𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗨𝗦𝗘 ! ━ 𝙋. 𝙅𝘼𝘾𝙆𝙎𝙊𝙉

iii.

"can you explain why he is so significant?"

annabeth and marcel were walking side by side across the camp. somewhere near the volleyball court, they slowed down and decided to take a stroll.

she nodded, "of course."

"it's about the damn time!" he jeered. "that thing he was holding- was that really a minotaur's horn? does that mean he fought that fucker? oh my gods, i have to spar with him- but that doesn't explain why he is so special. wait- is he a son of one of the big three? oh shit, don't tell me it's true- what about the pact? zeus will throw a fit! well, unless it's his son. but then hera'll be on his ass-!"

annabeth covered his mouth with her palm. "slow down, will you? i won't answer your questions if you don't shut up."

he rolled his eyes and removed her hand. "well? i'm all quiet now. c'mon, tell me."

"alright. so, you know how chiron was away for months, but no one knew where he went?" he hummed. "apparently, he received a message from grover about percy having a strong scent. the next thing we know, he's at percy's school to watch over him."

"so he really is a big deal... damn."

"that's not all. when i was at big house, i overheard him mumbling in his sleep-"

"you're such a creep."

annabeth narrowed her eyes. "do you want to hear the rest or not?"

with hands raised in mock surrender, he replied, "yes, ma'am."

"thought so," she quipped. "evidently, he had an encounter with one of the kindly ones. it had taken an appearance of a math teacher and attacked him. he, fortunately, beaten it, but who knows when it'll come back to get revenge."

what?

did he hear that right?

there was no way, right?

how did that scrawny boy fight the kindly one? moreover, beat it? he had no experience. it was beyond the bounds of possibility. marcel wouldn't believe it. his spearmanship skills were considered the most powerful in the last centuries. he could take on most of the campers with ease. but the kindly one? the spirits of vengeance? the chief servant of hades? one of the head torturers in the underworld? there was a slim chance of getting out of that alive. he'd need more training, more sparing sessions, more experience in fighting monsters-

"-and he killed the monster with its horn. all alone. can you believe it?"

he was astounded. 

was it true? 

a gnawing, bitter feeling formed in the pit of his stomach. it slowly slithered its way to his throat, leaving it burnt and aching. a sudden heaviness in his chest made it hard to breathe.