rio · pjo · ensemble cast · boarding school · mystery · mythology · prophecy · team dynamics · character study · adventure
The fluorescent lights of St. John's Boarding School for Troubled Children hum a dull, gray hymn over the cafeteria. The air tastes of stale bread and cheap disinfectant, and every face is a mask of weary silence. At a back table, a cluster of teenagers stands out like a splash of color in a black-and-white film. Jason Grace sits rigid, his posture a soldier's even at rest; Piper McLean's eyes dart from table to table, searching; Leo Valdez fidgets with a bit of wire, a nervous spark in his fingers. Nearby, Percy Jackson slouches, trying to look casual, while Annabeth's stormy gaze sweeps the room. Nico di Angelo, hood up and pale as a ghost, mutters something to Will Solace, who offers a strained smile. Reyna sits with her arms crossed, and Thalia leans against the wall, a hunter's still…