Percy Jackson and the Incarnate- 1: The beginning

CHAPTER 6 POV: Percy Jackson

When Pranjal knocked at my door in the wee hours of the morning, I was pissed off but relieved. I was reliving a nightmare, enduring the tortures in Tartarus with Annabeth. When he asked about Hari, I was blank. I had no idea where he was and he was supposed to be in the infirmary.

We both found him near the lake where he was half-naked, his whole upper body bare. He was not ripped. He had a flab. And he went bare-chested. I think it was more of a requirement than a choice.

When he did Yoga, I was taken aback by his sheer flexibility. He could rival Frank in terms of bulk. He had no tummy like smelly Gabe. But still, he could bend his body to his will. Yes, he was restricted, but to be flexible when bulky, is a good achievement. After Pranjal went to the infirmary, I waited for him to complete his Yoga session.

After about an hour, he finished his session. I smiled at him and he smiled back.

"So, you going to come to the college like this?", I asked skeptically and smirked.

"NO. I have brought the clothes. I will wear them here and go. But, frankly, it is comfortable, especially when the days are hot in summer.", he replied as he changed to basic jeans, vests, and Yellow Tee-shirt.

"Why do you wear a vest before a tee? It is not required you know?", I asked.

"Yes. But I sweat like a pig even when I do nothing. So, I wear a vest, it absorbs the sweat and cools me down.", he replied.

"Okay. Well, let's go. You have your room to set. All your belongings are in the room.", I said as we went to our room. While Hari started to set up the room, I went to Annabeth's room. She was outside, stretching and warming up.

"Seaweed Brain!! You woke up early without me banging your door!!! The world is ending!!", she mocked me. I stuck out my tongue.

"Don't worry Annabeth. I have an early bird for a roommate. He rises before sunrise. I started to think whether he is Apollo's son, considering Apollo is bisexual.", I said.

"That Hari? What made you think of him as a son of Apollo?", Annabeth asked.

"Just a hunch. May be wrong. Remember the flute in his bag? Waking up before sunrise. Doing some Surya-yoga-postures something..."

"He does yoga?", she asked, her eyes lighting up.

"Yes. Did yoga in front of the sun."

"Surya-Namaskar. I have heard about it.", Annabeth completed.

"Maybe he is a son of apollo after all.", I exclaim.

"If he was Apollo's son, Apollo would know. By what Pranjal said, I don't think that he is the son of the sun.", Annabeth wondered.

"Then who is his godly parent?", I asked.

"Don't have a clue. But it will be revealed sooner or later. Now, come on seaweed brain, we have a college to attend.", Annabeth said.

"Oh! And he is cured completely. He can join the college today from day one.", I said and Annabeth's jaw dropped.

"The minotaur wound cured? Overnight? That is unheard of considering the size and deep cut from the horn. Does he have healing abilities?? Uh! Another domain of Apollo!! I am seriously reconsidering your view, Percy. He may be a son of Apollo. After all, gods forget their children sometimes.", Annabeth said.

"My Wise girl agreeing on my view!! What is happening in the world today?!", I said in a mock shock and raised my hands to the Olympians.

"Oh! Shut up! See you at the college.", she said and started her morning jog.

I went to my room. As I opened the door, a new smell engulfed the room. It had a floral hue to it. I saw that Hari had set up the room. His wardrobe was filled with his clothes, his shoes and flip-flops were on the rack, and his bags were under his bed.

As I entered, I saw a small cupboard. It was small. It looked like a portable cupboard, hung on the wall on a nail. Hari was standing in front of the cupboard and his hands folded. He was reciting, hymns I guess, in another language. When I approached him, I saw the stones in a wooden box. Something red was applied to them and small flowers were adorning them along with a green leaf that looked like Basil. There was an incense stick burning. So that was the source of the floral fumes in the room.

After a few minutes, Hari stopped what I thought were his prayers. He wore the red mark on his forehead when I first saw him. He chuckled. Maybe I was staring at him.

"Any good movie projected on my face? Why are you staring at me?", He asked.

"Uh! No. Nothing..... the stones?"

"Shaaligraam. They are a form of Lord Vishnu. Very rare, especially the naturally occurring ones. One of the many ways to worship Lord Vishnu.", he explained.

"Okay....."

"Any other question?", he asked me in the eye.

"Nothing for now.", I said.

"I must inform you. No one shall touch the Shaaligraam. It can be only touched by me or any other person who had adhered to the practices of 'Aachaaram' or specific habits, as I may translate.

"Thanks for the warning. What happens if I touch it without following those... whatever you called it?", I asked.

"Idols and stones like these house energies and powers of the respective gods. If they are touched without following the 'Aachaaram' then their powers dwindle. There are exceptions, but this is a true fact in our Idol Worship Aagama.", he said.

While I didn't understand what he said, he was serious. So, I knew what not to do.

"Ready to go to college?", I asked enthusiastically.

"Yep.", he said and packed his bags while I checked mine; and we went to our first day at college.