The Ritual

Albert was feeling way too emotional and it was suffocating.

What was he supposed to do in a situation like this one? There was just so much violence and tragedy everywhere he looked. Did Medusa deserve to be turned into a monster that nobody who gazed up upon her eyes would live to tell the tale? What about the innocents who never meant to gaze upon her, to begin with, and still ended up here? Sure, she did turn crazy and tried to turn them into stone too, but if he was ever in a situation like hers, would he be any different? 

"Medusa went mad in the end," Albert stated absent-mindedly.

Annabeth shifted uncomfortably, as she got up from the floor, dusting herself. "What do we do now? We still have a quest to fulfill."

"Huh... guys," Percy interjected, "What do with we do with the head? It's too dangerous to just leave it here."

"Should we bury it?" Grover suggested.

"Who do we think is responsible for all of this?" Albert couldn't help but ask out loud, not really looking for an answer, "We-no, scratch that. I can't just leave them here. It's just too cruel."

"They are statues now..." Grover said, not really answering the question. "She even mocked me, she mocked my uncle and all of us who dream of finding Pan. She-she called him a coward..."

"So we have your mother to blame for this monster?" Percy asked Annabeth in a neutral tone.

The girl flashed him an irritated look, " Maybe you should think about the role of your dad in this mess too. Don't you remember what she said? She said he told her he loved her. She was a priestess of my mother! I don't care what she said. I don't believe in her. I read she was your father's girlfriend and they did it on my mother's temple! It's a humiliation, Percy! It desecrated her territory and made a mockery out of her. You wouldn't understand."

Percy had a dark look on his face, all of them had.

Albert felt like this argument was a necessary one going forward. He knew Percy sympathized with Medusa's story, why Annabeth hated her and was taught to hate her, and why Grover felt so much resentment towards her.

"I believe..." Albert said. "I believe the answer to that question is very complicated. I don't believe she was lying about her story, but maybe it wasn't completely true. What I know was that she truly felt betrayed too. I don't know how, but I felt honesty when she said she loved your mom, Annabeth," He took a breath, "I don't know if she really embarrassed her and desecrated her temple. I don't know if whatever happened was her plan or if she was a victim. I know she resented the gods. But tell me, Annabeth, you said your mother was just. Always..." He gestured helplessly around, "Does this look just to you? These statues, look at them. Some of them didn't even know where to hit them until it was too late. The children, look at their clothes, some of them have the petrified necklace of camp. Does this look just to any of you?"

Albert was met with silence.

He then recalled something Medusa had said before and quickly added. "She even said that they stay here. I think she meant that they don't just die and go to the Underworld. I think even the monster didn't just return to Tartarus. They are all still here, frozen in the moment they gaze upon her."

Annabeth, the usually so collected Annabeth. She glared at him, there was just so much conflict behind her grey eyes. Tears were flowing and she started to panic, but even then she fought back. She breathed in and out. Percy and Grover were equally distraught. Albert never thought that coming to this place was gonna shake him up so badly.

"What do you want me to do?!" Annabeth yelled at him, gritting her teeth as she furiously cleaned the tears off her face. "I am confused too. I don't know, okay? Is that what you want to hear? I don't know. I-I-I don't know..." She continued. "I wish I did. I really do. We can't save them."

"Annabeth..." Percy said looking at her state, he also cleaned his tears. He looked at Albert, firmly. "Do you have any idea? You must have one. You always do."

Albert was silent for a moment as his mind was relentlessly searching for an answer. There was a long pause where he contemplated his options. He then turned to Grover.

"Grover, do you believe what she said about Pan?" He asked. "Do you believe he is a coward who ran away and hid away from the people who trusted him? Do you believe he abandoned you and your kin?"

The satyr boy was shaking, his hands were trembling, he glanced directly at Albert and shook his head, "No! I don't! I don't believe her. I refuse to believe her. Lord Pan wouldn't give up on us, he wouldn't it."

"I see..." Albert felt his anxiety subsiding just by hearing his usually cute and silly companion so serious and determined. He then turned to Annabeth.

"You said you don't have answers, but let me ask you one more thing," Albert said, looking at the crying mess that was the girl. "Do still believe your mother can be just?"

"I believe in her!" Annabeth hesitated just for a moment before she said with clenched fists. "I have to believe she can be just."

"Okay..." He nodded then he finally turned to the black-haired boy who was staring at him with complicated and hopeful sea-green eyes, the one who always invoked the burden of guilt in him. "I overheard your talk in the kitchen. Medusa called your father a monster. You said your mom never called him that before. The Sea God... he claimed you despite his oath to his brothers, he wants something from you. Do you believe the good in him, no... the question is, do you believe he can be as good as your mother believed him to be, Percy?"

"You called me Percy..." The boy said blinking his eyes as if he was struck by thunder. He looked down before he looked up again, there was a familiar fire in his eyes. "I said before, I trust my mother. I think I want to believe in him too."

"What about you, Albert?" Annabeth asked, her tone wasn't hostile in any way. "Do you believe in your mom?"

The boy looked at his open hands, he had thought about this before. His conclusion is always ironically inconclusive. He shot them a sad and tired smile, a display of vulnerability he had never shown before. "I never lacked anything, you know? I lived all my life sheltered from this world, surrounded by my family. I never had to struggle a day in my life so I think you can all imagine how difficult weird for me to find out that the mother I never thought too much about was a goddess and that I am her son. My answer to you guys is that, my mother is the Goddess of Love... I don't know her very well. I never met her myself I think. But..." He paused looking at them as honestly as he could look, "I can only hope that she can spare some of her love to these people here."

"This people-" Annabeth echoed, "You... I know what you are thinking. Do you really think it can work?"

"What can work?" Percy asked, almost desperate. "Someone explain it!"

"He wants to summon the presence of the Gods here..." Grover said, looking just as shocked as Annabeth. "That's why he asked these questions."

"Yes, Grover is right. Annabeth reminded me we don't have the power to save them, none of us. Yet, some beings can. The Gods," Albert smiled at them. They weren't always so clueless it seems, they were stronger and better than he ever gave them credit for. It makes him feel silly. "Will you help me? The least we can afford to these people here is to try, right? Let us summon their presence here and let them see for themselves. It might not work, but we have to try."

"How do you plan on summoning the gods?" Percy quickly asked.

Albert looked at the three of them who seemed to have found their resolve inside themselves, he then looked around the statues. "Help me build a big fire, like the big one at camp... let's perform a ritual and summon their attention here. Will you help me?"

Percy laughed, a hopeful laugh. Annabeth was still anxious, but she firmly nodded her face in agreement. Grover dusted off his clothes and also nodded to him, his amber eyes shining with hope.

"Let's begin then."

Albert cleaned his throat and took a deep breath, "We need to split our efforts. First, you Grover, you have the shoes, but even without them, you're the fastest on the ground too as a satyr. I want you to find a good spot for the fire, it must be big enough. Can I entrust you with that? Also, think about an offering and the words you will use to call forth Lord Pan."

"It will done in a flash!" The satyr, glupped at this responsibility, but he said in excitement. "I am going now!"

"What about the rest of us?" Percy said.

Albert looked at him in reassurance, "Annabeth, you're the smartest of us. I need you to design the details of the ritual and see if you can find anything useful upstairs in the house. Medusa must have something other than food there. Salt will be useful too. You must also think about a proper offer to please your mother and your words."

Annabeth was stunned for a moment before she showed him a smug smirk, "I will be done quickly too. I am glad you finally admitted I am the smartest. Took you long enough, Albert."

This made the boy groan and almost instantly regret his words, but all he did was roll his eyes at her and yell, "Now, scram!" 

Annabeth turned to run towards the stairs, but she was clearly laughing loudly at him. Percy was smiling at him with a dumb smile too. These kids are hopeless, he thought to himself.

"What about me?!" The boy asked almost as if he was gonna burst from impatience.

"Isn't it obvious, Jackson?" Albert playfully tilted his head, "We need to find wood for the fire. I think we can also look upstairs, she got that big table and seats. There must be some flammable oil left too. The last part about the words you have gotta think too. This might take a while though, but fortunately enough this place is monster-free and you got your pretty sword."

Percy laughed at him before he smiled and froze, "What about the... head?"

"We can't leave it here. I am not carrying it though, you do it."

"Right... you are in charge, Pretty Boy," Percy blurted out innocently but immediately regretted it. 

Albert shot him a stunned look, but this time he had no energy to feel any sort of crisis, he just felt like this was unexpected. The entire day had been a novelty for many reasons and he was about to attempt something that also didn't happen before. 

"Well, well, you're getting bolder and bolder by the minute, Jackson, you even found the time to say that," He commented while narrowing his gaze at the boy whose ears were red as tomatoes. "You shouldn't play games you're not gonna win though. Now, let's go."

The four of them we all focused on their tasks, united on a common goal. Each of them carried a flame of hope that they could do something that was never attempted before by any of their predecessors, something thought impossible. 

The first to accomplish his part was Grover Underwood, the young satyr, he took no more than an hour to search the entire dungeon. He had told them he found a perfect spot. After he had explained to them the other kids agreed, and he moved to help the boys transport the wood to where the ritual would be held.

The second one was Annabeth Chase, the blond girl who had been turning Medusa's house upside down searching for anything of use, she even went to a warehouse next to it. It took her over two hours and many trips to gather the trinkets and tools. A decent amount of this time was spent on scribing something on papers she found somewhere, notes on what she knew about Ancient Greek rituals and things they could use and replicate, she confessed to Albert as the two shared ideas that she felt no talent or inclination to this sort of thing, but she was gonna give all she got. Annabeth discovered that Medusa had more than an obnoxious amount of food at her house, the woman kept mementos of some of her unfortunate encounters, all sorts of things. She then proceeded to transport the necessary materials to the spot Grover showed to her.

The last ones to complete their tasks were Percy Jackson and Albert Gomes, they were in charge of the most annoying, troublesome part. If it wasn't for Percy's magic sword and their physical strength being that of demigods, this task would have taken much longer, but time was of the essence.

By the time all of them were done, they were all four gathered at the center of a big mountain of wood and other flammable components. The tension in the air was palpable.

"So... have you ever summoned a god before?" Percy jokingly asked.

"Very funny, Seaweed Brain, but not the time," Annabeth commented.

 "What are the bells for?" Grover asked shaking a bell on his hand. "Where did you even find a bell, let alone four?"

"Err... there was more, much more," Annabeth groaned. "Seriously, she kept all sorts of weird things. This was Albert's idea, not mine."

"Oh, I read about it before," Albert said in a genuinely innocent way. "Huh, well, bells have been used in various religious and spiritual rituals throughout history, including in ancient Greek and 'pagan' traditions. Their sound was considered sacred to some cultures and traditions."

Annabeth nodded as she continued, "Albert explained to me that the sound of bells is thought to have the power to dispel negative energy or unwanted spirits. In some cultures, bells are rung to purify a space before or during rituals." She hesitated for a moment before quietly adding, "We might need all the calming stuff, for my mother."

This earned her a collective groan from the boys.

"Thanks, Annabeth," Albert said before he explained even further. "All in all we are kinda desperate, right? The ringing of bells can serve as a call to attention, signaling the beginning or specific phases of a ritual. Bells were often rung to invoke the presence of deities or to mark important moments in a ceremony."

"You're right..." Grover said. "We'll need all the help we can get."

"I don't know about the bell stuff, but..." Percy interjected. "What are all the plants and flowers for?"

"Offerings to the gods," Annabeth quickly explained. "We do all the time at camp, but we had to be more specific this time. The sea salt and the seaweed, a miracle she kept those things, are for your dad, the Sea God. It was commonly used in his temples in ancient times. The olive oil is for my mom, kinda her thing you know? The Rosemary is for her too. The fresh herbs and Grover's hand-carved wooden flute were his ideas, for Pan. For Albert's mom, we got the rose petals and the cinnamon."

"I hope he likes it..." Grover said wistfully.

"We all hope they like it," Albert said with a sigh. "This is all our collective effort to make this whole thing work. I hope they consider that too honestly."

"What about the other stuff and assigned places?" Percy pressed for more.

"My idea, Jackson," Albert replied calmly, he knew they were all curious about this whole thing. "The assigned places are related to the cardinal positions. The writing in Ancient Greek, courtesy of our resident expert, is to make it closer to the gods." He took a breath and continued this time aiming for the rest as well, "Grover will take the North. Associated with the elements of Earth, stability, grounding, and material stuff, all of this is closer to Pan. Annabeth will take the East. Associated with the element of Air as well as intellect, communication, and thought, you see where I am getting at? You, Jackson, will be at the West. Associated with the element of Water along with emotions, intuition, and fluidity," He then glanced at the remaining spot, "I will take the South. Associated with the element of Fire and also Passion, energy, and finally...transformation."

"I feel like I am in one of those witchy Halloween movies, mom loves those," Percy commented a little excited for some reason. "What are the head and the Minotaur's Horn for?

Annabeth let out a nervous laugh, and Grover shifted awkwardly.

"Also my idea," He explained. "Medusa's Head is too dangerous and the Minotaur's Horn is of no use to us, maybe they can act as energy or magical boosters? I don't know, dude. This is my first time too. Now, did you guys memorize your incantations?"

There was a collective nod. Grover helped them since they were struggling to read it and write the papers before. 

"Well, let's start," Albert announced. "Just like I thaught you, please remember why we are doing this for and for whom. Be polite, don't make them angry."

Each of them took their designated spot, Albert was the last one. On the still unlit pyre, were already placed, Medusa's Head and the Horn of the Minotaur, Annabeth cherished her cap too much, so they had to put the thing facing the ground. Albert used the flame of the torch to ignite the fire. It worked quickly and too well, because of the alcohol and oil they managed to find.

Just like they rehearsed, the ritual started.

Grover was the first to start, they were going for the directions and a full circle. The boy put his offering onto the great fire, and shook his bell- at this moment all the other three followed. The satyr started chanting loudly with all his heart and spirit, "Proud Pan, guardian of the wild, In nature's embrace, as a child. Lead us to places yet unseen, Within your groves, keep our hearts serene. I call thee, Horned One, Lord of the Wild and Great Spirit of Nature, hear our plea!"

For a minute the four of them held their breaths, waiting for something to happen. It took only a moment for something strange to happen. The fire soared taller and shined brighter, suddenly there were the strong scents of a forest permeating the air. They all looked at Grover who was crying, but did not say a word. He nodded at them to proceed.

Now it was Annabeth's turn. The girl performed the same fashion, making her offerings, and shaking the bell - followed by the other three. The blonde girl took a deep breath and steeled her heart, as she chanted, "Wise Athena, with intellect vast. Grant us clarity, dispel the past. Your wisdom shines, a beacon bright. Illuminate our uncertain night. I call thee Mother! The Grey-Eyed Lady, Goddess of Wisdom, Lady of War! Hear my plea, mother!"

They all felt like their hearts were about to stop, Annabeth more than anyone else. This was the most uncertain of them after Pan, but something happened. A gust of wind roared out of the fire as it soared again. It was obvious. Athena had attended their call.

Now it was Albert's turn. He let go of everything else and focused solely on his part. He carried his offering to the fire. Performed the same part with his bell and was followed by the others. He closed his eyes and opened them again, " I call upon you Mother! Glorious Aphrodite, goddess fair. We seek your love, beyond compare. Unveil the beauty within our souls, As we navigate the paths love unfolds. Hear me, mother!"

All Albert could hear was the sound of his own heart pumping blood to his head. And then, it happened. The fire soared a third time. The smell of flowers filled the air and the color of the fire turned pinkish-red for a moment. Aphrodite, his mom, had come to hear him.

Now, only Percy remained. The boy was serious for once. He made his offerings and rang his bell, and the others followed one last time. The boy looked wistfully at the great flames, "I call upon you, Father! Mighty Poseidon, master of the seas. Hear our call, feel our pleas. In ocean waves, your power resides, Guide us through tumultuous tides. Please, Father, hear us!" 

The reaction came like the other. Flames soaring. The distinct smell of the sea filled the room. Poseidon had come forth to hear them.

Now it was time to make the request. Albert's cue. All of their cue. All of them started to say the words of the request together. They only had this chance to make this work. They had to succeed. 

First, they all started the first part as they rehearsed: "Oh mighty gods and goddesses, hear our earnest plea, Beneath the weight of sorrow, we bend our collective knee. In Medusa's lair, where despair and hope collide, Countless souls are frozen, in stone forever to abide."

The second part followed suit, "Athena, goddess of wisdom and strategic might, Grant us the knowledge to set these spirits free this night. Poseidon, lord of the seas and waves so grand, Let compassion flow from your divine hand."

They then proceeded to the third part: "Aphrodite, radiant goddess of love and grace, Bring forth your beauty to this sacred space. Pan, wild and free, with nature's gentle art, Release these souls, let them depart."

The voices of the four echoed in unison, as the fourth part began: "As we gather 'round this flickering flame, A humble plea for those who bear a stone-cold name. Grant us the power, the wisdom, and the might, To turn these statues back to life's warm light."

They were almost done, the fire was getting taller and more intense the more they spoke, they continued the fifth part: "In the name of all that's just and true, We beseech you, gods, make their release anew. Let not the victims of Medusa's dread, Forever be entombed in stone, but instead, Grant them freedom, a chance to breathe, and Release their spirits from this stony sheathe. Oh gods, we ask, in solemnity and grace, Hear our plea and restore life's vibrant embrace."

It was finally the last and final part, the four continued their chants: "So mote it be, in this sacred hour, By your divine will, release their power. May this solemn request, sincere and clear, Echo in the divine realms, for all to hear."

The four of them were done. They all did all they came to do, now the decision was held in the hands of the four gods and goddesses. There was a long, terribly long silence. Nothing happened at all. They exchanged looks of uncertainty, until suddenly, things the presence of the gods became overbearingly stronger than before. The fire soared so tall that it touched the ceiling of Medusa's chamber.

Athena's presence descended, a gentle breeze carrying the scent of olives, as the cracks in the stone statues widened and trembled. Poseidon's power surged like a tide, water droplets forming out of the air on the surface of the statues. Aphrodite's power was woven through the air, infusing the surroundings with an intoxicating fragrance of roses. Pan's wild spirit echoed in the rustling leaves outside the lair, an unseen presence embracing the scene. What the kids didn't know yet, was that all the statues, even the ones above them outside the house were experiencing this phenomenon.

With a collective breath and one single moment, all the statues shattered and turned into dust, and the spirits within were set free.

Nymphs transformed into their radiant and ethereal beings, their essence merging with the air and nature around them. The spirits of monsters, captured by Medusa, were drawn into the shadows, vanishing into the abyss of Tartarus. The Satyrs found their reincarnations in saplings, promising a new generation to guard the wild places as was their due. The souls of demigods and mortals were shining before they disappeared, finally sent to the Underworld to be judged and one day be reborn into new life. 

The fire suddenly subsided and where the pyre stood now only chared coal could be seen. The air itself seemed to shimmer with the residual magic of the release.

"They did it..." Grover said tears on his face. "Lord Pan is alive and he didn't abandon us! They all came!"

"I heard my father's voice in my head," Percy suddenly spoke bewildered, "He said he was proud of me. Proud of all of us. He said it was time to fix his mistake."

"My mother... I just felt her stare at me," Annabeth said. "She wasn't very pleased, but she was neutral. I was so scared."

They all collectively looked at Albert with weird looks that made him feel incredibly uncomfortable, and grateful. He didn't deserve their gratitude. Fortunately enough, the sound of laughter and songs echoed through their ears. Nymphs, they all thought, looking at the dancing forms in the air.

"Thank you, young heroes, for setting us free," A single nymph, an ethereal female-looking spirit, with long platinum hair and elfish ears, kind eyes, and a beautiful voice, "We shall never forget this moment, you four shall always be beloved by us and when if one day you need us, the time comes we will come to assist you in your journeys. Now we shall depart, and meet this new world, see the rivers and forest and everything in between, farewell, my friends."

[You have gained a new title among the nymphs [The Breaker of Bindings]!]

The kids were blushing furiously at the beautiful nymph, even Albert who usually did not. This new title was something he quickly learned was shared between him and the others because this was the consequence of their bravery and shared goal.

"Goodbye!" Albert said, waving at them. The others were saying the same.

After all was over, the kids hugged each other celebrating their accomplishment. They had done the unthinkable and now their hearts were firmer than before.

"What now?" Grover asked.

"Now there are just a few more things to do and we are out of here at dawn," Albert stated. "Let's have some food, take some baths, and change into decent clothes. I will Iris-Message the Camp with Annabeth and inform them of what happened here. We, alongside Grover, will ask them and the Council to come and pick up the young samplings so we can plant them at Camp. There are like, thousands of them."

Grover looked at him with stars in his eyes, "You are truly the best, uncle Joseph was right. You look cold and distant, and sometimes has a terrible sharp tongue, but..." He started crying again, "Thanks to you we made a ritual and summoned the gods, we set them all free. I will never forgive what you did for them, for me." The boy held them in a tight hug, that stunned him. "They can all finally go home, even Uncle Ferdinand. Uncle Joseph will be so happy, the council too, everyone. Thank you so much!"

"Alright, alright!" Albert felt despair. "Let me go, Grover! I need to take a bath and eat. Don't bother me, byee!!!!"

Albert hurried away to the house, without sparing the others another glance. Their gratitude was overwhelming to him, he wanted out and needed a good rest. However, things were not over, by the time teh sun shines up on the sky, tehy would be gone from this place.