Perseus sat in his bed blinking hard for a moment before getting up and starting his day. After washing up and getting food he looked at his own hand. “(What was with that dream? It felt different than others, even the tyrant dream. It was in first person and everything felt so real. Though I couldn't control anything, it felt more like a memory.)” Percy got up and fetched the two revolvers from the hidden safe in the kitchen and took them outside. He spun them around in his hands and it came naturally and was easy for him to do. He loaded a few bullets in one of them before taking a coin that had some Catholic crap on it that once belonged to his father and flipped it into the air.

Once the prayer coin was in the air, Percy fired at it three times, hitting each time making the coin spin the opposite way it was before the bullet hit. Percy looked at the gun. It was an antique, a family heirloom, and he had never once fired it before. Neptuna manifested beside him, stretching with a yawn. “What are you doing?” Percy continued to stare at the gun. “I think… I was William.” Neptuna stopped mid-stretch and blinked a few times before looking at Percy. “Come again?” Percy went inside and put the guns back. “In a past life. I'm saying I'm the reincarnation of William Yates, my ancestor.

Neptuna floated there with a blank expression on her face for some time before responding. “So that means you would have been a user for sure. Bill was paired with the Japanese god Susano’o. Since we both have water as one of our elements there is some crossover. Having been an Armatus holder before definitely gives you a head start, a bit more so since there is a shared element. Percy nods. “I feel like you are made uneasy by this. More so than me just being descended from Saw-mill Bill. Even though I thought you were over that.” Neptuna lets out a sigh. “I was… I am. I… It's just a bit weird okay. But it definitely explains a lot.” Percy nods as he starts doing some stretches.

Neptuna simply floats at his side. “(Is that why I keep having these feelings? He's the reincarnation of the lover of a previous host. Yolanda and I got along well but in the end we're not compatible enough to ascend. Thinking back on it I had several objections about her relationship with Bill. I actually blamed our inability to achieve full unison on him back then and actively hated the guy. Maybe I should meditate on it and figure out if these feelings are all me.)” Perseus finished his stretching. “It's Saturday so we have all day. We should train more. Getting me in proper fighting shape is more important now than ever now that we know McGonagall is a holder and has it out for me. I mean he sent a hitman after me.”

Neptuna moved from one side of Percy to the other as he talked. “Well that's making an assumption. Although that Apollo guy definitely attacked us and had little chill, we don't know what his orders actually were or if he was actually trying to kill us.” Percy then stated “If that was intended as a threat assessment, I'd say I've proven to be a threat. If for no other reason then being a fellow holder. The guy is known for being territorial when it comes to his gang activity. Goes out of his way to be the only game in town.”

Neptuna thinks for a moment. “So what are your plans then?” Percy makes his way to his little training area in the woods. “Well seeing he's a criminal I was thinking of shutting down his drug empire. I've got these powers, might as well use them for good and take out a bad guy.” Neptuna chuckled. “So you're going to what? Become a vigilante?” Percy shrugged. “In this one case, yeah. I guess. I think I'll play this by ear though. Take it one step and one object at a time. As we get to know one another through our struggles hopefully our bond can form naturally. No point in trying to force it. If we aren't a good fit we aren't a good fit.”

Neptuna nodded. “I guess you have a point there. If we are not compatible there is little point sticking around. Though I do feel a bit of a sunk cost kind of feeling. I tried to bond with you before birth so I could build you up to be perfect.” Percy makes a strange sound. “That… sounds an awful lot like grooming. That's kinda messed up.” Neptuna shifted back and forth. “I guess I was thinking of it more like raising a child. Being a surrogate father or mother as it were.” Percy was silent for a long pause. “Exactly how early did you try to bond with me?”

Neptuna was not sure why Percy took to this line of questioning but saw no reason to be dishonest. Especially since any sort of deception on her part actively hurt her chances. “Almost as soon as a soul was available to bind to. While you were still in the womb. Still developing physically.” Perseus thought about that for a moment. “Early enough for my soul to not recognize and adjust to my current assigned gender.” Neptuna knitted her eyebrows. “I… guess. I don't see were this is going.” Percy then says. “Well just because William was a previous incarnation doesn't mean he was the one before now. I could have easily had another life between them and now. Maybe I was a female in the life before this.”

Neptuna had a lightbulb moment as she realized where Percy was going with his line of thought. “That would explain why I manifested as a female. Although…wouldn't that make you… trans or something?” Percy shrugged. “I don't feel uncomfortable with my gender as a male so either my soul adjusted to my body or is just unbothered by my physical form for some reason. I feel no drive to change my body to match my soul or anything like that. I am perfectly fine being a guy. I was probably just as fine with being a girl. Soul body desynchronisation may bother some but not me.”

Neptuna thought about this idea some more as the two arrived in the training area. Perseus starts doing his normal movements when Neptuna gets an idea. “You know, training may be more effective if you had someone to train with. Hector might make a good sparring partner to help you hone your skill. He also said his sister was the partner for Nyx. So that gives us two different potential sparring partners so you don't stagnate getting used to a single fighting style.” Percy stops mid practice. “That's not a bad idea. I'll send him a text suggesting it. The only problem is I have no idea what to expect from his sister.”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Neptuna put a hand on her chin. “Well if she's anything like her brother I'm sure it'll be fine. Hector said he thought you two would get along well and he knows you both. So we should trust his judgment.” Percy takes out his phone and sends Hector the text suggesting they spar together and even suggests bringing his sister. “Seeing as Hector is a few years older than me, that actually makes his sister my age. Not that it matters. I usually tend to be a “let the chips fall as they may” and “play the hand you're dealt” kind of guy most of the time. Though I can be strategic in a battle.”

Neptuna nodded. “I've noticed as much. Bill was the same way. Though you seem kinder and gentler then he was. More refined too. He was rough around the edges to say the least.” Percy enters a combat stance once again getting ready for a few more practice strikes when his phone goes off. He checks it quickly. “Oh, that was fast. Apparently his sister is back in town and he thinks the three of us sparing would be good for all of us. Especially with the looming threat of McGonagall and Demeter. He wants us to meet up with him at the local twenty four seven breakfast place.” Percy puts away his weapon and phone before heading back home.

Once home he hops into his SUV and drives to the local breakfast spot. There he sees Hector sitting at a table with a woman who has her back to Percy. Hector waves Percy over and he approaches the table. “Hey Hector, thanks for responding on such short notice.” He then freezes when he turns to greet the sister. “Jaclyn?!” The woman looks away and attempts to hide her embarrassed face with her hands. Hector looks surprised. “Wait, you two have met before.” Jaclyn nodded before saying “We went to the same highschool.” In an embarrassed voice.

Hector was stunned but shook it off. “Guess we can skip the introductions. Come and sit. I already ordered food. California omelet right?” Percy sits next to Hector, feeling a bit awkward around Jaclyn. “Yeah, that's fine. I uhh… it's nice to see you again. I guess.” Percy chuckled nervously while rubbing the back of his head. Jaclyn laughed nervously as well. “S-same here.” Hector looked at the awkward nervous energy the two were giving off. “Wait… did you two… used to date or something?”

Jaclyn was sank into her chair a bit. “No…” Percy looked at Hector and chuckled again. “She uhh… used to make kissy faces at me from across the classroom or cafeteria. I wasn't exactly in the best headspace back then so I assumed any woman that actively flirted with me especially in such a forward manner was just trying to mess with me or trick me. I had one too many times where a girl pretended to ask me out only to laugh at me for thinking they could like me. Even had one girl date me for a week or two only to reveal it was all a prank.”

Jaclyn sat up properly, her nervous and awkward energy suddenly gone. “Oh. I'm sorry to hear that happened to you.” Hector then added “Yeah, that's rough buddy.” The food came and got put on the table so the three started to eat. Jaclyn stopped partway through to ask “So Percy, how exactly do you know my brother? Are you two dating or something?” Perseus laughed. “Nah, your brother isn't exactly my type. I prefer my partners to look more feminine or be a woman. We met at his job actually. Because I'm accident prone and regular checkups are required by my insurance. My friend Ginger actually works with him at the hospital.”

Jaclyn pushed back into her seat a bit. “I remember you hanging out with Ginger. She's a couple years younger than us. You two were really close. Are you and Ginger-” Perseus interrupted her. “No. She's more like a sister to me. Not that an attempt wasn't made. We just learned the love we had wasn't the romantic kind.” Jaclyn perks up a bit. “Ah, I see.” She then returned to her food. The three enjoyed their meals before Hector paid for the group and they walked out to the parking lot.

Jaclyn stretched. “This was a nice treat and all but I am guessing since my sweet brother here had no idea we knew each other that this wasn't exactly a normal socal call and it didn't exactly feel like he was trying to set us up. Would not be the first time my brother tried to be my wingman.” Hector sighed. “Percy is an Armatus user. Relatively new like yourself.” Jaclyn paused mid stretch with a shocked expression on her face. “Wait, really? With how few there are and how big the world is, what are the chances of three users all living in the three city area?” “Four.” Perseus corrected her. “McGonagall is paired with Demeter.”

Jaclyn dropped her mid-stretch pose with her shocked expression still present. “Well shit. That's not good.” Hector nodded. “Percy suggested we all soar together to help hone our skills. Apparently MacGonagall already sent a thug after Percy and probably knows he's a user.” Jaclyn was still a bit stunned. “Well that's definitely not good. Well I guess I should ask what you are working with Percy. Since we'll be training together.” Perseus nods. “I've got the Trident of the Sea God.” Jaclyn looked impressed. “One of the big three Greeks. Not bad.”

Perseus nodded. “I've got the perfect spot to train. We'll meet back up at my place then walk there.” Hector and Jaclyn both nod. Within a short time the three arrive at the scared up clearing in the forest. “So I saw in the news something about a micro storm in the memorial park a while back. Was that you?” Perseus nervously rubbed the back of his head. “Yeah, I fought the holder of Apollo. He was hired by MacGonagall.” Jaclyn whistled “You must be a natural at this if you managed to win that.”

Perseus chuckled. “Well a little bit yeah, but I think it was mostly him underestimating me then my natural talent. That comes from having been a user before.” Hector tilted his head. “Did you get memories of a past life?” Perseus nodded. “Turns out I'm not just a descendent of Saw-mill Bill, I'm his reincarnation. Meaning I was the holder of Susano'o in a previous life.” Jaclyn froze in shock. “That is… a lot to take in all at once.” Hector chuckled. “Bill's wife Yo-Yo was a holder too. Trident of the Sea God.” Jaclyn found a rock to sit on. “This is probably the most stuff I've had to take in all at once since becoming a holder and learning about all the god weapon magic shit.”

Perseus offered Jaclyn his hand. “I know it's a lot to take it but we'll have to get used to the idea that there is an entire hidden part of our world that we are only now learning about. An entire history only users like ourselves are privy to. It helps to try and just focus on a goal rather than get lost in the sauce.” Jaclyn takes the hand and stands up. “Right. For now, let us focus on getting stronger and increasing our bonds with our Armatus. Err… whatever the plural of Armatus would be.”

Perseus laughed and Hector did a stretch before calling on his weapon. He puts his hand out and shouts “Come forth, Staff of the Messenger God, Hermes!” There's a white light as wind and earth gather up to shape the weapon forming a staff with two coiled snakes and wings at the top like what one would see in depictions of Hermes. Hector holds it in his hand and puts the staff's butt to the ground with a thud. Jaclyn takes a deep breath before stretching out her hand and shouting “Come forth, Candelabra of the Night God, Nyx!” Shadows and fire gather to form what looks like a candle stick with multiple burning black candles set in it that now rests in her hand.

Perseus then takes a few breaths himself as he mentally prepares himself. He stretches out his hand and shouts “Come forth, Trident of the Sea God, Neptuna!” There is a sudden look of shock and surprise from Jaclyn as her head suddenly jerks to face Percy. “...Hol’ up.”