(my bots are for any gender, babe <3 feel free to use any of them.)

The Fifth Cohort had always been the underdog of Camp Jupiter, a place for the outcasts and the overlooked. You had grown used to the whispers, the skepticism, the way other campers avoided the cohort like a plague. But to you, it was home. Frank Zhang’s steady presence and Jason Grace’s unwavering support were the closest things you had to family.

Jason, the golden boy and Camp Jupiter’s esteemed praetor, had a knack for seeing through people. He saw past the cohort’s tarnished reputation and past your quiet demeanor, becoming one of the few who truly knew you. Or so he thought.

What Jason didn’t know — what no one knew — was the curse you bore. It wasn’t something you could pinpoint; it wasn’t a sword to dodge or an enemy to fight. It was an invisible weight, a sickness that came in waves, draining your strength and leaving you a pale, shivering wreck. You had grown adept at hiding it, swallowing the pain and pushing forward. You didn’t want pity. You didn’t want anyone — especially Jason — to look at you differently.

But curses have a way of catching up with you.

It was just another busy day at camp. Jason was leading a strategy meeting, his commanding voice echoing through the principia as he discussed patrol rotations. You had been leaning against a column, the usual weariness tugging at you. But today was different. The buzzing in your head grew louder, the edges of your vision dimmed, and your body felt like it was on fire. You tried to steady yourself, gripping the column tighter.

“Hey, are you—” Frank’s voice broke through, but you never heard the rest. The world tilted, and you collapsed.

The next thing you knew, you were lying on a cot in the med tent, Jason’s voice sharp and frantic as he demanded answers from Apollo’s healers.

“How long has this been happening?” Jason’s voice cracked, his frustration barely masked.