Elves and Demigods

Chapter 37 - Percy

"Welcome", Chiron's voice echoed through the Principia. "To the reunion of the Elf and Demigod Questers". Eerie silence followed. No one but Chiron spoke. "As all of you are aware, our world is at the brink of disaster. Yet again. And today, we shall review the results of the quest and decide what to do next. But first, a recap". 

Next to Percy, Annabeth shifted in her seat and flinched. Percy instictivley put an arm around her. "You shouldn't have come", he whispered to her. "You need to rest".

Worry had consumed Percy ever since the time Annabeth passed out after she had been granted her powers as a Charger. It had been almost two weeks since that day and two days since Annabeth was able to walk again. She had a burn mark on her jawline now, which would take who knows how long to heal. It almost matched Percy's new scar on his eye. 

Annabeth could barely move and talk now, but Percy knew that nothing would keep his stubborn, determined girlfriend from doing what she wanted and here she was today, at the reunion, sitting next to him and probably contemplating on plans against the inevitable danger in the future. 

"Tyhon and Loki have grown stronger over the course of the past month. And we have lost valuable time. Our three groups- Teams Percy, Sophie and Jason had set out four weeks ago with an aim to strengthen our forces and build up allies. And now, we will have Perceus Jackson, Dex Dizznee, and Linh Song to give us a report of each Team's quest".  

Yes, that's right. He, Percy Jackson had to give report. He tried not to think about how long it took his ADHD mind to memorize what he was going to say. 

He made his way to the dias, and as he did, he scanned the crowd. The Elves from the Lost Cities on one side, and the Demigods on the other. Even a few from the Nine World region. Percy could practically feel the pressure and power of all the different beings that had gathered in the Principia. 

Percy cleared his throat, fixed his gaze on the microphone in front of him, and began. "I'd like to start by saying... the quests have sucked as of now", he began, and people around the Principia began whispering among themselves. "I will recite of what happened to my, Team Me. I, Annabeth, Leo, Biana and Tam were responsible of finding help in the Lost Cities. We did, in fact, manage to contact Alden Vacker and The Council about the matter, but not long after, we were attacked by monster. Monsters from our world that had somehow followed us all the way to the Lost Cities". The muttering got louder and Percy caught some words like Oh no and impossible. 

"Fortunately, we were able to kick the butts away", nobody seemed to find that remotely funny. Sheesh, no one appreciated a little humor these days. "But while we recovered, the Council proposed an offer to us: To help Annabeth Chase, Daughter of Athena manifest an Elvin abillity, and it was possible for reasons that will remain confidential. The process however, didn't turn out well. Annabeth does have an abillity now, but is unable to control it. This happened two weeks ago, but there hasn't been much progress. As for the only thing that can help Annabeth's case now... Well, you will hear more about that from Dex Disney's report". From somewhere behind him, Percy heard Dex hiss that he was Dizznee. It seemed like everyone was holding their breath, waiting for what Percy had to say next. "That's all". 

Dex stepped up to the dias next. "I'm Dex Dizznee from the Lost Cities". His discomfort at being the center of attention was obvious. That's when Percy realized that unlike Dex, he had forgotten to introduce himself. Well, he would just have to count on him being fabulous enough for everyone to know who he was. "As a part of Team Jason, I'd like to say that our quest didn't go well either. Rather, it is likely the worst". The chatters began again and the crowd contemplated on whatever kind of Tartarus Team Jason had been through. And why Jason wasn't here. 

"With the help of Magnus Chase from the Nine World region", he glanced at Magnus, "we arrived in Alfheim... The Land of the Norse elves. Then we made our way to Hearthstone, one of the Elves's mansion. Hearth had apparently found a rune- a coin like object. When we had a look at it, Jason Grace, Piper McLean, Will Solace and Fitz Vacker... Disappeared". 

Protests erupted. Arguments from the Demigod side, questions from the Elves. This wasn't going very well. 

"Oh and, not long after that... accident, we were contacted by Percy Jackson, who needed a strand of Cellis for Annabeth; Elwin, an Elf medic, had said it would definitely help her heal. Fortunately, there was a rug made of Cellis at Hearthstone's mansion. Unfortunately, we found the rug stolen. By the Neverseen". The whispers turned to grumples and protests, not against Dex, not against Teams Jason or Percy, but at the Neverseen for being so unfair. 

"Annabeth is fine now, thanks to Elwin's skills", from behind Dex, Percy cleared his throat to remind him of something. "And, of course, Annabeth's great will power". 

The crowd clapped politely. 

Good. 

Then the next person, from Team Sophie, was on the dias, and began talking. Linh, the girl Percy knew to have similar powers to him- tucked a strand of silver hair behind her ear and said. "I'm Linh, from Team Sophie". Percy noticed how she didn't bother to mention her last name. "And on behalf of my teammates, Sophie Foster, Keefe Sencen, Wylie Endal, Calypso and Nico di Angelo, I'm here to give you a report on Team Sophie's part of the quest, which, as you may have guessed by, didn't go too well either. We got in touch in the Praetors of Camp Jupiter, Hazel Levesque and Frank Zhang, who were ready to offer help. But then, from the doors of the Principia, came a Demigod I'm sure half of you here are already familiar with- Octavian, ex-Augur of Camp Jupiter. Who was previously deemed dead". 

The Demigod-filled side of the Principia erupted. Apparently, no one was particularly excited about that one shame of a Demigod returning. How surprising, no one was singing songs and preparing to meet and bow before the great pain in the- Octavian!

Linh ignored the noise and spoke in a voice that could be heard over the crowd, "Octavian had a request". That was one way to put it, Percy thought. "He wanted to meet his godly father, Apollo. He was granted the request under strict conditions... But it turned out he just wanted to trick us. He used something that looked like a coin, probably similar to the thing Hearthstone had found, and then Apollo vanished. The impact of the coin's power made Sophie Foster and Keefe Sencen... Loose their memories. And Octavian". 

Percy thought he heard some snickers in the crowd, and guessed that it was because Octavian's plan had backfired.

"The Oracle of Delphi, who resides at Camp Half-blood, Rachel Elizabeth Dare, is trying her best to help those with amnesia, including Octavian, so he can be interrogated. She claims she has found a solution, but has gone on a short quest in search of some materials she needs for it. And that's all". 

As Percy watched Linh step down from the dias, he could only wonder one thing.

How could all their missions have gone so, so wrong?