Alaska was vast, unforgiving, and silent.
The wind howled between the snow-capped mountains, and the sky, tinged a pale blue, seemed infinite. Below, among the dark forests and frozen valleys, a solitary cave hid in the face of a cliff.
Inside, the darkness was broken only by the faint glow of crystals in the rocky walls; the only sound was Ikki's controlled breathing.
He sat in the center of the cave, still as a statue, legs crossed, hands resting on his knees. His chest rose and fell in a precise rhythm, and the aura around him vibrated softly, as if the very air was attuned to his presence.
For a long time, nothing happened. Then, without warning, his eyes opened.
His goal was so close he could almost touch it.
Ikki released a long sigh, his breath condensing in the cave's cold air.
Years.
Inside that icy cavern, he'd spent years refining his power, understanding and bending the laws of the universe until they fit in his hands like puzzle pieces. Outside, in the real world, only five months had passed. But for him? Time had become an irrelevant concept.
He moved his fingers, feeling the energy pulse beneath his skin like contained thunder.
But his focus wasn't on that.
Ikki frowned, his fingers twitching slightly on his knees. Not that he wasn't satisfied – achieving ninety percent of his Divinity Formation was incredible. But the unease creeping through his mind was an omen he couldn't ignore.
Something had happened. Something big.
If it were anyone else, they might think it was just paranoia. But Ikki had learned long ago that his intuition never failed. If he felt something was wrong, then it was. Unfortunately, he had limited his senses to only the cave previously to focus entirely on understanding the aspects of the universe.
Setting that aside for now, he had a more pressing matter he remembered…
Ikki let out a heavy sigh and, with a lazy gesture, reached out to the side. The accumulated time-sand trickled through his fingers as he picked up his cell phone. The device looked small in his hands, a mundane and fragile tool compared to the powers he wielded within the cave.
As soon as the screen lit up, a small detail caught his attention.
999+ notifications.
Ikki blinked slowly.
He wasn't exactly the type of person who cared about social media, but this… this was a problem.
With a swipe of his finger, the avalanche of messages flooded the screen. Sadie's name flashed insistently at the top, followed closely by Zia, Carter, and even Walt. And the calls? He'd lost count of how many there had been.
"...Okay, maybe I overdid it with the time I spent in here," he murmured to himself, feeling a slight discomfort settle in his consciousness.
He opened Sadie's first message.
Sadie Kane:
"I swear to the gods if you don't answer I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN, IKKI! And don't give me any lame excuses about relative time or some magical bullshit! Where have you been?!!!"
The second message came shortly after, sent hours later.
"Okay… maybe I overreacted. But seriously, answer me! I'm worried."
And then another, more recent one.
"Are you okay? Please tell me you're okay."
Ikki ran a hand over his face. Sadie was… intense. But deep down, he knew she was genuinely worried.
He scrolled to the conversation with Zia.
Zia Rashid:
"Ikki, where are you? You disappeared without telling anyone."
"If this is part of your training, it's fine… but you could have at least left a note. I can't stop thinking the worst."
"Please, when you read this, answer me. Even if it's just one word."
He felt a tightness in his chest. Unlike Sadie, who expressed her concern explosively, Zia was restrained, but her words carried a silent weight Ikki couldn't ignore.
The conversation with Carter came next.
Carter Kane:
"Dude, I'm not one to interfere, but do you have any idea of the chaos you caused by disappearing like this?"
"Not that I want to sound like my dad or anything, but you could have at least left a note?"
"Zia and Sadie are restless. And honestly, I am too. Are you alright?"
Even Walt had sent something, which was unexpected.
Walt Stone:
"I don't know if this will help, but… I hope you're okay. Everyone here is worried. When you get back, please let us know."
Ikki let out another sigh.
He knew his disappearance would cause some concern, but he hadn't expected this. Not even the gods could track him in there, so it made sense that everyone was freaking out.
Feeling the weight of guilt settle on his shoulders, he typed a single message, sending it to everyone at once.
Ikki Phoenix:
"I'm fine. I'll explain everything later."
Ikki ran his fingers over the phone, hesitating for a moment before starting to type another message.
Ikki Phoenix:
"I'm going to the Brooklyn House. As promised, I'll take you to Camp Half-Blood. Get ready."
He sent the message and waited.
It wasn't even five seconds before Sadie replied.
Sadie Kane:
"FINALLY! Do you have any idea what hell it was trying to track you down? Oh, and just for the record: if you disappear like that again, I swear I'll find a way to curse you."
Shortly after, another notification appeared.
Zia Rashid:
"Thank the gods. We'll be waiting for you."
Carter was more practical.
Carter Kane:
"Understood. We'll be ready."
And finally, Walt:
Walt Stone:
"It'll be interesting to see how the demigods react to us."
Ikki gave a slight smile, seeing a series of messages from each of them beyond these; it would really be a bit intense when he met them in person…
He put his phone away and stood up, stretching his arms.
The time of isolation was over.
It was time to return to the world.
With a single step, he vanished into the cave's icy air.
…
..
.
The Brooklyn House was in an uproar.
Sadie Kane paced back and forth at the entrance, tapping her foot impatiently. Her expression was a mix of irritation and worry, and with each passing second without a sign of Ikki, her frustration grew.
"If that lunatic doesn't show up soon, I swear I'll…" she muttered, crossing her arms.
Zia stood beside her, quieter, but her eyes showed anxiety. Carter and Walt were a little behind, watching silently. None of them would say it aloud, but they all shared the same anticipation.
Then, as if the universe had heard their complaints, Ikki appeared.
Out of nowhere.
No sound. No warning.
One moment the entrance to the Brooklyn House was empty, the next, Ikki was there, his posture relaxed, as if he hadn't just vanished for five whole months. His gaze met Sadie's for a brief moment before she reacted.
"YOU!" Sadie exclaimed, and before anyone could intervene, she ran towards him and threw herself into his arms.
Ikki barely had time to process before he felt the impact. Sadie wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him as if he would disappear again.
"Five. Months." she murmured against his shoulder. "Five months without a single word! Do you have any idea what it was like to have no news from you? I should turn you into a mouse and stick you in a cage!"
Ikki sighed, but a slight smile played on his lips.
"I knew you'd react like this."
"OF COURSE I'D REACT LIKE THIS!" Sadie pulled away enough to glare at him, but didn't let go of his neck. Her blue eyes shone, a mix of relief and fury.
Before she could continue, Zia approached. Unlike Sadie, she didn't yell or throw herself at him, but something intense reflected in her expression.
"You really disappeared without a trace." Her voice was calm, but it carried weight. "I tried to find you in every way… but you were completely out of our reach."
Ikki nodded, looking at her.
"I know. I'm sorry."
For a moment, Zia just watched him, as if deciding something. Then, in a swift movement, she wrapped him in a tight hug, more restrained than Sadie's, but still laden with emotion.
Carter, who until then had only been watching, crossed his arms and sighed.
"At least you're alive."
Walt chuckled softly.
"Not that we had any doubts. But I won't lie, it was a relief to see your message."
Ikki looked around, noticing other members of the Brooklyn House watching from afar. They seemed cautious, but no one dared to interrupt.
Sadie finally let out an exaggerated sigh and stepped back a little, but still held Ikki's arm, as if afraid he would evaporate again.
"You owe us a lot of explanations, Pharaoh."
Zia nodded.
Ikki smiled.
"I know. But first, let's fulfill my promise. It's time for you to meet Camp Half-Blood."
Having finished saying this, he became slightly distracted. He realized that, for the first time in a long time, he didn't feel the crushing weight of guilt.
Before, every time he met his friends, an invisible grip clutched his chest, reminding him of the mistake he had made. It didn't matter how many times he rationalized it, it didn't matter that he had done it to protect them; the fact remained: he had created a false year of memories, forged experiences and bonds to cover up the truth about what really happened.
He had devoured all the Egyptian gods.
And, without knowing this, Sadie and Zia fell even more in love with him, influenced by a bond they weren't even aware was artificial. This thought gnawed at him, ever-present, like a shadow impossible to dispel.
But now… no.
It was strange. He could remember the guilt, the silent pain he had carried for so long, but he didn't feel it the same way. It was as if he were looking at a distant reflection of himself, a version that no longer completely existed.
Maybe it was because he was close to divinity?
He felt he was changing.
Slowly, almost imperceptibly, but he definitely was. The time he spent in the cave… there was something different about him now. Before, emotions like guilt and regret tore him apart. Now, they were just echoes. He still cared, he still recognized the impact of his actions, but the pain… was fading.
This realization bothered him.
Not because he wanted to feel guilty forever, but because it meant something bigger.
It meant he was ceasing to be human.
"Ikki?" Zia's voice brought him back to reality.
He blinked and realized he had been silent for too long, lost in his own thoughts. His eyes met hers. There was concern there, as always.
Sadie was still holding his arm, probably afraid he would disappear again. Carter was studying him with that analytical gaze, and Walt – well, Walt was hard to read, but Ikki knew he was also attentive.
He let out a sigh and forced a relaxed smile.
"Right, right. Let's get this over with before you change your minds."
Sadie narrowed her eyes.
"You're not running away from the conversation, are you?"
He laughed.
"Me? Pharaohs don't run, Kane."
"Ha. Ha. Very funny…"
Even so, she didn't press further. Maybe because she was too relieved to see him back, or maybe because, deep down, she knew he would only speak when he was ready.
Ikki turned to Carter.
"Everyone ready?"
The four exchanged glances.
Carter sighed and nodded affirmatively. "Yes, we're ready."
"Ready?" Sadie repeated, widening her eyes. "No way! We still have to pack!"
Ikki blinked. "Pack?"
"Yes, pack, Pharaoh!" Sadie crossed her arms. "We're not just going to step through a portal and show up there without at least bringing the basics. We need clothes, toiletries, food-"
"Food for what, if there's plenty at the camp?" Ikki raised an eyebrow.
"..."
"Besides," Carter intervened, "we don't know how long we'll be there. If we have to deal with Greek demigods and possible monsters along the way, it's better to be prepared."
Ikki sighed, looking at each of them. "Okay, how long do you need?"
Sadie exchanged a look with Zia, who considered before answering. "One hour."
Ikki narrowed his eyes. "Do you really need an hour?"
"Yes!" Sadie answered immediately.
"Can you do it in thirty minutes?" he asked, hopeful.
Sadie and Zia stared back at him, completely impassive.
Ikki raised his hands in defeat. "Fine, one hour."
Sadie smiled victoriously. "That's what I thought."
With that, the four quickly dispersed to gather their things, leaving Ikki alone at the entrance of the Brooklyn House.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair and looking around. The House was relatively quiet, but he could feel the curious gazes of some members who had stayed behind. During his time away, many of the former magicians had returned to their normal lives, but there was still a group dedicated to the cause of the reformed House.
A tall, muscular figure approached, crossing his arms. "So you finally showed up."
Ikki looked up and recognized Julian, one of the oldest magicians of the House. He wasn't exactly hostile, but he had never been his biggest fan, according to what he knew in the false year of memories he had created.
"Julian," Ikki greeted with a slight nod. "It's been a while."
"Five months," Julian corrected. "But who's counting?"
Ikki smiled slightly. "Seems like you are."
Julian snorted, but before he could respond, another voice emerged beside them.
"Ikki!" A young woman with short hair and amber eyes approached, her face lit up with a smile. "You're back!"
Ikki remembered her—Annie, one of the newest recruits. She seemed genuinely excited to see him.
"Yeah, I'm back," Ikki replied, a little surprised by the warm reception.
"You missed a few things while you were gone," Julian commented. "We had a few minor scuffles with restless spirits and some minor incidents with spells getting out of control."
"Nothing we couldn't handle," Annie added quickly. "But Carter and Sadie were pretty overloaded."
Ikki nodded, feeling a slight weight on his shoulders. He hadn't intended to leave them alone for so long, but losing track of time was an unavoidable side effect of his training.
"I appreciate you taking care of the House," he said sincerely.
Julian mumbled something inaudible, but Annie smiled brightly. "It was a team effort. But it's good to have you back."
"Yes, yes," Julian sighed. "But if you disappear for another five months without warning, I'll make a point of sticking a tracking spell on you."
Ikki chuckled softly. "I bet Sadie will fight you for that privilege."
"Oh, without a doubt," Annie agreed, laughing.
They continued talking for a few more minutes before the two left, leaving the son of Zeus alone.
A short while later, Ikki felt a familiar presence approaching.
"Ready!" Sadie announced, descending the stairs with a small magic chest floating beside her. Zia, Carter, and Walt soon emerged behind her, carrying their own enchanted luggage.
"You took less time than I thought," Ikki commented.
"That's because we cut out half the things Sadie wanted to bring," Zia replied.
Sadie gasped dramatically. "You don't understand the importance of being prepared!"
Ikki smiled and snapped his fingers, opening a glowing portal in front of them.
"Well, ready or not," he said, "it's time to go."
The four exchanged glances, then Carter took a deep breath and took the first step.
Ikki watched as his friends disappeared through the portal, then cast one last look at the Brooklyn House before following them.
The next chapter of the journey was just beginning.