"We are almost there."
Yudher's voice woke up everyone.
After what happened between Odysseus and I, the man seemed to be in a perpetual daze. Thankfully, I always kept spare clothes in my inner space, but even those did little to cover le bite marks we had left on each other.
The first thing we were met with, in fact, was Hali that laughingly asked if I was a beast.
I understood that he might have been waiting for this moment for a long time, but our situation was dire. He needed to hunt down a seemingly mythical beast and after that raid a temple we still needed to find.
"Odysseus, you've gotta snap out of it. Come on man!"
He looked at me, cheeks with just a bit of rose on them, but eyes hyper focused.
It seems I was worried for nothing.
"I know Dimitris, you don't have to worry, I was just thinking of where did all of that came from and if I have even had sex before."
He said so pointing at all the visible bit marks and I started getting hot as well.
To my defence, I had to heal it after the first round, but he refused with no explanation.
I looked at the rings on our fingers, Asmodeus' gift, that had no explanation except [fuck and you'll understand] which I honestly was not too keen on understanding, but Odysseus liked the design and we were currently wearing them.
Demonic arm, demonic ring and demonic familiar… give me a pair of horns and I might as well be one of them.
Time slipped by and soon enough we had landed. Yellowknife had a small airport and when we came out of the jet, we found an entourage of attendants waiting for us. The fact that the Damocles acted in the open was still shocking to me, but I swept those thoughts away as soon as I noticed who was waiting at the spearhead of the troupe.
I shot a glare at Yudher, the meaning clear for everyone to see: the fuck is she doing here?
Chanel, my ex, was basically running towards us.
"Father in law! Where is Klaus?! You said he's back!"
Odysseus and Hali looked at me with confusion, I shrugged and whispered my ex fiancée. They both nodded. I had talked about Chanel to them, an opportunistic woman that I was to marry for political reasons. I did like her, but as soon as I was deemed useless, her true color came out and she abandoned me like I was some kind of trash on the edge of the road.
"Well Chanel, there's a situation, but he is indeed back."
The eyes of all the Damocles turned to me and I was out under the spotlight.
"Yudher. We don't have time to waste. Start your investigation."
Sarah muttered under her breath that it was me the one to waste time just to fuck, but I didn't even spare her a glance. Instead, I turned to Hali.
"Odysseus and I will go look for the thunderbird's whereabouts, what do you want to do?"
"I'll come with you, but let's bring someone with us. I'm not staying with you 2 alone."
"Excuse me sir, who might you be to order the patriarch of House Damocles around?"
Chanel's voice came from behind me interrupting my train of thoughts. I guess everyone looking at me did bring unnecessary attention.
Odysseus, Hali and I were all starring down at Chanel, it almost felt coordinated and we all were releasing a bit of pressure. She took a step back, unable to bear the heaviness of the mana and with trembling voice asked for our identities. That's when I had I brilliant idea to evade further involvement with her.
"We are from the branch family in Greece, I'm Dimitris Damocles, this is my sister Hali and this my boyfriend Odysseus."
Aaron didn't miss the beat and interjected directly.
"Yes! Brother Klaus sent Dimitris and his team on a mission! They came to hunt the Thunderbird!"
He really is a good brother.
"Aaron, you'll come with us. Let's leave. Yudher, don't forget your end of the deal."
Just like we came, we disappeared, avoiding all drama my team left in a wake of petals.
____________________
"What's wrong with that guy!? Father in law, why did you let him behave that way!"
"Believe it or not, Chanel, that was Klaus. And I didn't say a thing, because in less then 5 days, he saved all our lives twice."
"Then what's up with the lies!? Klaus never lies!"
"He did not lie, not once."
Silence befall the scene, heavy and disturbing.
_____________________
We didn't even spare a glance at downtown Yellowknife and went straight to the woods in Tin Can Hill in search of signs of the flying chicken. We didn't have any prior clue, but thinking about the habitat of eagles and the like we thought starting from higher places was a good beginning.
The sky was dark, covered in clouds. Thunder could be heard everywhere. A good sign.
We continued our walk, but no wild life could be spotted, we had started to get familiar with this situation.
"You don't think there will be more elves right?"
Aaron was clearly scared witless, the prior encounter had left a sense of powerlessness deep embedded in him.
"Odysseus do you have a spare grimoire?"
He didn't answer and just manifested a red book out of thin air. Getting my hands on the book I produced small lightning and begun writing down something on it, without burning the book but precisely writing down what I wanted.
Half an hour later, I gave the book to Aaron.
"What's this?"
"Your new grimoire, out some mana into it."
He did just that, and a message immediately appeared in front of him.
[mana breathing technique acquired: breath of life.]
"…"
I winked at him and signed for him to shut up. I didn't want to start things up now, there was a hunt waiting for us after all.
We continued our scouting, but no life form could be detected whatsoever and I was starting get restless.
This is not good.
"Odysseus, this silence…"
"I know, either this place is not compatible with wild life or there's a big predator we don't see."
Tension was growing palpable in the air and I could feel the electrostatic energy raging in the atmosphere. I took it as a sign of us being on the right track, but the level of energy I could feel was terrifying.
Thunder was rumbling violently.
There's too much energy.
"Aaron… maybe it's better for you to get back."
"No, I need to get stronger."
I exhaled deeply, this would have been a nuisance, but I also understood his desire. Strength is sure fire way to be safe.
"Very well, but as soon as you think you're in danger, run away."
No other words were exchanged.
With silence as our new companion, we continued our research and as soon as we reached the peak a terrifying presence descended on us.
SCREEEEECH
___________________
Back in Yellowknife.
The members of House Damocles had started their investigation. After being bound by the oath on the Styx, even if with trickery, they had to give it their all to find the temple of time and even help with the subjugation.
Klaus had already given them more then what they had bargained for. The creation of a circle, the core for Juna, saving their lives not once but twice; ever since he came back, they felt like a blessing from the heavens had descended on them.
In this new world, everything was dictated by the level of the skill you awakened after the advent of mana, but he shattered that preconception with ease.
He gave them a way to get stronger.
Sure, they had to divulge this method among the entire household, but they still had a huge headstart.
They only needed a mana breathing technique and an aura cultivation method and soon they'd be able to protect this world just like Klaus was doing so effortlessly.
They were even able to get information on the spell he used, how the circles worked and the importance of runes, so as of now, the research department of House Damocles was completely focused on the study of runes and the efficiency of geometry with mana.
While all the members of House Damocles were extremely happy with Klaus return, one member didn't share their opinion.
That bastard is only here to get their attention. He never cared for the family, he just wants to brag. And that stupid Aaron following him like a puppy!
Sarah's mind was clouded. She knew that everything Klaus had done brought benefits to them, but she couldn't accept that a dead man was back to ruin her perfect life after only one year.
From the moment he came back, everything had been about him.
His strength, his beauty, his brain.
Their son, their hope, their life saviour.
She didn't even bother to hide her displeasure, to the point even Yudher had reprimanded her, but this only fuelled her hatred towards her bastard brother.
She strayed from the main route, declaring she would investigate in her own, and that she did.
The street was barely populated, but she had heard the rumours about the temple being in the woods north of town, why they were wasting time here, was a mystery.
That's when she decided it was time to go into the forest and really bring the investigation up to speed.
Maybe if she was the one to find real clues, things would get back on the right path. She was the one to venerate, not even Aaron, the next patriarch could hold a candle to her. After all, her SSS skill Timezone, gave her the ability to stop time in a certain zone, giving her the chance to act unbothered.
Of course, as of now, she could barely use the skill for a fraction of a second, but with the new circle and when they found a breathing technique she'd be unstoppable.
What could that disgusting dog do? Not even Klaus could do anything against time.
A maniacal laughter sound from her throat, echoing in the forest as the calling of a devil.
So what if he was strong? What if he had unbelievable abilities? She didn't even care about the fact that he had saved her life. After all, he was stealing her spotlight.
Nobody could steal her spot. And he'd pay for his affront.
Oh how I hope he stays, at least I will kill him myself.
Slowly but surely, killing intent was building up into Sarah's core. A taboo for the Damocles.
To have Bloodlust as a Damocles, was a taboo. Not because they couldn't, but because that would bring doom to their house, at least that was what the House tradition said.
Unaware of her own doing, bloodlust was building up and at some point, a figure appeared before her.
A man bare chested with a white chiton was standing in a clearing.
"I was waiting for you, Sarah Damocles.
Our master was right, your heart is beautiful, just like you."
Embarrassed by the sudden compliments, but still relishing in it, Sarah didn't even question the man's intention or knowledge. She thought it was only natural for someone to know of her. After all, her actions as a hero were wide spread everywhere in Toronto.
She approached the redhead and noticed how he himself, was extremely beautiful.
"Well I must say, you aren't half bad yourself. Mr. Stranger."
Indirectly asking for his name, she was now extremely close to him, just an arm's width.
"Sarah, I know what you're looking for, but let me ask you something before."
"…"
"Do you wish to kill Dimitris, Odysseus and Hali?"
Her bloodlust started to rise again at the mere mention of the name. She didn't care how he knew them, she wanted them dead and she wanted it as soon as possible.
"Hahahaha, that's a nice reaction!"
"Who are you?"
The man didn't answer and instead gestured for her to follow him. Soon the clearing morphed into dense forest and after only a few meters, it appeared before her.
"Welcome to the Temple of Time, Sarah Damocles."
"Who are you?"
"I'm the man that will help you get what you want."
"…"
"My name is Basil, war bishop of the King of Titans."