Dinner that night was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. The long, sprawling rows of tables we'd seen earlier now buzzed with energy, the air alive with laughter, chatter, and an almost tangible excitement. The tables were decorated with symbols representing the gods, each table reflecting its deity in intricate designs. A table with symbols of the sun and lyre gleamed golden under the soft lights—Apollo's table, I realized. Another bore symbols of a shield and spear, Ares' unmistakable mark.
But we, the unclaimed, sat at the table bearing symbols of all the gods. It was like we were in limbo, waiting for someone—or something—to decide where we truly belonged.
The smell of the food hit me like a warm wave, rich and tantalizing. Platters of roasted meat, bowls of glistening fruit, steaming loaves of bread, and desserts that looked like works of art lined the center of the table. The aroma was so enticing I forgot my hesitation and dug in. Everything tasted as good as it looked—better, even. I couldn't remember the last time I'd eaten something this satisfying, if ever.
Laughter rang out around the room. People clinked goblets, shared jokes, and swapped stories. But the real buzz was about what was going to happen after the meal.
New recruits like myself were seated at the long rows of tables, each one labeled with the symbols of different gods. The aroma of roasted meats, fresh bread, and fragrant stews wafted through the air, and I could see the excitement on everyone's faces as they eagerly dug in. But the real topic of conversation wasn't the food—it was what was going to happen after dinner: the sacred tree.
The sacred tree. I'd heard bits and pieces about it from the other recruits, but no one could seem to explain it fully. All I knew was that it was where each of us would pass under its boughs, and somehow, a god would claim us. The moment we walked beneath its branches, the god who had chosen us would make their mark. The symbol of that god—whether a trident, a crescent moon, or something else entirely—would appear on our skin, marking us as their vessel. From there, we would go straight into the next phase: the agreeing ceremony.
"The sacred tree ceremony!" one boy exclaimed to his tablemates. His voice carried, and I caught bits of his explanation as I ate. "That's where the god who claims you makes their mark. Their symbol appears—like, glowing and everything. Then you're officially part of their house!"
"And after that is the agreeing ceremony!" someone else chimed in. "That's when you and your god actually bond."
"That's the moment we become one with them," one boy at the table explained excitedly, leaning over to me. "Once the symbol appears, the bond is made. You're theirs."
A girl next to me gasped, her hands trembling in excitement. "I heard that when Apollo claimed someone, the mark looked like the sun—it glows so brightly, it's blinding!" She had an almost worshipful look in her eyes, and I could feel her eagerness in the air around her.
I tried to mask my own nervousness with a forced smile. What if I wasn't claimed tonight? What if the gods rejected me, or worse—what if I didn't get a god at all?
Around me, everyone seemed to be talking about which god would choose them, their voices bubbling with excitement. Some whispered about the gods they hoped would claim them, while others speculated on the significance of the tree. I stayed quiet, unsure if I even had a hope of being chosen by one of the big gods like Poseidon, Zeus, or Hades. After all, the three of them had already shown up in my life, but I didn't know if they'd be willing to take me as their vessel.
I glanced around at my own table, where the other new recruits were equally wide-eyed and bewildered. For some, it seemed like a dream come true. They leaned forward, listening intently to every detail being shared. For others, like me, it was overwhelming. A whirlwind of traditions, gods, and destinies I wasn't sure I was ready for. My stomach churned at the thought of standing before that sacred tree, exposed to whatever judgment it might pass.
A girl sitting a few seats away from me turned, her face glowing with excitement. "Who do you think will claim you?" she asked, her voice filled with awe. "I hope it's Artemis for me. She's so cool. I heard her vessels get this insane mark that looks like a crescent moon."
I shrugged, unsure how to respond. "Guess we'll find out," I muttered, avoiding her eager gaze. If I told her the truth—that three gods had already made themselves known to me—she'd probably think I was insane.
I couldn't help but notice a high table at the far end of the room. The nymph who had been our tour guide earlier was seated there, looking more regal than I remembered. She had a calm, soothing presence about her that made everyone around her seem at ease. Beside her sat a centurion, his armor glinting even under the soft light of the room. He looked so serious—everything about him screamed discipline and order. His posture was perfect, his eyes scanning the room like he was making sure everything was in place. His lower half was that of a horse which made me wonder how he went about his business....
Next to him was a satyr, his goat legs clearly visible under the table. His horns curved gently behind his head, and he had a grin on his face as he chatted with the nymph and the centurion. Unlike the centurion, the satyr seemed laid back, his movements full of energy and warmth. I wasn't sure whether he was laughing at something serious or simply enjoying the moment, but he gave off a vibe that made you want to trust him.
But the person who caught my attention the most was the woman seated between them. She was stunning—not just in the way she looked, but in how she felt. Her presence was so powerful that it almost made the air feel thick. Something about her shimmered, like she was emitting some kind of strange energy. I couldn't quite place it, but it made my skin tingle, and I found myself instinctively leaning forward, watching her with wide eyes. Her eyes glowed faintly, as if holding secrets from another world, and an aura of power radiated from her, making the air around her seem heavier.
"She's the Oracle of Delphi," a girl sitting near me whispered, her voice low and reverent. "She can see the future. She's the only one who can communicate directly with the gods. I heard she's been at Camp Empyrean for centuries."
My heart skipped a beat as I tried to process what I was hearing. The Oracle? The one who could speak to the gods themselves? I had always heard rumors about oracles, but to see one in person was something I couldn't even fathom. Her gaze swept the room, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw her eyes flicker in my direction. I couldn't look away. It felt like she knew everything—like she could see straight into my soul.
There was something unnerving about her, but also a strange pull. It was as if she wasn't just a part of this world. She felt like she was from somewhere else, somewhere far beyond what any of us could understand.
The conversations around the room continued, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something bigger was happening. The Oracle's quiet, intense presence seemed to cast a shadow over everything. Every now and then, she'd speak, her voice soft yet commanding, but her words were rarely for us—more like she was communicating with someone else in the room, someone hidden from view.
I took a deep breath and forced myself to focus on the meal. The food, though delicious, had become a background noise to the growing tension in the room. Everyone was anxious, excited, and more than a little fearful. No one wanted to be left unclaimed. The Oracle's presence seemed to magnify the pressure.
As we ate, it was clear that the evening was winding down to the inevitable: the passing under the sacred tree. There were cheers and laughter again as the older students shared their stories of being claimed by their gods. I could tell they wore their marks like badges of honor, each one proud of the god they represented.
The meal continued, with more stories and laughter filling the space. Older students told us about their experiences, describing the thrill of being claimed and the power that came with it. Some stories were exaggerated, I was sure, but others carried an edge of truth that made my skin prickle.
By the time dessert arrived—something sweet and sticky that melted in my mouth—the excitement in the room had reached a fever pitch. The new recruits at my table couldn't sit still. Some were fidgeting, others whispering fervently about which god might choose them. A boy next to me muttered prayers under his breath, alternating between calling to Apollo and Ares.
For some of us, it was still a mystery. We were still waiting to be chosen, still unsure of where we would fit into this strange world. I didn't know if Poseidon would claim me or if one of the others might. But as the night stretched on, the tension in my chest grew heavier. It would be soon. The sacred tree ceremony was coming, and with it, the answers I had been desperately searching for.
I noticed the Oracle glance my way once more, her eyes intense, almost piercing, as though she knew something about me I didn't yet understand. My heart raced, and I couldn't shake the feeling that tonight—this night—would change everything.
My thoughts churned like the sea. Would Poseidon claim me? Zeus? Hades? The three of them had already made their presence known, but nothing about them was straightforward. What if none of them showed up tonight? Would I remain unclaimed, stuck in limbo?
Or worse—what if they all showed up, fighting over me in front of everyone? The thought sent a shiver down my spine. The last thing I wanted was to draw attention to myself.
As the meal wound down, the nymph from earlier rose from her seat at the high table and clapped her hands. Instantly, the room fell silent. The energy shifted, anticipation thick in the air.
"New recruits," she began, her voice clear and melodic, carrying across the hall without effort. "Tonight marks the beginning of your journey. You will pass through the sacred tree, where your destiny will be revealed. The god who claims you will make their symbol known, marking you as their vessel."
Her gaze swept over us, a warm smile on her face. "For those who are not claimed tonight, do not despair. The gods move in their own time, and their choice will be made clear when the moment is right."
I felt a lump rise in my throat. No pressure, right?
"The older students will guide you to the sacred tree," she continued. "Let the gods guide you, and trust in the path that lies ahead."
With that, she gestured for us to rise, and the room erupted into movement. My heart pounded as I stood, following the other recruits out into the cool night air. The sacred tree awaited us, and with it, answers I wasn't sure I wanted.