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𝙷𝚆𝙰𝙽𝙶 𝚀𝙸𝚀𝙸 - 𝙻𝙰𝙳𝚈 𝙽𝙴𝚁𝙰'𝚂 𝙲𝙻𝙰𝚂𝚂 - 𝟸:𝟶𝟶 𝚙𝚖
𝙽𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝚍𝚊𝚢

I stretched my arms above my head, the warm sun beating down on my skin as I gazed out at the tranquil lake. Lady Nera's Canoe Training class was one of my favorite parts of the day at Valencia Academy. Not only did I get to spend time near the water, but I also got to indulge in some friendly banter with our lovely instructor.

I dove into the lake. Slicing through the water with ease, my demigod strength propelled me forward. The water sprites appeared in front of me.

I swam deeper, the water sprites - tiny, mischievous creatures with shimmering scales and playful giggles - darted around me, fascinated by my presence. They tickled my skin, their whispers echoing in my mind, sharing tales of ancient civilizations and hidden treasures. I laughed, feeling carefree and alive, my worries washed away by the soothing waters.

I broke the surface, laughing as I tossed my head back, sending droplets of water flying in all directions. Lady Nera's shrill cry pierced the air, "Qiqi, what do you think you're doing?! You know better than to swim in the lake without permission!"

I just grinned, treading water as I called back, "I'm just taking a dip my lady!"

Lady Nera's eyes narrowed, her hands planted on her hips. "You know better than to swim in the lake without permission, especially with sprites around! You're a demigod, not an aquatic creature!"

I chuckled, feeling a thrill of mischief. "Ah, but I'm Poseidon's daughter, remember? The sea god's blood runs through my veins. A little lake water won't hurt me, I was practically born to swim everywhere."

Lady Nera's face turned a lovely shade of crimson as she launched into a diatribe in Greek, her words a mix of scolding and exasperation. Some of my classmates stared, wide-eyed, as if I'd committed a heinous crime. I just shrugged, unfazed.

As I swam back to shore, the water sprites clustered around me, their whispers growing softer, their scales shimmering in farewell.

As I emerged from the water, I felt the sun's warmth on my skin, and before Lady Nera could even take a step towards me, I was dry and dripping with confidence. My instructor's rant continued, her words flying rapid-fire as she berated me for my recklessness.

"You know what," she said, finally, "class is dismissed. Get out of my sight, all of you!"

As my classmates began to disperse, Ming, the demi titan daughter of Nyx, appeared beside me, her dark hair windswept, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Nice move, Qiqi. Really stupid, but nice."

I shrugged, grinning. "Hey, I'm a daughter of Poseidon, what can I say?"

Ming rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, you're a sea goddess in the making. But still, swimming in the lake without permission? Not your brightest move."

I shrugged, a grin still plastered on my face. "Hey, I'm a daughter of Poseidon. I can handle a little lake water."

Ming snorted. "Sprite friends? You're going to get yourself killed by some mischievous water creature one of these days."

I laughed, nudging her playfully. "That's what makes life interesting, right? The uncertainty?"

Ming shook her head, falling into step beside me as we walked away from the lake. "You're a piece of work, Qiqi."

I grinned, feeling the warm sun on my skin, the lake's secrets whispering in my mind, and the thrill of mischief still coursing through my veins. "That's what makes me, me."

As we walked away from the lake, I felt a prickle on the back of my neck. Someone was watching me, but when I turned around, there was no one there. I listened to Ming's ranting, half-distracted by the sensation.

It wasn't until we were walking through the Valencia Academy's halls that the feeling went away, replaced by the usual din of students and professors. I pushed it to the back of my mind, focusing on the rest of my day.

But as I glanced over at Ming, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was lurking just beneath the surface, waiting to pounce.

𝙸𝙼 𝙷𝚈𝚄𝙽𝚂𝚄𝙺 - 𝙺𝙸𝚁𝙾𝚂 𝙲𝙻𝙰𝚂𝚂 - 𝟸:30 𝚙𝚖
𝚂𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚢

The sun beat down on the Valencia Academy archery range, turning the air thick and heavy. Sweat trickled down my neck, mingling with the scent of pine and freshly cut grass. Kiro, our centaur instructor, ranted about the importance of focus and precision, his voice booming over the clanging of arrows against the targets.

"Demigods, you are not mortals! You are the children of gods, imbued with their power! Do not let laziness cloud your aim! Do not let insolence dictate your actions!" He thundered, his hooves stomping the ground.

I snorted, suppressing a laugh. Kiro, bless his heart, always had to bring up the divine lineage, but most of us, including myself, couldn't be bothered to care. My father, Hades, the god of the underworld, had never visited me years . He hadn't even acknowledged my existence. My mother, a beautiful mortal woman, died and he didn't even bat an eye. I felt nothing but hatred for him, for his blatant disregard, for his indifference.

My gaze drifted across the training field. Hyunshik, the son of Eros, with his dazzling white wings and almost inhuman accuracy, had just released an arrow. A perfect bullseye, but it went astray.

It veered off course, aimed directly at Minjae, a blur of speed and grace, who was standing behind the target. But before the arrow could find its mark, Haruki, my best friend and the son of Nemesis, screamed, "Duck!" Minjae dodged just in time, sending a startled gasp into the air.

Hyunshik, mortified, scrambled towards Minjae, apologies pouring out of him like a waterfall. "I'm so sorry! I swear it was an accident! The wind must have shifted."

Minjae, ever the composed son of Hermes, shrugged it off, flashing a playful smile. "It's alright, Hyunshik. Your aim is a bit off today, isn't it?"

Kiro, however, was not amused. "This is not a playground for you children! Focus! Precision! Remember who you are!" he bellowed.

My turn came, and I stepped forward, my anger simmering.

I took a deep breath, and my hands began to tremble. This time, it wouldn't be about skill. I needed something more. 

Something... darker.

I whispered a silent prayer to the shadows, my father's domain. A sliver of darkness snaked through my vision, guiding my arrow. It flew true, finding its mark in the bullseye with a resounding thwunk.

Claps erupted from my fellow classmates. Even Kiro nodded in approval. But I felt nothing. Only a hollow emptiness.

"Good job, Hyunsuk," Haruki said, clapping my shoulder. He was the only one who knew about what I felt towards my father, the only one who understood my pain.

I moved at the back of the class to watch another student get called on. As I watch my fellow classmate aim his arrow, before I felt someone staring at me. Not the usual, judgmental stares that I was used to, but something chilling, almost suffocating. I turned, my heart pounding. It wasn't a ghost, not like the ones I was used to in the Underworld, but something far more menacing.

"Hades..." it whispered, and everything stopped.

Literally stopped.

The arrow midair stopped from flying, my other classmates frozen in place as if nothing was happening.

Then, I saw it. It was a woman's figure. The figure was cloaked in shadow, her face hidden beneath a hood. She stood a few feet away, her gaze unwavering.

The hooded woman, shrouded in darkness, was walking towards me, her steps silent and deliberate. She moved through the frozen students, passing them like they were nothing more than statues, before disappearing from a shadow.

I spun around, searching for her, but found nothing. Everyone was focused, still as statues. The light breeze rustling through the trees was the only sound, except for a faint whisper that echoed in my mind.

"Kill Hades."

The words reverberated through my skull, sending a shockwave of terror through me. Then, suddenly everything turned back to normal.

"Hyunsuk? Hyunsuk!"

The air suddenly felt thick, heavy with a suffocating presence. My heart hammered against my ribs, my breathing shallow and erratic. I felt a cold hand touch my shoulder, and I flinched, whipping around. Haruki, his face etched with concern, asked, "You okay? You looked pale." 

I blinked a couple of times before answering. "I... I don't know," I stammered, my voice shaky. "I think I just got a little lightheaded."

It was a lie, of course. I knew I wasn't okay. The hooded figure, the chilling whisper, the frozen bodies – it was all too real. The threat was real, and it was aimed at my father.

I was terrified. I didn't know who that figure was, but I knew one thing – there was a threat. And the chilling words she whispered echoed in my mind, "Kill Hades."

"It's probably the heat," Haruki said, and he gave me a reassuring pat on the shoulder. The chill, the whisper, the hooded figure – it was all gone.

I stood there, my mind reeling, my heart pounding. "Kill Hades." The words echoed in my head, a dark and ominous reminder of the simmering hatred I felt towards my father.

I looked at Haruki, who looked like he knew what happened. Yet, he just gave me a reassuring smile.

"It's alright, Hyunsuk," he said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Everything is fine."

But I couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. It was like a shadow, lurking in the corner of my eye, a warning that something was about to change, and I was about to be swept up in a storm I never saw coming.

"The goddess of nightmares and goddess of halucinations working together?
Great job, aunt Pasithea and  Melinoë "

˜"*°• Author's note •°*"˜
1.6k+ words, totally did not write this during a student council meeting.