"I didn't jinx nobody! You know I don't cast curse type spells!"
That's how the peanut brain of my captain interpreted my words.
Why am I even surprised.
"Forget it. What would you think if a virtually abandoned ship was coming our way?"
"Well there's many possibilities, it really depends on the state of the ship."
I then reported what Polites had said beforehand and waiting for a verdict.
"Why would you ask about fog surrounding the ship?"
"With the issue of time fissures, which I still have no clear clue about, I thought it might be smart to consider every possibility. There's this story I know about a ghost ship always surrounded by fog and unable to set port. Allegedly it's just a bad omen, but who the fuck knows anymore."
"Mhhh we can consider that as well… if there really are ghosts though it'll be tough."
"Why so?"
"Well you and I are both mages related to nature, and nobody has a contract with the Father to whom all go so we cannot exactly perform rites of passing."
"Okay, what about other possibilities?"
"I'd say disease, well hidden pirates or sirens."
Fuck he did meet the sirens.
"Did you order to anchor the ship?"
"Of course."
"Then don't worry about sirens, they are territorial. Let's get out for now and check on the situation."
Getting out of the cabin, we took a look around. Eurylochus and Polites were talking among themselves, other men were going about their duties. Everything was unnaturally calm while our crew was getting ready to apprehend the ship on our way.
Even the sea was calm, no signs of movement could be detected.
There's something wrong.
The speed of the approaching ship increased, but the water still gave no signs of movement.
"Odysseus, I don't think that ship is touching water."
"You are right. EVERYONE ASSEMBLE!"
Rapidly most of the crew assembled on deck, at least those who fit. Merlin appeared beside Odysseus and I fighting to keep a serious expression.
"Had a pleasant night my disciple? Your mana feels extremely relaxed compared to yesterday?"
"Oh shut up you sorry excuse of an incubus. Do you feel something about that ship?"
"I feel it shouldn't be here, that's for sure."
"What about ghosts? Any helpful advice?"
"You're to weak right now, but the [garden of illusory flowers] will keep them away, you know? Life element and shit?"
"Of course. You were so clear when you explained jack shit about anything that isn't elemental manipulation."
"Anyway, that is a time fissure, but I don't feel the fragment… maybe a residue?"
While Merlin and I where discussing about the almost certainly ghost ship, Odysseus was giving orders to the crew preparing for fight or anything that might come out of this strange situation.
If this was indeed a ghost ship, could we even stop it? Would it be tangible? And what about possible enemies?
Anxiety was once again starting to creep on me. The primordial fear of the unknown was right about to get me drawing when a hand slipped into mine and beautiful flowers bloomed around me. Instantly a sense of peace and security washed over me. Odysseus was unwaveringly looking into my eyes.
"Whatever happens stand by my side. I will protect you no matter what."
I nodded weakly, then looked toward Merlin.
"Here."
He took out a couple of hair ties.
"I made these with Arachne's web. They work in pair, give one to whoever you want and you'll always know the general direction that person is. I know it's not what I promised before, but I'd rather you pursue the way of the mage more so that the way of the assassin, fuck even a spearman is better."
I took the ties in my hand, unsure of what to do. I immediately thought of giving the other one to Odysseus, but at the same time it felt like I was leading on him. My fears were rendered useless as Odysseus just snatched one of the ties and tied his hair in a low pony tail.
"Won't this little thing be easily lost?"
"Hey smartass, I clearly enchanted them. Indestructible and irremovibile. Only those who hold the ties can remove them."
I on the other hand, happy that I didn't need to shamelessly ask Odysseus, just took my sides and bangs tying a bun and leaving the back of my hair free. Once both ties were in place I could immediately sense it.
Odysseus' presence was clear in my mind. It wasn't anything visible but I knew where he was. He on the other hand jumped on me.
"This is beautiful. THANK YOU MERLIN."
"Let me go, you are making a scene in front of everyone!"
But contrary to my expectations, everyone seemed to be happy and revitalised by this show of affection.
This chicks are in for a beating.
Freeing myself from the grips of this bastard psychopath I looked towards the crowd.
"Whoever is smiling is due for a 12 hour sparring with me, where I will be using magic along the spear."
"So whatever is coming our way, don't you dare die. I'll come and beat you up in the underworld as well."
A loud cheer exploded and I could not understand why this bastards were so happy to get a beating.
"Are these guys masochists?"
"Dim, that was your usual speech. I stand by what I told you last night."
I was speechless, not only this bastards were completely crazy masochists, but I was the psychopath that enabled them.
"What did he say to you last night?"
"He thinks I'm cursed and I'm actually the real Dimitris, but it's impossible… a part for the fact that it doesn't make sense, the system informed me that the original soul passed the Styx."
Merlin thought a bit before answering, and even then I could feel he was clearly hiding something.
"Well let him live in his delusion."
I wanted to inquire more, but the possibily ghost ship was now near enough to try and apprehend it.
"Let me try and do something before getting on the ship."
I stepped forward, I needed to know if the ship was tangible at least before jumping towards danger.
Fire lilies of destruction.
The flowers shot towards the ship. Exploded, but no damage was foreseeable, then it happened. Before everyone's eye the same screen appeared.
[time fissure: solo mission]
[A ship to wreck]
[Eligible participant: Dimitris Damocles]
"Fuck."
"DIMITRIS!"
"DAMOCLES!"
"SECOND COMMANDER!"
The voices of my men rung into my ears, but it was already to late.
______________________
-Odysseus POV-
"WHAT THE FUCK? HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?"
"Odysseus calm down, you're not going to resolve anything in this state."
"MERLIN ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! DIMITRIS GOT TRANSPORTED INTO A TIME FISSURE ALONE? THERE WAS NEVER A RECORD OF A SOLO MISSION, BUT IF THEY EXIST WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE REASON THEY ARE UNKNOWN."
"100% death rate, it's clear."
"AND YOU TELL ME TO CALM DOWN?!"
At that point Merlin just slapped my face. The slap was anything but strong, yet it helped me clear my mind. Just like his flowers helped Dim when he was losing control, he brought peace to my mind.
"Better now?"
"Yes."
"Perfect, now let me tell you something. Before being Dimitris, my disciple is the prodigy of the House of Damocles. He will survive, no metter what."
"Can you tell me more about this House of Damocles?"
"I don't know the specifics myself, he hates them deeply and every time I ask, he just says some absurd things like consuming poison daily to built up immunity, or how the body of a Damocles is meant to be destructed various times to reform stronger. And he says that like is the most normal thing in the world."
"You are kidding right? How is something like that possible?"
"I wish I was, do you remember the look in his eyes when he was sparring with Eurylochus on Eëä?"
"Wasn't that just an after effect of sensory overload?"
"I see."
Merlin thought for a second, then teleported Eurylochus to us.
"You training maniac. How are the morning training and sparring with Dimitris?"
"Ohh the Second Commander is amazing! He's able to workout to the brink of death without flinching and getting all healed up with that pretty garden, and when we have sparrings it seems like fighting someone who is already dead! His heart beats once a minute and everything becomes cold. But even though one would think that in those conditions one'd become weak, he only gets stronger the longer we fight! I asked him to teach me, but he just said you need to die multiple times and get brought back to life to proceed with this training, it's not really healthy."
To say I was absolutely terrified would be an understatement. He went through all that and was still able to smile? And this was just the tip of the iceberg?! How could a family put their children through such atrocities? I then looked towards Merlin who had a sorrowful smile.
"That's why you called him prodigy?"
"Yes, even though everything he went through, he never wavered, never lost his sanity and to this day, he's still able to care for the others."
"Is there really nothing we can do about this?"
Merlin stayed silent for sometime, maybe talking with other constellations. So I took advantage of the moment and called for my own patron and ask for guidance.
[leave that defiant alone, he's only getting what he deserves. You should have sent scouts instead of acting foolishly.]
That answer popped my nerves. How could she say something like that after all I've done for her? All the honour I brought to her name? Sure Dim was rude to the constellations, but he always got the job done.
Then I remember the letter Dimitris wrote to himself.
<
Did the Olympian Nebula have something to do with Dimitris situation? Anger was building up inside me at alarming rates. At this point I wanted nothing more than to rescind my own contract with those fuckers.
"Merlin…"
"Odysseus, be mindful of what you are about to say. It's extremely easy to anger them."
"So there is no way?"
"For my disciple? He's actually doing good for now. For your question? There is a way, but the sacrifice will be great. You will probably lose a lot of your strength. Think about it before jumping to conclusions."
"How much are we talking about?"
"I'd say to appease her, you'd need to sacrifice 5 circles. You'll also need to create a new territory."
"It's doable but… it'll be extremely harder to protect him…"
"Let me know when you have decided, I'm ready to take you in as well."
Dim seemed to respect Merlin a lot as a mage… maybe he knows something I don't?
"As my disciple says, I'm not the strongest mage in the history of humanity, but I'm easily one of the top 5."
He's that strong? No surprise other constellations respect him… but isn't he divine as well?
"My attribute is humanity."
Fuck this is both tempting and scary…
"There's no need to make a decision now, let's wait for Dimitris for now."
_______________________
As I was transported into the ship, the voices of my men drifted away and anxiety once again found his way into my heart, the hair tie holding my bun seemed to pulse.
I could feel Odysseus even through this time fissure, and that gave me some kind of reassurance.
Ok, I'm in an unknown place, my target is unknown but the title of the mission is 'a ship to wreck'.
It was pretty self explanatory, but before actually acting foolishly I needed more information, that's when the system screen popped in front of me once again.
[quest: a ship to wreck.
Rewards: Draconic Astrolabe.
Description: deep within the ship, the fragment of the king of Titans is being held imprisoned by a mysterious pirate. Remove all obstacles and destroy the fragment to wreck the ship.]
Well, there you have it.
With some more information at my disposal it was now time to act.
Let's start my investigations.