Nikomedes and the Game of Olympus

Chapter 9, Act I - The Time Skip.

Two years later...

You know, when Chiron had said I was going to take a field trip, I didn't think it would mean going through sixth grade again. This school year so far was largely hell, especially when Alecto got involved.

I was crammed on a bus with twenty-eight other kids on a field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Of course, I was interested, but I was assigned as an insurance of sorts, to keep an eye on Grover Underwood, who was keeping an eye on Percy Jackson. Grover wasn't much of a fighter, but he was alright with people like Percy.

I was getting real sick of seeing the school bully, Nancy Bobofit, chucking pieces of the most disgusting sandwich in history at the duo. "Hey, Bobofit, if you don't cool it down, we're gonna have a problem." I called out to her. She knew Percy was on probation, so he couldn't do anything to her. Grover wouldn't stand up for himself if it saved a life.

I, however, was not on probation, and I personally think getting bullied doesn't build character very well. Fortunately, I'd built a decent bit of muscle in the last two years. I wasn't bulky, but I had a figure more like Luke's. I was lean, and I think my strength was apparent enough when I dominated in the school's wrestling team, which I was surprised they had, honestly.

What kind of middle school had a wrestling team? Honestly. I didn't really want to be part of it, but Chiron insisted, and word got around quickly. So, suffice to say, Nancy backed down quickly. I figure Nancy had a reason for doing stuff like that, but personally, I didn't really care too much. She wasn't my assignment. Grover and Percy were, however.

Not long after, we arrived at the museum. I started listening through Chiron's tour attentively, but got bored really quickly when I realized he was only going through stuff I knew. I knew I couldn't separate from the group, otherwise I'd go exploring.

I was broken out of my thoughts when I heard Chiron address Percy. "Mr. Jackson, did you have a comment?" Percy's face went a deep red with embarrassment. "No, sir." He said blankly, trying to mask his anger at Nancy, because apparently she'd said something stupid. Big surprise.

"Perhaps you'll tell us what this picture represents?" Chiron said, pointing at a depiction of Kronos eating his kids. I started to tune everything out again, until Nancy mumbled to a friend, and Chiron spoke up again. "And why, Mr. Jackson, to paraphrase Miss Bobofit's excellent question, does this matter in real life?"

"I don't know, sir." Percy said, shrugging. "Mr. Lupin, perhaps you might have an answer?" Chiron asked me. "Well, Mr. Brunner, I think these myths matter in the modern day because they hold valuable morals and lessons, although they may not always be clear. As an example, I always like to think that the myth of Kronos eating his kids teaches us that we shouldn't turn our back on family." I started, making sure to address Chiron by his pseudonym.

"Our family might be different from us, but they give us different perspectives, and I think family can teach us more than you'd expect. Family's important." I finished, and Chiron looked impressed. "That isn't what I would gather from such a thing, but I do find myself agreeing. Very good, Mr. Lupin." He said appreciatively.

"Now, it's time for lunch. Mrs. Dodds, would you please lead us back outside?" He added.

I stayed back with Percy, Grover, and Chiron. I never explicitly became friends with Percy, but I was friends with Grover, and I think that marked me as good in Percy's books.

"Mr. Jackson." Chiron called out. Percy turned to face him. "Sir?" Percy told Grover to keep going, and I slid behind a pillar, hoping to escape his notice. "I hope you learned from my question, and Mr. Lupin's response." Chiron told him.