Annabeth's Pov

-I knew it!!

Percy came running from the stairs. He was holding an ancient sword that came from nowhere. My guess was wrong, thank goodness..and Percy, I would have died in that awkward atmosphere.

-Well, boy? What did you find out while you were rummaging through someone's house illegally?

The old woman said. The last sentence made Percy freeze. It was true that he did seem to have rummaged through someone's house illegally.

-Ah..um..I apologize for that. But you're not human!

Percy said, his face quite confident. Judging by the fact that Percy hadn't run away yet, I figured the old woman probably wasn't all that bad and neither Grover nor I could sense the feeling that monsters brought to her.

-That's a pretty mean thing to say to an old woman.

The old lady smiled with interest while Grover and I didn't understand what Percy was really trying to say.

-I've gone up to the second floor! It looks quite normal at first glance. But heh, even the mist can't fool me. All the objects up there aren't real. Only this one is real.

Percy said and then he held up the sword in front of him. It was a sword with a golden bell and a sharp and sophisticated design. However, if it was for a fight, I don't think I would choose a sword like that.

-You judge me just by my hobby of collecting old things? And what basis do you have to say that my things are fake?

The old lady continued. She put her hand on her chin. I felt that the atmosphere the old lady was giving off right now was very familiar... that dream just now... could this old lady be?? I had to be on guard, that dream wasn't meaningless.

-No, it's made of Celestial bronze, normal people can't see it clearly, let alone have a sword! And don't think I don't notice the feeling of being followed by an owl while wandering in the forest!

Percy said. Didn't he think Athena was an enemy? Maybe because for someone who had just been exposed to the mythological world for 2 weeks, Athena was always told that she was a "good" goddess, so in his mind, he automatically thought that Athena was a good and loving goddess?

Yes, there was one that was watching us.

Grover said, looking as if he had just remembered. I was too tired to pay attention to anything, so I don't remember anything about it. Now that I think about it, I did feel a strange aura when I passed out.

Grover understood too, he was a little shocked and trembled a little because of course, standing in front of him was Athena! Even I was trembling a little, but I was probably trembling for a different reason than Grover.

-Wait... Could it be that the overwhelming amount of aura caused me to react by being pushed away..

I said, suddenly remembering the feeling of being pushed away right before I passed out.

-Maybe? But there's no doubt about it. She's Athena! Goddess of war and wisdom! The heroes' strongest supporter!

Percy said. He swung his sword up and down as a sideshow to Athena's introduction. I don't think he's wary or at least wary enough as he should be if he knew the true face of the gods but right now he probably still has a good image of the gods and this world? I don't think so. Percy is smart enough to save himself (and his companions) from dangerous situations and he's faced monsters that want to eat him alive before. How can someone be so smart and naive?

-Well, that's right. Good thing you found out.

Athena said, clapping her hands a little as if congratulating him. I don't want to be rude but the bad feeling inside me is growing, my instincts are telling me to be careful at all times. Athena made a deal with Hades, could it have something to do with me? Sadly, it's highly likely since it appeared in my dream

- Thank you very much for your noble kindness in helping us. If it weren't for you, we would have been torn apart by strange animals in the forest. So, um...can I ask a question? Oh, mighty goddess of wisdom?

Percy said. Was he trying to curry favor with Athena? Most likely. It would make more sense.

-Well, you can. Consider it a reward for finding out who I am.

Athena said. Percy's face lit up as if he had waited his whole life to hear this. I didn't have high expectations of Athena. Expectations of gods were usually met with disappointment.

- Excuse me, may I ask where Sally Jackson is...?

Percy asked. He laced his fingers together, his face looking serious but also somewhat humble, weak compared to Athena. Sally Jackson? I could tell this was probably Percy's mother, the woman whose life and death were unknown.

- Percy...

Grover spoke softly, his face showing regret, uncertainty. He didn't dare look at Percy's face anymore, he looked quietly under the table. Shame or guilt? Is Percy's mother dead?

A minute had passed and Athena hadn't shown any expression or said anything.

- Is she alive at least...???

Percy asked. His eyes were clearly desperate. I remembered Luke's eyes when he first entered the half-blood camp, after Thalia died. Is that the look in someone's eyes when they desperately try to deny that a loved one has gone forever?

-I refuse to answer.

Athena said coldly, then she took a sip of tea that I didn't know where it came from. After all, Mr. D can make Coca out of thin air so there's no need to think too much about this matter. They are gods.

-But, didn't you..?

Percy was agitated in his emotions for a few short seconds but his rational part pulled him back to the present that in front of him was a god. But he couldn't hide the disappointment and betrayal that appeared in his eyes.

-You must have misunderstood something? I gave you the right to ask, but I didn't say I would answer, right? Don't you know that you should never consider yourself even one step closer to a god? Don't demand an unreasonable promise of fairness.

Athena said, her words filled with coldness. She clearly understood how Percy felt but still chose to say that. It was hard to believe that she was a mother. What else could one expect from the gods? They would always consider themselves above everything, he shouldn't have even thought of asking in the first place.

-Yes...I understand..

Percy bit his lip, clenching his fists. He was clearly angry that Athena had tricked him and left him so disappointed. I knew he had ventured into this house in the first place just to see Athena.

Grover looked up at Percy. His face was filled with pity, and a bit of guilt. He stood up and walked closer to Percy on his goat leg and placed his hand on Percy's shoulder as a silent comfort.

I remember back when I first came to the underworld, I tried to do something forbidden that i wont say now or at least intended to and when I was stopped, I felt a sense of loss and disappointment run through me, wondering what the hell I had been doing all this time and for what? I wonder if Percy feels the same way?

-But I have another gift for you.

Athena said. Then she turned towards me, flicked her finger and all our weapons literally fell out of thin air onto the table. This startled me, Grover and Percy. I instinctively backed away.

My Stygian sword was also among the things that fell out of thin air. Stygian iron was from the underworld so it gave me a very different feeling than mortal weapons or Celestial bronze (Actually, I still needed to touch it to be able to tell the difference between the two). And the sword that appeared out of thin air... was the real thing.

Percy also looked in disbelief. He walked over and touched his knife on the table to confirm whether it was real or fake. He looked at it over and over again from every angle to check. He even tried to stab himself lightly to see if it was real but was stopped by Grover.

-This is real..

Percy said with a look like the main character of a horror movie when discovering something very unusual in the house they just bought or rented.

-I just happened to pick up something from the river.

Athena said. Eh...I guess I should thank Athena? Even though this is suspicious. Percy also seemed hesitant on his face. It was really strange to thank Athena after being told something that seemed like a slap in the face.

-Um...We thank you for your kindness...

Grover said. He bowed his head to thank Athena. I think he must have sensed that neither Percy nor I were in the mood to bow our heads to thank Athena, so he did it for her so as not to displease the goddess.

I nodded as if to say thank you. Percy also bowed his head even though neither of us could say the word "thank you". Percy because he still hasn't forgiven Athena after 2 minutes. I'm still very suspicious and skeptical after the dream.

Percy and I walked to the table and took our belongings.

-If there's nothing else, then we'll take our leave. You must know that we're on an urgent mission, right? Goddess of Wisdom?

Percy said , there was a tiny hint of Sarcastic.He took his belongings after checking everything. His voice was much lower than the 4 days I've known him.

-Fine, but first stay and listen to some advice from me first.

Athena said. Before we could react, Athena stood up and pointed at Me first.

-Annabeth Chase, you will face countless challenges and choices. But remember, never forget who you are, young hero.

Athena said. Who doesn't have countless challenges and choices in life? That's obvious. Of course I will never forget who I am, no matter what the circumstances, whether I want to or not (Spoiler: I will have to take this back in the future). "Young hero"? Okay, the suspicion that I am part of Hades and Athena's deal is growing stronger with every second I talk to the goddess of war.

-And you, Perseus Jackson. You will have to learn to accept loss and change in your life, as soon as possible. Then you will be able to see things you never noticed before.

Athena said. Percy's face hardened. She was speaking right to Percy's dark heart. Then his face darkened and he turned away from the door. He must have been annoyed by Athena's half-formed and unclear words.

-And lastly, you, Grover Underwood. Well, how should I put it... Don't give up on what you are looking for.

Athena said. That was the clearest and most concise and easy-to-understand advice yet.

Grover's face lit up. Athena might have been figuratively saying that he would find Pan if he didn't give up. But maybe Athena just wanted to see Grover's small glimmer of hope before it was completely crushed. The gods were always so cruel.

-What is your purpose after all?

I asked, knowing that I wouldn't get any satisfactory answer.

-I just want to be on the "right" side of the war. Is that a reason that's too difficult for you to understand?

Athena replied. What did she mean by "right side"? There's no such thing as "right side" and "wrong side" in a war. As I thought, I didn't really get any answer. I sighed and turned towards the door to go out.

-Thank you for the advices anyway. We will remember that.

I said to not piss off the Goddess. You dont want to be her Enemy.