Chapter 31 - A Day at Camp II

Lucas followed Luke to the edge of the sparring ring where they sat on the stone benches 

For a while, they simply watched.

Annabeth moved with focused determination, her blonde hair tied back, sweat clinging to her brow as she tried again and again to land a clean strike on Thalia. Thalia, ever the storm, met each attempt with calm precision, spinning her spear just enough to block or redirect, her shield always ready to smother Annabeth's momentum. She gave small, sharp comments now and then, but mostly let Annabeth learn by doing.

Lucas leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, quietly impressed. Thalia could've easily overwhelmed her, but instead she danced that fine line between dominance and mentorship.

Eventually, Thalia's gaze flicked toward the bench. She noticed them.

"Break time," Thalia said, stepping back and letting her spear fall to her side.

Annabeth, panting lightly, didn't argue.

The two girls walked over, grabbing water from a nearby jug as they joined the boys. Thalia collapsed onto the bench beside Luke, slinging her arm over the backrest with a dramatic groan.

"Training Annabeth is harder than fighting monsters," she said with mock exhaustion.

Annabeth rolled her eyes and sat next to Lucas, swiping at her forehead with the back of her wrist. "I'd like to see you learn dagger forms in a week."

"You already know them," Thalia shot back. "You just overthink."

Luke chuckled, taking a long drink from his canteen. "Here we go again."

The four of them settled into an easy rhythm, talking about nothing in particular, weather, food, the Ares kids fighting like they had something to prove.

After a few minutes, Thalia sprang up from the bench, cracking her neck.

"Alright, enough rest. You, me, Luke. Let's go."

Luke sighed dramatically, standing up and dusting off his hands. "If I must suffer…"

Their banter was light, teasing in tone but carried that edge of real competition.

Lucas turned to Annabeth, raised a brow, and silently mouthed: Flirt.

Annabeth let out a stifled giggle.

Lucas gave her a lopsided grin. "Well, come on then. Let's train while they're out there trying to kill each other."

He stood, offering her a hand.

She took it.

They moved to a nearby ring as Thalia and Luke began circling each other. Lucas drew his daggers with a practiced ease and took a ready stance.

"No magic," he said. "Just steel...well metal"

Annabeth nodded and raised her own weapon.

Lucas struck first; light, testing. Annabeth blocked, but the force still made her take a step back. He adjusted his angle, attacking again, this time slower.

"Widen your stance," he advised. "Your back foot's too close, you'll lose balance if you pivot."

She nodded, resetting.

They exchanged a few more strikes. Lucas was clearly holding back, but not condescendingly so. Every movement of his was deliberate, smooth. He flowed like water around her blocks, guiding her arms, tapping her wrist with the flat of his blade when she left herself open.

"Lead with your shoulder," he said, after a clean dodge. "It disguises your intent."

She tried. He nodded.

"Better"

After a few exchanges, he disengaged.

Lucas shifted his stance, lowering himself slightly and bringing one dagger up beside his face, blade angled outward. His other hand hovered near his chest, his hold loose but ready.

"Watch," he said, turning so Annabeth could see the form clearly. "Keep the blade close. You're not swinging a sword. This is faster, tighter. You want the point to always be between you and them."

He stepped forward, then back, his movements sharp but compact.

"The off-hand guards the face or chest. You're not blocking swords with it, but it buys you half a second, and that's usually all you need."

Annabeth mirrored him, adjusting the angle of her dagger and shifting her weight.

"Better," he said. "Think of it like dancing. Except the other person's trying to kill you."

Annabeth huffed. "You're irritating when you teach."

"You say that, but you're learning."

They kept going, the clash of bronze light but steady. A rhythm formed: strike, parry, correct. The thudding of feet on dirt. The occasional grunt of effort.

By the time they stepped apart, Annabeth was winded, smiling despite herself.

Lucas twirled his daggers once and sheathed them.

"You've improved," he said simply.

...

Lucas and the rest gathered around the fire they had built themselves, enjoying the warm glow and their meal from the pavilion: chicken wrapped in bacon, served with chips and a side of fresh salad. Laughter mingled with the crackle of flames as they chatted about the day's training.

Mid-conversation, Luke suddenly froze, then leaned over to whisper something in Annabeth's ear.

Her expression shifted to confusion as she turned to whisper something back, prompting Luke to smirk, his eyes gleaming with amusement. Without explanation, he gestured for Thalia to join them.

Thalia stood, setting her plate down before walking over. Lucas watched as Luke whispered to her too. Whatever he said made her pause, then return to her seat wearing the same subtle grin.

Lucas blinked, puzzled. No one offered an explanation. The three exchanged glances, smirks dancing on their faces, clearly amused about something. Lucas remained silent, quietly observing the cryptic exchange.

Suddenly, the sound of trotting approached from the woods.

Lucas half-expected Chiron, but it wasn't the centaur who appeared. From the trees emerged a figure, a teenager in a black shirt and red jacket, curly hair bouncing as he moved. What caught the eye were the goat horns peeking through his hair and the shaggy legs ending in hooves.

A satyr.

Lucas had never seen one in person.

The moment the satyr noticed their group, he let out a startled bleat and tripped over his hooves, landing hard on his back.

Thalia was the first to react, leaping to her feet and helping him up.

"Whoa there. You okay?"

The satyr scrambled upright, brushing himself off quickly.

"Thanks... yeah, sorry about that! I thought your fire belonged to the twins. Didn't mean to crash your circle. Again, sorry - and thanks."

He gave an awkward smile to everyone and one last appreciative nod to Thalia before trotting off into the woods again, his hooves echoing faintly as he vanished into the night.

"Well, that was a first," Annabeth said, eyebrows raised as she watched the satyr disappear into the darkness.