Percy did his best to make sure George didn't follow them to the temple, not because he found the man annoying, but rather because he wouldn't want Flynn's dad to die for their cause.
"Go ho, man," he said to the red-haired nace. "Take care of your family. You don't have to—"
"You protected my family," George countered. "Now I'll help you protect yours."
He watched George push his horse to keep up with them and sighed. They were on the best horses they could find and were going full throttle for the next two days.
The hills and fields rolled by in a flash. He could already feel the saddle rash that would haunt him after this.
Thankfully he was done with the final touches on the weapons he planned to use in the temple: sound, smoke, and flash grenades enhanced using magical materials, healing dicine, and protective shields for everyone.
This would make the journey faster hopefully, as they couldn't stop to fight monsters and needed to heal their horses to prevent exhaustion.
They would also need to fight on their horses and keep moving at a trot for at least sixteen hours.
"Are you feeling up to this, kid?" Hugo asked on his left. "This is going to be hard on your body."
Percy simply nodded, the wind in his face made it a bit uncomfortable to keep his mouth open. And he really believed he was ready for the ride.
After five hours though, his legs felt like putty and his chest hurt for so reason. His arms and legs too. It was strange, since he wasn't using these body parts to ride the horse, but maybe his understanding of riding was just limited.
When evening ca and they finally stopped to water and feed the horses, his body felt like he just got out of a cage match.
Thalos picked him up as he wobbled towards a tree and set him down with his blankets.
"Try to get so early sleep, I'll wake you up when it's ti to eat."
"Thanks, dad," he murmured and soon fell asleep. In the land of dreams, he had no rest though.
He dreamt he was running with Viper, who was actually half snake this ti. Then he was back in Dema with Hecate and the rest of his family.
He rubbed Aella's head and fed her so peas, which suddenly turned into cake. Then he turned to Jason who was suddenly an adult. The dream really threw him around.
That was why he wasn't surprised when Hecate transford into Nyx, the goddess of night that reincarnated him into this world.
Her skin was pale and glittering like diamonds, her inky-black hair cascaded down her back. She wore the clothes Hecate had just been wearing, a bright yellow dress.
"Not my style but it'll have to work," Nyx said with a frown. "How have you been, Perseus? It's nice to et you again."
He blinked a few tis and slowly his rationality returned
Viper is dead, Aella can't turn peas into cake, and Jason is a kid.
He looked around the dining room and it was suddenly empty. The table was carved from a single white stone, as were the walls and roof. This was the Fortress, smooth and clean white stone.
"How am I back here?"
"I don't know, it's your dream," Nyx shrugged. "I only stepped in when the boundary between today and tomorrow grew near."
"Wait, what do you an tomorrow? Does that an I've been sleeping for five hours?" Percy asked incredulously.
He was only supposed to sleep for around two hours, then they would continue riding. If he overslept then—
"Relax, Thalos is carrying you on his horse," Nyx assured him. "We have a short ti to talk before tomorrow cos."
He understood what she ant. She had only from 11:00 to 11:59 to speak to him. The boundary between today and tomorrow. This was likely related to her powers as the personification of night and her job as Keeper of the Hollows.
"What did you want to talk about? Must be pretty important for you to finally rember little ol' ."
Nyx stared at him evenly.
"Get over yourself. I was watching, just didn't feel like speaking. Good job with the water system. I rewarded you pretty well that day, didn't I?"
She gave him a Rank 3 reward that helped him get closer to finishing his Spellcore.
"Thank you very much," he said begrudgingly. "So what's up? We're getting close to the temple, you wanna give so help?"
Nyx nodded, leaning forward to rest her arms on the stone table.
"My first piece of advice will be to keep moving. I don't know where, but there's a trap in the temple that drags you into the earth instantly if you stop moving."
"Well that's terrifying. Gaia was really cooking sothing wicked."
"Her priests actually. On that note, her new priests, the Basker family, will follow the west entrance. There's another on the east, behind the temple."
"How did they never find the second entrance?" he asked.
"It's hidden, even the person that told where it was swore oaths to never reveal it," Nyx explained. "But he managed to reveal how it was opened. When the sun rises in the south and rests in the east the door will open."
This was all a bit dodgy and too convenient for him. It also made no sense since the sun rose in the east. Was this still a dream? And how could he know this was Nyx?
"Where'd you find soone that knew where the hidden entrance was? I thought this temple was forgotten?"
Nyx chuckled lightly.
"You don't know the type of enemies you'll gain the attention of by knowing that. Just trust , and if you can't we can replay so of your mories. Let's start with your puppeteer girlfriend—"
"Okay, okay, I believe you," he grumbled. All he had been worried about was that it was soone impersonating Nyx.
"No one can impersonate without my knowledge," Nyx said calmly. "Besides, you're privileged to be part of the select few people that know my face."
Percy nodded, it made a lot of sense. Anyone that knew her face from back when she was human was either a god or dead from old age.
"Thanks for the warnings. Is there anything else you want to do for you in there?"
"No, I trust your intuition," Nyx said, rising to her feet. "It was nice to et you again, Percy. I hope you're happy."
He gave her an awkward nod and smile.
"Happier than I've been in a while. Especially since I got to see your majestic beauty again."
"Nice try," Nyx scoffed, then she turned into a shadow and faded away.
Percy looked around the vast stone dining room, taking in the ancient silence. Then he opened his eyes and the dream was over.
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