<<The Eternal Owl, I offer 5 of my circles and the stigma of the Owl vision in sacrifice for you to rescinding our contract.>>
The ritual had begun, Merlin was tho one to open a door for communication and was ready to intervene at anytime if necessary. All this while I was just sitting, I was there more for moral support then anything.
<>
{the Eternal Owl says that if you will continue to bring her honour, there's no need to rescind your contract.}
{the Eternal Owl says you are a fool for thinking of deceiving her while you are just stupidly and blindly taking the side of the defiant one.}
At these statements Merlin interrupted.
<
{and you are greedy enough to want him too.}
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{…}
Then Odysseus commented trying to placate everyone.
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{the Eternal Owl says she will not be the only one loosing here.}
{the Eternal Owl sacrifices a portion of her probability to change the sacrifice.}
{success. The sacrifice has been changed: 5 circles + 1 stigma -> 6 circles}
<
{that's none of my business.}
And that is how we came to this situation.
Odysseus was stripped of 6 circles, his body entered a grave mana deficiency.
Merlin and I were furious.
"How can that bitch do something so harsh to her own son?!"
I couldn't contain myself, Athena dared to touch someone dear to me and she would regret it.
"What are you talking about? Athena is a virgin goddess, she can't have children."
"Merlin you can't be serious."
"Of course I am, she never had a son."
"Merlin think long and hard. How did that disgusting brainiac come to life?"
"…"
"Merlin. She was an idea."
"She was never part of the cycle of Nature. She's part of the cycle of unnatural phenomena."
"Good job master, now do you see it?"
"I do, but how do you know about the law of the myth conservation?"
"The what now?"
"You're telling me you just jumped to conclusions?"
"Well, that and the fact that in the Odyssey it was implied how He was really her son."
"You are crazy. But if it's true that he's her son we can punish her for free. How sure are you?"
"…"
I couldn't answer with confidence, if I was in the wrong, who knew what the consequences could be. And I didn't want to be the one to spell doom for Odysseus.
"This is what we're going to do: you keep casting the [garden of illusory flowers] to replenish his body with mana continuously. I will go back to Avalon and prepare his first spirit formula, just like with you I'll chose and from then on he's on his own. Are you ok with that?"
"Of course, give him something strong, I don't care."
"Very well. Now keep casting, it'll take some time."
Merlin disappeared and I was left nursing a barely conscious Odysseus.
For once, the roles were inverted, and as my garden came to reality easing my captain's pain his eyes opened slightly and locked into mine. The strong always reliable Odysseus, was now a 3rd circle mage, basically weaker then me, in a matter of seconds.
"Dim, I feel like-"
"Don't you even dare put that thought in the universe. I'll take care of you. Everything will be fine. We'll grow strong together and then… then I'll kill that bitch."
"Hahaha, my Dimitris…"
"Now shut up and sleep. You need plenty of rest."
I made him close his eyes and continued to keep up my [garden of illusory flowers]
Time passed, my spell always active and when my Archana reached dangerously low levels I started to cultivate the blood of the GodKing to replenish it.
Gruesome as it was, all the pain I was feeling was nothing compared to what Odysseus was going through.
Hours passed again, my Archana barely able to keep up with the spell. My body on the verge of breaking from the cultivation.
I was bleeding from all my pressure points, but I never faltered. I needed to keep up the spell for Odysseus.
At some point I felt like I was losing consciousness. But I couldn't afford to falter. My resolve stronger then ever.
He was not to suffer.
Time continued to flow like an unyielding river, I could feel death approaching me and I didn't care. Merlin would soon return and he will take care of everything.
The second day came to and my torture was continuing. Odysseus didn't give signs of waking up, but his breathing was relaxed, he was sleeping well and that was all that mattered for me to continue.
At some point in time, Eurylochus entered the room to check on us, but when he saw in what state we were he left some food and vanished.
I could hear him shout to all the other men to not even dare thinking of interrupting us or he would kill them personally.
That cheeky brat.
The sun continued his path and when I was really a few minutes from death a flowery door opened in the room.
Merlin returned and looking at me with pride he pushed my forehead.
"You did an Amazing job. Your parents are proud of you. Now sleep."
I barely had the energy to look at him when I interrupted my cultivation and spell. A blue
screen appeared before me, but I was already out cold.
[Stigma: Crest of Damocles recording training session. Beginning recovery of the patriarch.]
________________________
-previously, Olympian nebula-
"How the fuck did he realise he's my son! What messed up thought process is that?!"
As Athena was running left and right trying to calm down after what just happened, Zeus and Hera were sitting on their thrones looking at her with disbelief. Not only had she sacrificed probability to punish Odysseus for his arrogance it also turned out Dimitris was right in assuming he was her son.
"Athena, why didn't you acknowledge him?"
"Mother that's not the point! How dare he go against me for that defiant one!?"
Hera's face turned black, but it was Zeus who answered.
"Watch your tongue Athena. He is still our son."
Those words were enough to quell Hera's fury. But just as everything seemed to calm down, familiar flowers started to bloom all around the temple.
Avalon. They all thought.
In seconds, the entire temple was now a garden and a huge door appeared out of nowhere.
"What's up folks?"
A smile recalling a devil stamped on his face and with each and every step nature seemed to violently shake.
He was furious.
"What a pleasure Mage of Flowes."
"Is it? Then you will forgive me for what I might do to your daughter hiding over there."
A shiver run down everyone's spine Merlin's threats were never meaningless. And they all knew.
Zeus and Hera stayed silent, going against such an entity was not the right thing to do. Even banishing him was useless because of his authority.
Merlin's authority was present. He was allowed to exist wherever he considered as the present, paired with his clairvoyance it was basically a cheat system that allowed him to interact everywhere and every time. That meant banishment was merely a statement more than a fact.
While everyone stayed silent, his smile widened.
"I see, nobody wants to take the blame, I get it. Punishment is not exactly something a constellation desires. Especially since I have no real connection to Odysseus, while Athena is actually his mother."
"What? I thought you didn't believe Dimitris' theory!"
"Oh poor Athena. Goddess of wisdom, but you clearly lack common sense."
"I didn't believe in his theory, but you didn't deny my assumption."
"…"
"Now, since nobody wants a war between constellations, why don't we make a bet?"
Zeus jumped on his throne with excitement. Not only could they avoid Merlin's anger, they could even win something from him.
"Of course the recipients of this bet will be Athena and I. So stay put Thunder Daddy."
"What's in it for me?" Asked immediately Athena.
"Whatever you want dear. But what's in it for me is the real question."
"I want your authority." Demanded the goddess.
Merlin was clearly shocked by Athena's audacity, how could a minor constellation like her demand him of his authority?
"Well, if you wish me to stake my authority, you'll need to stake at least your entire existence, don't you think?"
Zeus and Hera nodded, it was fair. Merlin's authority came in a pair with Avalon after all, even her entire existence was a little lackluster.
"How is that fair? I should stake my authority as well!"
"Oh poor thing, you think your authority is enough to counter mine. It seems you're used to only take and never give. Just like with your champions."
As the atmosphere was filling with a threatening aura, it was Hera that saved the situation from escalating.
"Why don't we play a game? I will decide the main subject on which you both will bet, depending on what you require. And my Husband will decide the outcome?"
Merlin shrugged with a playful smile, Athena nodded and Zeus was pumping his chest feeling finally the respect he thought he deserved.
Merlin was the first to make his demands.
"I want you to acknowledge Odysseus and never interfere requesting anything of him. Just awaken his divine blood."
Athena followed suit.
"If you want him awakened, then I want you to strip Dimitris of the ichor he absorbed."
Thunder rumbled threatening to destroy everything.
"ATHENA YOU DARE?!"
"HE WAS SUPPOSED TO STAY A MORTAL IF IT WASN'T FOR YOUR WIFE!"
Hera however was the perfect image of tranquility. She thought for a second and then made her decree.
"Athena and Merlin's request are sufficiently similar, however, since Odysseus was born a Demi-god instead of acknowledgement and awakening, Athena will supply with enough of her ichor and free him of all duties a Demi-god is subjected to. Is this good enough?"
They all approved and she then explained the rules of their game.
"Until my dear Husband declares a winner none of you are to take action. We'll preventively get Athena's ichor. You will only say yes or no. Understood?"
"Yup."
"Yes, mother."
"The argument is: will Dimitris be ready to sacrifice his life just to ease Odysseus' pain?"
Was this bet referring to anyone else, the answer would have been clear miles away, but considering Dimitris' foolishness, it wasn't so certain. Merlin however didn't even need to think to give an answer.
"That's not even a question. Yes, he will."
Athena was momentarily surprised, but thinking again she was sure nobody could be so crazy.
"No, he won't."
"The bets are in, let's watch our son, what do you say Zeus?"
"Of course my dear."
A screen appeared for all to see.
Dimitris was scalding Odysseus and forced him to sleep.
On this screen, even the inner thoughts of the people were displayed as subtitles.
At first nothing of notice happened, Dimitris simply casted his spell and sat on the floor holding Odysseus' hand. But it was after a few hours that things started to go downhill.
Dimitris started to cultivate his Archana which was starting to run low.
[this is nothing, I can't let him suffer after all his done for me.]
Hours passed and his situation only grew graver. Zeus didn't seem to mind his son's suicidal tendencies and was smiling wildly. Hera was also smiling, but a tinge of concern could be seen, on the other hand, both Merlin and Athena were extremely relaxed. They were both sure to have this in the bag.
Blood started to ooze from all over Dimitris body.
[he is not to suffer.]
[he must not suffer.]
[give it to me, please.]
[he can't suffer. He can't suffer. I… can't have him feeling pain because of me.]
[please. Please give me his suffering.]
Death was steadily approaching Dimitris, his body on the verge of breaking down. Yet, everything he could think of was to not let Odysseus suffer.
Athena's face begun to whiten, Merlin smile was blinding, but no one moved. Zeus hadn't spoke yet.
A full day passed and Dimitris' thoughts started to take a dark turn.
He started to compare what he was going through to all his memories in the Damocles household to maintain his sanity.
Even the gods started to get uncomfortable.
Nails being plucked.
Salt and poison on his wounds.
A broken bone everyday while being forced to carry on with the training until he didn't have a sane bone to hold him up.
Continuously study for days without sleep or food, and when hesitation showed being beaten half to death.
Tendons cut and sew back together to strengthen them.
Entire organs removed to maximise his chance of survival and only given back on the brink of death.
His memories kept going, but at some point only Zeus was keeping watch, Hera and Merlin were crying. Athena had started to vomit at some point. But Zeus was unyielding in watching over what his son had gone through.
At some point even his anger couldn't be contained anymore and lightning started to struck everywhere.
Then everything stopped.
A single thought was repeating on the screen of the now fully covered in blood Dimitris.
[Father… Mother… I'm sorry. I'm such a failure… please forgive me.]
As that thought repeated itself a single tear run from Zeus' green eyes.
"Enough. Merlin, you win this bet."
"Of course, I'll take my leave then."
"Wait. Tell him Hera and I are extremely proud of him."
Hera was a crying fountain at that point and only nodded. Even Athena didn't have anything to say. She just stayed silent with a sour face.
"I will GodKing. I'm happy to see you realise his effort."
"Only a fool wouldn't."
Merlin took the ichor prepared and left.
Zeus then turned to Athena.
"Never, ever was there a human so devoted in the history of humanity. Have you read his thoughts minutes away from death?"
"I have."
"He didn't curse you, nor swear for vengeance."
"I know."
"He apologised to his parents for he was too weak."
"I read father."
"Do you have such resolve?"
"…"
"I guess you don't. He may be kind enough to not curse you, but I am not. Next time you are discovered to be the cause of his suffering, be ready to pay the price."