*ੈ✩‧₊˚ THE GREAT WAR
໒꒱‧₊˚ prologue

⋆｡˚ ⋆˚ · . CHAPTER ZERO ，
━━━━━━ ❛ how it all began ❜

SOPHIA KNEW SINCE SHE WAS A LITTLE KID THAT SHE WASN'T NORMAL.

Not only because her classmates called her "freak" or the people around her used to look at her wierdly. She herself started to feel left out, that she didn't belong. When at school they started to teach her to read, she had more difficulties than others, always having to stay later for particular classes. Even her own mother seemed to be wary around her, like she might start screaming or attack her all of the sudden.

But nevertheless, she was still her mum, the one person that would always be there for her, always love her no matter how many creatures she saw on her way to school, or her change of mood depending on the sun. She was her person.

And little Sophia was all she needed: her school might not be the best, but when she was home, that's when all the fun came. Her mom used to tell her stories about mithological creatures, about heroes going into adventures, about characters with incredible powers. Amongst those stories, those people, Sophia felt save, happy. She didn't feel like an outsider, like a crazy girl. She felt like those heroes from the books would understood her, would be her friend and would invite her to their parties and groups. She felt heard. And with her mom always being there, giving her the best hugs, telling her that she loved her to the sun and back, she was content. What else could she need?

So when her mom started to act weird around her, started to not being home and jumping every time she gave her a hug, Sophia didn't think anything about it. Maybe she was just tired from work, or she was freaked out because of the news. It didn't matter, she was still her mom.

But all that changed one night.

Sophia had arrived home before her mom, something that was happening from a while now. She made herself some mac n cheese and went to her room, coloring the drawing she made for her. She hoped she would like it, that would make her happy and distract her from whatever reason she didn't spend time with her.

Her mom didn't come home until late, around six in the evening. She went to hug her, showing her drawing and asking for a story. But her mother didn't listen to her, stepping aside and going to her room, making loud noises of things falling to the floor and drawers being opened.

When she came back, a suitcase was in her hand.

— Where are we going mom? — Sophia asked, looking at the suitcase and then at her mother's distraught face.

— Grab your bag and let's go. — She said in an urgent tone. And Sophia, knowing that she had a quite bad temper, grabbed her backpack with her few favorite items and followed her mom to the car.

The entire ride they didn't speak, Sophia choosing to listen to the music coming from the radio and looking through the window, seeing the dark clouds forming in the sky, a dark feeling starting to form on her body, seeing the sun dissapiring. And soon, she felt asleep, listening to the news reporter, informing about the storm coming.

— Sophia, wake up. — Her mother's voice made her open her eyes a while later, blinking a few times to see themselves on a forest, surrounded by tall trees and no sign of light.

— Where are we? — She murmured, stepping out of the car and putting her bag on her shoulders.

— I need to do something, come. — Her mom replied, going up the hill behind the car, her daughter following her.

Sophia didn't know where they were. Not near home, that was for sure. Maybe she was taking her to a summer house like she heard her other classmates have. Or maybe to where those stories took place. That made her happy, a small smile starting to form on her face.

Both of them walked for aproximately ten minutes, until her mother stopped, in the middle of some trees, the fog surrounding them. Her mom turned around, a few tears in her eyes when she crouched to be able to hold her face with her hands.

— Why are you crying mom? — Sophia asked, a small frown decorating her face. Did she do something? Did she get a bad grade in school?

— Nothing to worry, my love. — Her mom said, trying to small and hiding the tears. — I need to do something, okay? I want you to remember that I love you. I love you so much, Sophia. Remember that, yeah? — She whispered, which Sophia nodded. She kissed her cheeks and hugged her hard, the little girl taking the chance to hide her face in her neck.

Her mom stood up, caressing her right cheek.

— I need you to wait here, can you do that for me? — She asked.

Sophia looked insecured, having a really bad feeling about it. But it was her mom, nothing bad could happen if she had her, right? So she nodded and smiled, seeing her mother go until she couldn't see her due to the fog.

Sophia waited. And waited. And waited for hours on the spot, counting the minutes until their turned into hours, believing that her mom would come back, that she wouldn't abandon her. Right?

— Mom? — She said, after she couldn't count anymore due her fingers shaking. — Mom? — She yelled, trying again.

Tears started to form in her eyes, the beatings of her heart being the only sound in the forest. Her mom wouldn't do that, she wouldn't abandone her own child. She loved her.

But as the hours went by, Sophia started to realize the thruth: her mom was not coming back. She had left her. She had nobody.

Her crying started, the tears making her impossible to see, sitting on the ground with her arms around herself, praying that somebody would come for her, that anybody out her would go in her help.

She wanted her mom back. She wanted to go home.

She sat there until a bright and warm light started to appear between her feet. She lifted her head, the bright light taking form into a man with a bright smile. She scooted away, frightened by him.

— No need to run, my child. — The man said, his voice warm and inviting, handing her a hand. Sophia looked suspicious, the tears already dried on her cheeks. Who was this man? What did he want form her? Her mom always told her not to talk with strangers.

But him, he didn't feel like a stranger. No, he seemed familiar, like a character from one her stories or her dreams. He could help her, right? So she took his hand with caution.

— Does my mommy send you? — She asked with hope in her eyes. But the man shook his head, stepping forward and crutching to her level.

— No, dear one. I came to you because you are not safe here. There are many dangers around that could come for you any second. — He said.

— Like the ones from my stories? Mom always used to tell me about these big creatures that the heroes needed to face. — She told, seeing the man laughing.

— Yes, like those. Do you want to be one?

— A hero? — Sophia asked, excitement filling her chest. The man nodded, the golden aura surrounding him making it look like the sun.

— Yes, like a true hero. — He replied, taking something out of his pocket with his free hand to pin something in her hair. — Now, I want you to never take those pins off, Sophia.

— Do they have magical powers. — She asked. The man denied with a playful smile, grabbing both her hands in his.

— Do you want to see real power? — He asked, making her nod enthusiastically. The man smiled again, looking into her eyes until a warm sensation started to spread through her fingers, making her look down: his hands were glowing, like two stars had taking refuge between his palms. Sophia smiled, her eyes growing big when a small ball of light started to form in front of her, moving slightly between his hands, the light warming her face and making her eyes shine. And something about it, something about the man's smile, about his power, made her feel alive, safe.

She didn't know this man, a couple minutes ago her mom disappeared leaving her alone, but she couldn't help but lean closer, relishing the warmth his body gave her.

— What do you say, Sophia, do you want to try? — The man asks, seeing her eyes locked on the small light, snapping to his in surprise.

— Really? Can I do it too? — The man nodded, winking an eye before the light disappeared, taking her small hands between his until her fingers became brigther, forming a smaller ball between her palms.

Sophia laughed, shrieked when the warmth surrounded her body. She twirled her fingers, making the light moved between them. She was creating light from her hands.

After a few moments, the ball vanished, the man standing up again.

— I need to go now, Sophia. — He said. Sophia frowned, not wanting him to leave her alone. — But don't worry, help will come for you. And believe me my child, that you will do great things. You are extraordinary Sophia. Never forget that. — He said, winking an eye with a smile before vanishing in a bright light, making her look away.

When it got darker, the fear came again. What was she supposed to do? She didn't know. She trusted the man's words to be true, and so she waited there, surrounded by trees and the moon shining upon her, the wind making her hair move and the cold get to her.

But then footsteps were heard. She turned her head, the fear splashed on her features, covering her face with her hands and praying it wasn't a monster or a minotaur coming to get her.

— Who is that? — A voice said, making her open her eyes, realizing it's just a boy and a girl: the boy slightly taller than her with black curly hair and dark eyes, and the girl with dark skin and her hair in beautiful braids, probably her height, squinting her eyes at her.

— I'm Sophia. Who are you? — She asked, dropping her arms and standing up.

— I'm Luke and this is Annabeth. Are you also a demigod? — A demigod? Sophia frowned. She was just... normal. She only heard of those things on her mother's tales. She, a demigod? That could not be possible.

But then again, magic only happened in fairytales, not in real life. What happened just minutes ago, what the man did, what she did, that wasn't normal. So maybe she was a demigod, maybe she wasn't a freak or crazy, maybe what she was was real.

Sophia looked at them again, taking a deep breath and holding the handle of her bag, facing them.

— I am a demigod.