The city of Dema was two halves of a city built on different sides of a river. Like a huge white circle cut in half by a blue line.
It looked homely and safe with small, brown houses dotting inside the walls. But their arrival at the city came with some tension. The air was quiet and a single flag fluttered at the top of the monolithic walls
His parents came down from the carriage to meet their attendants at the gates of the city. It was customary practice but Thalos still gripped his sword.
Soldiers stood in a long line to create a road for them to pass untouched. Civilians and people gathered at the gates and watched as they were received by the Steward of the castle.
He was a tall man with grey hair, combed back neatly and tucked under a cap. His uniform was also crisp and blue. He had a lone dagger and a pair of keys at his hip.
"It is an honor to have you here, Lady Hecate." The older man bowed deeply. Hecate offered him a hand that he pressed against his forehead.
Hecate glanced from the stoic face of the Steward to her husband. Her face was calm, but her eyes held a severe light.
The Steward finally sensed the warning in her eyes and turned to Thalos and bowed once again.
"Thank you for gracing us with your presence, Lord Thalos."
There was some friction here. But Percy was more concerned with the walls of the gates.
They were so tall he had to turn up completely to just barely see the peaks of the wall, spotless like they hadn't been standing here for more than a thousand years. You wouldn't want to be the guy that had to work up there.
The Steward bowed once again. "I am Dunn Crestwell, Steward of the fortress. I once served House Eurides, but now my life and honor are bound to House Amphene."
There was a young-looking man at the head of the soldiers. He raised his voice right cue as they had spent all night practicing.
"Amphene!"
All the soldiers lined up raised their voices in rigid coordination.
"Amphene!"
Hecate looked a bit uncomfortable with this, but she nodded stiffly, turning to the darkened gate through the walls.
"Take us inside then."
They were herded to another carriage made from a dazzling white wood with an open top. Inside the carriage were soft cushions that must have looked like heaven to Thalos and Hecate after travelling on the wooden seats.
Three white horses were reined to the carriage, and the rider stared ahead completely stiffly. Servants swarmed them before they entered and began dusting off their clothes and exchanging their robes.
Hecate took it in stride, taking a big sip from a waterkin and letting the servants clip on jewelry and ornate bracers on her body. She let them clean her stark white hair and face with moist cotton balls.
Thalos, on the other hand, didn't know how to take people putting their hands all over him. He tried to take back his black cloak but was promised it would be returned. They did their best to tie his long black hair into a bun before he just told them to leave it.
Watching the servants wince as they found the cuts scattered over Thalos' body made Percy laugh at least.
They made sure to attack him with their cotton balls too, of course. They even brought a soft blanket knitted with beautiful images.
All this pampering was a bit annoying, but Percy already understood what it was for. This was their big entrance to the city, they had to leave their mark on the common class. Now it was time to enter.
Thalos and Hecate were guided into the carriage with precise instructions from the steward. Thalos on the left, Hecate on the right, Perseus in the middle.
Then Dunn stood behind them in a servant's spot, pleading silently.
"Please wave at the people, if it pleases you. They have greatly anticipated your arrival."
A loud trumpet rang through the air right on cue. Voices began to rise in a song, two different sides of a choir singing to each other. They were dressed in blue on the left, and in white on the right
The first choir sang in low voices with theatrical melancholy.
"Where are the hands that steer us true?
Where lie the roots of foul rot?"
The second choir answered with bright energy.
"They rise with sun, the just and new,
They burn away the rot, their power just."
Percy blinked twice as the choir actually broke into a song and dance. Their voices constantly rose and fell, changing from forlorn to joyous.
The carriage began moving, crossing the gate and entering a high, slightly dark tunnel. The performers danced around the carriage in choreographed manoeuvres.
Thalos looked so uncomfortable, he turned to Hecate, mouth slightly agape, whispering.
"Is this really… um, necessary?"
Hecate nodded curtly, keeping her head ahead and her face impassive.
"In the south, there is a high value of first impressions. That's why I was so insistent on naming Perseus, your first name says a lot. Here your first impression tells a person how exactly you feel about them. Keep your posture straight and only turn your head to wave. We're about to enter the city."
Light washed over them as they exited the tunnel, and a deafening wave of noise followed it.
People were lined up on the streets, barely held back by soldiers, raising black banners, throwing confetti into the air, screaming their throats out.
The banners were embroidered with a simple red heart surrounded by black thorns. The symbol of House Amphene. The civilians were dressed in a dizzying array of colors, dancing and celebrating the arrival of their new lords.
There were so many of them! Percy came from Earth, which had a greater population. But seeing the endless wave of people crowding the streets was disorienting.
The singing from the performers stopped. Dunn raised his hand and the soldiers all drew their swords. Silence quickly rolled over the crowd. Then Dunn took in a deep breath and roared in an ear-splitting voice.
"Amphene!"
Right on cue, the soldiers chorused.
"Amphene!"
The crowd seemed to have caught onto the procedure. Their voices came out disjointed at first, but then they grew in sync and soon shook the world.
"Amphene!"
"Amphene!"
"Amphene!"
Each shout pierced his ears. Percy was both invigorated by their infectious energy and sick of the way the air shook.
Thalos looked a bit uncomfortable with the constant chants, but he didn't seem to mind it more than the servants touching him. His hand rested on his sword though, and his steely grey eyes scanned every face in the crowd.
Hecate's gaze faltered each time the word Amphene was screamed. But soon, her composure was immaculate. She offered the crowd a smile that was so dazzling it made them scream even louder.
"Amphene!"
"Amphene!"
She turned to Thalos, muttering from the corner of her lips.
"Stop glaring at them, Thalos. Smile and wave."
Thalos jolted a little and his hand shot up too quickly. His forced smile and stiff wave didn't elicit the same response as Hecate's enchanting greeting.
Percy was a bit bored, so he raised his hands and started waving too. Hecate and Thalos grinned like they were high from seeing his little hand wave.
"Little Perseus also wants to wave."
"My son is so confident!"
He resisted the urge to roll his eyes, studying the architecture and beauty of the city.
The high stone towers, the rows of wooden houses, and stone bridges over little streams. The crowd followed them through the city, pointing at their houses and shops which were decorated with Amphene banners.
Soon they were at the bridge to the fortress and the crowd could no longer follow them. Thalos rose from his seat and began waving goodbye, but from the way Dunn looked at him, Percy could guess that wasn't proper.
The Fortress of Dema was built right on top of the Crean River. A great stone formation rose from the river that was too blocky and smooth to be natural.
The city wall cut across the river too, but open arcs were carved out at the bottom of the walls to allow the water through.
The constant roar of the water passing through those arcs replaced the noise of the crowd. Percy couldn't help but think this was a good place to sleep. The heights of the bridge and the castle over the violent stream of water was nightmare fuel though.
Soon, they left the carriage and arrived at the massive doors to their new home. A retinue of maids and servants were lined around the door, dressed in pristine uniforms.
An elderly man with stark white hair and a monocle walked up and bowed deeply to Hecate.
"My Lady Hecate. It is an honour to have you here. I am the chamberlain of the fortress, Cain."
Hecate gave the man her hand to place at his forehead without looking at him. Her eyes stared at the beautiful white stone used to build the castle.
It was probably riverstone, carved to perfection and shined every day, admiring the, Percy thought, admiring the craftsmanship of detailed buttresses and corners.
Dunn, the steward of the fortress, walked up to Hecate and removed the pair of keys from his waist. He got on one knee, head down, and offered them to her.
Hecate took the keys and slotted them into the door slowly. She paused for a moment. Thalos walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder. Percy did the same and they all shared a bright smile. Hecate turned the keys with a heavy click.
Then she stepped back and chanted something under her breath. The green spirits responded to her calls and stirred the winds. Thalos covered Percy's head as the wind washed over them, blowing their capes and hair into the air and pushing the door open.
The moment the wind settled and the door was fully open, Percy knew something was wrong. Thalos knew long before that and grabbed the blood-red handle of his sword as smoke poured from inside the fortress.
And so that day, Percy was able to glimpse the first technique of the Blood Demon School.