What the eagle was able to tell me was scarse to say the least.
With the concept as the main rule of any [territory creation] there would follow area, target and manifestation.
That's all I was able to extract from the magical beast, but even with that knowledge there wasn't much I could do without understanding my concept.
However… the pure unfiltered violence shown by my Archana terrified me.
I, Dimitris Damocles, unable to develop a real bloodlust, had produced something far scarier.
Looking at my now frightened extended family, I realised I was really going to go too far.
What the fuck am I becoming?
Shaking my head and approaching them slowly, I then raised my hands.
"I come in peace, can I heal you?"
The 4 sibilings, still dejected, contemplated a lot before finally nodding.
Garden of illusory flowers.
As I pointed at them to restrain the area of my spell, the unrealistically beautiful flowers came to life filling those hurt with energy and healing them.
"You can even heal?"
I was a little dumbfounded and look at the eagle for answers, I didn't realise when it had become my flying encyclopaedia.
Noticing my questioning look the eagle snuggled to my neck and started explaining.
"Usually mages tend to chose only one branch of magic to explore and develop, since their further development is also based on research."
"Ohh I get it, people here want to take shortcuts."
"That and usually everyone has at least 3 affinities, not like you mister…"
"What are you talking about? This man clearly used fire, space and life magic?!"
The queen of dumbs stayed true to her title.
Exhaling deeply, I offered my hand to her and brought her up.
"Think carefully, did my spell have something in common?"
"…"
"Girl, you can't be that dense."
"Just tell me you bastard!"
Fuck, maybe Hali really was right.
"Nature, I only have affinity for nature."
Realisation dawned on everyone, all my spells were related to flowers.
"Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get ready for the tournament, what's the first thing on schedule?"
"The combat game will be the first to take place, it'll be 7 days long, the crafting competition will be on the 8th day and specialty will be last. On the 10th day there'll be a celebration and eventual funerary ceremony." The eagle promptly responded.
"It's useless. Our family never wins anything in these games…"
One of the guys, already depressed, explained how there were 0 expectations on us since usually at this stage we weren't strong enough compared to the other due to a certain constellation.
"These are really just excuses. You clearly don't understand my mother."
"Are you really Hers?"
At this point I needed to do something on a fundamental level. I couldn't let my mother suffer such dissing.
"I'm Dimitris Damocles, I was not born a Demi-god, I was made one by my mother, the ONLY housewife, using the gift father gave her. Now listen to me closely."
Once their full attention was on me, I continued.
"Clearly adultery is one of the gravest sin to commit against someone representing marriage, but did you have a choice on being born?"
The all shook their head.
"My mother doesn't really hate you, she hates what you stand for, but at the end of the day you all are our father's children."
"Yeah sure. Then why does she keep sending impossible challenges our way?"
"You are fools. What is expected of our father?"
"To be the strongest."
"And how the fuck do you get there?"
"…"
"I can't believe I need to spell this out, are you even conscious at this point? To be the strongest, you need to face and survive the harshest conditions anyone can."
The four looked at each other in disbelief.
"Is this why nobody can win against our family in the Olympiads?"
[!attention! You have changed the belief around the ONLY housewife.]
[probability is being awarded to the ONLY housewife for your outstanding understanding.]
Then for everyone to listen my mum decided to confirm my theory.
[the ONLY housewife is broadcasting a message for the Lightning Bringer's camp]
[I can't believe my son understood me better than the other constellations. Good job Dimitris.]
As I was receiving praises for Hera, blush started to creep my face and daisies to bloom around me.
At that point the four brats decided to introduce themselves.
The queen of the dumbs was Achante, than came Theoside, Andreas and Seirus.
"Now, since the situation is resolved, why don't we start fresh and get ready to tore this competition to shreds?"
Achante and the others asked for forgiveness and nodded at my request.
"By the way, why is Aetos standing on your shoulder and cuddling with you? He is a divine beast and should only be loyal to our father…"
My eyes shot open, this tiny eagle was a divine being? But contrary to my cold sweat already forming on my back, the eagle denied the assumption.
"That would be my father mister Andreas, I was born 3 months ago and have yet to receive a name."
3 months? That's actually more or less when I got to this world.
"Is that why you keep snuggling to my neck? Don't divine being cuddle their babies?"
"No mister Dimitris, they don't. And your scent is absolutely delightful, it feels like I'm flying in a far away land filled with beautiful flowers."
Cringing a little with receiving compliments by an animal I took the opportunity to pick him up from my shoulder and have a better look at him.
"Listen, I don't want to be mindful of you while training, either let me go or I don't know make a baby carrier magically appear so that I can tie you to my chest while working out."
As soon as those words left my mouth a huge silky scarf appeared out of thin air.
I guess I can make to with this.
"Do you want to stay inside or outside?"
"Skin!"
"Inside it is."
Undressing, tying and redressing took no longer than a minute but that was enough to completely shock my extended family.
"Aren't you a mage? What's up with that body?!"
"I swear I've had enough of this reaction. Stop starring and get on with whatever you need to prepare for tomorrow."
Leaving everyone else behind I started stretching to better prepare my body.
"Hey lil guy, can you also increase your weight?"
"I can mr. Damocles, how heavy do you want me to get?"
Oh, I'm fucking taking you with me.
________________________
The day passed in the blink of an eye, working out with a divine beast sure was interesting, the little creature's ability to change weight and, surprisingly enough, keep me clean was unbelievably useful.
"Say lil guy, since you like my scent so much… do you think you stay with me?"
"I'm afraid I can't mr. Damocles."
"Is there a reason?"
"Although I would love to travel with you, I still am a divine beast, I have duties to attend to. I also need to gain a name."
"Fair enough, let's go eat with everyone."
I went tent to tent and assembled the electric family together in front of a bonfire I had previously set up.
"Why did you call for us brother Dimitris?"
The fuck did he just say?
Not even 24 hours after Eurylochus got the crest of Damocles and officially joined my family,but I was already subjected to 4 other kids calling me brother, just from another branch of my family.
"I guess I can't say I'm not you brother… anyway, I just wanted to eat together, maybe ask a question or two?"
As they looked at each other doubting my honesty, I took out the already cured meat of the lions I had stacked in my internal space.
"Lil guy do I need to cook for you or you gonna eat raw?"
The golden eagle peaked from under my clothes at the meat and finally asked.
"Was this lion part of the Nemean one pack?"
"Damn right he was, this one in particular was killed by my brother."
"What about the big boss?"
I looked at the eagle confused, he could recognise the meat but not the mane?
"Are you for real? Lil guy, you are literally covered in the big boss's mane, I killed the bastard."
"WHAT?!"
"HOW?!"
"WHEN?!"
While the other sibilings were starstruck by my revelation, Andreas and the little eagle started nodding as if my feat was the most obvious outcome.
"You knew, didn't you?"
The little birdie feigned ignorance so I did the best thing I could do.
I threw a bunch of meat into the fire.
"This disciple asks the mage of flower for advice."
[what's up?]
"Master, what is the best way to cook a divine eagle?"
At my blatant threat the eagle started trembling.
"I KNEW I KNEW, BUT I WANTED TO BOOST THIS GUYS CONFIDENCE IN YOU! DON'T EAT ME!"
[oh, you got that electric pigeon's son with you? Take a couple feathers before coming back!]
"You bastard, you didn't even try to play along. Sure I'll get you a couple feathers."
Discovering my master was a constellation brought another level of shock on everyone present, but I didn't want anyone to misunderstand the situation.
"Guys, don't misunderstand, the fucker might be my master, but he's honestly just a lazy bastard."
[I'm still connected you ungrateful prick.]
"Am I wrong?"
[…]
"See, a lazy fucker. Now let's eat and tell me about your specialties."
Merlin left grumbling something about he'd teach me what a great master he is when I got back, the eagle tucked back into my chest still trembling and everyone started to explain me their specialties.
Swordplay.
That was the specialty of everyone.
"Are you trying to piss me off on purpose?"
"What's wrong now?! Every Demi-god's specialty is their mastery over their weapon of choice…"
"I'll tell you what's wrong. The mastery of your weapon will be judged during the combat games."
"So?"
"Yeah, I'm not going to explain this shit. Get it together and think of something else to show, I don't care if you sing, dance, cook or have sex on stage, just know I'll beat the crap out of you if you show swordplay."
With that I left my step sibilings around the fire and got to sleep. Tomorrow would be the official beginning of the tournament.
"I guess it'll be a long day."
_______________________
Coliseum, combat games.
All the other houses had already entered. It seemed that for some kind of respect towards my father, we'd be the last to enter.
As we walked into the arena, I scouted around and immediately found Odysseus at the forefront of his house, all his colleagues seemingly beaten to a pulp while he stood smiling proud and directly looking at me.
It seems he put those bastards in place.
I winked and gave him a thumbs up. His smile grew wider and Andreas, who noticed my actions, followed my gaze meeting his.
"Brother Dimitris? Who is that man that's trying to kill me with his eyes?"
"That is Odysseus, my… Captain, he's very important to me. Be respectful and praise him if you're matched against him."
"…"
Andreas was conflicted by my statement, for a son of the GodKing to be condescending towards someone from Athena was a little weird, but he was probably more afraid about me than anything else.
While my brother was having and internal crisis, I noticed the familiar gazes I so much despised.
"And why the fuck is everyone looking at us with pity?"
"That would be… because you, who don't look like a son of the Lightning Bringer, are at the forefront. It looks like you are our boss…"
"Ah, just for such bullshit?"
"Well yeah…"
I turned to look at them one at a time.
"Achante, Andreas, Theoside and Seirus. You have probably experienced more hardships than most of these entitled bastards. Be proud for you have survived my mother's challenges and use everything you've learned. It doesn't matter how underhanded it is."
"Yes, brother!"
"Good, also… the fisherman's daughter named Hali is strong, the half sardine has been training under me for some time now. Be wary."
The look of disbelief plastered on their faces.
"Why would you train His daughter?"
"Because I don't give a fuck and she's a good friend of mine, so I give even less of a fuck about who's her dad."
Our conversation was cut short by the system announcement.
[Welcome to the annual tournament for Demi-gods up to D rank!]
[shortly the matches for the combat will begin]
[the reward for this year's combat game will be a drop of ichor from your divine parent.]
"Well, there really is no point in me winning this, I might as well forfeit this and go training."
"You can't do that brother Dimitris, our father will be dishonoured."
"Fuck, whatever, we might as well win the thing."
Thinking again about the matches to come I decided to give another advice to my family.
"Guys, you can't lose against the owl's house, no matter what."
"What about that man?"
I looked again at Odysseus who was locked on me the entire time, a smile painted my face.
"He will not lose. He knows that I'll beat him senseless if he does."