Chapter Text
Ethan Nakamura opened his eye.
The last he remembered was falling through the air, the searing pain in his chest. Muffled shapes moved above him. The pain in his chest felt dull.
For one second he thought he was dead. But then his eye went into focus. A satyr and a boy in a Camp Half-Blood T-shirt were looking down at him. 'He's awake.' The satyr said.
The boy turned his head: 'Not in immediate danger, I think. I need to go fix Clarrise‘s arm. Look after him, and give him some ambrosia twenty minutes later.' He moved out of Ethan's sight of vision. His footsteps faded away.
Ethan found that he was in a wide, orange tent - one from the Camp Half-Blood infirmary. He was the only patient in the tent.
Though reluctant, the satyr stuck to his task. After some cups of water and some ambrosia, Ethan was able to speak.
'Kreh...Chronos...Did you defeat him?' He croaked. The satyr gave him a cautious look. 'Yep. Heard somebody stabbed him in the armpit or something. Anyway, he's quite gone.'
'Armpit?'
The satyr didn't answer. Chronos was defeated.... Ethan himself had been thrown down Olympus in order to defeat Chronos. This meant that the suffering was worthwhile. But on the other hand.... The gods had resumed their empire. Nothing had been changed. Ethan had exchanged an eye for the chance to avenge the gods for the dark deeds they had done, and it now seemed that he had failed.
And Luke...Luke, who had died as Chronos. This left an empty feeling in Ethan's stomach, though he wasn't sure why.
Ethan got up. His head spun, but he needed to figure out more. However, the satyr stopped him. 'You're not going anywhere.'
'But I need to...'
'You're the lieutenant of Chronos. You think we would let you wander around at camp?'
So, too tired to argue, Ethan had to stay in bed, take ambrosia, and listen to the satyr hum a slow and repetitive tune. Just when he decided to give another try, the flap of the tent opened. Chiron- Wheelchair form - came in.
'I see that you're awake, Ethan.' Chiron said. 'Come, child. We need to talk.'
—-
'You'll have to thank the wind spirits. If they hadn't snatched you out of the sky, you would have fallen to your death.'
Ethan didn't speak. Chiron leaned forward: 'Ethan, we have heard of what you have done. Percy said you rebelled against the Titan Lord and tried to take him down.'
'Yes?'
'Indeed, that was a heroic act. A heroic choice. And yet some of our...some of the campers and Olympians are still concerned about where your loyalty lies. Whether you still serve the Titans. Of course it isn't unreasonable for them to believe so - You were the Titan Army's lieutenant.' Seeing Ethan not saying anything, Chiron continued. 'Some of the Olympians think it wise to make things sure, which is why I must ask you: 'His expression was intense. 'Do you still side with the Titans?'
Ethan shifted. 'I don't really have a choice, do I?'
'Well, you saw how much destruction Chronos has caused, and you understand how much more he will bring once he...'
'I do.'
There was a short silence. Then Ethan broke it.
‘How did he die?'
The question seemed to catch Chiron by surprise. 'Who...?'
'Chronos. The satyr back there said something about his armpit.'
'Ah... yes. In fact, his left armpit was his Achilles ‘ Heel. When the point was hit, Chronos's soul was destroyed - Quite completely, I hope to say.'
It took Ethan a few seconds to process this. 'You mean- He - Luke - Bathed in the Styx?'
'Yes. That is why Luke's body was capable of holding Chronos's soul in the first place.'
Ethan didn't know that, and he couldn't imagine that. This brought another wave of mixed emotions to his mind, but he decided to cope with it later.
'Well, I guess Jackson did that heroic armpit-stabbing.' He said, not without bitterness.
At this Chiron suddenly looked troubled. 'Well... actually, no.'
'Then who did?'
'You see, in the battle...' Chiron started, but he stopped and looked deep in thought for a few moments. Then he shook his head. '…No. No. I shall not give you false hope. Sorry, Ethan, but I don't think it's appropriate to tell you this right now.'
'But I need to know who - '
‘Ethan.Why don’t we get back to the topic.’Chiron interrupted.’I still haven’t gotten your answer on the question yet.’
Another short silence.Ethan considered pressing the question,but instead he sighed.’I no longer serve Chronos.’
Chiron seemed to relax a little. 'Well then... I shall take it that you will stay with us, then? You will stay in Cabin 11 until...'
'No.'
Of course, Ethan understood the wrath of the Titan Lord more than anyone did. He had seen Chronos detroy Olympus, tearing down the temples and shrines. The Titan Lord had got absolutely no mercy for human race. But that doesn't make him an ally of the Olympians.
'I stand with my mother. The minor gods. This war didn't change anything.' As he spoke Ethan felt determination rising inside him. 'The minor gods, the demigods - we didn't achieve the thing we have fought for.'
Chiron seemed a bit surprise by the outburst. 'My dear child - Yes, it appears that you're a bit behind on recent matters. It's true that the gods resumed their empire...'
'Then there's nothing to be said - I will leave camp and - '
'Please let me finish.' Chiron put up a hand, and Ethan fell silent. 'You see, after the war, Percy made the gods promise to treat the minor gods rightly. He demanded that they claim all their offspring, and build cabins for the minor gods. There are changes, Ethan, and they are taking place right now.'
Ethan didn't hear the last sentence. 'Cabins ... for the minor gods?'
Chiron said. 'Hebe, Iris, Hypnos, Hecate...and of course Nemesis too.' He looked at Ethan.‘It’s clear that we’ll be getting much more campers next year.In this way, the minor gods will be recognized rightly.Isn’t that what you had fought for for such a long time?’
That sounded nice, of course. Too nice to be true.
'The gods won't change so easily.' He said. 'A few cabins can’t change anything.’
'It won't be just that, probably...but Ethan, I'm asking you to give the gods a second chance. Plus, most of the minor gods had declared peace. The Olympians are no longer at war. It shall be more appropriate - safer - for you to stay at camp.'
Ethan wanted to argue, but he couldn't find the right thing to say. Chiron continued. 'Please, Ethan. Stay for a few days, then you can make the decision about whether to leave. Also...' He suddenly seemed very troubled. 'What?' 'Nothing, nothing. Now...'
Chiron told Ethan to go to the Hermes Cabin, where he would stay before the new cabins were finished, and he instructed a nymph to get Ethan some clothes and daily replies. Although reluctant, Ethan walked out of the big house and into the camp ground.
He hadn't been in Camp for quite a few years, but the scenery hadn't changed much. Campers, satyrs and nymphs hurried here and there, busily going about their business. The infirmary was so crowded with the wounded that they had to build up some extra tents outside. A camper ran by, looked at Ethan's face, and hurried away hastily without a word.
He heard shoutings as he approached the climbing wall. 'I'm telling you - I'm not staying!' A boy about 16 was arguing with a few other demigods. 'Now look here, Al, the monsters - ' Another camper tried to speak, but the boy, clearly frustrated, waved his hand, and the camper's mouth sealed instantly, as though zippered. Is that - magic? Ethan took another look and realized he knew the boy - Alabaster Torrington, son of Hecate, and former member of the Titan Army.
'Hey! You can't do that!' Another camper surged toward, waving her spear dangerously, but at this moment Alabaster saw him. His expression turned from angry to greatly surprised. 'ETHAN!' He cried. 'You're - you're alive!'
The several demigods were also startled. Instantly they looked more cautious, and a few stepped back.
The girl who had spoken, however, pointed her spear at Ethan. 'Stay right where you are.' She commanded.
It took a few minutes to convince Clarisse that Ethan wasn't armed and he wasn't going to attack. Then she reluctantly agreed for Ethan and Alabaster to talk for a while, after Alabaster had released the silencing charm on Chris Rodriques, and under her supervision.
'I'm so glad you're alive!' Despite the complicated situation, Alabaster was beaming. Ethan shrugged. 'Nice to see you too.' He said. 'Where are the other members of the army?'
Alabaster's smile faltered. 'The alive ones were brought here. They forced us to stay here - something about the remaining monsters running loose. I guess they will try to convince us that Chronos tricked us, that the gods really care a lot for us... Ugh.' He lowered his voice, peering at Clarisse staring at them a few metres away. 'I'm not going to stay, anyway. I'll run away. Maybe tell Chiron I want to see my mother. If that doesn't work... well, some of us suspect the entrance to the Labyrinth might still be usable.' He looked at Ethan expectantly. 'You're running too, aren't you?'
'I guess so... but where will we go?'
'I don't know. Just get out first.'
'You don't have a plan for what you'll do?'
'Look, the point is I just can't stay here. How can I burn offerings for the gods after they... after all these years? How can you?' He took a deep breath. 'Please, Ethan, don't tell me you're giving into the Olympians.'
'Of course I'm not. But... wait. You are not seriously thinking about bringing back Chronos, are you?'
'Nah... They said he's gone, his soul shattered into pieces. But come to think of it, maybe... Yeah, I guess it's not entirely impossible...'
'What do you mean? You said Chronos is dead. And Luke...' Thinking about his old counselor made Ethan feel as though there was a knot in his stomach, though he was not sure why. 'Luke is dead.'
'Ah. About that.' Suddenly, Alabaster seemed very uncomfortable. 'Luke.'
'What about him?'
'I... should have told you earlier, Ethan.' Alabaster shifted his feet, and took another long breath. 'Luke is not dead.'
(End of Chapter 1)