Dark-Hair, Sea Eyes

14

Abyss flew away, leaving Percy at their destination as she went on a quick trip away from the planet. He was at a small house that he remembered vividly, almost exactly how it had been when he was a child. It was much quieter now. Fewer monsters roaming around.

The off-centered wooden door was set ajar, just as it was when Percy had left for his first job. It never really stayed closed. Percy's head was covered by his hood, but his face was on full display, his eyes a murky crimson from the planet's signature reddish sea. This planet was mostly inhabited by animals and insects now, an improvement from what Percy was plagued with throughout childhood.

"Old man," Percy called, his voice echoing in the silence. Almost makes him regret using the neighbors as target practice...

"Percy," he heard the sound of his teacher from behind the door. "Nine years and you still sound like a child, " Chiron said, the door opening fully to reveal the crippled old man. "Nine years? It's only been four for me."

Percy let himself into the small and poorly lit house. "Nine years, four years, it's all it took for me to become a hermit, " the old man said bitterly. "Speaking of, it's also all it took for you to be hounded by overpowered fans. Is that why you're here, Percy?"

Percy rolled his eyes. If Nico told the old man, without a doubt he'd managed to pass the message onto the others. "Any visitors lately old man?" Percy asked, pulling himself a chair that left a trail on the dusty floor. "Not since the years you all left. Is that what you're here for? Should I be expecting anyone?" Chiron said, his brown eyes meeting Percy's red ones.

This planet originally had monsters roaming around, a minor set back when Chiron had escaped from the Earth he originated from. It was an Earth on the brink of extinction, the population mindless bloodthirsty corpses who weren't picky about what they devoured, be it people, animals, or each other. How Chiron managed to raise several children despite that was something the old man never shared. Percy knew he could take care of himself. But he had his doubts about this.

"I don't know. But the Graces are their source of information, and as soon as they realize that the way to get one to crack is to hurt the other, you'll be used to get to me, " Percy explained his concerns to which Chiron nodded. "If they were regular people, you wouldn't come personally to warn me. What about them worries you? Who are they?"

"Order and Chaos. They–" "I know the names. They're the ones who raided our earth, along with several others. Why this home exists, " Chiron said, turning his wheelchair to go into another room, surprising Percy with new information that he just glided over. "Does he only have the Greek gods?" Chiron asked.

"He has the Roman equivalents. I don't know if he has all of them but he has most of them. He breeds them."

"If you hear news of the other gods, find me. I won't be here, I will take your warning seriously, " Chiron told his student, walking back into the room in his true centaur form. He had two bags, one of which he handed to Percy. "If it's the healing stuff, I don't need it. You keep it," Percy said.

Chiron narrowed his eyes, and Percy sighed before taking the bag. "Thank you Chiron," Percy mumbled exasperatedly, making the centaur rather happy as he trotted out the front door. Percy didn't bother asking if he had any form of transportation, knowing that his teacher had people on call to whisk him away in case he ever had to leave.

In fact, when Percy came outside himself, Chiron had already left the ground, flying away on a bronze dragon. "Thanks for the cargo, Prissy!"

Percy cringed at the nickname that his cousin had been calling him for years. As she flew away, Abyss returned, circling above him. Swiping the air, he resolved the job that Chiron had created so he could visit this planet without being suspicious. He could easily be traced here, but no one would pay attention if it was a job.