Chapter 45

[Third Person's PoV]

"Yeah, thanks for the tour, Chiron. I'm going to go and start building my cabin now," Lucian said, turning around and heading back towards the cabin section.

Glancing back at his group of friends, he noticed Annabeth still being quiet and looking down, prompting him to sigh.

"Annabeth, come with me, please. I really need you right now," Lucian said, smiling at her. She was slightly surprised but then nodded her head and walked towards him.

His other friends looked at each other and sighed. They had been concerned about Annabeth ever since Lucian pulled that stunt of sacrificing himself. Her quiet demeanor had been a source of worry for them.

When Annabeth stood next to Lucian, he put his arm over her shoulder, and they slowly walked towards the cabin section of the camp.

"So why have you been down lately?" Lucian asked as they walked together.

Annabeth didn't say anything and just looked at Lucian slightly before looking ahead. "You know why."

Lucian nodded. "That may be true, but I think it's sometimes better to just let out our grievances."

Annabeth's face scrunched up slightly as her lips trembled, trying to stop herself from crying.

"I—you almost died... I would have never seen you again." Tears unwillingly fell from her eyes. "Seeing you standing in front of a horde of monsters all by yourself without any help, it was so scary.

I thought that would be the last time I ever see you. All I could do was watch as you got farther and farther away, and I couldn't do anything except be dragged towards safety.

I couldn't do anything to help you. I couldn't think of a plan, I couldn't fight, I couldn't go there and take you to safety with me. I couldn't do anything.

You took me away from my father, helped me get stronger, taught me how to fight, gave me a weapon so I could defend myself. You even allowed me to learn a lot of different things from your mother's book, which I know is something precious to you.

You did everything you possibly could to make sure I could survive and take care of myself

And yet... I couldn't do a single thing in return to repay you except watch you sacrifice yourself."

Annabeth broke down crying, and Lucian pulled her into a hug as she cried harder in his arms. She cried away all her sadness and worry that she had held for the past few days.

Being chased for two straight days, having Thalia be poisoned, Lucian sacrificing himself, Lucian actually surviving but barely, and then not knowing whether he would actually survive due to his injuries—it was mentally taxing on a 7-year-old girl.

In Lucian's embrace, Annabeth found solace and a release for the overwhelming emotions she had been carrying.

After a few minutes and strange looks from every passerby, Annabeth calmed down but didn't release Lucian. "Promise me something."

"No," Lucian instantly replied.

Annabeth looked at Lucian in surprise. "Please..."

Annabeth pleaded, but Lucian shook his head. "I already know what you're going to ask me, and I'm not going to promise you that."

Annabeth bit her lip and pressed her head against Lucian. "You're cruel, do you know that?"

Lucian nodded his head. "I'd rather be cruel than not keep my word or promises."

Lucian then sighed and pressed Annabeth's cheeks, squishing her face and making her make weird faces while pulling her face away from him for a bit.

He started to dry her tears with his thumb. "We talked about you crying, Annabeth. You're too ugly when you cry. I'd rather not see it, so don't do it. But I'll make an exception this time. Now come on, I really did need your help."

Lucian continued walking ahead, and as he took a few steps, Annabeth asked, "Are you seriously not going to promise me it?"

"I just can't. There's no way I can promise you to stay away from danger and not 'sacrifice' myself for my friends when they're in danger. If my friends need saving, I would do everything in my power to save them," Lucian explained.

Lucian then looked at Annabeth and made an inside joke to himself, "Even jump to Tartarus."

Annabeth was shocked, before slightly smiling and scoffing, thinking he was exaggerating. When Lucian continued walking ahead, Annabeth soon followed, appearing next to him.

Lucian looked towards Annabeth and asked, "Feeling a bit better?"

"A bit… you were right. I feel a bit better expressing how I felt, but it doesn't really change anything. I still feel useless"

Lucian lifted an eyebrow towards her and said, "Didn't I literally say I actually need your help?"

Annabeth looked at him in confusion. "What is it?"

"I need a great architect to help me design a cabin for myself," Lucian said in a serious tone.

"Are you sure this is a good idea? It could get you into trouble with the gods," Annabeth asked worriedly.

Lucian then put on a clueless act, pretending to be a regular 7-year-old boy. "What are you talking about, Annabeth? I'm just a little boy that needs a roof over my head. I don't know any better. After all, I'm only 7."

When they arrived at the cabin area, Lucian looked around once more, trying to pick a good location. If he were truly petty, he would have chosen the location next to Zeus. But he had already angered him enough. Anymore, and he would be pushing it, and Zeus would then retaliate.

As he looked around, he saw a girl sitting by the campfire by herself, attending to it carefully with a smile on her face.

'Hestia.' The name instantly came to Lucian's mind. 'I see, so that's Hestia... the Goddess of the Hearth.'

(Picture)

Lucian went towards her, and Annabeth followed closely behind, looking at him in confusion.

Lucian sat beside Hestia while Annabeth wondered what was going on with him. She found out as soon as he spoke.

"Hello, Aunt Hestia. It's nice to finally meet you," Lucian said with a small smile.

They didn't look at each other and just continued gazing at the fire in front of them.

Hestia also smiled but in a much softer way.

"Hehehehe, I don't think I have ever been called Aunt Hestia before. It's nice to meet you as well, Lucian Blackheart."

Meanwhile, Annabeth was in shock; a Goddess stood before them. She quickly knelt down towards Hestia. "Forgive me for not noticing you sooner, Lady Hestia," Annabeth said, causing Hestia to sigh.

"There is no need for such a thing. Just act naturally like my 'Nephew' over here, hehehehe," Hestia giggled.

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" Hestia asked, still tending towards the hearth with a warm gaze.

"Mostly curiosity; I wanted to know what the Goddess of the Hearth was like in person," Lucian said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Well, then I hope I didn't disappoint."

Lucian shook his head. "You didn't. You're even better in person… It's been a while since I felt like this… since I felt at home. Thank you," Lucian said, closing his eyes and enjoying the feeling of home Hestia was radiating.

Hestia looked away from the campfire and smiled softly at Lucian, patting his head.

"You left the place you call home at such a tender young age, survived on your own, met young people with similar experiences, bonded, and formed a family with them. You were willing to give up your life fighting to ensure their safety. Good job. You've done well."

Lucian was shocked at first, he bit his lip to stop it from quivering, trying to hold back tears. It was the last thing he had expected – to be acknowledged. He didn't think he ever needed it. As a reincarnator, he should be mature about it. A few words of acknowledgment shouldn't mean anything.

Has it been tough for Lucian? Yes, it has. Finally, after years of loneliness, he found someone he could call a mother, only to have her taken away. Then he was thrown into a dangerous world filled with Gods and Monsters.

Meeting Annabeth and the rest, he was initially apprehensive of Luke. However, the more time he spent with him, the more he realized that he was just a boy with issues and not really a bad person.

As a reincarnator, the secretly older one, he took it upon himself to be the responsible one, ensuring they made it to camp safely without anyone having to sacrifice themselves. Once again, the last thing he expected was to be acknowledged for his efforts. After all, it was what was expected of him… what he expected of himself.