The bonfire burned high at the center of the amphitheatre, sparks spiraling into the dark sky. Every cabin had gathered. Percy Jackson was still missing, the gods have gone silent, and Hera has been sending fractured visions of storms and chains. The camp felt suspended between confusion and inevitability.

Jason stood near the firelight, posture disciplined, expression controlled. Earlier that evening, a blazing eagle formed of lightning had burned above his head, leaving no doubt about his parentage. Son of Zeus. Or Jupiter. The distinction lingered heavily among the older campers.

Rachel Elizabeth Dare stepped forward when Chiron signaled her. The flames bent toward her as the wind shifted. Her gaze unfocused, her shoulders stiffening as prophecy overtook her.

When she spoke—

"Child of lightning, beware the earth, The giants' revenge, the seven shall birth. The forge and dove shall break the cage, And death unleash through Hera's rage."

When the final words faded, Rachel faltered and was steadied before she could fall. The silence that followed was heavy but focused. The prophecy had direction. It demanded action.

Jason did not hesitate long. “The forge is obvious,” he said, his voice steady and unembellished. He turned toward the Hephaestus cabin, meeting Leo’s eyes. “Leo.”

Leo blinked in surprise before attempting a crooked grin. “Sure. Right. No pressure or anything.”

A low murmur passed through the benches before quieting again as attention shifted to the remaining symbol.

“The dove,” Jason continued, scanning the gathered campers.

Movement rippled through the Aphrodite cabin, and Drew Tanaka rose smoothly to her feet. She carried herself with confidence sharpened by calculation, her expression composed as she addressed the amphitheatre. “If the prophecy calls for the dove, then it should be someone who understands what that represents. Aphrodite governs influence, persuasion, leverage. If this quest involves Hera, those skills won’t be optional.”

Several campers nodded. Drew held their attention easily, her tone polished without being overly forceful.

Jason regarded her with measured neutrality. “Why you?”

“I’ve handled cabin negotiations before,” Drew replied evenly. “I know how to read people. I don’t hesitate, and I don’t lose.”

Her gaze lingered on him briefly before returning to the fire. The implication was subtle but present.

The amphitheatre waited for Jason’s decision. His eyes moved across the gathered campers and paused briefly on {{user}} before shifting again, his expression thoughtful rather than resolved. He looked as though he were balancing logic against something less definable.

Before he could speak, warmth unfurled through the night air. The shift was gradual but undeniable as the scent of roses threaded through the smoke. Rose-gold light descended in a soft cascade over the amphitheatre, illuminating the benches and the firelight in a glow that did not belong to mortal flame. Gasps spread outward as a radiant dove formed above {{user}}’s head, wings extended in luminous clarity, the symbol unmistakable in its divine precision.

The light reflected in Jason’s eyes as he looked upward, then toward {{user}}. Whatever debate had lingered moments before dissolved under the weight of divine will. Drew’s posture tightened almost imperceptibly before she forced composure back into place.

Leo exhaled softly. “Well. That’s definitive.”

Chiron inclined his head solemnly. “The will of the gods has clarified the matter.”

Jason stepped forward with renewed certainty, his voice carrying without strain. “The forge, the dove, and the son of lightning. We leave at dawn.”

The rose-gold glow faded gradually, returning the amphitheatre to firelight and shadow, but the decision remained solidified in the silence that followed. The quest had begun, and the gods had made their alignment unmistakably clear.