SON OF MAGIC

A PROPHECY IS ISSUED

*SIX MONTHS AGO*

*APRIL 1, CAMP HALF-BLOOD, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK*

The sun was setting down, visible as a half-eaten pizza at the brim of the glimmering lake. Camp Half-blood was bustling with activity. Campers were busy undoing the destruction caused by the recent war. Athena Parthenos, standing forty-feet high, seemed to be glaring at them with her ivory eyes.

Percy and Annabeth were walking around the camp borders.

"Hey, wanna go canoeing in the sea?", Percy asked.

"What? Right now?", Annabeth said, flustered.

"Umm yeah. I was just wondering if-", Percy was cut off by a voice at their shoulders.

"No, no, no. You guys aren't going anywhere. The whole camp is busy setting things right and you both are trying to sneak off? That's not gonna happen."

They both turned to see a brown-haired girl with green eyes scowling at them, her hands crossed.

"Miranda-", Annabeth started.

"Yeah, that's enough. Percy, go check the plumbing in Aphrodite's cabin. Also, naiads are splashing in your cabin's fountain. You might want to stop them before they flood the place. And Annabeth, help with the reconstruction of Nemesis's cabin. When they tried to build it themselves, the roof collapsed on them. Off to work both of you.", Miranda said and left.

"No one can get a rest these days.", Percy sighed as they made their way to the camp from the half-blood hill.

As they passed the cave of the oracle, they saw the usual dark walls of the cave were now depicting instances from Greek mythology. Amidst it, they noticed a flash of red hair.

"Hey, Rachel. I see you've been changing the decor.", Annabeth said.

Rachel emerged from the cave flecks of paint all over her and a roller in her hands.

"Hello, I've been trying to make this cave as livable as possible. Considering that the last oracle was a mummy, I have to work really hard. What about you two?"

Percy was about to answer when a two-foot-tall round walking table emerged out of nowhere. The brown furnished jumping table had a leash around its top and holding the leash was their fire guy, Leo Valdez.

"Hello, Ladies and Gentleman. I am glad to present you with my newest table invention, Buford Jr. the table", Leo said, trying hard to hold his table in one place. "Now, I'll be going. I have a few changes to make in-"

It was evident what stopped him. Green smoke was billowing around Rachel as she opened her mouth and spoke in a very un-Rachel like voice,

"Four campers shall sail to the eerie land of east,
To discern a son of magic who was wrongly seized.
They'll find what they pursue only to despair,
And leave with a loss hard to bear.
Who they search for is someone unique,
For it is death who they must truly seek."

The three of them were rooted at their spot, their mouths hanging open. The only movement was Annabeth catching Rachel before she could hit the ground.

Leo cleared his throat, "Umm, yeah so as I was saying, I have to make a few changes in Buford Junior. Nice meeting you guys!"

"And I have to stop my cabin from flooding. Bye guys!", Percy said.

"Oh! I just remembered. Nemesis cabin needs an architect. I'll be on my way.", Annabeth said, setting down an unconscious Rachel gently.

"I wouldn't try to escape.", Chiron said, emerging from behind the cave.

"You heard the prophecy?", Percy asked.

"Unfortunately, yes.", Chiron replied.

"But it was just nonsense. She was uttering gibberish. No offense to you Rachel, I was talking about the Oracle.", Annabeth said.

"None taken", Rachel said weakly, having only just returned to her consciousness.

"It wasn't gibberish. It was a quest assigned to you. To the big house, now.", Chiron said.