NULLA. THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
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CHILDREN OF THE GODS stumble their way into the mess hall. The walls were made out of lengthy wooden planks, almost as tall the spruce trees that swayed alongside the wind. The mess hall consisted of elements of naked stone, layered around polls that supported the high ceiling, as well as green plants and animal-furred rugs. It was a naturist building, one that could hold up to five hundred kids – one that currently held almost a hundred now.
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Within the building was a small stage that was connected to the back wall in the middle part of the building, distanced from the large entrance doors. An old table with three chairs facing the crowd of children was positioned on the stage, the middle chair taller than the other two. Whenever there was some sort of gathering, three important staff would sit there and talk to the children about future events or past mistakes. Just an average assembly.
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"Do you know what's going on?" APHRODITE asks the boys besides her, however gets shaken heads as responses. Two of the boys come up with theories, but sounded so unsure that even the camps trademarked air-head could tell there was no hope. She huffs to herself in disappointment, making her way towards her friends.
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The room fills up with eighteen, or soon to be eighteen, year old's, questioning why they were sent to the mess hall in a group as big as this. The mess hall was a room to hold important meetings within the faculty or the children, so by knowing this a small chatter goes about in the room. There has been a rule broken with the year level, or another child had gone missing.
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"Do you think this has anything to do with some sort of goodbye Christmas!? Oh, how much I love cookies-" HORME interrupts herself as she notices all the annoyed eyes on her. Awkwardly laughing, she grabs onto her arm and starts to rub it to calm her nerves down. Her friends snicker slightly as they assure her that it could do with Christmas.
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The teenagers begin to get rowdy, some freak out as they couldn't stand the pressure of the unknown. As the room begins to grow louder, the large doors swing open in full force: silencing whatever conversations where going on. Three adults stood by the entrance as they catch everyone's eyes, the children instantly make a path for them to get to the stage.
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The woman begins to walk first, hovering other the two men who walked behind her. She walked gracefully and with ease, her head up high as she intimidated the children. The man to her left trails her quickly – his charming smile lighting up the room, however causing less of effect because of the shortest man who walked beside him. With a draped purple coat, and a staff that was covered in wool, gems, and bite marks, the old man was slumped over with no interest in who was around him. It wasn't until the three got to the stage that the children thought it was safe to breathe again.
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"I know she owns the camp and everything, but Counselor June is terrifying."
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"At least Mentor Arthur is charming enough to mask how scary she is."
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"Professor Merlock is super sweet as well!" ASCLEPIUS says enthusiastically with a sweet smile, interrupting a conversation between a boy and girl. They laugh awkwardly at her, and pretend to agree with her, but it was well known throughout the campers that Professor Merlock was a grumpy old man to everyone besides those who could see in visions.
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The teenagers begin to quiet down once more as their eyes lock with the head mistress's; her piercing stare causing most of the crowd to shutter in fear. She stood in the middle with a tall stance, her chin slightly tilted upwards like usual. She looked down at the students with her ice blue eyes as, if she was a predator looking at her prey, and then cleared her throat to begin talking.
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"I have collected you all here today to discuss some important news about your parents. You won't be leaving at New Years like everybody else did beforehand. That will be all."
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It didn't take long for Counselor June to get to the chase, she knew more than anyone else how much New Year's meant to the upcoming year levels. A few children whisper to each other, and a few begin to yell out – demanding for some sort of answers. Counselor June merely let's go of her hands that were locked together behind her, and places up her index finger to silence the crowd. It was a technique that always worked, and although Counselor June was just a mortal woman, she was one that even Zeus was afraid of.
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"Since when did we start yelling in an assembly, Achilles?" Looking at a particular camper, Counselor June raises one of her eyebrows to empathize her annoyance. The boy mutters something under his breath, but it wasn't a worry for Counselor June. What was a worry however was a girl and her small posse of loyal friends trailing behind as she created a path to get to the front.
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"Since when do we get no answers about important topics that involve us, Mrs. June? I'm sure I, and the rest of my year level, deserve an explanation on why we can't leave for the most critical day of our lives."
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Standing tall and prideful, the girl mimics the same intimidating energy Counselor June had sprouting off of her. She places a hand on her hip, close to the handle of her sword just in case, as the other rested against her body. Her eyes stayed tightly knitted on the woman in front of her, her group of friends also trying their best to stare down the Counselor.
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"You and everyone else won't be leaving at New Years, NIKE, and that's it." Counselor June says firmly, standing her ground, which created a tense atmosphere. A moment passes before the older woman breaks her eye contact with the warrior, directing her next sentence at the cluster of confused and scared children. "If any of you have questions for what will be happening next year, you're free to address them with Mentor Arthur or myself. That will be all, thank you."
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The room stays in silence, shocked with the news that had just been given to them. Mixed reactions were easily recognized from the children, some crying as they had hoped to finally meet their parents, some cheering as they had dreaded the day they were forced to leave the camp. Counselor June, followed by Mentor Arthur and the creepy Wizard make their way out of the mess hall as a few camper's glare at them – anger and frustration taking control of their emotions. The second the adults left, the mess hall became a place full of havoc and stress.
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The table was thrown off of the stage, children began to punch the walls, and some even got into yelling fights with other children. MORPHEUS was one of the lucky ones, running out the second she could. Now with the news that she wasn't going to see her father for a whole year, maybe longer, she was devastated her as she ran back to her hut in tears.
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The girl at the front kept her powerful stance, still starring at the place the head mistress stood, now with her sword out. Turning around in urgency, she cries at the top of her lungs to shut up the children so they could focus on her – which worked flawlessly. Now, all eyes were upon NIKE as she announces her plan.
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"It's obvious that our head-mistress is hiding something – no, Olympus is hiding something! If you are all as suspicious about this arrangement as I am, meet me by the west side gates at midnight and bring anyone you think will be useful to our adventure. There we will journey out to see what the hell is going on!"
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"Camp Braveheart! Train, fight, win!" One-person chants, throwing his fist in the air. Majority of the mess hall population copy his actions as they scream the slogan in unison.
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"CAMP BRAVEHEART! TRAIN, FIGHT, WIN!"
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