The peaceful forests shook with the roars of monsters, fiercely charging toward their prey—three children: two girls and a boy, aged between 7 and 14. The children were dirty and exhausted, showing signs of hardship unfit for their age. Yet, they were fast and armed—at least, to those who could see beyond the veil of Mist.
A brown owl flew near them, guiding them through the maze-like forest.
As they ran, the echoes of roaring and the rumble of pursuing monsters gradually faded, and the air in the forest changed. The owl landed on a branch, signaling that they were safe. The children set up a simple camp and tried to rest as much as possible.
"Finally, somewhere safe. Luke, can you please give me some food? I'm starving," said one of the girls to the only boy in the group.
"Here it is, Thals," Luke replied, handing Thalia a can of beans. "Annabeth, do you want some too?" he asked the youngest of the group—a girl no older than seven.
"Yes. Thank you," said Annabeth. Her voice was tired and sleepy. The trio began to eat.
"Why do you think Athena brought us here?" Thalia asked between bites.
"I don't know, but the monsters stopped chasing us. Luke, do you think it's safe to sleep here? We need to rest as much as possible." Annabeth anwered
Creak
Before Luke could answer, a sound came from nearby. All three demigods jumped to their feet and unsheathed their weapons, preparing for a fight.
"Show yourself!" Thalia yelled.
From between the trees, a seven-year-old boy with white hair and a blue-silver robe slowly stepped into view. His silver eyes immediately locked onto another pair of similar ones.
"Who are you? Why were you watching us?" Luke demanded, stepping protectively between the boy and the girls.
"Hello. I'm Zhuge Sagan Emrys, and I should be the one asking that question—who are you, and why are you in our garden?" Sagan cheerfully introduced himself, happy to see new faces.
They seem a bit dangerous... especially that punk-like girl. The other one feels oddly familiar... I wonder how they passed the formations.
Luke slowly lowered his guard but still held his sword. "I'm Luke Castellan, and these are Annabeth Chase"—he gestured to the silver-eyed girl—"and Thalia Grace."
Luke hesitated to answer the second question. Before he could respond, a giant wolf leapt from the bushes, landing between them.
Sensing his friend's unease, the wolf—Ghost—simply stared at the strangers, growling low. A moment later, a deafening roar shook the entire mountain. Animals fled in panic, rushing to hide in their nests.
("An army of monsters is coming, partner. We should return immediately, before Bai or Alpha loses it.")
After Ghost warned him, Sagan's face turned pale.
There goes my only break. We should return before the battle... but I can't leave them here… Sagan sighed. Father's going to kill me.
"We'll have to finish introductions later. This place isn't safe anymore. Follow me."
Sagan jumped onto Ghost's back and gestured for the trio to do the same.
("Sorry, partner.")
("I don't mind them. They smell nice.")
After a quick discussion and with some help, all the children climbed onto Ghost's back before he took off, running at full speed.
While Sagan remained relaxed on his friend's fluffy back, Annabeth, Luke, and Thalia held on tightly to avoid falling—not that they would, thanks to Ghost's mastery of speed. Still, neither Ghost nor Sagan felt it necessary to mention that.
They stopped after a few minutes that felt like an eternity.
Annabeth's eyes widened as she saw the beautiful buildings. She turned her head around, trying to take it all in.
Luke and Thalia exchanged a knowing look, seeing their friend's enthusiasm.
As they reached the complex, the air grew denser while their instincts warned them with every step.
Sagan was now openly worried.
It is bad. It is very bad… Father is angry—no, he is furious. I don't think he's ever been this mad…
"Guys, apparently my dad is angry, so please, for your own sake, be respectful," he quickly warned them before entering the building.
The room was so tense, it felt like it could be cut with a knife. Bai was standing near the main table, his reptilian eyes completely visible as parts of his body already showed draconic characteristics. On the table, Jianhong was carefully honing his pure white sword with a silent, deadly fury.
"They dare… They really dare…" he muttered, while Hyuk showed his anger in a different way.
A stream of purple flames covered his body, giving him a terrifying grandeur. His hair mirrored the flames, floating alongside his robe from the overflowing Qi.
All four children froze as their gazes locked on the scene. Jianhong's expression softened upon seeing his son, then immediately hardened as he looked at the others. His gaze locked onto Thalia, as if dissecting her with his eyes alone.
"Haha… HAHAHAHAHA." He laughed angrily and mockingly, then stood beside them, seemingly teleporting.
Their instincts screamed as he slowly touched Thalia's face. She felt weak and fragile from his touch yet it holded no malice toward her.
"That bastard broke it, huh? Why am I not surprised? Well, that explains why half of Tartarus is at my backdoor. Hades must be furious," Jianhong muttered before recalling his Qi, finally allowing the kids to breathe.
"Brother, Bai, don't let them in. I'll need to speak with my guests." With this, Bai and Hyuk disappeared, letting the kids finally relax.
"I believe I told you not to bring strangers into our home, Sagan. Did my brother hit you too hard, or are you just forgetting the rules?" Jianhong scolded lightly, then turned to the trio.
Thank goodness he's not mad.
Luke took a step forward, but Jianhong cut him off.
"I know who you are, son of Hermes. It's definitely been a while since I met one, but your father's scent is obvious. Do not touch my things. Just go to the next room with your companions. And stop staring at me, daughter of Zeus."
A maid appeared from the shadows and led them away.
As they left, Jianhong turned to Sagan.
"Do you know who the mother of that other child is?" he asked.
"I don't know, Father, but she feels familiar. Should I?"
"Did I ever tell you about my childhood, Sagan?" Jianhong asked with a mechanical voice.
That came out of nowhere… Well, let's go along with it.
"No, Father."
Jianhong took a deep breath before sitting at the table.
"I already told you that my father was the Zhuge Clan's patriarch, but what I didn't tell you is that I wasn't his first child—nor his first son. When I was born, my father already had dozens of children, some even in their twenties. Normally, I wouldn't have had any claim to the throne—the situation among my siblings had already been decided. The problem was, all of them were illegitimate. The human scum I call a father was a man without morality or dignity, with countless consorts. Yet he was only married to one woman—my mother. That made me the eldest legitimate son. De facto, the heir."
"Weren't your elder siblings angry? That seems unfair."
"Oh, they were furious. All their effort and blood turned into nothing overnight—yet they were powerless. The Council of Elders would never choose them over me. So, they tried to remove me from the picture."
Oh…
"From the day I was born, assassins tried to take me down. My meals were poisoned, they even put snakes in my crib. But the elders—especially Grand Elder Zhang—weren't fools. He knew this would happen and took me under his wing until I was strong enough to protect myself. When I was nine, I ran away to Wudang with nothing but a letter from him."
"You're brilliant—you should've figured out why I told you this by now. They are guests for now, so treat them accordingly. I need to make a call."
With that, Jianhong left the room, leaving Sagan to his thoughts.
Let's see… If we analyze the timeline and situations with the key parts of the story, there are few plausible answers. Let's use the process of elimination. We can eliminate anyone important coming here indirectly—Father seemed uncomfortable even mentioning this. From his question, Annabeth must also be a demigod. And if I include the similar eyes and the feeling of familiarity… the most plausible answer is—she's my sister. Yeah, that explains everything.
Sagan slowly walked to the guest room, deep in thought, then stopped suddenly.
"I have a sister," he muttered, continuing forward in shock. He had always known he wasn't Athena's only child—but the difference between reading about it and seeing it was monumental.
Well, let's properly meet my cousin, sister, and—pfft—'aunt.' I'm never calling her that, for sure.
When he opened the door, he found them sitting at a table, eating snacks. They all turned their eyes to the door with sudden movement.
"Hello again. I know it's a bit late, but welcome to my home."
After an awkward and thankfully short silence, they introduced themselves more properly.
"Luke Castellan, son of Hermes."
"Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus."
"Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena."
"Well, it's nice to meet others like me," Sagan said happily. "Especially meeting a sister. Also—son of Athena, right here."
While Thalia looked completely shocked, Luke and Annabeth had already suspected something like this. It was good news nonetheless.
"So, please, tell me about yourselves."
The conversation started slow and awkward, but gradually they opened up, talking about their lives and how they met. Sagan commented whenever he found something interesting. They talked for a while before Bai knocked on the door and opened it.
"Master asks for you to come to the main hall."
Sagan led them to the main hall, noting how Luke and Thalia always positioned Annabeth in a safe spot whenever they moved. It was a subtle thing, but part of his training helped him notice.
In the hall, Jianhong was in a heated conversation with someone.
"I will not participate in this nonsense, Zeus! Not voluntarily, at least. You know my price—and I'm giving you five minutes to decide."
As they entered, they saw a vision in the rainbows.
"An Iris message…" Sagan whispered to the others.
Their arrival caught the attention of both Zeus and Jianhong. Zeus' eyes locked onto Thalia, relieved to see his daughter breathing. Thalia gritted her teeth, barely restraining herself from yelling at her deadbeat father. Such as Luke and Annabeth yet they managed to hold their anger.
As they stood, Zeus slowly spoke.
"You won, Jianhong. How much will it cost?"
Jianhong grinned, victorious.
"One wish—and I'll guarantee she reaches the borders of the camp unharmed. But my protection ends there. I'll also wipe out every monster that is on my domain obviously.
Or—if you prefer—I can escort her directly to camp and guard her for years.
All I ask in return is him."
Zeus furrowed his brow, lightning crackling faintly across his shoulders through the shimmering Iris Message.
"You ask for too much," he said, his voice low and thunderous—like a storm barely caged. "He is still a god. One of the Twelve."
Jianhong's face darkened.
"A god?" he scoffed, his eyes flashing with a cold, silver light. "Is that what you call someone who shatters his child's mind out of fear? Who treats his own blood like pawns on a board he flips at will?
Don't bargain with me, Zeus.
Not after the fields of Sichuan.
Not after all these years.
Now—choose."
Zeus said nothing, but Sagan felt the rage simmering behind the divine calm. The air grew heavier, and even the rainbow hues of the Iris connection began to flicker under the strain.
"Three minutes left," Jianhong said coolly, taking a seat and brushing invisible dust from his sleeve.
"Who…?" Thalia whispered, leaning close to Sagan. "Who is he asking for?"
"I don't know all the details," Sagan murmured back, "but my father… he lost his brother because of one of the Olympians. He swore revenge, and when he ascended, he charged the Gates of Olympus.
I don't know what happened after that."
Zeus clenched his fists hard enough to crackle the sky itself—but then sighed, defeated.
"You are relieved of your wish. But I will not give you Ares."
The message cut out.
"What was that about?" Sagan asked.
"Oh, just a little deal with Zeus, nothing major," Jianhong replied casually. "Shame he's still protecting Ares, though. But now he only needs to slip once and he is mine.
Anyway, I've put off my duties as host long enough.
Welcome to my home, little ones.
Stay as long as you like. Tell me when you're ready to leave.
Make yourselves comfortable—I'll be back in a moment."
And with that, he vanished.
"Hey Sagan," Luke asked, blinking, "is your dad always like this?"
"Like what?" Sagan grinned. "Just messing. Yeah—he's always like a senile old m—OW! Dad! Seriously?"
He rubbed his head and shrugged. "Anyway, he's kind of eccentric. But you'll get used to him.
Now come on—you guys really need a bath."
Hearing that, all three of them—especially the girls—followed Sagan quickly.
************************
Jianhong stood in an empty room. Three ancient women appeared before him, silent and still, each holding tools of thread and fate.
The first one unraveled a strand.
The second one stretched it.
The third one cut it—producing a soft snip that somehow echoed like thunder.
"Moirai," Jianhong said, his voice low and sharp. His gaze was as cold as iron.
"The Exile of Heaven," Clotho murmured. "You know why we are here."
"Even you cannot interfere with the weave," said Lachesis.
"The prophecy is spoken," whispered Atropos.
"The veil is drawn. The wheel turns."
"Things are in motion now that cannot be undone."
Jianhong chuckled—not kindly.
"Oh… can't be undone? Is that what you think?" He stepped forward. "I can undo them. I will undo them. The river's waters are still murky, the branches still shift with the wind.
You have no dominion over me. And I owe nothing to your webs, your threads, or your riddles.
Still… I'll play along. I won't touch your 'Great Prophecy'—
as long as you stay away from my son.
Now leave… or I won't hold back my fury."
Clotho exchanged a look with her sisters. Then, one by one, they vanished.
Jianhong spat on the ground, then drew his sword and sliced it through the sky—cleaving a cloud clean in half.
*****************
AN: Hello again everybody thank you for reading. Like I said before the story is finally beginning and I am all over for it. When a character speaks in a foreign leanguage I will add ("this") to spesify it. anyway I hope you liked it and I hate Ares so if you like him you are warned.
Also If you have any FMC candidates please tell me right now it is Rachel.
Have a great day.