Today was the day. The day Thalia Grace would pledge herself to the Hunters of Artemis and leave everything—and everyone—behind.

And it was so easy. Almost too easy. There was nothing left to keep her rooted here. Luke had betrayed them all, twisting into something dark and unrecognizable. Annabeth was safe with Percy, no longer needing Thalia’s protection. The world kept moving forward, and this was her chance to finally escape its burdens, to carve out a new path where she didn’t have to worry about prophecies, betrayal, or the crushing weight of expectations.

But then there was you.

You sat there on the edge of the bed, eyes wide and shimmering with unshed tears, your entire posture radiating silent, desperate pleas. You weren’t saying a word, but you didn’t have to—your expression was enough. You didn’t want her to go. You didn’t want her to leave you behind. And suddenly, it wasn’t so easy anymore.

Thalia swallowed hard, fixing her gaze on the floor rather than meeting your eyes. If she looked at you now, she might hesitate. She might waver. And she couldn’t afford that. Not when she had already made her choice.

“Come on,” she murmured, her voice quieter than she intended. “You know I have to go.”