Skyler's POV:
I wake up to loud and urgent knocking. Let me tell you it doesn't help with my usual headache at all.
I bury my head in my pillow and groan. Just a little longer.
The knocking gets more aggressive.
"You better be up or I'll splash you awake!" A deep voice sounds from behind the door.
"Jeez.." I mumble to myself.
"I feel like you should get that." Athena says, stating the obvious.
"You think?"
I throw the covers across my bed, get up and drag myself to the door. When I open it a guy is standing there, his hand raised in the air mid knock.
He only now seems to realize I'm here now and awkwardly chuckles. It's the guy named Paul, who shares with Poseidon.
"Hi.. Uh.. Skyler?" He starts.
I nod. Paul brings his floating hand to the back of his neck.
"Yeah.. Uh.. Sorry about that. Poseidon made me knock like that. I wouldn't .. Uh.. I-.."
He was quickly cut of by Athena.
"What on Olympus is wrong with you! Can't you just knock like a normal person! It's not that hard 'Kelp For Brains'!"
"Yeah, Yeah, whatever you say."
Paul waves his hand dismissively as his eyes light up and his voice deepens.
"Anyway 'Feather Brain' Hades and Raymond are looking for you. He told me to tell you that he'll be waiting in the training arena for you after breakfast."
"Which is when?" I ask.
"In five minutes, so better hurry. Can't be late now can you.. Athena?" Poseidon said, emphasizing Athena's name.
It was like I wasn't even there and I could tell Paul had the same feeling. When Poseidon let the conrtol slip for a second, I could tell Paul was furious.
"Can you please shut the f*ck up!" He yelled out.
"I was speaking. Can you for once stop interupting me all the f*cking time!"
No answer came. I could feel that even though his anger wasn't directed at her, Athena felt as if he were talking to her.
Paul ran his hands through his dark brown hair.
"Okay, let me start over here. First of all, I'm so sorry for waking you up in that terrible way. Second, like Poseidon said Raymond would love to meet you in the training area after breakfast." He said.
"Hey man, it's okay. Do you have a minute? Then we can get to breakfast together." I say with a small smile.
"Sure."
He seems plesantly surprised when I close the door to get dressed real quick. I set on some black jogging pants and a light blue top.
I get back to paul and we start walking to the dining hall.
"Again, I'm so sorry." Paul started.
"It's okay. Athena has done the same to me as well. It's nothing new." I reply.
"Yeah, but I assume Athena doesn't do it every conversation you try to have with someone."
He raises a brow at me.
"Well.. No."
Paul chuckles humorlessly.
"Must be nice to actually be in control of what you say."
I awkwardily stay silent.
We walk along to the dining hall. When we get there everyone is there. I recognize most faces from my first evening here.
I take a seat at one of the tables and before I even thought about where I was going to get my breakfast, a bowl of cereal appeared right in front of me.
"H-how did that happen?" I ask dumbfounded.
"Part of the magic." Paul said casually.
He sat down next to me and a bowl of cereal appeared in front of him as well.
"What magic?" I wonder.
"The magic that is inside each and everyone in this room. The magic that connects us." Paul explained.
Not that it helped, but it just.. Made sense? I guess?
I decided that asking more questions would only end up frying my brain.
I took a look around. Everybody was chatting and having a bowl of cereal. Some had some fruit on the side and something to drink.
"Why is everyone eating cereal? Can't you choose what you have for breakfast?" I ask.
"Originally you could. But ever since Demeter discovered cereal everybody has to eat cereal." Paul says.
"Why?"
"If you know what's good for you.. Don't ask. You'll never hear the end of it from Demeter. Not even Janae can stop her when she's on a rant." He chuckles.
"Who is Janae?" Athena asks.
"She's Demeter's human." Paul responds.
"But ofc-.." Poseidon started, but he was cut of by Paul.
"Oh my gods do you EVER learn?!"
He smashes the table with his fists, making the milk spill over the edges of my bowl. It earns looks from the others. As soon as they notice it was Paul they return to what they were doing.
Huh.. Guess they're used to it. I shuffle slightly away from Paul. This kinda scares me.
I quickly finish my breakfast and say my goodbye to Paul before he has another outburst.
As I leave I hear him quable with Poseidon.
"Seaspawn." Athena says while she makes me shake my head.
"Be nice." I reply.
Athena just huffs.
When I arrive in the training area the only ones there are Raymond and Sam.
"Ah Skyler, right on time." Raymond greets me.
"Hi, Ray. You.. Uh.. Wanted to see me?" I ask.
He nods.
"Yes actually. I wanted to test how far you already are with your abilities and give you some more explanation on how things work."
"Oh.. Cool.. And uh.. Not to be rude, but why is Sam here?" I wonder.
"He's here because he and Hestia have the strongest connection out of all of us."
"I have always been able to bond very fast with my mortals." Hestia explained.
"We might be able to help you explore your connection to Athena." She continued.
I nod although I'm not really following on where we're headed with this.
"Anyway, let's get started and we'll explain more on the way." Raymond says.
"If you could please stand in the middle of the room and morphe into Athena. I'll clock your time and from there we'll see what is next." Hades says in a monotone, but polite voice.
I walk to the middle of the room as asked.
"You ready?" Athena asks me.
I just nod.