Chapter 91 - Death

Not even a few hours had passed, but it was enough for Camp Half-Blood to boil over.

The reason?

Ikki Phoenix had returned!

This news spread like wildfire through a dry forest. Everywhere in the camp, the news was the main topic of conversation, and the atmosphere buzzed with excitement, curiosity, and reverence. For many, his return was not just a comeback; it was like the reappearance of a living legend, someone whose stories inspired and united everyone at the camp.

In the dining pavilion, a group of younger campers sat on one of the benches, listening attentively as an older camper from the Apollo Cabin explained who Ikki was.

"You don't understand," he said, gesturing enthusiastically. "Ikki isn't just any demigod. He's the son of Zeus, the god of gods. And not just that—he's a legend here. He's done things most of us couldn't even dream of."

"Like what?" asked a young boy from the Hermes Cabin, his eyes wide with curiosity. He had only recently joined Camp Half-Blood.

"Well," the Apollo camper began, leaning back with a satisfied smile, "he's defeated monsters that would take an entire team to bring down—on his own. And that was before he even discovered his full potential. He was so good with a bow that he could hit the wings off a fly from a hundred meters away, and his sword skills are even more terrifying. He faced Heracles and came out on top, went up against Ares himself and won…"

Nearby, other campers were also talking about him.

"So, what do you think he's been doing this past year?" one of them asked, looking at their group of friends.

Another shrugged, a soft smile playing on their lips. "With Ikki, it could be anything..."

The friend beside him laughed, shaking his head. "He probably saved some small Greek village from a mythical monster and still found time to teach someone how to fight."

Everyone laughed along as one of them added, "That does sound likely. Have you noticed how everyone's on edge? It's like he's a celebrity."

"Well, he kind of is," the last of them replied, glancing around. Everyone was talking about the son of Zeus.

The younger campers laughed, enchanted by the stories, and their admiration for Ikki grew with each detail.

Meanwhile, near the Hermes Cabin, Travis and Connor were leaning against the wall, watching the commotion.

"Do you think Ikki will still want to join in on our pranks?" Travis asked, throwing a curious glance at his brother.

Connor laughed, crossing his arms. "Definitely. He never says no to a good prank. Remember that day with the Aphrodite Cabin? And then with the Ares Cabin when he secretly helped us? Painting Ares' kids' shields was hilarious."

"It really was. Let's give him some time to settle in," Travis said, grinning. "But after that, we need to plan something epic. Something no one will forget."

Connor nodded, the mischievous smile returning to his face. "With Ikki, it's always epic."

...

While everyone was talking about his return, Ikki walked toward his cabin after reuniting with Silena, still slightly puzzled by the girl's strangeness.

He had expected her to be more enthusiastic about his return, and though a hint of disappointment stirred in his heart, he didn't dwell on it. His mind was preoccupied with significant matters from the year he had been away.

He walked calmly, pondering the first months of his disappearance...

That month he spent in the Underworld, studying the place to get some idea or notion of how the spiritual realm worked. The world of the dead was a material dimension created to contain souls, something quite complex, operating through divine mysticism. It gave him some ideas for creating a body to house a soul, attempting to use the information he had alongside his authority over the body, [Artificial Divinity], to draw some conclusions. But it led nowhere.

Though he had an idea of how to create a body through magic and his knowledge of the human form, it was inherently flawed. He couldn't achieve a satisfactory result, and the complexity always left him amazed.

He couldn't be sure he could create a body capable of containing a soul, and if rejection occurred, even he couldn't imagine the consequences. Also, when someone died in this world, that person's soul was drawn to a domain controlled by the god responsible for the afterlife, like a magnet. It was a mechanism he tried to decipher but couldn't comprehend…

Even if it worked, he would need the power to alter his mother's destiny, as he had realized this world was under the control of an entity known as Fate. This materialized concept governed life and death, and he had no power to fight it. But he wasn't going to give up so easily.

A long gaze at the dark clouds causing the camp's snow was all he allowed himself before walking on. He felt burdened by his internal conflicts.

He couldn't help but notice the complexity of life and death.

From the beginning of everything, two opposing concepts clashed, one of them deemed invincible.

Life brings purity and sanctity, beauty and perfection. It is the most incredible creation of all Existence, the most complex presence in the universe.

Death is sorrow, ugliness, the end of all, desolation, and hopelessness. It is the imposed limit, and nothing can overcome it—it is the most powerful presence in all Existence.

At least, that's what most people think.

However, they fail to understand that both are deeply interconnected; an end gives meaning to a beginning. Something eternal is meaningless.

The beauty of life lies in the inevitability of death, knowing that days are finite.

This fact should, or at least could, evoke a sense of urgency to live life intensely.

Death is not ugly or sad; it has a unique beauty that only those who accept it as a gift rather than a burden can see.

Without death, life would lack purpose. There would be no reason to build bonds, to have a family, or to strive to become better people.

Death gives meaning to the entirety of things. The existence of an end should not bring sorrow but happiness, for every end also marks the birth of a new beginning.

Dead trees nourish younger ones, which grow and feed animals, who in turn die and serve as food for others, completing the cycle of existence.

Life and death depend on each other intrinsically.

We tend to despair at the prospect of imminent death, but only those unhappy with their lives truly suffer from this.

We do not fear death because we are happy and don't want to lose that happiness; rather, we panic because we've never truly been happy, and the thought of missing the chance to achieve it terrifies us.

However, we fail to realize that we will only find happiness when we accept mortality, embrace it, and make our time truly worthwhile.

Love more, pray more, sing, dance, exercise, seek the physical form you desire, attend parties, meet new people, forge friendships, build a family, and so much more.

This is how life finds a way to be eternal—by leaving behind a legacy that will be remembered forever.

This perspective formed as he studied these two concepts. He understood it, but he denied it; he didn't want to accept death and move on. His mother didn't deserve to die like that—not when he had the potential to change it...

He returned to his cabin, finding Thalia deep in thought. She didn't stay long, leaving silently, seemingly wanting to avoid him after their conversation.

Soon, it was dinner time.

Ikki felt a twinge of nostalgia for Camp Half-Blood's food. After all, who could complain about endless barbecue, pizza, and bottomless chalices of soda?

The torches and braziers kept the outdoor pavilion warm, but campers were required to sit with their cabin mates, meaning he sat alone at Zeus's table with Thalia.

Camp rules.

What he noticed was the lack of campers.

Percy sat at Poseidon's table, Annabeth with her siblings, chatting about various topics, occasionally glancing at him furtively. The daughters of Aphrodite seemed fixed on looking in his direction, with Silena avoiding his gaze.

Hephaestus, Ares, and Hermes cabins were sparsely populated. Nico and Bianca sat with the Stoll brothers, as new campers were always placed in the Hermes cabin if their Olympian parent was unknown. The Stoll brothers were trying to convince Nico that poker was a much better game than Mythomagic. Ikki hoped Nico didn't have any money to lose, but with Bianca by his side keeping an eye on him, things should be fine.

Most campers were focused on him. Some newer faces gazed in admiration, seemingly frozen, while others whispered excitedly about him.

Meanwhile, the Hunters of Artemis seemed to be enjoying themselves at their table. They ate, drank, and laughed like one big, happy family. Zoe sat at the head of the table like a mother figure. Though she didn't laugh as much as the others, she smiled occasionally. Her silver lieutenant's circlet sparkled among the dark braids of her hair.

Two of the Hunters were even arm-wrestling.

Chiron, in his centaur form, walked to the center of the dining pavilion. His equine body moved with natural grace, and he carried a goblet of wine for the traditional toast. Gradually, the chatter subsided as the campers noticed his presence.

He raised his goblet with the same serene authority he always emanated, and his voice, strong and warm, echoed through the tables. "Campers, I'd like to extend a warm welcome to the Hunters of Artemis, who are joining us tonight."

All eyes turned to the table where the Hunters sat. Silent and reserved, their expressions were calm but watchful. Zoe, at the center, kept her face impassive, though her eyes betrayed a hint of distrust.

"It is always an honor to have the Hunters among us..." Chiron continued, with a respectful smile. "May your stay here be peaceful, and may you find comfort among friends."

Some campers applauded softly out of respect, while others raised their goblets in a gesture of welcome.

The Hunters remained reserved, but a slight nod from Zoe was enough to acknowledge the greeting.

Chiron then raised his goblet once more. "Now, as we do every evening, let us toast to the gods who guide and protect us."

"To the gods..." the campers echoed in unison, raising their goblets and drinking.

There was a moment of reverent silence, followed by the clinking of goblets being set back down on tables. Chiron, still standing at the center, waited patiently for the conversations to resume before raising his hand again. Once more, the dining pavilion fell silent.

"Tonight, we have another special reason to celebrate," he announced, his warm gaze turning to Ikki, who sat at Zeus's table with Thalia. "After a year away, Ikki Phoenix has finally returned to our camp. A hero, a friend, and a brother to many of us."

The campers erupted in cheers and shouts of enthusiasm. Some pounded on their tables; others whistled.

Ikki, who was the center of attention, appeared somewhat resigned.

"Ikki has faced challenges that few would dare to face..." Chiron said, with evident pride in his voice. "And he has returned to us stronger and more determined. So let us raise our goblets once more in his honor."

"To Ikki!" the campers shouted in unison, raising their goblets in a lively toast. The sound of clinking goblets echoed through the pavilion, followed by laughter and more applause.

While most of the campers celebrated, silence persisted at the Hunters of Artemis table. Zoe kept her eyes fixed on her food, her fists clenched beneath the table. The mention of Ikki stirred bitter memories, and the hatred she felt for him was palpable.

"Zoe..." one of the Hunters whispered, "are you okay?"

"Yes," Zoe replied coldly, not lifting her gaze from her plate. "I'm fine."

But inside, resentment boiled. For her, Ikki's return was not a reason to celebrate. He was a living reminder of the pain her mistress, Artemis, had endured.

After the toasts, dinner proceeded without incident. At the end, Chiron announced a game of Capture the Flag with the Hunters for the following day.

And then, all the campers returned to their cabins to rest.