"What happened to you?!" She said, her voice full of panic as she stared at her son, covered in wet bandages and a cast.
Sky smiled and looked down at himself. "Too much…" He said as he made his way over and hugged his mom.
The two silently embraced each other before slowly pulling away. "I need to tell you so… so much…" Sky said as he took a seat at the foot of the bed.
"It's alright… we've got time…" She smiled looking towards the door.
Sky turned his head realizing she was looking at Jennifer. "Oh, this is one of the demigods and the daughter of Aphrodite, Jennifer." He motioned for Jennifer to come in.
Slowly Jennifer entered the room, and nodded towards Sky's mom, who nodded back, and moved to stand by Sky. Awkwardly Sky shuffled inwards making room for her to sit as she did so. Vena stared at the two for a few seconds before smiling.
"I see…" She finally said, "I'm Sky's mother, call me Vena."
Sky took a deep breath and started talking, explaining everything that had happened after he had woken up from the giant attack, stopping a little every time he spoke about Lucy. He explained the fight against Striker, him meeting Hephaestus and Demeter and finally the death of Lucy.
"I wondered what happened to her… she always stopped by, you know… but a few days ago she suddenly stopped." Vena said quietly.
"I'm sorry Mama…" Sky looked down at the sheets.
"For?" Vena asked.
He took a deep breath. "I… I know you never wanted any of this… and now… there's so much going on…" He couldn't think of what to say.
"Sky, look at me." Vena said with a smile.
Slowly Sky looked up, struggling to keep eye contact, but still looking at her.
"I knew you were going to have to enter this world sooner or later, I just wasn't expecting it to be this soon… as far as the oath goes, it's something you made," She explained, "So make sure whatever decision you make, you fulfill it."
Sky nodded, staring at his mother for a few seconds, unable to suppress a smile. "I gotta go now…" Sky said.
"I know…" Vena replied.
"I won't be back for a while…" Sky continued.
"Stay safe, and make sure to visit." Vena smiled.
Sky reached in and hugged her, staying still for a quite some time before pulling away and walking towards the door. "Mama, I'll be back soon!" Sky said with a huge grin.
Suddenly the memory of five year old Sky going out to get food for the first time flashed in Vena's mind. 'Mama, I'll be back soon!' the phrase rang in her ears as she stared at the five year old boy now grown into a twelve year old. Tears started flooding her eyes as she buried her face in her hands.
"Take care of her Jennifer." Sky said, a sense of worry in his voice.
Jennifer looked at him and nodded. "While I'm here nothing will happen to her." She said with determination, making her way over to his mother and comforting her.
Sky nodded before making his way out of the infirmary. As he walked he realized what he needed to do next, quickly finding his way to the dungeon and making his way down to the cell where he once lived.
Once there the people started whispering and talking amongst themselves, keeping their voices just loud enough that Sky couldn't hear them. As he approached his cell he saw a familiar face standing, head head pressed against the bars, watching Matthew play with the chains inside.
"Don…" Sky said as he approached him.
Slowly, Don turned his head, his eyes red from crying, and stared at him lifelessly. "It's my fault…" He continued to whisper.
Sky walked up and hugged him, patting him on the back and holding him for a few seconds before pulling away. The two turned to look at Matthew, who still happily played with the chain, unsuspecting of anything.
"How?" Sky asked.
Still looking at the child Don started. "After we killed Clytius… Bahrny ordered a full scale retreat… When some of the guys went to pick up the wounded he lashed out at them saying to only save themselves, the ones who couldn't move would be useless even if we brought them back."
"I was trapped underneath a pillar, when he had said that… naturally everyone avoided me but Lucy ignored what Bahrny had said, she stayed back to heal the injured… When she finally got to me there was a giant standing behind her, she was able to heal half my leg, enough for me to move, before she turned around and told me she'd buy time for me to run." Don continued quietly, all out of tears.
"So I ran, and when I turned around a few feet ahead the giant had stabbed her…" Don turned to Sky.
Sky continued to look at Matthew. "Do you know which one it was?" Sky asked.
Don shook his head. "But he had a helmet with horns…" Don said.
"He doesn't have anyone to take care of him anymore." Sky continued.
Don slowly turned his head, unable to speak.
"Lucy made her choice, fighting for what she believed in until the end…" Sky turned to Don, "Now someone has to look after the people she left behind."
Sky saw the fear in Don's eyes as he started backing up. "If you truly feel responsible for her death… then this is how you atone for it." Sky finished.
He watched as Don went through a myriad of emotions from anger to sadness to solemnity until finally he looked up at Sky, his eyes full of uncertainty, and nodded.
Sky touched his shoulder and squeezed it a little before turning around and heading out of the dungeon.
"What's going to happen to us Sky?" Asked one of the people as Sky approached the entrance.
Sky turned around and looked at them, all of them cowering from fear, covered in dirt and sweat. Most chained up while they all wore torn and ragged clothes. "I'll save you." Sky replied.
He turned around and headed out, hearing snorts and laughter from some and sighs of disappointment from others. Once again, he headed towards the town hall for what seemed like the hundredth time today. Once there he noticed that the building was empty, quietly he made his way upstairs to Kronos' room, where he had slept the night earlier.
He saw Kronos' makeshift bed on the floor and the bed he had slept on, both of which neatly kept. Staring at the window now was Kronos, looking at something distant.
"I know what you're going to do Sky…" He said, "And I know I can't stop you… but I can promise you something… that when you come back this place will be different."
Sky smiled as he climbed onto the bed and in a matter of moments found himself drifting off into slumber.