The morning after the match arrived thick with humidity and a silence that clung to the campers. The sun had barely cleared the treetops when the call rang out for all cabins to report to the amphitheater. No games today. No songs or skits. The mood was already heavy.
Kratos stood at the center of the stone circle, arms clasped behind his back, flanked by two new figures. One scarred and rigid in posture, her stance matching that of Kratos and she bore an uncanny similarity to Kratos too. The other was completely different, a young athletic man that looked more fitting to be placed in the Aphrodite cabin than beside Kratos.
Seeing how all the campers had arrived, Kratos started his speech. His face betrayed no anger. That would have implied emotion. What he delivered instead was colder, his words came like a blade dragged across stone.
"Yesterday's display," he began, his voice carrying easily through the seated campers, "was... unacceptable."
The rustle of conversation died at once. He let the pause linger, stretching until discomfort settled over the campers. Only when they began to fidget in their seats did he speak again.
"I watched the game. The captains were ignored. Campers selected their own sides disregarding the rules. Dionysus' children took initiative to join a team without orders. Hephaestus' cabin too followed suit. Hermes' children abandoned their dignity for foolish antics, tormenting their fellow campers. It seems discipline is a foreign concept to you"
Connor Stoll leaned slightly toward his brother Travis and whispered, "Do you think he practices not blinking in the mirror?"
Kratos didn't react. But one of his assistants, the taller female with a scar bisecting her chin, stepped forward. "Speak again without permission, and you'll be cleaning the stables for a month."
Connor raised his hands in mock surrender. "Didn't say a word."
A few scattered chuckles rose, then died under Kratos' stare. His gaze turned to the Dionysus and Hephaestus campers.
"For disregarding the authority of the chosen captains, your privileges are revoked for two weeks. That includes forge access and all scheduled wine-making electives. A lesson in humility."
Beckendorf's jaw tensed. One of his younger cabinmates looked ready to stand, but Beckendorf placed a calming hand on their shoulder. Not here. Not now.
"Capture the Flag is not a playground activity. It is war made manageable. A simulation to cultivate discipline, coordination, and hierarchy. What I witnessed yesterday was not war. It was anarchy."
He stopped at the center of the amphitheater again, gaze sweeping the gathered demigods.
"I have seen the rise and fall of heroes. I have watched sons and daughters of Olympus crumble because they lacked respect for order. Heroes are not born from disobedience. They are forged in structure."
From the Ares cabin, Clarisse remained silent, arms folded tight. The Apollo campers, normally chatty, exchanged wary glances. Even the Demeter cabin, who rarely gave much thought to battle, looked uneasy.
Kratos spoke again, voice sharp.
"Effective immediately, morning drills begin at sunrise. Combat readiness assessments will replace all recreational activity. Curfews will be enforced. Violators will be disciplined."
The crowd rippled with low murmurs. Even among the Ares kids, a few looked uncertain.
Chiron stood at the edge of the stage, watching without interruption. He said nothing as Kratos concluded.
"This is not a camp for leisure. It is a forge. Created to train you and help you not just survive but excel in killing the monsters outside. I will not allow you to waste your time with childish antics or laziness, I will forge you into swords."
With that, Kratos turned, his two assistants trailing behind him. Each step rang out like a hammer on bronze. His departure left behind a silence more stifling than before.
Once the amphitheater began to clear, Chiron remained where he was, hooves still against the stone, Chiron's tail flicked once, an old habit from another war long past. He had lived through centuries of discipline, of rebellions both just and foolish. He saw how Kratos was wanting to turn his students into soldiers, preparing for a war he couldn't see, and he worried for their safety.
Behind him, the campers began to disperse in slow silence.
...
Annabeth made her way to her cabin, ignoring the gathering crowds of campers talking about the assembly. She made her way to her desk which she has been working at for the past two months and stared a the scrolls scattered atop it. Here she had been designing Lucas' dream, his hope for a sanctuary for all.
After that gathering, she understood better why he was doing it. She collected the scrolls and packaged them in a box, sealing it and labelling it for mailing. She made her way to the camp store, overhearing small whisperings about the growing tension in camp. When she entered the store, she saw Argus behind the desk, staffing the place.
"One box for the Hermes Express, to Lucas Thorne please."
She gave a golden drachma as payment and Argus' eyes, which covered his whole body, blinked in unison. He accepted the payment and with a woosh the box disappeared, taken to be delivered.
"It's probably best if you refrain from communicating with the brat in the future, the new camp Counselor may not like you interacting with him. Especially with their concerns about the girl's prophecy. They may paint you as a spy"
Annabeth turned to see Mr D hanging around the store, trying on cheap glasses from the display.
"What do you mean?" Annabeth was confused.
"When a child of the big three becomes sixteen they will destroy Olympus, and that little friend of yours. She's turning sixteen in a few months, right? Olympus is mixed on whether they should kill her or just keep her trapped in camp. But hey, maybe the girl just lives to a hundred. Or maybe she levels Olympus as a Christmas surprise."
Annabeth froze, her face turned pale. She did know there was some prophecy concerning Thalia, Lucas had mentioned as such, but the details she had were vague. She just knew, like everyone else, prophecies concerning a person was never a good thing. They always brought death and pain, either directly or indirectly, but hearing what lay before her friend, this scared her.
Without wondering why Mr D would inform her of this, or why he was even in the store, Annabeth quickly fled and ran to Thalia hoping to warn her.
Mr D let out a sigh, replacing the glasses and disappearing.