Sky smiled as he looked at the town that lay in front of him. There was no singular street leading up to the town hall full of all the shops and forges. Instead, what stood in front of him was something that resembled Eagles Nest. The city before him was full of wooden homes and shops, some wooden buildings that reached almost three stories high. The town continued to the foot of the hill they stood on and deep into the forest, creating a stone pathway to the training grounds that now had a large building next to it.
Sky followed the path from the entrance of the town hall that led to a circular fountain in the middle of the city. He followed the leftmost path and saw that it led to the infirmary, which now looked even larger and healthier than it had before.
"Kronos really did live up to his word!" Sky crouched.
Atlas placed a hand on his shoulder. "This is what Hero's Stronghold was supposed to be…" He said.
Sky looked up and saw the faces of the others, a warm smile on each of them, giving off a gentle glow and happiness. Sky looked back to the city below, his eyes finding their way to the infirmary.
"Go." Atlas said.
"Don't cry too hard." Silk said, while cleaning his ears.
Sky smiled as he stood up. BZZZT! He disappeared from atop the hill and now stood in front of the large, plant covered building that had once been a small time infirmary. The design hadn't changed, nor did the shape, it only seemed to get taller and greener with more plants now covering it. Sky took a shaky breath, clenching his suddenly cold hands tightly as he walked in.
Whispering and murmurs started as soon as he entered, some wondering whether he was actually the young Sky that had once lived here while others speaking ill of him for suddenly leaving. Instinctively, Sky found his mothers small room, covered by walls on the right and left and a white, vine-covered curtain doorway. He took another deep breath and entered, moving the curtain to the side.
"Yes who-" His mother started as she turned her head, suddenly stopping and covering her mouth.
"Mama, I'm home!" He said with a nervous smile.
Tears welled in her eyes as her fingers started trembling. "Sky…" She whispered, beckoning her son to come closer.
Quickly, Sky rushed forwards, clinging to her. The two silently embraced each other while the tears dripped off their faces. After a few moments Sky wiped his face and his mothers.
"You're all grown up now." She said with a laugh.
"No matter how much I grow, I'll always be your little boy." He laughed back.
Sky took a seat near the foot of the bed, telling her all the stories he'd gathered from his quests. He retailed tales of how he'd slain destructive beasts to the north and how he'd met elves and merfolk. With a grin, he informed her about Silk, and how the two never got along, yet in times of need they always had each other's backs. He boasted about beating the shadow, his inanimate arch-enemy.
The two laughed and smiled. "Sounds like you really enjoyed yourself these past six years." She beamed.
Suddenly she grabbed his ear and pulled it. "But couldn't you be more careful!" She scolded.
"Look at these scars!" She grabbed his hand, "How do you even hurt yourself this much!!"
Sky smiled as she pulled his ear, it had been a long time since he'd been scolded like this. It was something he never knew he'd miss.
"Ay, ay, ay!" Sky touched her wrist in pain, "I'm sorry, I'll be more careful now!"
Soon she let go of his ear and the two sat quietly, enjoying each other's company. "How're things around here?" Sky asked.
She took a deep breath. "Well, after you left Bahrny caused a huge uproar, lashing out at everyone, so Father did the only thing he could." His mother told him, "He took Bahrny to a far away place and they fought."
She then smiled and chuckled. "It only took a few minutes before he returned with Bahrny, completely and utterly defeated and knocked out." She informed Sky.
"After that, Father started becoming harsher with the demigods, guiding them and sometimes injuring them but sooner than later that led to their behavior improving, whether that's because they were scared of him or actually changed is unknown." She raised her shoulders and eyebrows.
"That led to the half-bloods here working together a bit more and to the growth of the place until all this happened," She motioned to the building, "A lot more people started becoming accepted and the town grew to a city."
"There's still a lot that needs to happen but we're getting there!" She smiled.
Sky smiled, silently thanking Kronos.
"Now then, the son of Zeus can't spend all his time doting on his mother, I'm sure you've got work to do," She smiled, leaning forwards and touching his face, "Don't worry, it's not like I'm going anywhere!"
Sky touched her hand and smiled. "I know," He said as he stood up, "I'll be back!"
His mother nodded as Sky left the room. Once again, whispering started as he left the infirmary. While standing outside he looked to the hill he'd come from and saw someone running out. Curiosity got the better of him as he decided to head in that direction.
BZZZT! He disappeared from in front of the infirmary and now stood at the large hole in the hill. Before he'd left this had been the entrance to a dungeon where those who'd found their way to the fort or those who were deemed useless kept.
"Could you not run around from one location to another, it gets very hard to follow you." Silk said through deep breaths.
"Well who asked you to follow me?" Sky said as he entered the hole.
"Who knows what kind of trouble you'd get into if I didn't!" Silk said, leaping from above the entrance and following Sky.
The two walked down the set of stairs until they reached the large open area where cells were once kept. The two stared at the open area in awe. The cells had been destroyed and now, on pedestals were weapons, kept behind thin, moving words. Each pedestal was white and looked like a pillar with a golden name written right below the weapons.
Sky and Silk moved through them, not knowing what was until Silk finally said. "It's a Hall for Remembrance."
As he said that Sky saw a familiar name. He approached the pedestal and read the name. 'Lucy Hajj'
A wave of goosebumps was sent down his back as he looked at the greenbell that was floating above her name. He stared at it for a few moments before looking up and taking a deep, shaky breath, when he turned around he saw Silk standing in front of a large metallic spear. When he approached him he was staring at the name, 'Lucas Bright'.
"He was the one who killed Hippolytus." Silk said quietly.
Sky placed his hand on Silk's shoulder and clenched it.
Suddenly Silk turned around, there was a little glow in his eyes. "You know, he didn't have a last name…" Silk said, "So we gave him one…. Bright… because no matter what situation we would be in, his hope never went away, he was the light in all this darkness."
"He sounded like a great man." Sky said as Silk nodded.
No one said a word as the two left the hall and stood atop the hill, it was a little past midday.
"We should head over to the town hall." Silk said.
Sky nodded. "I'll race you!" He gave a mischievous smile.
"NONONONONO!" Silk started, getting louder with each no.
BZZZT! Silk stood, shoulder slumped for a few seconds. "I'm going to kill him one day." He said as he started jogging.
***
"Mom!" Said a voice from the other side of the curtains.
"Yes!" Vena replied.
A beautiful woman entered the room. Her wavy black hair was tied back into a poofy ponytail, only allowing two long strands of hair to fall down either side of her face. She was wearing a pink jacket with a white tank top underneath, blue shorts, white shoes and her usual black belt covered in pouches. She was somewhat tall and had slender hips and a larger than average chest. Her eyes were a warm black and she had a very petite chin.
"I cooked you lunch!" She said as she entered carrying a bag in her hands.
There was silence for a few moments as the women set up a small table in Vena's lap and placed food on it.
"He's back." Vena finally said.
The women froze. "SKY?!!?"