The Veil of Worlds

Chapter 7: Journey to the Isle of the First Pantheon

Jason felt the weight of the Key of Eternity in his hand as the group gathered outside the Big House. The night had settled over Camp Half-Blood, and the sky above was clear and endless, dotted with stars. The camp was quiet, with only the sounds of the wind rustling the leaves and the distant clanging of weapons from the training arena breaking the stillness. It felt surreal that, while the camp continued its usual routine, they were about to embark on a mission to save the world—again.

"So," Percy said, arms crossed, "how exactly do we get to this Isle of the First Pantheon?"

Annabeth was already flipping through her notebook, her eyes scanning pages filled with notes and sketches. "From what we know, the island is hidden between dimensions—sort of like Ogygia or the Sea of Monsters. It doesn't exist in one fixed place, and it's constantly shifting between realms. That's where the Key of Eternity comes in."

Sadie, standing with her staff glowing faintly, nodded in agreement. "The Key will lead us there, but we need to figure out how to activate it first. Ancient magic like this usually requires more than just a turn of a key."

Carter added, "And considering that the island is home to beings older than the gods themselves, we need to be prepared for anything. The guardians will likely test us—physically, mentally, and probably spiritually."

"Fantastic," Magnus muttered, leaning on his sword. "A cosmic treasure hunt where the prize is getting beat up by primordial beings."

Piper shot him a look, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "At least you're consistent, Magnus. Always the optimist."

Jason couldn't help but chuckle, but his thoughts quickly returned to the task at hand. "Ra said the Key would guide us. I'm guessing that means it reacts when we're close to the right conditions."

Annabeth nodded. "Exactly. We need to find a way to activate it by aligning ourselves with the magic that binds the pantheons together. That means we need to draw from all of our powers—Greek, Roman, Norse, Egyptian."

"But we're missing something," Carter interjected. "Magic isn't just about power; it's about intent. We're talking about uniting pantheons here. If we're going to unlock this Key, we need to make sure we're united, too."

There was a pause as everyone considered his words. Carter was right—this mission wasn't just about brute force or magical ability. It was about unity, and that meant working together seamlessly. Despite their friendship and shared experiences, they were still different—different pantheons, different experiences, different approaches to magic and power. If they wanted to succeed, they needed to come together as one.

Magnus broke the silence, his expression thoughtful. "So, a group meditation session, or...?"

Annabeth's mouth twitched into a smile, but she kept her focus. "We'll start by syncing our powers. Each of us represents a different facet of this world—Greek, Roman, Norse, and Egyptian. If we can tap into the magic that ties those together, we should be able to activate the Key."

Jason glanced down at the glowing object in his hand. "It sounds like we need a convergence point—a place where all these powers intersect."

Sadie brightened. "Oh! The Great Obelisk in New York. It's right in Central Park, and it's an Egyptian monument that's been in the city for ages. The obelisk has been absorbing magic for centuries—it's the perfect place for a magical intersection like this."

Carter's eyes widened. "Of course! The obelisk! It's not just a historical artifact—it's a conduit for Egyptian magic. And with the ley lines running through the city, it's the ideal spot for Greek and Roman powers, too."

Annabeth nodded, her brain already moving at a million miles per hour. "It could work. The Norse pantheon has connections to New York through Yggdrasil—the World Tree—and the ley lines. We can draw power from all the realms and channel it through the obelisk."

Jason's heart raced. "Then that's where we go next—Central Park."

Percy cracked his knuckles, a smirk playing on his lips. "Sounds like a plan. Let's go wake up some ancient magic."

It didn't take long for the group to gear up and head out. They used their usual means of transportation—some by shadow travel, some with pegasi, others via magic portals—until they all converged at Central Park. The park was eerily quiet at this time of night, with only the distant hum of the city surrounding them. The Great Obelisk stood tall in the moonlight, casting long shadows on the grass beneath it.

"Okay," Carter said, stepping forward with Sadie, his staff glowing faintly as they approached the monument. "We're going to need to set up a perimeter. This isn't just about tapping into the obelisk's magic; we need to protect ourselves while we activate the Key. Setne might sense what we're doing, and he's not going to just let us waltz into the First Pantheon."

Annabeth took charge, her natural leadership shining through. "Percy, Magnus, Thalia, and I will form the outer circle. Jason, you'll stay in the center with the Key. Sadie and Carter will handle the magic, and Piper will focus on keeping us all synchronized."

Everyone nodded, understanding their roles. They had done this kind of thing before, but this felt different. Bigger. More dangerous.

As they spread out, forming a wide circle around the obelisk, Jason moved to the center, holding the Key of Eternity in his hand. The ancient object pulsed with energy, almost as if it knew it was close to being activated.

Carter and Sadie began to chant in Egyptian, their words reverberating through the air as magical glyphs appeared around the obelisk, glowing faintly in the night. Jason could feel the magic building, the tension in the air growing thicker by the second.

"Okay, Jason," Piper called from her spot. "Now's your moment. Focus on the Key—focus on the prophecy. You're the one leading us to the Isle."

Jason closed his eyes, centering himself. He could feel the weight of the prophecy on his shoulders, the responsibility of uniting the pantheons. But more than that, he could feel the connection between everyone here—Percy, Annabeth, Magnus, Thalia, Carter, Sadie, and Piper. They were his friends, his allies, his family in this fight. And together, they would succeed.

As he concentrated on the Key, he felt a surge of warmth spread through his chest. The Key responded, glowing brighter and brighter until it was almost blinding. He could feel the magic of the obelisk merging with the powers of the mist, the duat, and the Norse realms, swirling around them like a vortex.

The ground beneath their feet trembled, and a low hum filled the air. Jason's eyes snapped open, and the Key lifted from his hand, hovering in the air before him. It spun slowly, casting beams of light in every direction.

The obelisk responded in kind, its ancient hieroglyphs glowing with life. The air around them began to warp, the stars above twisting and bending as if reality itself was being pulled apart.

"Hold on!" Percy yelled, gripping his sword tighter as the wind picked up, howling around them.

Suddenly, there was a deafening crack, and the world around them shattered like glass. The Key shot forward, embedding itself in the obelisk's stone. The glowing light surged, and the group was pulled forward, hurtling through a tear in reality.

Jason felt the ground vanish beneath him as they were dragged into the unknown, the Isle of the First Pantheon awaiting them on the other side.

When Jason opened his eyes, he was no longer in Central Park. The landscape around them was breathtaking—lush, green fields stretching into the horizon, dotted with ancient temples and towering statues of gods from every pantheon. The sky above was a vibrant mix of colors, as if all realms had merged into one.

"Whoa," Magnus said, looking around in awe. "So this is the Isle."

Annabeth stepped forward, her expression serious. "This is just the beginning. Now comes the hard part."

Jason felt a chill run down his spine as he stared at the towering structures before them. They had made it to the Isle of the First Pantheon. But their journey was far from over.