Theo Kane

Chapter 3 - New Beginnings

Theo had never felt more out of place. The journey to Camp Half-Blood had already been strange enough—following Athena through what seemed like an entirely different world, far from the city streets he had known his whole life. Now, standing alone on a hill overlooking the camp, a knot tightened in his stomach with every passing second.

Below him, the camp stretched out—rows of wooden cabins scattered across open fields, surrounded by tall trees that gave the place an almost hidden, sacred feel. Groups of kids, some younger, some older, trained with weapons, gathered in small circles, or lounged in the open. They all seemed to belong here, as if this world was made for them.

Meanwhile, Theo felt like an outsider—a street kid who had stumbled into something far beyond his understanding.

This is where I'm supposed to train? His gaze swept over the camp, taking in every detail. He couldn't imagine how he was meant to fit into a place like this. He wasn't a demigod. He wasn't anything special. He was just... him.

Athena's absence weighed heavily on his mind. She had been his guide, the one who had led him here, but now he was left to face this new reality on his own. Her words echoed in his head: "You have potential. More than you realize." But that didn't change the fact that Theo felt completely out of his depth.

As he stood there, lost in his thoughts, a figure emerged from one of the nearby cabins. The man walking toward him was tall and strong, his dark hair streaked with gray, exuding an air of calm authority. But it wasn't the man's presence that threw Theo off—it was his lower half. Instead of legs, he had the body of a horse.

Theo blinked, trying to process what he was seeing. A real-life centaur? His brain struggled to keep up, but before he could react, the centaur greeted him with a warm, welcoming smile.

"Welcome to Camp Half-Blood," the centaur said, his deep, calm voice filling the space between them. "You must be Theo Kane."

Theo swallowed, still trying to wrap his head around the fact that he was talking to a centaur. "Uh... yeah, that's me," he managed to reply, his voice uncertain.

The centaur nodded. "I'm Chiron, the camp's director. Athena has spoken highly of you."

Theo blinked, caught off guard. "She... has?" He couldn't hide the skepticism in his voice. He didn't feel like someone worth talking highly about.

"Yes," Chiron said kindly, though his eyes held a depth of understanding that put Theo slightly at ease. "I know this must all be overwhelming, but you've made it this far, and that's something to be proud of."

Theo shrugged, still feeling like an outsider. "I guess."

Chiron gestured for him to follow as they began walking down the hill toward the camp. "Let me show you around. I'm sure you have many questions, and we'll address them in time. But first, I'll introduce you to the camp and help you get settled."

As they walked, Theo could feel the weight of stares on him from the other campers. Whispers trailed behind him with each step. He kept his head down, trying to avoid eye contact, but the tension in the air was unmistakable.

They were halfway down the hill when a small group of campers, standing near one of the cabins, spotted them. The one in front—a tall girl with fierce ginger hair, wearing a combat jacket and radiating an unmistakable no-nonsense attitude—stepped forward, her sharp eyes locking onto Chiron.

"Chiron," she said, her tone respectful but blunt. "Is this the new camper?"

Chiron nodded. "Yes, Maddie, this is Theo Kane."