I wanted to scream, set the entire island ablaze and kill Loki as brutally as possible. I was stripped of my freedom for no apparent reason and was now forced to embark on a suicide mission with a bunch of idiots.
Running deep into the island my mind was completely blank. I couldn't care less about scouting, finding food or whatever was expected of me .
If they're so hungry they'll catch some fish.
Calming my fury was the absolute priority, I couldn't explore unknown places with fog in my brain. As my plans took form I was finally able to focus more seriously on my surroundings; trees were all around me, but something was strange. Everything was extremely silent.
Is there no wildlife on this island?
With eyes closed I tryied to focus solely on my earing to hopefully find any kind of traces and soon, the sound of running water, came to me.
If there really was a river I had at least secured a source of drinkable water, sure, we'd need to boil it, but it was water nonetheless. I then darted through the trees like it was my backyard looking for the river I was sure I'd heard.
What I saw upon reaching the river left me stunned. A beautiful woman with long azure air was bathing and singing with a crystalline voice. Realising I was acting like a total creep and cringing at my own behaviour I announced myself from afar.
"I'm sorry ma'am, could you perhaps wear something? I do need to approach the waters…"
The pretty lady's voice came out amused.
"A man announcing his arrival and asking me to wear clothes instead of lusting over this fresh meat, that's new."
After just a few seconds her voice reached me again.
"Come dear, it's safe to see now."
Still amused and chuckling all the time, the lady was intently looking at me, but I clearly ignored her and rapidly approached the water. She was way too suspicious and given her reactions she could probably kill me with just a word, but when i noticed her pointed ears and the mana swirling around her, something forced me to relax.
An elf? And one with a humongous amount of nature mana at her disposal.
"If you could excuse me…"
Arriving at the river bank, I plunged my hands deep extracting some soil and started to check for any kind of residues, I even casted 'minor blessing of growth' to be sure, but nothing sprouted.
"And what might you be doing?"
She's still here?
"Ha! Sorry if I offended you ma'am, I was just checking if this water is drinkable…"
"Can't you tell by just looking at the flow of mana?"
Oh, she's a bitch.
"I'm afraid not. I started my training as a mage quite recently…"
"Ha! That's why you seem so weak despite having such a rare feeling! You even smell like a Dryad while being a man!"
Is this bitch dissing me straight to my face? Oh, hell no.
"Listen. I don't know who you are and why you're here, but I was respectful enough to not spy on your naked body while bathing so, if you can't match my level, leave me alone. Wrong day to poke my nerves love."
Fuck the relaxing feeling.
"I didn't mean to offend, just state facts."
THIS BITCH.
"You know what? My mistake. Your lack of basic understanding of human emotions is a clear sign you're one of THEM."
"One of whom?!"
The elf was clearly indignant, I on the other hand was already relishing on what was to come.
"Maniacs, psychopaths or donkeys, you chose."
You want to offend me to my face? You best prepare yourself to be on the receiving end as well.
"YOU DARE DISRESPECT ME?"
"Oh sorry, I didn't mean to offend, just saying facts."
Earing her own words used against her, the elf suddenly calmed down.
"Fair enough. What's your name traveler?"
"What's yours."
"Never mind then. Let me give you some words of advice since I've been so disrespectful. The water is safe, and this fruits will help you with mana sensitivity, but remember, always stay away from the palace deeper into the woods."
"What's this about? A witch hunting lost children?"
"Well, not necessarily children."
She winked and disappeared like she'd never been there in the first place, while I was left with a shiver running down my spine.
It can't be…
My blood run cold, someone similar to a witch eating humans…
We can't possibly be in THAT island…
Running as fast as I could and reaching the ship with battered breath, what awaited me was pure chaos. Tackled by the arms of an overreacting Odysseus I was unable to make heads or tails of what was going on.
"DIMITRIS I THOUGHT YOU WERE A GONER! OH CONSTELLATIONS THANK YOU!"
Trying to drive the man away even kicking his sheen to free myself, all my efforts were rendered useless. I then tryed to inquire about what was happening, but nobody answered me.
Fuck, how can this man be so strong? Isn't he supposed to be a magician?
Against my will I held Odysseus firmly trying to calm him further and only when the sobbing stopped I asked again.
"What's going on?"
Finally able to speak again, Odysseus started reporting how Merlin told them that I'd probably stay away for no less then a week so he sent another team to scout the surrounding, but only Eurylochus came back recounting their encounter with a woman with pointed ears and pitch black air. How she offered shelter and food, the others accepted, but Eurylochus, being suspicious refused and watched from afar how the men turned from men to pig while eating the enchanted food and since nobody was able to find me, they all thought I was already done for.
It really is Circe… fuck.
Originally Odysseus would be her consort even giving her children and only after a year of suffering would all of us be free, but I couldn't wait that long and there was no way to know what Odysseus would do with me here…
"We need to save them somehow."
Odysseus was shocked.
"What's wrong with you!? We can't possibly fight her!"
"Nobody said I'd fight! I'm not stupid."
Even if Odysseus was a 9th circle magician he couldn't fight the witch who basically created Sylla, I knew that. But I still needed to do something.
I could offer future knowledge…
"Odysseus is right, Dimitris."
Earing Merlin's voice, my momentarily quelled fury ignited like there was no tomorrow. My body moved on its own, taking out the celestial spear I threw myself at Merlin and stabbed the bastard in the shoulder pushing him down to the ground.
"HOW DARE YOU SHOW YOURSELF BEFORE ME?!"
I was growling, the air around me crackled as if my fury was taking form in the real world. Merlin instead of fighting back disappeared leaving a trail of flowers only to appear a couple of meters away from me.
"Dimitris wait! I can explain!"
I didn't give him time nor space. I threw the spear like a javelin piercing his thigh, grabbed him by the neck and started chocking with all my strength.
"IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN YOU SHOULD HAVE DISCUSSED WITH ME BEFORE ACTING! HOW DARE YOU! THE ONE WHO SHOULD KNOW MORE THAN ANYONE HOW IMPORTANT FREEDOM IS, STRIP ME OF IT!?"
Dispersing into flowers once again to escape my clutches Merlin was breathing heavily.
"Dimitris please! I really can explain! What do i need to do to have you listen to me?"
"WHAT YOU NEED TO DO? YOU NEED TO STEAL THE ANGEL OF DEATH'S SWORD, PLUNGE IT DEEP INTO YOU REAL HEART AND NEVER REMOVE IT OR I SWEAR ON THE STY… MPH"
ODYSSEUS.
A bubble of water was blocking my mouth preventing me to speak.
"You can't make that oath Dim, not when you're not completely lucid. That oath is eternal."
Lowering myself to the ground i picked up some grass and shoved inside the water blocking my speech.
Minor blessing of growth.
The water was absorbed and the grass grew considerably.
"Don't you ever dare using a spell on me like this Odysseus. And Merlin. Don't think for a second I'm not aware of how to banish all your avatars to Avalon. Permanently."
I was totally bluffing, but Merlin's reaction gave away that a method existed and if it existed I'd find it.
"I'm going to save my comrades. You can stay, leave the island or accompany me, I don't care. I may forbidden to abandon you Odysseus,but nobody said anything about being abandoned, but don't you dare get in my way."
Circe was certainly a formidable foe and I couldn't think of a way to defeat her, but did I really need to fight?
Walking with Odysseus and Merlin following me I couldn't shake of the feeling of being watched. Someone was starring at me with a look I was way too familiar with.
Pity.
"I've had it! Enough of those stares, either show yourself or disappear!"
Merlin and Odysseus were starstruck.
"What are you talking about… we've just been following you silently…"
"I'm not talking to you 9th circle of uselessness nor the fake constellation."
I picked up a rock and got ready to throw it in a certain direction.
"I'm talking to that stalker looking at me as if I'm walking to my own grave!"
The rock was thrown and a man fell, or so I thought. The bastard was levitating.
"Hahahaha! How did you find me?"
"I'm severely allergic to stalkers."
"Sure, either way… I greet the mage of flowers and the champion of my big sis,"
Both of them woke up from the shock and promptly responded.
"Sure…"
"I greet The messenger who never messes"
Deciding against losing anymore time I moved to leave the three to their antics when a couple of snakes were trying to bind my legs.
"It seems we'll have snake for dinner."
Just as my spear was about to pierce the first snake's head, flowers bloomed and the snakes were moved away from me.
Turning around I saw a furious Hermes and a pale Merlin so I simply opted to ignore them and keep going. That would have been a good plan if Hermes didn't interject.
"Aren't you going to apologise?"
"Are you? You stalk, ignore, and try to force me to your bidding. Where's my apology?"
"You can't seriously expect to get an apology from a constellation…"
"I don't see you in the sky right now."
"This bastard knows no respect, truly the perfect disciple for you Mage of flowers!"
Before Merlin could even think of answering I let out a maniacal laugh.
"Disciple? Fuck no. More like future murderer. He's no master of mine. Now mr. Post office. You are to either leave me alone or state your motives."
"You are spicy, I see why these two like you so much."
"Oh? And do you imprison someone you care for?"
"Hubris, even gods have it."
"And yours is to waste my time."
Odysseus was angrily looking at Merlin who was shaking his head vigorously while Hermes was fighting to keep his laughter at bay.
My men are possibly being eaten and there's not an ounce of seriousness here. I'll just leave these psychos alone.
But before I could continue moving Hermes stopped me once again.
"I have a proposition, I will help you just once in what's to happen. I'll ask a question and if you answer correctly no price will be needed for this helping hand, but if you're to answer wrong, you'll be forced into a contract with one of the constellation in our nebula. How does it sound?"
Odysseus was about to say something, but I rapidly covered his mouth.
This could very well be the question, I'm not answering something I'm not sure about.
I gestured for Hermes to continue.
"You're a smart kid, you sure you ain't from Athena's kid?"
Silence.
"It seems you're not so easy to trick, or do you only fall for Loki's tricks?"
Once again, silence.
You think this is enough to tilt me you petty bastard? Try harder.
"Very well. Which constellation from our nebula is the currently best suited to discipline Circe? You may use their name."
This was the easiest question they coul ask. Not even an heartbeat was needed for my answer.
"Hestia."
What was Circe's greatest sin? Of course, neglecting hospitality.
Odysseus with a mix of sadness and excitement wrapped his arm around my waist only to receive a punch.
"You should have said the Godking's name, but hey! A contract whit a constellation is good! You should chose my patron!"
Pushing Odysseus further away I scoffed.
"What the fuck are you implying? I'm obviously correct. Can't you see that stalker's pale face?"
Hermes was confused and locking eye contact with me asked warily.
"And why might you be right?"
"I don't have a reason to answer you now, do I?"
"I'll give you the main ingredient for that spirit formula."
How to scam a god.
"Crimes of Hospitality."
Hermes was baffled. Never would he expect someone who fought wars for a living to know such courtesies, but here I was.
"To think Mother was right. You, Defiant one, sure are strange. Here's your salamander essence, you know what to do next. I'll open a channel to exert Hestia's authority in the palace, but be sure there'll be fire."
Hermes disappeared and left me with a blushing Odysseus and an almost crying Merlin.
"What's wrong with you two now? We don't have much time."
"You're so hot."
"YOU SAID I'M NOT YOUR MASTER."
Are these bastards for real?
Unaware of the blush creeping to my ears I moved forward. It was time to face Circe.