LOST MY BELIEF - English Version

Prologue

The forest was still, only the occasional rustle of leaves and the quiet crackling of branches beneath her feet accompanied Thalia on her way. Two years. Two years filled with fleeing, fighting, and monster attacks. Two years in which she had fought her way alone—from California to here, somewhere in the forests of West Virginia. She had seen more, endured more, than any child ever should. At twelve years old, she was tired, bitter, and angry.

"Two years..." she murmured into the silent forest, her words disappearing in the wind. The darkness around her was oppressive, like an invisible veil that swallowed everything. She moved quietly between the trees, her eyes alert, her hands firmly gripping the spear and shield she carried.

"Two years without a home," she thought bitterly, stepping into the shadows, her gaze fixed on the narrow path ahead of her. "Two years without family. Two years without the gods who abandoned me."

A sound broke the silence—a rustling that wasn't from her. Her muscles tensed, the grip on her spear tightened. She ducked behind a bush and peered through. Between the trees, she could make out a silhouette. Tall, slender, moving silently. A monster, she was sure of it. Whatever it was, it wouldn't escape her.

Without hesitation, she leaped from her hiding spot and thrust the spear forward. However, her attack was blocked, and she collided with another weapon—a sword. The metallic sound echoed through the forest as sparks flew between the two weapons.

"Hey! What the Hades?!" shouted the boy she had attacked.

Thalia stepped back, narrowing her eyes. "What are you?" she growled, still keeping her spear aimed at him.

The boy—blond, about two years older than her—raised a hand in defense. In the other hand, he held a sword, its blade gleaming in the moonlight. "I'm not a monster, if that's what you mean!" he said. "Although this is a pretty bad first impression, huh?"

"You're armed," Thalia snapped. "And you're sneaking through the woods. What am I supposed to think?"

"That I'm trying not to get eaten by monsters?" He lowered the sword and studied her with a challenging grin. "I'm Luke. Luke Castellan. And you are?"

"Skeptical," Thalia retorted.

"Not your average name," he remarked dryly.

"Thalia," she said finally, without lowering the spear. "Thalia Grace."

Luke raised an eyebrow. "Okay, Thalia Grace, you're not one of those who ask first and attack later?"

"If I'd asked, you might be dead," Thalia shot back.

"Wow, charming," Luke said, finally lowering his sword. "I guess you're a demigod too?"

Thalia nodded hesitantly, her gaze still skeptical. "Daughter of Zeus."

Luke blinked in surprise and let his gaze slide over her, as if reassessing her. "Daughter of Zeus? Whoa. I should probably be impressed."

"Probably," Thalia said coolly.

He laughed softly. "You're not exactly the talkative type, are you? But I like that. Mysterious is good."

"Mysterious?" She raised an eyebrow. "I just told you who my father is."

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I know who you are," Luke replied, casually leaning against a tree. "For example: Why is a daughter of Zeus running around the forests of West Virginia alone?"

Thalia hesitated, then lifted her chin challengingly. "Because the gods don't do anything for their children. So I decided to survive on my own."

"That sounds pretty tough," Luke said. "But hey, at least you've met me now."