The Ancient Prophecy

29 : Friends - Petros

The last thing Petros remembered was that he blanked out . One moment he was running with his last bit of strength, trying to lose a enourmous three-headed dog , then all went black and he felt himself falling on the ground .
Then he woke up under one of the familiar crimson-leafed trees from the Underworld forest . How did I get here ?
Petros blinked a few times to adjust his eyes . Then he lifted his head a little to look around . To his surprise and horror , the three demigods , Sot , Phedora and Charis , were only some steps away from him , around something that's supossed to be a campfire .
So that's how ... oh gods no .
Petros wanted to run away , to sneak somewhere he could not be seen . But he could not , firstly because the three could most likely observe that . Secondly , all his weapons disappeared and even their belt . His backpack was gone too . They are not that stupid , of course they took my weapons and anything else I had on me .
Then Petros put a hand through his hair , trying to untangle a little bit of it .
The three demigods turned their heads slowly to look at him .
"He's awake ." Charis said . Then the daughter of Apollo got up and walked in his direction . A bad feeling stirred in Petros' stomach .
Then Sot and Phedora walked in his direction too . There was a dagger in Phedora's hand . This really isn't going to end well .. at least for me .
As Petros expected , Phedora knelt beside him and quickly put the dagger in her hand to his neck with a swift move . It was just some centimeters from touching his troath .
"Why did you follow us ?" Phedora asked with a serious expression Petros never saw on her face .
Petros swallowed with fear "If you just got that dagger away from my neck , I could tell you everything you want ." he said , despise the panic in his tone .
Charis raised an eyebrow at Petros . He controlled himself from frowning at her .
Petros turned his eyes back to Phedora . She frowned harder at him "If I get my dagger away from your neck , do you promise you could not attack us or run away ?"
Petros almost laughed "You took away all my weapons and my supplies backpack . Even if I wanted to I could not run or fight ."
"Valid point ." Sot mumbled from behind Phedora .
Phedora sighed . Then she took away her dagger .
"Thank you ." Petros attemped a smile .
"Now responde to our question . Why did you follow us ?" Charis crossed her arms .
"When you asked me how to trap a soul into an object , of course I asked myself some questions . I told you it's a forbidden spell .." Petros frowned .
"Then why did you tell us the spell ?" Sot asked with a confused expression .
Petros blinked a few times . It's because I did not want to dissapoint you by not helping your friends ... and maybe because I hoped it could be a chance that I could see you again . "I was just being impulsive ." he shrugged "What do you plan on doing with the spell anyways ?" Petros asked , as if he did not already know .
The three looked at eachother . Sot and Charis looked at Phedora in question , as if asking "Should we tell him ?" . Phedora took some seconds to decide then , to Petros' surprise , she nodded slowly . Then the three turned back to Petros .
"Well.. considering that we are right now in the middle of the Underworld ..that means you can't really ruin our plan ..." Phedora started .
Depends on what you want to do with Athena's soul , yeah .
"Our plan is to awake Athena ." Phedora continued .
Petros' eyes widened in shock . W-what ? But..how ?
As if reading the question in his eyes , Sot responded "Phedora here , who some moments ago put a dagger at your neck , is the Chosen Demigod ."
Petros jolted from the shock , accidentally hitting his head on the tree he was leaning his back on .
Charis held in a laugh -as Petros observed the way the corners of her mouth twiched . He decided to ignore that "Really ? That explains why I sensed something weird in you ." Petros turned his head to Phedora . That is what I sensed in you . "Magic ."
"Magic ?" Phedora mumbled with confusion .
"Isn't the Chosen Demigod supossed to have the blessing of all gods ? That means you have the blessing of my mother too ." Petros explained "Now all makes sense ."
"Yeah..now it does ." Phedora said in a low tone .
"So you don't want to sabotage our quest ?" Sot asked .
Petros raised an eyebrow at him "You think of me stupid ? Of course not !"
"Then do you want to join our quest ?" Phedora asked him .
"Sure ." Petros said , without much hesitation .
Petros did not go on many quests . And he wasn't exactly enthusiastic on going when he got one . In his mind all those minor quests were just .. useless . They could not help much with the Resistence's purpose . All they did was to slow down their downfall . He knew that there were more finders than people in the Resistence -they were lucky they were as poweful as them . He knew that there is no chance of winning without the artifacts the finders kept in their Vault .. or without the Chosen Demigod .
But now , that the Demigod of Prophecy stood right in front of him , having an actual plan that could help the Resistence , Petros knew better than to foolishly turn down such a request .
"Can I get my things back now ?" Petros looked behind Phedora , at the familiar weapons and backpack that lay on the ground .
"Yes , I guess ." Charis said .
Petros got up from the ground and walked to the spot were his things were . He picked up his sword's belt and placed it along his left shoulder . He then picked up his sword and put it in the sheath .
Petros placed his weapons' belt back around his hips and placed his dagger in the right scabbard . Then he put his backpack on .
When he turned his head back to the three demigods , he observed all three were looking at him in silence . "What is it ?" Petros asked in confusion .
"..Nothing ." Sot said .
Petros decided not to ask more . Then he stepped beside the three "When are we going ?"
Sot scratched the back of his neck "We were waiting for you to wake up ..so I suppose we are going now . We are already prepared ."
"Oh.." Petros said , almost inaudible .

***

Petros was walking alongside the three demigods . Phedora and Charis were talking with eachother behind the group while walking . Petros could not make out what they were saying . He was walking behind Sot .
To his surprise , Sot turned his head back to look at him . He smiled at him warmly then gestured for Petros to step next to him .
Petros felt the nervousness rushing into him as he walked next to Sot .
"You seemed lonely ." Sot said as they walked .
Petros frowned "I most of the time am . And I like that ."
"What a massive introvert ." Sot chuckled .
Petros rolled his eyes but he was smirking "Better than being awkwardly social ."
Sot laughed at that . Petros felt happy seeing Sot laugh at his joke . It was the first time someone ever laughed at one of his jokes -and it's not like he did lots of them anyways .
"So where to ?" Petros asked after Sot stopped laughing . He looked in front of him , at the road .
"Hades' palace ." Sot said .
Petros blinked a few times "Really ?"
"We need new directions to find Athena's soul ." Sot explained .
Petros just nodded at that . He was exited to get to their destination .
Then Sot looked at him again and smiled . Petros looked at him in question , but he felt his cheeks getting hotter .
Sot put his arm across Petros' shoulders . Petros started panicking internally and maybe even sweating .
"Honestly , I am glad that it was you who followed us and not someone or something else like a finder or monster ." Sot said .
Petros stared at him for some seconds then frowned slightly . Don't get your hopes up . He is just friendly .
"I am glad that it was one of my friends ." Sot continued with the same smile .
Yeah , I knew it . There is no chance of him ever liking me more than a friend anyways .
"Yes ..friends.." Petros mumbled .
Then Sot looked at him with a puzzled look . Petros raised an eyebrow at him in question "Why are you looking at me like that ?"
"You are just so.. hard to read ." Sot admitted .
"What ?" Petros looked at him in confusion .
"I always know at first glance what someone feels , but you are just so ... mysterious and closed off that I can't figure out any of your feelings ." Sot then awkwardly chuckled .
And I am glad you can't . You better not know what I'm feeling ..at least not for now .
Petros smirked "Am I frustrating you ?"
"Maybe ." Sot said .
Sot still had his arm across Petros' shoulders . Petros wanted to tell him to get it off , but at the same time he did not want to .
Petros always hated physical touch , but this time it was different . It felt better . Maybe it was just because it was him and no one else who did it .
Then the two boys continued to walk like that along the road . Sot could sometimes point something out to Petros . Petros could just listen to his words . He liked to listen better than actually talking .