"No one has to be taught to be afraid of the dark," Hercules told us on the first day of our training. "This is something that everyone with mortal blood instinctively understands. You know you can't see clearly in the dark – or you can't see at all. You have to rely on the senses that are often considered secondary in everyday life; Hearing, smelling, touching. It is these senses that predators use to find us when we are out of sight. ”

"Today," he said, "you will begin to understand that darkness is not something to be feared. Respected, yes...... But fear not. Darkness is not evil, it is just ...... Dark. In that darkness, in all its different forms, we, the children of the gods, can bring light. ”

That was five years ago, when we were still very young, untested, and just past our fifteenth birthday. Some of us have just embraced becoming demigods, while others – like me – already know our whole life. Since I was born, I've lived with my mother, Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war (among other things), and spent summers with my father, a Cherokee medical man.

For the past five years, we've been learning about ourselves and the world. We learned how to fight and how to survive in the wild and urban environments; Study mathematics, science, literature, philosophy, and history. We didn't come home in the evening...... We live together, learn together, work together, live and breathe our education.

Today we graduated. Today, we will assume whatever role and destiny we have chosen for ourselves or for us. Some of us will return to the mortal world, and others will join our divine parents in their service.

Next to me, my best friend - Michel, son of Hermes - poked me in the ribs with his elbow. "Hey Talia, have you finally decided what you're going to do?"

I glanced at him. Even after he spent half an hour trying to get it flat that morning, his black hair was still irregular. I've tried it once or twice myself...... He was doomed. "yes. I'm going to serve my mother. I want to try to improve my status as a deputy to Mrs. Minerva. ”

My half-sister Danae has held the title of Lady Minerva, the embodiment of Athena, for almost three hundred years. She recently lost her deputy (my other sister, Kiesha) to marry and become a mother. When Danae finally decides to retire, filling the position of Avatar's deputy – a kind of personal assistant to glory – will leave me to take on the role myself.

Michelle whistled softly. "You do know how to look high, don't you."

I laughed for a moment. "I guess you still want to be a doctor." There are no problems there. He never excelled in the physical aspects of our training, but he consistently outperformed everyone – myself – intellectually, and I was consistently at the top of my class. Where I'm smart, he's a genius. Literally...... His intellect can be intimidating at times.

He was also a charismatic man, just like his father. He grinned, the boyish grin that slyw him so skillfully into the beds of most of the other girls in our class—and a few boys. "Of course I do! I'm sure it's something I was born to do. ”

I sighed, a little jealous of this certainty. It must be good to be so sure of your short-term career goals. The only thing I know for sure is that I am destined to become an Avatar, which is a long-term goal at best. I wish I could solve the short-term problem by serving among the mother's staff.

Michelle and I discussed my confusion in such detail that he immediately understood what I was thinking. He patted my arm gently. "Don't worry, Talia. You'll find your place. ”

"Or it will find you," a deeper voice came from behind us. Ares' daughter, Mada, leaned among us. Her broad, slightly dull features were unusually thoughtful. "I told you before Talia that if you can't find your place, it will find you. And it might put you underground. You have to know your path. Becoming a demigod is not ...... Not safe............" she frowned. "Michelle, what did you say?"

"Sinecure, I guess that's what you're looking for," he said dryly.

I don't think it's the word she's been looking for, but it's close enough. She nodded. "Thank you. This is not leisure. Even Michelle here learned to fight enough to survive the battle. ”

Michelle rolled his bright blue eyes and glanced at me, asking me not to make implicit criticisms of his skills. I just smiled politely and turned to face the front again, ignoring the pejorative. Maida is a great fighter...... But that's all she has. Not a deep thinker, that. She's a few years older than most of us – our classes are not defined by age, but by progress – and I've been beating her on the sparring mat, just a step or two ahead of her tactics.

Of course, I saw her bench press weighing the equivalent of a compact car without showing any real pressure. I couldn't do it, and neither could the rest of my class. I guess everything is balanced...... Somewhat.

On stage, Hercules was leaning over to talk to his mother. Bubo, her owl companion — who today chose to look like a small horned owl so he could sit comfortably on her shoulder — was leaning back at a dangerous angle to avoid the big man's now serious expression. Looking like a Scops owl doesn't help...... The species' slightly prominent appearance, combined with Bubo's attempts to clear the way for an apparently private conversation, combine to create a distinctly comical effect.

Zeus and Hermes sat on the opposite side of Athena and apparently agreed. They were visibly happy to look at the little owl.

"What's going on?" Michelle asked.

I shook my head. "I don't know. Maybe Mom has some tasks to give Hercules. I've heard that he's still their go-to person for dealing with really dangerous things. I can't imagine why they're talking about it now, though. ”

To my right, Penelope, Aphrodite's daughter, shook her long blonde hair and brushed it back over her shoulder. "It's obviously not our ears, it's not the conversation of other gods, we all have our own secrets."

Penelope (never Penny) doesn't have much of his own secrets. Everyone knew that she was smitten by her in every bed in our class, including mine, and that she was rumored to have been with the incarnations of Zeus and Hera (although I doubt both). She seems to enjoy these rumors, encouraging them by refusing to confirm or deny them, always with a knowing little smirk.

Honestly, I find her a bit harsh. She was so superficial and didn't put much effort into any of our training, and she had a natural talent other than illusion magic.

Behind us, Mada grunted. "That's why you weren't prepared for our assault martial arts exam when the rest of us knew they were coming. Just because things don't let you hear doesn't mean they're things you shouldn't know. ”

Sometimes, Maida surprises me. "Very real." Before Maida and Penelope could start sniping each other – which is common – I turned to Penelope. "And what do you plan to do after graduation?"

"When you are an actor, what else?" She gives her hair a skillful little flip. "I thought about being a muse, and I had a talent for it. But why inspire others when I can create for myself? ”

In a nutshell, this is Penelope. Why do something for someone else that she can do for herself? I wonder if all of Aphrodite's children are so self-centered.

On the stage, Hercules sat behind the podium and cleared his throat. Silence descended. He smiled, his bearded face as open and charming as ever.

Someone as friendly, cheerful as Hercules, with the same wealth of life experience as him, is the perfect person to train us. We were all his adopted sons, and even the strongest among us began to love him as if we were parents.

"Good morning!" He looked at us proudly. "Welcome, as the saying goes, the first day of the rest of your life!"

Behind him, Zeus rolled his eyes, Hermes covered his hands and snickered, and Ares glared angrily. Of course, glaring is Ares' default expression, so that probably doesn't make much sense. Hera sat between Zeus and Ares and only sighed. Mom stared at Hercules' back, which surprised me. She usually gets along well with him.

"You've all done an admirable training," Hercules said. "You have found your talents and skills and presented them to your classmates to a greater or lesser extent. The education you have received puts you far ahead of most mortals of your age; Mathematics and science, literature, history, philosophy, home arts and," he raised a huge fist and waved, "war!" He grinned. How I wish I could receive such an education at your age! ”

"Before today," he said more gently, "you were only children of the gods. Today, you are demigods yourself! You learned to harness and play your gifts and come here today to find your place in the world. ”

He paused for a moment and looked around us. "Some of you ask for specific career paths. Others choose to serve your divine parents. We have listened to your wishes, considered your abilities, and gathered you here today to tell you what path you will take to enter full adulthood after graduation. ”

Hercules moved back from the podium, straightened up, and pulled a piece of paper from under his lionskin cloak. "Today, we have a very special announcement to announce because one of you will become an Avatar."

There was a long silence and then a very quiet chat began to rise from our gathering. Michelle nudged my shoulder and whispered, "Ms. Mercury didn't say she was going to retire." Does Minerva have it? ”

I shook my head and whispered, "No, not at all." ”

"Neither did Lord Mars," Maida whispered behind us. "I want to know who's stepping down."

"You'll know who it is," Hercules whispered, and we fell silent again. "When we call your name, please stay in your seat and wait for us to come up to the stage to collect your diploma and official assignments. As always, the graduation order was chosen at random to prevent any ...... Event...... Just like it happened in the past. ”

I've heard the gods complain about Zeus' children—although there are no children in our class, there are many—always at the top of the list. I guess even God has the right to be petty sometimes.

"So," said Hercules, waving his paper, "needless to say, and in no particular order...... Michel, the son of Hermes! He cheered happily. You expressed your desire to become a doctor in the mortal world. You have shown a talent for medicine not seen since Hippocrates! ”

Next to me, Michelle blushed with anger, but smiled anyway. Hercules did have an exaggerated enthusiasm, but he wasn't wrong. Michelle has a natural talent for biology and physiology.

"For this, mortal status has been established for you," Hercules said. "Choose a school and become the greatest doctor in the world!"

On the stage behind Hercules, Hermes raised his fist triumphantly and smiled at his son. Michelle's smile turned into one as bright as his father's.

For some reason, I felt like my mom looked bothered.

"Meda," cried Hercules, "daughter of Ares! You have expressed your desire to become a mortal soldier. However, your father has a vacancy under him as an assistant to Madame Mars. He wants you to be there, if you agree. ”

"I will!" Meda shouted almost behind us, causing Ares to give a small but visibly smug smile.

Hercules looked down at his list, and his boisterous good temper vanquished vanished. He was silent long enough that I could hear the people around me moving uneasily, and I felt the tension start to build up in my own abdomen.

Finally, he cleared his throat. "And, we've made a great announcement. The position of Lady Pluto, the incarnation of Hades, has been filled for many, many years. ”

I glanced at Michelle, and he hit me back with that blank, confused look I had just given him. There is no son of Hades among us as we know, and it is highly unusual for a god to have anyone but his own children. In fact, the last time this was done with the last Lady Pluto herself, to end the conflict between Hades and Demeter.

"Didn't Persephone die on a mission?" Penelope asked in a whisper.

"About two thousand years ago," I replied in a low voice, "according to the history of the Mother Library. ”

"Legend has it that she died heroically," said Maida firmly, "at the hands of the Gorgon, I think." ”

"I heard it was an out-of-control Sphinx," someone nearby said, loud enough to be heard.

"Doesn't the Immortal clone have to die to perform their duties?" Someone else asked in a frightened voice.

"I've heard that Persephone's soul is missing," Michelle whispered to me, "and Hades himself was unable to restore her after her death." ”

Hercules cleared his throat and regained our attention, and we fell silent again. "After much deliberation and debate, the new Pluto Lady has been chosen."

The grunt began again.

"But Hades and Persephone have only one daughter," I whispered to Michelle, "and she's a muse, isn't she?" ”

"Yes," he replied in a low voice. "Her name is Melinoir. She's inspired some of my favorites—"

"Talia, Athena's daughter," Hercules said slowly, raising his voice so that he could hear clearly in our whispers, "you will report to Tartarus and take up the position of Lady Pluto of the Hades Avatar. ”

Silence finally returned as everyone's heads turned to look at me...... Hercules, Graduates, and Gods. Michelle's face was already close to me, and his eyes widened almost comically. Then a new whisper erupted around me, only to be interrupted again as Hercules continued his announcement.

Not what I heard him say after that. My head was spinning and I felt like I couldn't breathe. I want to serve the gods, there's no doubt about it, but I ask to join my mother! I want – and work hard to earn the right – to serve with my siblings!

The thought of serving the Lord of the Underworld filled me with fear. Of course, I never met him in person. None of us have one. In fact, we only saw him a few times from afar, and then briefly. He was extremely reclusive, attending only the annual meeting of the gods on Mount Olympus, and never attending social gatherings again.

We meet two of his retinues in the course of our studies: Thanatos, who sends the souls of the dead to Hermes to the underworld; There was also Charon, who transported the souls of the dead to the rivers Styx and Achelon. Neither is what people call an easy company.

And the rumors about Hecate and Nyx are nothing short of a nightmare.

Michelle suddenly grabbed my arm and tugged at it gently. "Talia, come on, he's done."

I looked around blankly and saw my classmates standing up. I automatically did the same thing, smoothing my skirt. "Thanks, Michel," I whispered.

"Are you okay?" He asked when we started applying to the platform to receive our diploma.

"No," I whispered.

"It's weird," Penelope said in front of me. She glanced back at me, and it was the first time I had seen her care for anyone other than herself. "How can they do that? They might have chosen me! ”

Did I really think she cared about me? Never mind.

"Somehow," Michelle said dryly, "I sincerely doubt that." ”

I stepped back a bit, deliberately making myself the last one to hit the platform. As I approached Hercules, my classmates parted ways after getting their diplomas and assignment papers, and hugged and shook hands with their divine parents (and in a few exceptional cases, their mortal parents, too).

Zeus, who had no children that day, had already walked up to his son, and the mother was standing behind them.

Hercules took out his rolled-up diploma and assignment papers, which were bound with black ribbons. Instead of picking them up right away, I looked up at the two tall men.

"Is there a problem, kid?" Zeus asked, his tone surprisingly gentle.

"I plead," I said slowly, thinking my words very, very carefully, "to serve under my mother's hands. Why was my request denied? ”

"Your assumption of this position will serve your mother's purpose," Zeus said.

I looked her in the eye and she nodded slightly. This both made me feel slightly better and at the same time confused me more. I took a deep breath. "I've never protested anything since I started training—"

Zeus interrupted me, still gentle, but very serious. "In fact, that's one of the reasons why you've been selected for such a prestigious and important position."

On the other two times I talked to him, he was so boisterous and pleasant that his tone had a big impact on me now. "Thank you, sir," I said as politely and respectfully as I could, "but I must protest. I am not qualified for this position, I have no formal training-"

"In fact," Zeus interrupted me again, "each of you has received the basic training needed to become an Avatar. One of the most important reasons we have all of you complete this training is to ensure that there is always a skilled replacement available if one of the current avatars falls or wishes to retire. ”

I had to open my mouth slightly, thinking frantically of a way I could protest and postpone without insulting any of them. Rationally, I know that I have received great credit and that they obviously have some very serious and important plans in the works, but I'm not sure if I like to be a pawn in them. And I definitely don't like the idea of serving Hades.

"But...... How can I fill the position of an underworld clone? I asked, playing the most desperate card I could think of. Doesn't Pluto have to die to fulfill the duties of many positions? ”

Hercules nodded. "Yes," he said, picking up his old stick leaning against the podium and slung it over his shoulder. "So I hope one day you can forgive me......"

Just before the huge thick stick hit the side of my head, I saw my mother wink at me.

I didn't find the gesture comforting.