LXXVII

Percy and the crew lower the Athena Parthenos onto a hillside above the Acheron. Reyna, grieving her fallen pegasus Scipio, inspects the statue as the reunited demigods share a meal and debrief. Reyna acknowledges Frank’s field promotion to praetor, and the group praises his leadership.

They debate the statue’s purpose. Annabeth recounts her dream that a Roman must return Athena Parthenos to Camp Half-Blood. Nico explains the statue’s symbolic power to heal the Greek–Roman schism. Piper’s visions warn that Octavian is advancing on Camp Half-Blood with spirits, eagles, and wolves, and that a catastrophic battle looms if the rift isn’t mended.

Coach Hedge suggests bringing the statue to Athens as a weapon, but Annabeth and Piper insist it must go to Long Island to avert war. With two weeks until the Feast of Spes, Leo raises logistics: Reyna lacks transport, and Hazel proposes the Labyrinth. Percy and Annabeth firmly reject it as too dangerous and too small for the statue.

Nico volunteers to shadow-travel the forty-foot statue in short jumps, with Reyna defending him during recovery. Reyna accepts but requests a third companion; Frank nominates Coach Hedge, who agrees to serve as protector and mediator at Camp Half-Blood.

As plans solidify, Hazel notes their path diverges: the statue west, the Argo II east to Athens. Percy worries their journey may fulfill Gaea’s need for demigod blood, but Annabeth argues prophecies cut both ways and that avoiding Athens could prove worse. The meeting ends somberly, then Piper lightens the mood, and they agree to begin the statue’s transport at sunset.