Crimes of transmigration

With the ending of the makeshift funeral for my comrades, the time to get teleported to our point of access to the time fissure arrived.

Odysseus and the other immediately set sail for the island that now appeared before us while I retreated into his cabin to go through what I had acquired during this whole ordeal.

"Status"

[•Name: Dimitris

•Affiliation: Itaca

•Constellation: -

•Trait: Babel Tower

•Variable stats:

Strength - 3,6 -> 7

Constitution - 3,2 -> 6,6

Agility - 4 -> 6,3

Dexterity - 4,2 -> 6.5

Intelligence - 10 -> 12

Mana - 9.2 -> 12.5

General rank - F+

•Invariable stats:

Luck - 3

Willpower - 9,5

•Magic circle: 1st circle - circle of nature, the Dryad

•Skills:

-Negative Answer (F+, active, growing)

-Basic Spearmanship (E-, passive, growing)

•Grimoire:

Thorny path (1st c.), Minor blessing of growth (1st c.), Garden of the illusory flowers (2nd c.)]

It seemed my status changed when the new grimoire came into my possession…

I was still confused by the fact that there already was a grimoire inside me, but what could I do? Nothing.

It's a problem for future Dimitris. It's time to check on that spear Ares gave me.

Taking out the spear I noticed at sight how good the material was, and how badly abused this spear was, if you could even consider it a spear. More than a spear it resembled a long metal pipe.

"Oh you got a tube of celestial bronze as a reward? That's amazing Dim!"

Looking at Odysseus who was eyeing the "spear" with disdain, I was getting really sick of the lack of privacy.

Soon Dimitris, soon.

"It's supposed to be a spear from that warhead, I haven't received any rewards from the fragment."

"And you will not, Athena is spewing some nonsense about how the web from Arachne is more than enough. But now…"

Merlin, appearing out of thin air was joyfully holding a chess board.

Of all the games in my world…

"It's time to play! You promised! We should play as much as possible before starting our training in the island ahead! I also made this body to match you so we can grow together!!!"

Looking at the chessboard with open disgust I then locked eye contact Merlin before turning to leave.

"Play with Odysseus, he'll sure be thrilled to sacrifice paws for strategy."

I didn't have anything else to say to these bastards and made my way out.

"Hahahaha I guess he is still a little touchy about this whole thing, he'll understand, don't worry Ody. I'll explain the rules now!"

While Odysseus wished for nothing more than to refuse this man and run after Dimitris, he wasn't exactly bold enough to say no to his face.

"Sure, what's the game?"

"Chess! Athena will love it!"

________________________

Standing on the edge of the ship starring at the horizon I was lost in my thoughts. I liked that I had the knowledge on how to form a spirit formula elixir for my second circle, but although it was something I asked myself something was bugging me.

Will I make a fire circle with the salamander spirit formula?

I didn't really want to stray from the nature path of magic, considering nature was my only affinity as well, I was scared something bad would happen to me.

While I wanted to ask Merlin to dispel these doubts I most certainly didn't want to throw myself in the den of lions playing chess at the moment.

"Second commander."

Turning around I found a man reclaiming my attention all jittery.

"Eurylochus, what's up?"

"Second commander, I wouldn't want to impose but… is something wrong? Has the captain made some mistakes?"

"You are a smart kid Eurylochus, you must have understood there's something going on with me."

Eurylochus was visibly shaken, I didn't know what scared this man who was sopposed to be the second strongest here, but I decided to listen first.

"You… I'm not sure Second Commander… at first we thought you might have been possessed by something, seeing you cry for the first time was a huge shock back in Troy, but then again… you curse like him, you train like him and on the battlefield today you risked your life for us, just like him; so we thought the captain must have made a mistake."

It's unsettling how our personalities match so much, how this body's previous owner ended up with Odysseus will always be a mystery.

I didn't answer to Eurylochus, I just focused on the island ahead.

Could I survive if I left this crew once we reach the island? Where would I go after leaving this heard of battle maniacs? Surely I wouldn't be able to stay in Greece, maybe I could try reaching the Northern Europe to study runes some more?

"Second Commander?"

"How old are you Eurylochus?"

"What? Just like you, 23…"

We are so young…

"You should take my position Eurylochus. You're extremely strong, brave and honestly? I'm thinking of leaving to study magic with my master as soon as possible."

As those words let's my mouth, Eurylochus' eyes welled up with tears and the rest of the crew who clearly thought was hiding perfectly jumped out.

"YOU CANNOT ABANDON US SECOND COMMANDER!"

"WHATEVER THE CAPTAIN DID WE CAN FIX! YOU CAN'T LEAVE US!"

"IF YOU WANTED TO ABANDON US WHY DID YOU SAVE US IN THE FIRST PLACE?"

These ungrateful bastards were trying to guilt trip me into staying with them.

Wrong target.

"Enough. Don't you ever dare talk about your lives like that. If you have time to bother me you may as well go training so nobody needs to save your ass in the future."

"And one last thing, if this information comes to Odysseus' ear, I will personally see to your punishment."

Everyone but Eurylochus left hurriedly.

"Leave before I beat the living daylight out of you."

Finally alone I could focus on my future plans, most of which depended on what we'd find on that island.

Nightfall came and while I was eating what I thought was the last of our food supplies Merlin approached me.

"Damn that man really is build for strategy."

"You lost uh?"

"You can't judge a fish by his abilities to climb a tree!"

"Whoa, calm down dearest master. I know he is a monster when it comes to battle efficiency."

"Says the psycho saint."

Ignoring the jab from Merlin I took a more serious tone and finally asked what I needed to know.

"Will my 2nd circle be problematic? Won't it be a fire attribute one with the salamander?"

"This is what afflicted you so much?"

"Not only, just answer"

"No, you'll find out eventually, but the salamander IS a spirit of nature after all."

"Thanks. Now the most pressing question. Will we be able to leave this ship and go on our own journey?"

"I'm not sure, I'm not exactly a prophet per se. Shouldn't we stay? That bastard can protect us and even if I have knowledge I can't exactly protect you. I made this body to mirror your magic abilities so that I could stay, but I am still forbidden to take direct actions."

"So it comes down to my own abilities."

"So how should I nickname you? Dim you don't like, Daddy underworld vetoed your past last name."

"Can't you just call me Dimitris?"

"Why don't you call me Emery? It is my real name."

I never thought of that… does a nickname really hold importance?

"It is important. A name holds power and once you surpass the mortal realm people will forget it and only use your chosen name."

"How should I chose then? Create something from scratch?"

Merlin just nodded.

Taking some time to think of it I looked at the night sky.

"I don't even know why, but I feel a deep hatred for those constellation, it almost feels like they are my enemies. Yet you feel different? Care to explain?"

Merlin stayed silent for sometime. Then leaving a chuckle escape from his mouth he answered. Giving me only more questions.

"Your last name really suited you, but we can't have that. Why don't you steal a name then? Maybe you can overthrow them when you ascend?"

"No thank you. I don't want more unnecessary attention. Can we do it another time? We're almost arrived. I just want to train and see if there's a chance for us to leave this cursed ship."

"You're right about that."

________________________

Arriving near the island in the middle of the night might have been disadvantageous for most people, but darkness was an old friend of mine and I was confident in my ability to run away in front of danger, so I promptly volunteered to scout the island beforehand only to get shunned by most of the crew simultaneously.

"NO SECOND COMMANDER, YOU NEED TO REST PROPERLY, WE WILL LEAVE AT DAWN."

What's wrong with these chicks? Are they afraid I'll just run away?

Merlin noticed and interjected.

"Let them be, they are right in the fact that you should rest. Let's kick out that captain and go sleep."

"No, I'm not sharing a bed with nobody privately anymore."

Lying down on the hard wood I stubbornly closed my eyes.

"You can go and sleep with Odysseus if you want."

"Stubborn bastard."

With a snap of his fingers flowers bloomed and my consciousness drifted away only to wake up in the morning, on a bed, next to Odysseus.

Is fate against my free will? Does Merlin think I'm joking?

"I'm not sure at this point, you were hugging each other so sweetly I went back to Avalon."

"And yes, fate is against you, don't you remember you don't have one to begin with?"

"Fuck my life."

Pushing away Odysseus who was clearly awake I made my way out of the cabin only to be greeted be Eurylochus and Merlin in a deep conversation.

"You must convince the second commander! He can't abandon us!"

"Listen kid, I also wish for him to stay with you, but unless there's some kind of divine intervention that bounds his mortal body with someone, I can't do shit! As soon as he senses someone trying to meddle with his freedom he'll kill everyone and leave."

"But… how can we convince the constellations?!"

These bastards dare plot behind my back?

With quick steps I appeared behind Merlin.

"Care to explain? Master."

The air froze. Eurylochus paled and Merlin started to tremble.

"Hahahaha my dear disciple we were just talking about what can we find to eat on this island!"

"Oh? Surely me killing everyone wasn't for food right?"

"Fuck."

"Yes. Bend over, you need some spanking. With a sword. And what the fuck's this story about divine intervention to bind me to someone? Is that even possible?"

"Well, it shouldn't, but your condition is a little different. If some trickster decides to they can bind you to someone."

Merlin was looking up, was he sending a message?

Then it hit me. Trickster.

"Surely you jest. You can't possibly have authority on Him."

"I don't, but I can offer…"

"MERLIN DONT YOU DARE"

"A favour."

[the Trickster is sacrificing a large portion of possibility.]

"MERLIN I WILL KILL YOU WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"

"IT'S FOR YOUR OWN GOOD! HE IS A 9th CIRCLE MAGICIAN AND CAN PROTECT US."

"SINCE WHEN DO YOU CARE JUST GO BACK TO AVALON! MAKE HIM STOP."

"Can't do. Loki has already sacrificed possibility and now I'm in debt of a favour."

[The Trickster has been given authority to an absolute command. Failure to comply will result with death.]

[you are forbidden to leave Odysseus during the current quest for longer then a week.]

[The Trickster is shocked at your incredibly high possibility.]

"It seems you are not bound for life! Cheer on!"

"Might as well be you bastard! HOW DARE YOU? I CAN'T CHOOSE SHIT FOR MYSELF CAN I? LEAVE. NOW."

"It really is for the best… I'll be back once you've calmed down."

Merlin left, but everyone was still confused. And I was furious.

"ARE YOU HAPPY NOW? I'VE BEEN BOUND WITH YOUR CAPTAIN."

Leaving the joyful crowd behind me I stormed to Odysseus.

"GRANT ME AUTHORITY TO SCOUT THIS FUCKING ISLAND RIGHT NOW."

"Sure, but why are you angry?"

"SHUT UP! I'M ON DUTY NOW."

Nobody tried to stop me.

I couldn't leave anyway.

I swear Loki. I will kill you.