CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO

₊˚࿐࿔ 𖥧‧₊⚘ ❀༉. 𓏲｡

The Three Fates themselves took Luke's body.

Sylvie had never seen the old ladies before, and she wished she never did. They were a terrifying sight—three ghoulish grandmothers with bags of knitting needles and yarn.

She knew the Fates had their job and were good at it, and Sylvie could respect that. But she hated them. It was their fault Florian was gone. Her big brother could still be here if they hadn't cut his life string. She hated them, and she didn't care how unfair and childish that sounded.

They gathered up Luke's body, now wrapped in a white-and-green Greek robe, sandals, and helmet. Hermes unwrapped Luke's face and kissed his forehead. He murmured some words in Ancient Greek—a final blessing.

"Farewell," he whispered. Then he nodded and allowed the Fates to carry away his son's body.

As they left, Sylvie thought about the Great Prophecy. The lines now made sense to her. The hoaxed one shall make a decision at last. The "hoaxed one" had nothing to with Percy or Luke, like everyone originally thought. It was Sylvie in the end.

For their foil can change his ways so fast. Because Sylvie made the choice to fight Eurydice—her foil—and let her die, Sylvie changed the tides of the final battle. If Eurydice had been able to get to Luke, she would've changed his mind, and Luke would've never made the heroic decision that he did.

A hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap. The hero was Luke. The cursed blade was the knife he'd given Annabeth long ago—cursed because Luke had broken the promise and betrayed his friends.

A single choice shall end his days. Percy's choice, to give Luke the knife, and to believe, as Annabeth had, that he was still capable of setting things right.

Olympus to preserve or raze. By sacrificing himself, he had saved Olympus. In the end, Percy wasn't really the hero. Luke was.

Sylvie was glad she finally made that clarification in her mind. Moments later, Sylvie's knees buckled finally. Percy caught her, but Sylvie cried out in pain, because he'd grabbed her broken arm. The limb was bending in a completely opposite direction.

"Oh, gods," Percy said, voice quivering. He brushed back the hair out of her face gently. "Sylv, I'm sorry."

"It's alright," she croaked as she passed out in his arms.

"She needs help!" Percy yelled.

"I've got this." Apollo stepped forward. His fiery armor was so bright it was hard to look at, and his matching Ray-Bans and perfect smile made him look like a male model for battle gear. "God of medicine, at your service."

He passed his hand over Sylvie's face and spoke an incantation. Immediately the bruises faded. Her cuts and scars disappeared. Her arm straightened and she sighed in her sleep. Percy felt himself breathing again.

Apollo grinned. "She'll be fine in a few minutes. Just enough time for me to compose a poem about our victory. 'Apollo and his friends save Olympus.' Good, eh?"

"Thanks, Apollo," Percy said. "I'll, um, let you handle the poetry."

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Sylvie slept for a good few hours, though she didn't know it. What she also didn't know, was that her mother, Demeter, stayed at her side the entire time. Maybe to protect Sylvie, or make sure she didn't throw herself into trying to restore Olympus. Sylvie didn't know. She could only tell that when she woke up, there was a lingering scent of a rainstorm over a field of jasmine. Sylvie knew then. She knew it had been her mom.

Sylvie's pained mind—swirling thoughts of her dead brother, her dead sister, the atrocities she'd seen, the amount of friends she'd lost to this war, the two new scars she gained from it—had miserable put together that her mom had been by her, but then left her alone. For a moment, that was all Sylvie wanted: her mom.

But Sylvie did a quick look around once, and realized it was because the Olympian Council convened.

By the time she walked in, Zeus was talking—some long speech about the bravery of the gods, etc. She stood next to Percy, who instantly sensed her presence and soaked in the sight of her. It was hard to be so devastated over the previous battle when Percy was grinning at her like that.

"Miss much?" she whispered.

"Nobody's planning to kill us, so far," Percy whispered back.

"First time today."

Percy cracked up, but Grover nudged Percy and Annabeth nudged Sylvie, because Hera was giving them a dirty look.

"As for my brothers," Zeus said, "we are thankful"—he cleared his throat like the words were hard to get out—"erm, thankful for the aid of Hades."

The lord of the dead inclined his head. He had a smug look on his face, but Sylvie figured he'd earned the right. He patted his son Nico on the shoulders, and Nico looked happier than Sylvie had ever seen him.

"And, of course," Zeus continued, though he looked like his pants were smoldering, "we must... um... thank Poseidon."

"I'm sorry, brother," Poseidon said. "What was that?"

"We must thank Poseidon," Zeus growled. "Without whom... it would've been difficult—"

"Difficult?" Poseidon asked innocently.

"Impossible," Zeus said. "Impossible to defeat Typhon."

The gods murmured agreement and pounded their weapons in approval.

"Which leaves us," Zeus said, "only the matter of thanking our young demigod heroes, who defended Olympus so well—even if there are a few dents in my throne."

He called Thalia forward first (who was thankfully free from the rock and had her legs healed since), since she was his daughter, and promised her help in filling the Hunters' ranks.

Artemis smiled. "You have done well, my lieutenant. You have made me proud, and all those Hunters who perished in my service will never be forgotten. They will achieve Elysium, I am sure."

She glared pointedly at Hades.

He shrugged. "Probably."

Artemis glared at him some more.

"Okay," Hades grumbled. "I'll streamline their application process."

Thalia beamed with pride. "Thank you, my lady." She bowed to the gods, even Hades, and then limped over to stand by Artemis's side (okay, maybe her legs weren't completely healed).

"Tyson, son of Poseidon!" Zeus called. Tyson looked nervous, but he went to stand in the middle of the Council, and Zeus grunted.

"Doesn't miss many meals, does he?" Zeus muttered. "Tyson, for your bravery in the war, and for leading the Cyclopes, you are appointed a general in the armies of Olympus. You shall henceforth lead your brethren into war whenever required by the gods. And you shall have a new... um... what kind of weapon would you like? A sword? An axe?"

"Stick!" Tyson said, showing his broken club.

"Very well," Zeus asked. "We will grant you a new, er, stick. The best stick that may be found."

"Hooray!" Tyson cried, and all the Cyclopes cheered and pounded him on the back as he rejoined them. Sylvie honestly had no clue what they were doing here, or what they actually did, but she felt it was too late to ask. She just pretended like she knew what was going on.

"Grover Underwood of the satyrs!" Dionysus called.

Grover came forward nervously.

"Oh, stop chewing your shirt," Dionysus chided. "Honestly, I'm not going to blast you. For your bravery and sacrifice, blah, blah, blah, and since we have an unfortunate vacancy, the gods have seen fit to name you a member of the Council of Cloven Elders."

Grover collapsed on the spot.

"Oh, wonderful," Dionysus sighed, as several naiads came forward to help Grover. "Well, when he wakes up, someone tell him that he will no longer be an outcast, and that all satyrs, naiads, and other spirits of nature will henceforth treat him as a lord of the Wild, with all rights, privileges, and honors, blah, blah, blah. Now please, drag him off before he wakes up and starts groveling."

"FOOOOOD," Grover moaned, as the nature spirits carried him away.

Sylvie figured he'd be okay. He would wake up as a lord of the Wild with a bunch of beautiful naiads taking care of him. Life could be worse.

Athena called, "Annabeth Chase, my own daughter."

Annabeth walked forward and kneeled at her mother's feet.

Athena smiled. "You, my daughter, have exceeded all expectations. You have used your wits, your strengths, and your courage to defend this city, and our seat of power. It has come to our attention that Olympus is... well, trashed. The Titan lord did much damage that will have to be repaired. We could rebuild it by magic, of course, and make it just as it was. But the gods feel that the city could be improved. We will take this as an opportunity. And you, my daughter, will design these improvements."

Annabeth looked up, stunned. "My... My lady?"

Athena grinned wryly. "You are an architect, are you not? You have studied the techniques of Daedalus himself. Who better to redesign Olympus and make it a monument that will last for another eon?"

"You mean... I can design whatever I want?"

"As your heart desires," the goddess said. "Make us a city for the ages."

"As long as you have plenty of statues of me," Apollo added.

"And me," Aphrodite agreed.

"Hey, and me!" Ares said. "Big statues with huge wicked swords and—"

"Alright!" Athena interrupted. "She gets the point. Rise, my daughter, official architect of Olympus."

Annabeth rose in a trance and walked back toward Sylvie and Percy.

"Way to go," Sylvie told her, grinning.

"You deserve this," Percy cheered.

For once Annabeth was at a loss for words. "I'll... I'll have to start planning... Drafting paper, and, um, pencils—"

"Silviana Duvall," Demeter declared. Her voice wasn't very loud, but it was warm and welcoming that everyone seemed to hang onto what she was going to say next. Especially Sylvie.

She squeezed Percy's arm for extra courage before walking up to her mother's throne. Sylvie kneeled at Demeter's feet.

"Oh, please," said Demeter. "We're far past the need for those manners."

Sylvie blinked, cheeks blushing from pink to red quicker than light. She stood back up and stared patiently at Demeter. A part of Sylvie wanted to look at Percy, just because she wanted to see him, but that didn't feel like a good choice right now. She kept her eyes glued forward.

"My daughter, words cannot describe how proud we all are of you. How proud I am," Demeter smiled. "You have shown power far greater than any of my other kids have harbored in the past centuries. You have persevered, even in times of injury and despair. You have made choices that weren't easy, but were necessary in order to help save Olympus. You have loved, you have lost, and I am happy to call you my kin."

Sylvie swallowed, wondering where this was going. The amount of kind words given to Sylvie was almost too much to bear. The gods (well, minus Hera and probably Zeus) were nodding and grinning in agreement with Demeter. Sylvie's face was still red, and her hands nervously intertwined with each other.

"I know what you want and what you have prayed for more than anything," continued Demeter. "I am sorry it took me so long to finally do this, but Apollo and Dionysus have finally come to an agreement. Yes?"

Apollo and Dionysus? Sylvie wondered. What does this have to do with them? And why was her mother looking at them expectantly, waiting for their compliance?

Apollo and Dionysus glanced to each other, and both nodded—one enthusiastically and one lazily. They nodded again, at Demeter this time, and she smiled thankfully.

"Yes. Well, Silviana," Demeter looked back at her, "they have agreed to join their forces in medicine and madness to heal your father, Conan Duvall."

Sylvie's heart stopped. Or maybe it sped up. Or maybe she was imagining everything and none of this was real. All a dream.

"I'm... sorry?" Sylvie's voice wavered.

"After we finish our stuff here on Olympus," Apollo explained, "we're gonna cure your father of his mind."

Sylvie's mouth parted slightly, though she didn't notice. "You—Really? You mean it?"

Dionysus sighed, like it was hassle to speak up again. "Yes, Silver Duvet. Whenever you come back home after camp, he will be there, healthy and waiting for you."

Sylvie's throat felt dry, like it was closing in on her. She couldn't decide how to feel, or what she felt. This was the greatest news she'd received, but also the most odd. Her entire life she'd lived with her dad the way he was. She didn't even know there was an option for him to be cured. She didn't know there was a way to only have good days with him.

Sylvie couldn't stop herself this time: she looked back at Percy. He was beaming wildly at her, looking happier than ever for Sylvie's gift. He nodded, and Sylvie turned back around.

"Uh—I," Sylvie tried to speak. "Thank you—"

"That is not all, Silviana Duvall," another voice spoke up.

Poseidon. Everyone froze. Sylvie was too scared to move, or even make a sound. Behind her, Percy was so shocked that he starting choking. It was the only noise she could hear. That, and Annabeth slapping him on the back to get him to stop.

"I have decided to grant you my blessing." Then, a little quieter, "In more ways than one." He returned back to his booming volume: "Flowers need water to grow, don't they? So I figured I could gift you my ability of water enhancement—to increase your strength, speed, stamina, and skill when you're in contact with water."

Flowers need water to grow, Sylvie echoed in her head, don't they?

This couldn't be real. This wasn't actually happening.

"Oh, and you like animals, right?" Poseidon waved his hand as if he was having an afterthought. "You know what? Take the ability to communicate with sea creatures too, while we're at it."

Was this just easy for Poseidon to do? Sylvie simply didn't understand. On the inside, she was quite literally freaking out. Maybe on the outside too, actually. Sylvie hadn't moved since Poseidon addressed her. She was paralyzed in... something.

"Dad, that's awesome!" Percy's voice broke through the dead silence. He realized he just blurted out and clapped a hand over his mouth, going quiet again. Sylvie was pretty sure he whispered a, "Sorry," but she was also pretty sure she was still dreaming.

Either way, Percy's voice snapped her out of her daze. Sylvie stumbled toward Poseidon's throne. "Th-Thank you, Lord Poseidon," she kneeled at his feet. "This is... an honor. I'm so—Thank you. Truly."

"You have earned my gracious blessing," Poseidon's powerful voice shook her to the core. "Harbor it well."

Above, on his throne, Poseidon waved his hand. Sylvie felt a surge of power rushing into her like a wave. It doused whatever was left of her weakness or miserable thoughts. When the flood died down, Sylvie looked down at herself. At her hands.

She didn't look any different. Now that the blessing was complete, she didn't feel any different either. Truly, again, she wondered if this was actually happening. It was like Mount St. Helens all over.

"Rise, Sylvie Duvall, a heart so true," Poseidon said, so Sylvie did. Her steps didn't stumble this time. She tilted her head back up at him graciously. Poseidon grinned at her, then looked behind at Percy, and winked at him.

"Thank you," Sylvie said again, a final time.

More stable than before, Sylvie made her way over to her friends. Though, Sylvie was partially sure she was only able to because the walk felt like a whole new trance of its own. Here Sylvie was, actually going back to Percy. Going into this war, Sylvie never thought she would be able to do that again.

"Sylvie, that was amazing," Annabeth said, awed. "Congratulations!"

Percy was so mystified that he couldn't even find the words to speak. He roved his eyes all over Sylvie, like he was seeing her for the first time all over again. Just when Sylvie thought he'd finally decided on what to say—

"PERCY JACKSON!" Poseidon announced. His name echoed around the chamber.

All talking died down again. The room was silent except for the crackle of the hearth fire. Everyone's eyes were on Percy—all the gods, the demigods, the Cyclopes, the spirits. Percy walked into the middle of the throne room. Hestia smiled at him reassuringly. She was in the form of a girl now, and she seemed happy and content to be sitting by her fire again.

First Percy bowed to Zeus. Then he kneeled at his father's feet, like Sylvie had just been doing.

"Rise, my son," Poseidon said.

Percy stood uneasily.

"A great hero must be rewarded," Poseidon said. "Is there anyone here who would deny that my son is deserving?"

Sylvie's going to be honest—if anyone actually piped up, she was going to lunge at them, full-throttle. God or not. Percy had done too much for him not to be deserving of the best gift imaginable.

Luckily (for either Sylvie or the gods), not a single god protested. They never agreed on anything, but they did agree on this.

"The Council agrees," Zeus said. "Percy Jackson, you will have one gift from the gods."

Percy hesitated. "Any gift?"

Zeus nodded grimly. "I know what you will ask. The greatest gift of all. Yes, if you want it, it shall be yours. The gods have not bestowed this gift on a mortal hero in many centuries, but, Perseus Jackson—if you wish it—you shall be made a god. Immortal. Undying. You shall serve as your father's lieutenant for all time."

Percy stared at him, stunned. "Um... a god?"

Zeus rolled his eyes. "A dimwitted god, apparently. But yes. With the consensus of the entire Council, I can make you immortal. Then I will have to put up with you forever."

Sylvie felt sick.

"Hmm," Ares mused. "That means I can smash him to a pulp as often as I want, and he'll just keep coming back for more. I like this idea."

Sylvie didn't like this idea.

"If it's truly what he wants," Demeter said, but she was looking back at Sylvie.

Percy glanced back at Sylvie too. But she couldn't meet his eyes. She was pale and her heart had dropped all the way down her chest. She had to remind herself the functions of breathing again.

Suddenly, Sylvie understood why Percy had once acted so weird to her two years ago when Artemis asked her to be a Hunter. It was a gut-wrenching idea, the person you loved choosing immortality, leaving you behind to age away without them. It was why Sylvie denied Artemis's offer. She denied immortality for Percy, but now she wasn't so confident he would do the same.

Percy didn't look away from Sylvie until about five minutes later. He faced the gods confidently.

"No," he said.

Sylvie was pretty sure the world flipped upside down. It made her keel, and Annabeth had to stop Sylvie from tripping over. The Council was silent. The gods frowned at each other like they must have misheard.

"No?" Zeus said. "You are... turning down our generous gift?"

There was a dangerous edge to his voice, like a thunderstorm about to erupt.

"I'm honored and everything," Percy said. "Don't get me wrong. It's just... I've got a lot of life to live. I'd hate to peak in my sophomore year."

The gods were glaring at him, but Percy didn't care. He just looked back at Sylvie, like the shining of her eyes and the growing grin on her face made up for the gods' anger. To Percy, it did.

"I do want a gift, though," Percy looked back at the Council. "Do you promise to grant my wish?"

Zeus thought about this. "If it is within our power."

"It is," Percy said. "And it's not even difficult. But I need your promise on the River Styx."

"What?" Dionysus cried. "You don't trust us?"

"Someone once told me," Percy said, looking at Hades, "you should always get a solemn oath."

Hades shrugged. "Guilty."

"Very well!" Zeus growled. "In the name of the Council, we swear by the River Styx to grant your reasonable request as long as it is within our power."

The other gods muttered assent. Thunder boomed, shaking the throne room. The deal was made.

"From now on, I want you to properly recognize the children of the gods," Percy said. "All the children... of all the gods."

The Olympians shifted uncomfortably.

"Percy," Poseidon said, "what exactly do you mean?"

"Kronos couldn't have risen if it hadn't been for a lot of demigods who felt abandoned by their parents," Percy said. "They felt angry, resentful, and unloved, and they had a good reason."

Zeus's royal nostrils flared. "You dare accuse—"

"No more undetermined children," Percy said. "I want you to promise to claim your children—all your demigod children—by the time they turn thirteen. They won't be left out in the world on their own at the mercy of monsters. I want them claimed and brought to camp so they can be trained right, and survive."

"Now, wait just a moment," Apollo said, but Percy was on a roll.

"And the minor gods," Percy said. "Nemesis, Hecate, Morpheus, Janus, Hebe—they all deserve a general amnesty and a place at Camp Half-Blood. Their children shouldn't be ignored. Calypso and the other peaceful Titan-kind should be pardoned too. And Hades—"

"Are you calling me a minor god?" Hades bellowed.

"No, my lord," Percy said quickly. "But your children should not be left out. They should have a cabin at camp. Nico has proven that. No unclaimed demigods will be crammed into the Hermes cabin anymore, wondering who their parents are. They'll have their own cabins, for all the gods. And no more pact of the Big Three. That didn't work anyway. You've got to stop trying to get rid of powerful demigods. We're going to train them and accept them instead. All children of the gods will be welcome and treated with respect."

Zeus snorted. "Is that all?"

"Percy," Poseidon said, "you ask much. You presume much."

"I hold you to your oath," Percy said. "All of you."

Percy got a lot of steely looks. It was Athena who finally spoke up: "The boy is correct. We have been unwise to ignore our children. It proved a strategic weakness in this war and almost caused our destruction. I move that we accept the boy's plan."

"Humph," Zeus said. "Being told what to do by a mere child. But I suppose..."

"All in favor," Hermes said.

All the gods raised their hands.

"Um, thanks," Percy said. "Oh! And you, uh... you have to promise you won't smite me for what I'm about to do. Please."

"There's more?" Ares asked, appalled.

Zeus glared. "Perseus—"

"No," Aphrodite begged, "let him."

"I—" Zeus looked like he already wanted to smite Percy before Percy even did anything. But Aphrodite looked so desperate that Zeus almost feared she would smite him. "Very well then, boy. Do what you will."

Percy didn't waste any time.

Confusing everyone (except maybe Aphrodite, for some reason), Percy pivoted away from the gods' thrones. He was marching away from them. Call Sylvie a little crazy, but she kind of thought Percy was walking toward her. There was a gaze in Percy's eyes that Sylvie could only describe as decision.

In front of everyone—the Olympians, the minor gods, the half-bloods, the nature spirits, the Cyclopes, the other creatures who dwelled on Olympus again—Percy made it to Sylvie.

And then they were kissing.

With all the tension that was built up between them, with the high strung context of the moment, Sylvie should have seen it coming. He was gazing down at her with such wonder, such reverence, that she should have known it was inevitable. Yet, for some reason, it took her wholly by surprise. Just Percy pulling Sylvie in by his hands on her face, tugging her closer, and then Sylvie Duvall was being kissed.

Their lips met and Sylvie's mind went fuzzy with it. She tightened her fists in Percy's shirt, just to keep her legs from giving out. This was so alive. This. This kissing Percy. This rush of water nurturing Sylvie's entire body like a deprived plant. Flowers need water to grow, don't they?

His hands slid up to cup the backs of her jaw. They stood in the middle of Olympus, ignoring all the shocked gasps and awed murmuring. It was only them here—the taste of Percy's lips on Sylvie's and the inevitability that came with it. Their sharing of breaths and heartbeats.

Sylvie knew then that this was how it was meant to be. Everything they'd been through had led to this moment. Just him and her. This was the realest thing Sylvie had ever known. The most unforgettable thing. This, this, this.

Sylvie pulled back when she started to feel woozy. Percy let her, but only barely. Percy let her break the kiss, but he didn't let Sylvie back up.

His hands instinctively flexed as they held Sylvie's jaw. He swept his thumb across Sylvie's cheek. It was just a gentle stroke of the rough pad of his finger, but Sylvie sagged under it, yielded to the touch. Her heart pounded in her chest in a rushing storm and she felt him warming her all over. This was an intimacy she'd never known.

Then, Percy smiled at her. If Sylvie wasn't lightheaded before, she definitely would be now.

"You made all of this worth it," whispered Percy, pressing his forehead against hers.

Stunned silence followed. For once, Sylvie wasn't anxious about it. She wasn't scared. She wasn't timid. She was with Percy.

"Yes!" Aphrodite cheered, and everything around Percy and Sylvie resumed.

The two demigods stepped away from eachother, panting. Their faces had matching pink tints dusting their cheeks. They were both so equally giddy that Sylvie almost wanted to kiss him again. Though, that was probably pushing it.

"Well, that... just happened," Hades blinked.

Hermes barked out a joyous laugh. "It sure did!"

"I've been waiting," grinned Apollo.

Poseidon and Demeter seemed a mixture of flustered and proud, though Sylvie couldn't tell which. Probably because she was only looking at Percy. The gods seemed so unimportant now that he was right here.

"Yes, wonderful," Hera grimaced, not looking as pleased. "Can we adjourn now?"

"Right." Poseidon snapped out of it, blinking. He called, "Honor guard!"

Immediately the Cyclopes came forward and made two lines from Percy and Sylvie to the door—an aisle for them to walk through. The Cyclopes came to attention.

"All hail, the Heroes of Olympus!" Tyson said. "My big brother and my best friends!"

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BAILEY YAPS...

I blushed writing this chapter ngl

Tag yourself I'm Aphrodite. This chapter is her anthem. Percy tweaking when Sylvie passes out. Poseidon giving Sylvie his blessing "in more ways than one." Percy denying immortality for her. Percy KISSING SYLVIE IN FRONT OF EVERYONE EVEN THE GODS AS PART OF THEIR GIFT TO HIM.

"Cheers chanted, cause they said there was no chance, trying to be the greatest in the league. Where's the trophy? HE JUST COMES RUNNING OVER TO ME!!!"

Anyways I'm calm

Sylvie's siblings may be dead by at least her dad is getting healed, she has water enhancement, and the newfound ability to speak to sea creatures!!!

Anyways since we're nearing the end let me plug my tiktok (flayedcrankwp) cus I may or mayn't be posting stuff about future plans for the Wild Franchise (or so I am calling it)