Once he had stepped foot within the Realm between Realms, Aaron had kept one foot outside of the pillar of light. He did this so that the same flow of time would flow through these two separate points of time and space. This allowed for instant travel once the portal had been closed.
The first two Demigods to enter the Roots of Yggdrasil were the sea-green eyed boy from Artemis' tent and blonde haired girl who was on the Manticore's back. As they entered they noticed around them were large tree branches creating a sort of path. The path itself seemed soft at first but when stepping on it there was no downward movement. The Path seemed to be going around in one giant circle roughly 200 meters in diameter.
In the center of the Circle they noticed a blue void swirling around in a clockwise motion. It never came into direct contact directly with the tree branches but when looking closely towards the edge of the void, it seemed to be made of a thick tar like liquid.
Above them however was something that caused the two young Demigods to gasp out in shock. Littered across the sky above and below them, was the sight of glittering Stars and Galaxies.
"Woah." The Sea Green eyed Boy stated in wonder. "You seeing this Annabeth?"
"I'm seeing it Percy... Just finding it hard to believe." Annabeth replied as she herself continued to gaze.
"Oi! Kiddos! Keep moving forward, other people are still coming through y'know. We need to clear out a bit more space for everyone to enter." Aaron shouted to the two in front. As they looked back they noticed that another pair were entering from the white pillar.
After just over ten minutes the last two of the Hunters and Campers had just entered, a black haired girl and a Satyr. However unlike the others the girl's reaction to entering the Realm was vastly different. Aaron noticed that her body seemed to freeze in place as her face displayed nothing else but blind panic.
Due to this strange and unexpected reaction, Aaron at first slowly walked over as if to not scare her. Softly placing his hand onto her shoulder she nervously moved her eyes over to meet his. "Are you okay?" Aaron asked with a hushed tone to his voice.
The girl slowly nodded a no in response, it was clear to him that she didn't seem to trust her own voice at that moment. Aaron noticed that her eyes seemed to keep shifting towards the edge of the path and the star filled void below.
'Could it be heights?' Aaron thought to himself as he tried to think of a reason for her behavior. But he also know asking would probably give him the answer he needed. "Is it the drop down that's bothering you?" Aaron once more softly asked. She replied back with a yes nod.
Knowing that they would have to walk down the path to find the exit to Camp Half-Blood, Aaron needed to get her moving. "Do you want me to carry you?" Aaron asked.
The girl didn't seem to respond to him at first, so he added. "I promise you'll be safe if I give you a piggy back ride. I've walked on these roots plenty of times over the years and I know you'll be safe. Would you be fine with that?" Aaron softly asked. The black haired girl nodded a yes.
As Aaron took off his backpack, he pulled out a small yellow crystal that was roughly the size of his thumb. Touching the backpack it vanished into the crystal leaving being his Axe which embedded it's head into the roots below. Upon touching the handle's base, the Axe transformed into a smaller key chain replica of the Axe itself.
"Wait! You can also use crystals for storage?" Annabeth asked Aaron in confusion. "Why aren't you just using them instead of your backpack?"
"Well for two reasons really. Firstly this crystal can only store one thing within it. And secondly it's far too much hassle. Using just crystals would mean I'd be taking out a crystal every time I needed to get into my backpack, just to get a single item and the reseal everything all over again." Aaron shrugged in reply as he pocketed the crystal and key chain into his right jean pocket.
As he turned around back towards the black haired, Arron lowered his body down and allowed the black haired girl to climb onto his back. After making sure she was holding on tightly, Arron started to walk towards to the front of the group. "Focus on something above us. Keep your eyes up from the ground or my back... It'll help a little bit." Aaron advised the girl before he began to lead the group through the branches of Yggdrasil.
Meanwhile as they continued to walk forward the other Hunters couldn't understand what had happened to Thalia. Zoe leaned towards Annabeth and asked. "What is wrong with Thalia? I've never seen her like this. She's normally much stronger willed than this."
Sighing in self frustration for forgetting her friend's fear Annabeth explained. "It's her Acrophobia... But you are right. It's never been this bad before."
Percy thought to himself why this could be then he peered his head slightly over the edge. "Well if it is a fear of height, this place would be taking it to the extreme end of that fear."
"I mean, I don't have a fear of heights but even looking over the edge slightly is giving me one. Maybe it's more can be something more than just a fear of heights?.. Like not being able to see the ground below us or something?" Percy guessed out loud.
"It can't be something as simple as that?.. Can it?" The Satyr asked with a hitched nervous laugh.
"Most times it is something as simple as that." Aaron replied back having overheard the Camper's conversation. He then began to chuckle to himself. "I'll tell you all this little story. I once knew this Demigod. She was the Daughter of Tyr, our God of War, Law and Justice."
"Now because we are both part of the Aesir side of our Pantheon, albeit technically on my part. We more or less grew up with each other. She was about 3 maybe 4 years older than me so while she was trained by her Father, I was being trained by my Mother back in Jötunheim."
"We must've spared a countless amount of times as kids and even thinking back then she was the most fearless warrior I'd ever seen. Every weapon that she held she was a master with it. Spear, Axe, Bow and Sword, watching every movement she made was like watching an artist create a masterpiece. She had won nearly ever spar between us... But of course, it also helped that she would be a hard headed idiot at times who didn't know when to give up as well." Aaron chuckled as he continued with his story.
"Eventually though, she had gained Odin's eye and attention as he asked her if she would become one of his Valkyries... Now to you kids this might not seems like much. But to Norse Girls and Women, it's the highest Honor you could possibly imagine. As the Valkyries answer only to the Allfather himself, and they get to choice of our fallen warriors who gets to sit within the halls of Valhalla until the end of time."
"And since this had always been her childhood dream, she jumped at the opportunity and ran towards where me and my Mother were hunting at the time. She was so loud when she ran towards us we nearly mistook the sound for that of a rampaging Troll." Aaron could hear a few bits of laughter from the Hunters as he told his story.
"So when the day came that she finally gain her wings, she was so excited that she started flying before the spell casting was even finished." Aaron now was now starting to laugh louder. "So with just one wing created by the spell she just kept flying in a fucking circle... When she came back down she swore that she'd never fly again. She was by two names after that day. The one Winged Valkyrie as well as the Valkyrie with one fear. Flying."
"Why are you telling us this?" Zoe asked confused as why Aaron was telling his story.
"Because no matter how brave, or how flawless might think you are... Everyone, and I mean everyone has a weakness. Sometimes though those weaknesses can even be a little ironic." Aaron stated with a smile.
"Well, it's defiantly ironic for Thalia then, since she's the daughter of Zeus." Percy stated out loud which caused Aaron to pause and look at him with a smirk and a raised eyebrow.
"Please tell me that you're not joking kid." Aaron asked with his lips twitching ever so slightly. The others could tell he was trying his best to not burst out in laughter.
"He's not. Percy's like, the world's worst at lying. " Annabeth instantly replied.
"Shut up... Or I'll kill you." Thalia meekly groaned from Aaron's back as her secret was now exposed to everyone.
Aaron was quiet for a few seconds before he started to laugh loudly. "I'd doubt you'd try anything at the moment, but I'd never thought I'd meet another Hillevi."
While the others were confused with the name at first then soon realized that it was the name of the girl from Aaron's story. Although Zoe seemed to have a slight frown on her face. 'Why did he only talk about her in a past tense? Did they fall out or?'
However Zoe's thoughts were cut short as a pillar of white light slowly appeared before them on the path in front of the group. "Okay, here we are." Aaron stated to the group and he put a single foot through the portal.
"Come on let's get going." Aaron stated to the group behind as they quickly exited with Aaron and Thalia being the last to exit.
(Camp Half-Blood)
After exiting the portal Thalia seemed to transform be to her normal self as she jumped down from Aaron's back. 'Thanks." Thalia softly said in embarrassment.
Aaron couldn't help but chuckle on how much this girl reminded him of his friend. "No problem. And don't worry about your fear. Everyone has one."
"Oh yeah and what's yours?" Thalia asked back with a smirk.
Aaron nervously looked around and whispered into Thalia's ear. "Winnie the Pooh."
"Seriously!?" Thalia asked with a raised eyebrow, not believing a single word he said.
"He's a talking Bear! That makes him even more fucking terrifying." Aaron replied with an eerie tone to his voice before he smirked at Thalia.
He was about to continue teasing Thalia but he noticed a sudden potent smell of something that turned his stomach slightly. 'There's a God or Goddess nearby... And considering how quickly he or she is moving towards me, I'd bet that they're much different from Artemis.'
"What are you doing here Norseman?" Turning around Aaron noticed the person asking was a chubby looking man with a red nose and curly black hair. The other around pair noticed the aggressive stand off Mr. D was giving the elder Demi-God.
"All I have done is complete a task that was given to me by one of your own. So, what's it to you God?" Aaron asked back with a raise eyebrow. Mr. D spiked his aura around him in order to try and show his superiority towards the Norse Demigod but all he heard was laughter instead. "And here I thought that you Greeks were meant to be more civilized than the rest of us?"
"But here you are trying to act all tough and brave... I can see that you clearly don't have the same amount of honour that Lady Artemis held."
Chiron watched nervously as he witnessed the Norse Demigod put his right hand into his pocket. 'He's getting a hold of his weapon.' Chiron thought to himself as he began to panic slightly.
Mr. D's eye twitched in annoyance at this but before he said anything he was cut off by Aaron. "Your presence reeks of Alcohol." Aaron's simple statement stunned Mr. D enough for Chiron to take control of the situation before it can got out of hand.
"Mr. D, please bring our guests to the Big House." Chiron asked the God of Wine who begrudgingly agreed to do so.
As Campers who arrived with Aaron along with the Hunters left Chiron tired to apologize. "I'm sorry for my friend's behaviour. He's normally more laid back."
"Ah, it'll be fine. At the end of the day I'm from another Pantheon so I could understand his aggression... I'm sure any member of the Aesir would've acted the same same if the situation was reversed. Still didn't like the tone of his voice to me though." Aaron replied as he relaxed himself by taking his hand out of his pocket.
He looked around confused for a moment before he turned back to Chiron. "Umm... This might seem like a bit of a silly question but. Which way is the exit?" Aaron nervously asked as he rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.
Chuckling lightly Chiron pointed towards a rather large Pine tree that was overlooking to snow filled camp on top of a nearby hill. "It's just over there." Chiron stated to Aaron who nodded in thanks. "Before you go though I must ask. Why did you say that Mr. D smelt of Alcohol? He has not had a drop of any alcohol for several years."
"The same way I can tell that you are a Centaur under that wheelchair." Aaron replied shocking Chiron slightly. To emphasize Aaron started to tap his nose. "I have a keen sense of smell. It's a Hunter's gift that was granted by my mother."
"A Hunter's gift huh? I wonder if he's as weak as Artemis' Hunters." One of the nearby Campers stated out loud in a mocking tone.
"I'm a little bit different from Artemis' Hunters kid. And as a Hunter I can tell that those girls are far from weak. So I'd watch what you say." Aaron replied as he rolled his eyes. 'Why is everyone trying to piss me off today?'
"Oh, I doubt that." The boy snarkly stated as stared back at Aaron.
"You got a problem with me kid?" Aaron asked as he turned to face the teenager. The kid in question was one of the older Demigods nearby and he smelt of Mud and Blood. "You're a son of Ares aren't you?" Aaron asked with a vile smirk appear on his face.
"Now boys, calm yourself!" Chiron tried to interject but it was already too late.
"Fight me." The Ares Boy demanded as the two continued to square off at one another.
"I aint like the rest of the karaoke singers you have in this Camp Kid. I'm on a whole different level than you. I've fought and killed Monsters that'll make you wet your bed every night." Aaron replied as he began to freeze the area around himself in a show of strength. "So, I'll give you a chance to change your mind, apologise and back away... I advise you do so while you still have the chance."
"I'll fight you in the Arena tomorrow morning, right before Breakfast!" The boy stated with a smirk. 'I'm going to crush this idiot!'
However the boy's reply brought an unexpected reaction from Aaron. "No, no, no. That's not how you do it!" Aaron replied back causing the boy to drop his smirk and adopt a more worried look. "And you were doing so good as well. But, one major fault cause you to lose all that momentum you had built up."
Aaron sighed loudly as he kept a disappointed look on his face. "Kid, you don't challenge someone to a fight and then tell them to wait until tomorrow! You've just dropped all of that built up Bravado boy!"
Aaron's face then quickly morphed from one filled with disappointment to one of a more battled crazed maniac. "If you challenge someone to a fight. YA FIGHT NOW!"
With a flick of his wrist the key chain within his pocket fired up into his hand. It extended into his weapon as he swiped at the boy. "Let's dance!" The boy just managed to duck out of the way as he looked at the crazy smirk on Aaron's face.
"Wait!" Chiron shouted out which made Aaron stop and look at him. The man still had a crazed look on his face. "There would be more honour in battling in the arena, tomorrow"
Aaron seemed to return back to normal as he replied. "If you want this fight be more about the Kid's honour, I'll accept that then. So I'll fight the boy in this Arena... But I won't be waiting until tomorrow morning. I plan on being long gone from here by then." Aaron replied as he turned his head around to stare out at the now terrified looking boy. "Congratulations on gaining my attention, Son of War. I just hope you can fight as well as you mouth off."
Standing up straight he looked back at Chiron. "Where's this Arena?"
"It's at the beach by the lake." Zoe replied. Chiron was taken slightly back her remaining and not leaving along with the other Hunters. "I'll take you there."
After hearing Zoe's offer Aaron nodded in thanks as he began following her in silence. As the Arena came into view Zoe voice spoke up. "If you don't mind me asking... The Girl from the story you told. What happened to her?"
Aaron remained silent, Zoe looked up to notice the pain of loss within his eyes as he looked onward. "While the past is always good to enjoy from time to time... Some memories are not so enjoyable." Aaron explained with a sad smile. "She fell in Battle just over 8 years ago."
Knowing that Aaron's friend had past away Zoe quickly apologised. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be, It's fine. It's been nearly a decade at this stage. As the saying goes, time heals all wounds." As Aaron replied back to Zoe he noticed as she did not agree.
"No, I'm sorry because I can sense that you loved her... Didn't you?" Zoe stated back to Aaron causing him to stop walking. Softly he began to chuckle.
"Yeah... And I was a fool for doing so as well." Aaron stated with a sad smile on his face.
"Why were you a fool?" Zoe asked, confused as she didn't understand the meaning behind Aaron's words.
"Well for one she would never be able to fully return my feelings." Aaron answered. "And before you ask, no it's not because or parents, or that she was a strong independent woman... Well not 100% of the reason at least." A smirk replaced the sad smile on Aaron's face.
"Than tell me what made you a fool for loving her then?" Zoe asked with an angered look on her face. She felt that Aaron was now starting to make fun of her.
"It's because she batted for the other team... That's why I was fool." Aaron replied but when he noticed the confused look on Zoe's face he began to laugh. He didn't want to embarrass the girl in public so he decided to whisper what he meant into her ear. Understanding what Aaron meant Zoe lightly blushed but remained silent as the two entered the Arena.
(Moments earlier with Chiron)
As Chiron watched Zoe lead Aaron towards the Combat Arena he turned to face Mark. A rare scowl on his face as he done so. "Sometimes I curse the fact Children of Ares can be too much like their Father... You were nothing short of a fool child."
Chiron's anger while rare, terrified the campers as he continued. "He was prepared to battle a god, Mark! With that storm passed you happen to show your damn ego and pride at the worst of times."
"Come'on Chiron, he can't be that strong." Mark replied still not understanding why Chiron was upset with him.
"He is a Norse Demigod, Mark!" Chiron shouted. "All of those from Norse decent crave for the taste of battle. Even children from the most pacifist of their Gods. They don't stop fighting until death itself comes to takes them... They don't hold the same fear death like we do Mark. For them dying in a Battle is there highest honour possible."
"But I can still win, right?" Mark asked. The other Camper near didn't seem to think so and none voiced out their support for there fellow camper.
Chiron sighed as he told his student the truth. "It'll highly unlikely if not impossible... From the young Norsemen and women I have meet in my past he is by far the oldest I've ever meet. Which means he's strong and I can say for certain he'll have far more experience in combat than you." Chiron replied honestly with a low tone to his voice.
Feeling that he now had an uphill struggle against him Mark asked Chiron for advise. "What do I have to do to, to make sure I win?"
Chiron was silent for over a minutes as he thought about how to answer his Students question. "Go to the Armoury. Arrive in full combat gear, but most importantly. Take your time." Chiron explained confusing Mark slightly.
Noticing the Confused looked on Mark's face Chiron continued explaining. "Our northern guest doesn't wish to stay here for long. The more time you spend getting ready it should cause our guest to become more angry. And like anyone else in this world, that should make him more prone to mistakes. Which hopefully you might be able to take advantage of."
(2 Hours later within the Combat Arena)
Pacing along within the arena floor Aaron was starting to lose his patience. "Blóðugir Grikkir! (Bloody Greeks!)" He shouted out in anger.
"He's shouting in his own language now." Percy groaned in annoyance. He hated waiting just as much as the next guy but this was getting too much for even him to bear, ADHD or not.
When he and the others had found out that a Mark from the Ares Cabin had challenged Arron to a fight, they noticed that the Combat Arena was nearly filled with all the campers by the time they arrived from the Big House with Thalia, Annabeth and Nico.
"I'd love to know what he's saying." Annabeth stated. Thalia chuckled at her friend's normal quest for knowledge.
"I bet it isn't pretty." Thalia smirked as she continued to stare at Aaron. She wasn't the only one though. Since Aaron had taken off his shirt as an attempt of intimidation.
While Aaron's upper body was never going to win awards due to a lack of any outstanding muscular form, it was instead littered with deep running scars and multiple different Rune tattoos. The girls of Aphrodite's Cabin were gigging at the pacing man.
One of the girl was brave enough and attempted to talk to Aaron however he just tab her forward. "Sofðu. (Sleep.)" The girl then swiftly feel backwards out cold. The others watching were about to jump in and attack Aaron, but when they heard that the girl was soundly and loudly snoring, they realized he'd only cast a spell that put her into a deep sleep.
"Hvað í nafni guðanna er að taka svo lengi!? (What in the name of the gods is taking so long!?)" Aaron shouted out his face red with rage.
"O ho ho... He's pissed." Thalia smirked as she chuckled to herself.
Eventually Mark appeared in the other side of the Arena. On his chest was a bronze chest plate over a red tunic. On his shoulders there were bronze guards. There were also guards covering his forearms and his shins. On his helmet there was a mohawk of red and white feathers. He was dressed like a true Spartan Hoplite.
Thankful that his opponent had finally decided to arrive, Aaron smirked as he looked directly at his opponent. Pointing the tip of his Axe towards Mark he spoke out to him. "And here I thought you had gone and gotten lost for a moment. But if you wish to fight with Armour. Then I will find it a boring fight... But I'll agree to it. However, unlike you... All I need, is but a moment to get ready."
Lifting his Axe above his head Aaron roared out "Heimdall!" Aaron's body soon became engulfed in a beam of light that contained diverse shades of different colours. When the light faded Aaron was left standing in his armour.
Wearing a black leather chest plate that was worn more like a muscle shirt as it covered more than Mark's bronze plate. There also appeared to be nothing else underneath unlike Mark's tunic. Over his left shoulder there was a metal guard was appeared to be dark blue in colour. The same type of guard covered his right shin but he still seemed to be wearing his jeans. Over his left shoulder there was a cape that appeared to made from the pelt of an Arctic Wolf. (1)
Within his left hand was his helmet. As he put in on his head the cheek guards were nearly at his eye level. "Woah... That's hot!"
"Wait, that doesn't make sense. Didn't he say his mother was the Goddess of Winter." Percy asked out loud with a confused look on his face.
As Thalia rolled her eyes as she looked away, Annabeth replied on her behalf. "You know that's not what Thalia meant Percy."
As he pulled down the cheek guards of his helmet, Aaron smirked as he once more pointed his Axe again at Mark. "Let's see how Greek Bronze stands against Dwarven Steel!"
Mark was the first to charge but instead of doing the same, Aaron threw his Axe. Bringing his shield up to block the attack, the Axe's blade easily penetrated the shield softer metal alloy. Upon impact however there was a quick and sudden build up of ice that encased the shield and most of Mark's left arm.
The drastic change in weight forced Mark to stop his charge as he tried to rebalance himself. However he didn't have much time as Aaron began his own charge forward while he was distracted. Mark could only watch as the Norse Demigod ran towards his ice covered left side.
With his right fist cocked back, Aaron threw a heavy right hook to Mark's left cheek. The impact knocked the helmet off from his head causing Mark to see double for a moment.
With Mark still dazed, Aaron summoned back his Axe to his left hand. Spinning around to Mark's unguarded back he tapped the Blade's edge over Mark's back. "Frysta!"
Without even knowing what had happened after the heavy punch was delivered, Mark struggled to move at first. When his wits finally returned he found that his entire upper and lower body was encased in ice. Only his head was free to move. "Yield!"
Struggling to move Mark sighed in annoyance. "I give." After hearing Mark's response Aaron snapped his fingers. The Ice that encased Mark broke apart into frozen dust before being scattered away by the wind. Aaron then offered his hand in order to help Mark back up to his feet.
"Don't seem too dejected. You did better than what I was expecting." Aaron stated to mark as he tried to raise his spirits.
"Although I would advise to watch that tongue of yours in the future." Aaron added with a light hearted jab as Mark accepted Aaron's hand and got back to his feet once more.
However before the young Son of Ares could reply a loud ear piercing shriek sent a sudden chill was felt upon the spine of everyone from within the camp. As they all looked towards at beach they noticed a Creature was walking out from beneath the waves.
Now with a clear and better view of the creature, they noticed that the creature appeared to be a man's torso fused on to the back of a horse. The Creature lacked any skin causing it's crimson bloated muscles to be exposed to all of those who seen it. The Creature only had two burning crimson eyes. One on the horse's head, the other on it's human half.
The long arms of it's human half caused it's knuckles to drag along the ground. The head of it's horse half breathed out a small amount of black smoke. When the smoke touched the sand below it caused a fowl stench to fill the air. The jaw of it's human half lowered as it delivered another high pitched scream.
"What is that thing!?" Percy shouted out loudly as he asked.
"I... I don't know." Chiron replied in both shock and fear.
"Skít (Shit)... That's a Nuckelavee. A Water Demon."