Accepting the heart

"Father, why did you ask for a million demons? Isn't one of me enough?"

Elaniel grumbled beside me, her discontent palpable. I couldn't blame her; the idea of relying on a horde of lesser beings instead of her prowess likely chafed at her pride.

But as much as I valued her strength, there were certain situations where brute force alone wouldn't suffice.

As powerful as Elaniel might be, I knew that facing a legion of angels would be her undoing.

Unlike Annabeth, who was perfectly suited to counter the celestial beings, Elaniel lacked the finesse and strategic advantage necessary for such a battle.

She was a formidable force, no doubt, but in the face of celestial beings, she was just a monster, adapting to the world around her while wielding the darkness—my darkness—and the powers bestowed upon her by Aunt.