IV Percy

Hazel buys Percy coffee and a muffin as she guides him toward the gates, explaining the legion’s five cohorts, barracks, and the presence of legacies descended from gods. A Lar, Vitellius, comically inspects Percy and bemoans the Fifth Cohort’s decline. Hazel outlines the Twelfth Legion Fulminata’s secret survival in America and admits she joined the less-respected Fifth shortly before Jason vanished.

From the gates, Hazel shows Percy New Rome, where veterans can study, marry, and raise families under legion protection. She notes rising monster attacks and hints Death is not working properly, but an armored elephant, Hannibal, interrupts. On the road, Don the Faun begs; when a gem appears, Hazel urgently snatches it, refusing to explain, revealing her anxiety and a hidden burden.

They climb Temple Hill. Passing Bellona’s and Mars Ultor’s shrines, Hazel leads Percy to Neptune’s neglected shed-temple, where Percy offers a stale bagel and asks his father for memory and guidance. Thunder answers as they proceed to Jupiter’s grand temple, where Octavian completes a ritual and reveals his stuffed-animal augury.

Octavian calls Percy “the Greek,” discusses Juno’s warning and the Feast of Fortuna, laments the lack of an oracle, and obsesses over the Sibylline Books. Percy recognizes the inscribed Prophecy of Seven, shaken by a half-memory. Octavian slashes Percy’s panda pillow for augury and declares Percy eligible to join the legion at evening muster.

Octavian then openly campaigns for praetor and subtly blackmails Hazel with damaging rumors. Furious, Hazel leaves with Percy. Octavian adds that Hazel’s brother is waiting at Pluto’s shrine. Down the hill, Hazel vents about Octavian’s influence and fearmongering.

At Pluto’s crypt, Hazel introduces her brother: Nico di Angelo, son of Pluto. Nico greets Percy, but for a heartbeat he seems alarmed, ending the chapter on the unsettling reveal of his identity and connection to Hazel.