3

Owen barged into Keith's room, banging pots together. "Rise and shine! Come on, we've got to get ready for class!"

Keith groaned. "Class?"

"Yes! But it'll be fun!" Owen climbed up on the bed and banged the pots together in Keith's ear.

Keith yelped. "Alright, alright. I'm up."

Owen slid off the bed and dragged Keith out in the process. Keith yawned. "What kind of class?"

"It's like a fighting class. We're training for the war. Hurry up, Callum's going to kill us if we're late!"

Keith went to the bathroom, washed his face, pulled an outfit out of his closet, and put it on. He slipped into his Nikes and slipped out into the hall where Owen was talking with Felix.

Felix beamed at him. "Ah, there's the sleeping beauty. You ready for class?"

"Guess so."

Keith followed behind Owen and Felix as they led him to the fighting class.

Mason joined them, wearing a sweatshirt and pants. "Hey guys!" he slapped Keith on the back. "Hey, dude, how are ya?"

"Meh, tired."

"Aren't we all?" Mason laughed.

Mason started talking about the fighting class they were going to, but Keith wasn't really listening. Mason stopped talking to stare at him.

"You're thinking about them, aren't you?"

"Yea. I miss them."

Mason opened his mouth to respond, but he just nodded and was silent the rest of the way to the training hall. The training hall was gold and had steps leading up to a large door that, thankfully, was open.

Inside, it looked like a large gym. Kids were on mats battling each other, some were fighting with weapons, and others were practicing with their powers. They covered the back wall with weapons, swords, bows, daggers, axes, and spears.

In the middle of the room was a boy around 18. He was tall with short brown hair that was braided back. Strapped to his side was a sword.

Felix waved, and the boy spotted them.

He marched toward them. "You're late, Felix."

"Sorry, Callum. I had to make sure Keith was ready."

Callum looked Keith up and down. "Hm. Alright, I'll let it slide. Come, we're training in the back room. But first, Keith needs to pick a weapon."

"OOH!" Owen exclaimed. "Can I help him, Callum? Please?"

Callum smirked back at him. "Alright Owen, you got two minutes."

Owen grabbed Keith's wrist and yanked him toward the weapon wall.

Owen started grabbing random weapons off the wall and placing them in front of him.

"Uh.." Keith muttered. "What are you doing?"

"Shh!"

After grabbing three more weapons, Owen nodded his head. "Alright, now pick them up and tell me how they feel."

"All of them?"

Owen tapped his foot impatiently. "No, of course not!"

Keith did as she asked. Some of the weapons were uncomfortable, some were too heavy, and some were too small.

Then he picked up a large gold and silver metal sword that faintly glowed blue when he touched it.

Someone gasped behind him and Keith whirled around. Callum was standing behind him with his mouth wide open.

"Wait a minute," Owen whispered. "Is that the.."

"Blade of Olympus," Callum said.

Mason's eyes widen. "No one has ever been able to wield that sword. I heard a legend that Zeus used it when the gods battled the titans."

Keith stared down at the sword. "Why is it here?"

Callum glanced at Owen. "I'm not sure. It was originally in the museum. Was this sword here the last time you cleaned the weapons, Owen?"

Owen shook his head. "No." he put the last weapon back on the wall.

Callum massaged his nose. "Alright. Come on, we're late."

Keith shared a puzzled look with Mason, then followed after Callum into the other room.

This room looked similar to the other, but it was smaller and had two dummies in one corner. Callum went to the middle of the room and turned toward the group of boys.

"Alright. I'm going to take Felix and Owen today. Mason, can you get Keith caught up? Start with the basics, if you please."

Mason nodded and pulled a sword from a sheath on his side. "Sure thing. Come on, Keith."

Mason led Keith to a mat closer to the dummies.

"Ok. Let's see your stance."

Keith spread his legs and held his sword so it was centered on his chest.

"Hm." Mason tapped his chin with his sword's tip. "Ok. For beginners, we'd use the primary outfighting stance. In this stance, you stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, chin down, and eyes straight and focused." Mason dropped down in the stance. "So, kinda like this."

Keith studied his stance and slowly nodded his head.

"Let's see it."

Keith did just what Mason showed him, and Mason beamed. "See you're getting it."

"So, if I'm battling someone, how am I supposed to keep the sword stable?"

Mason cocked his head. "Great question. But during a battle, you won't always have time to get in your stance, but you'll always have to think ahead of your opponent, and stay light on your feet so you can move around faster."

So for the next hour, Keith had somewhat mastered the stance, and they had begun the different moves when a loud wailing rang out.

"What's that?" Keith asked, covering his ears.

Mason sheathed his sword and scowled. "Visitors."

Callum nodded toward the door, and the boys raced out of the building toward the center of town.

There, they ran into Emerson, Xander, and Milana.

"What's going on?" Keith shouted.

Emerson pointed. "Look, we have a god visiting. It looks like..." she glanced at Mason. "Hades."

A man emerged wearing a long black cloak, shirt, and pants. His children were standing beside him, looking around in bewilderment.

Zeus shook hands with Hades. "Ah, what a surprise, Hades. Do you bring us good news?"

"Afraid not, Zeus."

The crowd erupted into chattering and loud voices. Keith and his friends pushed their way to the front of the crowd.

"It's about Kronus. I no longer sense his presence in the underworld. I'm afraid that he has truly risen."

Poseidon looked grim. "So, is he weak?"

"For the moment," Hades answered. "But his minions are looking for the weapons that will bring him back to full power."

Zeus and Poseidon exchange a look.

"So, does this mean we must find the weapons before they do?" Hestia asked.

Zeus shook his head. "The gods cannot go. We must send four of our own."

"But the weapons contain evil powers. If the children touch it will the dark magic not take over them?" Apollo asked.

Zeus nodded at Hecate. "Is that so, Hecate? Will this dark magic take over our children?"

A woman wearing a black dress with stars on it stepped forward. Her hair was moving in a nonexistent breeze. "That is true, Zeus. But if Hades sends one of his children on this quest, they might be able to use shadow travel to send it to us."

Hades tugged on his mustache. "Hm. That might be possible, Hecate."

"It has been decided," Zeus boomed. "Four children will go on this quest. I have decided that Keith, Emerson, Mason, and a child of Hades will go on this journey."

Zeus turned toward Hades. "You may pick."

Next to Keith, Mason squeezed his eyes shut and muttered. "Please, not Caleb. Please."

Hades looked down lovingly at his children and patted a boy with sand-colored hair.

"Damn it," Mason grunted.

Keith leaned over to Emerson and whispered. "What's up with Caleb?"

"Past lover," Emerson whispered back. "I met him a few years ago. He seems nice when you get to know him."

Keith's eyes widen. "Oh, so he's..."

"Yep." Emerson nodded.

Keith glanced over at Mason and saw him stuff his hands in his pocket, then turn and walk away.

When Emerson faced back toward the gods, Keith slipped away and ran after Mason.

"Wait, wait up!"

Mason stopped and looked back at him with an amused look on his face.

Keith caught up, wheezing. "Hold up...lemme catch my breath." he peered up at him. "How do you feel about the quest?"

Mason shrugged and didn't say anything for a while. They walked until they reached a little clearing with a pond.

Keith sat on a log and watched Mason as he threw rocks into the water.

"I'm not sure if I want to even go," Mason murmured.

Keith whispered. "What happened?"

"I met Caleb when I was 13. Love at first sight." Mason plopped down next to him. "At first, I thought we could just be friends, but I liked him too much. I told him this, and he said he felt the same."

Keith nodded, encouraging him on.

"I thought we'd be together forever, but then he just...left." Mason looked at the setting sun. "And when I did eventually find him..he was with someone else."

Keith glanced at him. "He didn't apologize?"

"For what?" Mason snorted. He shook his head.

Before Keith could reply, a bear rolled into the lake with something in its mouth.

Keith jumped to his feet. "You!" Keith marched towards it. "Give it back, you."

Behind him, Mason was laughing. "So, you've met Cinnamon?"

"She's yours?"

"Yea." Mason dug in his pocket. "Were you talking about this pendant? She gave it to me yesterday and ran off."

Keith walked back toward Mason and took the necklace, then he frowned. "So, what does she have in her mouth, then?"

Mason shrugged. "Who knows? Probably something she stole from someone." Mason clicked his tongue, and Cinnamon padded toward him and dropped a slobbery bracelet into his lap.

Keith snorted, and Mason grinned.

Keith looked down at the necklace and thought of Mr. Powell. It hurt that he couldn't see him anymore. The pendant was a rare gold coin that Mr. Powell found.

"Here." Keith held out the pendant to Mason, who blinked up at him in surprise. "I don't have any more use for it."

Mason took it. "But what am I going to do with it?"

"Dunno. I guess it can be your lucky charm or somethin'."

Keith sat back down, and Mason looked at him for a moment before jumping to his feet.

Keith opened his mouth to ask what was the matter, but Mason murmured, "I..uh..gotta go pack."

Then he turned without another word, leaving Keith to gap at him.

***

Mason knew that running off like that hadn't been a great idea, but he needed to get out of there.

Everything about Keith was distracting. His hair smelled faintly of coconut shampoo, and his bright blue eyes and bright smile.

Mason reached his room and collapsed onto his bed. Cinnamon got up on her hind legs and climbed up with him.

She curled up into a ball and peered up at him.

"Was I that obvious?" Mason groaned.

Cinnamon let out a low growl.

Mason got up and started pacing the floor. "Maybe I should avoid him? Don't speak to him? Distance myself?"

Cinnamon raised a furry eyebrow.

"Oh, don't look at me like that!" Mason complained. "You're supposed to be helping me!"

A knock came at the door, and Mason froze.

Cinnamon nodded toward the door as though she were saying, Well? Are you going to open it?

Mason bit his bottom lip and sighed. He walked toward the door and opened it.

"Emerson?"

"Yep, it's me. Can I come in?"

Mason nodded and closed the door behind her. She spotted Cinnamon and squealed.

"Cinnamon! How are you? Have you been staying out of trouble?"

The cub jumped from the bed and tackled her, licking her all over her face.

Mason sat on his bed and watched them.

"What's the matter, Mason?" Emerson asked, pushing Cinnamon off her. "You look troubled."

Mason folded his arms. "How can I not be? Caleb is here."

"I know." Emerson nods. "But you don't have to talk to him while we're on the quest." She scratches Cinnamon behind the ear. "Take Cinnamon with you. She'll keep you busy."

Mason shook his head. "No, she'll want to play with Champion."

"Champi- oh. His tiger." Emerson cocked her head. "But you are going, right? Felix is going to need your help."

"I know. I know. It just hurts after all these years, Emmy." Mason slid off the bed and pulled his duffle bag from underneath it.

Emerson handed Cinnamon a piece of beef jerky. "I understand. But who's going to teach Keith if you're not there? A sword is not my weapon." Emerson got to her feet. "We need you on this quest, Mason. I'll understand if you don't go, but you'll be putting Keith's life at risk. He's still new to all of this."

Mason ducked his head.

She tossed another piece of jerky at Cinnamon. "I'll talk to you again soon. Later, Mason."

Cinnamon wadded over toward him when Emerson left and nudged his bag.

"Oh, Cinnamon," Mason whispered. "What am I going to do?"