XXIX LEO

Fleeing Chicago after Medea’s defeat, Leo pilots Festus southwest at sunset, worried by the dragon’s weakening sounds and heavy load. Piper, shaken and secretive about her father, resists discussing Oakland. Jason reveals a faint glowing wind trail only he can see, likely guiding them to Aeolus with their storm spirit prisoners.

Exhausted, Leo falls asleep and dreams in a workshop where Hephaestus contacts him via a pirated broadcast, confessing poor skills with “organic life forms” but claiming he has always watched Leo. He explains Zeus shut Olympus’s communications out of pride and shame after the Titan War, and hints at gods’ Greek/Roman aspects.

Hephaestus recounts the giants’ origin—Earth (Gaea) and Tartarus sired them for vengeance—and says gods must unite with demigods to win. He insists Leo’s fire is a gift vital to defeating the giants and their mistress, worse than gods or Titans. He warns Leo he will lose friends and valuable tools, but that endings enable reuse, as the connection begins to fail.

Before Hephaestus can finish his final warning, the dream cuts out. Leo jolts awake to Jason and Piper screaming, as their flight on Festus takes a sudden, alarming turn.