The amphitheater wasn’t supposed to be lit.

Not this late, not after curfew.

But there was a glow — lanterns left burning along the edge of the stage, soft gold against stone. And there, at the center, was {{user}}.

Percy froze in the doorway.

Last summer, {{user}} had been the camp’s punchline. Clumsy, awkward, the kid no one wanted on their team. Even prophecy blood hadn’t saved them from being everyone’s favorite target.

But this summer?

He didn’t recognize them.

Their posture was steady, confident. The kind of presence that made the whole empty theater feel full. Hair catching the light just right. Clothes sharp, like they’d been chosen for the stage rather than tossed on in a rush. They didn’t look like the same kid who used to trail behind the rest of the Seven, desperate to keep up.

Percy stayed where he was, rooted in the shadow of the archway. Watching. Listening.

The loser was gone.

And something else, something brighter, had taken their place.