Percy Jackson: The Firstborn

Chapter 113: Chapter 113: A Demigod Is Not a Monster

With what the redhead had just said, the dining hall fell silent. Several demigods began murmuring among themselves, especially those from Athena’s cabin, who seemed to understand Damon’s point even better than the others. Not everyone agreed yet, but the question was difficult to ignore.

”Lord Damon, what are you implying?” Chiron asked, his voice sounding more confused than annoyed as he looked at the redhead. His question was enough to cut off most of the murmurs.

”I’m not implying anything,” Damon replied. ”I’m saying what I think based on what I know.”

”But- But, your words could create a misunderstanding among the demigods,” the centaur said, with slight irritation in his voice, though he tried not to show it too much. After all, Damon was not just any god.

”What misunderstanding, Chiron?” the redhead asked without taking his eyes off the centaur.

Noticing the irritation hidden in the centaur’s eyes, but decided to let it slide. Chiron could be stubborn when he wanted to be, and it was understandable to a certain point. When someone had been doing things the same way for thousands of years, naturally, they were not going to feel good if someone suddenly appeared and told them that something was wrong.

”The campers are trained in the art of swordsmanship, along with rigorous physical training so they can be in shape once they leave the protection of the camp,” Chiron replied. ”They also receive archery training and theory on the different mythological monsters they could face outside.”

The centaur stopped for a moment, looking at the campers as if he wanted to make sure everyone was listening, but before he could continue, Damon interrupted him. ”That’s fine,” the redhead said. ”I’m not saying that everything you teach is useless.”

Chiron gave a slight nod at that. Although he did not like what Damon was implying, he also did not seem willing to act irrationally. ”The problem starts when they learn the bare minimum and then get put into activities that don’t address the real problem,” Damon continued.

Chiron frowned. ”Such as?”

”Capture the flag,” Damon replied without hesitation, shrugging. ”It can help with strategy, coordination, and physical conditioning. I’m not denying that. The problem is that you all act as if winning this game truly increases their chances of surviving outside.”

The redhead looked around, ”It’s as if catching a flag before another camper would help you when you have a Cyclops standing in front of you.”

Several campers fell silent at that.

”After all, I don’t see any Cyclops participating in the game. I only see demigods,” Damon continued, making it clear that he was now speaking to all of them. ”It doesn’t matter how much time you spend fighting another camper. A monster doesn’t fight like a demigod.”

”Why?” asked a demigod sitting at Apollo’s table.

”Anatomy,” Damon replied without hesitation. ”You don’t have the strength of a monster. You don’t weigh the same, you don’t move the same, you’re not taller, you don’t have claws, you can’t regenerate, and you don’t fight with the same instinct. A demigod and a monster are not the same.”

The dining hall fell silent once again. ”Either you have an enchanted weapon, an item that compensates for the difference, or a blessing from some god, or you’re screwed,” Damon added calmly. ”That’s why I say that, from what I’ve seen, you are being trained more to kill humans than to survive against monsters. Almost all demigods have human anatomy, and almost all their practical training consists of facing each other.”

A small smile appeared on the redhead’s face, though it did not reach his eyes. ”In fact, if I knew nothing about the camp, I would say you were being trained for the day two gods start a war and you all have to kill each other to decide which god wins.”

He said it in a joking tone, briefly looking at Dionysus. The god of wine became more nervous than he should have, because the accusation was not that far from reality. Most campers took it as an uncomfortable joke and let it pass. The more intelligent ones, like Annabeth and Luke, thought twice about that comment.

On the other hand, Chiron was left speechless. He knew what Damon meant, and the more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt. ”Then what do you suggest?” he finally asked, trying to push that thought away. ”It’s not as easy as you think.”

”I think you make it harder than it really is,” Damon replied. ”As far as I know, Poseidon has loyal Cyclopes under his command, doesn’t he?”

Chiron hesitated for a second before nodding.

”Then have you never thought of asking him to send a Cyclops who doesn’t want to devour demigods so they can teach them how to fight against one?” Damon asked. ”To teach their tactics overall.”

The campers looked at Chiron, curious to hear the trainer of heroes’ answer. They had to admint damon had a good point, why not fight a cyclops.... ”I mean,” Damon continued, shrugging. ”Who better to teach you how to face a Cyclops than a Cyclops?”

Chiron opened his mouth, but Damon continued before giving him time. ”And not just Cyclopes. If monsters can be brought under control, then use them. A hellhound, for example. Maybe we would have to talk about that with Hades, but the point remains the same. If the real threat is monsters, then the training should include monsters.”

”The barrier was placed to prevent monsters from entering the camp...” Chiron tried to say.

”And that’s fine,” Damon interrupted him. ”I’m not saying you should let just anything in. I’m saying that, if you can control the conditions, it is better for their first serious encounter with a monster to happen here, with you watching, with healing nearby, and with adults prepared to intervene. Because outside the barrier, one mistake will likely mean their death.”

Damon locked his eyes on the centaur’s eyes: ”Or do you plan to keep the demigods locked in here forever? Because that would not be much better than a cage. I’m sure many of them want to go out, see their families, or simply walk through the world without depending on the camp to protect them their entire lives.”

Chiron lowered his gaze, reflecting deeply. The redhead calmly approached and placed a hand on the centaur’s shoulder. ”Look, I’m not blaming you, Chiron. I just want you to tell me something,” Damon said, lowering his voice slightly. ”Do you want these children to learn how to stand on their own outside, or do you only want them to be good at surviving inside the camp?”

For many campers, the camp had always been the safe place, the refuge where they could breathe without feeling like something was chasing them. The idea of one day going out into the outside world was something many only dared to imagine in dreams, knowing that they probably would not survive too long alone out there. But now, from the way Damon spoke, that safety was beginning to sound less like protection and more like dependency.

”Here, you have ways to heal if something goes wrong. Outside, there is none of that. A monster will not stop just because you want it to, and I cannot guarantee everyone’s safety if something beyond my control happens.”

”For example, I heard the Hunters of Artemis always win at capture the flag,” Damon continued, looking at several campers. ”And I’m not surprised. When someone is used to hunting monsters of all kinds, a demigod without truly special abilities is not much of a threat.”

Some campers lowered their gazes at that, a little embarrassed. ”But tell me something,” the redhead continued. ”What happens if one day it isn’t the Hunters you’re facing? What happens if it’s something else? Maybe not now, maybe not tomorrow, but what will you do if one day the barrier falls and several monsters enter while working together?”

”How will you defend yourselves?” Damon asked. ”By running toward a flag? By hoping the other side respects the rules? Or by thinking that because you defeated another camper, you are already prepared for anything?”

No one answered.

”And worse,” he continued. ”What if it isn’t a common monster? The world is bigger than you think. What will you do if you encounter someone with super strength, someone who can fly, someone with wings... or powers beyond your understanding, like magic?”

”Magic?” a demigod asked from one of the tables, more confused than frightened.

Damon glanced at him ”Yes, magic,” he replied calmly. ”Not everything in the world revolves around monsters. There is much more than that.”

The comment made several campers look at each other, uncomfortable. They did not fully understand what Damon meant. To them, the world outside the ordinary was limited to monsters, gods, and demigods.

Damon observed their reactions for a moment before continuing. It was something they needed to know. Maybe they would not understand it now, but with time, they would.

”And the demigods with powers like super strength, or truly useful abilities in combat, I can count on one hand,” the redhead said. ”As you are now, against someone with real experience or an ability outside the ordinary, most of you would not even represent a real challenge.”

Those words struck the pride of several campers, especially the children of Ares, who frowned, clearly offended. But most of them did not dare deny what had been said. After all, if Damon said it, it had to be because there was some truth to it. He had no reason to lie to them.

From their perspective, he was only pointing out a problem they had been avoiding. And although his words were harsh, many were beginning to understand that, deep down, the redhead only wanted them to be better prepared.

Damon crossed his arms, thoughtful for a moment. ”Maybe it would be better to bring the Hunters and Artemis to train the demigods directly. They actually have real experience hunting monsters.”

Most of the demigods tensed when they heard that, especially the boys. Looking at each other as if they had just heard a death sentence. Damon noticed their reactions, and a small smile appeared on his face. ”Though I wonder if that would go well.”

Chiron cleared his throat, clearly doubtful. ”I do not think Lady Artemis would want to do that.”

Damon raised an eyebrow. ”Well,” the redhead said calmly. ”I am the king of the gods. I was not asking if she wanted to.”

Inside his mind, Kurama let out a snort. ”Now you’re starting to sound like Zeus,” the fox said with obvious amusement.

A drop of sweat slid down the back of Damon’s neck. ”I suppose you’re right,” the redhead admitted internally, keeping his expression blank in front of everyone else. ”Maybe I should start by visiting Leto. I haven’t seen her in a long time,” the god thought to himself

Leaving those thoughts aside, Damon cleared his throat slightly before looking back at Chiron.

”Anyway,” he continued, ”The only thing I want you to know is that, as king, I do not plan to sit back and do nothing. If I can do something to improve this, I will. It is the least I can do: make sure they have a real chance to survive.”