Chapter 26: Building the jetskis

[POV Riley]

Riley made his way toward his cabin after discussing the revelation with his friends, encountering Chiron again along the way.

"Hey, Chiron, why wouldn't you help us? You're usually so accommodating..." I spoke, a tinge of sadness and curiosity in my voice as a chilly wind cut through my jacket from behind, causing me to shiver.

"Riley, that's true, but..." Chiron scratched the back of his head, looking a bit embarrassed. "Normally, yes, but Dionysus mentioned that the gods above have noticed I'm too helpful, and that their children need to make their own experiences, as they can't always be protected out in the world. As demigods, you must make your own decisions and deal with the consequences."

Showing some understanding, Riley replied, "Okay, I get it, but still... after all, we managed to decipher the revelation on our own."

"You see, you can do it. And? What did you find out? What are you going to do now?" Chiron asked excitedly, impressed by the abilities of the three teenagers.

...

[General POV]

Riley arrived at the cabin, bid farewell to Chiron, and went inside. He was immediately greeted at the entrance by two of his half-siblings, with whom he got along well. Apparently, he was quite a star in his cabin, having invented an impressive new device only a month after arriving at camp: a self-operating dining table and chair that automatically unfolded and fed you, allowing you to relax and watch a YouTube video or a Netflix movie while eating.

This innovation was eagerly utilized by all the lazy children of Hephaestus, allowing them to sketch, tinker, and build during their meals. Given that most demigods had ADHD and needed to be constantly active, the ability to spend their mealtime productively appealed to many.

"Riley, did Adan ask you?" his younger half-brother Leo asked eagerly, approaching him.

"Yes, he did. Leo, could you help me with something? Could you gather everyone in the workshop so I can address them all at once?" Riley requested, needing his assistance.

Leo, finally feeling useful, was overjoyed. Despite his young age and curiosity, he wasn't allowed to help his half-siblings with their work, as he would otherwise disrupt or destroy their creations. He went into the large underground workshop to inform everyone.

After everyone set aside their belongings in just three minutes, Riley nervously stepped onto a podium to speak. This wasn't something he was used to, but he decided he would do anything for Adan and his first real mission.

"I know you're all busy, but I'm sure you know that Adan has been given a mission, and I was invited earlier. The problem is, in order to complete the mission, I need your help with a new invention. I need all of you to assist me," Riley shouted, making sure he was heard over the loud machinery noises in the background.

A representative, Jason, stepped forward and shouted back, "Of course, tell us. But first, we need to go upstairs, so it's not so loud."

...

Everyone gathered in their living room around a shared table that could easily be extended thanks to Riley. There, Riley explained the endeavor and hoped for input from all present, highlighting the issues with fuel consumption and the uncomfortable long seating arrangement.

As everyone pondered, Jason suddenly stood up and suggested, "We could reinforce the suspension below or let the jetski run underwate-"

Someone else interrupted him and added their two cents, "How about an underwater capsule? Maybe made of glass?"

Jason replied, "That could work, but glass might not withstand the pressure too well." He looked at a pensive boy at the end of the table. The boy was the mathematician of the cabin and could quickly and precisely calculate all parameters in his mind. "Jason is right, celestial bronze would be better. Or how about Moscovium or maybe Adamantine? Adamantine is a super strong metal. It glitters translucent white, sort of like a cross of silver and diamonds. With a bit of experimenting, we could mix it with glass and create a transparent substance that's much sturdier than regular glass or plexiglass."

Riley responded, "Okay, then we'll use Adamantine. Do we even have that in stock? Can someone check? Two small kids ran to the storage, returned, and one boy proudly reported, "Yes, I saw it. But only enough to cover two jetskis."

Riley then remarked, "No problem. Adan and Diana can surely ride together," he said, winking outwardly but inwardly struggling to contain his laughter. After some more time and discussing a solution for the fuel consumption, Riley stood up and wrapped up the meeting. "Alright, then it's settled. Let's get started. Deadline is in six and a half days," as they had already lost half a day with the discussion. "Let's head to the workshop! Work until we drop!"

With great excitement, all the members of the cabin went downstairs to the basement and were strangely rarely seen during dinner by many other demigods.

Chiron occasionally passed by to check if everything was okay and allowed them to continue tinkering but mandated a mandatory break of at least half an hour a day so they could still have leisure time.

Not that they needed it. After all, they were the children of Hephaestus!