Crimes of transmigration

Hestia's fury against Circe was unparalleled. The way the elf so blatantly disrespected her domain was simply too much to bear.

[Why would you do such a thing? With your powers you'd never need to use such shameful deceit.]

Circe was barely holding onto her consciousness at this point and although the flames were completely harmless to me, the display the mildest goddess I knew was operating left me scared for my life.

Fuck. This is divine punishment? How the hell am I not dead with all the bullshit I've been spewing around?

"WHY WOULD I NOT WANT TO DISPOSE OF MEN IN THE MOST TERRIBLE WAYS? DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY DID TO MY DAUGHTERS? THEY RAPED THEM AND ONCE THEY HAD THEIR FUN THEY CUT THEIR EAR! WHAT SHOULD HAVE I DONE? GIVE MY DAUGHTERS TO THESE THREE PERVERTS?"

I understood how se felt.

I knew the horrors men were able to produce. How many politicians were involved in the traffic of young ladies as if they weren't even human in my old world. But this was the wrong way to go about this situation. You can't hold the entire human race accountable for the crimes of a few.

[you are so blinded by your rage you forgot what your race did to humans before. Or is it false that you used to sacrifice them to the World Tree?]

What the fucking bullshit did I just hear?!

I could understand elves instead of nymphs, it was more or less logical, both entities were extremely related to nature.

But a World Tree?

And this madness about human sacrifices to it?

I was pretty sure the World Tree was the symbol of life for antonomasia. Wouldn't putting more life into it put a strain or have some kind of poisoning effect? I needed to know, my curiosity got a firm grip on me and I waved at Merlin to make him approach me. As the half incubus got near me I asked immediately.

"Wouldn't sacrificing life to its own symbol poison or corrupt it?"

The room fell silent. Hestia's flame retreated and all the elves fell to the ground weeping.

Only Circe and Asmodeus were still standing and looking at me intently.

The fuck is wrong with them now?

"What's wrong now? I specifically called you so that I'd speak English."

Merlin was almost visibly upset. Pointing above my head, where a caduceus was shining without me noticing he just commented.

"Dimitris, you didn't speak at all. Your question was simply broadcasted directly into everyone's mind. This is Hermes' divine intervention."

That fucking stalker.

Everyone was looking at me, even the flames that continued dimming seemed to look at me, then before I could utter anything Circe appeared before me with a bloodlust so intense I knew I was about to die. The air was cracking, mana was rushing everywhere and I was having a hard time even breathing.

"ARE YOU SAYING WE POISONED OUR WORLD TREE WITH OUR OWN HANDS? HOW DARE YOU MORTAL?!"

This is it. I'm going to die because that fucking Hermes couldn't shut the fuck up.

My knees were trembling, my entire being felt real fear for the first time, but then a gentle breeze washed away all that oppression. Water rose from virtually nowhere enveloping me in a cold but reassuring shield.

The air outside my dome of protection was restless, countless blades were running wild hitting Circe from all angles and the lightning started to run from elf to elf. The sorceress tried to protect her kin but as soon as she tried shielding them, all the electricity concentrated into a single beam hitting her defenceless being.

When Circe begun to stand up again chains of water and ice appeared all around her incapacitating her every movement, but those weren't simple chains, electric shockwaves were constantly being released directly into her.

The dome protecting me dissolved and a furious Odysseus appeared before me. He didn't say anything, moved closer to me and locked me with his arms. I couldn't really say anything at this point. That man had quite literally just saved my life.

Sure Circe was extremely weakened because of Hestia's punishment, but I would have never imagined how strong this man was, and not only his spells, the bastard was strong. I couldn't really move.

Maybe a good body is required to maintain all that mana, nothing changed from my plans, but fuck. I am so disgusted with myself. How many spells is he using ? And here I was happy I am able to cast multiple spells at the same time.

While I was lost admiring Odysseus's prowess, and the man was resting his face on my neck Merlin decided it was time his own curiosity was satisfied.

"Dimitris, how do you know such a thing? You shouldn't have knowledge regarding the World Tree. It is a secret after all."

"Are you speaking Greek?"

"It seems you're becoming aware of the language, now answer my question, in Greek. Everyone needs to know."

"Merlin what the fuck are you even talking about? If I already knew why would I put my fucking life in jeopardy asking something I knew the importance of?"

"In Greek, this is also training."

This motherfuxking sorry excuse of an incubus.

I focused as much as I could to exert authority on my own trait and repeated everything.

Odysseus ears percked up when he listened to my voice cursing Merlin, but he stayed put and kept breathing on my neck.

This is bothering.

"Then how did you come to that conclusion?"

"Merlin, why the fuck are you insisting so much? I told you I don't know shit."

"Just answer."

"Okay okay! I thought of what was the World Tree in the first place, given the name I thought on our planet and nature. What is the predominant characteristic of our planet? Life; what is life part of? Nature. This is something Had… underworld daddy said to me, life and death are both part of the natural cycle of everything. We are born, we age and then we die."

"Sure, but how did you come to the conclusion that sacrificing life to the world tree would corrupt it?"

"Merlin are you stupid? For real? What happens when you give to much water to a plant?"

"It drowns…"

"See? You are not stupid. It's simply the natural cycle of events."

At that point everyone was listening to me with almost awe drawn in their faces. The elves were pulling their hair. Merlin was looking at me proudly, and Odysseus was still buried in my neck, but I was sure I saw his ears getting red.

[to think a human understood nature better then the elves in just a few moments upon realising the existence of the world tree]

"Wait? It isn't dead yet? Can it be restored?"

Why do I feel this way about a fucking tree?

I didn't know what was going on with me, but I knew I wanted to see it, to feel it. What would it be like? Would it feel like my dreams of those golden plains?

[Circe, you are undeserving. Give this child the branch immediately.]

"WHAT?! I'D RATHER DIE."

Odysseus waking up from whatever fantasies he was having, finally released me.

"Oh you will. You dared try and lay a finger on him. You have already signed your death sentence."

I don't really give a fuck about a branch, I just want my men back.

Maybe sensing that I was about to say something to go against him, Odysseus rapidly added:

"Of course, if you release our men AND give him the branch, we might think of letting you live."

Finally something I can agree with.

I needed to reinforce his statement to make it impossible for Circe to refuse, then I remembered what Odysseus did before. I took a step forward and grasped his hand.

Garden of illusory flowers.

The beautiful flowers bloomed around my Captain and I refilling him of all the mana he'd been using, but then I noticed how the spell didn't put a strain on me anymore, sure the area was reduced, but it was still a very powerful spell. Realising I could do more, I rapidly casted another spell.

Deadly nightshade poison.

Thorny path.

Blue thorns sprouted all around the elves on the ground.

"You're not the only one who can play dirty Circe. Those thorns are extremely poisonous to the touch. Release our men and I'll release yours."

"YOU BASTARD I KNEW YOU WERE AFTER MY DAUGHTERS!"

Looking at Odysseus I nodded and suddenly the chains holding Circe tightened with added electricity.

"I honestly don't give a fuck about your people Circe, nor about you. Give us what is rightfully ours. Or this beautiful captain of mine WILL end your life while I end theirs."

I could sense the brain rot going on inside Odysseus, but at least the man was talented enough to keep a poker face.

"Fine."

With a flick of her wrist, a white branch was levitating before me, hypnotic, magnetic and beautiful. I reached for the branch and as soon as I touched it, I could feel a sense of familiarity I didn't know I could feel. I felt like a loving mother was embracing me after a lifetime of loneliness, as if it was only natural that a mother would love her child. I felt accepted for my entire being, I felt released of expectations.

Everything I went through as Klaus Damocles was being cleansed by a branch. The love I never thought I deserved.

The acceptance I never believed I needed.

The mother I always loved.

My broken heart was mending, and I couldn't believe how easy it felt to be loved by a family.

Tears were flowing relentlessly, but a serene smile was painted on my face like never before. But then it all stopped, the branch stopped levitating, it just landed on my hand with a soft hum.

I didn't know what to do. I needed to know where it was, where this tree was and I needed to heal it. Looking around me, I didn't give a fuck about the astonished gazes everyone was giving me. I just grabbed Odysseus face.

"Where is it? Please, I need to know. Where is it?"

I was starting to have a panic attack.

The first time I felt truly loved. I needed it, I needed to let the tree know that I loved it too.

"Odysseus. Please."

Hugging me tightly Odysseus stayed silent for a bit, maybe praying to Athena to give me an answer, but Merlin answered before him.

"No one can tell you. Even if I tried I'd probably just die on the spot the moment I wish to tell you."

"After what happened with the sacrifices, the world tree stays hidden. You can only try and find it. I'm sorry Dimitris."

Feeling despair getting hold of me once again I tryied calming down.

Dimitris, you can still find it. It doesn't matter what everyone says, you just need to put the effort.

Focusing on my breathing and trying my best to keep up with my thoughts process I noticed poppies blooming all around me, the elves were praying.

"This is the first time the branch of the world tree reacted to someone in centuries. The last person known to have gotten a reaction from it was a daughter of the Mother in the rye, a demigod."

Circe explained while lowering herself to the ground in prayer as well.

"What will your next circle be child loved by nature?"

I didn't know why I answered. The woman was about to kill me a few minutes ago, but now she was kneeling before me as if I was some sort of saint so I felt it was just right to let her know.

"The salamander"

"Ahhh. You really must be the one. You truly understand nature."

Putting her chained hands on her forehead she extracted a red magic circle and sent it my way.

"Remember child, nature is perfect in its balance. Wood protects, but fire destroys. This spell is the perfect definition of fire"

[spell: fire lilies of destruction, is being recorded in your grimoire.]

[fire lilies of destruction: apprentice level spell of the fire and nature path of magic. Create n number of fire lilies depending on the mana used that explode on contact engulfing the target in flames.

Restriction: 2nd circle of fire, 3rd circle of nature or circle of nature, the salamander.]

I was astonished by the gift I received, this spell was exactly what I most needed now. A purely offensive spell.

"No need to thank me, I was extremely wrong and my sins will forever remain. Your men are freed and waiting for you in front of the palace. You may now do with me what you need to do.

Looking at Odysseus and Merlin for confirmation I then turned to Circe, about to set her free when Asmodeus appeared behind her.

She plunged her hand into Circe's torso, removed it holding her heart and then crushed it.

"You have splendidly fulfilled our contract, but my other contract stated she needed to die of a broken heart, and the normal approach was to long. Shall I pay my debt now?"