Sitting at the base of a large pine tree, the grey-eyed boy stared at his reflection in his sword. Like much of his life, he was alone with himself- his thoughts.

'Gods exist, no biggie. Demi-gods exist, even less biggie. They'll take me in at no cost, but what's my purpose here? Simply sanctuary?'

He looked at his dull grey reflection and heard the crunch of grass approaching.

'Maybe a lack of rent is all I need to stay.'

Looking up, it was Annabeth with an extra plate of food. "They're not sure whether you should follow our customs or not, but that doesn't mean they'll let you starve. You did save one of us."

The grey-eyed boy hummed, making Annabeth assume that was his sense of gratitude. Taking what she can get, she handed him a plate of strawberries, grapes, bread, and smoked brisket.

"Can I call you Grey?" Annabeth asked as he took a grape and ate it. Chewing for a second, he shook his head.

"Too lame." He ate a strawberry but spared the greenery on top.

"For someone with no name, you're awfully picky." Annabeth took the time to bite into a strawberry of her own.

"Gotta sound as cool as I look."

Annabeth snorted and shook her head at his arrogance. She turned her back to him and began walking away.

"Ashe it is then. No rerolls." She left, making the boy look to the sky. He contemplated whether it was good enough, and felt it had a nice ring to it.

Daughter of Athena giving him a name. Ashe. He liked it.

•

Tensions were high once more in Camp Half-Blood. The boys of Cabin Eleven were gathered around for sword training, murmuring about whether Percy was a fluke or not.

Now an honorary cabin member, it was only right that the time would come when Ashe was acknowledged.

Luke approached the boy sitting down with his blade in the sand. Looking up with intrigue, Ashe saw a welcoming smile.

"Hey..."

"Hey."

"I apologize for my ignorance the other day. I was just excited for our cabin to have another Demi-god. I didn't mean to single you out. It was wrong of me." Luke was honest. Ashe could feel that much.

Whether his intentions were malicious or not, something made him regret what he had done.

Holding out his hand, he lifted Ashe to his feet.

"Let's spar. I take it someone like you communicates better through the blade." Luke smirked seeing Ashe nod with a surprising amount of emotion.

The crowd had gathered, and Percy hummed in confusion after dousing himself with a cup of ice water. Feeling refreshed, he strut over to the crowd and weaved his way in between.

'Finally! I've yet to see him do much of anything since the Minotaur. Let's see what Ashe can do...' Percy's curiosity was finally about to be satiated.

He understood where his own
strength came from, but Ashe was human. He recalled the boy being able to stop the Minotaur with his body alone. That wasn't normal. Maybe he should've asked about that...

Luke stood in a straight linear stance, while Ashe held his sword at his hip in what seemed like confidence.

"He's underestimating, Luke? This guy's gonna get embarrassed."

"That sword is his almost his height, no way he's good with that thing."

Since it wasn't discussed how Percy killed the Minotaur, it wasn't common knowledge it was thanks to Ashe's rather disturbing strength.

Without warning the two engaged each other. It was swift, much faster than they expected children of Hermes to perform. Luke was certainly the best of the cabin, but being matched by a human was a surprise to everyone.

Trading parries and deflections, the two couldn't break one another's guard. Luke wanted to use his disarming technique like he and Percy demonstrated, but Ashe's guard was much too solid.

Having gauged Luke's general strength, he felt that it was far superior to his own. Ashe planted his feet wide and rapidly swung his sword in a flurry of horizontal slashes.

Luke easily deflected the attacks, but doing so made him quickly realize it was an attempt to drain his stamina, and even make his arms weak.

Taking a step back, Luke realized his impending mistake. He didn't disengage, meaning that Ashe was still sending slashes relentlessly.

Barely able to defend from a slice aimed at his left arm, Luke caught his footing but received a small cut on his thigh from needing to reposition himself.

With the two now back in the close quarters stalemate, Ashe himself was now beginning to lose stamina. He turned down the heat of his attacks and focused on timing.

He feinted an overhead slash, but Luke saw through it and fully committed to blocking his sword. He lunged forward with their blades overhead, hoping to catch him off balance.

Ashe didn't falter, releasing one hand from his blade and spinning around catching his blade and footing to attempt his overhead slash again.

Luke spun on his heel and deflected the attack with a grunt, clearly needing much more force and focus to be able to so.

Using this opening he finally gave himself, Luke dashed back with a bright smile. He was elated to find out Ashe's potential, and was even more happy to find he was knowledgeable in the way of the sword like he expected.

"For someone so young, you're clearly seasoned. I'm impressed!" Ashe rose an eyebrow and sheathed his sword.

Percy himself was impressed to see his swordplay again, but after the two experienced being masters of one thing, he was happy for his acquaintance to have a much cooler mastery than his canoeing...

~•~

Annabeth dragged Ashe by his hand over to the crowd of cheering campers as Friday night's event began. She was adamant about having he and Percy on her team after their clear display of abilities.

Percy with odd water manipulation and the more general expertise of Ashe's swordplay.

The campers continued to yell and chant as Annabeth's siblings brought out a grey silk banner with the depiction of a barn owl above an olive tree. Clarisse and her own cabin hoisted a red silk banner with a bloody spear and a boar's head.

Being the odd one out since many of his comrades wore blue, Annabeth had him change out his red coat for a simple, long sleeve, blue camp shirt.

The teams were more simple than they appeared. The two largest cabins, Apollo and Hermes, had aligned with Athena against Ares, Aphrodite, Demeter, and Hephaestus. It seemed the alliances were formed by exchanging various benefits of the different cabins.

Standing beside Percy and Luke, who had taken a clear liking to Percy, they stood off against the opposition.

"Heroes!" Chiron hammered his hooves against the marble to collect everyone's attention. "You know the rules. The creek is the boundary line. The entire forest is fair game, and all magic items are allowed. The banner must be properly displayed, and have no more than two guards. Prisoners may be disarmed, but may not be bound or gagged. No killing or maiming is allowed. I will serve as referee and battlefield medic."

The tables around him were suddenly flushed with light and the armory was summoned.

Feeling as the leather guards around his shoulders was enough, Ashe simply watched his team gather the likes of bronze swords, spears, helmets, and ox-hide shields. Leather armor was given before hand, but the spartan helmets really hit home for the aesthetic.

Ashe shook his head at the helmets as well. Stylish as they may be for others, he would rather not be weighed down in this sport anyway. So long as nothing was lethal he felt he as fine as he was.

With everyone marching to the south end of the forest, Percy decided to make conversation with Ashe.

"They've got me on border patrol. What'd they give you?"

"Guarding the flag supposedly. I'd rather not." Percy looked at him like he was stupid.

"That's gotta be more amusing than border patrol, come on." Percy nudged him with his elbow and the two smiled, unfortunately having to part ways to go to their respective positions.

~•~

Ashe had nothing to do, staring at everyone as they celebrated Luke retrieving the flag after Percy's distraction- at least, according to what he could hear from their shouts of glee.

Ashe stood on the small hill where their flag stood, brushing his hand through his hair in his lonesome. He didn't mind.

That was until everyone heard a howl. Ashe wondered if it was just local wildlife, but the appearance of a dark wolf the size of an entire rhino with flame red eyes answered that question. Ashe could easily understand it wasn't friendly.

Drawing his sword and leaping off the hill, he watched it lunge straight for his first friend, Percy. Annabeth tried to step in the way and defend him but it paid her no mind, leaping over her and sending Percy to the ground with a single searing swipe.

It tried to lunge at him again, but Ashe landed a heavy overhead hack at its snout, drawing splash of blood across the two boys.

With a snarl, the Hellhound tackled Ashe forward, luckily over Percy and right into a tree.

Ignoring the weight of a truck slammed into his chest, Ashe stabbed his sword into its right ear as arrows whistled to his right.

"Stand firm, fire!" Chiron shouted in Greek.

An array of arrowheads plunged into the hellhound's coat, but it bucked Ashe into the way of fire at the last second. Ashe's eyes widened feeling an arrow fly straight through his forearm.

Ashe was thrown into a recovering Percy and the two tumbled into the water of the creek.

Ashe quickly got off of Percy and tried to defend him once again, but a ripple from the water made him watch Percy lunge forward instead.

Being the faster of the two, Ashe dashed forward and clipped the hellhound's front paws with a sweeping slash, making it tip forward into a stab from Percy, slashing its eyes.

There was no need for further assistance since the stab was followed up by a javelin of water from the creek plunging straight into the hellhound's ribcage.

Stumbling to a knee, Ashe, along with everyone else watched Percy's wounds begin to heal- turning cuts into the scars, and then disappearing entirely.

An aqua blue sigil appeared over Percy's head, recognized in the form of a trident's head.

Everyone gasped or held their breath, staring in disbelief at the reveal of his father. Annabeth and Chiron were the most astonished, almost mistaken for fear by the look of dread.

As everyone's eyes fell on Percy, Ashe shuffled away as to give him the spotlight, but Percy quickly yanked him back in embarrassment.

"Son of Poseidon... Earthshaker, Stormbringer, Father of Horses. Hail, Perseus Jackson, Son of the Sea God."

Chiron, and everyone to witness the spectacle, began to kneel in honor of a child of the big three.

Ashe gave Percy a smug leer. "Seriously, I should probably leave, Lord Perseus."

Percy facepalmed, but not before punching Ashe in the shoulder.

~•~

Percy had come to appreciate Ashe's mortal background way more than anyone else. He stuck around despite being singled out by everyone else for his Father's identity. He felt alone in his new home at Cabin Three, until Ashe decided that he'd break tradition and stay with him there.

Percy invited Ashe to learn Greek with him from Annabeth, but with her already fed up over his dad, it may have been worse to have Ashe, who wasn't a Demi-god, to try and learn Greek.

Her muttering about one or another always involved Ashe being a mortal and him being Poseidon's son.

Luckily, Clarisse had paused her bullying since the general consensus was that being close to him spelled danger. Luke ignored that in favor of training Percy in the sword one-on-one, a favor he appreciated.

Percy let out a bitter smile after a long day of being outcast, but could appreciate seeing Ashe standing by the candle.

"Lights out." Percy mused, earning a smile as Ashe blew it out.

•

Ashe was very, very confused. He looked at his feet, and saw he was in his pajamas- the same blue camp shirt he wore for capture the flag, and black basketball shorts Luke stole from the camp shop- but stood on and endless plain of clouds.

"Curious..." He looked back up and saw a blurry image of a woman.

Racking his brain as his mind continued to piece the puzzle before him, Ashe crossed his arms and squinted his eyes.

An amused scoff came from the figure. Taking what felt like several steps forward, Ashe began to try and analyze the woman. The woman herself circled him as he did her, making for a rather awkward time.

Her image grew clearer and clearer, and they watched as the confusion on his face slowly washed away. Raising her brow in disbelief, she hadn't expected him to be so perceptive. Her identity and image was shrouded in the Mist. She was an Olympian- no mortal should be able to perceive that she was-

"Are you Athena?"

She nearly coughed on her own saliva. She was at a loss for words. She just wanted to see the mind of the first human to crack the code of the Mist. In turn, she had accidentally revealed herself to the mortal...

She wasn't sure how to proceed.

"N-No...?"

Was she stupid?

Squinting his eyes again, he was sure that the least he had picked up from Annabeth was how much she idolized her mom, Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and Battle; if he remembered correctly.

"I'm pretty sure-"

"No."

"Ma'am, I'm certain I didn't smoke bath salts before bed. I've learned my lesson." Ashe put his hands in his pockets.

"Bath salts?" She couldn't even understand what salt had to do with a bath.

Before he could even answer, she placed her index on her thumb, literally muting him. She sighed, turning away as he slapped himself to see if it'd make a sound, but failed.

"It's been a long age since someone has been as open minded as you are. Something about you breaks the confines of our... 'myths." Athena turned back and saw him trying to scream into the void, making her pinch her brow under her helmet.

Brushing aside her glistening auburn hair, she leered down at the boy's antics with a frown.

"Listen, young one, you're involved in events beyond your control and ability. However, like the beginnings of most heroes, they start from nothing. Your identity is written among the prophecies now, so your story is in motion. As... the Goddess of Knowledge, I'm a mere eager spectator of what you'll become."

She looked at his skepticism and snapped her fingers.

"Prophecy? What am I wrapped up in that's got the attention of gods? Should I not have been killing monsters?"

"That's a separate matter, hero." Athena rolled her eyes and continued. "Should you come across a trial far greater than yourself, simply remember who you are. What you stand for."

Ashe gave her a disappointed stare, making her glare in her own disappointment at the one time he couldn't comprehend something.

"Just wake up, brat."

•

Percy shook Ashe awake, Grover and Annabeth standing behind him. Annabeth glared at the boy in annoyance at his lack of initiative, deciding she'd shove Ashe instead.

Groaning, Ashe swat her hand as he woke up. He slowly sat up and looked at the three, wondering what the occasion could've been for how they were dressed to leave.

"Don't tell me this is about some prophecy..."

"How do you know that?" Grover and Annabeth asked in shock.

"Why else would you guys have any use for me? I'm just human." Ashe shrugged, yawning as Annabeth and Grover sighed relief.

"Oh and Athena spoke to me-"

"WHAT?!" Annabeth grabbed him by the collar, leaving Percy and Grover to pry her off.

~•~

Carrying Annabeth's bag after her fit of anger, Ashe sat between her and Grover, with Percy in the front passenger seat of the white SUV they were being escorted in.

Argus, a... Ashe wasn't sure how to describe him. He was a man with eyes littered all over his body, but he was unaware as to what he was mythologically.

The car ride was surprisingly more boring than Ashe was expecting. For the debrief he was given, and how truly perused Percy was, he expected to be struck down as soon as they made it to Manhattan.

As they got out of the SUV on the sidewalk, Ashe decided he'd carry all their bags. It's not like he was the one under the aim of the Gods, so it'd be best if they were able to move to the best of their ability.

Percy glanced down the street longingly, making Grover nudge his side.

"You want to know why she married him, right?" He wondered.

Percy was understandably shocked to find Grover had practically read his mind. "How'd you...?"

"Satyrs can read emotions. Seeing where we are, I just assumed you were thinking about your mom."

As they began walking towards the bus terminal, Percy confirmed his thoughts with a sigh. "Your mom married him for his smell- but it's better to call it his aura. He smelled so repulsively human that every summer it masked your scent. Without him, you'd have been hunted long ago. She was a smart lady."

Percy wouldn't let it be known that this information didn't make him feel better. He hummed to acknowledge it, but his inner turmoil was much less visible than before.

They quickly arrived at the terminal, but it'd be a bit longer before their ticketed bus would arrive. And so, they bid their time wisely.

Percy and Annabeth were playing hackie-sack with an apple from Grover's bag. Percy was impressed by her skill; she could bounce it off her knee, elbow, and even her shoulder. Percy himself wasn't too bad, but could only use his knees and feet.

They tried to get Ashe to join, but his attempt only ended in the apple bouncing off his head and into Grover's mouth, who gladly ate it as Percy and Annabeth cackled.

Finally the bus arrived...