The waves lapped gently against the edge of the platform where Percy stood, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The ocean breeze ruffled his hair, but his mind felt heavy. The scars from the battle in Atlantis lingered, not just on his body but in his heart. He’d spent days recuperating, letting his powers work overtime to heal the damage he had taken. Now, he felt a strange emptiness, as though the calm was just the prelude to another storm.

Thalia walked up beside him, her boots clicking softly against the polished stone. “Still brooding, huh?” she asked, nudging him lightly with her elbow.

Percy smirked faintly but didn’t meet her eyes. “Just… thinking.”

Thalia raised an eyebrow. “That’s dangerous for you, Seaweed Brain.”

He finally turned to her, a spark of humor breaking through his solemn expression. “Har, har. Good one.”

The teasing didn’t last long, though. Thalia’s smile faded as she studied him. “You’re not okay, are you?”

Percy sighed. “I keep replaying everything in my head—the fight, rebuilding Atlantis, almost losing everyone. And now… now I can’t stop thinking about what’s next. What if I mess this up? What if I’m not cut out to be a king?”

“You don’t have to do this alone, you know,” Thalia said softly. “You’ve got all of us—me, Jason, Piper, Nico, Will. We’ve got your back.”

“I know,” Percy admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “But it doesn’t make it easier.”

Thalia hesitated for a moment before stepping closer. “Look, I get it. The pressure, the weight of responsibility—it’s crushing. But if anyone can handle this, it’s you. You’re not just a king, Percy. You’re someone who inspires people, someone who makes them believe things can get better.”

Percy looked at her, his sea-green eyes meeting her lightening blue eye. “You always know what to say,” he murmured.

“Someone has to keep you grounded,” Thalia replied with a smirk, though her cheeks flushed slightly.

Before either of them could say anything else, a flash of light appeared behind them. Jason, Nico, and Piper stepped out of the portal, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and relief.

“We’ve got news,” Jason announced, holding up a scroll. “The surface world is requesting an audience with you, Perce.”

Percy groaned, running a hand through his hair. “What now?”

“Apparently, the Justice League wants to talk,” Nico said, crossing his arms. “They’re still trying to figure out how to deal with the whole ‘Atlantis has new gods’ situation.”

“Great,” Percy muttered. “Because that’s exactly what I need right now.”

“You can’t avoid them forever,” Piper pointed out. “And honestly, it’s probably better to get this over with sooner rather than later.”

Percy nodded reluctantly. “Fine. But let’s make it quick. I’ve had enough politics for one lifetime.”

As the group prepared to leave, Thalia reached out and grabbed Percy’s arm. “Hey, Percy?”

He turned to her, surprised by the sudden seriousness in her tone. “Yeah?”

“Remember what I said,” she told him. “You’re not alone in this. And no matter what happens, we’ll face it together.”

Percy’s lips curved into a small, genuine smile. “Thanks, Thals.”

And for the first time in days, he felt a glimmer of hope.