Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

ALEX POV:

I trudged along the familiar path to the Shelterwood Institute, an orphanage for boys in Richmond I had lived my entire life, the hustle and bustle of the city wrapping around me like a chaotic blanket. Kicking away a few pebbles in my path, I tried to focus on the rhythm of my footsteps rather than the noise around me.

It had been a usual tiring day at school. By some miracle, I could actually understand what was written on the board today. It was still tough, but I could decipher the sentences, which felt like a small victory. However, that happiness was quickly overshadowed when I realised our mathematics teacher had taken a study period instead of P.E. class. How cruel was that?

I turned into the park, a shortcut I often took on my way home. It was oddly empty today, with just a woman strolling leisurely. Adjusting my bag over my shoulder, I made my way to the other side of the park at a slow pace.

Suddenly, the Woman's voice broke the silence, "Finally! some food kukuku! I shall feast!" I jumped in shock, my heart racing as I looked at her. She lunged at me with a hungry look in her eye, brandishing her sharp, razor-like teeth. Fear gripped me, and I felt my eyes widen as she stepped toward me.

/Run, Alexander. Run towards the shadows.\ A female voice echoed in my head, and without question, I bolted towards the nearest alleyway, following her command. I didn't dare look back; I ran as if my life depended on it—because it did. Just as I was about to reach it the woman tackled me to the ground pinning me helplessly as she loomed over me.

The woman cackled evilly and leaned down, saliva dripping from her mouth and onto my chest."Nowhere to run now little boy kukuku!." She exclaimed as she grabbed my head with her clawed hand, her claws digging into my scalp slightly. Just as she opened her mouth to bite down, my hand moved on its own, slamming my palm against her chest A ray of silver light shot out of it piercing her.

"Agh...AHHHHH!" The woman screamed before she turned into golden dust. I looked on I shock as the dust fell on top of me before glancing down at my palm as the light started to fade. "What.....was that?" I muttered before sitting up as I continued to stare at the dimming light.

I shook my head and stood up, wiping off the dust from my clothes only to notice it rapidly disappearing. After it had completely vanished, all that remained was a pair of the woman's claws lying innocently on the pavement.

/Take them, they will be useful later.\ The female voice said again. Deciding to just follow her command for now, since she did save my life, I leaned down and picked them up. They were quite cold to the touch.

/Now, go home as fast as you can.| The woman said again but this time it felt like she was near my ear. i turned around but didn't see anything so I just decided to follow her command for now.

As I was walking home I couldn't help but wonder.' Was I imagining it..?..Yeah...that must be it, I am just tired and seeing things.' I mused to myself as I crossed the road.

/No, you are not imagining things young one, that truly happened.\The voice said, startling me out of my thoughts.

"Alright......in that case who are you?" I couldn't help but ask, looking around to make sure that woman was truly gone.

/We will talk once you get home, but no the woman is not gone not permanently at least.\ The voice answered.

"...alright then." I resumed walking towards the orphanage."Seeing as I don't see you(Get it?), I take it you are talking in my head.....even though I have no clue how you'd do that..." I asked the woman as I finally reached the premises and entered the main corridor leading to my dorm.

/You are correct, young Alexander, I am talking to you in your head, as to how I shall explain later\ The woman answered as I unlocked the door to my apartment.

'In that case, can you hear me now?' I asked, thinking while hanging up my school bag and taking my shoes off.

/Indeed, I can, good manners by the way.\

'Oh...um...thank you? I have so many questions right now......'

/You are welcome, young one and I shall answer any question you have to the best of my ability\

'Alright.....just give me a moment,' I told her before calling out."Jayce! I am back!" I waited a few moments but when I got no answer, I went into his room, seeing it completely empty."Jayce?"

|There is a letter on the table young one.| The voice said and sure enough there it was, picking it up I quickly read it over."Got adopted huh...." I muttered a little annoyed.

Putting the letter down I grabbed an apple and walked into my room laying down on the bed."...so you said you'll answer my questions right?" I spoke out loud

/As long as I know the answer then yes but before that let me introduce myself, I am Selene-\

"Like Cleopatra's daughter?"

/She was named after me so good catch, but no I am Selene, the Titaness of the Moon, Night and Radiance, daughter of Hyperion and Theia, twin sister to Helios and older sister to Eos. and currently your patreon\

"....WHAT?!" I couldn't hold back a shout as I jumped up from my bed looking nowhere in particular since I couldn't see her.

/Calm down young one, please sit so I can explain\

I took a few deep breaths before sitting down on the bed again."Okay....okay I am calm"

/Good, now then like I said I am a Greek Titaness and yes we do exist. I used to be the main Moon deity before Artemis took over after I faded.\

"I am sorry but...Faded?"

/Yes, you see Greek gods or well Greek deities in general can't die under normal conditions...okay that's not exactly true, we can die but we just reform in Tartarus after a while. But back to your question, a diety fades after humanity stops worshipping them or when someone else takes over their domain.\

"I see.....and since Artemis is the most well-known moon deity in Greece....."

/Yes, she took over the duties of the moon, which led to me fading eventually, how much do you know about the Titanomachy?\

"Not much, from what I know, it was the rebellion where Zeus and his siblings overthrew you titans, wasn't it?"

/The simplified answer is yes, but for a more detailed explanation: The Titanomachy was a ten-year series of battles fought between most of the Titans and the Olympians along with their allies. The Titans, led by Kronos, ruled with cruelty during what is known as the Golden Age. A prophecy foretold that this age would end due to the actions of Kronos's descendants, which made him extremely paranoid. To prevent the prophecy from coming true, he swallowed each of his children as soon as they were born. However, when Rhea gave birth to Zeus, she deceived Kronos by feeding him a rock instead.\

"Which ultimately led to his fall."

/Indeed, after being freed, the gods waged war against the Titans led by Kronos. During the final fight, the three brothers managed to overpower Kronos before Zeus cut him into pieces and threw him into Tartarus.\

"Okay....I think I get it thank you, but wait.....does that mean Kronos is still alive in Tartarus?"

/Yes, as I mentioned, immortal beings like gods, titans, and primordials do not die like mortals or demigods. Instead, we are erased from existence completely. When a normal mortal or a demigod dies, they go to the Underworld, where they spend eternity in one of three places: Elysium, the Fields of Asphodel, or the Fields of Punishment. They also have the option to choose rebirth for their souls. On the other hand, monsters, like the one you killed in the park an hour ago, go to Tartarus to reform. Eventually, they return and can try to kill demigods again.\

"...so that is what that thing was?"

/Indeed, it was, more specifically,y a Harpy It was there to kill you. Now, once it turned into dust, its essence went to Tartarus, where it will reform slowly. Once it does, she will come back to hunt demigods once again.\

"....does that mean I am a demi-god?"

/Well, yes and no, you are far stronger than any of those demi-gods, you are a Demi-Primordial.\

".. I see.....wait HUH!?"

/Yes, your father is one of the Primordials, the most powerful beings in all of Greece.\

"That.....actually really cool....do you know who my father is?"

/ You're the son of Thanatos, his only child to be more exact.\

"As in...the god of death?"

/Yes, that is him, which means you have the potential to surpass even the Olympians, it is only a matter of time really.\

".....anything else I need to know?"

/Many things, child, but there is time for that, for now, I shall focus on teaching you to harness your powers from me.\

"Yeah thank you....wait, from you?" I asked confused

/Yes, child, we are currently fused together, which also means you will get some of my powers, like control over light, you will also feel stronger and faster during the nights, especially during full moons As from your father, I unfortunately have no ties to the domain of death, so I cannot help you; you will need to figure it out by yourself.\

I couldn't help but groan."Well...nothing is free I guess"

Selena only chuckled at my response as I looked down at my palm

/Indeed it isn't, young one, but now that you have been discovered by the Harpy more and more monsters will come after you so training your powers will be our first priority.\

"I understand...in that case, where should we start?"

/Hmmm, well, my powers are better during the night, so we will wait until nightfall. Until then, feel free to ask about anything you wish to know.\

"Alright then, then for my first question; if I am as powerful as you say, then how come no monsters found me until the Harpy did?"

/That is due to the bracelet on your arm, it is a gift from your father, and it masks your smell, but it is getting weaker and weaker with time. From what I can sense, it will probably stop working in a year or two.\ Selene explained as I looked down at the said bracelet.

"So....we need to make me ready to defend myself as soon as possible, yes?"

/Yes, and I shall do my best to prepare you for the divine world before you are forced to enter it.\

"Thank you Selene....I don't know what I'd do without your help."

/Think nothing of it, kid, I am glad to help you.\

A YEAR LATER

ALEX POV:

The night wrapped around me like an old friend.

I stood barefoot in the courtyard behind Shelterwood, where the cracked concrete met patches of stubborn grass and moonlight spilled like liquid silver. The city never really slept, but tonight the noise was distant, muted, as if even the chaos respected the quiet glow above.

I closed my eyes.

Everything was clearer now. The chill in the air, the hum of traffic, the soft crunch of a raccoon moving through a nearby bush—I could feel it all without thinking. Darkness didn't scare me anymore. It didn't even feel like darkness.

It felt like home.

I leapt.

No run-up, no hesitation—just movement. My feet barely touched the ground before I landed on top of the old rusted dumpster, then onto the fire escape three stories up. Smooth. Silent. Like I'd always belonged in the air more than the ground.

"You're quicker now," Selene said in that voice that always echoed inside my head like a lullaby made of stars. "And quiet."

I didn't respond out loud. I'd learned to speak with my thoughts months ago—it was easier. More natural. Especially when she was close.

"Still not fast enough," I thought back. "If something like that Harpy showed up again, I don't think I'd be able to dodge it."

A soft, amused hum rippled through me. "You didn't dodge it last time. You survived. There's a difference."

I dropped to the ground again and looked at the streetlights lining the back road. One by one, they flickered.

Then dimmed.

Then died.

No sparks. No sound. Just a slow swallowing of the light until only the moon remained.

"I still don't know how I do that," I said, watching the world grow darker.

"Because you stop trying," she answered. "You let the night choose you."

It had taken me months to understand that. How to stop forcing it. How to feel instead of command. Moonlight wasn't a weapon—it was a whisper. And whispers didn't like being shouted.

I stepped into the shadows cast by the building, and in an instant, the world forgot I was there. The cold didn't bite. The silence didn't press. I just was—a part of the dark.

Then, a noise behind me. A car door slamming. A burst of laughter. A group of teens walking home from some late-night party.

None of them saw me. One of them walked within two feet of where I stood, eyes passing over me like I was nothing more than a trick of the light.

I held my breath without needing to. Watched. Waited.

Then slipped away into the shadows again.

I slipped back into the building the same way I always did—through the window I'd loosened last fall, the one behind the kitchen that nobody ever bothered to check. The janitor thought the draft was from the broken vent. I let him keep thinking that.

The hallway was dark, just the red glow of the emergency exit sign reflecting off the polished floors. Most of the boys were already asleep. I heard one of them snoring behind a door down the hall. Another mumbled something in his sleep, probably dreaming of something stupid like soccer or pizza.

I used to dream like that too. Before silver light and whispers from the stars changed everything.

My dorm was at the end of the hall. They let me have it alone after I "accidentally" shattered the light fixture during a tantrum last spring. I didn't really mean to—just got overwhelmed. The bulb exploded. The overhead fan melted. Nobody got hurt, but now I had a room to myself.

Silver linings, I guess.

I closed the door behind me and turned the lock. Not that it would stop anything if it really wanted in. Still, the sound was comforting.

Tossing my hoodie onto the desk chair, I kicked off my shoes and climbed onto the bed, pulling the blanket over my legs even though I wasn't cold. I stared at the ceiling. The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting pale shapes on the wall—like waves, or wings, or maybe just the wind playing tricks on my tired brain.

"You did well tonight," Selene whispered. The voice didn't echo this time—it was closer. Quieter. Like a hum in my bones.

"I still feel slow," I whispered, just for myself. "Like I'm not where I'm supposed to be yet."

"You're not. But you're getting closer."

I turned on my side, facing the window. The bracelet on my wrist caught a glint of light, the tiny sigils etched into its surface pulsing faintly like a heartbeat. It was weaker now—I could feel it. The way you feel when someone's watching, even though they're not.

One day, it would stop working. And whatever was out there—whatever was waiting—would find me again.

I wasn't scared. Not really.

But I wasn't ready either.

Not yet.

/Alex.\I heard Selene speak up bringing me out of my thought process.

"Something wrong?" I couldn't help but ask as I grabbed an apple from the table.

/I am Sorry to say this, but it is time to leave the Orphanage.... permanently.\

"Wait, what?! Why in the hell would I need to do that?"

/To be frank with you, Alex, I underestimated your strength. The bracelet is going to break tonight, and you cannot hide yourself here anymore, or the monsters might attack the orphanage."\

I paused at that for a moment before going back to brushing my teeth."Right.....and where the hell would I be living after that?"

/That...I shall explain later when we get there but for now, you need to pack some essentials in your backpack and sneak out somehow.\

I stood there thinking for a few moments, sure I always knew this day would come, and I was mentally preparing myself for it, but to think I'll have to leave the city is still a little terrifying."Alright....tonight it is." I finally sighed as I stood from my bed.

_____________________________________________________________________________

I waited until nightfall, ensuring none of the orphanage caretakers saw me as I stole some food from the cafeteria. I then used shadow travel to flash out of the orphanage and into a nearby alleyway. "So, where to?"

/Now, you need to go to Monongahela National Forest, and quickly, before midnight,\ Selene told me as I walked out of the alley.

'...and how the hell am I supposed to reach Monongahela National Forest before midnight?! It's a two-hour ride from here!' I yelled at her in my mind.

/Remember that gold coin the Harpy dropped? Well, that was a Drachma,\ Selene explained as I took the coin out.

"The currency of the gods you told me about?" I asked while examining it.

/Yes, that's the one. I need you to throw it on the road and say the words: Stási, Árma tis Katadíkis,\ she instructed, and it wasn't as if I had any reason to doubt her since she had already helped me a great deal.

I repeated her words and threw the Drachma into the street, yet instead of clattering on the asphalt, it sank right through the ground and disappeared. For a few moments, nothing happened, but just as I was about to ask her, the asphalt started to darken and melted into a rectangular pool about the size of a parking spot. It began bubbling with a red, blood-like liquid before a car burst out of the ooze.

The car looked like any other Taxi in New York, the only difference was it was grey instead of yellow, it almost looked like it was made up of nothing but smoke, almost like I could walk right through it.

Before I could ask for an explanation from Selene, the passenger window rolled down and an old woman with grizzled hair covering her eyes stuck her head out. She started speaking in a weird mumbling way, she sounded like she just had a few shots of whiskey."Passage? Passage?" She kept repeating the same phrase over and over while looking at me, at least I think she was looking at me, hard to tell with the hair covering her eyes.

"one to Monongahela National Forest please," I told the woman and got in the back seat after Selene instructed me. The interior was the same smoky grey as the outside but it oddly smelled of charcoal for some reason. As I looked towards the front I noticed that there was no Plexiglas separating us, I also noticed there were three old ladies instead of one.

'Selene, are these the grey sisters you told me about?' I asked her while looking at them, they certainly fit the description, one single eye and one single tooth while wearing charcoal-coloured robes. As I was musing I didn't even notice that Selene wasn't answering me.

'Selene? You there?' Again, no answer came from her.'Selene...?' I tried again but no answer this time as well so I decided to leave it be for now.

Not like I could try again anyway since before I could even form a single thought the one driving floored the accelerator and my head smaller back against the backrest. A prerecorded video came over the car speaker behind me. "Hi, this is Apollo, your favourite sun god of them all! And today I bring you your new favourite entertainment, haikus!"

'Huh...so this is the guy that took the spot after Helios faded.' I thought about Selene's brother for some reason, although with the amount he talked about him, it's no surprise. My thought process was cut of as the speaker continued. "Our first haiku of the day is: Hoodlums punch my face, I would smite them if I could, Mortality blows!"

The moment it finished I sat there with a blank face."That...that's not even 7 syllables though..." I couldn't help but mutter under my breath and groan when another one began.

The rest of the ride was nothing less than utter torture and no, I am not talking about the reckless driving through the streets, which I could handle just fine but I swear to every god out there if I have to listen to another damn haiku this your I will tear my ears out!

Finally, we reached Monongahela National Forestn and I got out of the cab before it disappeared in a red ooze once again."So....what now?" I asked aloud as I looked around and began walking towards the forest.

/Now I shall guide you to your goal.\ Selene's voice spoke up all of a sudden."Where the hell were you? I thought you said you'd guide me!" I couldn't help but complain as I kept walking.

/I apologise, but listening to Apollo is too much even for me.\ She admitted yet despite her words she didn't sound apologetic at all.

I sighed and stopped for a moment."That's fine I guess....so where to now?"

/Keep running towards the north until you reach a small clearing, I will guide you from there.| She instructed me before her voice vanished again.

I sighed again and grumbled a quick"Yeah whatever."Under my breath before running into the forest as she instructed.

I reached the area where she directed me towards, but I was unable to see anything besides a small shallow cave surrounded by a cluster of trees, the cave was barely large enough for me to sit in it."So um...this is cool I guess?"

/As amusing as it would be if this was just a cluster of trees, it is not. Walk into the cave, don't worry about hitting the wall and continue walking.\ Selene replies while chuckling a bit.

Walking into the cave I continued walking, as I hit the wall I expected it to hurt me a bit or something but as soon as I touched the wall I felt my body phasing through it, It was an Illusion! I realised.

Stepping through, there was a huge difference between the small cave I was just in and the massive hallway I was currently inside, looking around this massive hallway was really amazing, it was easily fifty meters wide and it was also nicely lit thanks to the torches that were blazing with white fire along the walls.

The hallway looked exactly as I would expect an ancient Greek palace to look, the wooden floor was covered with a fancy-looking red carpet, and the walls were still marble and gold but this time there were patterns of the Moon on the left side and the Sun on the right side.

Finally, after about ten minutes of walking, I reached the end of the hallway, there stood a massive wooden door with an Eclipse symbol in the middle of it. The door was about five meters tall and three meters wide yet instead of a knob or handle on the door, it opened the very moment I walked close to it.

The room wasn't exactly what I was expecting, instead of the throne room I expected to see there were various weapons and trinkets littered around the entire room alongside a few books and scrolls."What...is this place?"I couldn't help but ask out loud in wonder as I looked around.

/This is my and my brother's vault, we used to store trophies and weapons here before...well before we faded.\ Selene answered in a solemn tone."I see....look I know it means nothing anymore, but for what it's worth I am sorry for what happened to you and your brother."

/That's quite alright child, it is in the past now.\ She said but this time i actually heard her voice from beside me instead of in my head. I turned my head towards her voice before my eyes landed on a beautiful dark-haired woman with silver eyes, she wore a white dress with a black veil on her head alongside a moon-shaped headpiece, and her skin glowed like moonlight which only highlighted her beauty even further.

"Whoa...."I couldn't help but gape as I was staring at her without even realising it.

I was snapped out of my gaping when she chuckled and reached out to close my jaw with her finger."You are staring Alex~"She said in a teasing voice while stepping back

I blushed a bit at her tone before quickly clearing my throat and looking away."So, what are we doing here?"

She chuckles a little more before looking at me."Now I am going to undo the bracelet's enchant." She reached out and grabbed my wrist before closing her eyes, most likely to concentrate, as her palms began glowing.

For a while, nothing happened until suddenly the bracelet cracked a little and I felt my body straining immensely. Instantly I felt a warm sensation like a hot gust of air was flowing in and out of my pores.

As I felt my body reaching its limit, a loud explosion erupted from my core, I barely noticed Selene being thrown back as I fell to my knees and screamed in pain.

I stared down at my wrist as the bracelet merged with my skin and runes started covering my entire arm. While normally I wouldn't care about the runes since they could be covered up, they started crawling up my arm slowly. The process was extremely painful to the point it felt like fire running through my veins.

I felt my eyelids growing heavy as my vision darkened and I welcomed the darkness without even trying to fight it for I knew it would relieve me of my pain

Chapter Text

ALEX POV:

As I woke up, I was no longer in the vault with Selene; instead, I was lying in a king-sized bed covered with light feather sheets. As I sat up, I felt, for the lack of a better word, awesome. My body felt more free in a sense; it was as if shackles I didn't even know were there had shattered and let me live for the first time.

I was brought out of my thoughts when I heard a door open. Looking up, I noticed Selene enter with a coaster with some kind of sandwich on it and what looked like orange juice. When she noticed that I was awake, she smiled gently at me and sat down on a wooden chair near the bed.

"How are you feeling, Alexander?" Her lips curled into that gentle, motherly smile I always imagined her wearing when she was still only in my head.

"Strong enough to defeat you." I quipped with a slight smirk on my face." However, I should be the one asking you that, Selene. I saw you get sent flying after you undid the seal.

She let out what almost seemed to be an embarrassed chuckle as she gently caressed my arm."I have to admit that I wasn't expecting that great of a force from a single seal." She gave me the coaster as I began eating the sandwich. It weirdly tasted like plum dumplings for some odd reason, but I didn't pay it any mind as I looked back at Selene.

"What happened after I passed out?" I couldn't help but ask after swallowing the last bite of the sandwich.

"Well... After you were knocked out, I brought you here and prepared to heal you, only to see that your body had already healed on its own." Selene replied while leaning closer.

I looked up at her, frowning in confusion."But how is that possible? I don't think I ever healed from any injury before..."

Selene looked me in the eyes before gently grasping my hands."It turns out your father—Thanatos—had quite a love story with one of Apollo's daughters."

[...]

"Your mother... she was a daughter of Apollo. Because you're her child, that makes you a Legacy of Apollo, which I didn’t detect before due to the seal on your bracelet. You don’t have his full power, but what you do have—your healing—is potent when combined with your father’s heritage and my moonlight."

Before I could say something, she suddenly summoned a mirror and held it in front of me. What I saw made my jaw nearly drop from my face. My normally tan skin was now completely fair to the point of almost looking pale. My dark raven hair was a wheat-like hue and looked longer than before, while my grey eyes were a shining gold colour, and the pupils were completely feline-like instead of round.

"Wha-...What happened to me?" I was looking at her with wide, fearful eyes.

Selene, seeing my panic, quickly sat on the bed and put her hands onto my shoulders."The seal suppressed more than your powers—it masked your entire heritage. Your new appearance isn’t a power boost. It’s just... who you really are, without magic holding you back."

My tremblings started slowing down after she explained, but even then, I had a lot of questions."What exactly does that mean for me? Being half primordial while also being Apollo's grandkid?"

Selene raised her hand and gently put it on my cheek, the gaze in her eyes looked almost.... motherly."It means that while you are already more powerful than most by simply being Thanatos's son. "Even as a Legacy, Apollo's gift of healing—especially when fused with your father’s power and my moonlight—makes you incredibly resilient. That passive healing might save your life more than once, especially given how dangerous your path will be."

(three races at the age of 7, take that, Ichigo!)

I nodded along to her explanation, and I was about to ask her a question when suddenly her gaze turned serious as she looked into my eyes."Now, onto the bigger problem. It seems like we need to change our training plan."

That actually made me pause for a moment. A change to the training? It's taken me a lot to get this far as is, and now I need to add more to my schedule? That seems.... overwhelming.

Selene's voice broke me out of my musing as I turned back towards her.
"It seems we need to have a change of plans. Originally, we wanted to make you a shadow-focused fighter due to my and your father's Umbrakineses, however, now we need to try incorporating Apollo's abilities into that training while simultaneously learning how to use a long sword."

I groaned and flopped back against the pillow. "So... god-tier glow-up and more hellish training? Fantastic."

She chuckled softly but didn’t deny it.

I just sighed and took one last glance at my new appearance in the mirror."Looks like we have a lot of work to do then."

And with that, my hellish training with Selene has begun at last.

2 YEARS LATER

SELENE POV:

It has been two years ever since I revealed to Alexander his real heritage, and it's safe to say he has been shaken. But that is to be expected when a person finds out his mother has been lying to him about her true identity.

Over these two years, Alexander has started reminding me more and more of my dear faded brother. When he found out I was going to train him in the long sword, he tackled me into a tight hug...Gods, just like Helios at times, have always had an ethic for sword fighting, and that much is for certain.

But while my brother was exceptional, Alexander was simply astonishing. He picked up the basics of the sword as if it were breathing, and while my brother was an incredible swordsman, Alexander seemed almost like an artist with a blade in his hand.

"Begin!" I announced before lunging at him. The thrust aimed directly at his head was only intended to scare him into taking action.

Yet, instead of dodging or ducking out of the way, he faced the incoming tip of my spear sword and took a step towards me. Tilting his head just enough for the flat of my sword to graze harmlessly by his ear as he brought his own sword up swiftly.

I quickly reacted to his counter by jumping back just in time as the tip grazed past my face. I took a few steps back and kept my eyes on him the entire time. It was incredible; the very moment I reacted to his counter, he went into a defensive stance almost as if on instinct.

I was obviously holding back a lot, but that was to be expected after all; he is still only a child while I am Milenia old with even more experience. However... it was now time for the real test."Shall we turn this up a little?" I imbued my sword with a bit of my divine energy as I walked around him in a circle.

ALEX POV:

Here it comes, the moment I have been training for for the past two years. The first true duel using our powers.

I raised my short sword to just above my waistline, ready to attack or defend. The courtyard was completely silent, bar for my breathing and Selene's footsteps as she circled me.

Suddenly, she stopped in front of me and held her spear sword up, making what seemed a figure eights position as the tip of her blade let out a little hum from her divine energy. Until now, I have been holding my own against her even if it was blatantly obvious that she has been holding back against me, yet now there were no openings in her stance, not a single one.

The baleful pressure coming from her would have made the old me buckle instantly as she was standing there with an irritating innocent smile, yet I got stronger since then, far stronger.

Memories of our many spars before today flood my mind as the air grew tense around us. My focus, however, remained on her grip instead of the sword as I blocked out all other senses.

I could feel my hands tremble ever so slightly, but not from fear; no, this was excitement. I, of course, knew that I was no match for her as of yet, but the pure fact she decided to take this spar seriously enough to use her powers was nothing short of blood heating.

"Please prepare yourself. I wouldn't want my student to die so quickly." That was all she said before dashing at me, leaving a trail of dust behind her as she closed the gap between us. In one fluid motion, she thrust her spear sword like a coil spring, using the movement of her initial step. I quickly twisted my head to avoid the stab, but a few strands of my hair were cut off.

"Excellent reflex." She commented as she prepared for her next strike. She instantly followed up with an angled lunge at my chest, I quickly raised the scarab of my short sword. The clash caused a loud metal bang to reverberate throughout the courtyard as I was flung back a good few feet.

Quickly recovering by spinning on my free hand, I pivoted myself using the moment of her own attack to whirl my small body to generate a rapid strike. Selene managed to lean her head back just moments before my sword reached her, but a thin gold line appeared across the tip of her nose.

Her silver eyes widened in surprise, but she composed herself almost instantly. I took advantage of that split second opening to lunge at her, bringing my sword back just to create enough momentum for a soft upward swipe at her legs.

Unsurprisingly, however, she was able to react to my strike by repositioning her spear sword as a sharp ring of metal on metal reverberated through the courtyard again, making me cringe.

Unfortunately, that split-second distraction was enough for Selene to knock me off my feet and put her blade at my neck."Yield?" She asked with a smug smirk.

Sighing, I lightly nodded my head."Yes, I yield."She took the blade away and helped me stand up to my feet again."It appears the student can't hold a candle to the teacher after all." I said while taking a drink from a water skin.

Selene only shook her head and looked at me."You managed to draw some ichor from me; that is more impressive for your age than you think."She ruffled my hair before turning a bit serious."I have a gift for you, Alexander."

Quickly swallowing the water I had in my mouth, I looked at her while tilting my head curiously."A gift?"

"Indeed, follow me, please." Selene began walking back towards the main vault as I followed after her. She pointed to a brilliant-looking long sword that sat against a broken marble pillar. I have noticed the sword before while walking through this room in the past two years, but I never really approached out of respect."Selene, what is that?"

I looked at her when she didn't answer and saw a bittersweet expression on her face. "That, my dear boy, used to be my brother's blade." her tone was sad and almost seemed remenisent, not that I can blame her she did loose her brother thousands of years ago after all.

I turned my attention back to the sword and looked at it a little closer. I never noticed the details before since I only looked at it briefly, but now that I look at it clearly, the blade of the sword is pure obsidian black while the edges are a sharp crimson hue. The cross guard was in a straight horizontal line, while the pomel was shaped into the image of a black sun.

"It is yours now." I whipped my head around to look at Selene when she said that, eyes wide open in shock."W-...what?" I barely managed to stammer out.

The sadness in her eyes when she turned to me almost broke me on the spot. I tried to deny it, but during the time Selene was with me, she took on the role of my mother without me realising it."It... it is very clear to me that my brother will not be returning anymore, and you will need a weapon when you enter the divine world."

"But... can I even handle a divine weapon?" My gold eyes finally managed to close for a moment as I looked at the sword."My brother's blade is... special, to say the least. Unlike other symbols of power, it shapes itself to its user, so the answer is yes, you will be able to handle it because it will adapt to you. As you grow stronger, so will it grow with you once you bond with it."

I was silent for a few more moments before looking up at her, Determination filled my gold feline-like eyes as I gave a firm nod."Alright, I'll do it."

Selene brought the blade to me and extended the handle towards me so I could grab it. As soon as I grabbed it, she touched the tip of the blade and spoke some kind of Incantation in Ancient Greek."Me to parón sas desmévo me énan néo kýrio, ypiretíste ton ópos tha ypiretoúsate ton Ílio."

The very moment she finished the chant, I felt the runes on my spine crawl back onto my forearm and into the blade. Searing pain instantly shot through me, and I squeezed my eyes shut on instinct, but I refused to let go of the sword. This was different from two years ago. I refuse to repeat my past mistakes as I channelled some divine energy into the healing rune from Apollo to ease the pain slightly.

After what felt like an eternity, the runes crawled back onto my spine as I opened my eyes. What welcomed me, however, was a shock,he blade I now held… was no longer the obsidian and crimson weapon that had rested against the pillar for so long.

It was alive.

The steel shimmered with an ethereal purple glow, like starlight captured in solid form. Intricate runes danced just beneath the surface—like veins beneath skin—glowing faintly with every heartbeat, as if the sword had become a part of me. The crossguard remained horizontal but was sleeker now, tapering into wing-like curves that mirrored Selene’s sigil. The pommel, once a black sun, now burned with a soft violet radiance, as though eclipsed by moonlight.

It was no longer Helios’s sword. It was mine.

And it felt like it had always been waiting for me.

I looked at Selene, who seemed just as stunned as I was, despite having warned me that the weapon would change to match its wielder. As soon as I let go of the sword, it vanished in a shimmer of moonlight, and in its place, a new bracelet coiled around my wrist—sleek, rune-etched metal with a soft, violet glow.

I turned to her for answers, and she offered a light smile, still caught between awe and pride.

“Hm? Ah, yes,” she said. “It has a hidden form, like most divine weapons. Anytime you wish to summon it, just channel a bit of divine energy.”

I nodded, exhaling slowly, then focused. A pulse of energy surged through me, and the blade materialized in my hand once more, elegant and terrifying in its beauty.

"I… Thank you, Selene. It's a truly wonderful gift." My voice trembled with quiet gratitude.

But she tilted her head, confused. "Gift? Oh! Oh no, this isn’t the gift I was talking about." Her hand lifted, pointing behind me. “That is.”

I turned—and felt my breath catch in my throat.

There, resting on a marble pedestal, stood a suit of jet-black armor trimmed in gold. It was beautiful. No, it was sacred. The contours of the armor were sleek but strong, almost predatory. The helmet’s horns curved forward like a crescent moon ready to pierce the heavens, and from the shoulders flowed a long, fur-lined white cloak that seemed to glow softly even in the low light.

I stared, unable to speak, until I felt Selene’s hand rest gently on my shoulder.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she whispered. Her voice was faraway, heavy with memory. “That armor served me well for countless centuries. It guarded me in battle, shielded me in solitude. Now… I want you to have it.”

I turned to her, eyes wide. “Selene, I—I can’t accept something like this.”

But she gently squeezed my shoulder. “Please. Give it a new purpose. Let it protect the innocent, even if I no longer can.”

Her voice cracked, just slightly. I looked up at her and saw the shimmer of tears in her eyes. My chest tightened.

“…Alright,” I whispered. “I’ll do it.”

I stepped toward the armor, reached out, and laid my palm against its chestplate. The metal was cold, but a warmth bloomed beneath my fingers. Selene came beside me again, placing one hand on my shoulder and the other on the armor.

She closed her eyes and spoke, her voice calm and steady: “Me to parón metavivázo tin kyriótita ston Alexander Shard.”

The moment the last word fell, the armor dissolved into a constellation of starlight and wrapped around my arm, forming a second bracelet—sleek, silver-black, adorned with fine golden veins.

I looked down at it, then up at her. “Thank you for this, truly—”

But the words caught in my throat.

Her skin was… cracking. Tiny fractures, glowing silver, began spreading across her cheek. Another flake drifted down from her arm like ash.

“Selene…?” My voice shook with rising panic. “What’s happening?”

She smiled gently, even as more of her body began to flake away like dry leaves in the wind. “I am sorry, Alex. But it’s time for me to join my brother now.”

“No… no, please—don’t.” My voice broke. “Don’t do this. It’s the armor, right? I can give it back, I can—just don’t leave me.”

Her hand reached out, caressing my cheek with ghostlike softness. “This isn’t your fault, child. My fading was inevitable. You gave me purpose again… that’s more than I could’ve ever asked.”

Tears streamed down my face. My knees felt weak. “Please,” I begged. “Please don’t leave me again…”

She pulled me close, wrapped her arms around me, and kissed my forehead. “You were never alone,” she whispered. “You never will be. Not while you carry me in your heart.”

Then she stepped back, the last of her body flickering with silver light.

“Thank you, my child,” she said, and smiled.

And then… she was gone.

As her final particles of silver dust caught the light and vanished into the moonlit air, silence fell.

A silence so deep, it felt like the world had stopped spinning.

My breath hitched. My limbs trembled. I was empty. Hollow. A boy with a sword, a bracelet, and no mother to guide him.

I don't know how long I knelt there in the stillness. Maybe minutes. Maybe hours. But eventually, the tears dried, and exhaustion won. My body collapsed to the floor, armour clinking softly as I whispered one last, broken plea.

“Don’t go…”

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Thank you for reading, and see you next time!(ALSO LEAVE COMMENTS PLEASE!)

Chapter Text

[FUN FACT OF THE CHAPTER: I originally planned for Alex to be Asteria's kid instead of Thanatos's but ultimately decided against it because we don't know much about her other than her domains and that she is Hecate's mother and Leto's sister.]

Alex POV:

Warmth. I felt the moonlight of the vault fill my body with a warm feeling. But for some odd reason, I didn't feel the usual coldness I would have felt from lying on the cold ground.

I slowly opened my eyes and saw what looked like an endless void of smoke, moonlight and darkness. Yet, despite the cold atmosphere, the moonlight made me feel comfortable.

"So, you are finally awake." I heard an angelic yet familiar voice say. Turning my head to the right, I realised I was lying in somebody's lap. But as soon as I looked up at the person's face, I felt like crying again.

Flawless pale white skin, dark raven hair with strands of silver, silver eyes, she looked like anything I had seen before, but that smile... that smile kind, motherly smile I'd recognize anywhere."Selene?" I asked as tears already started to form in my eyes and my breath started to become ragged.

I immediately got up from her lap and threw my arms around her, hugging her like my life depended on it as I barely held back my tears."I-I thought I lost you, Selene...*sniff* I thought you faded." The tears were barely held back anymore.

She gently cupped my face, gently stroking my cheek as she brought her face closer to mine. I closed my eyes as I felt her press a soft, motherly kiss to my forehead."Sadly, my child, I no longer reside in the physical realm. This is the space between the moral realm and the realm of the faded. I could only bring you here thanks to your father's help...." She looked away from me for a brief moment, as she looked deep in thought. I could see tears welling up in her eyes as she quickly wiped them away before looking at me with a sad smile.

"We do no have much time, my child. There are many things that I wish to tell you but am unable to due to certain circumstances." She paused for a moment before looking me deep in the eyes."The blood that runs through you is powerful, child, far more powerful than you even realise. I am sure you realised it already, but I have given you my blessing, child. I know it might seem overwhelming, but I am absolutely certain that you will be able to handle this responsibility." Selene added with a warm smile, yet a serious tone.

Nodding, I placed my hand on top of the one she had on my cheek."I know, I promise I'll be careful."

Smiling, she leaned in and pressed another gentle kiss on my forehead."Good. It is the obligation of those born strong to defend the weak. Don't ever forget that, my child." She paused again, her expression turning serious."There will be those who will try to use your power for their own greed. Be mindful of those you trust, but don't ever forget, family always comes first, my child; always protect the ones close to you."

I nodded again as I gave her my best serious face."I promise you Selen-..I promise, Mother. I will keep others safe just like you kept me safe all this time."

She gave one last pat on the head as the surroundings started to fade away."Thank you, my child. I must leave you now. Listen to me, Alexander. You will pass through many hardships during your life, but no matter what, I know you will prevail in the end, my death child." She stood up as my vision started to go blurry again, but I could still hear her say one last thing."My vault will disappear soon after my fading. Please take what you need and leave, my child. Do not be caught in it when it vanishes."

That was the last thing I heard as my vision finally went dark, but before I fully passed out, I could have sworn I saw a lean and muscular man with a regal face, golden eyes, and black hair flowing down his shoulders smiling at me sadly.

As I woke up again, I was lying on the same cold ground where I saw Selene fade, yet as I looked around, I noticed the marble walls were starting to lose their colour. Realising I didn't have much time, I quickly stood up and dusted myself off before looking around for essential stuff.

Walking around, I picked up a pouch and stashed around three hundred drachmae before putting it on my belt. After that, I entered the nearby storage room Selene used to store food for me for the past 2 years I spent here. Picking out a black backpack, I stashed a few essentials: five boxes of matches, a hunting knife, a small sleeping bag and a water canteen.

Making sure I had everything, I made my way before stopping when a book caught my eyes. Deciding to gamble with my time, I quickly made my way over and picked the book up to read the title, 'Basic Guide for a Demigod Sanctuary-Atalante.' Huh, neat. I quickly stashed the book into my backpack before heading out of the vault.

Taking one last deep breath, I finally stepped through the threshold of the place I called home for the past two years, ready to face the challenges ahead of me.

As soon as I stepped out through the space that separated the cave and the vault, I felt a sense of loss, almost like I left a part of me inside the vault. Letting out a deep sigh, taking a deep breath, I walked out of the small cave, backpack slung over my shoulder, both my armor and sword on either of my wrists in bracelet forms.

TIME SKIP :

ALEX POV:

I stacked up some kindling and thin firewood and ignited my fire for the night. Sighing, I looked towards the small stream running through the cave.

It had already been about nine days since Selene faded, and her vault disappeared. As I initially left the cave, I immediately began travelling since I couldn't risk monsters swarming around the former vault after Selene's protection disappeared.

This was proven to br quite easy due to the fact that the very moment I left the cave, two pure black avian wings with purple specs grew out of my back, oh and let me tell you it hurt like a bitch. Just imagine bones suddenly growing from your back at a terrifying speed without a single warning.

The other notable thing that happened was that I decided to name the armour and weapon Selene gifted me right before fading. I named her armour Skotophylax (Σκοτοφύλαξ)t. I know it sounds cheesy, but I think it fits with me being Nyx's grandson and the fact I got it from a moon goddess, so I decided to go with it.

As for Helios's blade, I decided to name it Dyskērion(Δυσκήριον). I think the name fits well with the whole purple ethereal look of the blade.

Anyway, back to my current situation, after I woke up, I walked through the forest for a while. At first, my leg hurt for some odd reason, but it became less painful with each step and by nightfall, I was only left with a few aches here and there.

I flew in the direction of Long Island, as I remember Selene mentioning that Camp Halfblood was located there. The Journey lasted a few hours before I managed to clear through the dense forest and arrive at a small cave somewhere in Nebraska. It was surrounded by trees on all sides, with a small stream of clear water flowing through it.

And that's about the gist of what happened until now. Currently, I was grilling some fish I caught in the stream over the fire. I had my white fur cloak from the arm summoned and around my shoulders. At first, I thought it would help a little, but it turns out it's some enchanted cloth piece that regulates the temperature of my body, so I was feeling comfortable even when sitting out in the night sky.

I took the fish off the fire and took a bite when they started to smell nice, and honestly I felt like patting myself on the back because who would have thought that fish cooked in such a simple way could taste so good.

After I finished eating, I threw half the fish into the fire as a sacrifice to my dad and walked over to the stream to fill my water bottle before washing my hands and face. Looking down at my expression, I noticed my hair had grown significantly longer, and it now reached my shoulders.

I sat back down on the sleeping bag I had set up near the fire and looked through my backpack, pulling out the harpy claw I got the first day I met Selene. Ever since she took the seal of my wrist two years ago, I had been feeling a certain pull in my gut towards it. It's almost like it's waiting on my call for some reason. Sighing, I decided to give it a shot.

Closing my fist around the claw, I focused my Umbrakinesis to envelop the entirety of the claw as I closed my eyes when I heard the voice call to me again."Free-." The voice cut off before returning clearer."Free us-"It was the same voice the Harpy from that day had, the one that had tried to kill me when I was merely six years old. Had it not been for Selene then-

Taking a deep breath, I opened my eyes, I have no idea how but it felt almost instinctual as I focused all shadows around me to my will. Specs of purple appeared in my eyes and shadows started violently swirling around the claw as the voices started getting louder, but I ignored them and kept my focus on the extraction."Serve me."

The moment the sentence rolled off my tongue, the shadows slowly stopped swirling as the claw crumbled and instead took the shape of the harpy, yet this time, instead of the brown wings, they were pure black and purple like my own. Her figure had a sort of shadowy gloom to her as she knelt down in front of me."Master... please, grant me a name." She asked in a soft yet raspy voice.

Safe to say, I was quite taken back by the sudden change in her attitude, but I think this has something to do with my father's power mixed with some of Selene's Umbrakineses. But back to the topic, a name, huh.

I pondered for a few moments before looking down at the Harpy."Nerys, your name shall be Nerys." She looked up at me, and I could have sworn I saw some joy in her eyes as she bowed her head again. With one last nod to her, I lay down on my sleeping bag and prepared to turn in for the night. But just as I was about to fall asleep, I caught Nerys sitting up on a boulder, staring at the cave entrance as if standing guard.

Thinking nothing of it turned around and faced the fire before slowly falling asleep.

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THE NEXT DAY

The morning sun filtered through the mouth of the cave, painting golden lines across the stone. I stirred beneath my blanket, stretching my limbs with a faint groan as my body adjusted to consciousness. Nerys was still perched on the boulder near the entrance, ever-vigilant, her gaze fixed on the forest beyond. She hadn’t moved all night.

“Don’t you sleep?” I muttered as I walked past her, earning only a flick of her ear in response.

I knelt beside the nearby stream, the water cool and clear. It splashed against my hands as I washed my face, chasing away the last remnants of sleep. After refilling my canteen, I stood, rolling my shoulders to loosen them before returning to my things. The rhythm of packing was almost second nature by now: sleeping bag, rations, gear, check. Backpack secured.

Time to go.

I stepped out of the cave into the crisp morning air. Nerys leapt silently to my side, her expression unreadable. I gave her a sideways glance, then let a grin tug at my lips as I pulled my hood up.

“Think you can keep up?” I teased.

She didn’t answer—just rolled her eyes and, to my surprise, melted seamlessly into my shadow like she was diving into water.

I blinked, startled. “Huh… neat,” I muttered, shaking my head.

With a thought, I unfurled my wings—those radiant extensions of moonlight and shadow—and launched into the air. The wind rushed past me, cool and clean, as I sliced eastward through the sky. Nebraska vanished behind me in a blur of trees and grassland, replaced with the endless blue above and the soft drift of clouds below.

It didn’t take long. Flying is efficient, even if I can’t wear Skotophýlax while doing it. But armor was for battle, not introductions. And besides, hiding my wings and summoning the armor was as simple as breathing now.

Before long, the landscape began to shift. A forest gave way to hills, and there—bathed in sunlight and nestled behind the borders of magic and myth—I saw it. Camp Half-Blood.

I landed just shy of the hill Selene had mentioned, my boots crunching softly on the grass. My wings folded and vanished in a shimmer of darkness. Adjusting my backpack and hood, I took a deep breath.

This was it.

I was about to step forward when a figure appeared at the top of the hill—tall, curly brown hair, brown eyes, a short beard. And—yep—horns and goat legs. A Satyr. Just like Selene had described.

He approached quickly, hooves soft against the earth, eyes scanning me with cautious curiosity. "You," he said, a bit out of breath, "you're a half-blood, right?"

I hesitated, caught off guard by the bluntness. Then I remembered—Satyrs can sense demigods and magic. I gave a small nod and extended my hand.

“I am, yes. Alexander Shard, at your service.”

The Satyr blinked at me, frozen for a moment, like I’d said something strange. Then he recovered and shook my hand firmly.

“Grover Underwood,” he introduced, then gestured for me to follow. “Come on, I’ll take you to Chiron.”

We crested the hill together, and as the full view of Camp Half-Blood opened before me, I felt my breath catch. It was...beautiful.

Rolling hills of green met an endless blue lake in the distance, sparkling like starlight. Ancient Greek-style buildings dotted the valley—an open-air pavilion, an amphitheater, a large circular arena. Kids in orange shirts trained in combat, fired arrows at spinning targets, and even played volleyball alongside more Satyrs. Some rode pegasi through the sky, whooping with joy.

This place… it didn’t feel like just a camp.

It felt like a promise.

We made our way toward a large farmhouse with a wide porch. Two men sat at a table beneath the shade: one with a blanket across his knees, the other in a tiger-striped Hawaiian shirt with a Diet Coke in hand.

Grover leaned toward me slightly. “That’s Mr. D, the camp director. Be respectful. And the one in the wheelchair is Chiron.”

Mr. D barely looked up from his soda. But Chiron, hearing Grover’s approach, turned and smiled warmly. “Ah, Grover, my boy. And who is this?”

I stepped forward before Grover could answer. “Alexander Shard,” I said, meeting Chiron’s gaze calmly. “I was told to come here.”

“You know what this place is, then?” Chiron asked, tilting his head.

“Not much,” I said quickly. “Just that I’m supposed to be here.”

A half-truth. I already knew far more from Selene, but it seemed wiser to play it close.

Chiron’s smile didn’t falter. “I see. Welcome, Alexander.”

He extended a hand, and I took it. His grip was steady—warm, but ancient. I was offered a seat beside Mr. D, who still hadn’t looked up.

Chiron introduced him. “This is Mr. D, by the way—”

“You are Dionysus,” I said bluntly, turning to the god. “The twelfth Olympian. God of wine, grape-harvest, festivity, madness, theater. Son of Zeus and Semele.”

Mr. D blinked. Slowly. “You… what?”

“I figured it out. ‘Mr. D,’ despite being a god? Only a few gods start with D. Dodona’s a woman, and Chiron wasn’t afraid enough for you to be Deimos. So… Dionysus. Process of elimination.”

I kept my tone casual, masking the fact that I’d sensed his divine aura the moment I got within ten feet of him. His power was nothing to sneeze at, but it was still a flicker compared to Selene.

Dionysus stared at me like I’d grown a second head. Then he looked at Chiron.

“Never in my years has any of these brats figured me out that fast.”

Chiron chuckled. “You’re the first, Alexander.”

We spoke for nearly half an hour. Chiron explained things I already knew, but I played along—letting him guide the conversation as if I were new to it all. Selene’s teachings echoed in every word, a quiet reminder of what I had lost… and what I still carried.

Eventually, Dionysus stretched and stood with a groan. “I’m going to take a nap before the sing-along tonight,” he muttered, then paused to give me a long, searching look.

“Cabin Eleven, Alexander Shard,” he finally said. Then, frowning slightly, “Huh… weird.”

He walked off without another word, motioning Grover to follow.

I watched them go, then muttered under my breath, “He’s got quite the temper.”

Chiron’s ears twitched.

“He’s not truly angry,” he said, rising. “Just bitter. He’s… grounded. Not allowed back on Olympus for another two centuries.”

I raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Then Chiron stood fully—and kept rising. His blanket fell away, revealing that his legs didn’t stop where I expected. His human waist rose, blending seamlessly into a powerful horse’s torso.

My eyes widened in wonder.

“…Huh,” I breathed again. “Neat.”

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THANK YOU FOR READING FOLKS, PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR THE DELAY I WAS SICK, WELL STILL AM BUT THATS ANOTHER STORY. THE NEXT UPDATE WILL BE ABOUT A WEEK MAYBE 4 DAYS FROM NOW, WE SHALL SEE.

Chapter Text

[FUN FACT OF THE CHAPTER: My inspiration for Alex's character is Arthur Leywin from 'The Beginning After the End'. This will be made further clear in the first book with his fatal flaw and personality.]

After I was able to digest the fact that I was being led around by the trainer of heroes, the tour was quite enjoyable. We passed the volleyball pit together, and I took notice of how a lot of campers were about the same age as me or just a little older.

The moment we walked past the pit, every eye turned towards us. With every step we took, another person would nudge their friend and point at me."Look, we have a newbie!" I heard one of them call out.

Now, don't get me wrong, I am not a particularly shy person, but I wouldn't exactly call myself an extrovert since I always preferred to keep company with myself or close friends.

Next, we walked through the strawberry fields where campers were picking bushels of berries while one of the satyrs played a tune on his reed pipe."The strawberries pay for our expenses at camp, they take almost no effort to grow, and the demand for them is quite high in the city." Chiron explained to me as we passed a pair of blond twins with purple eyes, surprising their divine energy matched that of Dionysus, only in a much lower magnitude.

'Must be his kids.' I thought to myself as I followed Chiron into the woods. The closer we got, the more I noticed just how big the forest actually is; it seemed to take up about half of the entire valley, with trees as tall as what you'd expect to see in a rainforest.

But that wasn't what caught my attention, no, it was the dozens of faint life forces scattered around the woods. Chiron, who most likely noticed my gaze, laid a hand on my shoulder."The woods are stocked, if you care to try your luck, then please do take some armour and weapons with you." He explained calmly as he looked down at me. (Alex is currently 136cm/4'3)

He finally led me to get a closer look at the cabins nestled in the woods near the lake, which were arranged in an inverted U-shape. And they were, without doubt, the most bizarre collection of buildings I'd ever seen. Except for the fact that each had a large brass number above the door (odds on the left side, evens on the right), they looked absolutely nothing alike.

Number nine had smokestacks, like a tiny factory. Number four had tomato vines on the walls and a roof made out of real grass. Seven seemed to be made of solid gold, which gleamed so much in the sunlight it was almost impossible to look at. They all faced a commons area about the size of a soccer field, dotted with Greek statues, fountains, flower beds, and a couple of basketball hoops. In the centre of the field was a huge stone-lined fire pit.

Even though it was a warm spring afternoon, the hearth was smouldering high. A girl who looked about my age tended to the fire, probing the embers with a stick. She looked towards our direction and offered a gentle wave, which I promptly returned.

"Ah, Varay, just who I was looking for." Chiron's voice snapped me out of my staring. Looking at him, I noticed him staring somewhere else.

Following his line of sight, I noticed a girl my age approaching us. She had shoulder-length sliver-white almost platinum hair, piercing ice blue eyes and a pale complexion. I don't know why, but I could have sworn the temperature dropped the moment she got closer.

"The spear and sword contest is beginning soon, and I'd rather not keep the Ares cabin waiting. Would you be so kind as to take Alex from here?" Chiron's question only received a small nod from the girl.

"Cabin eleven, Alexander. Make yourself at home." Chiron told me before he galloped off towards one of the other cabins, cabin 5.

Honestly, if someone ever asked you what a serial killer's house looks like, it would be this cabin. It was a vivid read with quite an aggressive paint job done over the walls, the roof was lined with barbed wire, and a giant stuffed boar's head was nailed above the doorway. That's right, you heard me nailed, not hung. The nail was impaled right between the boar's eyes.

"Follow me..." The girl's monotone voice broke me out of my thought process. She led me to a cabin, which looked more like a Red Cross camp. The door had a caduceus symbol on it. The Hermes cabin, I concluded. The cabin was overcrowded with kids of all ages. The moment we stepped inside, every eye turned towards us.

The kids stared at me for a few moments before some of them sat up straight and kept i contact, most likely trying to intimidate me.... Hilarious. See, now any sane person would have just ignored it and gone on with their day, unfortunately, I was never good at refusing a challenge.

Yet just as I was about to do something very petty, a voice spoke up from the back of the cabin."Regular or undertermined?"

I tried to look for the source of the question, but the cabin was so crowded that I couldn't notice even if I wanted to, shrugging, I looked back at the other campers and went to answer when-

Everyone suddenly fell silent, which confused me for a moment before I noticed them all staring above my head. Craning my neck, I glanced at what they were staring at. It was then that I noticed a hologram of an invented torch with white flames floating above my head.

I have a feeling I know what the hologram means, but I'd rather wait for someone to explain so it won't be suspicious. Suddenly, all hell broke loose, the kids started talking or rather shouting, amongst themselves, and even the girl, Varay, I believe, seemed stunned before her face went back into that cold mask.

Amidst the chaos, I barely registered the sounds of hooves approaching fast. I looked behind me just in time to notice Chiron galloping towards us with a stunned look. He looked at me weirdly before quickly shaking his head and clearing his throat.

"Thanatos." He began, seemingly trying to keep his voice calm.“God of Death, Lord of the Underworld’s Rest. Harbinger of Endings, Bringer of Peace. Hail, Alexander Shard, Child of death himself!”

The moment he finished speaking, everyone seemed to shrink back a little, although a blond guy at the back was glaring at me for some odd reason.

Slowly, the hologram faded into nothingness as the cabin seemed to release a collective breath of relief. Chiron opened his mouth to say something, but before has was able to get his words out, a bright light appeared above my head. Its source? A hologram of a golden Lyre right above my head.'Must be Apollo's claiming symbol for legacies." I deduced quite easily, but to be fair, I spend half my life with an ancient titaness of the moon.

“Apollo,” Chiron said at last, his voice steadier now, though laced with something that sounded like awe—or confusion. “The Far-Shooter, Lord of Light, Healer and Poet, Guardian of Prophecy. Hail, Alexander Shard, Legacy of the Sun God.”

This time, the reaction was less fear and more... unease. Yet despite that, it only caused even more muttering amongst the Hermes cabin members.

“A child of Death… and legacy of Light?” someone muttered.

“Can that even happen?”

“You think he glows in the dark or something?”

I ignored their mutterings as the lyre shimmered one last time before vanishing, its golden glow fading like the final note of a song. Chiron stepped forward, still seeming a little cautious, but despite that, a small smile played at his lips“I suppose... You are full of surprises, aren't you, Alexander?”

I offered a small chuckle in response. Oh, if only you knew Chiron, if only you knew. If this had him so panicked, then imagine his reaction if he found out the rest. Finding the image hilarious, I looked up at him with a soft smirk."So, do I stay here or in the Apollo Cabin?"

Chiron put his hand to his bearded chin, seemingly lost in thought before he looked down at me."Well, seeing as you are Lord Apollo's legacy, I do not think he would have a problem if you stayed in his cabin."

Giving him a nod, I picked my backpack back up and followed him outside as he guided me towards cabin 7. Just as I stepped through the doorway and turned to close the door, I noticed the platinum-haired girl staring at me calculatively before she gave a small, barely noticeable smile.

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The day went by quite quickly as I got settled into the Apollo Cabin. The cabin was quite spacious even despite the number of inhabitants. From what I saw until now, there are around thirteen of us in the cabin, which, compared to the Hermes cabin, is far more bearable.

The cabin itself is furnished quite simply; inside, there are bunk beds on either side with a couple of infirmary beds in the middle for the injured. Rough cedar beams rib the ceiling, and the white plaster walls are bare except for a few hooks for coats and weapons. It smells of clean linen and dried sage.

All in all, it is quite a modest cabin, but it feels very cosy, the only decoration around was flower pots on the window sills, they had some kind of yellow flower in it which I didn't recognise, when I asked one of the other kids, Cassia “Cass” Monroe she told me that those kinds of flowers only bloom on the island of Delos, where Apollo and Artemis have been born.

Thanks to Apollo's blessing, these flowers are able to grow in and around he cabin, but if taken away from the cabin's vicinity, they'll quickly wilt.

There were also a lot of hanging flower pots filled with purple hyacinths. This I didn't need to ask Cass about, Selene told me about the story of how a discus Apollo threw was redirected by a jealous Zephyrus, which led to the discus hitting Hyacinthus on the head, killing him.

Anyway, I was currently just roaming the camp while waiting for dinner to be called. If I am being honest, I expect people to react to my parentage a little more negatively due to me being the son of death itself, but despite there being a little warrines around camp most people didn't really seem to mind, maybe it has something to do with Apollo also claiming me right after my father.

As I kept walking, I heard metal clanging against straw just around to corner. As I turned the corner, I noticed the girl from earlier hacking at a straw doll; her form was honestly incredible, to say the least. And I know you are wondering, 'how does a 9-year-old know this?'. I always had a knack for sword fighting, especially the long sword. Honestly, I am starting to wonder if it isn't a child of Thanatos trait since one of his symbols is the sword.

I quietly walked up into the makeshift arena and leaned on a tree."Need a sparing partner?"The girl whipped around and threw her sword, seemingly on reflect. I quickly ducked away as it embodied itself in the tree in a perfect arc."Okay.... that just happened." I muttered under my breath before looking back at her.

She looked flustered for a moment before returning to her usual aloof expression."Apologies, my hand slipped." Varay said with a blank face, which was honestly really disturbing. Shaking my head, I pulled the sword out of the tree and twirled it around in my hand, gripping the tip of the blade as I held the pomel out to her.

She raised a white eyebrow for a moment before grabbing the blade and stepping back."Your sword." Varay said as she held her own blade up in a close right stance. She was good, that was for sure her guard barely has any openings and from that glint in her blue eyes-"Your sword." She repeated this time a little firmer.

Chuckling, I opened my palm as the bracelet transformed into Dyskērion, the jet-black longsword settled well in my hand as I looked up at Varay. She seemed a little surprised, but otherwise seemed like this was a normal occurrence for her.

"Sorry if it seems a little cheat-" I couldn't finish my sentence as I was forced to block the strike aimed at my chest. Jumping back, I swung Dyskērion down at her shoulder, but she managed to lean out of the way and counter my strike.

As our swords collided, it forced both of us to back off to a safe distance. We started circling around each other, looking for weaknesses. Suddenly she seemed to find an opening on my guard as she dashed forward unlishing a dozen thrusts in rapid succession.

I managed to dodge and react to most of them, but a few managed to graze me, drawing some blood. Twirling around, I aimed a strike at the pomel of her sword, which landed and disarmed her. Putting Dyskērion to her throat, I let a soft smirk appear on my face."Yield-" I barely moved my head out of the way as a blade of solid ice appeared in her hand.

She slashed the blade upward, forcing me to jump back as the edge whisped past my cheek. Bringing Dyskērion up from a back left stance, the broad of Dyskērion flying past Varay's face. She was decent, yes, but I was trained by a titaness, swinging Dyskērion in a wide arch, I slashed right through her ice blade with relative ease, I quickly pushed her to the ground and put my blade at her throat."Yield."

Varays stared up at me with a surprised look before nodding slightly."I yield."

Smiling slightly, I let go of Dyskērion as it transformed back into its bracelet form, holding my hand out to her. She took it and stood up, brushing her clothes off. Varay punched my arm lightly."You are very good, has anyone told you that?" She said with a small smirk on her normally emotionless face.

Chuckling, I shook my head."Thank you, you're not half bad either." I told her before we heard the horn blow for dinner.

Brushing off our clothes, we headed off towards the pavilion while talking together. It turns out that Varay is actually a daughter of Khione, which explains the whole ice powers thing. "You are quite lucky, you know, not many people get claimed on their first day here, usually it takes a couple of weeks." She explained, walking next to me.

This caused me to look at her for a moment. I mean, sure, Selene said that gods aren't exactly the best parents, but not even bothering to claim their kids? That's just absurd to me."You and I, we are the few exceptions." She continued before looking down."My mother, she... she might not have the best reputation around the pantheon, but she still loves her children."

Varay looked up at me, and for the first time, there was an actual smile on her face, not one of the small ones I saw until now, but an actual beaming smile."I believe your father might be the same, you know, they both get a bad rep for their domains, but despite it, they still value family, and that's what truly matters, does it not?"

Her question actually made me think back to my promise to Selene. 'Family always comes first, my child; always protect the ones close to you.' Yeah, I won't forget it. Looking up, I smiled at her back."Perhaps you're right, family matters the most after all." I told her just as we arrived at the dining pavilion. She said goodbye and walked off to the cabin 11 table while I made my way to the cabin 7 one.

"To the gods!" Chiron said, pounding his hoof on the pavilion floor, and everyone around repeated the sentence.

Soon after that, nymphs started coming out with several platters of various food from fruits to bread and even barbequed meat. It honestly smelled really good, but when I looked around for something to drink, I found that there was nothing served, yet there was a goblet sitting right in front of me.

"Speak to it." Lee Fletcher, the head counsellor of cabin 7, spoke up from next to me. I looked at him confused, but this only caused him to chuckle."Speak to it, the goblet is enchanted, so any non alcoholic drink you wish will appear in it." He explained with a wide, charismatic smirk.

Deciding to trust him, I lifted the goblet and spoke."Pineapple mango juice." It was filled with a yellow-ish liquid nearly instantly, I took a sip and sure enough, it was the same juice I have always loved.

It was then that Cass walked over with a platter of smoked brisket and put a few pieces on my plate."Welcome to Camp, shortstack." She quipped with a grin, which caused the other Apollo kids to snicker around me.

Suddenly, the others took a piece of their meal and stood up to walk to the fire."Offerings, I take it?" I asked Cass, who only nodded and pushed me before her. Guess she really took up the role of big sis huh...

Lee was walking in front of me, so he approached the fire first and bowed his head before tossing half a sandwich into it."Apollo."

After that, it was my turn to go, and I picked up a piece of Parmesan cheese before tossing it in the flames."Thanatos and Apollo." I instantly felt a small rush of energy, although that may have been due to the moonrise.

After this, we had a normal dinner, well as normal as it can be when Nerys was constantly whining in my shadow to let her out. Not like I could actually do it since a shadow harpy might cause some panic around here.

Anyway, I spent most of the dinner either talking and joking with Cass or Lee, since they are the oldest in cabin 7. I learned that Cass was actually supposed to be the head counsellor, but she refused the position, saying she prefers not having responsibility.

After dinner ended, Dionysus stood up with a sigh at Chiron's prompting. "Yes, I suppose I'd better say hello to all you brats. Well, hello. Our activities director, Chiron, says that I need to introduce all new campers because 'duty' BAH! Nonsense!" Then he sighed before lifting a can of Diet Coke."Well, I suppose welcome to camp Alexander Shard....." He grumbled enthusiastically.

A few of the campers cheered while Cass patted me roughly on the shoulder. Soon after that, we all headed off to the amphitheatre for the sing-along.

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THE NEXT DAY

My first night in the Apollo cabin was actually very nice since I didn't need to sleep outside for once, unfortunately, I still had to listen to lectures about ancient camp history courtesy of Nerys being a nerd....

Anyway, right after waking up, I went for a walk around camp like I always did while travelling here. Sure, some people might say that it's crazy for a 9-year-old to be training so much, or at least that's what I thought, but no one even batted an eye at me. Guess the half-blood life makes these kinds of things normal.

Anyway, I went about my morning routine for a while before I caught sight of the same girl from before. She was still tending to the blazing hearth as she poked the scorching coal pieces with a stick. Honestly, I am not sure why, but I feel oddly calm watching her, almost like she is affecting my senses somehow... hmmm, oh well!

Decided not to worry about I walked up to the hearth and sat down as I continued watching her for a few more moments before speaking up."Do you always poke hot things with a stick?" My voice seemed to have started her as she actually jumped a little before turning to me."You can see me?!" The girl exclaimed.

I only tilted my head in response with a bewildered look on my face."Of course I can, I mean you're not a spirit, trust me, I would be able to tell if you were." I told her with a small smile.

The girl stared at me for a few moments before her face broke out into a small, weirdly motherly-looking smile."No, I am not a spirit, that's true."

Chuckling, I extended a hand to her."I am Alex, and you are?" The small girl grasped my hand, that weird smile still on her face as she answered."It is nice to meet you, Alex. My name is Hestia." I froze. This is the Greek goddess of home and family?! I mentally cursed myself for letting my senses be overwhelmed and not notice a god's presence.

Sighs, I looked up at her before bowing my head slightly."Please forgive my insolence, Lady Hestia." I tried to keep my voice respectable, but to my surprise, she just giggled and shook her head in amusement.

"There is no need for all that Lady stuff. Just call me Hestia, please. I am not an Olympian, so all that respect just feels uncomfortable." She smiled at me, but I could have sworn there was a hint of sadness in her eyes.

Despite seeing her insistence, I shook my head."With all due respect, you are the second-oldest goddess alive, and that means something, My Lady."

She stared at me in surprise for a few moments before the same smile graced her lips."Thank you, Alex. You have no idea how much that means to me." Hestia said in a sweet, motherly voice."Sit down, Alexander. Tell me about yourself."

And so I did just that, I told her about how I first discovered my powers, killing the harpy, I kept the details about Nerys and Selene hidden for now and just said I had a good mentor and that my heritage makes me a better swordsman by default-which I am actually starting to believe to be honest. Anyway, I didn't like lying to her, but I just wasn't ready to reveal the details about Selene just yet- mostly since I am still not ready to talk about her myself....

Hestia and I talked for a few more hours when she excused herself, saying she had to return to Olympus for some sort of meeting, which I obviously respected. After saying my goodbyes to her, I walked around a little more before the conch shell blew for breakfast.

On the way, I met up with Varay, and we talked a little before she went to the Hermes table, and I went to the Apollo one. In the end, I got used to my new home at camp, sure it wasn't Selene's vault, but maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to live comfortably here.

And so three years have passed for me.

Chapter Text

Alex's first three years at Camp Half Blood went by in a blur as he settled into his new home, and yet that peace is about to be broken as an uncle's warning arrives in slumber.

Frost, Death and Balance set out to save the ghost from the Witch's grasp.

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