Chapter 2

Screenshot then zoom in on the picture above, it's pretty trippy lol.

WARNING
Strong language ahead (thanks Lambert)

"I hate portals." I muttered as I got off my horse. It darted towards the stables, spooked from everything that had just happened. Frankly, I don't blame her. I felt like doing the same thing because, again, I hate portals.

"Come, she is waiting."

"She?"

Ciri motioned for me to follow, which caused me to sigh. "Who's got you so worked up anyways? I thought you fear no one."

"This person is different, she's got everyone here on edge. Even Yennefer and Geralt. Trust me, she is something to fear. Treat her with respect." Ciri said as she walked to the doors leading into the fortress. She grabbed them, but stood for a while.

"Percy, before we go in there..."

"Yeah?"

"There are things about you that we did not tell you. Things that, yes you had a right to know, but we kept from you because... well... we where afraid you'd feel like you never belonged-"

"I know I'm from a different world-"

"That's not what I mean-"

"Then what!?" I yelled as I grabbed Ciri's shoulder. She bowed her head in shame, I heard a small splatter as her tear hit the ground. I let her go immediately, my face screwed up with shock and guilt. "Ciri?"

"Percy, why is older sister crying?" Becky asked as she peaked from behind my cloak.

"I'm fine," she said quickly with a shaky voice. She wiped her tears away and hardened her features once more. "Whatever you learn in here, please, know we didn't tell you to protect you. For if you knew... you'd never feel like you belong. You'd feel like an outcast. Amongst your own kind."

With that said, she pushed open the doors to Kaer Morhen. My eyes adjusted to the lower levels of light. "Ah, as gloomy as ever." I muttered as I entered the fortress. But as soon as the doors closed behind us, I immediately knew something was not quite right. I sniffed the air, lilacs and juniper berries, Yennefer. That's not unusual. Drowner guts, huh, that's a new scent for Eskel. Must have gone out for a contract. Geralt, he's here, his scent is very similar to mine... and... ugh. Lambert is here too... but there's another one here... the smell of fire but not dangerous. Like a hearth fire, like home and good food. Shit... it's making my medallion go berserk! And indeed it did, I grabbed it from around my neck as felt the vibrations getting stronger.

Geralt and Yennefer where the first to greet us. They looked stressed, a look I have never seen on either of their faces before. "What's wrong? Why do you guys look like a rock troll had decided to use you both as dummies to test out his new 'big stick' on?"

"Damn, is it that obvious?" Yennefer asked as she crossed her arms and hardened her glare. Though it didn't last long as she dropped the act and sighed. "Truthfully you aren't far from the truth. We are dealing with things we've never have before..."

"What-"

"Hello Perseus Jackson." A soothing voice called from behind Geralt and Yennefer. I stiffened. "Jackson?" I asked, the name alien in my mouth. She had to be addressing me. I was pretty sure I was the only Perseus in the room after all.

"Yes, that is your surname after all." The voice replied with a high pitched giggle.

I can't really describe it. But I was enthralled by the voice and her scent. It was pleasant, made me feel safe. I lightly pushed past Yennefer and Geralt almost trance like, walking towards it's source. A moth to a flame.

I then stopped when I saw the voice's owner. She was a young girl, about eight or nine. She had a cream colored shaw that covered her beautiful brown hair. She wore a simple brown dress and would have looked like any other child if it wasn't for her eyes. They where like embers, the flames she stoked in the fire place of Kaer Morhen. She turned her head towards me and smiled. A smile that promised warmth, love, and family. Her aura was just pure kindness, like nothing that I had ever felt before.

"Who... who are you?" I asked the girl.

"Me? Why silly, I'm your aunt!" She replied with another giggle. I frowned.

"What? Firstly. How can you be my aunt when I was born in another world and secondly, how are you my aunt when I am older than you by about 10 years?"

I could feel everyone tens up. I turned to see Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri looking shocked that I'd spoken to her in that kind of manner. I wondered why they seemed so scared of her. She's just a child after all.

"Yeah, I'd like to know that too." Said another voice. I looked up and saw Eskel and Lambert leaning against one of the big stone pillars. Both stared emotionless at the girl as they waited.

"My medallion is going fucking bonkers." Lambert growled. "You better not be a monster. Else I'll send you screaming to... wherever you go when you die."

"Lambert, you poor child. Come, warm yourself by the fire. You'll feel better-"

"Answer the damn question!" Lambert snapped.

"Hey, she's just being nice. Do you have to be a prick to everyone?" Eskel asked, turning his head towards Lambert with a raised eyebrow.

"You can't say that you can't feel these things vibrating? She has to be a ploughing monster I can feel it-"

"I'm no monster Lambert. And as for Percy's question, I am Hestia. Goddess of the hearth, home, and family. I have come to collect a part of my own family and return him home." She said, turning her head towards me.

"Wait, you said you where my aunt and your a goddess..." I trailed off.

"Oh dear. Ciri, Geralt, Yennefer... none of you told Percy of what he is?" She asked, turning her attention to the three.

"We had no idea he would return." Geralt started. "It was bad enough that he was thrown into a completely different world and mutated to the point where he was barely human anymore and forced to hunt and kill monsters. How different, how lost and alone would he feel if we also told him what he truly is? I... I can't even pretend to understand. Besides the fact that, up until we decided to properly set the trials for Percy, I was the only Witcher in history to survive additional mutations, I never felt out of the ordinary. But if he where to live here the rest of his days knowing who... what he truly is..."

"He'd feel even more like an outsider than he already does." Yennefer finished as Geralt trailed. She placed a hand in his shoulder and stared into my own eyes. "Please. Do not be angry. We hid it to protect-"

"Hid what? How am I to be mad if all you guys are doing is talking in circles! What am I?"

"Don't be upset." The 'goddess' started, drawing my attention back to her "They just want to make sure that you won't be mad when you hear it. And there is no reason to be. They had a very good reason to not tell you. And as for what you are. Well... since you are my nephew and I'm a goddess, that will mean that you are a child of a god. The god of the sea and father of horses"

She let that sink in. My eyes widened in surprise at this revelation. I turned towards the three behind me first. Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer didn't seem surprised at this news. Meaning that they knew. Of course they knew, they didn't tell me so I wouldn't feel more different than I already was. I wasn't mad at this, in fact, I was grateful that they didn't tell me. Because I never felt like I fit into this world as it was. But now, I knew that I was definitely different. Not only here but in my birth world as well. A Witcher, a mutant, here and a demigod there.

"So... Hestia..." I said with all seriousness. "What you are saying is that... I AM RELATED TO ROACH AND ÁVYSSOS!!!"

Lambert started laughing so hard that he fell to the floor while Eskel stared at me with a 'are-you-fucking-serious-right-now' face.

"That's all you gotta say? This goddess has just told you that you are the son of a freaking god. And all you get out of it is that you are mounting your brother?" He asked, then thought about it as Lambert's roaring laughter became harder before adding. "Probably not the best choice of words."

"That's for damn sure." Geralt muttered. Though he was trying (yet failing) to hide his own amused expression.

"Percy... we're-" Yennefer started.

"There is no need to apologize. I understand. Now Lady Hestia, what is it you need of me?" I asked, cocking my head with a puzzled expression.

"A war is coming. And we need all the help we can get. My father, your grandfather, wants to kill all the gods and take control of everything. He will break down the barriers that shroud the mythical world and the mortal. We call it The Mist, and once that comes down there will be chaos. To prevent that, we need your help. We need you to do what you do best. Kill monsters."

"Kill monsters." I echoed. "As you can tell, not quite good at that." I motioned to the Godling who has been clutching Ciri's leg the whole time and watching timidly. Hestia smiled down at her, extended her hand and a large cupcake popped out of nowhere. The Godling hesitated for a few seconds before taking it and taking a small bite.

"Wow, that's good!" She exclaimed before stuffing the rest into her mouth. She then turns to me, her warm eyes glowing brighter.

"No, you aren't bad. You just know the difference between good and evil." She said. "We need people like that. Now please come with me." She extended her hand towards me.

"Not like I've got much of a choice now do I?" I replied as I reached for it.

"Everyone has a choice." Hestia stated. "The only problem is which choice is the right one."

"If I had to guess." I said. "It's to not piss off the goddess." Then grabbed her hand. I turned back to look at my family. Geralt, Ciri, Yennefer, Becky, Eskel, Lambert, and hidden in the far shadows where Letho and Keira Metz. All of them, even Letho, where my family. They had watched me grow, taught me valuable lessons.

I smiled. "See you later."

And with that said, we disappeared in a whirlwind of flames.

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