Timeline : For the timeline of this story, I'd place it between the events of the original Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and before the Heroes of Olympus series, specifically around the time Percy is around 16 or 17 years old—shortly after the Last Olympian but before the Lost Hero.

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If you're expecting tales of epic quests and glorious heroism, you might want to put this book down right now. Trust me, it's not that kind of story. I mean, I'm Mykel Stone, son of Morpheus, god of dreams—not exactly the most action-packed resume. I'd much rather spend my afternoons dodging monster attacks than doing calculus homework, which is saying something considering my usual escapades.

Picture this: it's a sunny Tuesday afternoon in Central Park, and instead of studying for a surprise math test, I'm standing shoulder to shoulder with Percy Jackson, the infamous son of Poseidon, who's currently attempting to intimidate a flock of harpies. Just another day in the life of a demigod.

"Myke, duck!" Percy yelled, his voice slicing through the air like a battle cry.

Without thinking, I dropped to the grass, just as a harpy swooped past, its talons barely missing my head. "Can't we just have one day without winged monsters?" I muttered, shaking bits of grass out of my hair. I mean, seriously—what do I have to do to get a break around here?

Percy, always the optimist, leaped over a park bench, sword gleaming. "Welcome to the demigod life! Besides, this isn't so bad. Just think of it as a… study break!"

"Yeah, a study break involving vicious birds with sharp claws," I shot back, fumbling to grab my spear. Not exactly the kind of "break" I had in mind.

One of the harpies let out a screech that echoed through the park, and I couldn't help but wonder if they were angry about something we'd done—like saving their relatives last month or ruining their brunch plans. Seriously, do harpies even brunch?

With a swift movement, Percy struck the first harpy mid-dive. It burst into shimmering dust, floating away like confetti at a bad party. "One down!" he called, grinning as he turned toward me.

I rolled my eyes. "That's great, but I'd prefer if we didn't have to count. Can't we just have a peaceful afternoon for once?"

Just then, two more harpies swooped in, their beady eyes locked onto me. I jabbed my spear upward, impaling one as it charged. It crumbled into glittering particles. "Two! Not a very good average, but it's a start!"

"You're doing great!" Percy cheered, swinging Riptide with a flourish. "Just think of it as practice for your dream battles!"

"Practice for what? A sleepover?" I retorted, dodging another harpy. "If I wanted to have nightmares, I'd just eat a whole pizza before bed!"

But even as I bantered, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something deeper was going on. The harpies were acting more aggressive than usual, almost frantic. As I dispatched another with a deft twist of my spear, I caught a glimpse of a dark shape looming in the distance—like a storm cloud gathering above the sun.

"Percy," I called, my tone shifting as I gestured toward the horizon. "Do you see that?"

He glanced up, his grin fading. "Yeah, that's… not good."

Before we could react, a powerful gust of wind swept through the park, scattering leaves like confetti and sending the remaining harpies into a wild frenzy. I squinted against the sudden chaos, trying to make sense of what was happening.

Out of the swirling winds, a figure emerged, cloaked in shadows and chaos, with an aura that sent chills down my spine. I recognized her instantly—Eris, the goddess of chaos.

"Well, well, well," she drawled, her voice smooth like honey laced with venom. "Look who it is—the dreams of the boy who thinks he can change the world."

I felt a rush of panic. "What do you want?" I demanded, gripping my spear tightly. "Can't a demigod just enjoy his afternoon?"

Eris laughed, a sound that was equal parts delightful and terrifying. "Oh, sweet Mykel. You're far too amusing to ignore. Your little dreams have so much potential, and I plan to have some fun with them."

"Fun? Is that what you call it?" I shot back, trying to sound braver than I felt. "Because it seems more like a nightmare to me!"

Eris tilted her head, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Exactly. And you, my dear boy, are the key to unlocking chaos like this world has never seen."

Before I could process her words, the harpies regrouped, swirling around us like a deadly tornado. I felt the weight of Eris's gaze pressing down on me, amplifying my fears and insecurities. The air crackled with tension, and I realized that today was only the beginning of something much bigger.

"Percy," I muttered, my heart racing. "I think we've got more than just harpies to deal with."

"Yeah," Percy replied, determination flashing in his eyes. "And we need to figure this out, fast. Let's regroup and plan our next move."

As we braced ourselves for whatever Eris had in store, I couldn't shake the feeling that my nightmares were just beginning.