Anyone who knows Arya Jackson for more than five minutes knows her opinion of the world, and demigods not so fair place in it. Unfortunately, since the war Arya isn't that easy to get to know. To most she's little more than a legend.
Arya is fine w...
"But just remember that this fear of yours? It means you have something worth fighting for - something you care so greatly for that losing it is the worst thing you can imagine."
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21.
Greeking Out
ACE REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE that he was exhausted.
The heat was a lot, even for the kid who soaked up the sun as a power source. The crowds made Ace uncomfortable, especially having to weave through them, Hazel and Leo seemed to be especially good at it. Frank and Ace were decidedly not and probably pissed more people off than they meant too.
On top of all of that Ace could feel Gaia reaching for him, mentally of course. She hadn't spoken to him, saving her energy if he had to bet. Her presence was enough to remind him of her nightmares. He should have stayed aboard the ship.
He tried to distract himself as Hazel struggled to locate Nico. Rome was huge and so much had been buried and rebuilt that the underground systems were far reaching and intricate. Ace stayed behind and talked to whoever wasn't keeping Hazel company. Frank seemed to enjoy Ace's history lessons.
The family story and personal ties he had to Rome. His ancestors had built this land from nothing. His bloodline. A part of him was this city and everything that's come from it since.
Hours after they started Hazel felt something, and took them into the Parthenon, dodging and wheezing her way through the crowds to get through without having to wait. Ace and Frank got cussed at in a language he didn't quite understand.
As Hazel and Frank searched for some kind of secret entrance, Ace and Leo took a minute to just take everything in. "Do you see how this is structured?" Ace asked, pointing to the light fixture in the ceiling.
"The design you mean?" Leo's eyes lit up.
"Yeah, it hollowed out the heavy stone-"
"Made the structure lighter." Leo finished matching Ace's large grin.
Ace could have spent all day here, looking into every corner and discovering what the ancient Romans had done to make buildings last this long. Ace had never felt particularly connected to his roots, especially recently with the truth about his family coming to light. Standing here, seeing the work his ancestors did still being around centuries on centuries later, that was something he could be proud to be a part of.
"This was an important place for your old siblings. This is where they made weapons, and got imperial gold blessed." Ace said.
Leo seemed to consider this for a minute, "Which if I know my own people, that means there's gotta be a hidden passageway somewhere."
