The early morning light filtered through the trees as Cordelia hurriedly added a few more items to her magical bag. She realized she had forgotten something important the day before—drinks.
"How did I forget this?" she muttered to herself, slipping in bottles of water and a few energy drinks into the seemingly bottomless bag. "Wouldn't want us getting dehydrated on our first day."
As she packed, Luke and Annabeth approached, both looking well-rested and ready for the day ahead. Cordelia noted how youthful they appeared, even though they were technically older than she had originally thought.
"By the way," Cordelia said, glancing between them as they adjusted their gear, "I didn't know that demigods aged slower. You guys are both eighteen, right? But you look like you're sixteen or seventeen."
Annabeth chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, that's something we've all had to get used to. Time moves differently for us. We do age slower compared to regular mortals."
Luke nodded in agreement. "It's weird, but it's one of the perks of having godly blood. It keeps us... well, youthful, I guess."
Cordelia blinked, processing the information. "So, you could be twenty-one but still look like you're a teenager?"
"Pretty much," Luke replied with a smirk. "Not that I'm complaining. Makes blending in a little easier, especially at places like Camp Half-Blood."
"Right," Cordelia said thoughtfully, her mind wandering to what it would mean for her future. She was only fifteen now, but what would happen as she aged? Would her appearance stay the same for years? It was a lot to think about, but with everything else going on, she decided to put it aside for now.
They set off shortly after breakfast, with Grover leading the way, his satyr instincts guiding them through the dense forest. They were headed toward the outskirts of Camp Half-Blood, where they would begin the first leg of their quest.
The sky was clear, and a cool breeze swept through the trees, providing a refreshing sense of calm as they ventured deeper into the wilderness. They walked for hours, chatting about the upcoming journey and the challenges they might face.
As the sun began to set, they decided to make camp for the night. Luke and Annabeth found a flat clearing by a stream, perfect for setting up their sleeping bags. Cordelia took out some snacks and drinks from her bag, much to everyone's relief.
"I'm so glad you remembered the drinks," Grover said with a grin, grabbing a bottle of water. "You'd think being part goat, I'd be better at carrying my own supplies, but I never seem to bring enough."
"Don't worry," Cordelia laughed. "I've got us covered. Between my cooking supplies and everything else, I'm basically a walking kitchen."
Annabeth smiled, sitting down beside Luke. "You're more than that, Cordelia. You're prepared for anything. That bag of yours is going to be a lifesaver."
As night fell, they gathered around a small fire that Grover had built, the flames crackling softly in the quiet night. Luke, ever the strategist, pulled out a map and began discussing their route for the next day.
"First stop, we head north," he said, tracing the path with his finger. "We've got a long way to go, but if we push hard tomorrow, we should reach the next landmark by nightfall."
Cordelia listened intently, her heart pounding with both excitement and nerves. This was it. The quest was officially underway, and though the challenges ahead were daunting, she felt ready. With her friends by her side and her powers growing stronger every day, she knew they stood a good chance of success.
After a while, the group fell into easy conversation, laughing and exchanging stories under the stars. Cordelia glanced at her two pet turtles, Bubbles and Flame, who seemed content lounging by the water. There was something about them, something powerful, that Cordelia had yet to fully understand. She suspected they were more than just ordinary turtles, but for now, they were simply her companions, providing her with a sense of comfort and familiarity in this strange new world.
As the fire died down and exhaustion began to take hold, they all settled into their sleeping bags. Cordelia gazed up at the sky, her mind drifting between thoughts of home and the daunting quest that lay ahead.
Whatever was to come, she felt ready to face it.