~The Beginning of Life~

~ Chapter 16 ; A Challenge ~

"Whoops. Looks like I can't use arrows." He shrugs indifferently and drops the bow he was holding. He smiles innocently at me and casually heads over to the daggers. I glare at him before turning back to the target which had Nico's arrow stuck in it.

I walk over and pull it out. Attached to it was a piece of paper, and, of course, a few strands of my hair. I look back at Nico. He was examining a dagger, turned away from me. Ash and Anna hadn't noticed anything, as they were checking out the swords.

I look down at the note. On it were eight messy words; "Go back to where you came from, alien." I frown. So apparently Nico believed that 'half-truth', or 'half-lie'. But he only believed it applied to me. And now he wanted me to leave. Yep, he definitely hates me. Great, I have a son of Hades as an enemy. Or at least as someone who wants to get rid of me. What if he tries to kill me... again...? He can't hate me that much, can he!? Stupid buttons.

Trying to forget about it, I head over to the bows and draw the same arrow on some old bow. I aim at a far off target and shoot. The arrow hits the center with a thud.

Nico looks over and rolls his eyes. "Show off," he mutters, extremely quietly.

"In what way?" I shoot back, definitely louder than him.

He raises his eyebrows, slightly surprised that I could hear him. "Ask Apollo." He turns back to rummaging through the daggers.

I shake my head and draw another arrow. I perfectly shoot it at another target. Huh. Beginner's luck?

I then remember why I was here, putting up with Nico's enlightening presence in the first place. I drop the bow and run over to Ash and Anna. Ash was unenthusiastically stabbing a dummy.

I decide to try and make conversation. I suck at talking about sane stuff, but Ash doesn't look like some expert with people either. "What's Tyche like?"

She looks up at me, her expression slightly cold. "She's alright," she says simply.

"Ah. What's it like having a lot of good luck?"

"Well, just know that you can have too much of it."

"Right..." I think for a while. What else do ordinary half homo-sapiens talk about? Not that I'm not one. But then again, who knows. "What powers do you have?"

"Uhh, so far, extraordinary good luck and I can pass it on to others too." She suddenly pokes my arm. "There."

I blink, feeling no change. "Thanks," I say awkwardly. "Have you been acquainted with the other campers yet?"

"Nope."

She doesn't talk much... Well...
"Oh, here's someone now-" I glance over at the entrance and Nico does too. It was that other girl with light purple eyes. And brown hair- Asuka, from Team Leo Hates Me A.K.A. The Caleo group. She walks over to us, a hand on her Stygian iron sword. I could tell what it's made of, partially because Nico was looking curiously at it.

"You training already?" She asks.

Ash goes back to her stabbing so I answer. "Not really. Just 'exploring'."

"Hm. That's no fun. Let's duel," she says suddenly.

I stay silent for a second. "What, with me?" I ask incredulously.

"I'm looking at you so I'm talking to you, so yes, you," she says slowly.

Is it just me or did Nico just snigger a bit right then? "Err I don't even have any weapons..."

"Then go get some," Asuka rolls her eyes. From what I know about people, we probably won't end up as lifelong mates. I mean- as friends... Yeah...

I nod than head out the arena, avoiding Nico. Why is he still here, anyways?