Kinda New at the Whole Demigod Thing | Daphne

[Royce Reynolds]

Where in the world am I going... Royce scowled, crunching through the woods, clueless as could be. She arrived here only about a week ago, and still had no idea where everything was around camp. She had gotten a brief tour from who knows what child of some god or goddess she had never heard of. Either way, the only places she knew how to get to were her cabin, to the mess hall, and to the beach on a good day. Rio, her growing german shepherd pup, was sleeping after a long morning of playing in the water. Royce regretted not napping with him, as she was tired out from practicing using her powers. At least that was one thing she was getting the hang of. So far, she could manipulate the water pretty well, pushing things around on the surface, as well as forming little balls to tease Rio with by throwing them.

How she found herself in the middle of who knows where, she had no clue. At least she had remembered to grab a sword from her cabin; carrying a sword seemed to be popular around here, so why not be prepared? It was just hanging up on the wall near her bed, so she assumed it was for her. Maybe she had taken a wrong turn on her way back from the mess hall, because a colloseum-looking structure had appeared in the distance.Since she was out here, might as well go and explore it, she had no where else to be anyway.

Royce stepped through the tall off-white pillars, her mouth gaping open as she looked up at the top, slowly turning in a circle to take it all in. What have I gotten myself into here? She knew this place was all about Greek Mythology, but this looked like it came straight out of Greece. She screamed out of frustration, sending birds flying from their perches. Why does this life have to be mine, what did I do to deserve this? Royce couldn't stand being here, all she wanted to do was put her uniform back on for school, go back to class, and maybe even she was longing for formation at 06:30 in the morning. That may be a stretch...

Daphne Scotts

[Daphne Scotts]

Training was the only thing that Daphne did nowadays. She really didn't have many friends around camp. Her siblings came and went as they pleased. And the gods knew she couldn't get back into the dating scene since it seemed like boy after boy wanted to break her heart in one way or another. So she just trained and fought anyone who thought they could usurp her title of best sword fighter in camp. Only one boy managed to take that title away from her willingly, but no more. She wasn't going to be hurt like he hurt her.

So on this particular day, she was training with the dummies. She rarely got to train with people nowadays, but she was fine by herself. She was her harshest critic after all, so she could become better just with herself. In the middle of a swing, she heard someone scream and birds flying. Daphne stopped as she glanced towards the entrance. It was some girl she hadn't seen around here before and she looked okay... but Daphne knew better than anyone else that not all injuries were visible. Plus, she sensed her cabin leader duties needed to kick in, along with her assumed position of leader of the camp with her being a child of Zeus.

She transformed her sword back to a necklace and put it on before she made her way towards the girl. As she got closer, she noticed the look in the girl's eyes. The confusion, slightly scared. She just found out about this demigod thing recently, didn't she? Once she got a little bit closer, Daphne said, "You know, if you want the best place for screaming, the amphitheater is the best because then it at least echos." She smiled a bit as she extended her hand. "I'm Daphne."

[Royce Reynolds]

As soon as the scream left her mouth, Royce immediately regretted it. She wasn't one to let others in on her feelings, and she didn't know who would hear her. Suck it up, you're fine. No one is going to hurt you. She let her hands unclench, shoulders loosen, and breathed in deeply. Upon releasing her tension, Royce heard someone behind her. She turned, stunned when she not only saw a girl who was a bit younger than her approaching, but also her sword that transformed into a necklace. Royce made a mental note to get herself something like that, it was the least she deserved for having to put up with this drastic change in her life.

As the girl got closer, she could sense her confidence. Royce wondered if the girl had heard her scream, but she probably did since she was walking towards her. Introducing herself, she extended her hand to Royce. Smirking and shaking her hand back, she got her wits together and confidently said, "I may have to visit there sometime, thanks. I'm Royce." 

Pausing for a moment she added, "You know, you're the first person here who has introduced themselves to me." It was sad, really. She lived alone in her cabin, or at least she thought, she had not seen anyone else in her brief time there. She spent most of her time alone at the beach with Rio anyway, only periodically visiting the mess to get her meals each day. The daughter of Poseidon felt the most calm near the ocean, and it helped her keep her mind at ease through the whole transition. This was one of her first days wandering about camp, but she felt lucky to have ran into Daphne. She looked at Daphne and asked, "I don't suppose you would be willing to teach me anything about this place, I'm kinda new here." Royce shrugged, a bit embarrassed to be asking someone younger than her for information. She was so used to looking up to older people through school, but she guessed now wouldn't be the time to be picky about who she acquainted herself with.

[Daphne Scotts]

Royce. That wasn't a common name around here, but it wasn't out there at the same time. Not that Daphne had any room to judge. She was seriously named after her mother's obsession with Apollo. "It's a really nice place. And you can do s'mores or whatever in the fire pit if you get tired of screaming," she said trying to put a little lighthearted humor into the conversation. She looked at Royce for a moment before she raised her eyebrows in concern. Had nobody seriously not introduced themselves to her? That would be something to bring up at the next cabin leader meeting.

"I'm sorry about that," Daphne said as she smiled at the girl. "Tensions have been high lately at camp and I guess people are forgetting their manners." She shrugged her shoulders a bit. She wanted to ask if Royce had any siblings, but she knew that not everyone had siblings in camp. Hades, Daphne barely had any siblings that stuck around longer than a few months. But Royce asked for help and Daphne nodded her head. "Yeah, sure. I'd be glad to." But the she paused for a moment before she asked. "Do you need like another tour of camp, assuming they gave you one, or do you want to know how to fight or what?"

[Royce Reynolds]

Royce laughed, a little embarrassed and rubbed the back of her neck. "Yeah, I don't think the screaming will be a regular thing, I'm just still knew to this adjustment." Although she did appreciate the lightheartedness Daphne seemed to carry, it put Royce at ease as she dropped her hand back down to her side. At least she hoped things would get easier to accept and time went on, as long as she could find her place here, Royce was sure she would be okay in the end.

Royce shrugged. "It's ok, if that's what's going on. What's it about?" Tensions in camp? Great, just another reason to want to get out of this place. No. She would not allow herself to be so pessimistic. She needed to learn more about the other half of her being, even if it meant staying here. Not that she could go back to her old life yet anyway... But Daphne was willing to help her learn, so she had to be grateful for that. Here she was talking to someone who was basically a stranger to her. The gesture was more than nice though, and Royce hoped maybe she could make a friend out of the girl. It was not often Royce made friends, so it could be a long shot, but who knew.

Thinking for a moment, Royce didn't know which option she needed more at the moment. They were in the arena, and especially since Daphne mentioned that tensions were high at camp, it would probably be best that Royce learned how to fight with something else besides her fists and her powers, since controlling water still drained a lot of energy. "Well, I've only learned how to fight with my fists, and I feel like everyone but me here knows how to use some type of weapon. Plus I'll eventually find my way around camp."  Royce looked down at her sword, a trident printed into the pommel. Even though the sword seemed to feel light as a feather in her hand, as if it were made for her, it didn't mean she had any clue how to use it effectively.

[Daphne Scotts]

Royce was new to this demigod thing? Daphne figured as much, but it was also a relief that she got confirmation as well. She knew those feelings all too well, especially since she found out herself only a few years ago. It was only a few years, but it felt so long at the same time. She nodded her head sympathetically before she said, "I think everyone goes through that phase once they get here. It's only a matter of time before everything just becomes... I don't know... second nature or something." She shrugged her shoulders. Daphne couldn't remember when all of this starting feeling like home to her. It just did one day.

But about the tension. "We had... a monster attack a few months ago," Daphne said as she picked out her words carefully. "It was an inside job. There was a group running around calling themselves the Usurpers and they planned the whole thing, so I guess everyone doesn't know if they're still around or if they died along with that monster." She shrugged her shoulders again. "I don't think it's anything to be concerned about now, but it's hard to shake it off."

Royce wanted to learn how to fight. That was a start compared to a lot of new demigods. Daphne nodded her head towards the sword that Royce had. "Do you want to fight with that or do you want a different weapon? We can test out weapons and find one that works with you if you want."

[Royce Reynolds]

Second nature? Royce thought all of this, whatever it was, would never become second nature to her. Sure, she knew some about Greek mythology, but none of the nitty gritty details. Plus this was only her first encounter with someone. Royce shrugged back. "I'll take your word for it. At least this seems to be a start, it's, like, my first time somewhere besides the cabins and the mess hall."  She motioned to the arena around them.

"A monster? Here?!" Her voice was shrill, and she raised her eyebrows in shock. The only thing Royce needed to think about was tension and monsters. Those existed? Fabulous. Listening to Daphne continue to talk about some group called the Usurpers was a bit less of a shock, although she didn't even know who or what they believed in. Royce wasn't sure she even wanted to know, but maybe it was gone, like Daphne said, and she wouldn't have to worry about them. Nodding in sympathy, Royce could only imagine what it would feel like for a piece of a community to completely betray the other. "I bet..." Her voice wavered, this place was just getting scarier and scarier.

Distracting her from her thoughts, Royce blinked a few times to get her head out of the daze. "Oh, uh, I feel like I should start with this sword my father left me, it seems like the most common weapon here... Although I also received a trident from him that I should probably learn how to use at some point." The daughter of Poseidon took her sword out of the strap that held it to her waist. Lifting it up, it still felt light, even though it looked like it should be way heavier.

[Daphne Scotts]

Maybe Daphne had a bit of a head start compared to most demigods. Her mother was a mythology professor and Daphne assumed she could see through the mist as well. How else did she supposedly romance Apollo? Not that actually happened. But maybe all the demigod stuff made sense to Daphne since she grew up around the myths. She could see how it could be so confusing and foreign to anyone who didn't have her background. "Well, you'll get the hang of camp. It's big anyway, but it's only a matter of time you'll know where you are."

But she didn't seem to scare Royce too much with the concept of monsters and Usurpers, which was fine because they shouldn't be a threat anymore. But Royce asked Daphne how to fight and Daphne was going to teach her. "Swords are the most common and it'll be easier for me how to teach you how to fight. I have no clue how to fight with a trident. Unless it's like a spear." Daphne shrugged her shoulders as she unsheathed her sword. She nodded her head towards the training dummies. "Since you're learning, let's have you up against the dummies, since I don't want you injured if you actually went up against someone. C'mon."

[Royce Reynolds]

Thankfully it seemed like the monsters and Usurpers did not seem to be a threat to Camp Half-Blood anymore. Although it sounded like with the camp's track record, it was always under constant danger. Well, then that's why Royce would learn to fight with the common weapons they used here. It seemed like the girl wouldn't be able to get away with just her speed and brute strength around here. Starting with the sword was the clear choice, and eventually maybe her father would gift her with a shield. Or maybe she could make something in that forge place she had heard of... That would be cool. In regards to the trident, she could probably find some books on it around camp or in the Poseidon cabin.

Looking up at Daphne, Royce nodded. "Sounds like a plan." She followed the other girl down to wear the dummies were. They were rugged and beat up from the hours of training other campers had done before her. Looking at her sword much closely, she notices the tiny designs on the grip, guard, and pommel. There were wave patterns around most of it, and in the center of the pommel was a blue sapphire gem. Well suited for the daughter of Poseidon. "Thank you, by the way. It must be hard trying to meet newcomers after everything that's happened." Royce made sure her voice sounded sincere, because she was. This world was entirely new to her and she had to be thankful towards someone who might actually be her first friend here.

(Again, sorry I poofed for so long! Daphne Scotts)

[Daphne Scotts]

"It's really no problem," she said as she looked over at Royce with a bit of a smile. "Well we need to get over what happened sooner or later." Daphne pulled her necklace off and it transformed into her sword in her hands. She moved it around in her hands as she got used to the weight once more. "First things first," she turned to Royce as she pointed to the edge of the blade. "Hit with the edge of the blade. That's what does the most damage. You can smack them with the flat, but that will only irritate an enemy more than anything else. And the last thing you want is a pissed off monster." She chuckled to herself as she moved her feet into the read position as she shifted her weight evenly between her feet. "And second, you want to be balanced. Last thing you want is an enemy to push you off balance in the middle of a battle. You fight better on your feet than your butt."

[Royce Reynolds]

Royce watched as Daphne pulled her necklace off as it transformed into a sword. She looked down at her wrist where her rope bracelet with the trident charm glinted in the sunlight. Sometime or another the daughter of Poseidon would have to teach herself how to use her father's signature weapon, as he had been generous enough to construct something this unique for her. But that would have to wait for another time, as she was about to learn from who she assumed to be a very gifted swordsman.

Listening intently to Daphne's words, Royce nodded, storing the information. Hit with the edge/shape part of the blade, makes sense, got it. Next, Royce watched as Daphne balanced herself. Royce did the same, spreading her feet out about shoulder width apart, and one slightly in front of the other. "The ready position is kind of like boxing, instead I'm using a sword instead. Ok, this can't be that bad." With a slight chuckle, to herself, Royce began to feel a bit more confident that she would actually be able to do this.

[Daphne Scotts]

"It's a position used in a lot of sports," Daphne said with a bit of a smirk as she looked over at Royce and surveyed her position. "But looking good," she said with a bit of a nod. She then turned back to the dummy as she continued on with her lesson. “Now, this is usually the hard part… swing your arm in only one direction. You’ll want to flip your wrist to move the sword, but it wastes time and energy. If you swing your sword one way, you’ll just swing back the other way. Like this.”

She demonstrated on the dummy in front of her. She went to slash at it from the bottom to the top. Then she slashed at it again, but from this time, top to bottom. “It’s definitely a lot of muscle memory,” she said as she looked back at Royce. “But if you practice it constantly, it’ll become second nature to you.”

[Royce Reynolds]

Royce nodded at Daphne's compliment, and watched as she continued to explain how to use a sword. Royce wasn't too worried, she tended to pick up new skills pretty fast, and if she was anything less than perfect, she would work on her own until she was. "Alright, so two slashes tow one movement." After Daphne demonstrated the concept, Royce stepped forward to the dummy next to the one Daphne had just used. The girl mirrored the movement, although with a little less confidence, as she had never done anything like this with her sword yet.

"Yeah I can tell it's going to take a little time to get used to. But I'll keep working on it." Royce smiled. Maybe being a demigod wasn't going to be the worst thing in the world. At least she would add to her self defense skills this way. Fighting with a sword was pretty badass too.