When the flames began to dissipate and the wind carried away the last embers, the silence remained. The entire camp seemed to bear an invisible weight, as if the ground itself had absorbed the loss of Silena.
Clarisse was still standing before the pyre, her eyes fixed on the dying fire. Percy felt he should say something to her, but he couldn't find the words. In the end, no one really knew what to say.
Chiron cleared his throat, drawing the campers' attention.
"All of you should rest," he said, his voice weary. "Silena honored us with her courage. Now, we must honor her by living and fighting for what she believed in."
The campers began to disperse, some more reluctantly than others. The children of Aphrodite were the last to leave, and even Drew seemed less arrogant than usual.
Then, Chiron turned to Percy, who was still standing in the same spot.
"Percy," he said firmly. "Infirmary. Now."
Percy frowned, shaking his head.
"I'm fine."
Annabeth crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.
"You're covered in cuts and bruises, and I bet you have a broken rib. If not worse."
He opened his mouth to protest, but at that exact moment, an irritating throb ran through his left shoulder, where a deeper cut pulsed painfully.
"Yeah, okay," he muttered, giving up the argument.
Chiron gave a satisfied nod.
"Good choice. Will, take Percy to the infirmary."
Will Solace, who was nearby, nodded quickly.
"Come on, Jackson. Before Annabeth drags you by your feet."
Percy snorted, but followed Will to the infirmary, with Annabeth right behind.
The infirmary was relatively empty, except for a satyr who seemed to have stumbled into something explosive and a Hermes camper sleeping with an ice pack on his head.
Percy sat on the bed while Will examined his injuries.
"Okay," murmured the son of Apollo, frowning. "You have at least three cuts that need magical healing, a dislocated shoulder, and, oh yeah, several cracked ribs. What did you do? Try to headbutt a Titan?"
Percy cast a weary glance at Annabeth.
"You asked for details, you can tell him."
Annabeth pulled up a stool and sat beside him, her grey eyes watching Percy intently.
"So tell me," she said, her voice controlled but full of expectation.
Percy sighed.
"I followed her when she ran away. When I got to Silena, Luke was already waiting. But he wasn't alone. A Titan was there."
Will stopped in the middle of applying a wet cloth to Percy's arm.
"You faced a Titan alone?"
"Not exactly alone," Percy replied. "Silena was there, I mean... She tried to attack Luke from behind..."
Annabeth tensed at this, but didn't interrupt.
"I fought the Titan while she tried to get Luke," Percy continued. "The problem is, he was stronger. Something about him seemed... different."
Annabeth frowned.
"Different how?"
Percy hesitated.
"Like he had something extra. A strength that wasn't his. And, when I defeated the Titan, Luke ran away. But Silena... she was already-"
His voice failed.
Will placed a hand on Percy's shoulder, his gaze softer than usual.
"Hey, that's enough," he said. "You don't need to say anything else now."
Percy nodded, grateful.
"I just need some water," he murmured. "In a little while, I'll be fine."
Will raised an eyebrow.
"Seriously? You could be on the verge of death and you just need water?"
Annabeth rolled her eyes.
"He has that water-healing ability. You know that."
Will sighed.
"Oh, great. While I spend hours learning about medicine and magical healing, Jackson just needs a glass of water and he's all better."
He grabbed a bucket of water next to the bed and dumped it on Percy without warning.
The cold water hit him full on, and Percy gasped, feeling his body absorb the liquid as if he hadn't had a drink in days.
"It was just a glass, man!"
Will shrugged.
"Now you have the equivalent of several glasses. You're welcome."
Percy felt the energy returning to his body, the wounds beginning to heal faster. His unfair healing ability, as Will liked to call it, wasn't at its maximum level, but it was enough for him to breathe without pain. Unfortunately the unique ability he received from Ikki was inactive at the moment.
Annabeth sighed.
"You never learn, do you?"
Percy gave a tired smile.
"Probably not."
Annabeth shook her head, but couldn't help a small smile. Then, she let out a long sigh and murmured, almost to herself:
"Silena was really brave."
Percy looked at her, noticing the way her gaze was lost somewhere distant, as if she were trying to fit the latest events into her analytical mind.
"She was," he agreed, his voice hoarse.
Annabeth blinked a few times, then looked at him. "Did she say anything else?"
Percy felt his stomach churn.
Silena's words came back to him like a distant whisper. About Ikki...
He didn't know how to say it out loud. Part of him wanted to keep that confession to himself, protect it as a secret that belonged only to Silena. But Annabeth expected an answer.
Percy swallowed hard and looked away to the flickering flames in the infirmary fireplace.
"She mentioned Ikki," he said hesitantly. "She said he was her best memory."
Annabeth frowned slightly.
"Ikki?"
"Yeah..." Percy ran a hand through his damp hair. "It's no secret they were... close."
Annabeth seemed to reflect on this, Silena had spoken to her to relay a message to Ikki a while ago regarding this....
"She wanted his forgiveness," she murmured.
Percy nodded, feeling a tight knot in his chest.
Annabeth didn't say anything for a moment. Then, she took a deep breath and stood up.
"He needs to know this," she said, her voice firm, but with a hint of hesitation.
Percy nodded slowly.
"I know. But we have a small problem. Didn't you forget that he disappeared?"
Annabeth stood still for a second, then her jaw tightened. Percy recognized that gesture; it was the one that came right before she lost her patience.
"Yes, I know that. But you know he's okay, right?"
Her voice was low, but there was something behind it, something that wasn't just casual concern.
"We're talking about Ikki," Percy replied, trying to keep his tone light. "The guy who could beat Ares in a fight just to prove a point. He can be a lot of things, but dead isn't one of them."
That was obvious. Ikki was practically invincible. But what bothered Percy wasn't his safety, it was that he wasn't around or hadn't given any news.
Annabeth tightened her arms across her chest even more, her fingers digging into the fabric of her own shirt.
"What's he thinking?" she murmured, irritated.
She began to pace back and forth, her steps quick and impatient.
"Ikki wouldn't do this," she continued, shaking her head. "He wouldn't leave everyone without news. He must have a reason."
"Annabeth-"
"I need to find him," she said, interrupting Percy. Her gaze was sharp, as if she were trying to solve an impossible math problem.
Percy let out a weak laugh. "Oh, great. Because tracking down an absurdly powerful demigod who could be anywhere on the planet is a piece of cake."
Annabeth stopped pacing and turned to him, her gaze determined.
"He needs to know about Silena."
Percy nodded slowly.
"I know."
The problem was how to find Ikki. And, perhaps, what he would say when he was found.
Annabeth didn't waste any more time. As soon as Percy confirmed that Ikki needed to know, she spun on her heel and strode out of the infirmary with quick, determined steps, as if she were already mentally formulating a plan.
Percy sighed and ran a hand over his face.
"She's going to go crazy if she doesn't find some clue soon," he muttered.
Will, who was still there, crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.
"It's not like Annabeth needs a reason to go crazy about something," he commented.
Percy snorted. "Yeah, you're right."
Now that his energy had returned and his pain was minimal, he decided he needed a moment to himself. The day had been too long.
He left the infirmary and headed for the Poseidon Cabin. When he opened the door, the sight that awaited him made his head ache.
Tyson was standing in the middle of the cabin, holding a mop like a battle spear. The problem wasn't Tyson. The problem was the sea ponies on the ceiling.
Yes. On the ceiling.
The small, translucent-looking horses were swimming through the air as if it were completely normal, neighing cheerfully.
"Tyson..." Percy began, massaging his temples. "What-how-why?"
Tyson smiled, proud.
"I cleaned everything! Now the cabin is much better! Happier!"
Percy blinked. "And the ponies?"
"They liked it here," Tyson explained. "They said the ceiling was a good place to swim."
One of the ponies neighed and tossed its shiny mane, splashing some water on Percy's face.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Okay," he murmured to himself. "Could be worse."
Tyson banged the mop excitedly. "Do you want me to put more in?"
"Definitely not."
Percy sighed and dropped his shoulders. "When did you get here, Tyson?"
The cyclops blinked excitedly. "Not even an hour ago! I came to help!"
Percy felt a pang of guilt. He hadn't even realized Tyson had arrived. But, to be fair, the day had been a complete disaster.
"Good to see you, bro," he said, punching Tyson lightly on the arm (which only made Tyson laugh as if it were a joke).
The two spent some time together, Tyson talking about how his work on Olympus was going and how the cyclopes were busy forging weapons for the gods. Percy tried not to think too much about the approaching war and just enjoy his brother's company. But, deep down, the worry was still there.
Later, when the sun was already low on the horizon, a camper knocked on the cabin door.
"Percy," called a Hermes boy. "Chiron wants you at the Big House. Counselor meeting."
Percy nodded and stood up. "Alright. I'm coming."
Tyson tilted his head. "Meeting?"
"Yeah..." Percy scratched the back of his neck. "I guess we can't stop just because we're grieving."
Tyson frowned, but didn't argue.
Percy left the cabin and went to the Big House. When he entered, he noticed that the other counselors were already gathered around the table. Annabeth was sitting with her arms crossed, looking even more serious than usual.
Chiron, with a weary expression, looked at everyone and began to speak.
"I know we lost someone important," he said. "And grieving is necessary. But we can't stop now. Not when we fear the Titans may be using Daedalus's Labyrinth to penetrate our defenses."
Silence fell over the room. Percy exchanged a look with Annabeth. He'd seen that expression before; she was already putting the pieces of the puzzle together.
He just hoped the answer wasn't something bad. (Which, considering their track record, meant it probably would be).
The silence in the Big House was broken by Chiron's tired voice. "I already suspected that the Labyrinth could pose a risk to us," he admitted, crossing his front legs in a tense gesture. "Therefore, I sent Clarisse to investigate. She was the first to find a possible entrance... and then Annabeth helped confirm it."
Clarisse let out an impatient sigh. "I already said, it was by accident. I wasn't looking for anything. After Silena's shroud burning, I went to the arena. I needed a punching bag or something to punch without anyone getting in my way."
She narrowed her eyes, as if daring anyone to comment. No one did.
"So I went to the arena bathhouse. When I punched the wall, it crumbled. Behind it, there was a tunnel."
"You punched a wall and discovered an entrance to Daedalus's Labyrinth?" Percy repeated, surprised.
"Come on, Jackson, you've seen me angry before," Clarisse growled.
Annabeth cleared her throat, interrupting before it turned into an argument.
"When Clarisse called me, I checked the passage. The path extends far beyond what it should, and the symbols on the stones—" she took a deep breath. "It's definitely part of Daedalus's Labyrinth. Which means Luke could use it to invade the camp."
Worry hung heavy in the air. The counselors exchanged apprehensive glances.
"We have to seal the entrance," said Katie Gardner, counselor of the Demeter cabin.
"That won't do any good," Annabeth countered. "The Labyrinth shifts. Even if we block this passage, it can open another. And if Luke already has a means of manipulating the path, he can find a new entrance anywhere in the camp."
The tension increased. Even the most experienced campers seemed uncertain.
"So what do we do?" asked Malcolm, the second-in-command of the Athena cabin.
Annabeth looked to Chiron, hoping he had an answer, but the centaur just stared at the table, pensive.
"There is a possibility," Annabeth said hesitantly. "If we can find a way to navigate the Labyrinth, we can find Daedalus. He may still be alive somewhere inside. If he is, we can convince him not to help Luke."
"Or we could end up falling right into a trap," Clarisse pointed out.
"Yes," Annabeth admitted. "But if we just sit around waiting, it's only a matter of time before Luke finds a way to us."
Percy frowned. He knew Annabeth well enough to know that she was already mapping out every possibility in her mind.
The Labyrinth was vast, ancient, and unpredictable. But it was also connected to countless entrances and exits all over America. And that meant...
Ikki.
She didn't say anything, but the thought hammered in his mind. If there was a chance that the Labyrinth would help her find him faster, she would seize it without hesitation.
"What do you suggest, Annabeth?" Chiron asked.
She took a deep breath. "We need a plan. And fast."
Chiron stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"Before we make any decisions," he said, "we need to consult the Oracle. If we are truly going to enter the Labyrinth, we need a prophecy to guide us."
The silence in the room grew even heavier.
Clarisse crossed her arms. "Great. So we can end this meeting. I'm going to the Big House right now."
Annabeth frowned. "Wait. What do you mean by 'I'?"
"This is my quest," Clarisse said defiantly. "I was the one who found the entrance. I've been investigating the Labyrinth before everyone else. I should lead the expedition."
Annabeth leaned forward, her expression hardening. "Since when do you have experience with ancient Greek architecture and labyrinthine navigation?"
"Since when do you need a diploma to go around punching things?" Clarisse retorted.
"Since you want to go around punching things in a constantly changing space, full of traps, monsters, and spiteful gods!" Annabeth retorted, her voice rising a notch. "This isn't just a brute force mission, Clarisse. The Labyrinth requires strategy, quick thinking—"
"And I don't have that?" Clarisse snarled, clenching her fists.
"Not when your first reaction is to punch a wall," Annabeth retorted without hesitation.
Clarisse leaned forward, and for a second, Percy was sure the two were going to start exchanging blows right there, right in front of Chiron.
The centaur sighed, rubbing his temples. "Enough, girls."
The two stepped back, still glaring at each other.
"First, we need to know what the Oracle will say. Then, we will decide who should go," Chiron continued. "But one thing is certain: this quest will not be undertaken by just one person. If we truly have to enter the Labyrinth, we will need a prepared group."
Clarisse gritted her teeth, but nodded. Annabeth remained silent, her eyes still gleaming with that determined flame.
Percy sighed. He already knew that look. This was going to be complicated.