The heat was inviting, and after some prodding from Sadie and Walt, the group decided to go to the pool.
After leaving his reading glasses in a safe place, Carter was the first to enter, diving in without hesitation. He emerged, wiping his face to clear the water from his eyes, looking genuinely relaxed for the first time in a long time. Walt entered soon after, swimming easily to the other side.
Sadie, on the other hand, preferred a more dramatic method. She sat on the edge, dipped her feet in, and looked at Zia with a mischievous smile.
"Shall we do this together?"
Zia narrowed her eyes.
"If this is some kind of trick of yours…"
"You really don't trust me?" Sadie put a hand to her chest, feigning indignation.
"No."
Sadie laughed and pulled Zia into the pool with her, causing a small splash. When they emerged, Sadie threw her wet hair back and smiled with satisfaction.
"It's great in here! Ikki, you should come in."
Ikki, who was still sitting on the edge with his feet in the water, just raised an eyebrow.
"I'm fine here."
"Oh, come on, Ikki," said Walt, swimming closer. "You don't even have to swim."
"I prefer it this way."
The truth, of course, was that he avoided the water for an obvious reason.
He would have to take off at least his shirt, and considering what would happen, he went against that idea; he could also enter the water even with his shirt on and not get wet, but he didn't really want to... He preferred to stay chill on the edge of the pool.
Sadie crossed her arms, floating in the pool.
"Coward."
"Realist."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Are you afraid of getting wet?"
"Not even close…" Ikki said, rolling his eyes.
Carter, who until then had only been watching the exchange of teasing, finally intervened.
"Leave him alone. If he doesn't want to come in, he doesn't have to."
Sadie sighed dramatically.
"Fine. But let's see if he can stand staying there while we have fun."
And with that, she dove in and pulled Walt into a silly competition to see who could swim from one side to the other the fastest. Carter joined in, while Zia moved away, staying a bit closer to the edge, but still enjoying the water.
Ikki stayed on the edge of the pool, watching his friends having fun in the water.
Sadie and Walt were completely engrossed in their competition, while Carter seemed to finally allow himself to relax.
Zia swam slowly, enjoying the coolness of the pool, but her gaze occasionally drifted towards Ikki.
Then, Sadie stopped in the middle of the pool, looked at him, and smiled.
"If you don't come in on your own, I may very well resolve this my way."
Ikki raised an eyebrow.
"And what exactly do you intend to do?"
Sadie exchanged a knowing look with Walt, and it was enough for Ikki to realize that something was about to happen.
Walt dove, disappearing from sight, and in an instant, Ikki felt an unexpected tug on his ankle. His reflex was quick, holding onto the edge before they could pull him completely in.
He sighed, throwing his head back in resignation.
"Alright, alright."
Before Sadie or Walt could try anything more drastic, Ikki stood up and entered the pool calmly, still wearing his shirt. The water was cold against his skin, but he ignored the sensation.
Sadie raised her hands.
"Finally! I was about to do this the hard way."
"And I was about to reverse any attempt of yours," Ikki replied with a small smile.
Carter looked at him with a curious expression.
"Are you really going to stay in with your shirt on?"
Ikki shrugged.
"I have my reasons."
Sadie opened her mouth to ask more, but Zia spoke first.
"Leave him alone."
There was something definitive in her tone that made the others accept without question.
Thus, the conversation shifted to something lighter, and the group soon found themselves completely engaged in spontaneous play. Sadie tried to turn everything into a competition, challenging Ikki and Walt to a race in the pool. Carter tried to argue that it didn't make sense to compete with Ikki—considering his abilities—but Ikki, in a rare moment of humor, accepted.
The result? He allowed Walt to win by a hair, just to see his friend's proud expression.
"I won!" Walt raised his arms triumphantly.
Sadie, suspicious, narrowed her eyes at Ikki.
"You let him win, didn't you?"
Ikki smiled faintly.
"I would never confirm such a thing."
After a while in the pool, Sadie yawned and stretched her arms, as if preparing for a big announcement.
"Right, we need something new. I'm starting to get bored."
Carter arched an eyebrow. "You've been swimming for, at most, half an hour."
"Exactly! Half an hour is enough time to have fun in the water. Now, we have an entire luxury hotel to explore."
Walt, who was swimming calmly, shrugged. "And what do you suggest?"
Sadie scanned the surroundings until a mischievous smile appeared on her face. "Massages."
Carter grimaced. "Massages?"
"Yes, Falcon Head. Relax! We're in one of the best spas in Egypt, and you're going to tell me you don't want to at least try it?"
Carter hesitated, but Zia, who was at the edge of the pool, seemed to consider the idea.
"It wouldn't be bad…"
Sadie clapped her hands. "Great! Then it's decided. Everyone to the spa."
Ikki didn't show any particular reaction to the idea, but didn't protest when the group left the pool and headed for the Iridium Spa, the famous relaxation center at the St. Regis Cairo.
As soon as they entered, they were greeted by a tranquil atmosphere, with the light scent of essential oils in the air. The soft lighting and ambient music gave the place an almost ethereal feel.
Sadie was already looking at the service menu, while Carter seemed uncomfortable just being there.
"We have therapeutic baths, massages, sauna…" Sadie murmured, analyzing the options. "What are we going to choose?"
"I'll take the massage," Walt decided, and Zia nodded soon after.
Sadie smiled at Carter. "And you?"
He looked around, seeming suspicious of everything. "I don't know if I trust strangers touching my back."
Oh, they didn't know the staff were members of the House of Life...
"Carter, for Ra's sake, you've faced killer magicians and chaotic gods, but you're afraid of a massage?" Sadie exclaimed.
Before he could answer, Ikki, who had been silent until then, spoke:
"You should try it. If you don't like it, you can leave."
Carter snorted. "Fine. But if this is weird, I blame you guys."
In the end, everyone chose a treatment. Walt and Zia opted for relaxing massages, while Carter, after much hesitation, chose a therapeutic bath. Sadie, always dramatic, chose a facial treatment just to feel even more pampered.
And Ikki? He simply sat in one of the rest areas, watching. Physical relaxation wasn't something that concerned him, and he was content to see his friends allowing themselves a moment of rest, but he put on a robe like all his friends.
After a while, Carter emerged from the bath room looking genuinely impressed.
"Okay. That was… nice," he admitted.
Sadie smiled. "I knew you'd like it."
When everyone was finished, Sadie was ready for the next activity.
"Now that we're refreshed, I think we should explore more. The hotel has an amazing rooftop, with one of the best views of Cairo."
The group went up to the rooftop bar, where they were greeted by a breathtaking view of the Nile and the city lights at dusk. The warm breeze of the Egyptian night blew gently, and for a moment, everyone just stood there, appreciating the scenery.
Dusk painted the Cairo sky with golden and orange hues, reflecting in the waters of the Nile like a liquid mirror. On the rooftop of the St. Regis, the group enjoyed the view as the warm desert breeze blew gently. Below, the city buzzed with life, the distant sound of horns, the movement of boats on the river, the lights beginning to twinkle as day turned into night.
But in the hotel? The silence was almost surreal.
Sadie leaned her elbows on the table and let out a satisfied sigh. "I don't know about you guys, but I could get used to this."
Carter, however, looked around with a somewhat skeptical expression. "It's still weird being in a whole hotel with no tourists."
"Is it weird? Or is it perfect?" Sadie retorted, raising an eyebrow. "I was the one who got rid of everyone, remember? Now we don't have to deal with inconvenient people or adults complaining that we're 'making too much noise'. And, let's be honest, after everything we've been through, we deserve this."
Walt stretched his arms and smiled. "I have to agree. Zero lines, zero crowds… I'm considering hiring you to get rid of crowded places for me in the future."
Sadie gave an exaggerated curtsy. "For a reasonable price, I can negotiate."
Carter still seemed unconvinced, but before he could argue, Zia pointed to one of the waiters who was discreetly serving a new round of cold drinks. He and the other staff members moved with impeccable efficiency, as if they had been trained for years in luxury service.
Zia observed carefully. "They're not ordinary employees, are they?"
Ikki, who was leaning back in a comfortable armchair, swirled the liquid in his glass before answering in a calm tone:
"They're members of the House of Life."
The others exchanged glances.
Sadie's eyes widened. "Wait, you got magicians from the House of Life to work as hotel staff?"
Ikki shrugged. "If we were going to stay here, I thought it best to ensure impeccable service. Besides, they're more efficient than normal employees."
Carter ran a hand over his face. "So the hotel is literally being maintained by magic and magicians?"
Ikki nodded.
Sadie burst out laughing. "That's brilliant! I felt like a VIP before, but now? I'm basically at queen level."
Carter sighed. "Don't encourage her."
Zia, in turn, looked around again, noticing how everything was working in an almost supernaturally perfect way—food appearing at the right time, no trays out of place, even the ambient music seemed to change subtly according to the group's mood.
"It's… impressive," she admitted, looking at Ikki.
He just tilted his head slightly, accepting the compliment without needing words.
For a few minutes, the group was silent, just enjoying the rare moment of peace. The lights of Cairo twinkled in the distance, reflecting in the river like chaotic constellations.
Sadie broke the silence first. "Okay, now what? Are we just going to sit here like old people drinking tea or are we going to explore more of this private palace?"
Walt laughed. "I vote for exploring."
Carter leaned back, already anticipating that he wouldn't have a choice. "As long as we don't end up on top of a burning building again, I'm fine."
Sadie smiled. "No promises, little brother."
And with that, the group stood up, ready to continue enjoying their exclusive stay at the enchanted hotel.
The group descended the silent corridors of the hotel to the indoor pool of the St. Regis Cairo, and as soon as they entered, they froze momentarily, absorbing the scene before them.
The space was grand, as if it had been carved for kings and queens. The vaulted ceiling displayed ornate details, with geometric and golden patterns that reflected the soft glow of the ambient lighting. Crystal chandeliers hung high, casting delicate shadows on the white and gold marble walls.
The pool itself was a masterpiece—long, rectangular, with deep blue tiles that shimmered under the submerged lights. The water was perfectly still, like a mirror reflecting the luxurious architecture around it. On one side, large glass windows stretched from floor to ceiling, offering a spectacular view of the Nile at night. The city lights twinkled in the dark water of the river, creating a stunning contrast with the absolute calm of the interior.
The scent was a subtle blend of chlorine and essential oils, giving the environment a sense of cleanliness and tranquility.
Sadie was the first to move. Without a second thought, she threw her bathrobe back and dove headfirst into the heated water.
The sound of the dive echoed through the silent environment.
She emerged, throwing her wet hair back and smiling. "Perfect."
Walt wasn't long to follow, sliding into the water with the ease of an athlete. Carter, after a resigned sigh, entered slowly, letting the warmth of the pool relax his tense muscles.
Zia walked to the edge and dove in elegantly, swimming smoothly to the other side.
Ikki, as expected, remained still, watching.
Sadie, floating on her back, turned her head to him. "Are you really going to do this scene again?"
Ikki maintained his smile, but said nothing. He just sat on the edge, letting his feet touch the water.
Sadie sighed. "Seriously, Ikki? You're worse than Carter."
Carter, who was already in the water, looked at her indignantly. "Hey!"
"You know I'm right."
Zia watched Ikki silently, her gaze more attentive than usual. She knew there was a reason behind his hesitation, but she also knew there was no point in pressing him.
Ikki rotated his ankle, feeling the temperature of the water. It was pleasant.
Walt approached, resting his arms on the edge of the pool. "This time you have no excuse."
"I never make excuses."
"Then come in."
Ikki looked at the group, who were now clearly waiting for his answer. Sadie's gaze was challenging, Walt's was encouraging, Carter seemed neutral, and Zia… well, her eyes gleamed slightly under the pool lights.
He sighed.
And then, calmly, he slid into the water—shirt and all.
The temperature enveloped him immediately, but Ikki maintained his relaxed posture, as if nothing had happened.
Sadie narrowed her eyes. "You're actually in the water. With. Your. Shirt. On."
Ikki raised an eyebrow. "You catch on quick."
Carter let out an exasperated sigh. "Why don't you just take that thing off?"
Zia spoke before Ikki needed to answer. "Leave him alone."
There was a firm tone in her voice, and, surprisingly, Sadie didn't argue. She just crossed her arms and muttered something about unnecessary mysteries.
Ikki took advantage of the truce to move away slightly and lean against the edge, watching the reflection of the lights in the water.
Walt laughed and swam to the center of the pool. "Right, now that everyone's in, how about a new challenge?"
Sadie raised an eyebrow. "I hope it's something I can win."
Ikki smiled faintly. "Don't worry. I promise I won't make it easy."
The competitive spark gleamed in Sadie's eyes.
And so, the night continued, the group losing themselves in another rare moment of tranquility and fun.
Walt smiled and turned to the others. "Okay, how about a magic challenge?"
Carter frowned. "Define 'magic challenge'."
Sadie was already excited. "Yes! Something fun. No endurance tests, please."
Walt thought for a moment and then pointed to the center of the pool. "Let's play a game. Each of us has to use magic to create something with the water—anything. It could be a shape, an effect, any interesting trick. The most impressive one wins."
Sadie clapped her hands. "I like it! Finally, a game I have a chance of winning."
Ikki raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. He knew he would win effortlessly, so he decided to just observe first.
Walt began. He raised his hands, concentrating, and the water around him began to rise, forming a thin, steady spiral. Gradually, the shape took on the appearance of a water serpent, which glided across the surface of the pool before smoothly disappearing.
Carter whistled. "Not bad."
Sadie snapped her fingers. "My turn!"
She concentrated and, with a quick movement of her hands, the water around her exploded into small floating spheres. Each one glowed momentarily before transforming into tiny golden sparks that fell back into the pool like shimmering rain.
"Great presentation," Zia commented.
Carter, a little reluctantly, raised his hand. He was more studious than talented at improvised spells, but he made an effort. The water in front of him slowly rose, forming the symbol of Ra glowing on the surface before dissolving again.
Sadie patted him on the shoulder. "Very good, Falcon Head."
Zia was next. She closed her eyes and moved her hands precisely. The water around her began to rise and, in a few seconds, formed the perfect image of a falcon. It flapped its wings, hovered in the air for a moment, and then dived back into the pool.
Walt smiled. "That was impressive."
Everyone then looked at Ikki, who remained relaxed on the edge.
Sadie smiled. "Come on, oh great Pharaoh. Show us what you've got."
Ikki sighed, but raised one hand.
He didn't even need to concentrate.
The entire pool shuddered. The water began to move as if it had a life of its own, swirling around the group. Then, in an instant, hundreds of figures began to emerge—giant serpents, majestic falcons, water warriors wielding spears, and even a detailed replica of the St. Regis Cairo itself, molded in miniature on the surface of the pool.
The lights reflected off the crystalline forms, making everything seem even more surreal.
Sadie, Walt, Carter, and Zia were silent.
After a few seconds, Sadie crossed her arms and grumbled. "Of course. As if any of us had a chance."
Ikki smiled faintly and snapped his fingers.
All the water returned to normal in the blink of an eye.
"Did I win?" he asked, amused.
Carter rolled his eyes. "You already knew the answer."
Walt laughed. "Definitely. But it was amazing to watch."
Zia just smiled, her gaze lingering on him for a moment longer than necessary.
Sadie sighed dramatically. "Okay, next competition: something that doesn't involve ridiculously superior divine powers."
Ikki just tilted his head. "Good luck with that."
After a while in the pool, the group decided it was time to get out and go to dinner. Sadie's idea was to order room service and continue relaxing, but Carter insisted that they should take advantage of the hotel's options. With some reluctance (and a lot of teasing from Sadie), everyone agreed.
Ikki left the water first, his magic already evaporating any trace of water from his clothes as soon as he stepped out of the pool.
The others followed, some drying themselves with towels, others simply accepting the fact that the Cairo heat would do the job for them.
Dressed more appropriately—Ikki now wearing a black button-down shirt and dark dress pants, his long, straight hair slightly tousled by the wind—they headed to La Zisa restaurant.
The restaurant was located in one of the most sophisticated wings of the hotel, with an ambiance that blended classic elegance and modernity. Glass chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, softly illuminating the dark wood tables, while stone walls and golden details brought a refined touch to the place.
A large panoramic window offered a spectacular view of the Nile at night, its waters reflecting the city lights. The aroma in the air was intoxicating—fresh tomatoes, aromatic herbs, melted cheeses, and the light touch of truffle oil.
The tables were impeccably set, with crystal glasses and silverware resting on spotless white tablecloths. Even without other guests in the hotel, Ikki had kept the atmosphere lively, candles lit, soft instrumental music filling the room, giving the impression that they were in a genuinely busy restaurant.
They were led to a large table near the window, where they settled in comfortably. Ikki, for some reason, noticed that Zia and Sadie chose seats near him.
The menu offered an impressive variety of authentic Italian dishes, handmade pastas, fresh seafood, creamy risottos. Sadie immediately started complaining that she wanted everything, while Carter tried to convince her to be a little more reasonable.
Ikki watched the scene with a somewhat different expression…
After a brief debate—mainly between Sadie wanting to order everything and Carter trying to be the voice of reason—the group finally placed their orders.
Sadie, always seizing an opportunity, leaned back in her chair and smiled.
"Hey, are you really a waiter or were you cursed by Ikki to serve food?"
The magician just raised an eyebrow.
"I'm here only to ensure your dining experience is perfect."
Ikki rolled his eyes.
"If you keep bothering him, Sadie, I can make him a much less friendly waiter."
Sadie raised her hands.
"Okay, okay. I was just curious!"
Once the orders were placed and the magician disappeared to prepare the food, the conversation flowed naturally. Walt, who seemed particularly pleased to be in a real restaurant and not eating something improvised in the middle of a quest, was the first to speak.
"So, Ikki… you promised to tell us some stories from Camp Half-Blood."
Ikki took a sip of wine and smiled slightly.
"At Camp Half-Blood, there are always those silly challenges that the campers come up with. One day, they decided to see who could shoot arrows at the plates Chiron threw while running. Obviously, I already knew I was going to hit them, so I tried something more difficult: making an arrow ricochet and hit two plates at the same time."
Sadie raised an eyebrow. "And you did it?"
Ikki nodded. "Of course. But I also ended up knocking down the Ares cabin flag… right on Clarisse's head, who was teasing Percy. It hadn't even been a few days since we'd returned from the quest, well, you've heard about her. So, you know what she's like…"
Carter grimaced. "Ouch."
"She thought someone had done it on purpose. When she realized it was me, she got even more furious—because she knew I don't miss by accident."
Walt laughed. "And what happened?"
Ikki shrugged. "Nothing. She challenged me to a fight, I accepted. Thirty seconds later, Chiron had to intervene before she broke something else trying to hit me."
Sadie laughed. "It must be frustrating to fight against you."
"For those who insist, yes."
Zia gave a small smile, while Carter shook his head, clearly trying to imagine the scene.
When the laughter subsided, it was Zia's turn to share something.
"Well, at least you didn't have to deal with giant scorpions inside your own room."
Sadie straightened up.
"That happened to you?"
Zia sighed.
"One of the downsides of living in the House of Life. Once, I woke up and there was a scorpion the size of a dog staring at me."
"And what did you do?" Walt asked.
"I used a spell to paralyze it. But it was only when I called a superior that I found out it was actually a welcome gift from one of the older magicians."
Sadie grimaced.
"That doesn't sound like a gift at all."
"I agree. But apparently, it was a test. If I hadn't been able to handle it, I shouldn't have been there."
The food began to be served, and as the dishes were placed on the table, the conversation continued. After a few minutes, Walt wiped his mouth with his napkin and began his story.
"Right, I don't have giant scorpions or irritated centaurs on my list of experiences, but I did once sell an amulet to someone who clearly shouldn't have had access to magic."
Sadie raised her eyebrows.
"Define 'shouldn't have'."
Walt smiled.
"A tourist came to my stall once, asking for a protective amulet against bad luck. But… something about him made me hesitate."
Carter looked curious.
"What happened?"
"I sold him a basic amulet. Nothing too powerful, just something symbolic. The thing is… two weeks later, a man came back to the shop. All bandaged up, with a broken arm."
Zia leaned forward.
"Was it him?"
Walt nodded.
"Yes. He said that, ever since he bought the amulet, everything had gone wrong in his life. He tripped over nothing, dropped things, got hit by a car… and he wanted his money back."
Sadie laughed.
"Did you refund him?"
"Of course not! I explained that amulets only work for those who believe in them. He started to believe he was cursed and… well, the mind plays funny tricks."
Ikki smiled.
"Basically, he self-sabotaged."
"Exactly."
After some laughter, Carter and Sadie began to tell childhood stories. From silly fights to the time Sadie did a "magic experiment" at school and almost set a lab on fire.
Dinner continued like this, with stories, laughter, and great food.