Athena kept a blank face as she sat on her Divine Throne.
While they don't usually convene at every small issue that arises in the camp below, this had started to become a habit at this point.
Athena was thankful at least. Because at this point, if another vote took place on her daughter's continued existence, she wasn't sure everyone would have voted as they did.
They all stared silently as her daughter used magic to create a large wooden golem that was stomping on the creature that the child of Hecate summoned.
While her daughter was laughing with a concerningly happy and bloodthirsty smile.
"You know, usually I kind of hate magic fights. I can get behind them, I suppose. A fight is a fight; not everyone has the kind of skill needed to swing a sword around or whatever. But I'm really pleased right now." Ares commented.
"Are we sure that she isn't your daughter?" Apollo looked at him.
"At this point, I think I have the right to adopt her." He replied. "She's way too competent to be one of Big Brain's stupid 'geniuses.'"
Athena glared at both of them. "My children are not incompetent." She scowled.
Her words were punctuated by a swirling of mists in the room as another figure appeared.
It was rare for one of the deities of the Underworld to visit Olympus.
It was especially rare for one to be summoned.
Hecate, Goddess of Magic, appeared before the Council.
Most gods were neutral to her presence. She had few enemies, but likewise, she had few allies as well.
She mostly kept to herself, and her work in keeping the Mists operating gave her some goodwill among all the other guys, to the point where she could approach them if needed without being dismissed out of hand.
"Finally, can we hurry this up? I have a date with a 560-year-old bottle of wine this afternoon." Dionysus said tiredly.
"Let us be." Zeus commanded, his authoritative tone carrying over the vast room. "Hecate, you were summoned for your expertise."
Hecate bowed her head politely towards the King of Gods to acknowledge the order. "I am at your command."
Zeus waved his hand as a large spherical display appeared in front of them as it started from the beginning. "This is Athena's…indiscretion. We would like to know your thoughts on her…talents."
What was left unsaid was that Zeus wanted clarity on her talents to weigh her threat level.
There was a reason that they didn't populate Demigods learning magic.
It was the same reason no demigod had Divine Strength since Hercules.
It was the same reason no demigod showed divine speed like Achilles.
It was a different time back then.
Even for the gods, they were a lot less…worldly, one could say. Back then, there were a lot fewer demigods running around compared to now, but they were stronger.
Almost every demigod child back then had carved their names into legends. And in a few cases, they had even managed to spurn the gods to their faces and reject them.
Stories of Hercules wrestling Ares and winning.
Stories of Achilles fending off the fury of Apollo and sacking his temple in Troy.
Even to the more good-natured gods, these things left a certain thought in the back of their minds. What happens when a demigod gets born that's even stronger or becomes strong enough that they decide they don't care about the gods anymore?
Once they attached themselves to the West and followed the seat of power, the new demigods began to weaken until their current form.
That isn't to say they were weak in a general sense.
But since the time of Ancient Greece, there had never been a demigod that had risen to the same status.
Of course, many demigods became historical and famous figures, but that was never due to their strength or power.
Even Chiron didn't train them the same.
Gods feared the idea of demigods becoming too strong, but also, they depended too highly on demigods for their own continued existence.
Demigods sustained them in a lot of ways. From hunting monsters to completing quests to simply paying worship to the gods.
If every demigod suddenly died, that didn't mean the gods would up and disappear, but there would be a bit of panic to remake what was lost.
The gods didn't want them to get too strong; they didn't want them to know how valuable of assets they were either.
The gods weren't intentionally weakening them through some metaphysical power. Of course, they weren't intentionally giving them blessings either. But the decline of Demigods over the centuries was mostly due to them being less supportive.
In the past, gods would have taken a much more active role in the lives of certain demigods. Perseus was showered with divine treasures. Hercules, through schemes, was given godly strength. Achilles, a child of an old prophecy, had surpassed his own father—a hero before him—in every possible way.
Gods didn't hand out their blessings easily anymore. Gods didn't hand out Divine weapons anymore without a reason. And gods took a back seat in the lives of demigods until they were required.
It was the main reason why Zeus enacted the Divine Law that gods were not allowed to meddle in the lives of their children.
When they had to fend for themselves, it was far, far harder for them to reach the levels of their predecessors.
Children of Apollo generally learn just to use a bow and maybe a side weapon.
Children of Ares, while having a good hand at using a bow, usually only use swords or spears.
Children of Athena, likewise, rarely if ever use a bow.
Demigods tended to stay in their lanes, which was perfect for the gods and how they wanted things to proceed.
It wasn't forbidden for a demigod to venture out; it happens, and no one really bats an eye. But now, the situation was a bit different.
The newest addition to camp, a very heated topic of discussion, was going around telling them all how weak and stupid they were for their narrow vision.
It wasn't an emergency; it wasn't the gods panicking.
It was them not wanting the status quo to be disrupted and them deciding if they should do something about it.
"I was watching my children. What do you wish me to reveal?" Hecate asked politely.
"Anything you can tell us about her." Artemis chimed in. "If there's any…danger."
"Very well." Hecate could more or less understand what they wanted.
She was a woman of few words; there wasn't a need to continue to ask questions.
The images on the magic screen shifted as Hecate took control of it, then it zoomed in on her wand. "Curious, a magical focus—a wand—created from a piece of dragon and wood. It is very clearly mortal-made, but it is of exceptional quality. Whoever created it must be a genius of the craft."
Athena perked up slightly.
She was a goddess of crafts.
It was a small comment before she continued.
She ignored her daughters and sons becoming irate over the idea of others learning magic. She didn't agree with their viewpoints, but she also understood them. The idea that magic was 'theirs' by birthright, and the connection it had between them and her.
They were wrong, of course. Magic didn't belong to them, but she would be gentle when scolding her children when the opportunity presented itself.
Magic didn't even belong to her, as the Goddess of Magic.
There were many Gods of Magic, yet none of them could claim such a thing.
Magic was part of the world, an aspect of existence.
"Percy is right." Poseidon spoke up as the magical recording played. "More of them should spend time within the waters and pay proper homage."
Many of the gods just rolled their eyes.
"Who is this person?" Hecate stopped the recordings and pointed to a specific blonde girl.
"The little spider called her 'Mordred.'" Dionysus answered. "Her sister."
"What's wrong with her?" Aphrodite asked curiously.
"Besides the obvious." Hermes chimed in. "There is very obviously something off about her."
Being a god did not bestow one with infinite knowledge or sight to be able to peer through mysteries at a glance.
Hecate tilted her head. "She has a phenomenal amount of magic contained within her. She does not appear to be a living being but a spirit of some sort? Her namesake would suggest much there."
Such a famous tale; all of them, of course, knew the name 'Mordred' from the stories of King Arthur.
Athena was uncharacteristically impatient as they zeroed in on the girl.
Athen was also curious who she was and what she was. She had seen the presumably mortal girl split the lake in half with ease and release an amount of power that caused her to pause.
She just didn't want to share the mystery with the others.
She was mentally chiding her daughter for making another disturbance so quickly.
It seemed like her daughter was intent on causing her as much trouble as possible.
"Nice spell!" Apollo smiled smugly as they started their little fight.
Having Apollo's name invoked for a fire spell wasn't anything strange. It was the foundation of how magic worked for them, to invoke and call upon the deities and their domains to cast spells through the mists.
It was also why the gods could quite easily cut off their access if they displeased them.
For the gods who wanted things under control, it was perhaps the perfect system of 'magic.'
Arachne countered with a water spell that…didn't.
It made many of them frown.
Truthfully, not all magic done by the demigods down below had to invoke a god. But if you wanted something more than a simple cantrip, you had to work through the system they established.
You didn't need to call out Apollo's name every time you lit a campfire.
"Latin." Hecate noted. "A spell to create a strong release of water. It does not fall under our system of magic, and I do not recognize which foundation system it belongs to."
Many shot her a surprised glance.
Hecate was one of the few gods who had…contact with other pantheons. Due to the nature of the mists, she often brushed elbows with other gods of magic. So to say she didn't recognize something was definitely odd.
"Though, if I had to guess, I believe it was created by mortals." She added.
In the brief second of spellcasting, she could catch everything about the spell. The magical formula used to create it, the foundations used to support it, the movements, the words, and everything about it that helped actualize the spell.
She would be a poor Magic god if she couldn't see through a simple spell at merely a glance.
"Mortals?" Demeter question. "Are you sure there isn't any godly hand behind the scene?"
It was a strange thought to them. That mortals could have their own 'magic.' They could accept that there were other magic systems in the world, but they all relied on the foundations of gods.
"None that I can perceive." Hecate said simply.
No one called her a liar or questioned her ability; it was merely the confusion at the statement that had them doubting.
"Hmm, that girl seems to have an advantage." Apollo tapped his throne. "Only having to call on 'Mom' for help rather than properly casting a spell to turn off my sun in the area."
Turning it night during the day was only a tiny snub towards him. He didn't really care as long as it didn't affect anything more than what she did, but still, he was a little peeved.
Gods were capricious creatures.
"Is it any different than one of your children picking up a bow or a musical instrument, Apollo?" Hecate asked, raising a brow.
Apollo grunted in defeat.
She was right, of course.
It's not as if this would work for all their spells. Just ones that shared domains with their mother, they could…cheat with, essentially.
And it didn't work all the time.
Hecate wouldn't allow them to forgo proper lessons and learning. If they stopped doing things properly to rely purely on the 'cheating,' she would cut them off.
The screen paused again when Arachne countered with her own spell, this time a very familiar flavor.
It was the first time they'd seen her use a Greek spell.
"Why didn't she need to do a whole chant thing like your daughter?" Hermes asked.
He never really cared about magic before; he knew how it worked on a basic level and had knowledge of it, but it wasn't anywhere near his sphere of influence, so it was always a side thought at most.
"Because that is a skill I have not taught since the Old World." Hecate replied calmly despite her own genuine surprise. "The use of Divine Words is a long-forgotten art that not even my daughters know. It takes significant time, practice, and teaching to master it, with an equal amount of talent needed. Due to the laws, I am unable to teach it properly after the eras changed."
It was not asking for help, requesting aid, or offering a prayer in return for assistance.
It was a Divine call upon an Immortal name to invoke their power.
Technically, it used the same foundation. But it was like if the Greek Foundation of Magic was a street, and the 'normal' method had Hecate's children running on it or riding a bike. Then comes Arachne speeding along with her car.
"How did she learn?" Zeus narrowed his eyes.
"I do not know." Hecate responded evenly despite the pressure touching her. "If you need it, I am willing to make an oath on the Styx to verify."
Zeus considered it and shook his head and simply gestured dismissively with his hand. It wasn't worth it to get on Hecate's bad side when he was willing to believe her.
As she said, it isn't taught these days. But there were some still around that did learn it.
With no other questions, the recording resumed until Arachne excitedly said she was going to show off one of her father's spells and cast a large freezing spell that covered the forest in a sheet of ice.
"Huh." Ares noted. "Her normal human father, right, Athena?" He looked at his fellow war god. "Her completely normal human father, right, Athena?"
Athena didn't look at her, but her eye twitched slightly as she held herself back. "We have established that her father is not a normal human." Her voice carried a forced monotone to not show her current annoyance.
"It's Norse magic." Hecate pointed out. "The use of runes is prevalent and easily identifiable. I would recognize Odin's legacy with both eyes closed."
While many of them could easily guess that based on the name alone, it was good to have verification.
The fight continued until Hecate's daughter summoned a bunch of nightmarish creatures.
Arachne then followed up with an ethereal owl that seemed to drive them away.
Athena perked up, looking very proud at her symbol being displayed so triumphantly. Owls were a symbol of wisdom; it was rare for an owl to display such…prowess in an aggressive sort of way.
She didn't dislike it.
"A spell that's made up of positive emotions and amplified to become a counter towards negative and dark-aligned spells and creatures." Hecate tilted her head slightly as she analyzed it. "What a charming spell."
Athena nearly choked when her daughter called the owl 'Duke Hootsworth,' however.
She had to remind herself that her daughter was still a child and was prone to acts of whimsy.
Hecate clicked her tongue when Arachne cast a spell that quite literally silenced her opponent. "Sloppy daughter, very sloppy."
Being silenced should not be a winning move against a competent spellcaster.
Hecate had made sure to drill that into their heads in the first lessons they ever received. Always make sure you have a means to protect yourself if you're unable to chant a spell.
Be it mastery over casting spells silently, tools at your disposal, or even being able to flee.
The room got tense when she used a spell called Thunderbolt.
Zeus looked very unhappy that someone was parading themselves around with magic that called on his domain without paying him the proper respects.
It was enough that his hands twitched with a few sparks as he had the idea in the back of his mind to throw a real bolt of lightning down on the one who offended him.
Though he didn't move, he stayed silent and continued watching.
The recording continued until the end, and it was finally paused.
"Norse magic, Greek magic, Onmyōdō from the East, even Celtic magic." Despite many beliefs, Celtic and Norse magics weren't the same; there just happened to be a lot of cultural overlap due to history. "And of course, a magic foundation that seems completely rooted in mortal concepts." Hecate "Is there anything you wish me to clarify?'
Aphrodite looked at Athena. "Yeah, Athena, anything you want clarified about your demon spawn booty call?"
Athena was about to open her mouth and argue, but Zeus shut them both up with a slam of his armrest.
"Thank you, Hecate." He said sternly and not too pleased, though his emotions weren't directed at her, so she politely bowed her head. "What are your thoughts on the girl?"
"Certainly talented. To learn so many different systems of magic, yet to weave them into her repertoire so seamlessly, tells of significant talent and learning. I do not believe any of my current children in camp can match her. In another few decades, I would say she wouldn't be any less than the likes of Medea or Circe, perhaps a bit longer, but who knows?" She gave her honest evaluation.
"You are dismissed." Zeus waved his hand again.
Hecate disappeared in a swirl of mist.
"Will we decide now, husband?" Hera looked at him.
Zeus weighed his options.
He wasn't too keen on sending a girl with so many attachments to other pantheons out on a quest that had to deal with their own problems. Especially when his own Divine Symbol was involved.
Frankly, Zeus wanted to be angry right now, but he was holding it back. He was at his weakest, so he couldn't allow his temper to get the better of him.
Those other irresponsible gods—he wanted to curse them. They either blessed or taught her or supported her in some way.
In this day and age, it was foolish.
But it was also a chance to set things right. And once he had his symbol back, did he need to even consider the thoughts on other pantheons? The ancient laws were inviolable for a reason, and he was well within certain rights to deal with trouble makers under his umbrella.
After the troublemaker was dealt with, then things like the Bane of Olympus would easily be dealt with as well.
Zeus nodded. "Very well, a prophecy has been made. Let us decide who will be sent."
[Line Break]
Arachne was currently being carried by the scruff of her neck by a trotting centaur.
The campers looked at her with varying mixes of confusion, trepidation, and concern as they passed by.
Mostly because she had more or less burned the forest down.
The others were following behind.
It's just that Chiron had the wisdom that it was perhaps a good idea to make sure she didn't venture off again out of his sight this time.
He only plopped her down when they reached their destination.
"Mr. D." Chiron spoke. "I brought her."
Mr. D was sitting at a lone table, casually sipping a can of coke. "You know, it's funny. I've been drinking myself silly the past few days to make up for lost time. But I suddenly had the craving for a Coke."
Arachne stood up, brushing herself off. "A didn't do nothin." She quickly defended herself.
"She's telling the truth; I was there, I saw her do nothing." Percy added.
Arachne shot him a not-so-subtle thumbs up.
"You burned the forest down." Chiron said with a deadpan. "The only reason it isn't a bigger deal is because you had the presence of mind to not harm any of the Nymphs or Spirits in the forest."
"And a will fookin do it again!"
Mordred smacked the back of her head. "Stop acting like your stupid dad."
"Don't call me da stupid!" Arachne puffed up. "A will tell Mum."
"How about I tell your mom about what you've been up to?" Mordred crossed her arms, looking at her.
"...please don't tell Mum, big sis." Arachne lowered her head in slight embarrassment.
"Normally, I'd be all for the chaos. Heck, I'm still for it even if it's adding more work to my plate. I would happily do more work if it meant causing chaos for everyone else; that's how much I support it." Dionysus said tiredly. "But—orders from high up. Pack your bags, kiddos; you're going on a quest!"
Chiron looked between the god and the confused children, and he cleared his throat. "What Mr. D means to say is that the Council of Gods has evaluated the prophecy you heard and decided to be safe and send both of you."
"Meh." Arachne shrugged. "Sounds boring; a don't wanna go."
"You're going." Surprisingly, it was Mordred who rebuffed her. "Take responsibility for your actions, brat. You got yourself into this mess; you're cleaning it up."
She was, of course, referring to nearly killing the Oracle.
"Consider it your punishment." Mordred continued. "Or, I can tell your mom. You decide."
Arachne paused. "A love quest."
Mordred snorted but didn't add anything else.
Chiron, though, was very grateful for the strange girl that felt like a dragon and could probably fold one with one hand tied behind her back.
He was hesitant about her presence at camp and would have normally vetoed it if Dionysus hadn't allowed it.
But at this moment, he was very thankful for her presence.
"Um, the Oracle zombie lady didn't die, did she?" Percy hesitantly asked.
"Nope, all good there." Dionysus said casually. "And I would suggest not ever talking about it again. My good brother is a bit…touchy about his Oracles."
"Ooh, he didn't take it well then?" Percy muttered. "How mad is he?"
"That's the neat part, kid." Dionysus took a sip of his coke. "We didn't tell him."
Chiron, to his credit, didn't react with a sigh.
"A feel like this will come back to be a bad decision." Arachne stated.
"Counterpoint." Dionysus poked her nose from across the table. "You have no room to talk about bad decision-making."
Arachne considered that and nodded. "That's fair. Me da says I have his bad decision-making and Mum's stubbornness." She grumbled a little. "Big Sis is coming too."
"No."
"No."
"No." Mordred rounded off the trio of adults, all agreeing with them. "I'm going back home soon, brat. I'm not going to babysit you. You're the one who wanted to come here and play around."
Arachne puffed her cheeks. "But who's coming with us then?"
"Annabeth, Luke, and Zoe." Chiron immediately answered.
"Awww, they're dumb." Arachne pouted.
"They're the only ones in the camp you've had more than a single conversation with." Chiron pointed out.
Arachne stomped her foot with a huff. "Do a got to bring the weird cult girl too?"
"Don't call Artemis's hunters a cult." Chiron said dryly.
While they were a cult in the older sense of the word, he knew she was using it as an insult based on the modern interpretation of it.
"I never said it was them. Why did you immediately jump to them, huh?" Arachne looked at Chiron.
"Stop being smart." Mordred smacked her on the head again. "You can bring Mr. Blueberry."
"Fine." Arachne huffed.
Chiron looked at Mordred like he wanted to say something, but he realized that Mordred was helping him and kept his mouth shut.
He didn't really care if she brought the literal Bane of Olympus with her on a quest; this was far out of his hands now.
"Good, that's settled. You're leaving in the morning; make any preparations you need." Chiron gave her no room to start arguing and immediately ran off.
[Line Break]
A/N
Quest time.
And it will go exactly as expected with nothing strange happening.
If you want to read 2 chapters of this omake ahead, visit my p.a.t.r.e.o.n.c.o.m. / astoryforone
I also have a boosty if you can't use the above under the same name.