The Fall of Jackson || EDITING

/8/

Anakulos

The next morning, Maximos and I were pulled out of bed by Nyssa. She complained about our lack of motivation and promised us a turn with her bow if we could get the campers to master three moves.

"Mine already have one down, two more and I win." Maximos retorted as we headed to the Mess Hall for breakfast.

"You're both idiots." Nyssa rolled her eyes and flicked her hood over her head, Maximos and I following her example.

We ate a light meal and headed out to set up our stations for the day, determination to beat Maximos coursing through my veins.

I told Annabeth to take a seat for today, lying to her and telling her that she could help again tomorrow.

"Yesterday you had it easy, but after the attack on Camp Jupiter, you will not rest until one of you can last five minutes in hand to hand combat with me." My voice boomed through the clearing we were in. I'd changed our sceney a bit and relocated us into the forest near the edge of the borderline.

Three hours. Three whole hours was how long it took them to master a simpme move that I'd shown them. By the end of the first session they were all panting and sweating, complaining about wanting a break.

"I'll give you a break." I said and they all snapped their heads in my direction "I'll give you a break if one of you manages to last two minutes in a spar against me."

Their shoulders slumped and some even went back to practicing their second move, before some idiot behind me spoke up.

"I'll do it."

Annabeth got up from her seat on the ground and walked over to me, twirling her dagger in her hand.

"If I win, we train my way." She bargained and got into her defensive position.

"If I win, you all miss lunch and continue training, and you'll join in." I said and tightened my grip. Two swords appeared in my hands and I scoffed at her.

"Deal." She replied and the campers all dropped what they were doing to watch us.

I stood with my swords at my sides and internally critiqued her stance, then realized I was becoming Maximos and stopped.

She charged at me, her dagger going for my left side. At the last minute she switched sides. My sword shot out and caught the hilt of her sword, twisting it and throwing it behind me.

"I win." I declared and her face turned red.

"No. Hand to hand." She said and my swords dissappeared.

She got a lucky shot in and stuck my jaw, but she pulled her fist back in pain and shook it out. Maybe she thought I wouldn't hit her because I was a gentleman, but if I can punch Alethea and Nyssa, I'm pretty sure that I can hit her. My fist came in contact with her stomach and the crowd gasped when she fell. She swung her foot out and I stomped on it, stopping its motion and causing her to shriek in pain.

"Pathetic." I spat and turned to the crowd. "Back to training! Thanks to you 'leader', none of you are dismissed for lunch."

They groaned and half gave me dirty looks, while the other half gave Annabeth dirty looks. I walked around the area and helped a few of them out, before I got bored and dismissed them.

"I expect you all to have mastered the move by tomorrow." I told them and some nodded.

When all the campers were gone, I begrudgingly made my way to the Oracles lair to consult her about End.

Rachel was waiting in the clearing for me when I got there. Seeing as she already knew who I was, I threw my hood in a tree and sat with my back against it.

"I need your help." I told her and she moved to sit infront of me.

"I know." She replied with a smile on her face. Her eyes glower an eerie green and smoke pooled around us.

"Last night, Chaos said to come to you. She said these weird things about feeding a fire."

"I cannot help you to understand her warnings, but if it is a prophecy you wish, it will be a prophecy you receive."

The green smoke thickened and my eyes were forced to look into hers.

" The Fallen Hero, heart turned cold.
Must return to the world, where his stories are told.
Vanguished and alone, he will conquer his woes.
Fight one final fight, and defeat his foes.
With the help of wisdom and a spark of the flame.
The hero inside awaken, returning not to hatred, but to fame. "

The green left her eyes and everything came to a standstill, before Rachel stood and dusted the dirt from her butt.

"Have a nice day, Percy." She said and left me staring after her, wondering how she even had the guts to still call me by that name.

"That doesn't help me!" I shouted at her back and her hand shot up to form a...unpleasant gesture.

I huffed and threw my cloak back on, marching down the hill to tell Maximos and Nyssa about her 'advice'.