Changes (3)

*Click*

"We need to tell Chiron about this."

Amelia said, her voice slicing through the tense atmosphere as she captured a photo of the mysterious sphere with her phone. Every eye remained glued to the sphere, the air thick with unease. Eleanor, standing beside Amelia, nodded in agreement.

"Absolutely, let's not stick around any longer than necessary. I can feel my divine energy ebbing away."

As we made our way out, Amelia's foot struck something solid. She glanced down to find a blade partially concealed by layers of leaves and soil. Its tarnished appearance hinted that it had been abandoned for at least a few days.

Adriel noticed Amelia lagging behind and called out.

"Amelia! Hurry up, we're heading back."

But Amelia didn't respond. Instead, she crouched to retrieve the blade, her curiosity piqued. As she studied it, her expression morphed from mild discomfort to shock. She quickly held it up for the others to see, revealing that the blade was crafted from Celestial Bronze.

"N... Nethin?"

Amelia sighed, rubbing her temples in exasperation as Adriel squinted at the carved letters on the blade.

"It says Nathan, Adriel. Nathan, not Nethin."

"Uhh... Okay. So... what's the big deal?"

"Don't you know who Nathan is?"

Amelia's voice rose in frustration, realizing Adriel was utterly oblivious to the significance of the name etched into the blade.

"Am I supposed to know him?"

"He's one of the sons of Ares."

Amelia explained, her patience wearing thin.

"The point is, what's a blade with his name engraved on it doing here, right next to the sphere? Doesn't that strike you as absurdly suspicious?"

The group fell silent, each lost in contemplation. The proximity of the blade to the ominous sphere, which was allegedly draining divine energy, cast a shadow of suspicion over its owner, Nathan.

"Not to interrupt but it's getting darker, and we need to report to Chiron before dinner. We should head back now and talk to Chiron immediately."

My concerns disrupted the group's brainstorming session, diverting their focus from solving the mystery of the blade and uncovering the chain of events leading to this moment.

"Oh! Shoot! Blake is right, it's almost dinner time."

Adriel exclaimed, noticing the moon creeping higher in the sky.

Before we set off toward the camp, Amelia took the blade, intending to show it to Chiron. We traversed through the dense trees until we emerged into the open terrain of the camp. The towering flames of the campfire illuminated the surroundings, casting a warm glow. Dinner had already begun.

As we neared the campfire, the scene was one of winding down. Most of the campers had finished their dinner and were dispersing, laughter and chatter fading into the night. Only a small group of demigods remained, children of Aphrodite, deeply engrossed in their gossip and completely oblivious to our approach. Their soft, melodic voices mingled with the crackling of the fire, creating a tranquil yet fleeting moment.

Chiron, however, was not so easily distracted. His sharp eyes, reflecting the flickering flames, spotted us immediately. A glint of discontent crossed his face, clearly displeased with our tardiness. The centaur's authoritative presence was unmistakable, his tall frame silhouetted against the firelight, his expression a blend of patience and sternness.

As we drew closer, the weight of our discovery hung in the air. Chiron's initial readiness to chastise us softened as he took in the anxious faces approaching him, quickly realizing something was off. Amelia's hurried words proved his hunch.

"Chiron," began Amelia, her voice carrying a hint of urgency.

"We must talk. I think we have found something."

Chiron regarded the group with a measured gaze, his brow furrowing in contemplation. With a thoughtful exhale, he pivoted gracefully, gesturing for them to accompany him.

"Come," he beckoned, his voice a blend of authority and curiosity.

Leaving the comforting glow of the campfire behind, we followed Chiron along the winding path of weathered stones. The path snaked through the lush garden encircling Chiron's office, a sanctuary adorned with verdant foliage and blossoming flora. Each step seemed to deepen the air with a sense of anticipation.

The office building stood proudly amidst the greenery, its wooden facade weathered by time and entwined with creeping vines that whispered secrets of centuries past. Windows peeked shyly from behind veils of foliage, offering glimpses into the interior of the building.

Rising proudly to the sky, it boasted three floors, with the first two floors containing Chiron's office and the third floor serving as an attic where old artifacts and items belonging to late demigods were preserved.

The towering door swung open with an almost reverent creak. As we crossed the abnormally tall door as if it were designed for horses to go in and out, the air within embraced us with a gentle warmth, wrapping us in a sense of comfort.

Before us stretched a spacious living area, adorned with a rich red carpet that cradled our footsteps, plush couches and armchairs with intricate patterns beckoned invitingly, arranged in a circle around a crackling fireplace that danced with the stories of generations past.

Ascending the staircase, we marveled at its unusual width, undoubtedly designed to accommodate Chiron's hybrid form.

Arriving on the second floor, we entered Chiron's office, the hub of organization and order amidst the chaos of camp life. The big room exuded an air of tranquility, with a massive desk serving as its focal point. Piles of paperwork laid on its surface, a testament to the diligent work on Chiron's shoulders.

Behind the desk, a wide window offered a panoramic view of the camp below, bathed in the soft glow of twilight. It was a vantage point from which Chiron oversaw the comings and goings of demigods.

Along the walls, numerous drawers stood sentry, each housing a trove of knowledge and history within its depths. The room hummed with quiet energy, a sign of the countless stories and secrets it held within its walls.

Chiron gracefully moved about the room and eventually settled into the luxurious leather office chair. It was a sight to behold, for in any other circumstance, a centaur such as he would find seating on a chair impossible. Yet, as if guided by unseen magic, his lower half seamlessly merged with the leather, disappearing beneath the seat until only his human torso remained perched atop the chair.

Seeing this, I wasn't the only one surprised as Naida pointed with a trembling finger at the chair, her mind struggling to comprehend what just happened.

"Are my eyes playing tricks on me?"

"This chair is an artifact. It was crafted by one of Hephaestus' children during the early days of the camp's construction."

Chiron calmly replied with a flash of nostalgia lingering through his eyes, which piqued Amelia's curiosity, prompting her to ask another question.

"Now that I think about it, why was the camp built in Montauk, New York? It doesn't make sense. If this camp was established thousands of years ago, in ancient times, why isn't it in Athens, the cradle of Greek mythology?"

"You have a sharp eye, Amelia."

Amelia blushed at the praise.

"Camp Twilight was indeed originally founded in Athens, the birthplace of Western civilization and Greek mythology. However, as the center of Western civilization gradually shifted from Greece to America over the centuries, so did the location of Camp Twilight. This camp is not tied to a specific place; it manifests wherever Western civilization shines the brightest."

"But doesn't that also mean Olympus—"

"Exactly," Chiron interjected, nodding.

"Olympus itself has relocated too. Just like the camp, the home of the gods moved from the summit of Mount Olympus to America. It now anchors itself at the top of the Empire State Building."

Realizing he had strayed from the urgent topic at hand, Chiron redirected his focus.

"Anyway, let's get back to the matter at hand. What did you all want to discuss?"

Without wasting anymore time, Amelia stepped forward and placed her phone on Chiron's desk, displaying a photo of a sphere partially glowing with blue and white illuminations. She began recounting the events leading up to the discovery of the mysterious object.

"When we approached the sphere, we felt a tangible sense of suction emanating from it. It was devouring the surrounding divine energy. This must be the cause of the depletion of divine energy within the camp."

Chiron studied the photo of the sphere. Even through the digital screen, a foreboding sense crept over anyone who looked at it. However, Chiron remained unfazed. His gaze locked intently on the image as if deciphering a complex riddle.

"Mà tòn Día..."

Everyone was taken aback. Not only because Chiron had uttered a Greek phrase, but because we all understood its meaning instinctively. It translated to something like "My God!" This was all thanks to demigods' minds being naturally wired to understand the Greek language from birth.

His stern, cold voice resonated with a sense of urgency, making the situation feel even more dire. Chiron's reaction was far from comforting, contrasting to his usual composed demeanor.

Amelia, hoping for some clarity, asked, "Do you know what that sphere is, Chiron?"

Following her question, a grim silence enveloped the room. The moonlight streamed through the windows, and the distant hoots of owls filled the air, amplifying the tension. With each passing moment of Chiron standing there, arms crossed and silent, the unease grew. His eyes were deep in thought, as if he were weighing the consequences of revealing what he knew.

Finally, he spoke, his voice heavy with uncertainty. "I am not sure myself... Even so, my hunch tells me it might be better if we don't know."

"Then what are we going to do about it?"

Eleanor asked, her disappointment evident. Even Chiron didn't know what the sphere exactly was.

"We don't have many options," Chiron replied thoughtfully.

"We'll need to dispatch a team tomorrow to figure out how to deal with it. In the meantime, I'll search my library for any information related to such a sphere. You've all done a great job. If that's all, you may leave now. I will forgo your late attendance for this exception."

"Actually, there is one more thing..."

"Oh? What is it?"

Amelia reluctantly pulled a blade made of celestial bronze from her bag and placed it on Chiron's desk. The moonlight reflected off its sharp edge, illuminating a name carved onto the blade.

"Nathan... What does Nathan's blade have to do with this?"

Chiron asked, his brow furrowing in concern.

"The thing is..."

"We found this blade right next to the sphere. It looked like it had been there for a few days, untouched. As if..."

"..."

"As if it was accidentally dropped around the same time the density of divine energy in the camp started to decline. The same time the sphere presumably appeared."