I hated how quiet the camp was that day. The air was thick with a kind of tension, like the camp itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. I had wandered out of the cabins after breakfast, hoping the quiet woods would offer me some peace.
But then again, peace wasn’t something I was good at finding.
The sun filtered through the trees, casting patches of light on the ground, but every step I took seemed to echo in my head. I wasn’t exactly new to Camp Half-Blood anymore, but it still felt like I didn’t belong. Not in the way they wanted me to, at least.
I paused by a big oak tree, rubbing the spot between my eyes.
Camp was filled with people who had their futures mapped out: quests, combat training, the usual. But what about me? I wasn’t like them. I didn’t even know who I was beyond my father’s shadow, and that was starting to feel like something I needed to fix before it consumed me whole.
Just then, I heard footsteps behind me—someone moving through the brush. I turned, and to my surprise, it wasn’t one of the campers.
It was Chiron, the director of Camp Half-Blood.
He was mounted on his usual half-horse form, his expression as unreadable as ever. I’d never really had a conversation with him beyond the basics, but today? He didn’t look like he was here to chat about orientation.
“Hello, Nixie,” Chiron said, his voice calm, though there was an odd weight to it. “May I have a word?”
I stiffened, already feeling that familiar knot in my stomach. People didn’t just ask for a word with you here. Not unless something important—or dangerous—was about to happen.
I nodded, though I didn’t speak. Chiron’s gaze was steady, piercing through me as though he was seeing things I wasn’t aware of. Finally, he spoke again, his tone shifting to something more serious.
“I’ve been watching you.”
My eyes narrowed. “I’m not the only one.”
He gave me a half-smile, his expression softening just slightly. “True. But it’s not your presence I’m concerned about. It’s what you might be capable of.”
That was new. Most people looked at me like I was some kind of ticking time bomb, but Chiron? He seemed to think I was more than just a child of Hades trying to make it through camp without blowing everything up.
“What do you mean?” I asked cautiously.
Chiron paused for a moment, his eyes flicking to the horizon before he spoke again. “There’s a war coming, Nixie. I don’t need to tell you that. You’re not just a child of Hades, are you?”
My breath caught in my throat. This conversation was taking a turn I hadn’t expected.
“I don’t know what you mean,” I said, trying to play dumb, but I could feel my pulse quicken.
“You’re not just Hades’ daughter, Nixie,” Chiron continued. “You have the ability to navigate in places most mortals and demigods would never survive. You know how to slip through shadows, how to move unseen. I’ve been told by more than one camper that you’ve demonstrated abilities that could be… useful in the coming days.”
I stared at him, confused but also oddly flattered. “What are you suggesting?”
Chiron didn’t waste time with small talk. His expression became even more serious. “I’m suggesting a quest. A dangerous one. A quest that will require you to go deep into enemy territory and gather information for us. Information on Kronos.”
I froze. The name felt like ice in my veins. Kronos. The very same titan that was waiting to destroy everything.
“I’m listening,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
“You’ve heard of Kronos’ resurgence,” Chiron said, eyes narrowing. “He’s rebuilding his army. His forces are growing. The gods are distracted, bickering amongst themselves, and we—Camp Half-Blood—don’t have enough intel to know what he’s planning next.”
I shifted uncomfortably, glancing around as though the trees themselves might be listening. “And you want me to spy on him?”
Chiron met my gaze, his face stern. “Yes. I want you to infiltrate Kronos’ army, find out what he’s up to, and report back.”
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “You want me to go into the heart of the enemy’s camp. Get close to Kronos.”
“That’s correct,” Chiron said without hesitation. “I’m offering you a chance to do something that might save us all. You have skills that can help us get inside and stay unnoticed. And I believe you’re the only one who can do it without drawing the attention of his forces.”
A sudden chill ran down my spine, but I didn’t pull away. “And if I fail?”
Chiron didn’t flinch. “Failure would mean you’re caught. And Kronos has no mercy for those who cross him. But I have faith in you. You’ve handled things no one else here could.”
I shook my head, still processing what he was asking of me. This was insane. I had just gotten used to the idea of being at Camp Half-Blood, and now he was asking me to throw myself straight into the fire?
But Chiron’s gaze didn’t waver. He was serious.
“You don’t have to take the quest,” he said, his voice gentler now. “But if you do, there will be no turning back. You’ll be playing a dangerous game. The stakes couldn’t be higher.”
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. The shadows I’d been hiding in suddenly felt a lot more suffocating. But even so, there was something inside me that wanted this. Something that wanted to prove I was more than just a daughter of Hades.
“I’ll do it,” I said before I could stop myself.
Chiron’s expression softened just slightly. “I knew you would. We’ll prepare you as best as we can. You’ll have the support of the camp, but ultimately, this quest will be yours alone to carry out.”
I nodded, my mind already racing through the possibilities. The danger. The risks. But also... the chance to finally do something that mattered.
“Get ready,” Chiron added, giving me a meaningful look. “And be careful, Nixie. Kronos is a force unlike anything you’ve faced before. Don’t let the shadows blind you.”
With that, he turned and trotted off toward the center of camp, leaving me standing there alone with the weight of my decision pressing down on me.
The quiet, familiar woods around me suddenly felt colder, darker. I wasn’t just a camper anymore. I was part of something much bigger. Something terrifying.
And I had no idea if I was ready.
I didn’t know what to do next. The camp felt like a labyrinth now. My footsteps felt heavier with every passing second.
I hadn’t realized where my feet were leading me until I was at the attic door. It wasn’t a place anyone visited, unless you were truly desperate—or, like me, had nothing else to do.
The attic was rumored to be where the Oracle of Delphi’s old prophecies were stored—fragments of old scrolls, faded and forgotten. There were whispers that, sometimes, the prophecies still had a way of finding their way to the right person. That’s why I had come here, despite my doubts. Something in me told me I needed to hear the words that had yet to be spoken.
I pushed open the creaky door, stepping into the dim, musty space. Dust hung thick in the air, and the shelves were cluttered with ancient scrolls, some unraveling at the edges.
I felt my way toward a single stone pedestal in the center of the room. Upon it sat a small parchment—so old it looked ready to crumble into dust. My breath caught as I reached for it, unsure of what I was even doing. But I didn’t hesitate.
I unfolded the parchment with shaking hands. The words were written in a familiar script—an ancient, almost cryptic form of Greek that still managed to make my heart race when I saw it.
I read it aloud, my voice trembling:
"In darkness, you will find the light,12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡed3GD6hxX6
In shadows, the enemy's heart will ignite.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZJbFQKsJd
The world will turn on the strength of your breath,12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEUfXXUNeh
But choose wisely—life or death.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCkyHOnsCk
The road is long, the price is steep,12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkhzFSrDCw
Yet only the brave will wake from sleep."
I stood frozen for a moment, letting the words sink in. It felt like a warning, a guide, and yet… it was hard to make sense of it all. But one thing was clear—the quest I had agreed to wasn’t just dangerous. It was destined.
With a final glance at the prophecy, I folded it carefully and slipped it into my pocket. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for what awaited me, but one thing was for sure—I had no choice but to go forward.
I wasn’t just a shadow anymore. I was a weapon.
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