[Third Person Pov]
Once everyone had stepped inside the ship, an uneasy silence filled the air. The crew and passengers alike were still staring at the two sisters. Whispers buzzed quietly among them, disbelief painted on their faces. Even the sisters themselves appeared stunned by what had just been revealed — their eyes wide, their expressions shifting between shock and confusion.
"Roman demigods…" Percy muttered under his breath, the words rolling off his tongue with disbelief. He turned to Lucian with a puzzled look. "Wait, are you saying there are other camps of demigods out there?"
Lucian, still seated casually atop Sébastien's broad back, nodded with calm composure. "Yes, as far as I'm aware. But each one functions and appears differently depending on the culture and the pantheon of gods they serve," he explained evenly, his tone both teacherly and matter-of-fact. "There are Roman, Norse, Egyptian, Mayan… the list goes on."
Clarisse crossed her arms and leaned forward, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "Cool. So, what makes the Roman camp different from ours?" she asked, glancing toward the two sisters, who were equally intent on Lucian's explanation.
Lucian tilted his head slightly, his gaze thoughtful. "Well, for starters, theirs is far more organized and established. They also have a noticeably lower mortality rate than ours," he said. "If you need an image, think of our camp like a casual summer school program where we make arts and crafts between lessons, while theirs is more akin to a military academy — strict, disciplined, and focused on survival and strategy."
Clarisse's expression soured. "So basically, their camp's better," she muttered flatly.
Lucian gave a small shrug. "Pretty much," he admitted, then added with a faint smile, "Though I've been working on changing that ever since I arrived at Camp Half-Blood."
Annabeth's brow lifted in realization. "So that's what all the reconstruction and new buildings were about," she said, a note of admiration in her voice. "You've been trying to modernize the camp — to catch up to the Roman standard."
"Bingo," Lucian confirmed. "Although, we're still behind in a few areas. For instance, their demigods have access to actual schools and colleges within their camp — plus greater protection from monsters."
"What?!" Percy and Annabeth both exclaimed in unison, their disbelief echoing through the ship.
"Okay, that's so unfair," Thalia said, scowling as she adjusted the sails with Tyson. "Aren't our camps supposed to be similar? Our gods are basically the same, just under different names! How can their camp be so much better than ours?"
Lucian exhaled quietly, resting one arm against Sébastien's neck as he regarded them. "You're all starting to see a glimpse of what Luke was fighting for," he said, his tone turning serious. The words hung heavily in the air, freezing the group in place.
Clarisse narrowed her eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?" she demanded.
"Luke's anger toward the gods wasn't entirely misplaced," Lucian explained, his voice steady but grim. "His argument was that the gods were treating demigods unfairly — and you can see the evidence for yourselves now. Here, once a demigod turns eighteen, they're often left to fend for themselves. Most don't make it past twenty. Meanwhile, the Romans continue to support their demigods into adulthood — with education, structure, and purpose."
Tension rippled through the group. No one said anything for a few moments, the weight of Lucian's words settling across the deck.
"That might've been true before," Thalia said finally, breaking the silence with a scoff. "But now Luke's just obsessed with you." She flicked her wrist, and a gust of wind caught the sails, propelling the ship forward with sudden force.
Lucian smirked. "I mean, honestly… Can you blame him?" he said smugly.
The crew groaned collectively, rolling their eyes at his arrogance.
Reyna, who had been silent until now, crossed her arms and fixed Lucian with a suspicious look. "Wait a second. Did you take us along just so you could bring us to this Roman camp?" she asked, her tone cautious.
"Mostly," Lucian admitted with a nod. "You two don't yet realize what you're truly capable of. As well as Aunt Circe treated you, she wasn't helping you reach your potential. Both of you have the strength and heritage to become some of the greatest warriors Rome has ever seen." His gaze lingered on the sisters — sharp and assessing — until they shifted uncomfortably under the weight of it.
Annabeth's analytical mind was already running ahead. "Do you know who their godly parent is?" she asked, studying the sisters from head to toe.
Lucian smiled faintly. "I have a pretty good idea," he said, then looked over at Percy. "But before we get into that — Percy, can you check in with Grover and see if we can make a slight detour?"
Percy nodded, closing his eyes as he pressed his hand against his temple, focusing on the satyr's distant presence.
Everyone aboard waited patiently — or as patiently as demigods could manage — while Percy concentrated with his fingers pressed to his temple. His expression was serious for about five seconds before it suddenly broke. A snort escaped him, followed by a barely suppressed laugh that he tried to muffle with his fist.
"Sorry—sorry!" Percy said between chuckles, shaking his head. "I just… saw something funny." He cleared his throat and forced himself to sound more composed. "Anyway, the Cyclop that's got Grover trapped is currently asleep. So, we've got time for one detour. After that, no more distractions, got it?"
Lucian nodded approvingly, his attention shifting toward the two sisters standing near the ship's railing. The ocean wind tugged at their hair, the sound of the waves filling the silence between words. "Alright," he began, his tone even and measured. "I'll keep this short. From what I've been able to gather — which, admittedly, isn't a lot — you're both daughters of the goddess Bellona. The Roman Goddess of War." He paused, letting that sink in. "And… that's about all I know."
Thalia crossed her arms and gave him a flat, unimpressed look. "Wow," she said dryly. "You weren't kidding. That really isn't much."
Lucian shrugged, unapologetic. "I never said I had all the answers. I just know enough to get us moving in the right direction." He adjusted his grip on Sébastien's reins before continuing, "Anyway, my plan is to drop you off with the Amazons. They'll be glad to help you. You can either stay with them or they'll guide you safely to Camp Jupiter."
Hylla's brow furrowed as her jaw tightened. "And who exactly says we want to go to some stupid camp?" she demanded, her voice sharp with irritation. "You can't just swoop in, practically kidnap us, and decide what's best for our lives! We were fine staying with Lady Circe. You have no right interfering."
Lucian's expression didn't change. His tone remained calm, but there was a quiet weight to his words. "You're right," he said simply. "I have no right. But answer me this — is being a masseuse really how you see your future? Is that what you want to do for the rest of your life?" His gaze didn't waver, sharp and unwavering. "I'm not forcing you into anything. What I'm offering is a chance — a choice. An opportunity to decide your own future, to work for something you actually want."
Hylla opened her mouth to retort, but Lucian continued before she could.
"You need to think beyond yourself," he said, his voice low and commanding as he leaned forward on Sébastien's back. "You have a sister to look after. What's best for her might not be staying trapped on an island serving others. Out there, she can learn to fight, to protect herself. She can go to school, have a future. You both can. Circe kept you safe, sure — but safety built on someone else's goodwill isn't freedom. And depending on others for the rest of your life…" He paused, eyes narrowing slightly. "That's not living."
The ship's deck went completely silent. Even the creaking of wood seemed to fade. Hylla's lips were pressed tightly together, her defiance faltering under the weight of his words. Reyna, meanwhile, stood still beside her, her eyes fixed on the floorboards as the wind brushed through her dark hair.
Lucian's tone grew firm, his words carrying across the deck like an unspoken challenge. "If that's truly what you want — if you're both content staying with Circe for the rest of your lives — say the word. I'll turn the ship around right now and drop you off. No questions asked." His gaze swept between the two of them. "But understand this: if you stay, that's the life you're choosing — a life spent serving others instead of shaping your own destiny."
No one else dared to speak. Even Percy and Annabeth, who usually had something to say about everything, stayed silent, watching the moment unfold.
Hylla turned to her sister, the fight slowly draining from her expression. She looked at Reyna for a long time before sighing softly. "What do you want to do, Reyna?" she asked quietly.
Reyna hesitated, her fingers fidgeting at her side. Her voice came out barely above a whisper at first. "I… I want to go to the camp." She looked up, meeting her sister's eyes with a flicker of determination. "I'll always be grateful for everything Lady Circe did for us, but I don't want to spend my whole life washing hair and fetching towels." Her voice grew stronger with every word, her confidence building like a rising tide. "I want to do something meaningful. If going to that camp is how I can do it, then… I want to go."
Hylla stared at her sister in silence for a long moment. Then, a faint smile tugged at her lips — tired, but proud. "Alright," she said quietly. "If that's what you want, then that's what we'll do."
Lucian gave a single approving nod, then turned Sébastien toward the front of the ship. "Good," he said firmly. "Set course for the Amazons."
Annabeth blinked and raised an eyebrow. "Uh, Lucian… do you even know where the Amazons are located?"
Lucian turned back over his shoulder, gave a casual thumbs-up, and said with complete confidence, "Not a fucking clue."
They all comically fell at his words.
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