[Third Person’s PoV]

“Whoa…” Both Nico and Bianca muttered in awe as they took in the sight of the black obsidian cabin before them. Its smooth, gleaming exterior seemed to absorb the surrounding light, giving it an air of mystery and quiet authority. Even without stepping inside, they could sense the strange energy emanating from it—a feeling both unsettling and oddly welcoming.

“If you’re impressed by the outside, just wait until you see the inside,” Annabeth said with a small, knowing smile. There was a hint of pride in her voice. Though the cabin wasn’t hers, she couldn’t help but feel at home here. She had spent countless hours within these walls, especially alongside Lucian.

“Welcome to your new home,” Lucian said, his tone playful but warm, as he opened the intricately carved door and gestured for them to step inside.

The siblings hesitated briefly before crossing the threshold. The moment they stepped in, their eyes widened in disbelief. The interior was far larger than they’d imagined—easily four or five times the size suggested by the modest exterior. The first thing that caught their attention was the room’s centerpiece: a cluster of sleek black leather couches arranged in a semi-circle around a fireplace. Above the fireplace hung a surprisingly modern addition—a large flat-screen TV.

“How is it so… big?” Nico asked, his voice tinged with disbelief as he slowly turned to take in the rest of the space.

“That’s the magic of a spatial enchantment,” Lucian explained casually, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk.

The cabin was more than just functional; it was alive with personality. Off to one side was a game area, complete with a ping-pong table and shelves lined with board games, Plinko, and even a mini air hockey setup. The warm glow of enchanted lanterns illuminated the space, giving it an inviting, almost otherworldly charm. It wasn’t just a home—it was a haven designed for comfort and fun.

“You… really live here?” Bianca asked, her voice filled with wonder as she slowly wandered to the center of the room, spinning in place to take it all in.

“We’ll be living here?” she added, almost as an afterthought.

Lucian nodded, his smirk widening. “Yep. Feel free to make yourselves at home.”

Lucian led them up a staircase that curved elegantly toward the second floor. The hallway above was lined with numerous doors, each identical and evenly spaced.

“Pick whichever room you like,” Lucian said, gesturing broadly. “They’re all more or less the same. Except for two.”

He raised two fingers for emphasis. “First, my room. It’s locked, so don’t bother trying. Second, the basement. That’s my ‘witch lair,’ so to speak. It’s full of dangerous stuff and protected by wards that’ll fry anyone who tries to enter without my permission. Consider yourselves warned.”

Both Nico and Bianca nodded, the seriousness of his tone leaving little room for questions.

With that, Lucian pulled their bags out of the shadows at his feet, placing them neatly on the floor in front of them. “Once you’ve picked your rooms and settled in, go ahead and explore. If you’re hungry, the kitchen’s fully stocked—take whatever you need. When you’re ready, call for me, and I’ll give you a proper tour of the camp.”

He turned on his heel, hands in his pockets, and began walking away. “Welcome to Camp Half-Blood,” he added over his shoulder, waving lazily as he disappeared down the stairs.

Bianca and Nico exchanged glances before picking up their bags and setting off to choose their rooms.

—

In the Basement

“So apparently, I’m not even human,” Lucian scoffed, pacing the dimly lit basement as Annabeth and Thalia sat on stools, watching him with bemused expressions. “And being a witch is apparently a race now.” He threw up his hands in frustration.

Thalia smirked, unable to resist. “Well, that does explain your freakishness.”

“Ha. Ha. You’re hilarious,” Lucian deadpanned, giving her a flat stare. “I’m dying from laughter.”

Annabeth leaned forward, her eyes alight with curiosity. “So, can we start on my next potion now? I’ve already digested my seventh one.”

Thalia raised a brow. “Right now? Wouldn’t it be better to wait? We just got back, and we have the Di Angelos upstairs.”

“I know, but I’ve been looking forward to this one for ages!” Annabeth practically bounced in place, her enthusiasm uncontainable.

“What’s so special about it?” Thalia asked, eyeing her warily.

“It’s called The Occult Scholar,” Annabeth explained, her tone reverent. “It’s all about channeling the supernatural knowledge I’ve gained into actual power. It’s the first major power-up I’ll get!”

Thalia frowned. “Wait… occult? Isn’t that the creepy stuff where people use sacrifices—human ones, no less—to get power? Why are you so excited about that?”

Lucian chuckled at her reaction. “You’re thinking of the extremists. Not all occultists work like that. The term just means using hidden knowledge. It’s not inherently evil. Occultism isn’t just about sacrifices or anything creepy like that,” Lucian continued, rolling his eyes.

“It’s about tapping into hidden knowledge and using it to do things others can’t. The supernatural world, our world, has rules and secrets that most people don’t understand, but an occultist learns to manipulate those rules. It’s not about having powers; it’s about knowing how to use the energy, symbols, and rituals that are already out there.”

Thalia raised an eyebrow. “So, basically, it’s just nerdy magic?”

“Sure, if you want to oversimplify it,” Lucian scoffed. “But it’s a lot more than that. Even without powers or magic, someone with the right knowledge can cast spells or perform rituals. They just have to study, practice, and maybe use a few… tools.”

“Tools?” Thalia repeated.

“Yeah, like runes, enchanted items, or certain chants. Think of it as using a recipe to bake a cake. You don’t have to be a chef to make one—you just follow the steps. Same idea, but with rituals, symbols, and chant.,” Lucian explained.

Annabeth clapped her hands excitedly. “Exactly! That’s why I’ve been so eager to work on this potion. It’s all about unlocking the potential to turn knowledge into practical abilities. This would be my fast and sure way to be able to catch up with Lucian”

“I think I understand…” Thalia nodded slowly with narrowed eyes as she processed Lucian’s explanation.

“Let me give you two examples to make it clearer. Take the story of someone killing a vampire with a cross. Normally, a cross is just a holy symbol used for prayer, without any inherent power. However, to a vampire—an unholy creature—it becomes a potent weapon because of its symbolic significance. Even a weak person could use that knowledge to wield a cross and defeat a vampire, overcoming an otherwise impossible challenge.

This is the essence of Occultism: leveraging hidden knowledge and symbolic power to achieve what would normally be beyond one’s capabilities, all simply because a person was able to understand and manipulate the rule of the supernatural. By this logic, with the right knowledge and preparation, even Annabeth could theoretically kill a god if it ever came to that.”

Thalia’s eyes widened in disbelief as she turned to look at Annabeth, “Now I can see why you are excited for this… that is honestly insane”

“Now for the second example… What we’re doing right now can be considered Occultism, we’re using the Knowledge of what supernatural ingredients mix well together and in what sequence to advance ourselves and become a higher existence. The entire sequences of 9-0 can be considered a extremely dangerous ritual that can span years in the making until it is complete” Lucian explained

“Alright now, I understand” Thalia nodded before letting out sigh, “If the Di Angelo siblings are done earlier than you two are with this I’ll go and take them on the tour, so don’t rush it and take your time”

Annabeth smiled gratefully towards Thalia, “Thank you”

Lucian then nodded, “Then Let’s begin and make Annabeth reach sequence 6”

********************************************

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