The soft light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a golden glow over the room.
Ikki slowly opened his eyes, ending his meditation that had lasted all night.
His body was relaxed, but his mind, which had been evolved to the extreme upon becoming a pseudo-god, helped him begin to glimpse a thread of understanding.
In addition, he had refined his authorities, exploring new applications for his powers. He performed small experiments, testing the limits of what he could do and adjusting his technique.
Each advance, however small, was a step towards complete mastery.
He stretched, feeling his muscles awaken with the movement, and then stood up, his feet touching the cold floor of the room. He walked to the mirror, running his fingers through his hair. His reflection stared back at him, the same figure as always.
He sighed.
He had more pressing matters to attend to.
After dinner the previous night, where he basically told his friends everything they wanted to know and answered all their questions, he told his friends he would contact Chiron about bringing reinforcements for the battle against Kronos. Now it was time to do so.
He took a gold drachma from his pocket, twirled it between his fingers, and tossed it into the water pitcher on the table.
"O, Iris, goddess of the rainbow, accept my offering. Show me Chiron, activities director of Camp Half-Blood."
The surface of the water shimmered, forming a rainbow. Soon, the image of the centaur appeared. He was in the Big House, sitting in his magic wheelchair, organizing a stack of scrolls. When he looked at Ikki, however, he furrowed his brows, clearly surprised.
"By the gods…" Chiron murmured. "You look… older."
Ikki suppressed a sigh. He had already expected this reaction, fortunately he was distorting his teacher's perception of his appearance, otherwise, well, he didn't even want to think....
"A spell gone wrong." He shrugged as he invented this lie: "I ended up aging a few years."
Chiron's eyes narrowed. He studied him for a moment, as if trying to see beyond the vague answer, but then just sighed.
"Magic can be treacherous. Are you feeling alright?"
"Perfectly."
"Right. But be careful. Spells like that sometimes have side effects that only manifest later."
Ikki just nodded. He didn't want to dwell on the subject.
"But I needed to talk about something important."
Chiron settled back in his chair.
"I'm listening."
"I have some friends who can help us with the war against Kronos. I want to bring them to Camp Half-Blood." Ikki paused before continuing, "I wanted to know if you would give me permission…?"
The centaur was silent for a moment, reflecting, before nodding.
"Yes. Every warrior counts. If they are willing to fight, they will be welcome."
Ikki let out a discreet sigh of relief. Having Chiron's confirmation made everything more real.
"And, speaking of news…" The centaur's tone acquired a slight trace of surprise. "Something happened on Olympus."
Ikki raised an eyebrow.
"Something… good?"
"It seems so." Chiron crossed his arms. "Zeus built cabins for all the Greek gods."
Ikki blinked.
"What?"
"Exactly what you heard." The centaur shook his head, as if he was still trying to process the news. "After a meeting with the other gods, he admitted he'd made mistakes as a ruler and decided to do better."
Ikki had already noticed a change in his father after their last conversation, but...
Zeus admitting he was wrong? Taking action to change something that had been wrong for centuries? That was almost as unexpected as Kronos giving up the war to open a bookstore.
He thought about the last time he spoke to his father. The way Zeus actually listened to him, if this change was a result of that, then… maybe the impossible had happened.
Maybe Zeus was learning.
Ikki let out a low sigh, running a hand through his hair.
"That took everyone by surprise," Chiron continued. "He said that the Olympian family needs to unite, instead of being divided by internal conflicts."
Ikki was silent for a moment, lost in thought. He wasn't naive. He knew that a single good decision didn't erase centuries of Zeus's mistakes. But, it was a start…
He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head.
"Wow."
"Yes," Chiron agreed. "And I don't say that often."
Silence hung between them for a moment. Then, Chiron smiled, tired but determined.
"Difficult times are coming, Ikki. But maybe, just maybe… we are finally learning from the mistakes of the past."
Ikki held the centaur's gaze for a moment and then nodded.
"Maybe."
A silence followed for a moment.
Chiron drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair, thoughtful. His expression was serious, but there was something more in his gaze, a weight, perhaps, of someone who had seen too many battles and knew how to recognize when war was approaching.
"But changing the subject. I have something that worries me, Ikki. What are your plans regarding Kronos? I didn't get to consult you about this when you were here a few weeks ago..." Chiron asked, getting straight to the point. "You know your opinion is valuable, Ikki. Perhaps more so than anyone else's."
Ikki didn't answer immediately. He looked away, as if organizing his thoughts before speaking. When he finally broke the silence, his voice was slow, deliberate.
"We're at a disadvantage for one reason only," he began, "Our enemy is in the dark. We don't know when or where they will attack. And being targeted by someone in the shadows... is always a problem."
Chiron nodded, his eyes fixed on him.
"But it's not entirely bad." Ikki leaned forward slightly. His tone wasn't arrogant, nor overly confident. It was that of someone who had already analyzed all the scenarios and knew exactly where the strengths and weaknesses of each side lay. "Kronos and his followers think they know our strengths. But they have no idea how far we've come."
The centaur just watched, waiting for him to continue.
"Their biggest mistake was giving us time," Ikki continued. "They think they're still dealing with the same Camp Half-Blood as before. That the demigods are talented but disorganized warriors. That if we face an army, we'll be crushed."
Chiron's eyes gleamed with a silent understanding. He knew what Ikki was talking about. He had witnessed firsthand the impact of the blessing the demigod had bestowed upon the campers, how their bodies, minds, and powers had been taken to an unprecedented level. And, above all, how they were now organized as a true army.
"They still see us as easy prey," Ikki continued, his voice firm. "But this time, we're not the ones at a disadvantage. They are."
Chiron tilted his head slightly.
"And what do you suggest?"
"For now, we continue preparing," Ikki replied. "I'll send my friends to Camp Half-Blood in the summer. The more time we have to reinforce training, the better. The more underestimated we are, the better."
He paused and his gaze sharpened.
"Because when Kronos finally attacks… he won't be facing the same Camp Half-Blood as before."
Chiron let out a deep sigh, as if he was both relieved and worried at the same time.
"I hope you're right, Ikki."
The demigod gave a small smile, but his eyes were still calculating.
"Me too."
Chiron was silent for a few moments, drumming his fingers on the chair. Then, he let out a tired sigh.
"You know, sometimes I forget you're still a teenager."
Ikki arched an eyebrow.
"Do I take that as a compliment or an insult?"
"Both," Chiron replied, giving a small smile. "You speak like someone who has led armies before."
Ikki shrugged.
"I just try to see things for what they are. If Kronos is planning a war, there's no point acting like it's a game of capture the flag."
"That's true." Chiron leaned back in his chair. "But I need to ask… have you been sleeping?"
Ikki blinked, taken aback by the question.
"Seriously?"
"Ikki." Chiron's tone was that of a teacher who already knew all the student's excuses. "I know you have… abilities that allow you to recover faster than others, but even gods need rest. And I'm not just talking about the body."
Ikki sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"I'm fine."
Chiron just raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.
"Ikki…"
"Chiron." Ikki crossed his arms, mimicking the centaur's tone.
The two stared at each other for a moment, until Chiron let out a resigned sigh.
"You're stubborn. More than Percy, which is scary."
Ikki smiled.
"Well, someone has to keep the standards high."
The centaur chuckled and shook his head.
"Anyway, I'd like to continue this conversation, but I have an entire camp to run." He pointed off-screen, as if chaos was happening somewhere. "And with the new cabins, there have been some… necessary adjustments."
"Must be fun dealing with superpowered teenagers all the time."
"Oh, yes. Wonderful." The centaur rolled his eyes. "Nothing like the possibility of a war to keep everyone too excited to be quiet."
Ikki laughed again, but his expression soon turned more serious.
"I'll help you as soon as I can, Chiron."
The centaur gave him a look that mixed gratitude and concern.
"I know. But don't carry this alone, boy, don't carry the weight of the world on your shoulders."
Ikki hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"I'll remember that."
Chiron smiled faintly.
"Talk to you soon."
Ikki returned the smile, and with a wave of his hand, he ended the Iris message. The image of the centaur disappeared, leaving only the faint shimmer of the water in the pitcher.
He stood there for a moment, watching the rippling reflection.
"Don't carry this alone…" he murmured to himself.
Ikki took a deep breath and pushed the thoughts away before they started to get too deep. There was no point dwelling on things he couldn't change now. He stood up and left the room, going down the stairs to the first floor of the Brooklyn House.
As soon as he stepped into the main hall, he stopped when he saw Sadie and Zia talking near the sofa.
At first, there was nothing unusual about it.
But then Ikki noticed their expressions, Sadie seemed uncomfortably nervous, while Zia maintained a serious posture, her arms crossed as if she was trying to hide something. Both fell silent as soon as they noticed his presence.
Ikki blinked.
"Uh… did I miss something?"
"No!" Sadie answered too quickly.
"Definitely not," Zia added, looking away.
Ikki narrowed his eyes at them. The way they had stopped talking so abruptly was suspicious.
"Okay… whatever it is, I don't want to know," he said, raising his hands in surrender. "But I have news."
Zia straightened her posture and Sadie immediately leaned against the sofa, interested.
"Spill it," Sadie said. "Before Zia gets serious again and starts looking at me in that judgmental way."
"I wasn't-" Zia sighed, exasperated. "Just talk, Ikki."
He suppressed a smile and went straight to the point.
"I just spoke to Chiron. I told him about bringing you guys to Camp Half-Blood."
Sadie raised an eyebrow.
"And he freaked out?"
"Actually, he was happy with the idea," Ikki corrected. "He said we need all the help we can get. And that you'll be welcome."
Zia nodded seriously.
"So, we're really going to fight alongside demigods."
"Does this mean I'll be able to see Percy, who you keep saying is your best friend, and annoy him personally?" Sadie asked excitedly, but her slightly forced tone made Ikki suspect she was trying to hide something.
Ikki just smiled as he answered.
"It means you'll go there in the summer and have time to get used to it before the war really starts."
Sadie grimaced.
"Great. Intense training and possible risk of death. My kind of vacation."
Zia crossed her arms.
"It's a battle camp, Sadie. What did you expect? A summer camp with marshmallows?"
"No, but I'd accept the marshmallows," Sadie retorted. "In fact, is that something I can negotiate? Because fighting an army of titans sounds a little more bearable if there's hot chocolate involved."
Ikki had a resigned expression: "I'll see what I can do."
Zia sighed. "If you spent half the effort training that you do making jokes, maybe you wouldn't need to worry so much about the risk of death."
"Oh, but where would the fun be in that?" Sadie smiled, before turning her attention back to Ikki. "Seriously, so it's official? We're really going to fight alongside demigods?"
"Yes..." Ikki confirmed.
At that moment, Carter and Walt entered the room, interrupting the conversation. Carter adjusted his thin-rimmed glasses, his attentive gaze analyzing the faces around him. Walt, as always, seemed calm, but Ikki noticed the way he glanced at Zia and Sadie, he already knew something was going on there.
"Hey," Carter began, his arms crossed. "We heard Sadie talking about a 'trip to Camp Half-Blood'. Is that serious?"
Sadie rolled her eyes.
"Good morning to you too, Carter. And yes, it's serious."
Ikki crossed his arms, leaning against the table.
"Chiron authorized me to bring allies to Camp Half-Blood. You're invited."
Carter frowned.
"And how exactly are the demigods going to react to a group of magicians showing up on their territory?"
Ikki sighed. "I've fought alongside them long enough to know that, at the end of the day, what matters is being able to protect yourself and others. And you know how to do that."
Walt chuckled. "Good point."
Carter, however, didn't seem convinced. "That's not the only problem. The balance of power has already been unstable since… well, since the Egyptian gods disappeared, and with Kronos rising, they're probably even more paranoid than usual."
Sadie snorted.
"Oh, please. If they can't handle an alliance between demigods and magicians, maybe they don't deserve to be called gods."
"Sadie…" Carter started, but stopped, rubbing his forehead. "You're not wrong. I'm just saying we need to be careful."
Zia, who had been silent until then, spoke for the first time, her voice firm as always. "But we can't just ignore what's happening. Ikki is right. If Kronos is gathering forces, we need to be ready."
Sadie smiled, satisfied. "See? Zia agrees with me."
Carter sighed. "And that's exactly why I'm worried."
Silence followed for a moment, until Walt broke it: "So… In the summer?"
"Yes," Ikki confirmed.
Carter was silent for a moment before letting out a resigned sigh. "Alright. But if this goes wrong, I'm going to remind everyone that I warned you."
Sadie smiled, clapping her brother on the shoulder. "Sure, Carter. Now let's start planning this properly. By the way, Ikki, I hope you guys have comfortable beds there, because I refuse to sleep on the floor."
"I can't promise anything, but at least the Hermes cabin has plenty of space." Ikki gave a slight smile.
Sadie grimaced. "Seriously? Hermes? The cabin of tricksters? Oh, this is going to be fun."
Zia crossed her arms, watching Sadie with a sharp look. "As long as you don't cause any trouble…"
Sadie flashed a mischievous smile. "Zia, darling, I am the very definition of trouble."
Ikki shook his head, already mentally preparing himself for the chaos that would be taking this group to Camp Half-Blood.
Sadie glanced at Ikki, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous combination of excitement and mischief.
"So... I need to know... is there a specific policy on smuggling magical things?"
Ikki raised an eyebrow.
"If you have to ask, you already know the answer."
"Great..." Sadie smiled. "That means I need to be creative..."
Zia sighed beside her.
"That means you need to behave..."
Sadie feigned a dramatic sigh.
"Oh, Zia, one day you'll learn to live."
"I do live.." Zia retorted with a sharp look. "The difference is that I prefer not to risk my life in the process."
Ikki watched the exchange with a bemused look. He knew that, despite the barbs, they cared about each other. Even if Sadie insisted on acting like a full-time agent of chaos, but the two had something going on and he knew it, but didn't want to think about it...
Carter, however, seemed less convinced by the whole idea. He crossed his arms and looked directly at Ikki.
"I'm going to ask again: are you sure this is a good idea?"
Ikki just shrugged.
"Do you prefer to face an army of titans alone?"
Carter opened his mouth, closed it, then muttered something about "damn demigods convincing us of everything."
Walt, who had been silent until then, chuckled softly.
"Looks like we've made our decision."
"Great..." Ikki said with a sigh. "So, now that that's settled, how about we enjoy the weekend before I leave?"
The mood in the hall cooled slightly. The reminder that he was leaving on Monday hung over everyone. Even though the goodbye wasn't final, even though Ikki had promised to return in the summer, it was still hard to ignore the feeling that something would change when he left.
Sadie looked away, fiddling absently with her bracelets. Carter scratched the back of his neck, uncomfortable. Walt maintained his neutral expression, but Ikki noticed him slightly clenching his fists.
Zia, however, kept her gaze fixed on him. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but stopped. Just nodded slowly.
Sadie was the first to break the silence.
"Well, if we only have the weekend, then we have to make it worthwhile." She said, forcing a smile. "And by 'make it worthwhile,' I mean we need something grand. A farewell party is already in the works, but how about something before that?"
Ikki tilted his head.
"Do you have something in mind?"
Sadie clapped her hands.
"I have several ideas. Some are safe, others slightly illegal. But they all involve fun."
Carter groaned.
"Define 'slightly illegal'."
"Relax, little brother, I'm not going to steal anything. At least not anything valuable..." Sadie replied.
Zia crossed her arms.
"Sadie."
"Okay, okay. No stealing. But, seriously, we need something epic. How about a trip?"
Walt blinked.
"A trip?"
"Yes! Somewhere fun..."
"Not a bad idea..." Walt said, pondering.
"Not at all..." Ikki admitted. "Any destination in mind?"
Sadie smiled like a child who just received a gift.
"Leave that to me."
Zia sighed beside her, but Ikki didn't miss the way she also seemed a little more relaxed.
With that decided, the group agreed they would have two hours to get ready.