𝙰𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚜 (𝙹.𝙶.) [𝟷]

1.9

OVERTHINKING IS SHITTY

Mae didn't let herself relax until they left Quebec City. The tension of their encounter with Khione and the frosty atmosphere of Boreas's palace still lingered in her mind like a stubborn brain freeze.

"You were amazing, Piper," Jason complimented, breaking the uneasy silence.

Piper murmured in French, her voice low and cryptic, "Si tu connaissais la vérité sur moi, tu ne penserais pas que je suis si incroyable."

Mae raised an eyebrow, trying to decipher Piper's mysterious remark.

"What'd you say?" Jason asked, he couldn't hear her.

"I said I only talked to Boreas," Piper replied casually when she turned back to them. "It wasn't so amazing."

Mae stared at Piper suspiciously, wondering why she changed her tune and what exactly had transpired during their meeting with Boreas. The shift in Piper's demeanor hinted at something more unsettling than just a diplomatic chat.

"Hey," Jason said, "you saved me from joining Khione's subzero hero collection. I owe you one."

Mae seized the opportunity to press for answers. "So, spill the beans! It's kinda unfair that you two got the VIP treatment while Leo and I were left in the dark, only getting 'go to Chicago and watch out for evil things' vibes from Zethes and Cal. What exactly went down back there?"

Jason glanced at Piper, silently pleading for her to share. Piper sighed, realizing she couldn't evade Mae's curiosity forever.

"We... um, we had a chat with Boreas," Piper began tentatively. "It wasn't all that amazing, really."

Mae raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Uh-huh, just a chat with the icy king of the winds. I'm sure it was riveting."

Jason's expression was grim as he relayed the details of their meeting with the frosty monarch. His recounting was vivid and detailed, emphasizing Boreas's icy demeanor. Mae listened intently, her curiosity giving way to concern as Jason described the tension-filled atmosphere and the ominous images displayed by Boreas.

"So there we were," Jason began, his voice serious, "standing in this frozen palace, and Boreas decides to put on a show—literally. He waves his hand, and bam! A floating ice screen appears, showing this epic battle with Typhon in Manhattan."

Mae winced internally, recalling the monstrous Typhon wreaking havoc during the Battle of Manhattan the previous summer. Her thoughts drifted to the aftermath of the First Great Prophecy and the chaos Luke's betrayal had unleashed, shaking her head at the memory.

If only Luke hadn't gone all traitor on us because of Kronos. We wouldn't be dealing with this second prophecy nonsense.

Jason continued, detailing how Boreas had changed from his Greek counterpart to his Roman form, shedding light on the complexities of the gods and their ever-shifting identities. The seriousness of the situation hung heavy in the air, each word from Jason reinforcing the gravity of their quest and the challenges ahead.