Chapter 7 Praetor

Third person's POV

The Feast of Fortuna had finally come. Reyna was really worried about Percy. Sure she had developed a feeling towards him. Ever since Jason gone, her life was miserable. She managed to lead the camp on her own, but she knew time would come when she had to give up.

Octavian stepped in front of the legion with his cocky face. She never liked him. She was actually scared of Octavian. The reason why the camp's praetors always had to be a male and a female because they wanted them to become a couple. Octavian just only wanted power. If she worked with him, he would find a way to kick her out from the praetor seat one day.

"The voting for new praetor begins" someone announced.

"Wait!" Someone called from outside the gate. All head turned to that direction. From the front gate leads outside the camp, the golden eagle, pride of Rome slowly came up and under it. Yes, the man that she believed in, Percy Jackson.

"I've completed the quest!" Percy said. "Thanatos was freed, Rome is saved"

Everyone came up with a cheer that went throughout the fortress.

Behind her, Reyna could get Octavian growling under his throat. He stepped up.

"Well done Percy Jackson." Octavian said. "But did you for get that you didn't have any permission to go one this quest?"

Before Percy could respond. Octavian shouted out "seize him" and immediately, two guards from the First Cohort came to Percy.

"Hold up" Percy said putting his hands up. "Before you want to execute me, please come with me to the tunnel. I want to show the people what we have"

Everyone looked at each other confused. Reyna cleared her throat.

"Well" Reyna said. "Because of Percy's effort. At least we can do him a favour for bringing back our eagle. Move to the tunnel."

Everyone assembled outside the tunnel. Confusion showing clearly on their faces. Percy stepped up and whistled and Hazel and Frank stepped out.

Percy turned back to the legion.

"Romans" he said. "You're all know about the struggle that we have all those years ever since we lost the Imperial gold weapons in Alaska. Because of successfully secured Thanatos. He gave me a power to find out every hidden secret."

Percy took out a golden key from his pocket and tossed it inside the tunnel. It started rumbling and suddenly, gold poured out from it. The precious rocks lit up the entire tunnel. Everyone was silent for a moment of shock. And a roar of cheer suddenly came up.

"Percy should be the praetor." One soldier commented.

"Yeah" the other agreed. "He brought back the honour for us"

Then everyone echoed a slogan.

"Percy should become our praetor. Percy should become our praetor."

Reyna smiled at Percy. She always wanted him to work at her side. She was afraid that everyone wouldn't accept him because he had Greek's blood. But from now on, that would change.

"Nonsense!" Octavian bellowed. "Percy Jackson is a soldier. He can only run a praetor unless he becomes a centurion."

"What if he is now?" Frank suddenly spoke.

"Frank..." Percy turned back to him.

Frank just shrugged. "Someone once told me." He glanced at Hazel as she smiled. "Power is not actually the best. As long as you feel happy, that's what you live for. I shall now pass my rank as centurion of Fifth Cohort down Percy Jackson."

Octavian was speechless. Reyna turned back to the crowd. "So everyone knows who is the new praetor?"

They all cheered up calling Percy's name as they carried him to the Senate House.

Percy's POV

A week passed with a lot of rules changed. Frank came back as his centurion of Fifth Cohort. No more discrimination in camp. With the amount of gold I brought back. New Rome quickly arise back to its old days.

Octavian was still our augury. Course, he was smart enough not to protest in the meeting. Reyna and I seemed pretty closer since the day I became the praetor.

Right now I was working in my office and suddenly heard a shout. I ran out from the door and saw everyone was running to the lake.

I arrived at the lake not long after that. A flying ship was about to land on it. I could see Leo on the wheel with his cocky smile. Finally the Greeks have arrived.

"Archers" a centurion shouted.

"Hold your fire" I order.

The ship landed on the lake as water pushed out from both sides. Everyone curiously trying to look at the wooden ship. Leo was the first to jump down.

"Hello everyone" he exclaimed.

Leo still looked the same after eight months with curly brown hair and hyperactive brain. Came after him was a blond dude with electric blue eyes and a scar on his lips. Everyone gasped when they saw him. I guessed that was Jason. Next to him was a pretty girl with choppy chocolate-brown hair, dark tanned skin and eyes seemed to change in many colours.

Leo despite the stop of Jason, he still ran up and shook hand with every body in camp. He must've got a lot of coffees this morning.

"Oh my gods" Leo exclaimed. "Percy, I can't believe that you're still alive. So the rumour in camp is true. Poseidon said you're still alive. Man, I was really bored for the last few months. That jerk Nico moved to the Underworld, left me staying with Clarrise. Know what, I can't use any prank on her since you're gone. And the Stoll-"

"All right, all right Leo" I laughed. "I think that's enough."

Jason next stepped up and I held his elbow as he did the same. The old traditional greeting in Rome. "You must be Percy" he said. "And you're Jason" I responded.

I suddenly felt the tension. Yeah, old praetor and new praetor meet. That would cause up something. Luckily, the girl next to him sensed the tension and came to break it.

"Hi, I'm Piper, Jason's girlfriend."

I looked at him surprise. Then suddenly heard a gasp. Turning back, Reyna was standing there with watery eyes. Jason frowned, seem to try to remember something while Piper looked confused. Reyna shook her head as she ran back to camp.

"Please excuse me for a minute." I told them and ran after her.

Reyna was crying on her throne in the principia. I slowly came up and sat next to her.

"Hey" I whispered. "Are you ok?"

"I-I thought" she sobbed. "After many months, I have waited for long worrying about him. And finally he returned with someone else. What did I do to deserve this?"

She cried even harder and I pulled her into a hug to comfort. "Hey, it's alright. He lost his memory just like me. The most important now is that you have to move on. Remember that I always here to help you"

She looked up to me and I swept a tear from her cheek. "You need a hot chocolate?" I suggested cheerfully and stood up and started to walk away.

But she caught my hand, made me to turn back. And before I could say anything, she jumped on me, and I lost my balance. We ended up laying on the floor with her on top.

Our nose was only few centimetres apart. I could few her breath dancing with mine. Some how, the scene looked familiar to me. Her head moved closer and closer, as I just laying there and did nothing. Finally, our lips connected. I didn't kiss her at first bIt felt wrong, I didn't know why, but the thought of Artemis just trying to hold me back. I hadn't told her about Artemis. Although, I couldn't define who is she. I swept that thought aside. Maybe I haut settle on this one for now. So I just closed my eyes and kissed her back.

Suddenly, the door surged open and a gasps came up before a familiar voice.

"Percy..."