CHAPTER LXXX:The Fourteenth Olympian.

"You should know Hestia, especially since your father is also a forgotten Olympian." Hecate said.

Hestia looked up at me, and slowly walked over. The bottom half of her dress was burned and tattered. Hestia, the goddess of the hearth and the sacrificial flame, was typically left out when you talk about the Olympian Council. She walked around me and smiled.

"Is this the cursed haired one who fell in the Styx?" Hestia asked, her voice was kind and sweet like a whisper almost.

Hecate nodded, "That is Mary Riley, Daughter of Hades."

Hestia seemed amused by that, she quickly took me by the hand and led me to the pond. Across the way I could see Echo again, some of her color was restored making her a lot easier to see. I felt bad for Echo, she didn't deserve to be a faded voice. Echo was a constant reminder of Hera's wrath, Nemesis didn't leave Echo here Hecate brought her here to help influence my decision.

"Mary, what do you know of magic?" Hestia asked.

"There's two types of magic. There's sun, or light, magic which can be used during the day, and there's moon, or dark, magic which can be used at night." I answered.

Hestia smiled, "Yes, the two types of magics require no power either. Well, basics spells don't. Advanced spells or god specific spells do require energy, but you don't have to worry about that."

Hestia prompted me to look at the water. When I did I just saw my reflection, there was nothing special about it. I looked over at Hestia's reflection to see a bright orange ring surrounding her. Hecate stepped over, and there was no ring around her either.

"A child of night indeed, let us show you what the gods see when we look at you." Hecate said clapping her hands.

The light in the cave dimmed and went out completely. The surrounding area was so dark I couldn't see my hands in front of my face. I heard a snap and a silver light filled the area, I was still looking into the lake when I was able to see again. A white flickering energy surrounded my form. Hecate also had the white energy surrounding her, but hers was solid.

"This is how the gods see you and your power. You should be able to light this whole lake up, but Zeus took most of your energy. The Styx restored what you have now," Hestia explained.

"So my energy should be on par with some of the most powerful demigods?" I asked.

"Yes, you might have more power than them actually. You were rather powerful before you were cursed, all of the Daughters of Hades were. Relatively speaking," Hecate answered from next to me.

"How do I steady my energy?" I asked.

Hecate smiled, "There's a shop in Canada called The Last Greek Stronghold, tell them that we sent you. The group there will give you an elixir of my-"

"OUR," Hestia spoke over Hecate.

"Right, our making that'll fix you up. Be warned though, it's extremely unpleasant," Hecate finished as Hestia glared at her.

"What's in it?" I asked.

"Oh nothing dear. Just Ambrosia, Silver Shard for restoration, Obsidian Petals for comfort, and well," Hecate hesitated a minute, "water from the River Phlegethon."

If dread was a flavor, it would be the River of Fire. A river of pure fire that, according to legend, tasted like pure hate and cactus needles. It was meant to keep you alive in Tartarus, but it had a half and half effect on the bodies of demigods. Half of the demigods who drank from the river of fire burned up from the inside out and the rest got to walk through Tartarus, in other words it was a you always lose situation.

"Hecate, can I get an Obsidian Flower?" I asked.

I always wanted one, they were immortal, and relatively invincible, flowers that grew in Asphodel. The dead gifted them to the living who were mourning, but I never got one from my mother. I'd always hoped I would get one, but I never did. Perhaps my dear matér made it to Elysium and chose to be reborn, she did love phoenix's. Where did that memory come from? I thought to myself, and I never had that memory. Where did the Greek come from? I never learned it, right?

"Of course dear, you never did get one." Hecate answered.

A white glow came from Hecate's hands, she slowly moved them apart from each other. A small flower with a black stem, and purple petals veined with black coloring. The leaves were black veined with a metallic purple color, I slowly took the flower from Hecate.

"Across the Styx you go, matér. I miss you and all you represent in my life," I whispered as tears came to my eyes.

"Verse of the Styx, it's a beautiful saying," Hecate smiled. "We need to move on now dear, we have a combat trial to go through."

"Of course, who will I be fighting?" I asked, putting the flower in my jacket pocket.

Hecate led me through another tunnel, "The ghosts of Aiko Sato, Alexander the Great, and Queen Artura."

"The One-Eyed Samurai, The conquerer of Grecia, and a…I don't know the last one," I admitted.

"The Wielder of Excalibur, Queen Artura. She's commonly called King Arthur." Hecate answered through a smile.

I knew there was talk about King Arthur possibly being a Queen, but Hecate just confirmed it with a smile on her face. Even then, the scariest of the foes would be Aiko. Aiko Sato, also known as Jane Sato, The Dragon-Eyed Samurai who defeated a literal demon who could catch themselves on fire. Aiko also defeated The Reversed Bladed Kensei, and was part eastern dragon. In other words, Aiko Sato was very fucking horrifying.

A blue light came through the tunnel and twinkling lights caught my eye. Diamonds lined the cave, as Sapphire blue lights came through the tunnel. I thought about my other two foes. Alexander The Great, Son of Athena and Queen Artura, Daughter of Vulcan. We got to an open coliseum to see Olivia fight a ghost of Leonidas and a ghost of Ragnar Lothbrok. Olivia could easily fend off a spear from Leonidas, but Ragnar would get close with an axe. Someone found Olivia's blindspot, and it was a Viking.

Leonidas went for a jab and Olivia slid her sword down the handle, and pushed Leonidas' spear to the right of her. Olivia quickly cut his chest open, dissolving Leonidas to dust. Ragnar came once more for Olivia's blindspot, and she drew her dagger and fired off a sandstone tip through his neck. Ragnar grabbed his throat quickly and fell, he dissolved on the floor soon after. Olivia held her side, which dripped with blood and soaked the sandy ground beneath her, and walked towards the exit tunnel.

"Don't worry, you're going against true heroes, you'll be fighting your opponents one at a time. First up is Queen Artura, good luck dear," Hecate said.

Hecate pushed me into the arena, and I fell face down. I looked up and saw a clean arena, no blood or ghostly dust, just a single strobe with a sword sticking out of it. The swords hilt belonged to a British arming sword, and it emitted an orange, almost golden, glow. I got to my feet as a white energy cascaded over the arena. I readied my weapons, hoping this would be an easy fight. That was until a set of knights armor rose from the ground, and formed around a translucent human. A hand grabbed the sword and slowly pulled it from the stone, the legendary sword Excalibur and it's master stood in front of me. Excaliburs blade let out a sharp glow, while it's master fully formed. Queen Artura, the last known (or semi-known) master of Excalibur, readied herself for combat.