Chapter 8
Right after entering the forest, Percy mentally reviewed his priorities.
First, he needed shelter. He couldn't stay exposed at night, as that would be like saying: "Hey, there's a defenseless demigod lying right here, ready to be devoured!" He wasn't willing to make that mistake, especially knowing what awaited him if he was caught off guard.
The second priority, not as immediate, would be food and water. He still had enough provisions for a week, but he planned to spend one or two months training in the forest. He didn't want to rely solely on what he had on hand.
Lastly, he needed drachmas. "Great, I forgot that Iris messages cost money," he thought, remembering he wanted to talk to his mother from time to time, but without drachmas, that would be impossible. He hated the idea of leaving her worried, but he needed to train and prepare.
As he walked, the insects tormented him, and the heat made his sweat drip. "Whoever thinks staying in the middle of the woods is comfortable is terribly mistaken," Percy murmured, irritated. However, he didn't have the luxury to complain. This was part of his training, and, in his mind, he saw this journey as something that would make him stronger — or kill him.
After a few more minutes of walking, something caught his attention: a small crack in a stone wall, hidden among dense trees. "If the inside is big enough, it might serve as shelter," he thought. He cautiously approached and, to his luck, found a small cave. It wasn't large, but enough for him to lie down and even light a fire.
"It'll have to do," he said quietly, trying to convince himself that it would be a good spot.
After setting his backpack in a corner, Percy sat down. He wasn't tired but decided to think about the next step. Shelter was guaranteed, and so were provisions. But he urgently needed a weapon, preferably a celestial bronze sword. How could he fight without one?
With his eyes fixed on the darkness of the cave, Percy had an idea. "My father… Poseidon." He knew that the gods, from time to time, gave gifts to their children. Athena had given a magical cap to her daughter. Why couldn't Poseidon do something similar?
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to focus. He didn't know exactly how these things worked, but he would try anyway.
"Hey, Dad? Can you hear me?" Percy spoke hesitantly, feeling a bit awkward. "I… I'm not sure how you've been doing, but, on my side, things haven't been great. I know I've just found myself, and it seems early to ask for something, but I really need a little help… Preferably a sword. I know you can get one for me. I mean, look at Athena; she gave a magical cap to her daughter!" He paused, scratching his head. "So, that's pretty much it. Goodbye."
Percy opened his eyes slowly and, to his surprise, something appeared in front of him.
"Well… that was fast," he murmured, widening his eyes at the blue ballpoint pen that had materialized before him. He picked up the object and examined it for a few seconds. It was just a regular pen, but something told him it was more than that.
Curious, Percy pulled the pen cap, and, suddenly, the object began to expand, transforming into a celestial bronze sword. He gripped it firmly, feeling the perfect weight and balance in his hands.
"This is amazing," he whispered, his eyes fixed on the shining blade. He couldn't contain his excitement and began practicing light movements, trying to familiarize himself with the weapon. At first, his strikes were clumsy, but over time, his movements became more precise. His body, as always, seemed to adjust quickly, absorbing the learning almost instinctively.
Still, even with regeneration, Percy began to sweat profusely. His muscles begged for rest, but he continued training until exhaustion finally forced him to stop.
He looked outside the cave and noticed it was already dark. Taking advantage of the last light of the day, Percy lit a candle he had brought in his backpack. The soft flame illuminated the small space, bringing him a sense of comfort.
"Perfect," he murmured, feeling the environment become more welcoming.
Percy then looked at himself and realized he was filthy. His shirt was soaked with sweat and dirt. He knew he needed to clean himself, but the potable water he had couldn't be wasted. Then, an idea came to his mind. He looked at the cave floor, took the sword, and dug a small hole in the ground.
Concentrating intensely, Percy tried to summon water. He knew the Percy from the books could do it, but he was still young and inexperienced. He closed his eyes and focused for long minutes until he felt a familiar tug in his stomach.
When he opened his eyes, he saw crystal clear water filling the improvised basin. "I did it…" he whispered, a smile of relief on his face.
With the water ready, Percy used his hands to bathe himself. The fresh sensation brought him a brief moment of peace. After washing, he changed his clothes, hung the dirty ones to dry, and ate a cereal bar.
Finally, he lay down on the hard cave floor, using his backpack as a pillow. He felt the fatigue, both physical and emotional, weigh on him. For a moment, his mind wandered back to his mother. He missed her. He wondered how she was dealing with his absence. "I promise, Mom, I'll get stronger. And I'll come back to you," he thought.
Despite everything, Percy soon closed his eyes, his mind at peace for a brief moment. The training had just begun, and he knew the challenges would be immense. But he was determined.
And without realizing it, he fell asleep.