4 Chapter Four

I tightened the straps of the vambraces as I marched to where I would take over patrol.

The situation was bad, the sensors weren't ready yet, and small groups of monsters were spotted lurking around the camp border.

I sucked in a breath through my teeth, irritation flaring, there were kids in the camp, children starting from the age of six, if they attacked, I could not guarantee their safety as I am now if they targeted the cabins.

Invoulentraly, I let out a growl that reverberated in my throat.

The monsters had been following the new kids for a while, and since one of them was the daughter of Zeus, one of the "Big Three", her scent was stronger than any other in the camp.

Meaning, that monsters would be coming, tiering the fighters out before they finally breach the perimeter and the campers would be too tired to fight properly.

Clamping down on my feelings like I have always had, I focused back on my path. Reaching on my back, I took off the shield and positioned it on my arm.

I had to do something to relieve the campers, and let them calm down and rest.

A sigh left my lips and I looked up at the sky accusingly, as if the one ruling over it was the source of all of my problems.

Well, that asshole was, in fact, the source of all of my problems.

I'd have to set up a ward.

The problem? I would have to make it so that nobody but the monsters could feel it. I would have to put the feel of a monster that was so nonthreatening that even the gods would overlook it, miss it, forget it.

Yet, it had to be strong enough to deter any monsters with its sheer status, their survival instinct wouldn't let anything come close to it unless the monsters were being controlled.

luckily for me, I had enough of those to fuel... Actually, I could use one image to fuel as many wards as I wanted, so the example I was going to make is a bit pointless.

Blinking, I scowled, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, more commonly known as ADHD. The brain of this body was hardwired for battle, more than the other demigods, so I seemed to have a short attention span, not paying attention to anything for too long.

But that was incorrect, my brain paid too much attention, but only to the things that were important, and considering that contemplating the wards that would protect everybody in the camp was more important than walking... Well, you get the idea.

I wanted to rub my forehead, but currently, I was wearing a helmet so I just sighed again. I was getting too old for this, spiritually.

This time, in the twenty-first century, I was planning to retire. There were no kingdoms to rule, there were no wars that I had an obligation to fight, and there was nothing stopping me from aging and finally getting to enjoy retirement.

And I dare anyone to try and prevent that from happening, I will tear them to shreds.

I have lived many lifetimes, died on many battlefields, and died for the people I led. Many died in my hands before I could save them for the amusement of an unknown god...

I just wanted to be happy.

Was that too much to ask for?

___

"So... we all have our own cabins?"

I nodded at Luke Castellan, the only male in the new group that arrived yesterday. The blue-eyed, blue-haired boy was walking in front of his companions as they followed me around the camp.

Somehow, being the de facto leader of the entire camp meant that I had to show the new guys around, with the duty being provided by Chiron-that old man.

"What's that place?"

I looked at the place where our youngest was pointing and quirked an eyebrow.

"That's the mess hall, we eat there, and sacrifice food to the gods, because being a god is apparently not enough, they need sacrifices for no reason, too."

I rolled my eyes, we were close, but seriously, we needed to build a few more bridges, going around the whole lake took too long.

"But... It has no roof. What if it rains?"

I grunted in annoyance. We didn't have a roof because those who built this place liked being grandiose rather than pragmatic.

"The gods, in their infinite wisdom, decided that it would be appropriate that a barrier that prevented weather change should be present, but not the barrier to prevent monster attacks, thankfully, they seem to be easing up."

The little girl "ah"-ed and silence resumed until we reached the cabins.

"That one is the Zeus cabin, that one is the Athena cabin, and that one is the Hermes cabin."

I pointed at the appropriate cabins and continued.

"I will go with Thalia to answer any questions she has around the camp, you ask your siblings who aren't busy protecting the camp, if they are sleeping, that means that they just got off a shift, don't wake them up."

I instructed, getting a frown from the daughter of Zeus and nods from the other two.

"This place seems awfully militaristic."

The one to speak up was Luke, who was looking at his cabin with mild interest.

"The number of monsters that attacked yesterday wasn't normal, it will be like this for the next few days, maybe a week until the monster scent dissipates and stops attracting more into the forest, while the surroundings cover our scent, it won't work if the whole forest stinks."

He nodded, though still confused.

I led the daughter of Zeus to the first cabin and stopped at the entrance, while the manchild above couldn't smite me since I could still protect myself even in this body, I didn't want to attract more problems for the camp.

Thalia walked forward, entering her cabin and looking up at the statue of Zeus that was boldly displayed smack dab in the middle of it.

Honestly, I wasn't even surprised.

"Not gonna come in?"