The air was electric with anticipation as the last of the recruits lined up in front of the great, ancient tree at the center of the camp. This was it—the claiming ceremony. The moment where our fate would be sealed. I could feel my pulse racing, my heart thumping in my chest, as I took my place behind the other recruits. It was a huge, old tree, its gnarled roots sprawling across the ground, wrapping around the earth as though it had been here for centuries, watching countless other young souls walk this path.
The tree's massive branches swayed in the wind, casting a vast shadow over the clearing, and for some reason, that only made the tension in the air feel thicker. The murmurs of the crowd, made up of fellow recruits, older campers, centurions, satyrs, and nymphs, only added to the heavy atmosphere. Everyone was talking in hushed tones, eyes darting from one camper to the next, speculating on which god would claim whom.
Some recruits were already standing in line, nervously shifting their weight as they waited for their turn to walk around the tree. The ceremony was simple, but incredibly meaningful. Each person had to walk around the tree three times, and after completing the third round, if they were chosen, the symbol of the god who had claimed them would appear floating above their head.
It sounded simple enough, but I could feel the weight of the moment. Everyone here was waiting to see if they'd be chosen. And I had no idea what would happen if I wasn't.
Ellie was ahead of me in the line, her excitement palpable. She had already told everyone she was hoping for Artemis, and I could see the way her eyes sparkled with hope as she took her turn. She walked confidently around the tree, her small form moving with purpose. I watched her closely, trying to focus on her rather than on my own nerves.
On her third circle, a bright, silver crescent moon appeared above her head, floating like a perfect reflection of the night sky. The nymphs around us gasped in awe as the symbol shone brightly. Ellie beamed, her face lighting up with joy as the mark began to materialize on her arm—just beneath her elbow, the crescent moon now branded into her skin. It was a beautiful, almost ethereal symbol, glowing softly as the bond between her and Artemis was sealed.
"I agree to become your vessel," Ellie said, her voice full of awe and reverence, as she raised her arm to the sky, and the bond was completed. The crescent moon shimmered once more before becoming solid, its presence marking her as Artemis's chosen vessel.
Ellie stood there, beaming, as the crowd erupted into cheers. The other recruits congratulated her, and she moved to the side, a proud new member of the Artemis house. I could feel the weight of what she had just gone through, but I also felt a twinge of envy. She had been claimed. She was chosen. The goddess had marked her, and I still didn't know who—or if—one would choose me.
The ceremony continued, and more recruits stepped up. Some were chosen quickly, their gods appearing without hesitation. A girl with bright red hair walked around the tree and was claimed by Aphrodite—her symbol, a radiant heart, glowing above her head before it was tattooed on her wrist in vibrant pink and gold. A tall boy with sharp features was claimed by Apollo—his mark appeared as a golden sun above his head before it burned into the skin on his shoulder.
But then there were those who were not chosen. They walked three times around the tree, but no symbol appeared. They stood there, confused, looking at each other, wondering what was going wrong. They were told to leave and try again with the next group of recruits, but their faces were pale, and they walked away silently, unsure of when or if they would ever be claimed.
I could see their disappointment, and a small, selfish part of me felt a bit relieved. At least I wasn't the only one who might not be chosen.
One boy, a scrawny kid with dark hair and anxious eyes, tried a second time. He walked around the tree again, the crowd watching silently. His first attempt had yielded no symbol. His second round ended in silence too. And on his third, nothing happened. He looked lost, almost defeated, as he was ushered off to the side, his shoulders slumped. I heard whispers from the older campers—those who had already been claimed—talking about how some people didn't get claimed right away. Sometimes it took days, sometimes weeks. It didn't mean they weren't worthy. It just meant they hadn't been chosen yet.
The whole thing was brutal, honestly. I could feel the weight of the ceremony bearing down on me as the others ahead of me were claimed. I started walking, my mind a whirl of thoughts. Would I be chosen tonight? Would the gods claim me? Or would I leave here unmarked, unchosen?
I reached the tree and started walking around it, the weight of the moment heavy on my shoulders. I couldn't even tell you what I was thinking—only that I had to keep walking, keep going, until I had done the third round. Around the massive trunk I went, my steps slow and steady. The crowd fell into a strange, hushed silence as they watched me walk. I felt their eyes on my back, their hopes and expectations pressing down on me.
The second round was uneventful. Nothing appeared. No god reached out to claim me. The wind rustled through the branches, and for a moment, it felt like the tree itself was holding its breath. I took another deep breath and began my third and final round.
As I passed around the tree for the third time, a sudden, intense sensation gripped me. A strange feeling, like something was pulling at the core of me. I felt it deep inside my chest—this incredible, powerful force that made me stop dead in my tracks.
There, above me, hovering like a beacon of light, were three symbols. They appeared all at once, so fast that the crowd gasped as they saw them.
First, a crackling bolt of lightning appeared, its jagged edges shimmering with an electric blue glow. It floated above my head, just like the others had, but it didn't vanish. It stayed there, crackling, as though waiting for me to acknowledge it.
Then came the second symbol—a small trident, carved out of water, shimmering with a deep blue hue. It floated to my right, swirling like a current of the sea, its shape pulsing with an otherworldly energy.
Finally, the third symbol appeared. A small skull, carved from blackened smoke, flickered into existence beside the lightning and trident, its eyes glowing a faint red. It hovered just above my left shoulder, its ominous presence making the air feel heavy.
The crowd was silent. I could feel their eyes on me—wide, confused, and incredulous. No one had ever seen anything like this before. No one had ever been claimed by all three gods—Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. But there I was, marked by all three. Three symbols, three gods, all appearing at once.
My heart pounded in my chest. I didn't know what was happening. This wasn't supposed to happen. You were supposed to be claimed by just one god, not three.
The Oracle of Delphi, sitting at the high table, leaned forward, her eyes locked on me with an intensity I could feel even from across the field. The tension in the air grew unbearable. I had no idea what was going on, but I could feel the weight of those symbols on me—each one more powerful than the last.
I heard someone whisper from the crowd: "Impossible. That's never happened before."
I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what this meant. But I heard the voice of Zeus, his voice like thunder inside my head, echoing in my thoughts.
"Kiddo, don't worry. I've chosen you."
The words sent a chill down my spine, but before I could react, Poseidon's voice followed, deep and calming.
"I've chosen you, Alec. You belong to the sea."
Then Hades' voice, cold and final, wrapped around me like a cloak.
"And you belong to the Underworld. This is your destiny."
Everything went silent. The symbols above my head began to glow brighter, their presence overwhelming.
Who was I to choose. Were they even worth of been chosen after everything? So much for them earning me as there vessels.