𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑'𝐒 𝐃𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐑, luke castellan

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞

As the weeks passed, Luke grew accustomed to life at the camp.

Perhaps it wasn't precisely what he had always dreamed of, but he found contentment in being safe from monsters and not constantly running for his life.

Though he missed Thalia, he still had Annabeth, whom he had adopted as a little sister. Annabeth, despite her tender age, seemed to navigate the complexities of camp life with a sense of wonder. Her ability to see everything through fresh eyes had facilitated a smooth integration into the camp, and she relished every aspect of her new life. To her, it all seemed like something out of a storybook—the pegasi, the strawberry fields, and camp life itself.

Luke also had started forming connections with some campers from his cabin. Among them, Jon, the cabin leader, was a friendly and kind guy. Sometimes, Luke couldn't quite figure out how Jon could be friends with Keira.

Keira, in contrast to Jon, didn't seem to be putting much effort into making Luke feel comfortable at Camp. Despite his training yielding results and considerable improvement since that first battle, the girl brought out the worst in him. She constantly challenged him, underestimated him, and made comments that irritated Luke.

Keira appeared to have everyone under her influence at the camp. When crucial decisions arose, everyone turned to her, and almost every camper was drawn to her. Even a son of Ares had inquired from Luke how he managed to convince Keira to be his sword-fighting trainer because he longed to spend that much time with her.

What bothered Luke the most about Keira was her keen awareness of the influence she held and her adept manipulation of it. Partly due to the intelligence bestowed upon her as a child of Athena and partly due to what Luke deemed a "lack of moral values," she knew exactly how to manipulate situations and read people to ensure everything went according to her plan. In a way, she seemed unbeatable, always calculating her every move, and nothing ever slipped through her fingers.

On a warm August morning, Luke overheard a boy from his cabin, Marcus Greenwood, arguing with Melissa Smith, a daughter of Athena, as they arrived at the Dining Pavilion for breakfast about which cabin would win in a volleyball match.

"You guys are all brains, but you're not athletic at all. There's no way you could beat us," Marcus argued while climbing the stairs to the Pavilion.

"Come on, seriously?" Melissa chuckled. "We're strategy masters. Without it, you're just flailing around all impulsive and stuff. No chance you beat us."

"Oh, you're on! See you this afternoon on the volleyball court," he challenged. She took no more than ten seconds to accept, and each of them went to their respective tables to gather their siblings and convince them to play that afternoon.

Luke didn't need to be asked twice if he wanted to play. Firstly, he humbly acknowledged being very good at playing volleyball. Secondly, they were playing against Athena, and the idea of facing Keira in his element filled him with adrenaline. The possibility of defeating her in something and taking her down a notch was closer and more tangible than ever.

＊＊＊

The sun shone brightly over the volleyball court as the cabins of Athena and Hermes faced off in an exhilarating match. Tension filled the air as campers from other cabins gathered around the court to attentively watch the game. Some took sides, supporting either of the two cabins. Meanwhile, Liam, a child of Demeter, was preparing to narrate the match. In the background, as the teams were positioning themselves, the song "Playing with the Boys" by Kenny Loggins played.

Both teams stepped onto the court. The Athena campers, numbering six, exuded determination and a notably focused demeanor. Keira had her hair neatly tied in a beautiful braid and was dressed in high-waisted jean shorts paired with the typical Half-Blood Camp shirt. On the Hermes side, Jon led the line of his team. Behind him were Marcus, Luke, and three more daughters of Hermes. Liam announced each player one by one as they entered the court.