Charmspeak?

I was finally able to come back to my senses when I heard someone calling me. I turned around and was face to face with a boy, maybe seventeen years old, with blonde hair and storm grey eyes.

"Hello, are you a newcomer?" he asked with a dazzling smile and I nodded.

"Come, I'll show you your area over here." he said and moved inside the cabin. I followed him without a question.

Whoa! The cabin was way too big on the inside. There were so many beds and other accessories needed in a house. There was a library too. I resisted my urge to run there and read every single book. I have always loved books, even my mom gifts me books on my birthday.

The guy in front of me understood what I was thinking.

"That library is completely open all the time. You can go there whenever you want." he said. l was so happy I could hug this unknown person in front of me.

"What's your name?" I asked. He stopped next to a bed and turned to face me.

"I'm Carl Thomas." he said. "This is your bed." he pointed to the bed beside him and I nodded.

"I am Adrian Crimson."

"So, which god are you related to? My great grandpa is Hermes*. He's the god of travellers and mischief." he said and was smiling mischievously that made it clear he was related to a god of mischief.

"Well, I'm the son of Zeus." I said and his jaw dropped. He scanned me from head to toe. It felt really awkward and I made a mental note that I will never tell anyone I'm the son of Zeus, rather I'll tell that I am related to him.

When Carl was done making sure that I, too, am made of flesh. He said

"Wow! I had never seen a true half-blood ever."

The way he said that it made me think that I am some kind of animal who was reared for recreational activities. Wow, so I'm an animal now. I wasn't feeling like hugging him now but was immediately having an urge to kick this person to his death.

But before I could say anything his face became sad. The happiness in his eyes were replaced with sorrow and pain.

"So it's true. Zeus is no more." he said and looked at me with sympathy. "I am sorry. You must be missing him."

What? Was this guy kidding? Why would I miss someone I never saw in my entire life. He may be my father but I don't feel anything for him. Missing him was a distant thought. And now for he is dead, it's impossible.

"It's okay. I didn't even know that he is my father until this morning." I said trying to stay calm.

"A... alright." he said and just then a bell rang.

"Dinner's ready. You hungry?" he said and was back to his jolly self. I heaved a sigh of relief.

"Then, let's go." I said and we left the cabin.

We reached an open area that Isabella had shown me earlier but now the dining tables were all filled. Carl and I were finally able to get a place in the corner.

When everyone was settled and food was served, 'flying food' I should say because the food literally came to us, flying.

"How is this even possible?" I asked Carl.

"Oh, it's all the miracle of Hecate's magic." he replied and things became clear. After all Hecate was the goddess of magic.

Anyways, when all this was done Hecate and Apollo entered the dining area. As they stood there, everybody stood up and bowed. I, couldn't think anything better, so followed their lead. After that everyone seated and Hecate came forward.

"Today, we have a new friend among us. I'd like to introduce you to Adrian Crimson, the son of Zeus." She said and the audience gasped. They started murmuring numerous things.

I, on the other hand, didn't know what to do. Then I felt someone pinching my arm. Carl was doing some weird gestures and it took me some time to understand what he wanted me to do. I stood up and every gossiping head turned. I was so nervous with this sudden attention that my brain couldn't think what to do next. Then suddenly Isabella stood. She was sitting on the other end of the area, that's why I couldn't see her. She looked at me. Her demeanor dazzling with confidence. She looked like a queen, born to rule and lead.

When our eyes met, she looked at me with support.

"He maybe be a son of Zeus but from now on he's our friend. Ares want him dead because he's the last person who can stop him. We are not going to let that happen. Not because the world needs him but because he is now our family and family sticks together. Always. And that's exactly what we're gonna do." she said this like a true leader.

After her each word, there was this sudden desire inside to comply her each word. I suddenly wanted, so desperately, to do as she directed. I had never felt like this before. But her words felt like wine, they felt like...magic.

And I wasn't the only one affected by her words. The audience, too, were in a daze. When she was done speaking, everyone cheered like they had won some World Cup.

When the cheering didn't stop for a long time, Hecate came forward and raised her hand. Everyone fell silent.

"Thank you so much, dear." she said and Isabella took her seat. "You shall begin."

As everyone got the approval of the goddess, they gladly moved their attention towards their food.

As I was about to start eating, Carl moved closer.

"Hey buddy, what did you do to get her attention?" he asked, his eyes screaming for answer. But I didn't understand what he meant.

"What? Whose attention?" I asked, slightly confused.

"What do you mean by 'whose attention'? Isabella is the most brilliant and beautiful student here. No boy has ever managed to even get a 'hello' from her. But you...she stood to help you and she even called you 'family'. Carl said with complete disbelief in his eyes.

"Huh!" was all that left my mouth.

"Listen you gotta teach me this skill. I also want to woo a girl." he grinned and moved back to his eating.

I also continued my dinner but... there was something strange. Her voice... it was strange. I made a mental note to ask her later.

After dinner, there was an announcement. So Hecate came forward.

"My dear children, tomorrow there will be a game of Monster Fight. There will be no classes tomorrow. You all will be preparing for it. This time the game will be played in pairs. May the best team win." she said and the audience cheered like monsters. What was this game that made all these children go berserk.

I looked at Carl, who was grinning like an idiot.

"Hey, what game is she talking about?"

"It's our favorite game. In Monster Fight, Hecate will summon monsters and we will fight them."

"We'll fight monsters!" I exclaimed.

"Nah, these are just copies of them. Hecate will create them with her magic. But these are no less dangerous than real ones." he said with a warning tone. "But no one has ever died in this game." he added reassuringly.

"Yeah. Very reassuring and completely not shocking." I said sarcastically.

'Fighting monsters?' I tried not to think about it too much but my mind simply refused to obey me. I decided to take some fresh air. I needed to relax.

I went to the garden that was just beside the dining area. It was Circular shaped garden. There were rose plants that acted a boundary. In the middle was a very beautiful cherry blossom tree. Then...then I saw someone familiar standing behind the tree. I walked up there.

"Isabella?" she looked at me and her eyes widened in surprise.

"You can see me?" she said with utter disbelief.

What type of question was that? Of course I can see her.

"Umm, yes. Am I not supposed to see you? " I said with uncertainty. She stared at me with those beautiful eyes.

"Hmm, you're powerful than I thought." and she moved her gaze on roses that looked dazzling in the moonlight. "It's because I have used an invisibility spell on me but you... " she looked at me. "...you could see through it. Your powers are rare." she said and looked back at the shurbs.

Why would she use an invisibility spell? What was the need? But decided not to ask. After all I didn't have any right to interfere in her personal life, did I?

Then I remembered something.

"Isabella?" I said, uncertain about asking it.

"Hmm."

"Did you... I mean, put kinda spell on what you said back there, too?" I asked hesitantly.

For an immeasurable amount of time, she was silent. I thought she didn't want to answer me. "You don't need to answer if you don't want."

"No. it's okay."

"..."

"Yes, you're right. There was some used in my voice."

"That's the reason why everyone was convinced."

"This magical voice, I didn't do it on purpose. It's something a daughter of Aphrodite is born with. It's a blessing from her." She hesitated for a moment.

"My... my mom had that power and I possess it too." The pain in her eyes was obvious. Seeing her like that, I wanted to do something... anything to make her happy again. I wanted to tell her everything will be okay but the words were stuck in my mouth.

"It's called charmspeaking." she said.

"Charmspeaking?"