𝒄𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒌𝒊𝒅𝒔 - pjo x hp

ii. gus the centaur

𝐑𝐀𝐘𝐀 𝐓𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐀 𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃. She took out each and every practice sword, waving it in the air a couple times, before shaking her head and putting it back.

"Oh for Gods' sake," Luke said from behind her. "Just pick one already.

"Fine, fine," Raya took 'Denebola' from her charm necklace, swinging it as it grew into a large celestial bronze sword.

Luke gave her an unimpressed look, "You spent all that time searching for a sword, when you had one on your necklace?"

"Would you forgive me if I said I was stalling?" Raya put on an innocent smile. She sighed at the face he made. "Come on! You're like the best swordsman in... a really long time! I'm nowhere near as good as you."

"You're amazing," he told her. "Why do you think I always practice with you?"

"Because I'm your only friend."

"I have many friends," Luke looked offended. "How else do you think I got through the year while you were at your magic school?"

"By waiting for me to come back, duh. I'm kidding, I'm kidding," Raya laughed. She got in a ready position, "Please don't kill me."

Luke laughed as he began his attack. Raya parried his blade away twice, spinning her sword, before slashing in his direction twice. Luke sidestepped easily, blocking her blade with his own.

"Someone's rusty," he commented.

Raya scowled at him.

He wasn't wrong though, and Raya knew that. Her time at Hogwarts had made her magic much stronger than it was, but it also made her swordfighting weaker. She was just barely good enough to hold her own against Luke. Before, she'd been an almost even match for him.

He kept the fight going for a while, giving Raya time to reacquaint herself with her sword. It helped, and she began to swing easier, block faster, and hit harder. Raya tried hard not to be offended, knowing Luke was holding back. He was doing it for her benefit.

A minute later, Luke decided she had enough time to practice, because he hooked his blade in the hilt of her sword, and threw it across the arena.

"Hey!" Raya complained, breathing heavily. "I taught you that trick! You can't use it on me."

"I just did," Luke laughed. "Besides, I do it better than you."

Raya grumbled to herself, not wanting to admit the truth, as she picked up her sword and dusted it off.

"Round two?" she asked, hoping she didn't sound as tired as she felt.

"Raya, darling, I would love to beat your ass again," Luke started, "but I promised Annabeth I'd help her with her knife skills." He looked at Raya as if he just had a brilliant idea, "You should come with me! You're much better at fighting with knives than I am. Annabeth could use a tutor like you."

The smile stayed perfectly fixed on Raya's face. "I'd love to, Luke, but I can't. Ricardo's been bugging me to restock the infirmary for so long, he told me if I don't go today, he's going to stuff me in the bandage cupboard. Besides, you're great at knife fighting. Annabeth will learn lots from you."

"Well, no shit," Luke snorted. "But alright. Let me know if you need any help, okay?"

"Will do," Raya responded, turning her sword back into a charm as she left the arena.

The smile morphed into a bit of a grimace as she walked towards the infirmary. While the Cabin Counselor, Ricardo, did promise to shove her in the bandage cabinet as a joke, there was another reason as to why she wanted to stay away from Annabeth.