The Rules of the Trial
Percy looked at the symbol that represented the pantheon he himself was a champion of. The pantheon that represented his master, Miraak. The one that represented the Dragonborn in this plane.
And that now marked him… as part of it.
Percy couldn't help but feel a bit of happiness stir in his chest. But he quickly composed himself and turned his gaze back to Chiron.
"A hero's trials were never simple challenges, Percy," Chiron said calmly, but with that kind of seriousness that made every word feel heavier. "They are not games, nor were they ever meant to exist just to entertain the gods. They are judgments. Paths through which a demigod proves whether he can truly carry the fate he claims. Hercules had to complete twelve labors that would have destroyed almost anyone else before the third. Jason crossed impossible seas for the Golden Fleece. Theseus descended into darkness to face monsters and horrors that would have shattered the mind of most. Even heroes less remembered endured trials that demanded more than strength; sacrifice, ingenuity, will… and the ability to keep moving forward even when everything seemed lost."
He paused slightly.
"That is what makes these trials so dangerous. They do not seek the strongest. They seek the one who does not break. And if this truly will be the Trial of Champions… then do not expect simple battles. Expect trials meant to push you to your limit, force you to choose, to suffer… and to prove whether you truly deserve to be called a champion."
"Because perhaps that is the curse every child of a god is born with," Chiron added seriously.
"I'm ready for that," Percy said confidently.
Chiron did not seem entirely convinced, but he said nothing about it. He only let out a sigh before continuing.
"There are a few rules you need to understand from the beginning, Percy," he said calmly. "The first is quite simple. Only those who are marked may truly participate in the judgment. The Champion's Mark cannot be copied, stolen, or forged. That mark exists to identify the true champion chosen by his pantheon… or by whatever force stands behind him."
His gaze dropped for a moment toward Percy's hand.
"That does not mean you must stand alone. Champions may have helpers. Allies, companions, or trusted people may accompany them in certain trials if the conditions allow it. But only the bearer of the mark may claim victory. Your companions may support you… but they cannot replace you."
Percy glanced to the side for a moment, his eyes landing on Annabeth and Grover.
He said nothing. But that… honestly didn't sound so bad.
Chiron continued.
"The second rule is simple, Percy. The Trial will consist of six trials. Each of them will test something different. Not all of them will measure strength, and not all of them will be resolved through combat. Some will be meant to test a champion's power. Others, his mind, his will, his ability to make decisions under pressure… or even what he is willing to sacrifice."
"Each trial will have a single victor. One. It does not matter if more than one champion manages to reach the end. If another participant fulfills the conditions of the judgment better, then that victory belongs to him."
Percy narrowed his eyes slightly at that and nodded seriously.
"The fourth rule concerns the trial itself. Each one will have a condition that marks its end. A limit, a goal, or a concrete resolution that will mark its end. Once that happens, the judgment will decide who claimed victory… even if the others are still standing."
"The fifth rule concerns the other champions; during the trials, there is no such thing as fair play," Chiron said calmly. "They may confront one another directly. They may compete, sabotage, steal advantages, or interfere with each other's progress, so long as they do not break the judgment itself. The Trial was not made for each champion to run his path alone without being disturbed. It was made to see who can prevail even when others are trying to stop them."
He paused for a moment.
"But that leads us to the next… and most important rule. Champions cannot deliberately kill another champion before the end of the judgment. At least, not directly."
Percy frowned slightly at that. More than anything, that last part didn't sit well with him.
"If someone tries to do it directly, the trial itself will punish them. That doesn't make the Trial safe. It's still extremely dangerous. A champion can die by failing, by getting trapped, by not enduring… or by being overcome by the trial itself."
"Directly?" Percy asked, catching that small detail. "So… they could do it indirectly?"
"That's correct," Chiron said, his expression serious.
Percy opened his mouth, but didn't say anything else, letting Chiron continue.
"The seventh rule," Chiron went on, "is that the gods cannot intervene directly once a trial begins. They may have granted blessings, weapons, warnings, or favors before the judgment starts. But once inside, the champion must rely on what he already has."
"The eighth rule is quite simple. Abandoning a trial counts as a total defeat. If a champion withdraws by choice, that trial is considered lost."
"Ninth. If a trial ends in a situation where a victor cannot be clearly determined, then a neutral force will decide it."
Chiron rested both hands lightly.
"And finally, Percy." His voice grew slightly heavier.
"Losing is not just losing a title. It means the decision over your very soul… will fall into the hands of the winning pantheon."
Yeah, that sounded just a little worse than losing.
Percy's eyes widened slightly at that. He had heard it before from his master… but it still sounded just as absurd.
"Yeah… exactly what I wanted. My soul ending up in Zeus's hands. That's definitely going to go well."
Chiron didn't react to the sarcasm.
"With all that said, the champion who claims the most trials out of the six will be recognized as the victor of the Trial of Champions."
Percy nodded. That part, at least, he understood well enough. "And if the champions tie?" he asked.
Chiron looked at him for a moment. "That will be decided by the competing pantheons." Then he paused.
"The last time two champions ended in a tie…"
Chiron fell silent for a brief moment.
"They faced a soul duel."
The air seemed to grow heavier.
"What's a soul duel?" Percy asked, since that didn't sound good at all.
"Basically, if you die, your soul is cast into chaos and destroyed. And the last time there was a soul duel… that is exactly what happened to both champions," Chiron said.
"Wait, both? So… there was no winner?" Percy asked.
"There was," Chiron replied. "And that was Kronos, the creator of the Trial of Champions."
"Basically… I have to win. Not lose, not even tie. Great," Percy said, rolling his eyes.
Chiron could only shake his head slightly.
"Those are primarily the rules for the champions. The gods will have their own rules… and believe me, even they will be bound to follow them," Chiron said, looking at him seriously. "Do you have any other questions?"
Percy opened his mouth to say something else, but before he could, the door burst open.
One of the Apollo cabin campers rushed in, clearly out of breath.
"Chiron… she's awake!" he blurted out.
For a moment, silence fell over the room.
Percy frowned slightly, a bad feeling settling in almost immediately.
And then, everyone knew exactly who he was talking about.