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"What is this?" A female voice growled as she glowered at the image depicting the individual that wielded their blessings. "Letting those inferior beings speak to him in such a way? And agreeing with them? I won't let this stand!" 

"Calm down, sister." A hand reached out to grasp the woman by the shoulder in an attempt to comfort her. "He's acknowledging his faults. He knows what he has to do." 

The woman relaxed slightly before turning her attention to the shadowed entity standing behind her.  "I don't understand how this could have happened. He had so much hatred in his heart, but it diminished after that wrench's death. Should it not have increased?" 

The man withdrew his hand and glanced at the image. Perseus was walking through a hallway with a scowl on his face, but he acknowledges his subordinates as he passes them. 

"He's grieving." The man said. "But it will pass. Those twins are smart, talking to him before this ridiculous behaviour continues. They have a good relationship, Perseus will listen to them. We don't need to worry." 

"How can you be so sure?" The woman returned her attention to the image with a doubtful expression. "I want this reign of terror to last. Our champion belongs on that throne covered in the blood of his enemies." 

The man's lips curved up into a smirk as he watched Perseus enter a training room with determination burning in his eyes. "Trust me, Nyx. He'll make that weak, son of Hephaestus wish that he had never been born." 

Leo 

They  came when I least expected it. I had left the hideout to sit on the grass with my knees tucked to my chest, staring up at the moon that illuminated the night sky. This was it. 

One day left until my week was up. 

My stomach twisted into knots, and I buried my face in my hands. Maybe I should've refused the Primordial's offer and continued to spend the rest of my afterlife in Elysium. Why had I agreed to fight a battle that I wasn't going to win? 

I was already dead. I came back to life just to die again. 

Before I could spiral even deeper into my thoughts, two figures suddenly appeared out of thin air a few feet away. I squinted, recognizing the curly hair of Aether and the wings that sprouted out of Eros' shoulder blades. 

What the Hades were they doing here? 

"Valdez." Aether greeted. "How are you this fine evening?" Eros pinched the bridge of his nose as I stared blankly at the Primordial. Was he being serious right now? 

"Oh, I'm doing great." I said sarcastically. "My week of training is up, and I have to go and confront someone who has an entire army under his command. Oh, and we can't forget how he's A LOT stronger than me!" 

Aether's smile faded, and his expression turned serious. "I won't lie to you and say that everything will be fine, because it won't. Your fate was sealed once you accepted our blessings. So- Ack!" 

Eros had elbowed Aether in the ribs, and as the Primordial of Light doubled over, he looked directly at me. "He's right in the sense that you did accept our blessings, but do you know why you did so?" 

I hesitated, my mind going back to the encounter I had with the five of them. Hemera had said that they needed my help to defeat Perseus, and I had agreed. Obviously,. 

But why? Why did I do such a stupid thing? My stupid ass didn't even spend much time thinking about it, I agreed on the spot. 

"Because you knew that someone had to step up." Eros said, and my eyes widened slightly. I did remember telling myself that. 

"I was foolish." I muttered as I dropped my gaze to my shoes. "I shouldn't have said yes. I'm going to die, again, and I don't think Perseus will make it quick and painless." 

"He won't." Eros agreed as Aether seethed in the background. "He'll probably torture you and make you beg for mercy before killing you. But that's only if you fail to stop him." 

Do they really think I'll somehow pull a miracle out of my ass? 

"Thanks for the reassurance." I said flatly as I glanced back up to look at the two Primordials. "I already know what will happen if I fail." 

"This isn't about you." Aether interrupted as he gave Eros a withering glare. "I'm sure you're aware of it. You accepted our blessings because you know the destruction Perseus will continue to cause if he isn't stopped. You didn't care about your own well-being in that moment, you only cared about trying to prevent a tyrant from ruling over the world." 

I pressed my lips together as I mulled over what he had said. He was right; I didn't care about the danger I put myself in when I agreed to help. I knew Perseus defeated the Gods and took Zeus' place as King of Olympus. I knew the power he wielded was enough to kill me on the spot. 

But my stupid morals told me I had to try and stop him. 

"That's what makes you a hero, Leo." Eros said softly "Not that you aren't already one. But the fact that you knew you had to step up when everyone else failed speaks volumes about the kind of person you are." 

"We chose you for a reason." Aether added as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Remember that. It may feel like we're sending you to your death, but we believe in you." 

I curled my fingers into a fist as the Primordial's words of encouragement struck me hard. The fact that they came to see me was a surprise in itself. They were taking a massive risk in coming here since the other Primordials could sense their energy, but they did nonetheless. 

Well, and the fact that they probably felt bad for giving me an impossible task. 

"Thank you." I murmured as I pushed myself to my feet. "I..... I just don't know how I'm going to pull this off. Perseus literally has an army. I have nothing." 

Eros laughed as Aether shook his head in amusement. "What are you talking about, Valdez? You think you're alone in this fight? What about the people that live with you in that hideout?" 

"I can't ask them to fight with me." I said. "We're up against the person who took down the Gods. If I'm going to die, that's fine, but I can't let anyone else die with me." 

Eros and Aether exchanged looks, and I gave them a shallow bow before turning to head back to the hideout. "I appreciate this last-minute attempt to cheer me up, but I already know how this will turn out. I hope I can at least land a hit on Perseus before dying." 

"You have more allies than you think." Eros called as I began to walk away. "And you underestimate your strength. You are capable of a lot more, Leo Valdez. Our champion." 

I paused, shocked at what he had just said, but when I turned back around, the two Primordials were gone. 

Word Count: 1213 

hey..... this hasn't been abandoned. what a shocker. 

it was hard to scrounge up enough motivation to update, but once you get into writing again, the ideas just come out. not my best work, but I wanted to continue to write. I don't like leaving things unfinished. 

it'll be slow, but the trilogy will end. 

hope everyone is doing well! middle of October already, I don't know where the time is going. 

and for like the 400th time... thanks for sticking around.