The night began to draw to a close. The soft music that had filled the air slowly faded, the laughter and lively conversations became more sporadic, as the first light of dawn began to paint the sky. The gods, who had been dancing and reveling, were now starting to disperse, some already retreating to their domains or other engagements.
The party had come to an end.
Ikki, Thalia, Grover, and Zoë were among the last to leave.
Instead of traveling by mortal means back to Camp Half-Blood, they chose to teleport. Ikki took them directly to Long Island, near the camp. After an event like the Olympian party, the journey back felt quieter, though a sense of change hung in the air.
The four appeared at camp, their figures deconstructing and reconstructing from the wind, as if being blown from one place to another.
The surroundings solidified as they materialized near Thalia's pine tree, their rumpled clothes and messy hair a clear indication of an insane party.
Ikki was the only one who looked normal, a slight smile on his face as he observed the state of Zoë, Thalia, and Grover, who resembled teenagers who had snuck out to a party and spent the night drinking and having fun.
While Thalia and Zoë seemed unfazed by the sudden appearance in a different location, Grover took a moment to adjust his eyes to the new view, still absorbing the transition from Olympus to camp, the scene around him completely different. He rubbed his eyes, trying to get used to the morning chill and the silence of the place.
"Wow… that was faster than I thought, and faster than that time on the quest to the Underworld," Grover said, with a slight tone of surprise, looking around.
Ikki just shrugged, accustomed to these rapid changes.
"I've improved since then. Now I can teleport basically instantaneously to anywhere."
He used to rely on magic, a mere spell he had created, but now it was something instinctive and innate due to being connected to the [Law of the Wind] of the entire world.
After casually discussing this and how useful it would have been if he could have done something like that on the quest – to which he replied he was unable – they descended the hill toward the Big House.
It was dawn, and the silence that enveloped the camp in winter seemed even deeper.
The camp was relatively empty, as many demigods were in the mortal world during this time, but the fresh, calm air seemed perfect for the moment of pause they needed before facing what was to come.
The arrival of the four didn't go unnoticed. Before they knew it, they were surrounded by the few campers and Hunters who wanted to know about the Artemis rescue mission. Although they had heard some accounts from Phoebe and Atalanta, many details remained unknown.
Percy, returning from the pegasus stables, noticed the commotion and ran over to the group. Ikki, seeing him, smiled, and the two exchanged a friendly greeting. Soon, Grover and Thalia joined the conversation, while Zoë rejoined her Hunter sisters and informed them of Artemis' arrival later that day, who would then lead them on their journey.
Nico and Bianca also approached at some point. Nico, with his usual energy, bombarded Ikki with questions about the mission: how many enemies had he defeated? What was it like rescuing a goddess? Ikki responded casually, without going into too much detail. Bianca, in turn, offered him a soft smile and a welcome greeting.
Curious about the siblings' adaptation to the camp, Ikki inquired how it was going and discovered that both had been claimed by Hades during his absence on the mission, which surprised him slightly.
After a few questions, he learned this had occurred the day before, coincidentally, around the same time he had mentioned Nico and Bianca in the Olympian council. Since then, many campers had avoided them, except for Percy, Annabeth, and a few others who didn't care about their parentage.
Annabeth, emerging from the Big House, noticed the gathering and went to greet Thalia, surprised to learn she had joined the Hunters. After a brief conversation about the mission, Annabeth approached Ikki, who was surrounded by campers. Although she tried to hide it, there was a bitterness in her gaze; she was still struggling to accept Ikki's feelings for Artemis. Even so, she approached and hugged him, trying to put aside her conflicting emotions.
Silena also observed Ikki, guilt evident in her eyes. As she drew closer, he enveloped her in a comforting hug, almost causing her to crumble under the weight of her feelings.
Chiron appeared shortly after, his calm expression hiding his evident curiosity. Without delay, he led Ikki, Thalia, Grover, and Zoë inside the Big House, wanting to hear the details of the mission directly from them.
As the four recounted the events, Chiron listened attentively, but couldn't hide his surprise upon hearing Ikki's feats. Defeating the Nemean Lion was already an extraordinary feat in itself, but destroying the Talos replica, bearing the weight of the sky, and defeating Atlas were deeds that surpassed even the highest expectations one could have of a demigod. However, what shocked him most was learning that Ikki had refused the immortality offered by the gods.
After the meeting, news spread rapidly through the camp. The impact was immediate. The campers' admiration for Ikki grew even more, and their confidence in the impending battle against Kronos was renewed. If anyone in the camp still doubted they could face the Titan, they now had proof that there was hope.
With the burning of the shroud, an event that reminded Ikki of his first year at Camp Half-Blood, the day was filled with a celebration that lasted for hours. There was music, laughter, and even some friendly competitions between the campers, all to ease the tension that hung over the future. War was on the horizon, but for a moment, everyone could forget the approaching shadows.
During the party, Ikki found a moment to talk with Percy. To his surprise, he learned that his friend had almost run away from camp to help him on the mission, but ultimately decided to stay to train and support Annabeth, also choosing not to return home, even though he didn't have much to do at Camp Half-Blood. This pleased him; Percy was maturing, learning to balance his fatal flaw of loyalty with the recognition that sometimes he needed to trust others.
Later, Nico approached him, full of energy, asking to be trained. Bianca also expressed interest, and Ikki, remembering his promise to protect them for his uncle, agreed. As he pondered why they wanted to be stronger, Nico said it was to be as cool as him, and Bianca said it was to be able to protect herself and her little brother, who was touched by this – later, when they were alone, Nico also said it was actually to protect Bianca, he was tired of her always standing in front of him to defend him while he couldn't do anything, which amused Ikki slightly.
Annabeth also sought him out, and the conversation between them was more difficult. Ikki finally told her about Luke being responsible for his own mother's death and revealed everything that had happened in the last year. The shock was visible on Annabeth's face; she refused to accept it at first, but as the truth settled in, her expression softened. Silently, she hugged him, putting aside, even for a moment, the conflicting feelings she still carried.
Silena, however, was more complicated. Ikki noticed that she avoided meeting him directly, averting her gaze whenever he tried to approach. When he finally managed to talk to her, the girl was evasive, restless. Something was tormenting her, but she didn't seem ready to admit it.
The party fell into a brief silence when Artemis appeared; her presence marked the moment of the Hunters' farewell. By then, all the campers knew that Thalia had decided to join the goddess as her new lieutenant. The news was met with surprise, and for some, regret, but most respected her choice.
As the Hunters organized themselves to leave, the campers gathered to say goodbye, led by Chiron, Ikki, Annabeth, Grover, and Percy. There were hugs and words exchanged with Thalia, but the attention of many turned to an unexpected moment—Zoë Nightshade, the ever-reserved Hunter, addressed Ikki directly. To everyone's surprise, the two exchanged a gesture of mutual respect, each clasping the other's forearm like true comrades in arms and bidding farewell. Not only did she do this, but Phoebe and Atalanta also thanked him for saving their lady, having not had such an opportunity before.
Artemis, observing the scene, didn't seem to mind, merely keeping her calm gaze upon them.
During that moment, Ikki and Artemis also exchanged subtle glances. Neither of them spoke, but a silent understanding hovered between them—it wasn't the time for any deeper conversation about their relationship. Before leaving, the goddess approached and discreetly handed Ikki a small folded note. The gesture was quick enough to go unnoticed by the others, but upon opening it later, he would find a simple message: "Meet me later at my Cabin, alone."
After the Hunters' departure, the atmosphere in the camp remained light and festive. The celebration continued as campers talked and laughed. The sound of music and laughter echoed across the field, euphoria still gripping everyone, but as day turned into night, the party neared its end.
That's when Mr. D appeared. Although his presence was usually associated with an air of weariness and disinterest, this time he seemed slightly more focused, his posture not as relaxed as usual. Without preamble, he climbed onto the makeshift stage and made a short speech, but surprisingly, without the tone of boredom or sarcasm to which everyone was accustomed.
He congratulated Ikki and expressed a rare confidence for someone who normally seemed so detached from any kind of involvement. Ikki's name, for the first time, was pronounced correctly—without stumbling or a disinterested roll of the eyes—and this had a subtle but noticeable impact on the camp. It was as if the validation of someone like Mr. D, however limited, was a sign that Ikki truly was a hero…
Ikki wasn't too surprised by Dionysus's change in their relationship; during the party on Olympus, the two had ended up getting along.
After dinner, the campers began to disperse, each returning to their cabin.
…
Artemis's Cabin stood imposingly under the night sky, its silver structure reflecting the moon's rays with an ethereal glow. During the day, its simple appearance resembled an ordinary cabin, but at night, its surfaces shimmered, transforming it into an almost mystical sanctuary. The walls were richly decorated with paintings and sculptures of wild animals, especially deer, whose image symbolized the goddess of the hunt herself.
Inside the cabin, the atmosphere was serene and intimate. The soft light of lanterns and candles cast delicate shadows, enhancing the artistic details of the decorations.
Amidst this space of peace, Ikki stood, waiting for Artemis' appearance with his arms crossed. She hadn't specified a time, so he came to her cabin about an hour or two after dinner, having returned to his own cabin first and taken a good shower. He put on better clothes as well, gray sweatpants and a black shirt, not needing a jacket to ward off the cold, so that was it.
Suddenly, without any warning, the Goddess of the Moon appeared behind him. Her appearance was so sudden that Ikki's sharp instincts caused him to spin around abruptly to face her. In the momentum of the movement, he prepared to react; the gesture was almost automatic, a kick, a primitive response to the unexpected presence. However, before he could deliver any blow, he realized it was Artemis and not an enemy. The realization made him stop mid-action, but due to the proximity of where the goddess chose to appear, he had to move his already raised leg too far for a strike, and his balance vanished, causing him to fall backward, pulling Artemis down with him.
There, on the cabin floor, amongst the dancing shadows and the silver light streaming through the windows, Ikki and Artemis found themselves in a somewhat explicit position.
For a few moments, time seemed to slow down; both remained motionless, the shared surprise etched on their faces.
Time seemed to stop.
For a few moments, they simply stared at each other, close enough to feel each other's warmth. Artemis didn't seem particularly bothered by the position they were in, but her eyes shone with something beyond surprise—a mixture of amusement and something deeper, which she was trying to hide.
"I tried to catch you off guard, but I think it wasn't a good idea..." she murmured, a small smile playing on her lips.
Ikki smiled and, with a touch of humor, said, "If you ask me, it was the perfect fall."
Artemis raised an eyebrow, suspicious. She knew him well enough to know his words meant something. She asked,
"What do you mean by 'perfect fall,' Ikki Phoenix?"
As she asked, she narrowed her eyes slightly, a dangerous glint passing through them. Her hands remained where they were, but the proximity between their faces became even more evident.
Ikki, on the other hand, maintained his carefree expression, but his heart was beating fast.
"Oh, you know... It's not every day a beautiful goddess falls on top of me."
Artemis snorted, but didn't move.
"You talk as if this happens all the time."
"Despite being a saint, I can't help being blessed with an amazing personality and such good looks. I'm irresistible, after all..."
The goddess rolled her eyes, but before Ikki could say anything more, she surprised him.
Suddenly, Artemis pressed her lips against his.
The kiss was fierce, intense, full of restrained emotion. Ikki responded without hesitation, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her even closer.
In a swift movement, Ikki flipped them over, reversing their positions and pinning her gently against the floor. Her silver eyes widened, surprised by the role reversal, but she didn't complain. On the contrary, a delicate blush crept onto her face as she gasped slightly, catching her breath.
"Ikki..." she murmured, her tone laden with conflicting emotions.
He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, keeping his gaze fixed on hers.
"You don't need to say anything."
She stared at him for a few more seconds before letting out a small sigh and looking away, only to whisper, "You really drive me crazy."
A smile formed on Ikki's lips.
"I know."
And, without further hesitation, she pulled him back for another kiss.