The night had settled in, revealing a full moon that illuminated the darkness. A silver light that made Damon's blond hair shine, along with a few torches lighting the path toward the cabins where all the demigods stayed in their respective parent's cabin.
He didn't want to be just another one in Hermes' cabin. After seeing it with his own eyes, it was clear that the last thing that cabin needed was more unclaimed demigods.
Honestly, if it were up to him, all the gods would have a cabin, no matter if they were minor gods or not. During the war, there were minor gods who were of great help, even if they only acted as messengers or carried out simple tasks. Even if they weren't fit for direct combat, they were still important.
Damon pushed that thought aside—just another problem that was starting to give him a headache…
Percy still hadn't woken up. He was still in a coma from the shock of seeing his mother die… even so, Damon knew something didn't add up. Why would a human disappear into golden dust? Monsters did that when they died, not mortals… something didn't make sense.
He only knew one thing, and it was the most important: she was still alive. Where was she? No idea. He knew nothing beyond her survival—whether she was okay or where she could be… he would have to find out. But he had a feeling that Hades was involved in all of this.
He continued walking, still remembering his time with Hestia. He couldn't help but look at his hands, which trembled slightly from the emotion of seeing her again… he truly missed his family more than anything… and, above all, he missed his home. There was also a bit of uncertainty about what they would say about him when it came to light who he really was…
After all, history barely mentioned him… very little. Even the demigods present knew very little about him, despite having to study Greek mythology and everything that came with being the child of a god. It was enough to see that no one had even approached him to ask about his symbol. Here, practically no one cared about the gods… unless it was necessary.
Was leaving really the right choice? And if it was… Ananke must have known this would end up happening, right?
He supposed this was a better outcome than staying back then and facing Zeus from the beginning. Assuming Ananke warned him for some reason beyond his understanding… but even now, Damon couldn't help but wonder if it had truly been worth it.
That question ate at him constantly. He hadn't left for nothing… he wanted to avoid a war. A war that would tear his family apart.
(Little did Damon know… his family was already broken…)
Determined to push those thoughts aside, sooner or later he would have to face each of his brothers head-on, whether it turned out well or not.
In the distance, he heard a kind of bell echoing throughout the camp. It was probably the call for dinner… he couldn't care less. He wasn't hungry and he was tired.
Reuniting with Hestia had been enough for today—too much mental strain to deal with children who looked at him like he was some kind of phenomenon for being the Champion of Chaos. What was Chaos even thinking? He didn't want to know. First things first—he needed to figure out where he was going to sleep.
The offering had been made, now he just had to wait for an answer… how he would receive it, he had no idea.
He had a backup "plan" in case he didn't get an answer or if it was negative. He looked up at it: a lone tree on top of a small hill, visible from anywhere in the camp. A good place to sleep. It wouldn't be the first time he slept outdoors, nor the last… but that wasn't what caught his attention.
The tree emitted a strange energy that protected the entire camp. So far, so good—but he could feel a presence inside it. His first thought was simple: a nymph lived in the tree. The strongest or most important nymph, since the tree wasn't just protected by campers—there seemed to be something else constantly surrounding it.
But something was off..... That tree didn't house a nymph.
He would take a closer look later.
He continued walking calmly, hands in his pockets, without any visible concern. He came across some campers heading toward the main cabin to make their offerings to the gods before dinner. Each one of them turned to look at him and then whispered to whoever they were with.
"In reality, I don't think they're even trying to hide that they're talking about me," he thought to himself.
It wasn't anything bad. Just simple comments like: "Is that him?" or "He's not what I expected."
What were they expecting? A walking black hole? A miniature Milky Way?
Well… he couldn't blame them. He still couldn't believe she had chosen him either.
He was close to Hera's cabin, but he couldn't help but stop and look at Artemis' cabin. It seemed to glow in silver, as if it could reflect and amplify the moonlight itself. Quite beautiful, in his eyes.
The sound of wings flapping pulled him out of his thoughts. He looked toward it and saw a peacock staring at him as if studying him. It struck him as strange, but he didn't have time to think about it—the peacock began to walk away from the camp, as if signaling him to follow.
Damon understood immediately and followed it without paying attention to the other cabins, which were currently empty. The peacock guided him toward the back, where the first cabins were, until it stopped in the small garden outside Hera's cabin and began pecking at the ground as if searching for food.
Damon didn't understand what was happening.
Of course, he didn't know that the peacock was Hera's sacred animal. He didn't know anything… not yet.
Shortly after, the sound of the cabin door handle turning echoed, opening the way inside.
"I'll take that as a yes," the blond thought with a small smile.
Hera's Temple, Earlier
Seated in a luxurious chair before a vanity and mirror, alone in her temple, Hera thought about what she had seen in the council chamber alongside the other gods. She had to admit she was somewhat confused—not only by the appearance of a Champion of Lady Chaos, but also by Demeter's reaction.
Honestly… what was wrong with her?
Every time the Iris message showed the blond boy with Hestia, Demeter looked away, as if she didn't want to see him… or feared something about him.
Well… it had been a long time since the "siblings" cared about one another. They all looked out for themselves now..... a sense of discomfort stroke Hera.
Why did that thought make her feel that way…? How long had it been since one of her siblings helped her… other than Hestia?
Too long..... That was why she felt uncomfortable now.
—Tch—
She clicked her tongue, annoyed with herself for that feeling… for not wanting to help her own sister.
"I could stay in Hera's cabin."
She remembered the blond's words when Hestia asked him where he would sleep. She didn't know why she was thinking about it now… but strangely, it helped push away the discomfort she felt toward Demeter.
In her opinion, it had even been amusing to see the reaction of the other gods when the boy mentioned her with the intention of using her cabin. She didn't care if he was the Champion of Chaos—she wouldn't allow just anyone to enter that place.
Not because of the inside of the cabin.
Everyone knew that cabin was more of an honor than anything else… but what no one knew—not even Hestia, or so she believed—was that she used it in her worst moments.
When Zeus pushed her to the limit....When her domains were defiled by her own brothers or other gods....That place was her escape.
Inside that cabin was something more valuable than any treasure… the reason she returned to that place in her worst moments… the only memory she had never managed to discard, no matter how many times she tried.
Still, she couldn't help but feel curious about what the boy would offer to earn that favor.
Damn Iris…
She had cut the message right when he was about to find the offering.
What kind of joke was that…
But whatever… she could wait. She could always see it with her own eyes.
She picked up a royal comb made of pure gold and began brushing her hair—more out of habit than necessity. Long hair required care… and if she didn't do it before sleeping, she would wake up with it completely tangled.
Then a light began to materialize in front of her. The offering had been made, and what she saw almost stopped her heart.
The sound of the comb hitting the floor echoed throughout the temple.
It couldn't be… could it?
A carnation.
White with red accents.
Of all the flowers in the world… it had to be a carnation... Why was it almost identical to the one Damon had given her so many years ago…?
Was fate playing a cruel joke on her?
She carefully took the carnation floating before her, as if afraid it might break. She brought it close to her face, closed her eyes… and felt a tear fall down her cheek.
She looked up at the mirror..... Tears fell from her eyes… along with a sad smile.
"I'll always be there."
Memories of a man who left years ago… without looking back. He abandoned her.
"I won't let anyone hurt you."
"Liar…" Hera whispered as she pressed the carnation to her chest, as if it were the last thing she had left of the most important person in her life. The tears were bitter now… and they wouldn't stop falling.
The curtains began to move slowly. A gentle breeze entered through the window, surrounding Hera as if it understood her pain… as if it was trying to comfort her.
The good memories began to outweigh the bad, drowning out the sadness.
She kept staring at the carnation.
And she couldn't help but smile faintly as she remembered Damon's smile when he had given it to her.
"He's earned it…" said the goddess of marriage to herself, as she looked at the carnation the Champion of Chaos had offered her.
She brought it close to her face one last time… And this time, a small smile appeared on her face.
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