Chapter 96 - Illogical

Camp Half-Blood.

The usual warmth and vibrancy of summer gave way to a landscape covered by a thin layer of snow, which glistened softly under the pale winter sun. The green hills were now a white blanket, and the trees surrounding the camp, usually full of leaves, had their bare branches covered in small layers of ice, creating an almost ethereal scene.

The campers' cabins, each with distinct architecture reflecting the god or goddess they belonged to, seemed cozy and welcoming with the snow gently settled on their roofs. Athena's cabin, with its classical columns and air of wisdom, stood out as a beacon of tranquility amidst the winter landscape. Smoke rose gently from chimneys, and the air carried the unmistakable aroma of burning wood and the sound of muffled laughter from inside.

The Canoe Lake was partially frozen, its tranquil waters reflecting the gray sky above. The campfire, which during the summer was a vibrant meeting point, now burned with a more modest flame but was still inviting, offering warmth to those who passed by. The trails winding through the camp were marked by footprints in the snow, showing the constant activity of the campers, even in the cold.

Annabeth walked through the camp, her light steps leaving marks in the freshly fallen snow. The cold gently bit her cheeks, but she hardly felt it, absorbed as she was in her thoughts. Her blonde hair was tucked under a woolen cap, and she pulled her winter coat tighter around her body, shielding herself from the icy wind blowing from the sea.

With each step, Annabeth absorbed the quietness of the camp, something she rarely experienced. The sound of her steps on the snow was the only noise, interrupted only by the occasional song of a solitary bird. She had just finished talking with Thalia and was taking a walk. She headed toward Half-Blood Hill, where Thalia's Tree stood—the pine's name remained the same despite Thalia's return to life—the pinecones covered in ice gleamed like crystals.

As she climbed the hill, Annabeth felt a wave of nostalgia.

Reaching the top of the hill, she looked out at the horizon, where the sky and sea met in an indistinct gray line.

The wind blew stronger there, lifting snowflakes that danced around her. Annabeth shoved her hands into her pockets, her cold fingers curling into soft fists.

Camp Half-Blood felt complete now, with Ikki having returned. She was looking forward to the summer when all the campers would be back; they would be excited about the news.

She clung to a few memories in her mind.

She had always prided herself on her sharp mind, her ability to analyze situations and find solutions where others failed. But when she first met Ikki Phoenix, all her focus and rationality seemed to crumble in an instant. She remembered the moment their eyes met, that deep blue that seemed to hold the sky itself. He was beautiful in a way that almost defied reality, and for a moment, she felt as if she were in front of a living masterpiece, a perfection sculpted by the gods. She, who had always considered beauty as something secondary, was petrified, unable to look away.

In the days that followed, she realized that Ikki's beauty was only a small part of what made him so captivating. He had a serene, almost ethereal presence that contrasted with the strength that emanated from him. It was during a quiet afternoon, as they walked through the camp, that she suggested a chess match. The idea was simple: to test her strategic mind against his. What began as a game turned into something much deeper. Each match was a silent battle, a dance of intelligence and insight. Ikki wasn't just good; he was exceptional. He read the board like a general surveys a battlefield, anticipating moves and planning attacks with meticulous precision. Annabeth found herself eagerly awaiting these moments, where their minds met, creating a connection that transcended words.

She found an equal in Ikki, someone who challenged her intellectually and, at the same time, made her feel valued.

Their connection grew stronger during the first mission they shared. She still remembered the terror she felt when the Furies invaded the bus they were on. She was used to facing danger, but that attack was different. Fear overwhelmed her for a brief moment until she felt Ikki's hand holding hers. It was a firm, protective grip that conveyed a silent message: "I'm here. You're safe."

At that moment, she felt something change within her. He wasn't just an ally. He was someone she could completely trust, someone who made her feel safe even in the darkest moments.

Ikki's ability to handle dangerous situations stood out even more when they faced Medusa. While Annabeth was still processing the horror of the encounter, Ikki acted with almost supernatural precision. He decapitated the creature with an ease that left her speechless. She didn't know whether to be impressed or scared by his power. The fact that he did it to protect them only solidified his place in her heart.

She knew Ikki was special, but seeing it in action was a reminder that he was more than a son of Zeus; he was a hero in every sense.

The hardest moment for her was when Ikki decided to face Hercules alone. She remembered the overwhelming fear that took hold of her as she watched him disappear into the fight. The following days were a blur of worry and despair. The lack of news consumed her, and every second felt like an eternity. When she finally heard he was alive, the wave of relief she felt was crushing. But the pain of losing him, even temporarily, marked her deeply.

She realized that Ikki's absence was unbearable, and that scared her.

At their reunion in the park, Annabeth couldn't hold back her tears. Seeing Ikki again, after all that suffering, was like seeing the sun after an endless storm. He seemed different, stronger, more determined. She knew he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, but even so, he was there, by her side. The relief and joy of having him back were mixed with a deep pain, an understanding that she couldn't protect him from everything.

The Underworld was another test for their bond. She had never felt so uncertain about something, but Ikki's presence kept her steady. He walked ahead, a figure of unwavering determination. When he used his cunning to manipulate the queen of the underworld, she saw in him a combination of intelligence and bravery that left her speechless. He wasn't just strong; he was clever, shrewd, and that made her admire him even more. Each step he took was a silent promise that he would do everything to protect them.

The battle against Ares was a moment she would never forget. Watching Ikki face the god of war with such bravery was a mix of fear and pride. She knew he was strong, but seeing him defeat a god was something beyond imaginable. When he returned Zeus' Master Bolt, saving them all, Annabeth felt immense pride.

He wasn't just a hero; he was her hero. But with that pride came fear. Fear of losing him, fear that he would face something even he couldn't overcome.

And then, he disappeared.

The emptiness she felt was crushing. She found herself looking at the horizon, waiting to see him appear at any moment. The pain of uncertainty was almost unbearable. But even amid the despair, she held on to faith. She knew Ikki was strong, stronger than anyone she knew. He would come back. He had to come back.

She clung to their memories together, every moment, every smile, every word. They were more than allies; they were a team, a partnership forged in fire and danger.

Over the months, Annabeth realized how much Ikki had become a part of her. He had silently but definitively invaded her heart.

Every thought, every decision was tinged by his memory. He was the first thing on her mind when she woke up and the last before she slept. His absence was a constant reminder of how much he meant to her.

As she remembered all this, Annabeth remained at the top of the hill, her eyes fixed on the distant horizon, the cold wind blowing around her.

When Ikki disappeared, leaving Camp Half-Blood shrouded in a veil of uncertainty, Annabeth felt lost. She vividly remembered the sleepless nights when fear and worry kept her awake, her mind full of unanswered questions. Where was he? Was he safe? Did he need help? The weight of these uncertainties was crushing, a constant pressure on her chest that made each day harder to bear.

There was a moment during that period of anguish when Annabeth considered a drastic decision. She thought about joining the Hunters of Artemis.

The idea was both tempting and terrifying. She remembered how, one night while watching the stars above the camp, she thought about how she might find Ikki if she were with Artemis and her Hunters. The Hunters roamed the world, free from mortal commitments, seeking adventures and challenges. If Annabeth joined them, she might find clues about Ikki's whereabouts, perhaps get closer to discovering what had happened to him.

The decision was not easy. Annabeth had always been a daughter of Athena, a born strategist, someone who meticulously planned every move. But in those moments of desperation, logic seemed to escape her, replaced by an overwhelming desire to bring Ikki back. She seriously pondered the proposal, thinking about what it would mean to give up her ambitions and dreams in exchange for an eternal life of service to Artemis.

She remembered standing before the campfire, the flames' glow reflecting in her eyes as she considered the Hunters' offer. The prospect of leaving everything behind was frightening, but the thought of doing nothing was even more unbearable. She couldn't bear the idea of standing still, waiting for news to come.

But, in the end, she couldn't take the final step. Something inside her stopped her. Perhaps it was the bond with her friends at the camp, the duty to her brothers and sisters-in-arms. Or maybe it was the voice of Athena in her mind, reminding her that impulsive decisions rarely led to success. Annabeth knew that joining the Hunters would mean giving up a fundamental part of herself, and she wasn't ready for that.

Still, the desire to find Ikki remained with her, like a constant shadow.

Even as she tried to move forward with her responsibilities at the camp, a part of her always wondered if she should have made a different choice.

If she should have run after him, no matter the consequences.

Now he was back!

She remembered how they rescued Bianca and Nico—who were adapting well to the camp—she never expected to find Ikki at that moment. After almost two years of his disappearance, sleepless nights, and days of endless waiting, he was there, in front of her.

She still remembered the first time her eyes landed on him, he was taller, his posture more upright, and there was an aura of maturity around him that hadn't been there before. Ikki seemed to have grown not only in stature but in presence. His face, once marked by a restrained joviality, now displayed more defined features, a beauty that seemed ethereal. But it wasn't just his appearance that had changed. There was a gravity in his sapphire blue eyes, a weight that hadn't existed before.

He seemed... distant.

As if the time they spent apart had placed a chasm between them. And at the same time, she couldn't look away, fascinated by how incredibly perfect he seemed, a perfection that words couldn't adequately describe.

She wanted to talk and find out what had happened during the year he disappeared, but she knew there was time for that. She wanted him to return to normality first.

"Annabeth!" Percy's voice pulled her from her reverie. He approached with a friendly smile, but there was a note of concern in his eyes: "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

She nodded, crossing her arms to protect herself from the cold.

"Sure, seaweed brain. What's up?"

They walked side by side towards a nearby tree, where Percy stopped and turned to her with a serious expression.

"I heard you were thinking of joining Artemis's Hunters. Is that true?" Percy asked, trying to sound casual, but the concern was evident.

Annabeth frowned, surprised. How did he find out about this? She narrowed her eyes in his direction.

"Who told you that?"

Percy hesitated for a moment before answering: "Grover. He mentioned it to me and Ikki earlier."

Annabeth's heart raced at the mention of Ikki's name. She looked away, trying to hide the confusion and discomfort she felt: "Yeah... I thought about it a long time ago..."

Percy watched her closely, seeming to search for something more in her words: "Why would you consider that? It doesn't seem like something you would do."

Annabeth sighed, feeling pressured to confess: "I just... thought it would be a way to find Ikki. He was gone for so long, and I... wanted to do something to find him."

Percy nodded, seeming to understand, but then, without realizing it, he let slip:

"Makes sense. You cared about him. We all did. And Ikki has feelings for Artemis, I think she would be a good way to find him..."

There was a silence between them, filled only by the soft sound of falling snow.

Annabeth felt as if the ground had disappeared from under her feet. The name Artemis echoed in her mind, each repetition bringing a new wave of pain she didn't know how to process. She blinked, trying to absorb what Percy had just said, but the words didn't seem to make sense.

The world around her, once calm with the serenity of winter, now seemed a hostile and unforgiving place.

"What?" Her voice came out weaker than she would have liked, a reflection of her internal struggle.

Percy, noticing the change in her expression, tried to explain, but the damage was already done. The revelation that Ikki might have feelings for Artemis was like a direct blow to Annabeth's heart. She felt a tightness in her chest, a sharp pain that seemed to steal her breath. How could he? How could Ikki have feelings for someone like Artemis? Did she have a chance against someone like that?

While Percy stammered apologies, Annabeth stood still, processing the new reality that had just been revealed. She tried to speak, but the words got stuck in her throat, crushed by the pain and jealousy that consumed her. Her thoughts became a chaotic whirlwind, each one more painful than the last.

She remembered every moment shared with Ikki, every look, every touch, every conversation that now seemed insignificant in the face of this new truth.

"He likes Artemis?" The question escaped her lips almost without her realizing it, as if she needed to hear the confirmation to believe.

Percy scratched his neck, visibly uncomfortable, but Annabeth barely noticed. Her mind was elsewhere, reliving memories that now seemed somewhat distorted. She thought of Ikki's smile, the times he looked at her in a way she thought was special. Now, all of that seemed to disintegrate in the face of the idea that he might have reserved those feelings for someone else.

The pain Annabeth felt was deep, visceral. It was as if someone had ripped something precious from inside her, leaving a painful void in its place. The jealousy gnawed at her soul, an emotion she rarely felt, but which now seemed unbearable. She never imagined she could feel this for someone.

He, who always seemed so distant, so unattainable, now was even further out of her reach.

"I... didn't know." Annabeth's voice was laden with a sadness she couldn't fully hide. She looked away, unable to face Percy as her mind wrestled with the wave of emotions threatening to overflow.

Despite not knowing what happened, Percy tried to comfort her, placing a hand on her shoulder, but Annabeth barely felt the touch. She was immersed in her own thoughts, her mind revisiting every interaction she had with Ikki. What did she do wrong? Where was she when he started looking at Artemis with those eyes she thought were only for her?

She hugged herself, a subconscious gesture to try to contain the pain she felt. Annabeth always prided herself on being strong, capable of facing any challenge with determination and courage. But now, faced with this revelation, she felt small, vulnerable, as if she were unarmed in an emotional battle for which she wasn't prepared.

"Can you leave me alone? It's okay." She lied, her voice wavering: "I just... need some time to think."

Percy nodded, respecting her request, but Annabeth barely noticed when he walked away. She was lost in her own mind, confronting the emotions that fought to dominate her heart.

Frustration grew inside her, a silent anger directed at herself for not realizing it before. She wanted to scream, wanted to run, wanted to do anything to escape the pain that now consumed her chest.

The thought of Ikki and Artemis together was unbearable. Annabeth couldn't understand how he could like someone like Artemis, a goddess who was everything she wasn't. Insecurity gnawed at her, making her question her own worth. Was she not enough? Did he never see her the way she saw him?

Annabeth knew she needed to be strong, that she couldn't let these emotions control her. But at that moment, all she wanted was to give in to despair, to allow herself to feel the pain in all its intensity. She walked aimlessly through the camp, struggling to keep the tears from streaming down her face.