Sapphire Cove Township, Stormbreaker Coast Province, Green Horse Kingdom
Percy Jackson POV:
"Elder Heng!" Bai Yáo is swift to bow to the man who just rode in on a giant flying sword, while I stand off to the side and hold my tongue. Bai Yáo asked me to let her do the talking initially, and since she's the one familiar with this place's customs, that was pretty much a no-brainer. It's like Annabeth and architecture, back before she joined the Hunters after the Titan War. She took Luke's sacrifice hard, and I understood her choice, even if it left me wondering if there might have been the chance for something more between us. It made things a bit awkward between her brother Malcolm and me back during the Giant War, at least up until our trip to Tartarus when we retrieved the Athena Parthenos.
I shudder a little at the memories of the pit. That particular vacation gets negative five stars, definitely don't recommend, the food sucks and the tour guides are all terrible. If there's some divine version of Yelp, I swear I'm going to write a review just to make it clear how terrible that entire place was. Worst place ever, even worse than the Labyrinth. And seriously, what was Gaea thinking, shacking up with Tartarus? Did she lose all sense of taste somewhere along the way? Did she take a look at him, think 'there's the worst of the worst, perfect baby daddy for all these giant children I want to have,' and go for it? I restrain the urge to puke and do my best to put the idea from my mind, fortunately helped for once by my ADHD. Sometimes demigods being easily distracted really is useful. Who knew?
Anyway, I focus on the floating sword, which the guy just hopped off of, which is kind of cool, and I find myself wondering whether swords or pegasi are faster…though Zeus would probably smite me if I tried to ride a sword around. I slump for a moment, then perk up, remembering that I'm in a place where Zeus probably won't be able to tell if I go flying. Maybe I'll be able to ride the cool sword without getting lightning bolts hurled at me after all? Might be worth asking about, at the very least, even if the guy probably isn't going to let me go for a ride. He looks pretty serious and solemn after all, not the sort of guy who's going to let a random kid go for a joy ride on his cool flying sword. Hopefully, though, he is the sort of guy who knows someone who can help me figure out a way to get home without having to speedrun this cultivation stuff to the best of my ability.
Sure, I'll do it, but if there's a faster solution, that would be nice. I don't really feel like spending years and years on cultivating…and that was my thought on the matter before Bai Yáo explained that a lot of cultivation involves either stuff that sounds kind of like steroids in the form of these 'pills' using 'Spiritual Herbs' or sitting around meditating. I don't really like the idea of doing some kind of mystical drugs, for the first one. For the second…meditation and demigods don't mix. Like, at all. Seriously. Ask any of my teachers. Me? Sitting around thinking about stuff and just trying to find the zone? There's only so many miracles that can happen, and I don't think that's one of them. At least not without serious divine help.
More divine help than Hera blessing me to actually be able to make a clean shot when I was fighting Geryon. I'd also probably need help from Athena, which…kind of rules out that sort of thing. She'd probably rather smite me than bless me, after all.
So that leaves the other option…which, from what Bai Yáo says, involves fighting monsters and taking some sort of spoils from them. Which is…kind of routine for most demigods? Especially strong ones, because seriously, there's been days where I had three or four monsters deciding to take a swing at me after they smelled me. Which…thanks for nothing, Lamia. That curse of yours on demigods really sucks. If it wasn't for mom asking me to stay with her, after the first few months of pretty much daily attacks by monsters I'd have probably asked Chiron if I could stay year round. I got really tired of having to deal with fighting for my life at least once a day, alright?
"You are the honorable scion, yes?" A man's voice breaks me from my thoughts, and I focus on the guy Bai Yáo called Elder Heng, noticing that he's turned his attention to me.
"Yeah," I say awkwardly, and the man nods, then bows his head, Bai Yáo gesturing for me to offer a shallow bow in return. I don't bow much…but when in Rome, I suppose? I offer something that's closer to a nod, but that's apparently good enough for this guy.
"It is an honor to meet a scion of the divine," Elder Heng says politely, and I feel my thoughts starting to race as I try to figure out what the fuck I'm supposed to say here. I've certainly rarely felt honored to be a demigod, but maybe things are different here? Maybe being a demigod sucks marginally less here, though I won't hold my breath. "I understand you are interested in walking the path of cultivation?" His words kind of sink my hopes that this guy might know a different way for me to get home, but it's worth asking the question at least.
"Do you know anyone who could help me contact someone who'd be able to help me get home?" I ask, rubbing the back of my head a bit awkwardly. "Nothing against cultivating, but we were kind of in the middle of a war back home, and while I think things were mostly settled when I ended up here, I'm kind of needed in case things went badly."
"Unfortunately not," the man says kindly, and I groan internally. Cultivation it is, then, unless I find another, quicker solution. "I understand, however, that you are interested in potentially participating in the Green Horse Tournament? Were you to join our Silver Wave Sect, I am certain that sponsorship for that tournament could be arranged, and we would be able to provide guidance as you developed your talents, honorable scion."
"I'd certainly appreciate knowing a bit more about this world," I hedge, and Elder Heng's smile grows a bit wider as he reaches out one hand towards me.
"May I?" He asks, and my trepidation probably shows on my face. "I will assess your meridians and the state of your cultivation, nothing more and nothing less, honorable scion. I will also seek out any dormant bloodline you might have that could be relevant to your cultivation."
"Go for it," I say after a glance at Bai Yáo. Perhaps I'm being a bit stupid to trust her when she nods, telling me to play along, but I'd like to think that I have a decent read on her. Besides, if I really do need to deal with this cultivation stuff, probably best to know this stuff now. His hand comes to rest on my brow, and the man slowly turns pale as the seconds pass.
"Nine spiritual roots aligned with Water, all of them of the very highest quality and purity," Elder Heng breathes out in awe. "More than that, even…they are utterly untainted by mortal flaw. If he has any other alignment, it is beyond my ability to sense…and beyond the ability of our Silver Wave Sect to nurture, admittedly. As for his cultivation, Outer Disciple Bai, you were somewhat correct in stating that he is in Wellspring Formation. His spiritual roots are so pure that he may naturally regenerate his Qi, drawing in ambient Qi without any real effort and converting it into his own power."
"So he isn't in Wellspring Formation?" Bai Yáo asks, and Elder Heng laughs.
"He is and he isn't. He has a constant influx of Qi, and his body is essentially at the level of a Disciple who has reached Wellspring Formation, but he hasn't actually formed an internal wellspring from which to draw Qi," Elder Heng explains. "While his body is entirely free of mortal impurities, as befits a scion of immortal blood, his cultivation is still in its nascent form. However, I believe that he benefits from having an instinctive cultivation scripture, as I can sense that he is already gathering Qi, and he is doing so with every breath. While the amounts are small at the moment, I believe this to be due to the relatively thin Qi in this area. On the grounds of our own Silver Wave Sect, he will have access to much more plentiful Qi, which will see him progress swiftly. You have done well, Disciple Bai, to find such a prospect."
I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable with how…interested he sounds in me now, and I glance towards Bai Yáo, considering whether or not I really want to accept the invitation to this 'Silver Wave Sect' or not. Ultimately, what decides it for me is that she's the only person I know around here, and it's an entirely foreign world. Sure, I could return to the sea and ask the fish for directions to some local sea god or whatever, if there's anything like that around…but that might be signing my own death sentence. After all, Kymopoleia, who's my half-sister, decided to try killing me the first time we met. Why should a sea god I'm not related to be any better?
That's if they don't take offense to me being able to control their waters, of course. And if the fish even give me good directions. Poseidon's name doesn't mean anything here. On the other hand, me being a demigod seems pretty important to this guy. And it's the best chance I've found so far to get to this Green Horse Tournament, so I can get a map and a guide to the Yellow Falcon Empire after I win that tournament. Right now, I'm short on options and on offers of help…and my gut says to trust Bai Yáo. She wants me to join the Silver Wave Sect.
"Is that offer of joining still open?" I ask casually, and Bai Yáo instantly relaxes, sighing in relief, and that reassures me. Maybe she was going to get punished or something if I decided not to sign on with them? I feel myself grimacing at the thought of her being blamed for my choices, and resolve to try and help her out if I can. I might be going a bit far in trusting my gut, but my instincts haven't steered me wrong in the past, and they say to trust her. So, since Wise Girl isn't around to ask for her opinion on whether or not I should trust Bai Yáo, I'm going to trust my gut and take a chance. If something goes wrong…well, when doesn't it in the lives of demigods?
"Of course, Young Master," Elder Heng says happily, and I take a moment to reconsider my choice after seeing how cheerful he is. It kind of makes me feel like one of Aphrodite's daughters is looking at me, and the memories of the appreciative wolf whistles and catcalls they've sent my way in the past after I finished swimming flash through my mind, mixed with the looks of hunger I get from monsters that think they're about to make a meal out of me, getting premium seafood with minimum effort. Finally, I decide that it's too late now, and I should probably at least give this Silver Wave Sect a chance, right? "We shall return to the Sect immediately, and the Elders shall gather to assess you, honorable scion."
"Right," I nod. "What about the town, though? Isn't there supposed to be someone here to protect it?" I ask, and Bai Yáo smiles at me, offering me a grateful look. Elder Heng simply laughs, and gestures towards the sky. I look up and notice four more giant hovering slabs of metal with people standing on them, and Bai Yáo relaxes.
"I brought four of our Inner Disciples with me to ensure that this town would be properly guarded after its current defenders left for our Silver Wave Sect," Elder Heng explains.
"Thank you," I reply, and the man simply nods, a pleased smile on his lips as he turns towards Bai Yáo, gesturing for her to follow him. They walk out of earshot, and I turn my attention towards the waves, watching the sunlight play over the water. It's a calming sight, reassuring me as I consider what might be waiting for me in the near future, in an entirely foreign world.
==========================
"You have done very well indeed, Disciple Bai," Elder Heng says once the two of them are out of earshot of the…demigod, as he calls himself. "He will be an invaluable asset for our Silver Wave Sect during the time he is with us, though, from what your message said, he will likely depart within the next few years?" His lips thin at the idea, but he seems to accept the inevitability of the eventual loss. "Would you mind clarifying the reason for such a departure, if you are aware of it?" His words sound like a question, but the command in his tone is obvious. As is the demand for an answer that is acceptable to the Elder.
"He seeks to participate in the Green Horse Tournament, in order to ask for a route to the Yellow Falcon Empire as his reward," Bai Yáo replies, the Elder simply sighing in acceptance.
"Very well. A few years will be enough to make our name and assure our dominance over this province, especially if he remembers us fondly. He will continue on his journeys, and we will not try to delay him. Standing against such a man would be folly. In time, he would grow stronger than any of us, and our Sect would pay the price for the arrogance of our members. Better that we leave a positive impression, and that he departs our humble kingdom with a means for our Sect to remain in contact with him. Should we have need in the future, then, perhaps he will remember our kindness now and return it by facilitating our Sect's survival," Elder Heng says simply. "So long as he is not aiming to use us as a stepping stone towards one of our rival Sects, there is no true problem. In any event, Disciple Bai, you have earned a handsome reward for your actions in convincing him to join us."
Bai Yáo offers the gesture of respect, and waits with bated breath for the decision of the Elder, which will hopefully not be 'rewarding' her by 'ensuring the continuation of her family line,' as one Inner Disciple suggested in the past after Bai Yáo had assisted him with a small task. She had barely managed to avoid her Senior Brother's attentions that time, and she would not be able to refuse an Elder's approaches. She hasn't heard that Elder Heng has predilections of that sort, but one never truly knows when dealing with cultivators who have lived for centuries.
"I will recommend you to Elder Daiyu," Elder Heng decides, and Bai Yáo sighs in a mixture of relief and trepidation. Elder Daiyu is one of the more powerful Elders in the Sect, and one of only three women to hold the rank. "She owes me a few favors, and I shall have her repay them by taking you and the young master as personal disciples."
"That will make us both Core Disciples," Bai Yáo says quickly, wondering if Elder Heng has full possession of his wits at the moment. He smiles and nods.
"Precisely," he agrees. "You are not strong enough for that role yet, of course, but the honorable scion seems to favor you, and we do wish to retain his good opinion in the long run. Elder Daiyu is strong enough that the other Elders will not contest her when she declares a wish to take the young man as her student, and he will be more secure under her eye than otherwise. She will ensure that when he departs, he thinks well of us. In the meantime, she will provide him with suitable instruction and resources. As for you…well, your talent is promising, and if you were to be elevated to the ranks of the Inner Disciples, it would draw…envious eyes. As Elder Daiyu's direct disciple, you shall be under her protection."
Bai Yáo swallows hard. She had expected a promotion to the ranks of the Inner Disciples at most as a result of finding…Perseus. Now, though, she is being promoted to the ranks of the Core Disciples. The Sect's strongest students. She is far from being strong enough for the role, but clearly Elder Heng will not be denied. And…it does make sense. If she were to be promoted to the rank of Inner Disciple without a powerful protector, she would swiftly draw the ire of more powerful Disciples who would want to put her back in her place. If she survived the beatings they would give her, her cultivation would no doubt be shattered. She'd be a cripple, left to die among the mortal population. True, there will be those who resent her rise to the rank of Core Disciple, but no one will dare do more than grumble in a corner. If they try to do anything else, they will be lucky if Elder Daiyu kills them quickly. Bai Yáo will be free to cultivate in peace.
Beyond that…provided that she doesn't somehow get sent along with Perseus on his journey to the Yellow Falcon Empire, Bai Yáo will be in a very favorable position. True, some of her peers might call her a fool for not seeking to accompany the son of an immortal, who is surely favored by the heavens, on his adventures across the lands. They would say that Perseus is without question destined for immortality. That he will rise to the ranks of the gods to stand alongside his father, and that if she accompanies him, Bai Yáo will rise with him. She too will have the path to immortality opened to her, far more easily than she otherwise might.
Bai Yáo wants to Ascend, yes. But she wants to Ascend on her terms, not by riding the currents generated by her betters. More than that, she doesn't want to simply be an accessory on someone else's adventures. Especially not adventures she doesn't choose. She is a formation specialist. She thrives on planning and preparation, on groundwork laid long before a battle, given the choice. She can fight more spontaneous battles if she needs to, but even that requires prior preparation in order to produce the various talismans she wields. Being the direct disciple of an Elder, though, an Elder who is one of the youngest and strongest in the Sect…that has enough promise that she has to take this chance, even if it's risky.
She doesn't want to get dragged into Perseus' adventures. He is, from what she has seen of him, a very active sort of person. She saw his twitching when she spoke of meditating in order to cultivate, an activity Bai Yáo finds quite relaxing. He is unlikely to find it quite so relaxing, though, in Bai Yáo's estimation. In fact, she considers it quite likely that he will have issues with meditating, which would normally spell an end to dreams of cultivation. Well, unless he managed a sort of moving meditation, which some cultivators do.
That isn't the case, though, because he doesn't even need to try in order to cultivate. He's just constantly drawing in Qi, purifying it, and condensing it without any conscious thought. Without the need for a scripture to guide him. Without the need for pills, reagents, or even a spot rich in Qi. All he has to do is exist. It's truly unfair, but Bai Yáo has never expected fairness from the world. She's nowhere near stupid enough for that. The mere existence of cultivation proves that the world is unfair. Some are blessed with the ability. Most aren't. In a fair world, would a single person be able to wipe provinces from the map?
True, that is a power level far beyond anyone in the Green Horse Kingdom, but there are monsters able to do so in this world. Elder Daiyu, Bai Yáo knows, could annihilate a city with a little work if she felt the need. No doubt Perseus will one day have similarly monstrous power, and that day is probably not too far away. Bai Yáo prefers more elegant methods of wielding power than simple brute force, personally. The elegant calligraphy involved in preparing formation talismans entices her. It's an artist's style of combat, but it is more than just a combat art. A formations specialist, once they know what they're doing, is an extremely valuable force multiplier for a Sect. They just need time and resources, and they can do many things.
A skilled fighter is more immediately valuable, and doesn't burn through resources as quickly, but they're less flexible. Still, they're flashy enough that most people prefer straightforward fighters, much to Bai Yáo's frustration. As an Outer Disciple, she struggles daily to get enough contribution points to buy resources and instructional manuals to further her knowledge of formations in hopes of one day rising to the ranks of the Sect's Inner Disciples. As a Core Disciple, and not just any Core Disciple, but a Core Disciple who is also the direct disciple of one of the Sect's strongest members? Everything will change for Bai Yáo in a heartbeat.
She will have weekly allotments of contribution points for merely existing. More points than she would normally earn in an entire season. She will be given resources in addition to that, not to mention what her master sees fit to give her. Which may be very little, admittedly. Elder Daiyu might resent Bai Yáo for being forced upon her as a direct disciple. But it will not be nothing, for it would be unseemly for an Elder to neglect their disciple.
Personalized instruction. Free access to the Sect's libraries filled with scrolls containing enough knowledge on formations to keep Bai Yáo busy for the next decade just with the theory. And, if she plays her cards right, she might convince Perseus to aid her somewhat. She saw his frown when she mentioned cultivation pills, and she knows that there are those who disdain such aids to their cultivation for the impurities they can carry. He might change his mind, of course, but if he decides not to use cultivation pills at all…if he disdains the idea of allowing impurities to enter his utterly pristine body, void of any mortal taint, then Bai Yáo will have a chance to benefit.
It would be an insult to their master for Perseus to throw away whatever resources he receives from her hand, and she will gift him resources. He is too valuable for anything less to occur. He is strong, capable, and deadly, with a substantial natural advantage when it comes to cultivation, one he will easily be able to leverage. His spirit roots are perfect. He will easily leap ahead, and resources will only push him further. He has a full set of nine perfect spirit roots. The maximum number that someone can have for a single element. His intake of Qi, his enhanced speed and strength, everything about him will make him a desirable pupil for Elder Daiyu.
But if he doesn't want cultivation pills…well, Bai Yáo will ask if he is willing to share his bounty with his poor junior sister. Some might call such an action manipulative. She will accept the label, if she must. She has spent too long scraping by trying to gather resources as an Outer Disciple to scorn such an easy method of getting what she needs to advance. If, of course, he is willing. She isn't going to bother pushing, not when he is far more valuable to the Sect than her.
He is a future powerhouse. When he rises to the heights of this world, the Sect will be sheltered in his shadow, should they play their cards right. Even after he Ascends, they will be connected to him, which will provide the Sect with prestige as the place where an Immortal began his journey towards the Heavens. Bai Yáo's value to the Sect will take longer to pay off. She will, even if she Ascends, always be the second Immortal to come from the Sect. Proof, of course, that their teaching methods have value, but there is prestige in being first. Bai Yáo is content with the lesser prestige, though. She will make her own path to the Heavens, and have her own story instead of being dragged into a greater story, if she has her way.
It will be a quieter story. A calmer one. But that's fine, too. Everyone has their own path to the Heavens, and if Bai Yáo's story is insufficiently impressive for her to find the way to Ascension and Immortality? So be it. She can live with that, and die without regrets. Perhaps there will be other benefits to being Perseus' junior sister, even if he declines to share his allotment of cultivation pills with her. She saw him twitch in interest when she mentioned harvesting reagents from slain Spirit Beasts. If he intends to advance his cultivation through such methods, he will need someone trained in the craft of harvesting them. Fortunately, Bai Yáo is familiar with how to do so properly, and surely her brother disciple will be willing to allow her a small share of the spoils in return for ensuring that the rest are pristine? She will even make formation tags and other such items for him in trade, to sweeten the deal.
Many reagents useful for formation-crafting are less useful for cultivation, so he benefits by giving her things of no use to him in return for the tools she can make, while she gets the vital practice she needs to advance her craft. It is a deal that everyone benefits from. For the moment, though, Bai Yáo sets such thoughts aside for another day. For the moment, she will need to finish gathering her things for the journey, and she will need to have her best robes available for when she meets her new master. Perhaps she should see if she can get something suitable for Perseus as well. He is unlikely to have other garb available, after all.
Bai Yáo smiles as she goes about packing her things and going through her family's house, eventually finding a set of good robes which should fit her new martial brother fairly well, though not perfectly. Made from blue silk, they belonged to her younger brother at one point, but he has long since replaced these robes and he is rarely home anyway, now that he has four trading ships to manage. She leaves him a note and a Sect token authorizing compensation from her funds, and departs with her prizes gathered. Soon, she will be the direct disciple of an Elder, and many new doors will open for her. Her current weakness will be a thing of the past.
True, there will be many who will spread unsavory rumors about her, given how weak she is at the moment. Normally, an Elder wouldn't take someone who isn't at least about to enter Wellspring Formation. Much less Elder Daiyu. There will be those who imply that she has joined the throng of fairies that flock around the Elder, hoping to catch her eye. That her talents were sufficiently impressive that Elder Daiyu decided that she was good for more than a single night's amusement. That she has sold her body for the Elder's attention. So what?
Bai Yáo has no particular interest in finding a husband and having children one day. Her love is her craft, above all else. Besides, soon enough she will have the free time and resources necessary to advance her cultivation until those who doubt her hold their tongues in her presence, and she cares little about those who whisper behind her back. If they cannot insult her to her face, they are not worth her attention. Of all the Elders of the Silver Wave Sect, Elder Daiyu is the second closest to stepping beyond Foundation Establishment. If people think that she is valuable to Elder Daiyu, all the better. It will give Bai Yáo a little more protection.
As for smearing her reputation…Bai Yáo will rise above such things when she displays her talents as a formations mistress. Then it won't matter what people say about her, because she will be more valuable to the Sect than the rumormongers are, and so their whispers will be quelled by her strength. All she needs is time, and as a cultivator, she has time aplenty. She strides out into the sunlight with her pack at her side, her brother's robes folded beneath her arm, and a smile on her lips. Patience is her best weapon. That and preparation. She has been offered an opportunity by the Heavens, and she will cultivate it…but she will walk her own path, in the end. Perhaps that will diverge from Perseus' sooner rather than later. She will see.
==========================
Stormbreaker Coast Province, Green Horse Kingdom
I hold in the urge to cry out in excitement as the flying sword cuts through the air, while also suppressing the desire to puke. This is nothing like riding a pegasus, or the one trip I had in a plane, with only Zeus' master bolt keeping me safe. There's none of the turbulence throwing me around that I had in that plane ride, but there's also none of the security of being on a pegasus.
I can talk to pegasi. I can negotiate with them, and they're usually pretty good about keeping me on their backs in even the worst weather. Blackjack especially, after all of the flying we've been doing together over the years. I'd trust a pegasus to get me anywhere, and I'm really hoping to find one in this world, even if that's probably a fool's hope. Riding on a flying sword, though, I feel uneasy. I'm riding a chunk of metal screaming through the air at the speed of a bullet with the only thing keeping me on it being my sense of balance. At least my reflexes are good, and I'm not suffering from my usual ADHD issues. I'm too busy making sure that I don't get thrown off of the sword and sent for a swim. Because while I might really like swimming normally, if the seas are full of things like that big sea serpent I killed earlier? Yeah, I can skip going for a swim in the open ocean, at least for the moment. I'll go later. Once I'm a bit less queasy.
Seriously, I'm kind of glad I haven't eaten recently. The occasional rocking of the sword makes my stomach roil in rebellion every single time it happens. Sure, some sort of magic worked into the sword might keep the wind from throwing me off the flying piece of metal, but it's not protecting me from the thing wobbling. Bai Yáo doesn't seem to have that issue, but then again, she's riding with Elder Heng. Since his sword was only big enough for him and a single passenger, though, he got me a flying sword all for myself. He did inform me, however, that as he would have to control the magical item remotely, that I might experience some minor instability in my flight, given his 'low stage of cultivation.'
If nothing else, this sword ride has made me motivated. Motivated to cultivate until I never have to have someone else control a flying sword for me again. Because while this method of travel is fast and convenient, damn does it suck harder than Zeus calling another vote on whether or not to kill me. Well, almost. There's not much that can suck harder than that. Still, it makes a damn good try, so I'll give it credit. It can be second-worst. That's fair, right? I continue wrestling my stomach as I rocket through the air for the next two hours, winning only by virtue of having an empty stomach…which is beginning to make its dissatisfaction with that fact known. Then the sword starts slowing down, and I gasp in relief as the world comes back into focus around me, with our destination clearly visible ahead. A massive, sprawling, fortified city. One of its sides is to the ocean, with long docks extending out into the waves.
The docks have junks, as I've remembered the local ships are called, tied up at them, ranging from tiny little things barely more than fishing boats to leviathans the size of aircraft carriers. The city itself is laid out in five rings, with each ring having its own set of walls. The largest ring is the outermost one, and is filled with what looks like huts, with some larger buildings that appear more professionally made. It definitely looks like the local slum district, though. At least in comparison to everything else. The huts are solidly built, and the larger buildings are multi-story behemoths sprawling over the equivalent to multiple city blocks. Nothing close to New York's skyscrapers, but titanic compared to the stuff I saw back in Sapphire Cove.
"The Outer Sect," Bai Yáo gestures towards it. "Outer Disciples live there, and work at the outposts of the Pavilions within its borders, if we aren't taking missions outside the Sect." I nod as I observe the 'Outer Sect,' wondering if that's where we're headed. "I lived there prior to this, though I won't be any longer, thanks to Elder Heng." I sigh in a bit of relief. Sure, I've slept rougher than that before, but I'm not exactly interested in spending my time in a hut. Call me spoiled, but I'm used to modern comforts, alright? Sure, I'm not exactly used to fancy stuff, given how I grew up, but roughing it in a hut every day would be pushing it.
The next ring has a bunch of decent-sized houses in it, with those houses having modest gardens next to them, and I look at it, judging it in comparison to the Outer Sect. I'm guessing that more important people live there. People who might not like having a kid who lived in an apartment in New York City living around them. I feel my jaw tense, anticipating the sort of jeers I tended to get back at Yancy and other fancy schools that I got sent to back in the day. There are large buildings here as well, and these ones are fancy, dripping with decorations.
"The Inner Sect," Bai Yáo shakes her head firmly. "That's for Inner Disciples, those who have advanced enough that they're more valuable to the Sect. Mostly in the early stages of Wellspring Formation. The main bases of each Pavilion are there, and the Inner Disciples work there. Outer Disciples who want to earn contribution points can tend the gardens for the Inner Disciples, providing them with Spiritual Herbs. It's a pretty good source of contribution points, if you don't mind getting some dirt beneath your nails. If you catch the right Inner Disciple in a good mood, they might give you some pointers to help you advance."
I nod slowly, taking it all in. The disparity in wealth is familiar to me. I've seen it often enough, back when Rachel was dragging me to whatever parties her dad threw, in order to keep him from sticking her with some guy from another wealthy family. Still, the thought of having people serve me is…a bit disquieting. Usually, I'm the guy running errands. Like whenever the gods send me on some quest for…whatever they want done today.
The third ring is smaller than the Outer Sect or Inner Sect, but the buildings there are mansions, with large gardens of their own. Each one is decorated differently, some extravagant, some simple, but all of them are gigantic, and all of them have people moving around tending to the gardens and the rest of the grounds. Except for the ones that are obviously empty, of course, which lack decoration and activity. I gesture towards it, kind of hoping that isn't our destination, because I'm not sure I'd be comfortable in a mansion like that.
"The Core Sect. Core Disciples live there, most of them in higher stages of Wellspring Formation, though there's a couple in Foundation Establishment," Bai Yáo explains energetically, her eyes fixating on the sprawling mansions. "Outer Disciples work there to tend to the grounds and the Spiritual Herbs in order to free the Core Disciples up for cultivating and taking on Sect missions like hunting dangerous Spiritual Beasts." That makes me relax a little. I might not like having servants…but I can understand the idea of having people do some chores for you so you can do something important for them. It's like the chore swap back at camp. I'd volunteer to take the pegasi out for exercise in return for another cabin taking my turn working in the strawberry fields, and stuff like that. Not exactly the same…but close enough that I can convince myself, which is probably what matters. There's still the mansion problem, though.
I look at the Inner Sect with a bit more interest. I could live in one of those houses comfortably enough, I'm sure. Or even in the huts in the Outer Sect. It would be more familiar than whatever kind of displays of wealth those mansions have in them. "The Core Sect isn't our destination either," Bai Yáo shakes her head. "One of the Elders will take you as a direct disciple."
She gestures, a sweep of her hand indicating the fourth and fifth sections of the city, which are each about the same size as the Core Sect, but with far fewer buildings. The fourth section houses several dozen palaces, each of them customized with decorations, colors, and gardens presumably shaped by the occupant's wishes while the entirety of the fifth section is taken up by a massive palace which seems to be carved entirely from abalone, given the look of it. "The Elder's District houses the Elders, their direct disciples, and their servants. The direct disciples usually have to spend their time studying and taking on Sect missions, so the servants maintain the homes of the Elders while the Elders run the Sect. The fifth section belongs to the Sect's Patriarch." I nod slowly, taking in the massive expanses of the palaces and their extensive grounds, each of them dwarfing the 'Pavilion outposts' in the Outer Sect.
The flying swords start descending towards the fourth section of the city, into an area where there's a massive pool of silvery water, the surface of the pool agitated and kicking up waves, but not a single drop of the water is flung away from the pool. Which is closer to the size of a lake, really. I watch as the spray flies around, but whenever it's about to go beyond the lake's boundaries, the water seems to hit an invisible wall, and then it flies back into the lake of its own accord. It seems to radiate energy, and I feel myself perking up as something inside me drinks that power in, drawing it into my body. I feel something in my gut, but not nausea. Nor is it the familiar tug of me using my powers, of energy being pulled out of me. No, this is energy being pulled into me. A reversal of the usual tug. I feel like I'm in the really deep ocean just being near that lake, and it takes me a moment to notice the people gathered along the shore.
There's a few dozen people, all of them in elaborate robes similar to Elder Heng's, but fancier, clearly not meant for traveling like his robe is. I look over them, and all of them have that look of hunger in their eyes that was in his. I valiantly resist the urge to cover my ass, because this really feels like I'm a piece of meat in front of an army of starving lions. The fact that three of the people among them are women doesn't help. Elder Heng strides away from his flying sword as it settles to the ground and walks towards what are presumably other Elders, while Bai Yáo walks over to me as I stumble a bit getting off of my flying sword. I really need to be capable of steering one of those things myself, if I'm going to be riding them again. And unfortunately I have a sinking feeling that I'm going to be riding one in the not-so-distant future. Probably more than once. My stomach rebels at the thought, and my appetite is suddenly gone.
"The Elders have gathered to evaluate you," Bai Yáo says, nodding towards where Elder Heng is speaking with a few of the other Elders.
"Any of them I should be covering my ass around?" I ask, and instantly want to take the words back. I might have been prompted by the looks they were giving me, but it's still probably something of a faux…whatever it was. I never really learned the proper term for it. A social screw up of some sort. However, she doesn't take offense, and a moment later, Bai Yáo smiles and laughs a little, nodding towards a couple of the men among the Elders. One is…fat. That's the only word to describe him. He has half a dozen chins and waddles around, his belly a massive sphere of pure lard. Bai Yáo grimaces at the sight of him, while I almost flinch at that particular thought, stepping a bit away from him as he leers at me.
"Elder Bohai," Bai Yáo explains. "He is known for liking pretty boys, and while you aren't the conventional sort of local beauty, some like it exotic. He's one of them. Unfortunately, he's also the Patriarch's younger brother, and fairly strong, so if you get another offer, you should take it before he has a chance to offer to take you as a student." I nod sharply. From what she's said, I'm at the level of one of the Inner Disciples…and significantly weaker than any of the Elders, and my own feel for their power bears that out. Given how Zeus behaved in some of the myths, which seems to be pretty accurate, given the existence of Thalia…and Jason…and the reason for Mr. D's punishment, I'm familiar with what a power disparity can mean. "He also fancies himself a seducer, though, so if you're the disciple of another Elder, the worst you have to fear from him is occasional propositions. If you accepted his offer to teach you, though, he'd consider it proof that his handsome looks had made you fall in love with him." She frowns.
"What about the others?" I ask, and Bai Yáo sighs before gesturing discreetly to a tall, thin woman with a sharp face, her eyes narrowing as she looks me over, before she smiles. I don't like that smile one bit. I'm starting to feel like I might have made a mistake by trusting my gut…but my instincts are still saying to stay here instead of running for the ocean as fast as possible. Maybe because I'd just get caught, or maybe because there's something I don't know which will change this entire affair. Or maybe just because I have seaweed for brains, as Annabeth kept on saying. Whichever one it is, I decide to have faith in my gut, which is rapidly approaching its credit limit at the Bank of Trust.
"I really shouldn't be telling you this, admittedly, but Elder Jie has a thing for younger boys, and her students are known to essentially be her harem. One of the issues with becoming her student is that she frequently uses the boys learning from her as…well, not cauldrons, but they certainly don't benefit much from dual cultivating with her. She's also a bit pushy when she likes the look of someone. Others will respect a no, but she thinks that it means that she just needs to ask again, maybe a bit more insistently. Possibly with a gift attached if she's really interested in someone. She's not interested in boys that are too young, which is why she's still alive, but she doesn't relent once she's interested. You're an exotic sort of pretty, and your talent would definitely interest her." That reminds me of Smelly Gabe, and my fists almost clench, only long practice keeping my self-control intact. "The best is Elder Daiyu. She's close to stepping beyond Foundation Establishment, and is known for taking good care of her direct disciples, though she only takes the most promising," Bai Yáo nods towards a beautiful woman.
Her hair is long and jet-black, a lustrous sheen to the waterfall of her locks, which catches the light of the sun as it tumbles to her knees, unbound and wild. She doesn't bother wearing jewelry except for a necklace made from black pearls, and her robes are a rich blue…much like my own new robes, which I got from Bai Yáo. It took me a few moments to figure out how to put them on properly, but them being blue pretty much instantly sold me on them. Sure, blue clothing isn't quite as awesome as blue food, but it's still blue, so it's instantly superior to other colors of clothing, right? I mentally nod, the reasoning flawless. Her skin is a pale white, but not the sort of pasty, unhealthy white you get from a lack of sun. No, this is a creamy white that has a bit of a shine to it, and her lips are full and red. Her robes are cut in such a way that my eyes get drawn involuntarily to her rather ample chest, before I jerk them back up to her face, but not before she notices me…and she chuckles, a smile suddenly on her lips.
"You found a polite one, didn't you, Brother Heng?" She's suddenly right in front of me, her eyes, which are a rich sapphire, boring directly into mine. "And he has such pretty eyes, too, added to all of that potential. Very well, you've convinced me," she says to Elder Heng, who is standing by her side in a heartbeat. "Besides, it would be a shame to have his opinion of us ruined by certain…pigs among the ranks," she frowns at Elder Jie. "Come away with big sister Daiyu, little ones, and I will guide you to the heavens," she says, and her voice is melodic, filled with the sound of waves against the shore, a familiar and soothing sound. It sounds just like the beach at Montauk, in fact, and I relax. For some reason, I feel that I can trust her.
"Alright," I agree, and she reaches out her hands. I take one, Bai Yáo taking the other, and she pulls us towards the shore of the silver lake, away from the gathering of the other Elders, several of whom appear frustrated, while Elder Heng just looks smug as he watches her pulling us away. When we've gotten far enough away for her to be satisfied, Elder Daiyu releases our hands and turns to us, looking at me in a less creepy form of interest, her eyes sparkling.
"So, you're my new little brother and sister," Daiyu says, and Bai Yáo looks like she's about to speak, only for Daiyu to raise a hand. "No. I'm too young to be a parent, and certainly too young to be getting called Elder as if I'm some old relic like most of that lot, so I'm certainly not about to be called that by my own students," she says happily. "You can call me Senior Sister Daiyu, and I'll be sure to take good care of you, juniors," she pats me on the head, ruffling my hair affectionately. For some reason, I relax into her touch, while Bai Yáo just looks confused. "As your new teacher, you can rely on me to look after you and make sure that you have everything you need. All I ask in return is that you work hard on cultivating and never follow the demonic path. Demonic cultivation is bad, and you certainly shouldn't be doing it," she waves her hand dismissively, and Bai Yáo looks as if she's been repeatedly smacked with a fish.
"But…but…etiquette?" Bai Yáo attempts, and Daiyu simply raises an eyebrow.
"As your senior, and the Sect's second-strongest cultivator, I believe that I am the one who decides what is appropriate. If any of those fossils wants to take offense, I'll just meet them in the arena and slap their faces until they crawl back to their palaces in shame," she laughs, and I relax a bit more. There's the casual feel of…well, willingness to fight that I usually only feel around other demigods. It's kind of like having a bit of a taste of home in front of me. "So, I saw that you apparently don't even need to try in order to cultivate, little brother, but I don't know the reason why, or your name. You also look like you don't come from these lands. Would you care to satisfy this big sister's curiosity and tell her why you're so talented, besides your flawless spiritual roots, of course?" She perks up, seeming to vibrate with energy, and I take a moment to grasp my train of thought, which was trying hard to derail and focus on her chest.
Seriously, it seems to have its own gravitational field. I need to yank my eyes back up every few moments now that she's facing me, and when she was leading us around the lake's shore…well, I now understand the meaning of the phrase 'love to watch her go.' Seriously, it's like she's one of Aphrodite's kids, except hit with the pretty bat a few dozen times.
"His father is a Heavenly Immortal," Bai Yáo speaks up, and Daiyu's eyes widen as she looks at me, her mouth slightly open in shock. "This Bai Yáo does not remember the entirety of his father's name or titles, but she can inform you that her martial brother's name is Perseus."
"Percy, most of the time," I correct. "It's mostly been my enemies calling me Perseus. Back in my early schooling, I started going by Percy because people made fun of me for having a fancy name like Perseus, and then my mortal stepfather started mocking me for it as well, and I just never got out of the habit of going by Percy." I'm not sure why I'm spilling my guts to two people I barely know, but it just feels like I can trust Daiyu, somehow. Maybe it's the feel of watery power emanating from her, which makes me feel like I'm basking in the sun while floating on the waves, or something like that. Or maybe the silver lake is making me loose-lipped.
"Hmph," Daiyu snorts. "Well, then you should get used to using your proper name again, because this Daiyu won't tolerate her little brother using a lesser name than the one his honorable father gave him," she insists, patting me on the head once more. I breathe in, and brace myself for what's probably going to be an awkward few years if I'm spending them around her, because I can tell she's not going to back down…and admittedly it does make me relax a bit more, though I still can't tell exactly why it's making me relax.
"My mother named me for one of my cousins," the words spill from my lips. "Most Hellenic heroes didn't get a happy ending…but he did. Most demigods don't live to old age, but she gave me my cousin's name in the hopes that I'd get a happy ending too, rather than getting eaten by monsters when young like most of us do." Seriously, the number of adult demigods I've ever met is absolutely tiny, if you don't count the Romans. Hellenic demigods and old age don't seem to be things that mix, which I can confirm. Given all the monster attacks, the two wars I've fought, and everything else…well, I can understand why most of us die early.
Live fast, die young, seems to be the motto for those of us who came about because an Olympian contributed to our birth. Sure, my father has done his best to look after me, but he can only do so much on land…and I'm not willing to go and live under the sea permanently, like he's offered a few times. Not least because of the trouble he'd get in with Zeus over it.
He's offered to build me my own palace, even to give me my own sea to rule in his name, and he's made it clear that it's a standing offer. I don't doubt his love for me, and I understand why he had to keep his distance when I was young. Though for the first ten years of my life, that was because of the punishment Styx inflicts upon immortals who break oaths on her. Only Zeus seems immune to that particular punishment, but from what I learned, Dad got the full year comatose followed by nine years as a mortal in another country as a consequence of me being born, and then I caught further consequences for being born. Sometimes, being a demigod sucks especially hard, rather than just sucking in general.
"This Daiyu will ensure that you get a happy ending, little brother," Daiyu grips my shoulders, her eyes boring into mine. "If it costs her own life, she will see your mother's hopes fulfilled, Perseus. Trust your big sister's word on that, if you trust nothing else. Now then, what is your father's name, if you don't mind sharing?" She asks hopefully, and I relax.
"Poseidon, who is Earthshaker, Stormbringer, Father of Horses, King of the Oceans, Hellenic god of the seas," I reply, and once more, thunder splits the skies. Power seems to fill the air, but different from the normal power when I invoke dad. Like I've drawn the attention of another god, but this attention feels…smaller. Much smaller. Closer to Elder Heng's level, if anything.
I feel something in me swelling, and I feel the…glass orb, for want of a better term, that's within my stomach crack a little in response, the sudden surge of unfamiliar power somehow answering a challenge. A moment later, the unfamiliar attention fades away, with a sense of…apology coming from it, and I feel the influx of power coming from the silver lake increase a little, Daiyu looking at me curiously. Then her eyes narrow, and she looks out towards the water.
"Hmph," Daiyu scowls. "It seems that the dragon that manages these waters has forgotten her manners, looking at my little brother like that. I'll have to go smack some respect back into her, and I'll drag her back so she can kowtow ten thousand times in apology, little brother. Little sister, show Perseus to my palace while I go deal with this errand. I'll be back soon, and I'll make sure that she offers a proper tribute to show her contrition." I'm about to protest, but Daiyu is gone before I can say a word, striding away purposefully and swiftly, crossing large distances in moments. Bai Yáo takes my hand and leads me away from the silver lake, the other Elders seeming to have dispersed during the conversation with Daiyu, vanishing without a trace.
Daiyu's palace is nearby, at least. We only have to walk three or so miles to get to it, and then we're at the gates of a massive, sprawling building which has somewhat eclectic theming to it, with one section apparently made from a black, lustrous stone, while another section is made from gleaming abalone, and yet another section seems to be carved out of ice.
"Elder Daiyu is famous for her whims with regard to the construction of her palace," Bai Yáo explains. "She uses little of it at the moment, and so leaves it unchanged from the original format, but whenever a whim catches her fancy, usually when she sees something she likes while out on a mission, she'll demolish a section and have it rebuilt in the style that she's come to be interested in. She'll likely interrogate you about what the architecture of your people looks like, and then she'll insist that a section of the palace be built just like that. She's a bit strange like that, according to those who talk about her. Still, her strength lets her get away with doing most things, especially since the Patriarch won't hear a word against her."
That…honestly sounds pretty good. And pretty much like me a lot of the time, given how I tend to interact with most of the gods. I'm something like ninety-five percent sure that my dad's been running interference for me most of the time these last few years, keeping someone from smiting me or turning me into an animal. Which I seriously do not recommend. One time as a guinea pig was more than enough. One hundred percent advise against. That also reminds me that I need to get home and start some kind of review service for demigod vacation destinations, because Circe's spa is definitely getting a negative review. Right after I give similar reviews to Tartarus, the Labyrinth, Polyphemus' island, Charybdis, Scylla, the Underworld, Mount Othrys, the Garden of the Hesperides…man, it's kind of depressing how many places I've gone that I don't want to go again. Because sure, I can say I'm well-traveled, but it's the bad kind of well-traveled if you know what I mean. The really bad kind.
Trips to Atlantis are a bonus, of course, the few I've gotten, and some of the Mediterranean was nice…mostly the parts without monster attacks. Or quests. Or Hercules. I feel myself scowling at the memory of that particular bastard. I might not have met him, but I don't really need to, given the sword I carry. He hurt Zoe, and given that I spent an entire quest alongside her, I'm inclined to take her side on the matter. Nothing that I was told about Hercules after the fact particularly changes my mind about him, either. He sounded like a dick, acted like an asshole, and needs his ass kicked worse than Ares, so far as I'm concerned.
At least Ares fought Typhon during the Titan War, while Hercules was sulking on his island while all of the demigods were out fighting and dying. Some of us were dying too young. He's supposed to be the god of heroes, but when we needed him, he abandoned us. That asshole can go sulk on his island and I'll keep on ignoring him, preferably. With the way he's acting, he deserves to spend his time on that island, so far as I'm concerned.
For now, though, I turn my attention to the palace, and consider what I'm going to tell Daiyu when she comes back. Because I'm pretty sure that she's not going to get the New York look right, and it would feel kind of wrong to try and recreate New York-style buildings around here, but it might be possible to get the Atlantean look, or the Hellenic look, right. Maybe I spent a bit too much time around Annabeth, but I think that this place would look better with some Corinthian columns. Sure, Annabeth liked Ionic, but since Corinth was my dad's city, I've always preferred the Corinthian style. I'll have to think about it a bit further. For now, though, I have two priorities. Getting some food and finding a place to sleep. Once I've handled those, I'll think about less important things like architecture. "Think we can find some food around here?" I ask Bai Yáo, and she nods, striding towards one of the servants tending to the grounds, the man looking up from the garden he's weeding to have a quick conversation with her. A few moments later, we're on our way to the kitchens, to finally ease the growling from my stomach.
As we walk into the palace, I straighten. This might not be home…but it's the first step on the road to getting home, and the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, or something like that. Right now, it feels a lot like I'm taking that single step into the future, facing the unknown. It feels strange…but it also feels kind of good. Adventure lies ahead, and I'm about to greet it. Hopefully, it'll be a bit less life-threatening than the usual sort of adventure demigods get to go on, but I suppose I won't know until I'm actually experiencing it. With that cheery thought, I plunge into the corridors of the palace, eager to finally set my stomach at ease. Philosophy can wait for later, as can worrying about tomorrow. Today, all I intend to do is settle into a brand new bed and get some decent sleep, once I have a full belly at least. That's enough to be getting on with.
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Afterword: This second chapter brought to you by an anonymous commissioner. Percy is finding himself with adventure ahead in a brand new land, and there is a wide variety of things that might await him in the future...