Chapter 39 – An Embarrassing Situation for a New Demigod
The next day, Dante woke up with the sunlight on his face. Dante got up and thought: Damn sunlight, always waking me up.
Dante then looked around and remembered that he had come to Camp Half-Blood. Dante said to himself: "Well, let's go out to meet my idiot uncle, have breakfast, and see a certain beautiful demigoddess."
He then headed toward the place where he sensed Percy's scent and thought: Well, let's meet our uncle first.
After a while, he arrived at the infirmary and saw Grover going to visit Percy.
Dante said: "Good morning, goat-boy. How are you today?"
Grover looked back and said: "Well, good morning to you too, Dante. Did you come to see Percy?"
Dante said: "After our conversation yesterday, you must know how important the quest is and how a big part of the quest's weight fell on Percy's shoulders. So I need to have this talk with him."
Grover said: "I know, but can you wait for him to calm his mind a bit? He just went through so much, and waking up to find out he has to lead a quest where, if it goes wrong, the world ends... it's not a good way to deal with everything that happened to him."
Dante said: "Well, we still have 14 days. We can wait a little for him to get his head straight."
Grover said: "Thanks."
Dante said: "So let's go. I'm just going to introduce myself as his father's grandson."
Grover said: "Well, let's see how he is."
They then entered the infirmary. Dante, looking at the infirmary that seemed stuck in time, said: "Couldn't you guys have spent a little more money to have a more modern infirmary?"
Grover said: "That would take away the camp's style."
Dante said: "I'd rather they take away the style if it means better care."
They then stopped in front of the bed where he was. They looked at Percy, who was waking up.
Percy then looked at Grover, still half-asleep, and said: "Where am I?"
Grover said: "You're in the infirmary. We brought you here after you passed out. So, what do you remember?"
Percy said: "It was a crazy dream, I don't know... There was a giant monster, you were there with goat legs. My mom was there too. Then, when the monster was about to kill me, a dragon-boy with blue hair and golden eyes showed up. He looked like those final bosses in video games. I really need to sleep more... I'm hallucinating."
Dante, who had been silent, said: "Well, I have bad news for you, fish-boy. Everything you think was a dream was real."
Percy looked to the side and saw Dante. He then pointed and said: "And you... you were that dragon-boy from my dream!"
He then realized: Wait... He looked at Grover and saw the goat legs.
Percy then said: "So everything was real? No, no... How is this possible? Everything was true? My mom died?"
Grover sat on the bed with him and said: "I'm sorry, Percy. I tried really hard, but I'm just a junior protector... I don't even have horns yet."
Dante, looking at Percy, said: "Well, there's a chance your mom is alive."
Percy looked at Dante and asked: "What do you mean?"
Dante said: "Grover, remember why I'm here? The quest."
Grover said: "Yes, but what does that have to do with Percy's mom?"
Percy looked at the two talking in riddles and said: "What are you guys talking about?"
Dante said, looking at Grover: "If they think Percy stole that thing, then they couldn't have killed Percy's mom, but rather kidnapped her to threaten him into handing over the Master Bolt."
Grover said: "Of course!"
Percy looked at Dante and said: "So my mom might be alive?"
Dante said: "Yes. If they think you stole the bolt, then they'll use her to threaten you into handing it over."
Percy said: "But I don't have any bolt."
Dante said: "I know, but they won't believe that. Well, I'll tell you the plan to help you later."
Percy said: "No, I want to know now."
Dante looked at him and said: "And what would you do if you knew? If you don't remember, you almost died to that monster. And this plan involves fighting several other monsters like that one. But relax: as long as they believe you have the bolt, they won't do anything to her. After all, she's now their bargaining chip with you."
Percy fell silent upon hearing that.
Grover said: "Well, let's go have breakfast."
They then left the infirmary, looking at everyone training.
Dante thought: Well, how unfair the world is. No matter how much they train, they couldn't even scratch me with those swords. All their effort is only worth a minimal aura release. I think this must be the feeling of ordinary sailors in One Piece when one of the Four Emperors shows up. Even training for years, they don't even qualify to stay conscious in front of them.
Percy looked at Grover and said: "Camp Half-Blood... But what does that mean?"
Dante looked at him and thought: What a damn stupid kid. Is this really my mom's brother?
Grover said: "Well, it's obvious: half human, half god."
Percy said: "So the gods really exist?"
Dante said: "Unfortunately for you, yes. They exist. Whether it's the idiot Zeus or the bitch Aphrodite, they all exist."
Grover said: "Dante, don't talk about the gods like that. You might handle the consequences of saying that, but if Percy ever repeats it, he could get in big trouble."
Dante said: "And what lie did I tell?"
Percy said: "So my dad is a god?"
Grover said: "Yes. And this camp is for people like you, Percy. For demigods to learn how to use their powers. The training is so they become leaders, warriors, heroes."
Dante looked at a bunch of teenagers playing with swords and shields and said: "Pretty average power, if I can say."
Grover looked at him and said: "Sorry if our demigods can't shoot laser beams from their mouths."
Percy looked at the two arguing and said: "Sorry, but I think you got the wrong guy."
Dante said: "Are you stupid or what? If we'd gotten the wrong guy, you wouldn't even be able to enter this camp."
Grover said: "He's right, Percy. Normal people can't enter here. The only ones who can are demigods."
They then approached where they saw Annabeth training.
Percy looked and asked: "What's that girl's name over there?"
Grover said: "She'd crush you like an insect."
Percy said: "What's the name?"
Grover said: "Annabeth, daughter of Athena."
When Annabeth suddenly looked toward them and waved.
Percy waved back.
She then approached.
Percy said: "I didn't think I was that popular."
When she got close and Percy went to greet her, she walked right past him and stopped in front of Dante.
Annabeth said: "Well, looks like someone woke up early."
Dante smiled and said: "Well, no choice. After all, I can't turn off the sun."
Annabeth said: "Well, sorry if life here is too hard for a city dragon-boy."
Dante said: "Well, it really isn't easy. You know, I'm hungry now, but I don't know where the dining pavilion is. So can you take me to eat?"
Annabeth said: "Does this count as the deal to show you around the camp?"
Dante said: "I don't care if it counts. After all, I'll still get to have breakfast with a beautiful lady."
Annabeth smiled and said: "Well, let's go. I'll take you there."
She said, pulling Dante toward the dining pavilion.
When they finally left, Grover looked at Percy with his hand still raised and said: "Percy... he's gone. You can lower your hand."
Percy looked at Grover and said: "Did anyone else see me embarrassing myself?"
Grover pointed at the laughing campers and said: "Well, looks like you got famous."
Percy said: "Great first day."
Grover said: "Well, you were next to a handsome guy and you see a girl you don't know suddenly wave at you. The chance she was waving at the handsome guy is over 80 percent."
Percy looked at Grover and said: "I don't need you to calculate the chances of me embarrassing myself."
Grover said: "You already did."
On the other side, Annabeth and Dante were walking to the dining pavilion.
Dante looked at her and asked: "So, besides beating up boys with a sharp blade, what else do you like?"
Annabeth said: "Why are you asking that? Trying to find my weaknesses?"
Dante said: "Yes. After all, I want to ask a certain feisty girl out on a real date instead of just a simple walk."
Annabeth said: "Aren't you afraid of scaring this girl by being so rushed?"
Dante smiled and said: "Well, if this girl thinks that, she can tell me. I can also court her in the slow, romantic 80s style."
He then looked at Annabeth and said: "What way do you think she prefers?"
Annabeth looked at Dante and smiled and said: "Well, she told me that the way it is now, she doesn't think it's bad."
Dante said: "Good. I really don't want this girl to misunderstand me."
Annabeth said: "She won't."
They then finally arrived at the dining pavilion and started having breakfast.
On the other side, Percy looked at Mr. Brunner who appeared in front of him as half man, half horse.
Percy said: "Mr. Brunner, you're really walking with horse legs?"
Mr. Brunner said: "Here in my world, I'm known as Chiron. And sorry for lying, Percy, but hiding like that was the only way to watch over you in the mortal world."
Chiron said: "Come, Percy. I have to show you something."
They then went to the front of a cabin.
At that moment, Aphrodite's daughters started calling Grover.
Grover looked at Percy and said: "Well, Percy, I'm going. You're safe."
He then ran off, shouting: "Wait for me, girls!"
Chiron said: "Truly a satyr."
Percy looked at the cabin and asked: "What place is this?"
Chiron said: "Welcome home. Your father built this for his children."
Percy entered and looked at the cabin and said: "This place is all mine?"
Chiron said: "Not exactly."
Percy said: "What do you mean by that?"
Chiron said: "Well, each cabin can only be lived in by children of that god." He then looked at Percy and said: "You met Dante."
Percy nodded and said: "So... does that mean he's my brother?"
Chiron said: "No. He's your nephew. This was the house where his mother, your sister, lived before you two arrived."
Percy said, in shock: "So you're telling me I have a sister and a nephew?"
He then asked: "Where is she?"
Chiron said: "It's been a long time since I saw her. So if you want to meet her, you'll have to talk to Dante."
Percy said: "Okay, talk to Dante."
He then thought: So that means I lost to my nephew the girl I had a crush on. What a shame.
Chiron looked at Percy, who had an expression like he'd given up on life, and asked: "What's wrong?"
Percy pulled himself together and said: "So does that mean I can turn into a dragon like Dante?"
Chiron said: "Sorry to inform you, but Dante is unique. I've never seen anyone like him in my entire life. So you can't turn into a dragon. That's something unique to him."
Chiron said: "As for your father, Percy, he is Poseidon, the god of the seas. One of the Big Three Gods, alongside Zeus and Hades."
Percy said: "So my dad is Poseidon."
Percy looked at him and asked: "Why did no one ever tell me anything?"
Chiron said, sighing: "It was for your own safety. You're very powerful. Your existence is seen as a threat. Especially now that your father broke the prohibition on having children with mortals twice: once with your older sister and now with you. You two are now seen as threats."
Percy said: "And who am I going to threaten?"
Chiron said: "Your father's brothers, Zeus and Hades. That's why your mom married your stepdad. His horrible stench covered your demigod scent, preventing you from being found."
Percy said: "So my mom put up with that pig because of me. I didn't even know anything..."
He then stood looking at the horizon.
Then he turned and looked at Chiron and said: "After all, why am I here?"
Chiron said: "Are you sure you want to know? Once you know everything, there's no going back."
Percy said: "And is there a way back now?"
Chiron said: "Well, then okay."
Then Chiron started telling everything Dante had said — and of course, without the swear words insulting the gods, after all he didn't want to get killed.
Percy, after listening to everything, sighed deeply and said: "So you're telling me Zeus thinks I or my older sister stole the bolt and, if we don't hand it over in 13 days, there will be a war between my dad and Zeus. And even if they don't fight, my dragon-nephew over there has god-level power — he won't stand by watching his mom be judged and killed. So he'll call the whole Olympus to war and the Earth might cease to exist if that happens. And the only way to prevent that is for me and my nephew to find the bolt with other demigods, hand it to Zeus before time runs out, and that?"
Chiron said: "Well, you forgot some parts, but that's it."
Percy said: "I haven't even kissed a girl and you tell me the world's going to end because my family decided to fight among themselves?"
Percy then took a deep breath and said: "So how can I prevent this from happening?"
Chiron said: "Help Dante find the bolt, deliver it to Zeus to prove your innocence and your sister's."
Percy said: "Well, if that's the only way, I'll do it. I'm going to find that bolt."