The whistle cut through the air as an arrows head struck the centre of the the target in the archery field. Percy released the breath he was holding as he lowered his bow, His gaze was at the target, where the arrow had struck.
If it was 3 years ago, she would be cheering that she finally shot an arrow properly. But the Percy right of the present had no such thoughts, only that it was still not good enough. That's right, it wasn't good enough in her eyes, it wasn't enough for it to just be 'okay'
Ever since the end of the war, Percy had decided that she needed to gain more strength.
She practiced everything, swords to arrows and spears, every weapon in camp with no exceptions, she worked and trained and broke past the curse of Ares. However, even after so long, she had yet to master archery on its own. Percy took out two arrows and stood at position once more before sucking in a breath and closing her eyes, allowing her instincts to take over.
She released the two arrows once he was ready and within a moment, the arrows had planted themselves in the target. One above the centre and the other bellow; directly opposite to each other.
'...'
Percy pulled down her bow with a frown on her face.
She sighed and placed the bow back in its place. Despite her skills growing even if there were no wars, she made sure to keep them hidden. Aside from the ability to wield a sword, and her ability over water, everything else had been kept to her and only her.
Because they would label her a threat, they would call her a monster. Not because she was growing stronger, but because she broke through a god's curse.
Percy had also noticed a rift which had formed between herself and Anthony. She had attempted to mend and attempted to spend more time with him. However, each time she suggested, the would receive the same reply.
"Seaweed brain, I'm busy. Can we talk about this later?"
And each time, she would comply.
Percy had become focused on her training altogether and due to which she had failed to notice the growing closeness between Anthony and Atlanta who had settled herself into the Hermes cabin. It had been small but day by day, it grew and not long later, the entirety of camp spoke of it.
While to most, it seemed as though she didn't notice, the truth had been that she ignored it. She noticed it no matter how much she attempted not to. Because she wanted to trust him, she trusted that he wouldn't commit such a thing.
Percy walked off from the archery field and headed for the arena. She was craving the use of her sword at the moment. She walked into the arena and to where several dummies had been set up. Percy took a wooden sword and took a readied position.
Her eyes stared down the dummy for a moment before she trust forward and slashed the wooden blade of the sword against it. Somehow, she still managed to cut through the dummy and she continued her movements.
Within less than a minute, the dummy was just a pile of hay on the ground. It was only than that she noticed the presence behind her.
"Lord Hermes."
Percy easily greeted without turning around, she placed the sword back from where she took it and turned her head towards him. In a trance she noticed it, the man's face was...it was cold. Unlike the warm expression he usually presented to her, there was an undeniable distance which had been placed between them.
"The gods have summoned you."
The god told her, voice void of any emotion and Percy couldn't help but worry over it.
"I will take you there."
Without waiting for a response, there was a bright flash of light and slightly uncomfortable feeling that spread through her body. In a second, they appeared within the Olympian throne room. The demigods all stood the the bottom of their parent's or patron's respective throne whole. The Olympians sat in their places as they waited for Hermes to do so as well.
The amazon's and minor gods stood in two seperate crowds.
"Why have I been summoned?"
Percy finally questioned as she stared up towards Zeus, there was an uncomfortable air around the throne room.
"Persephone Jackson, you have been found guilty of of aiding enemies within the recent wars which had finished."
"What?"