[Third Person Pov]
"Congrats," Percy said, lightly tapping Markus on the shoulder with his fist. "I still remember the feeling when I was first claimed."
Markus simply nodded, offering a brief look of appreciation. "Thanks… I suppose."
Annabeth studied him carefully, noting the almost casual expression he still wore despite everything that had just happened. "What's the matter? You don't look very thrilled about it."
"Yeah," Thalia added, leaning against a nearby tree with her arms crossed. "This is supposed to be a big deal. Do you have any idea how many demigods would kill to be in your position right now?"
Markus only shrugged. "I guess since I didn't really grow up in this culture, I don't care about it as much. Or maybe I just don't fully understand why it's supposed to be so important. Sorry."
Annabeth's lips curved into a knowing smile. She chuckled softly behind her hand. "That's not all, is it?"
Markus gave her a sideways glance, then sighed and pushed his dreads back from his face. "I'm aware of the whole claiming thing… but it just isn't the same without Lucian. It doesn't feel like something worth celebrating when he's not here."
Silence fell over the small group.
Everyone exchanged glances. As the quiet stretched on, Markus began to look faintly embarrassed.
"Wow," Percy finally said, breaking the tension with an amused expression.
Markus's cheeks warmed. He turned a sharp glare on Percy. "Are you looking to die or something? What's with the 'wow,' huh?!"
That was all it took. The others immediately burst into laughter, their amusement getting the better of them.
"Forget this. I'm out of here," Markus grumbled, already spreading his dark wings.
Annabeth reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. "Stop. Come on, we're only kidding. We know how much Lucian means to you. He means just as much to the rest of us—if not more."
Thalia walked over and nudged him lightly with her elbow. "Yeah, what she said. Lucian might be your best friend, but to the rest of us he's family. If anyone gets what you mean, it's us."
Markus brushed Annabeth's hand away, still sulking a little. "Whatever. I gotta get back home anyway. I need to tell my mother what's happening and that I won't be around for a while."
"Oh shoot!" Percy exclaimed. He spun on his heels and started jogging back toward his cabin. "Thanks for reminding me—I was supposed to do the same thing!"
"I'll be quick. Don't worry," Markus said. He spread his wings fully and launched into the air. Snow swirled up from the ground in the wake of his takeoff.
---
Markus arrived home to find his mother, Faith, in the kitchen cooking. The familiar scent of dinner filled the small house.
"Mom. You and I need to talk," he said the moment he stepped inside, not bothering to ease into the conversation.
Faith paused mid-stir and turned around. The second she saw the serious look on his face, her expression shifted. "Why am I suddenly getting a bad feeling about this? I feel like I'm not going to like whatever you're about to say."
"I'm going on a quest," Markus stated plainly.
"Absolutely not. Are you out of your mind?" Faith answered without a single second of hesitation.
"I'm sorry, Mom. I know you don't want me to go… but I have to. It's for Lucian."
"I don't care if it was the President of the United States telling you to go," Faith shot back, voice rising. "I'm telling you no. Do you really think I'm going to willingly give you permission to run off and fight monsters? You're fifteen years old, for crying out loud. No sane mother would just send her child out into the wild like that!"
---
Meanwhile, Percy stood in front of the small fountain in his cabin, staring at his own reflection in the water as he made the call.
"Mom… I'm going on a quest."
Sally Jackson's face appeared in the shimmering surface, wearing her usual warm, encouraging smile.
"Alright, Percy," she said gently. "Be safe out there."
…
"Huh? No, you don't get it," Markus said quickly, a lopsided smile tugging at his mouth. "I'm not telling you that Lucian is ordering me to go. I'm telling you that Lucian is in trouble… and I have to go save him."
Faith froze. The concern that had been simmering beneath her frustration finally rose to the surface. "Wait. What do you mean Lucian is in trouble?"
Markus's expression grew serious again. "Lucian was kidnapped. He's being held against his will." He began explaining everything he knew—everything he had learned—leaving nothing out. The more he spoke, the more the weight of the situation settled into the quiet kitchen.
Faith's hand slowly rose to cover her mouth. Disbelief and worry warred across her face as she listened. When he finished, she lowered her hand and spoke carefully.
"I understand that you're worried about him. I understand that you feel like you have to go… but why does it have to be *you*? There are gods and divine spirits in this world. Why does a task like this have to fall onto your shoulders?"
Markus clenched his fist tightly at his side. "Like Percy said before… because Lucian would have done the same for me. If our positions were reversed, I know without a shadow of a doubt that he would do whatever it took to save me. So it wouldn't be fair if I didn't do the same for him."
Faith stared at her son for a long moment. Her expression was unreadable as she looked deeply into his hazel eyes. Markus didn't look away. He held her gaze steadily, neither of them speaking.
After several tense seconds, Markus's eyes began to water from the strain. He finally broke the silence with a strained voice.
"…Please blink. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up."
A faint smile touched Faith's lips. She closed her eyes, and Markus let out an exaggerated sigh of relief, shoulders sagging.
"Markus," she said quietly, the smile fading into something heavier, "I love you. So you know just how hard it is for me to give you permission for something this extreme."
"I know," he answered sincerely. "And I'm sorry for putting you in this position."
Faith shook her head. "No. Never apologize for trying to be a good friend. You're worried about Lucian, and I understand where you're coming from."
Markus looked down slightly. "I'm not apologizing for that. I'm apologizing for being a son who makes you worry."
Faith stepped out from behind the counter and walked over to him. She took his face gently in both hands and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.
"Don't apologize for that either," she murmured. "I'm your mother. It's my job to worry about you."
She pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes, her thumb brushing affectionately across his cheek. "I'll let you go… but only on one condition."
Markus's brows knitted together. "What is it?"
"Lucian and the people you're going with on this quest… they're not my child. You are. So no matter what happens out there, I want you to always prioritize yourself above everything else."
Markus stared at her for a moment, a strange mix of emotions flickering across his face. He understood why she was saying it, even if the request sat uncomfortably with him.
"I promise I'll be careful and look after myself," he said. "Don't worry. You should've seen me earlier—I completely dominated that competition."
Faith's shoulders remained tense. Without another word she pulled him into a tight embrace, holding him as if she were afraid to let go. In that quiet kitchen, the hardest truth a mother could face settled between them: watching her son grow up before her eyes… and having no choice but to accept it.
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