tartarus and back ⇩

4. It's official. He's the one.

As the week passed, Percy started to fit in more. We each tried to help him out with different things. Annabeth taught him Ancient Greek, where he realized we were right about his dyslexia. I taught him some healing stuff, as I couldn't really find anything else to teach him. I helped Chiron teach him archery, which he was not good at, and I nearly got impaled with one of his stray arrows. Everyone was watching him, trying to figure out who his dad was.

On Thursday, cabin eleven had a sword fighting lesson with Luke as the host. I had always preferred sword fighting over anything else, but I was decent at archery and using a spear. If anyone gave me a dagger though, we were all dying.

We started off by slashing at the straw filled dummies, then we moved onto partner dueling. Poor Percy got chosen by Luke, even though he couldn't even find a balanced sword. I partnered up with Chris Rodriguez, another unclaimed demigod who had been there for about six months.

While Chris was a nice guy, sword fighting wasn't his specialty. I easily disarmed him multiple times, barely breaking a sweat before Luke called break.

I watched Percy as he dumped water on his head, something I usually do to rejuvenate, and immediately stand up straighter. Some of the sweat seemingly dissipated off his body, and he didn't hold the sword as awkwardly. I frowned, but didn't say anything.

"Okay, everybody circle up!" Luke ordered. "If Percy doesn't mind, I want to give you a little demo."

We all gathered around the two, each of us suppressing smiles. The same thing happened to each of us, and each and every one of us failed miserably.

"Ok, we're going to work on a disarming technique. You're going to twist the enemy's blade with the flat of your sword," Luke explained, demonstrating in the air. "so they have no choice but to drop their weapon. "This is difficult," he stressed. "I've had it used against me. No laughing at Percy, now. Most swordsmen have to work years to master this technique."

He demonstrated the move on Percy in slow motion. Sure enough, the sword clattered out of his hand.

"Now in real time," he said, after he'd retrieved my weapon. "We keep sparring until one of us pulls it off. Ready, Percy?"

Percy nodded, and Luke came after him. It started off simple, with Luke clearly going easy on Percy. Percy somehow kept Luke from getting a shot at the hilt of his sword, and tried a jab of his own. The Hermes cabin watched as Luke's eyes narrowed and he started pressing with more force. Percy's arm was starting to droop from the unbalanced sword. In a swift movement, Percy hit the base of Luke's sword and twisted into a downward thrust.

Clang.

The snickers from the spectators stopped immediately.

Percy's sword was an inch away from Luke's undefended chest, his sword on the ground a couple feet away.

"Um, sorry." Percy said, lowering his sword.

For a moment, Luke was too stunned to speak. "Sorry?" His scarred face broke into a grin. "By the gods, Percy, why are you sorry? Show me that again!"

I could tell he didn't want to, but Luke insisted.

This time, there was no contest. The moment their swords connected, Luke hit Percy's hilt and sent his weapon skidding across the floor.

Connor Stoll spoke from behind me. "Beginner's luck?"

"Maybe," Luke said."But I wonder what Percy could do with a balanced sword..."

Everyone left the arena, but I pulled Luke's arm back as he tried to leave.

"Hey Luke, uh sorry. Do you think we could go at it for a little? I want to go up against a harder opponent." I mumbled.