Chapter 52 – Finally Leaving Camp Half-Blood
The quiet evening air in Chiron's office was thick with tension after the group's discussion about the risky plan to rescue Sally Jackson. The ancient maps on the walls seemed to watch them, and the faint scent of old parchment mixed with the pine breeze coming through the open window.
Percy looked at them seriously and said: "Well, it's cool and all that we already have a plan, but we still have one detail we need to resolve."
Grover asked confused, tilting his head: "Which one?"
Percy said: "How to get to the underworld. I don't know the way. Do you guys know?"
Dante said casually, leaning back in his chair: "I've never been to that place, so I don't know."
Annabeth said thoughtfully: "I also have no idea where it is nothing concrete from the books or legends points to an exact location."
They then looked at Grover expectantly, who raised his hands defensively and said: "Don't look at me. I'm just a junior protector. This will be my first real quest. So I don't know either."
At that moment, Chiron looked at them with his wise, ancient eyes and said calmly: "Come with me. I'll take you to someone who can help you with this quest the one who sees paths others cannot."
They then started walking out of the room, following Chiron's steady hoofsteps down the familiar halls of the Big House, the wooden floors creaking softly under their feet.
Chiron said as they walked toward the attic stairs: "If you're seeking information on how to enter the underworld, then we must go to the Oracle. There you will learn everything necessary he truths and warnings you need."
Dante asked curiously, a playful glint in his eye: "Do they even know lottery numbers? That could fund the whole quest."
Chiron said tiredly, shaking his head: "I'm explaining to you about a mythical being who knows everything fates, futures, hidden paths and you ask that?"
Dante asked innocently: "What else was I going to ask? What are the measurements of Marilyn Monroe's butt and breasts at her peak? Well, that's actually a good question to ask in a place like this."
At that moment, he felt a murderous glare boring into his back like daggers.
He then turned slowly and saw Annabeth glaring at him intensely, arms crossed.
Dante smiled nervously and said: "Well, I was joking otally joking."
Annabeth looked at him sharply and said: "Next time you think about asking that, I'll ask the Oracle how to become a dragon slayer and get detailed instructions."
Dante, seeing the fire in her eyes, just said quickly: "Alright. Calm down. Let's not act hastily no need for extreme measures."
Grover said with a chuckle: "That's an Athena daughter for you. Crazy enough to follow through."
Percy said gratefully: "Lucky me. I don't want to wake up dead. I'm not as resistant to jokes as Dante is he's built for it."
Dante looked at Percy and said: "Don't worry. You could handle a life like that too. Just you and your wife living in a beach house. Then, when she's done beating you up, just throw your body in the ocean, Percy it'll be new and ready to use another one.
Percy shuddered visibly thinking about that terrifying life of constant danger. He decided right then to find a gentle woman someday. He didn't want to suffer Dante's daily ordeal of sharp wit and sharper threats.
Dante looked at Percy trembling, sighed while thinking about how he was going to introduce Alice and the others to Annabeth. Well, considering she's a demigoddess and still doesn't know about the mark and immortality, she probably won't take the other girls seriously thinking they'll age and get ugly, and we'll end up separating anyway. She's the only one who can walk by my side eternally. So probably Alice, who can do that too, is the only one she'll take seriously as a threat. Well, that's what I think. But it's kinda weird I remember people saying that demigods in Percy Jackson aren't immortal and have the same life expectancy as a normal human. But that must be my imagination. After all, it's impossible to be the child of a god and not be immortal or at least have a long life expectancy. After all, the powers aren't that great where if Percy unleashes a strong attack, he passes out afterward. It's impossible for life expectancy to come with defects too, right? Otherwise, being a demigod would suck. Let's put that aside. First, I have to survive after telling her about the girls to even find out
Chiron looked at them sternly and said: "Stop messing around. We've arrived the attic of the Oracle."
The group quieted as they reached the dusty, ancient attic filled with forgotten artifacts and the eerie green mist swirling faintly.
"Who's going in?" Chiron asked.
Dante said logically: "Well, I think Percy should go in. After all, this whole quest is about him his mom, his innocence."
Percy took a deep breath, steeling himself against the creepy atmosphere, and said: "I'll go."
He then entered the room alone, the door creaking behind him.
When he stepped inside the room, the lights turned on dimly with an ethereal glow, and a being that looked like a mummified ghost dry skin and hollow eyes looked at him from its perch and said in a raspy, ancient voice: "I am the spirit of Delphi, spokesperson for the prophecies of Delphi. Ask your question, child of the sea."
Percy said steadily: "I want to know how to find the entrance to the underworld and where the lightning thief is."
Delphi's eyes glowed faintly as she spoke in riddles: "If you want to enter the underworld, you need to find the three pearls of Persephone that are scattered in three destinations. The first pearl is with the creature that turns everyone to stone. Defeating her, you will have the first pearl. The second is in the crown of the goddess of wisdom. The third is in the lotus in the desert. The lightning thief will appear on your journey. Beware, demigod."
She then started to stop moving, her voice fading like wind.
Percy said frustrated: "How will I know the locations of the pearls?"
Delphi said faintly before going still: "Find Persephone's map and you will find the locations of the pearls."
Delphi then disappeared completely, the mist dissipating.
Percy said sarcastically to the empty room: "Great, that helped a lot. Where am I going to find this map now?"
Percy then went out and told everyone that recounting the prophecy word for word.
Annabeth thought for a bit, her strategist mind kicking in, and said: "Come. I know someone who might know where this map is someone with connections to travelers between worlds."
Annabeth then led everyone toward Luke's cabin in the Hermes section, the path lit by flickering torches as full night fell.
Luke looked at them from his bunk, surrounded by his impressive setup, and said casually: "Hey, everyone."
Luke said with a knowing smile: "Percy Jackson. I thought you'd stop by sooner or later big quest vibes."
Dante, looking at Luke's room full of gaming consoles and even a high end gaming PC, a mini bar stocked with snacks, and a full sized pool table in the corner, sighed appreciatively and thought: This guy is an idiot traitor, but I have to say he has good taste living like a king in a cabin.
Luke said curiously: "So, what do you want coming to see me at this hour? Planning something big?"
Percy said determinedly: "We're going to bring my mom back from the underworld."
Luke said impressed: "Impressive. But how? That's no small trip."
Annabeth said cleverly: "Your dad is the messenger of the gods, the only one who enters and leaves the underworld regularly. Do you have any idea how or any useful items from his visits?"
Dante, watching this unfold, thought approvingly: Smart girl. She didn't come demanding Persephone's map directly. Left the choice in his hands. That way he can feel like he's in control of the situation and helping voluntarily. Instead of demanding something outright, he wouldn't cooperate thinking he's being forced. Classic strategy.
Dante then saw that the idiot Percy and Grover were about to blurt something out impatiently. He then stepped lightly on their feet under the table and signaled with a subtle hand gesture for them to stay quiet and listen let Luke offer freely.
Luke said bitterly: "My dad is an idiot. We've never met not once."
Percy said sympathetically: "You too? Same here."
Luke said resignedly: "We all have problems with our parents absent, demanding, or worse."
Dante said casually: "Except me. I had a super normal and cool childhood, playing basketball with my dad, those things. Even having to let him win several times so he wouldn't get depressed from losing too much. I think that's why playing got boring for me. After all, having to let someone win on purpose takes the fun out of the game victory feels hollow."
He then noticed everyone was looking at him with strange, almost envious or annoyed looks.
Dante asked confused: "What is it, everyone? Did I say something wrong?"
Annabeth said pointedly: "You're talking to a bunch of abandoned demigods about how your childhood was good and normal."
Dante said understandingly: "I understand. But you're the last one who can get sad about that now."
Annabeth asked curiously: "Why me specifically?"
Dante pulled her gently into his arms and said warmly: "Because, since I had a good dad, I learned how to be a good dad for our kids in the future passing on the best parts."
Annabeth smiled softly and said: "Well, you're a little right don't get cocky."
Dante said teasingly: "A little only?"
Annabeth said: "Yes. Don't push your luck too far."
Percy looked at Luke awkwardly and said: "Ignore them they're in their own world."
Luke said with a shrug: "I don't care what he said. After all, I'd like to have a normal dad too instead of selfish gods as a father who only know how to think about themselves and their dramas."
Dante, looking at Luke with hidden complexity, thought: If you hadn't involved my mom in this matter later on, we could have been friends. After all, you're one of the few who sees the Greek gods as they are, without filters: selfish beings who love to have fun without thinking about the consequences or the lives they ruin.
Luke said, changing tone to helpful: "But I robbed my dad's house once Hermes has cool stuff stashed. There were some useful things there."
He then went up to the closet, reached high, grabbed a hidden box, and gave it to Percy, saying: "For you might come in handy."
Percy then opened it curiously. It came with a pair of winged shoes that fluttered slightly, eager to fly.
Dante, laughing genuinely, pointed at Percy and said: "Congratulations, Percy. You've been promoted from Aquaman to Namor complete with flying kicks now."
Since this world has Marvel and DC references, Percy understood the joke perfectly. He then looked at Dante and said dryly: "Very funny, your jokes. But not everyone has wings
Luke then caught one shoe that tried to fly away on its own and said: "Look under the other one there's more."
Percy looked underneath the second shoe and found a folded paper.
Luke said informatively: "Some people have gone to the underworld without being dead. Hercules did it. Orpheus did it. My dad does it all the time for deliveries. Entering is the easy part. Leaving is the hard part that's where most fail."
Seeing Percy open the paper and reveal a glowing map, Luke said: "That's the map to Persephone's pearls hidden escape tools."
Percy said surprised: "Isn't she Hades' wife?"
Annabeth said with a hint of disdain: "Yes. He forced her to marry him. Keeps her prisoner down there against her will."
Dante said incredulously: "He couldn't find anything better? After all, he's one of the big three with ultimate power. Why force a woman to marry you if all you have to do is call and I bet a bunch would show up willing? Seems like a waste of effort."
Luke said matter-of-factly: "Needless to say, she hates that place. It's hot and weird nothing like the surface. So she gets secret visitors who help her cope."
Hearing that, Dante sighed, putting his hand on his tired face, and said: "The group of gods to have flings with anyone, and Hades, with so many options, forced an unfaithful woman to marry him. Is he an idiot or does he have mental problems? What quality does she have to be worth so much effort and all the horns he's going to get from her affairs?"
Grover said smiling sheepishly: "It's that you haven't seen her in person. They say she's hot really beautiful."
Luke said: "She leaves hidden pearls for her visitors all over the world. They provide a quick escape from the underworld one-way tickets out."
Grover said curiously: "But how do these pearls work exactly?"
Luke said: "Well, you crush it in your hand and think of the place you want to go poof, instant exit. Currently there are three available in the United States safe ones. Follow the map. It'll take you to the pearls step by step."
Luke then paused thoughtfully and said: "That reminds me you'll need extra protection on the road monsters everywhere."
He then grabbed a shining golden shield from under his bunk and gave it to Percy, saying: "Here. Be careful with it. That's my favorite shield. So bring it back to me in one piece."
Luke said with a bitter edge: "If you see my dad on the road to hell, kick his ass for me tell him it's from his neglected son."
They then said goodbye to Luke thanks and promises to return the items and headed toward their first destination: the nearest bus stop outside camp borders, ready to step into the mortal world and begin the real journey.