The Sun and The Sea

Percy POV

Of course, I didn't actually go back to my cabin.

No, I was going to train.

And who gives a shit if Nico catches me? He knows I won't go to sleep anyway.

Uncapping riptide, I decapitated a dummy.

Then a few more.

After a moment I sighed.

I wanted to spar, not behead pieces of fabric. Or whatever the stupid things were made of.

The thing is, no one could actually spar me.

Other than Jason and Nico, but Jason was probably busy and I just told Nico I'm going to bed.

The hunters, then? I think I saw Thalia a couple of days ago, which means they're here.

I'll head to Cabin 8 quickly.

On my way there, several people tried to ask me about the prophecy.

You think I fucking know?

I ignored them.

Approaching Artemis' cabin, I avoided the carefully placed traps and knocked on the wooden door with my fist, instead of using the permanently scalding hot door-knocker.

The door was wrenched open immediately, and I was met with a very pissed off looking Thalia.

"What do you wa- oh, hey, Kelp-head."

"Hi, Pinecone-face."

We stared at each other in awkward silence for a moment.

I broke it.

"Uh, you do want to spar with me? I kinda need to release some energy and everyone who I would usually go against is busy..."

"Sure. What kind of sparring? Hand to hand? Swords? Swords and shields? Knives?"

"Swords, preferably. I don't mind what weapon you use though, as long as it isn't a bow..."

"Alright, I'll grab my knives then. You go to the arena now, I'll be there in 5."

I just nodded and then turned around.

She doesn't want to see you.

I'm not going down that train of thought.

My walk back to the arena was quick, and I warmed up lightly by, you guessed it, decapitating a few dummies.

Obviously I did the basic stretches too.

Contrary to popular belief, I'm not stupid.

I just never got the chance to show that I'm intelligent.

Brushing that impending existential crisis off, I glanced towards Thalia as she entered, knives in hands.

"Ready?"

"Yeah. I just warmed up," I replied.

"Okay. Do you want to practice defence or offence?" (A/N: there were 2 spelling options for that and I didn't know which to use so if thats incorrect I'm sorry lol)

"Defence. I'm used to being the one leading the fight, so I haven't actually done defence in a while."

"Yep, sure."

And that's how I spent the next hour and a half training past my body's limit.

Dodge, block, parry.

Duck.

Sidestep.

Block.

Parry.

Disarm.