We walked back hand in hand to the small hut and found Lola and Madelyn talking and Nerthnowhere to be seen. I let my hand gently slid out of his and he gave me a confused look. I didn'trespond and went over to where Lola and Madelyn were talking avidly."-haha! Yeah! You know, there was this one time where me and my frien- Audrey! There you are! howwas your walk with Ben?" Lola asks and she wears that smirk. I sit down next to her."It was good." I tell her and try not to blush as I recall the kiss."Mhm. Ok. Well thats a nice rose. Matches your hair very nicely." She says and chuckles. My cheeks
flushed a little and I touched the tiny flower and turned so she couldn't see my pink cheeks."Well, Madelyn just finished going over the plan with me, I'll go get some supplies for the trip and youcan go over it with her and... oh look Ben and Nerth seem to be getting along." She says and I whiparound to see Nerth and Ben talking over by one of the trees. I froze and watched them. Had Nerthbeen watching us the whole time? That would be really bad. While I was thinking both Nerth and Benturned to me and I sheepishly waved and turned right back around."Want to go over the plan?" Madelyn asks and I see her wearing the same smirk as Lola had had. Iturned beetroot red."Yeah, sounds good." I say and she explains the plan. I had to admit, it did seem near impossible,but there was too much riding on us winning for us not to try at least. She looked at me."Lola told me about the quest your on. Sounds pretty similiar to mine." She says."Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" I ask her. She thought for a second."I don't know. Every quest is different I guess. Some get luckier then others." She says and pickssome of the grass nearby. SERIOUSLY WHO WAS THIS PERSON AND WHAT IS HER STORY?!"I'm assuming yours wasn't one of the lucky ones." I say quietly. She doesn't answer."I guess you could say that. But it had to be done." She says finally. We sit in silence."How do you meet Nerth?" I ask her. She chuckles."Well, I've been looking for someone for a while. I happened to run into him while looking. He offeredto help me look for him." She said."Oh nice." I say."He's told me quite a lot about you. About everyone but mainly you." She says. I sighed and the guilt
flooded back."o-oh yeah? What all did he say?" I ask her. She thought for a moment."He told me of how kind you were, how nice and incredible you are. He would tell me stories of youand camp and the Forgottens. You meant a great deal to him. " She says. I nodded. More silence."Welp, my ADHD is saying we should do something. Want to get ready then do some sparring?" Sheasks and stands, offering me her hand. I looked over at where Nerth and Ben had been and realizedthey weren't there anymore."Sure. Why not? But I don't have my sword." I tell her and stand up with her help."You mean this weapon?" She asks me and grabs my sword out of thin air. I gape at her."H-How?" I ask her and she laughs."Your Hades friend grabbed it and brought it here and we have this little power to pull objects weneed to us her in Elysuim so." She says and hands it to me. I tested it and was happy to find it stillfamiliar in my hand. But I was weaker and it took more energy to swing it then normal. What did thatcell do to me?! I think."Thanks Madelyn. Where should I meet you?" I ask her. She smiles."Theres a tiny field a few minutes away. Over there." She explains and points northwest."I'll be there. Theres a change of clothes and some food in the house. feel free to change and eatbefore you come. I know the cells weren't very friendly so rest and regain some strength beforecoming. Wouldn't want you to hurt yourself now would we?" She says and walks off. The mention offood made my stomach erupt and I didn't realize how hungry I was. I walked in and found some fruitand ingrediants to make a sandwhich. I quickly changed into the cute blue shirt which fit perfectlyand some comfortable dark jean shorts. It was a cute but flexible outfit. I looked at myself and almostdidn't recognize myself. My hair was a bit messy and my face looked tired. Dark bags sat under myeyes. But I think the biggest difference was how much older I looked. I was only 13 but I looked 16. I guess being taken over by an ancient monster and getting thrown in an Underworld cell does that toyou. I think darkly. I shake my head and look around for a brush. I find one and take the remainingstands of my braid out and carefully brush my hair. Something hit the ground next to me and Ireached down and picked up the delicate rose. I smiled and set it on the sink and put my hair in asimple braid for sparring. I looked at the rose and put it in my back pocket for safekeeping and wentto make myself some food. I was practically starving when I finished making the two hamsandwhiches and immedinatly gobbled them down. I was so full that I debated going into a foodcoma but sparring with Madelyn sounded more producitve. I forced myself to get up out of the chairand grabbed some water before heading to the spot Madelyn had pointed to. I looked at my swordas the light glinted off it and reflected off the metal."Where are you off to?" Ben says suddenly, appearing next to me. I jumped like 3 feet in the air andshoved him."Don't scare me like that!" I yell at him and punch him. He laughs and clutches his shoulder."Noted haha. So, where are you going?" He asks."Some field where me and Madelyn are gonna spar." I tell him. He nods."Just be careful ok?" He says, suddenly sweet again."I'll be fine." I tell him. He smiles."Good, mind if I tag along?" He asks."Sure." I shrug."Great!" He says but i stop him."But on one condition. What did Nerth have to say?" I ask him, not wanting to over step but I had toknow. What? We Athena kids are very curious. He sighs and looks down."Nothing much. Just some bro stuff." He says and I nod. I could tell he wasn't telling the whole truth."Ok, now come on, I didn't get much ADHD but its kicking in right now." I tell him and we both runhand and hand to the field.