It has been a few weeks since we arrived in what Bill calls "home". Apparently, he has always been an outdoors guy. Though, with all the monster attacks, I don't think we have much to look forward to. Bill seems concerned about stocking provisions, but where would we go from here? More importantly, how can we get there before Omoro and I are defenceless. Our resident blacksmith couldn't find a way to release the armor enchantments, and with that we were a liability. Around a month and a half after we arrived, Bill called a meeting. And we got the news I knew was going to happen.
Bill stood before us. The entire Regiment could tell he was mad, but he was doing his best to conceal it. Finally, he spoke. "We were sent quite a few kilometers west of my old home. Even worse, the monsters we've been fighting have been coming from that direction. I believe someone purposely sent us away from the location out of fear." As he slowly looked at each of us in turn, Beverly started crying.
Omoro and Lucy both went to comfort her, only to be beaten to her by Loretta holding a cup of grape Kool Aid. "Here you go, it's my last packet, but I don't need it as much as you." This was the first time I've seen the child of Bacchus share anything. Though it only made Beverly a bit too open. Since we found out a lot more before she actually told us why she did it. Finally, however, we coaxed it out.
"Yes, I did it. It's instinct for a child of the Underworld. The location for his old home was tied to a mountain god, and, if I did go there by shadow travel, we would have almost no chance for survival upon arrival. I think we've been dealing with these monsters because of me being close to the mountain. And if no one can mention the measurements and favorite colors I named before saying that, I would feel a lot better."
I didn't think Kool Aid would have that effect, but, knowing Loretta, it was mixed with something extremely sweet. "Ok, then... Bill, what are the chances we make it to your actual home without losing anyone?" I turned to him, knowing we had almost no chance in our current state.
His face was emotionless, but his eyes had an fire I'd only seen during our battle at Mt Othrys. "I've been thinking on that, and our options aren't good, but not bad either. At least, with you and Omoro as you are now. Did Lucy inform you of the changes she's seen in the armor she made for the both of you?" This didn't feel right, but knowing Bill's calculating nature, he had to have thought of every option available within the first two weeks. Though I never saw him speak with Lucy, and that would mean it was during the days Omoro and I were out of commission. I turned to Lucy, and she sighed knowing the question to come.
"I know this is late, but both of your enchanted armor has slowly been losing strength. Almost like after Othrys fell, the power that came from the Titans also slowly lost strength. We've got a week left until both of you lose that armor, and I don't know if it will take you with it. If anything, we have the same amount of time until our chances of survival drop to almost zero. Because your armor is the only way we'll make it, and then we have to deal with the mountain deity. Though, I have been building something from the scraps Beverly's been helping me acquire from nearby sources of magical metal."
I knew she was tinkering in her free time, but a weapon that could stop a mountain god would be insane to build within his sensory range. That may be another reason for the attacks. I turned to Bill, "How far do we need to go to reach your old home? And how far until we reach the mountain itself?" We needed good news after all this increasingly depressing information. Sadly, Bill had one last bit of bad news to deliver.
He sighed. Then gave a full report from a map he had on him. "We are currently over 12 km away due west of the mountain. With all of our supplies, we'll take at least 6 days to reach the foot. After that, we have to climb up another 1500 meters before we reach the hidden door. That should give us a few hours before your armor is out of time. My refuge should still have the equipment to help within that limit. All of this has to be done without any warped travel from Omoro and Beverly or the god of Mt Korab will force us back here or into a worse situation. Any more questions?" His tone concealed his rage a lot less. So, after one question, I would give my order.
"Do we need the entire amount of supplies? Or can we get something along the way?" I knew we had a low chance, but, if anything could save us time, it would also help us.
Bill sighed. "No, in my time, this would have been an area dedicated to worship. And that would have given us some options. The only rest we'll be likely to get is at the government office at the foot of the mountain. And that's if the monsters don't force us near the forest. Now, we can pack up leave immediately or risk whatever cost will come from your armor disappearing."
I knew this was planned before I could have any say, and as the leader I had to go with Bill's experience rather than my own thoughts. "Regiment, pack up all the supplies, we're heading to Mt Korab. Beverly, Lucy, Loretta, and Larry I need to talk with you guys about something. Jeremy, Billy, Harry, Skylar and Omoro, you guys help Bill plan a way through while we pack.
Turning to Lucy, I realized she had more planned than she told us. "Lucy, you enchanted our armor. What about enchanting one of the supply bags to hold all the supplies?" She smirked. Once again, I found out her and Bill planned everything.
"Here you go, sadly, with the little time I had, there was a drawback. Only Bill can carry it. He said to let you try, but it wouldn't be easily done."
I tried to lift it, knowing Bill's sense of humor had to be involved. I could lift it, but not for more than a few minutes. In the end, I agreed that Bill would carry it. Within an hour, we were ready to go. Once again, heading to a place filled with monsters and safe for those like us.
Surprisingly, we didn't run into any monsters until the forest was in sight. Though, at that moment, the monsters were a wall of pure darkness in our way. Almost like they were set up to protect the place. Bill couldn't even help us fight with our supplies on his back. We fought for five days before realizing the truth about the monsters thanks to our resident Child of Pluto. She had finally got the strength and nerve to fight, and we found out they weren't returning to Tartarus. Instead, they were slowly reforming upon disintegration. That left one option to get through, and even that was a long shot. "Loretta! Come over here," I called her to the makeshift tent we were using to plan. "You said you could control plants, right? Can you help us with a trick to get past the monsters?" I asked this with a soft voice, knowing she probably wouldn't like the position she'll be put in.
Her face was full of monster dust, but she was smiling like we had been in the playground all week. "What's the trick? Will it be fun? And can I kill more monsters?"
Omoro had finally told me Loretta's age. And I didn't want to scare off this nine year old little girl, but it was our only option. "We want you to pretend to get captured, and then use the plants around you to keep them in one place. Would you like to do that?" I was afraid she would cry,. Even with her battle rage, this wasn't something I was comfortable doing.
"Ok. But I want something to drink first. Anyone got a can of Coke?" I actually was taken aback by this child. She wasn't afraid. In fact, she wanted to do it despite the danger. I gave her the soda knowing Larry could easily acquire more if needed, but apprehensive since her main drink for battle rage was incredibly sugary Kool Aid. What would happen with this?
Two hours later, we left her loosely tied on the edges of the forest. She wasn't smiling, but she seemed okay. Hidden beneath the rope was a flare gun to set off once she had gotten them in one place. We watched as the monsters picked her up and took her within the forest. Fifteen minutes later, we heard howls of pain. Then the flare gun went off. She was in the center of the forested area. Yet, as we hiked in, we could tell she didn't spare any of them. Each monster had a root going through a weak spot. Each root also had grown within them, so each monster was a part of the tree itself. Stuck in suspended animation while fighting nature itself over their own bodies, I never knew a child could be this powerful or devious. When we reached her, we saw that she had made a small chair out of the monsters that carried her in. While the ones meant to interrogate her were simply statues now. The rest of the Regim ent was in shock, and I joined them. Yet, Loretta looked fearful of our reaction. Almost like she had dealt with it before.
I put on a smile. "Nice job, Loretta! Now let's get to where we need to be on the mountain. Larry, give her a few snacks for a job well done."
Larry clearly didn't like it, but he gave her a few chocolate bars and three packets of Kool Aid. Knowing Loretta, this would help her get back into the right mood. However, she wouldn't take it. Instead, she asked us questions that broke me inside.
"Are you guys scared of me? Are you gonna leave me?" She was crying. We hadn't noticed it until we got close, but knowing how it feels to be an outcast, I knew what had to be said.
"We all have things to deal with. Omoro can't completely control her flames and I don't know my full power. But to let loose like this means you've got insane power. Learn how to use yours just like we have to learn ours. If anyone has any stories, say them now. We're not moving on without Loretta, and none of us can say we haven't done something similar."
The first to speak was Billy. As the only one who hadn't really said or done much, I was surprised to hear from him first. "I know I don't do much around here and you guys definitely know I don't talk much. I'd like you all to know why. I joined in the Jr Olympics at Loretta's age. I was known for perfect shots at every event. Then, my mother decided to profit from it. The Mist helped me get away, but I lost her from a stunt she had me do. It was similar to the old William Tell game, only I had to hit multiple apples around her without hitting her. I slipped on one shot. And you can guess what happened from there. I vowed I would only use my skills when absolutely needed, and that's why I choose not to do things. Not because I'm lazy, but because I don't want to be put in that situation." He turned to everyone, and I realized we needed this more than we thought.
Next to speak was Jeremy. Knowing his mood affected his powers, I got ready for a storm. "My mother was known for aquatic stunts. She wasn't a big name, but she got the attention of Neptune because of the kinship she showed with the animals she performed with. When I was born, I was added to the act. Not knowing what was happening for years, I simply went with it. I never went to school, and my mother realized the animals felt better with me than with her. She was jealous of me. So, she did a dangerous show with me. From sharks to even a manta ray, every one of them untamed purposely. They recognized my parentage, and my mother was punished severely. To this day, I can't speak with any sea life. I don't think I even want to."
Harry had begun singing, yet it wasn't making things any more calm. His lyrics were his life, and they were as tormented as any of us. "I was born to a man focused on his band. Sadly, he couldn't stand me. I left while on the road, at the young age of four. To this day, he never cares to mention me. He only talks about the daughter that made him convert to Christianity. I found myself an orphan on the road, when those wolves took me to Camp Jupiter. All of this before I was ten years old, I know you're pain, Loretta, my sister." I was amazed at how easily his voice flowed through each lyric, but then Beverly started speaking.
"All of you know I'm not a typical child of the Underworld. I'm always smiling, and don't like the normal stuff expected of me. Well, it all stems from my mother. She was a actress. Every day she put on an act that she didn't have me. And, growing up in Beverly Hills, you couldn't hide stuff like that. I was sent to live with her family. They trained her, and didn't care for me. I wasn't good enough for them, but with my powers it got harder to keep me safe. They had decided to send me to a Psych Ward. Before they could, the house was rubble. I couldn't control myself, so I put up an act. I would smile through pain, suffering, and even loss. I told myself it was better than death, and with that I gave myself a mindset close to Harley Quinn without the insanity." Everyone was on the verge of tears. And we weren't done yet. There was still Larry, Omoro, Bill, Skylar, Lucy, and I. And I didn't want to break the bonding moment.
Larry finally spoke quietly. "I was born on the road. My parent was a robber. Always looking for a bigger score. I don't know what my dad saw in her, but she put me in multiple dangerous situations. I was the human shield, spy, and even taken hostage by a rival robber. Then, my abilities started to show. She saw me as a threat. I had a gun to my forehead at the age of 11. My mother held the trigger. She kept saying it was business, and I had my dagger. She was a legacy, too. I didn't know that, but before she could shoot me I threw the knife. I never went back and saw her, but the dagger reappeared in my backpack a few hours later. I'm forced to keep it as a reminder if that day." I had guessed his background, but even I didn't guess this much.
Lucy went next. "My mother was an ironsmith. She didn't like the way industries made stuff, so she made everything herself. Our home was cold and unforgiving. One day, my mother went to her shop. She never came back. Instead, my father showed up and told me she had been gone for years. Vulcan had made a fake of her after she passed during childbirth. He said it wasn't safe to be around her anymore and poofed me to Camp Jupiter. I thought I knew my mom, but she was a machine. That's why I never make automatons and focus purely on armor. Because I just want to help people get better, not force something to do anything." Each story was getting worse, but I think Harry was keeping our moods from deteriorating with his singing voice alone.
Skylar had been silent as long as Jeremy. Yet, when she spoke, a breeze began blowing around us. "I never knew my mother. I was in foster care for the longest time. I would stay in a home for only a few weeks before they would give me back to the system. Because of this, I would get many issues with being abandoned. To this day, I feel like asking each question Loretta did whenever I even show a quarter of what I can do. Only, I pull myself back a lot. Especially since I'm the daughter of the Lord of the Winds, technically not a demigod, but at the same time able to control all the winds with little effort. I feel like I shouldn't exist, and that's what I was told in each foster home." I knew this spoke with Omoro, Bill, and I more than anyone knew. Yet, Omoro decided to share her story fully for the first time.
"Everyone knows I don't have full control over my flames. None of you know the full reason. My father is a Titan, as well as Bill's and Lucius's own fathers. By all logic, we shouldn't exist at all. When I was born, the entire room was lit up. I was called a freak by the doctor. And my mother didn't survive giving birth to me. Being half-Titan, I aged faster. Each year was around 4 for a regular mortal. Though, I stopped aging quickly once I hit puberty of a normally aged mortal. After that, I couldn't stay anywhere more than a few days. If I got excited, things burned down. Among these were an small town, a forest, and even several schools. I couldn't form any relationships until I met Bill. Then I was pulled across the country to Lucius, and I had already formed a mentality to match my outfit. As in, I dressed like a peppy girl and would act like it. I masked my turmoil, and haven't said any of this until now because I felt like more of a freak than anyone alive." I was surprised, but did that mean my memories could have been less because of accelerated aging. I could see Bill was uncomfortable saying his part, so I decided to give him a rest.
"Everyone, I know I'm supposed to lead you all. Yet, I feel like this isn't a Regiment as much as a family. I never realized demititans had accelerated aging, but looking back, it feels right. I am the Son of Saturn. I know I have zero business being alive, but I know there's always a reason for everything. My mother was kind. One day, I came home from school. And my house was in ruins. She was nowhere to be seen, and my father sent me to look for something. I didn't know what, and I still don't. I was also given my blade, Interitus. In fact, it was named for my family. Yet, looking around, I don't think I can even trust my own memories. Since I last saw my father at Mt Othrys, I know one thing. Time itself is different to each person. At the start of my journey it wished to heal, but last I saw him he wanted to destroy. Now, I feel like he placed half my life in my head and I never knew. But with all of you speaking, the time for healing has come again. Bill, please tell us your full story." I was hoping everyone would share. And Bill didn't disappoint.
With a heavy sigh, Bill told us his full story. "I was born centuries ago. My brother was Alexander the Great. As a prince of Macedonia, I was supposed to be heavily protected. However, my brother's tutor, a man called Aristotle, saw my true father. He had me exiled by my own family. I was forced to live in a temple for protection. This temple is where we are going now. Although, Aristotle actually planned a special way for me to die. Each night for over five years, assassins were sent to my location. Each night, they died a painful death. The priest at the temple had only one weapon in the entire temple, and every night I would use it to protect myself. I wouldn't know the full details until morning, however. I would come out of what felt like sleep with many men dead before me. The priest would call them sacrifices, and he pushed me to attack my brother. I fought a war against Alexander's men that has been lost to history. Before my final battle, my true father, Iapetus, appeared before me. He gave me a choice, to pierce the enemy or choose peace for myself until I was needed. As you can see, my choice was peace. With that choice, I was transported to a place where the war wouldn't reach me. My men died, but were transformed into my protection. Every man in that army became a dryad, destined to protect me until my day came. And for centuries I was alone, until I saw Omoro enter my land. I gave her a place to stay, and began to grow accustomed to having someone to talk with. She was my first friend. Although, I did not see her as a romantic partner even though she did try that multiple times. When she was pulled away, I was broken for months. Then she brought Lucius, a demititan after my own heart. He not only needed protection, but returned the favor by reversing time on my farm so that the damage done while protecting him was erased. After that, I waited for his call. Knowing full well, it was almost time. The battle I was destined for has begun, it is a battle for the heart." We all turned to the young girl before us.
"Loretta, now you see what we've been though. We are all equally messed up. And we are not leaving you. If anything, we know you more than anyone else. Now, we make camp here because it's getting dark, and tomorrow we take down the god of Mt Korab." Bill started laughing behind us. "Anything funny you want to share, Bill?"
Still laughing, Bill informed us of an detail we hadn't known. "It's not a god, it's a goddess. And she's likely to take us down without our enchanted item ready, bring it out Lucy!"
Lucy opened the bag and removed an item I wish I hadn't seen. Apparently, Bill had Lucy make an enchanted swimsuit for a goddess. And I thought our options were bad. Bill wasn't done laughing. "And it has to be given by our commanding officer. Trust me, with zero shade up there, it's the only option." I was beginning to blush, and everyone took that chance to join Bill.
Finally, with this family, I felt at home. Even if they did turn against me like this, at least Bill knew what he was doing, I hope.