My Friend Percy Allegedly Steals a Lightning Bolt

Chapter 16

The next morning started out just as good as when I went to bed. I was up and ready to explore. Luke gave me a quick tour of the place. There were the things I noticed upon entering, like river and parts of the forest, but he also showed me things I hadn't even seen. We saw the stables that were filled with pegasi, a rock wall that would literally kill me and I would be staying far far away from, an armory, and archery fields. Literally, everything I could think of was there and I loved it.

Within a few days, I had completely settled into a routine and I loved it. I somehow managed to actually be good at stuff. I had never really found something I was good at out in the mortal world, but here I could do a little bit of everything. There wasn't anything I was really exceptional at, but at least I liked it. I wasn't terrible with a bow, I liked canoeing, and though I'd always get beaten by Ares' children, I didn't hate wrestling.

Camp soon just became my home. I love everything about it. I loved waking up on my borrowed bunk and going outside smelling the strawberry fields. Sometimes all I wanted to was to just lay in the grass. Though I never really got a chance to do that because it was constantly go go go, which I didn't mind either.

I had lessons about everything, on the third day we even added sword fighting. I was totally excited to learn but that didn't last especially long. I wasn't completely terrible but there was just something about using a sword. It didn't feel right in my hand. Luke took all of Hermes' cabin to the arena for training.

The place was hot and smelled like BO but apparently, no one else was bothered by it. We started out on some straw practice dummies dressed in Greek armor. I got the basic stabbing and slashing but I was exactly coordinated with a sword. I had the instincts but something was missing. Luke soon announced that we would be fighting in partners. I cringed, wondering if I could fake an injury to avoid this but Luke didn't give me the chance.

"Demi, you can pair up with Connor since you've already taken him down." He smirked at the boy who I'd punched a few days before. The kid gave Luke a little glare but it didn't even phase him. "And Percy since you're also a newbie you can fight with me." Everyone snickered.

"Good luck," a camper muttered to Percy, "Luke's the best swordsmen we've had in the last 300 years." I didn't doubt that one bit.

"Maybe he'll go easy on me," Percy said, clearly uncomfortable.

This time I snickered. I didn't mean to but I was pretty sure Luke didn't have an easy setting. Percy looked at me like I had just punched him. "You'll be fine," I told him, a fake smile on my face. He saw right through it but turned away to accept his fate.

It was only then that I remembered I was going to have to fight too. "You ready greenie?" Connor asked twirling the sword that was in hand. I glared. He was going down and I was officially not re-dying my hair. I picked up my practice blade and as soon as I did he came at me. He brought his sword down hard but my instincts suddenly kicked in. I brought my sword up, blocking his blade. He moved back, trying to swipe at me but I crouched and his blade flew over me. I took my sword and rammed it upward. This didn't stop him. I had to admit he was surprisingly good. I tried to attack but he knocked at my hand and I dropped it. I tried to pick it up but he already had his sword to my throat. Luckily everyone else was too busy with their fights to notice mine.

Connor helped me up after a moment and we started again. The sword felt weird in my hand. It was too heavy and big. I wanted something more nimble but what that might be I didn't know. I found that I wasn't too bad at blocking incoming attacks but when I tried to fight back it did not exactly go as planned. I got in a few shots but I was pretty sure it was just luck.

When Luke finally called for a break I was about ready to collapse. I took a big drink of water from the cooler and sat down, happily dropping the sword. I wasn't sure how I was expected to do this on a regular basis but I guess being here, I was going to get in shape sooner or later.

"Okay everybody, circle up!" Luke called, "If Percy doesn't mind, I want to give you a little demo." I didn't know what Luke was planning but apparently, he liked beating up on Percy and I had to admit I kind of wanted to see it. Mostly I was just glad he hadn't chosen me. He explained that he was going to be getting the blade from Percy's hand by using the flat of his own sword. "Now this is a difficult move, I've had it used against me. No laughing at Percy, it takes most swordsmen years to get this technique down." He smiled in that way he always did when he was confident and nodded to Percy. He did it in slow motion the first time. Percy held out his blade and Luke moved his own sword to twist Percy's. In a second it dropped from Percy's hand and clattered to the floor.

"Now in real time," he said, waiting for Percy to pick up his sword. "We keep sparring until one of us pulls it off. Ready Percy?" The second he nodded Luke went after him. Patience clearly was not a trait of Hermes' children. Percy actually managed to keep Luke off of him and protected his hilt. He was good. He even pressed back at Luke. Luke easily deflected but nonetheless, I was impressed. They both pushed hard but as time went on they changed. Luke just became more and more determined, Percy, however, looked at he was growing tired. In what looked like a last-ditch attempt Percy went for Luke. He used the flat of his blade and twisted the sword right from Luke's hand. As it clattered to the floor, Percy pushed his sword point right towards Luke's unguarded chest.

The whole arena was silent, including Percy. Luke looked too stunned to even speak. "Um, sorry?" Percy muttered after a moment.

Luke's face suddenly broke into a grin. "Sorry? By the gods Percy, why are you sorry? That was amazing! Show me again!" Percy looked reluctant by soon the began to spar again. This time it was nothing. Within seconds Luke hit Percy's blade and disarmed him completely. He scrunched his face slightly, thinking.

One of the other campers spoke out, "Beginners luck?" Luke scratched his brow and looked Percy up and down, clearly interested.

 "Maybe," he agreed, "but I wonder what Percy could do with a balanced sword..."