XLI

Piper and Jason, weary from tension aboard the Argo II, slip into Villa Borghese for a picnic. The cornucopia produces a surprise birthday cake, revealing it is Jason’s sixteenth birthday. Their conversation turns candid as Jason admits discomfort with not being the default leader among the Seven; Piper reassures him that true heroism is shared and that they can take turns leading. Their relationship solidifies with mutual support and a promise of no breakups.

Percy arrives with troubling news: Annabeth has gone with Tiberinus and Rhea Silvia, and he fears for her. Piper charmspeaks to steady Percy, then consults Katoptris despite her dread. The blade first shows a Roman forward base in Manhattan where Octavian briefs legionnaires as Reyna watches, implying invasion planning against Camp Half-Blood.

Forcing another vision, Piper sees ruins in the Roman Forum, a stairway to a modern iron gate, and a spiral descent into a circular chamber that matches her long-standing nightmare of a drowning room. Overwhelmed, she resists, then looks again and sees two giants in gladiator armor toasting beside a bronze jar. Inside, Nico di Angelo lies curled, motionless, the pomegranate seeds gone, suggesting he is near death.

Percy insists they cannot wait for Hazel, Frank, and Leo. Piper urges caution, but urgency wins; they decide Percy, Jason, and Piper will go immediately to the Forum while Coach Hedge remains to command the Argo II and coordinate with the returning crew. To avoid more paralyzing visions, Piper leaves Katoptris with Hedge, asking him to monitor their progress—and, as a perk, the baseball scores.

The trio departs for the Forum, resolved to find Nico and face the giants, while Coach Hedge prepares the ship for support and defense, reinforcing the team’s trust and division of roles.