How... could you tell me how you did that? Do you see the future?" she asked, whispering in my ear.
She was standing really close now.
"I don't see the future. I just feel and act. But I have to wonder why you wanted to kill Luke," I said, almost whispering the last part.
Her hands trembled for a split second, but they quickly stilled as she gently placed them over my injury.
"My name is Helena. I know you probably already know, but I like to introduce myself," she said with a smile, though her eyes remained sorrowful.
In what was barely a whisper, she began chanting a hymn in Greek. As Helena sang, her hands emitted a warm, golden glow, causing the torn flesh to knit back together and stop bleeding.
"Thanks. I'm Caleb," I said, making her crack a smile.
The pain practically vanishes, letting me relax. From her bag, she pulled out some gauze, wiped the blood from the wound, and smiled. Then she stood up and walked back to her cabin. I just watched her go.
As she sat down with her siblings, the night moved along with songs, treats, and laughter. The bonfire seemed to rise higher and higher, as if matching the joyful atmosphere.
Surrounded by my siblings, I felt like I was finally home, soaking in a moment that I would lock away in my mind forever. A memory that, one day, I might be able to tell my children... and even my grandchildren.
Who knows what gifts the future might bring me?