Chapter 358: The Fleeting Sunset
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I tend to upload drafts of early chapters on there to get people's opinions of them so you can read up to 20 chapters ahead as a bonus.
I would like to thank my beta, Awdyr, for his help in this chapter.
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10 April 1995, Olympus Academy, Greece
Harry had barely been in Olympus Academy for a couple of days, and yet, he could tell that there was something fundamentally wrong about it. Well, he was being overly critical, but there was something very different there. There was some detail that just wasn't adding up, a small thing in the back of his mind that would not just leave his mind.
Uncovering mysteries was always a weakness of his. He knew that he fundamentally hated not knowing something. It just grated him immensely, like a small itch at the back of his mind, unwilling to just disappear until he could explain everything that occurred.
Olympus was meant to be an easy gig, just pretend to do a task and fail miserably, as Carmichael would have probably done, and just make sure that Daphne is safe, before getting the fuck away from the whole mess and putting everything behind him. He did not have time to investigate things, nor did he want to overcomplicate his stay by seeking out any trouble.
However, it was very hard to shut down his brain, to notice how odd everything was structured. When he first arrived, Harry was just taken aback by the magical marvel that was Mount Olympus. Just staying around, gave Harry ways to optimize his own space and time manipulation, which felt nothing more than the stumbling of an amateur compared to the masterpiece.
The way space and time were folded, was just so elegant and so efficient, and the manner in which an external dimension was connected so seamlessly, enough that no one even noticed that the entire mountain did not originate from this world, was breathtaking. The amount of magic necessary to even open the connection and maintain it so easily was insane. To better compare it, Lily Evans used the power of a broken prophecy to create a tiny conceptual connection between her and an external dimension. It was very hard to imagine this scaled up at least a thousand times. Then again, whoever had done this, was obviously far more experienced and had far more efficient control over the energy, unlike Lily who ended up wiping a village off the map.
Harry truly wished he could meet Kronos. A small conversation with the man was likely to help him far more than years of effort alone trying to replicate the feat. That man was really on another level. He didn't think he would ever be able to come close to replicating it, not even after decades of research and practice.
However, as much of a marvel as this piece of magic was, he wasn't allowed to analyse it further because no one was allowed there. The academy itself was divided into two halves, the first was where most of the classes took place. The students were allowed to come and go, and where any public event was held. The second half was limited by where the actual dimensional folding began to integrate Mount Olympus, and they put it under some pretty heavy wards. Only a few select older students were allowed to enter, and Harry noticed that those students were admired and obviously put on a pedestal by their peers.
It wasn't just the wards or the restricted areas—it was the culture itself. No one questioned anything. Everyone simply accepted the rigid boundaries, and those few who were granted access to the deeper mysteries of Olympus never spoke about what they saw. It was as if the academy thrived on the unspoken rule that certain knowledge was forbidden, locked away from prying eyes. It obviously had an extra library since Harry couldn't find any proper elemental spells in the one they boasted of, at least, not even close to what some of the champions demonstrated.
Harry had never really taken the time to observe the Greek champions. Apart from facing their elemental magic in the first task, he knew very little of them. They mostly kept to themselves, which was weird since the entire tournament was built to enhance the connection between European nations. However, none of the Greek Champions ever cared enough to make an effort to seek out anyone in other schools, hell, they even rebuffed anyone who wanted to speak with them.
Other than that, Harry noticed that there was some kind of hierarchy there. The blond Lightning Elemental that he had fought in the first task was obviously at the head of the pack. Well, he used to be but was replaced with a muscly redhead instead, but he was still far more respected than almost half of his peers. Hell, if Harry had to guess, there was a clear separation of the delegation into two, and every member of the 'superior' group was allowed entry into the forbidden portion of the academy and was probably taught some extra magic. He found that the whole thing left a bad taste in his mouth.
The disguised boy walked with the rest of the delegation into the school's great hall. As perplexed about how the school was run, the actual building itself was a marvel of Greek architecture. The school looked like something straight out of an ancient history book—massive marble columns, intricately carved statues, and grand archways that seemed to go on forever. It had that timeless feel like it had been standing there for centuries without a single crack or chip. The way the sunlight hit the stone, giving everything a warm, golden glow, made it even more impressive. It was obviously enchanted to be like this, but the effort to do this for every single piece of stone was just breathtaking.
The Great Hall was huge, with a ceiling so high it felt like it might touch the clouds. Rows of long tables stretched out endlessly, and the whole room was lit by massive chandeliers that floated overhead, glowing softly with magical light. There was a table with Hogwarts' symbol on it, and they walked and sat there.
Like in Hogwarts, the long tables were assigned to a single 'house', but that seemed to be a lot more serious there. All in all, there were five of them, the house of Athena, the house of Artemis, the house of Apollo, the house of Ares, and the house of Hera. The few Greek students he spoke to refused to say anything about how the students of each house were chosen. It was probably another personality test like in Hogwarts, but that wouldn't explain why they did this. What was honestly a bit disturbing was that the students tended to pray to their house's deity, as in seriously praying.
There was something wrong about the Olympus Academy, and Harry had to retrain himself from nosing in and making a mess of things. For some reason, things tended to very quickly spiral out of control whenever he was involved, and he had no intention of making a mess of things. Again.
The food was good, though. Harry had never tried Greek food, and it was a lot nicer than he expected. Thankfully, Daphne distracted him from his deductions by speaking up behind him, "What's up with you?"
"Nothing," Harry answered while faking a smile.
"Eddie!" she warned, "I know when you're distracted. What's wrong?"
"Oh, it's nothing. It's just me being silly, Daph."
"No, I know that look. This is the 'I noticed something, and I want to investigate it' look."
Harry rolled his eyes, "Yes, I did, but I'm not."
"And it's driving you mad," the blonde chuckled.
"Oi, it's not funny!"
"It is a bit," she smiled back at him teasingly.
Harry rolled his eyes but did not comment. They couldn't really act close publicly, since that would probably give the whole game away, and neither one of them was happy with the prospect, but it was still far better than just not hanging out altogether.
It didn't help that Daphne had obviously not eaten well when she grieved him, and it affected her performance. Harry did hold a practice duel with her the previous, and she got tired a lot quicker than she had just a few months prior. He'd been trying to get her to train again that day, but she said that she wasn't feeling up to it for some reason. He was tempted to insist, to tell her that she could embarrass herself in an international event because she was a bit rusty, but the gaze she gave him stopped any reply quickly in its tracks.
Daphne nudged Harry with her elbow, a smirk playing on her lips. "You're brooding again."
"I'm not brooding," Harry replied, though he knew it wasn't entirely true. He couldn't stop thinking about the task—and that apple. "Just thinking."
"Ah, thinking. The other thing you do when you're not brooding. Very well-rounded, aren't you?"
"Hey, I'm just thinking about what the task was going to be. I'd like to avoid making a mess of things here, especially considering how weird they are here."
Daphne raised an eyebrow. "No offence, but I can't think of a situation we've been in that didn't end up escalating dramatically.
Harry grinned at her, "What? At least, I'm not boring. Imagine the tales we could tell when we're old and grey."
Daphne felt lost in her own world, "That would be nice, huh."
The last Potter gave her a concerned look, "Are you okay? Is there something wrong?"
"I'm fine Harry. You're not the only one who gets distracted."
"Are you sure…"
She interrupted him, "I said I'm fine!"
He was tempted to broach the subject once more but the academy's headmaster stood up, silencing all conversations in the hall. The man was tall and imposing, but not in a flashy way. His silver hair fell past his shoulders, and his deep blue robes gave him the look of someone important without overdoing it. He had sharp features, but there was a relaxed confidence about him as if he was certain that nothing would ever hurt him.
He spoke with a heavy Greek accent but his voice was calm, but it carried, effortlessly reaching every corner of the great hall. "Students of Olympus Academy, and our esteemed guests from across the world," he began, his tone measured and deliberate, "you have all come here for a competition, expecting the usual trials of skill, cunning, and bravery. And while those qualities will certainly be tested, let me be clear—this year's task will not be like any other."
A murmur swept through the hall at his words, but the headmaster didn't pause. His eyes gleamed with a subtle challenge as he continued. "Each school will send four champions, as is tradition. However, let me dispel any illusions you may have. Though you come in groups, there will be only one winner. One victor. The others will not walk away with glory, for this task is not just a trial, but also your reward."
Well, that was unusual, even for a task, and probably a fancy description. Harry had to give it to him, though, the man was definitely a good orator and knew how to get people excited. He could feel the tension growing in the room as students whispered to each other in hushed tones, trying to decipher the meaning behind the man's words.
The headmaster raised his hand, and the murmurs fell silent once more. His voice dropped lower, taking on an almost ominous tone, "Your task is to explore the very heart of this academy—the true Mount Olympus itself. The mountain that stands behind this school is not merely a symbol, nor is it an ordinary peak. It is a gateway, a realm of endless possibilities and perils. Within its twisting paths, you will find challenges unlike anything you've faced before. Some of you may not return unchanged."
"The goal," the headmaster said, his voice now rising slightly, filled with gravity, "is to retrieve a golden apple from within the depths of Mount Olympus. But know this: there is only one. One apple. One prize. The golden apple of the gods."
A collective gasp echoed through the hall, mostly originating from the Olympus Academy students. To be completely honest, Harry never knew that those things ever existed. He'd only ever heard in from Ancient Greek Mythology, the apple of the gods, the fruit of immortality, coveted by Gods and mortals alike. He'd never heard of its existence before, and from the looks of it, most of the other schools hadn't either. However, the Greeks seemed to have known about it.
The headmaster must have noticed that lack of reaction from the other delegations and continued, "A golden apple is a fruit that grows on a tree on Mount Olympus. It's often a sign of changing time, of a shift of destiny. A single apple grows suddenly, without any reaction, but the tree could spend centuries without a single apple falling. Not much is known about them, only that they hold immense healing properties, with a single bit capable of healing any ailment, regrowing limbs, and even banishing any curse. However, there is a rumour, that if one were the consume the fruit completely, then they would join the realm of the gods, and become immortal. It's just a legend, but legends have been proven to be correct before. Either way, whether you win or not, whether you eat it or not, the fruit itself is priceless."
The moment Harry heard the confirmed properties of the golden apple, specifically the healing aspect, he looked at Daphne, who was glazing at the headmaster with an expression of pure hope. She was probably looking at the answer to her prayers, to finally achieve her life's ambition of saving her sister. Yeah, that settled it, they were going to get that apple.
"You will not find it easily," the headmaster continued, his gaze sweeping over the assembled students. "The mountain does not give up its secrets to the unworthy. You will be tested—physically, mentally, magically—in ways you cannot yet comprehend. And when you stand at the precipice of success or failure, you will face a choice that may define your destiny. Only the most skilled, the most daring, and perhaps the most fortunate will claim the golden apple."
"The task begins in a week," the headmaster announced, his tone final. "Prepare yourselves. Only one will triumph, and the rest will leave empty-handed. Olympus will judge you, and the mountain does not show mercy."
The blonde turned towards Harry with an expectant look on her face, "Change of Plans!"
Harry nodded his agreement, not trusting himself to say anything. While he liked seeing the hope in Daphne's eyes, he knew that hope could be just as dangerous as it could be kind.
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AN: Alright, this is the last chapter that I'll have to write in a hurry. It's been a super hectic week and I'll finally be able to take a breather and take my time while writing chapters. I'll be honest, I'm not sure I like this one. I think it's a bit too padded and that I should have made the task announcement half a chapter, with some other eventful thing before or after it.
Still, I'm excited to write this task, as you probably noticed, it's to find the golden apple, which definitely raises the stakes. Anyway, I know some of you will ask why the Greeks wouldn't take the apple for themselves, and there's a reason for it, that I don't want to spoil, but it's not an arbitrary thing.
As usual, please let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions.
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If you want to support me check out my patréon at https://www.patréon.com/athassprkr
I tend to upload drafts of early chapters on there to get people's opinions of them so you can read up to 20 chapters ahead as a bonus.
Thank you guys for your support in these hard times.