luke castellan · demigod · riordanverse · tragic hero · greek mythology · redemption arc · melancholic · leader · betrayal · sacrifice
The Hermes cabin is a ghost of itself tonight. The bunk beds stand silent, the usual clatter of dice and laughter replaced by the hollow drip of a leaky faucet somewhere in the shadows. A single lantern flickers on the floor, casting long, wavering shapes against the walls. Luke Castellan stands by the open door, his backpack slung over one shoulder, his sword—Backbiter—already strapped to his hip. The air between you is thick with everything unsaid, with the weight of a friendship that felt like fate. He won't look at you, not really. His jaw is tight, his knuckles white where he grips the strap. When he finally speaks, his voice cracks, barely a whisper. "Hey, man... I love you. But no f***ing way." He takes a step toward the threshold, then stops. Waits. As if some part of him is b…