Heart of the Universe: Discovery

CHAPTER 5: GARNET

If Hazel weren't scared out of her mind, she would have found it ironic. Hazel had been so nervous the ride there that a trail of garnets appeared in her wake as soon as she took her first steps on Arcadian soil. They were beautiful, a dark maroon, and anyone who picked them all up would be a rich person as soon as they stepped out of a pawn shop. Frank noticed them but said nothing. No demigod had returned from Arcadia. Ever. It was supposed to be swarming with monsters, an unusual kind that could turn from monster to human, making them impossible to pick out. A branch of Gaea's army had risen there, but must've scattered once Gaea fell, because they were nowhere to be seen in the aftermath of the second Giant War.

The locals must all see through the Mist, though, because they all tried to tell the news for a while after the war. It was kind of nerve racking, because she couldn't just rely on the Mist like she always did. if Hazel got in a fight, how was she supposed to keep the mortals from seeing her spatha? She had an idea." Frank, I'm going to manipulate the Mist. Could you please go along with what I do?" "Of course. Go ahead. Um... should I stand back or something?" Frank asked nervously. Hazel laughed. This is what she loved about him, how he was anxious and sweet and made her laugh."No, just keep quiet." She siad.Carefully, she began to manipulate the Mist around her until she looked exactly like a professional news reporter. She concentrated harder, and made Frank look like a cameraman with his bow disguised as a news camera.The mortals could see through the Mist, but so could half bloods, and even they couldn't see past her illusions.

"Where are we going?" Frank asked as Hazel marched them to the nearest building. Hazel glanced up at the sign, trying to read it. Her dyslexia made her slow down a minute to read it, but she understood it well enough." We're going to Arcadia Oaks High."

When they got there, the bell was ringing and the kids were flooding out of the building for free period. It was full of gossipy girls, but gossipy girls were more likely to tell her the truth than police officers, because the truth could make the police look unprofessional. Hazel went to the nearest people, a pale girl with straight black hair and an African-American girl with an afro. "Hi, my name is...Hedy Levesque." Hazel said, remembering those happy moments when it was her and Sammy against the world."I've been sent to report on what happened last summer. Frank, get the camera rolling."

 For a moment, Frank looked so thoroughly confused their cover was almost blown, but he understood just in time and pretended to start the 'camera'. "I am here in Arcadia Oaks High, on a report about the eclipse that happened last summer. What would you say happened?" Hazel asked, passing her sword-turned-microphone to the pale girl."It was, like, amazing!"She started. Hazel listened intently." A giant, like, tornado shot up out of nowhere, and, like, real life monsters came out of it! But the trollhunters and their friends beat their leader and sent her into, like, an entire other dimension! I know one of their troll friends, he is so hot! Eeee!" Hazel leaned forward, confused. Frank shifted his weight uneasily from foot to foot." Could you explain what a trollhunter is?" Hazel asked, waving her arm at the camera. "I'm sure the world is dying to know." The girl was about to answer when the bell rang again." Oops, gotta go!" She said." Can't be late for algebra! As for the watchers, don't forget to follow me on _! I can't wait to see this on TV!

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I interrupt for a short statement. You will notice her sentence is missing a word. If you are curious about that, it is because if we mention any social media app, we will be sued by...Hephaestus? Which one did tech? Anyway, I  can't use the word instagra- I mean, I can't mention social media apps. Thank you for your time.

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Hazel walked away, hiding the smile creeping onto her face. It never ceased to amaze her the wonders she could work with the Mist. But then... what did she mean about trollhunters? And if the mortals couldn't see through her Mist manipulation, how had they seen the monsters from the War?