The stars were still visible above Camp Half-Blood when Lucas found them.
Thalia, Luke, and Annabeth sat behind Cabin Eleven, huddled near a burned-out torch. The trees behind them whispered faintly in the wind, masking their quiet conversation. They looked up when Lucas approached.
He didn't sit right away.
"We need to talk."
Luke shifted, sensing something heavier than usual. "What happened?"
Lucas sat beside them. The others leaned in slightly, unconsciously forming a tighter circle.
"I spoke with Hecate last night. After a dream."
Annabeth's brow furrowed. "Another prophecy?"
"No. A visit." Lucas looked at each of them. "Kronos spoke to me."
Silence.
"He reached out in a dream. Offered me power. Support. Said Olympus would betray me eventually. That I'd be caged. But he said he'd let me be free, help me change the world."
"And you turned him down," Luke said. Not a question.
Lucas nodded. "Of course."
"Good," Annabeth said softly.
Lucas leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "But Hecate confirmed it. He's been whispering to others. Spirits. Minor gods. Most ignored. Some warned Olympus. Zeus dismissed them. Said Kronos was gone."
"Zeus always dismisses what makes him uncomfortable," Thalia muttered.
Lucas turned to her. "There's more. Hecate said Zeus fears me. But not because of me directly. Because of you."
Thalia didn't respond.
"He thinks I'm influencing you. Turning you. It ties into the Great Prophecy. One of the Big Three's children destroying Olympus."
Annabeth's lips parted slightly.
Luke glanced at Thalia. Seeing her reaction he had a guess. "You knew?"
Thalia nodded. "Not the full prophecy. But... something. I learnt of it when I was young. Zeus was telling my mother, explaining it was the reason he couldn't support us, the reason why he couldn't take us to Olympus."
Lucas looked down. "I wanted you to know. So you could be ready. I'd never use you like that."
Thalia didn't speak for a moment, then said, "I know."
Annabeth wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Luke gave her hand a squeeze.
Lucas exhaled. "That's why I'm leaving."
All three froze.
"What?" Annabeth asked.
"Not forever. Just long enough to take pressure off. Kratos is watching me and all of you. If I'm gone, maybe he eases up. Maybe the camp can breathe. And it gives me time to begin."
"Begin what?" Luke asked.
Lucas's voice was steady. "The sanctuary. I can't build it from here. Not with Olympus watching. Not with Kratos breathing down my neck. But if I disappear for a little while..."
"They'll still suspect us," Thalia said.
"Maybe. But they won't have me here to focus on. That's something."
"Where will you go?" Annabeth asked.
"I have a nymph to see first, but after that? I want to meet the gods who help my mother on Olympus. Understand them, talk to them and see how far they will follow, how much they agree with me."
"Are you even allowed to leave camp?" Thalia asked
"I am officially claimed by Hecate, meaning I have no cabin at camp so I am actually not considered part of the camp. But the gods cannot be seen just throwing a demigod out of camp so Kratos didn't use this to remove me."
They sat with that in silence for a long moment.
"So when?" Luke finally asked.
"Tomorrow. Before dawn."
"Well at least you're not vanishing like last time," Luke said, earning a few short laughs.
...
Unlike usual he didn't summon the grey sisters, preferring to walk, nostalgic of his journey leaving home.
It took three weeks for him to make it to Kentucky, taking buses whenever possible but walking most of the way, especially towards the end of the journey which required him to walk off the beaten path.
By midday, he reached the stream. The same one from his journey long ago. But it was different now: cloudier, sadder. Oil slicks floated across its surface, and trash clung to the reeds.
Lucas crouched and reached for the stream. He willed his spell, creating a soft silver-blue glow around his hand before putting his hand beneath the surface into the stream.
Silver-blue tendrils spiraled outward, spreading across the surface. Slowly, the worst of the filth dissolved.
Lucas didn't stop there. He gathered cans and wrappers from the bank, tied them in a cloth bag, and even untangled fishing wire from a root knot.
"You're wasting your time."
Lucas turned.
The nymph stood midstream, arms crossed, eyes ancient and tired.
"I remember you," she said. "From before."
Lucas nodded. "I came back to help."
She stepped closer. The water around her shimmered with her mood.
"Your spell is clever. But it's not enough."
Lucas nodded. "It's mine, just a prototype."
She studied the river. "You've bought it time. But the poison will return. This land is sick."
"I know. That's why I want to change more than a stream."
He met her eyes. "I want to build something. A sanctuary. For demigods, for spirits, for anyone who's been cast aside. A place where you wouldn't have to watch your home rot."
"I am a water nymph, I cannot easily leave this place," she said.
"I'm not asking for you to do something dangerous," Lucas said. "Just... if there are others like you, others who want change, point them my way."
She regarded him, expression unreadable. "I will."
"Thank you."
"Calyra. My name is Calyra."
"Thank you, Calyra."
Then she vanished into the water, the ripples calming in her wake.
Lucas sat back and exhaled.
One step taken. Many more ahead.