Fate conquest

The air around Dimitris returned to normalcy, like he never exuded any threatening aura to begin with, but nobody relaxed.

Even I had grown tense. I of course knew Dimitris wouldn't kill unless it was for survivor, but the fact that a constellation had requested something of a demigod, was still somewhat shocking.

_____________________

-Dimitris' POV-

Entering the temple of the Sun, proved to be a much harder process than we initially thought, but eventually, Merlin and I managed to succeed.

"Hali's mother really is strange though… how can the mana around a person be so murky?"

"Dimitris, you are lucky the people around you are usually good natured or neural at least."

Why is he saying this now? Does the nature of a persons influence the mana around them?

He didn't say anything else and pushed me to continue walking down the nave of the temple reaching for the altar.

The temple itself was disgustingly opulent. Everything was golden plated and decorations were pushed together excessively.

To each their own I guess.

It didn't take long to cover the entire nave and once in front of the altar I raised another question to Merlin.

"What do we do now? How are we supposed to study the creation of a fate string?

"We wait for- ha, here they are."

As I turned to the direction he was pointing, three young women, all dressed with the same white tunic and their eyes covered with bandages, walked towards us. Their movements akin to floating moreso than walking and they reached us in just a couple of seconds.

Then, all three of them, started speaking at the same time.

"We are the fate singers, priestesses of the Shining Chariot, promised mediums of the sewing sisters. We heed your call, Dimitris Damocles."

The three of them then started singing, as their title suggested, they sung of everything that had happened to me from the moment I came to this world, but nothing before that and certainly, nothing after.

"The string of fate is in itself, the reason people live. Dimitris Damocles, you are fateless, yet your existence is granted."

The fuck are they spouting now? Can't they just tell me what to do?

I was starting to get annoyed. I understood they had some traditions to uphold, I knew it was impossible to just get what I wanted and leave, but couldn't they speed up the process?

"Uhm… sisters, can you… can you tell me how to circumvent this situation and maybe create a string of fate for myself?"

They started to mumble between themselves, as if chanting to some god, which was probably what they were doing, and stopped after a few seconds.

"Dimitris Damocles, you are fateless since you are without a string of fate, but you are fated."

"What?"

"A string of fate can't just be created because one wants to. The sewing sisters don't just grant someone a fate of their choice. It's decided by the world itself."

I felt a shiver run down my spine, I knew it wouldn't be something like: ask and you shall receive, but to not even be able to ask?.

While I was getting more and more restless by the second, Merlin seemed to not be surprised in the slightest. That irked me.

"You knew?"

"I mean, it's not so strange if you think about it, I just made the mistake of thinking you'd die without it, at the end of the day, everyone has a string of fate, even I."

The priestess nodded at his words.

"Your master is quite right Dimitris Damocles. But fear not, there's always a way."

I shut myself at their words. All these useless speeches, just to tell me that there was a way to achieve what I wanted at the end.

"However, there is a price to pay."

Of course.

As soon as the three priestesses announced that there was a condition to my request, the familiar screen of the Records showed a new quest for me.

A shining message issued an order from Apollo himself.

[quest: one of the shining chariot's son is held as a slave in the market. Save him from the wicked nobility.

Reward: the moirae will assist in the creation of your string of fate.]

"Fuck."

I knew it was normal.

I knew that people here were born with this concept well integrated in the society.

Even then, I still felt disgusted.

Slaves.

"I might as well flip everything over."

My voice maybe sounded a little more evil that I had accounted for and the fate singers shrudded.

"Please, don't destroy this sacred island, it still is the birthplace of the divine twins."

"Oh don't worry, it's also my sister's hometown, I could never."

But I will fuck up all the slaves merchants.

"Dimitris, literally nobody believes you. Neither do I."

"Lazy fucker."

___________________

Daphne rose from her chair at my statement, frustration evident in her eyes. Why would her father, ask for my help instead of hers? It didn't make sense.

"And what might have he asked of you?"

I chuckled at her attempt to hide her true feelings, she was clearly not an amateur, but in front of me? Those were useless tricks.

"Why the haste? Let's just eat like you so generously offered."

The gritting of her teeth became even more intense, but I happily sat between Odysseus and Merlin, carelessly chatting with Hali, not giving a fuck about the stares pointed at us.

I was reveling in their curiosity. And I was even more excited about what would have happened when I'd reveal the favour Apollo had asked of me.

"Now that supper is completed, let's move to my study to discuss my father's request. Alone."

Is she trying to intimidate me?

I looked a my companions who each had a different expression of their faces. Odysseus was calm, Merlin was giggling and Hali was conflicted.

"Sure, let's go alone."

Daphne's maids, although dying to know what I would say, didn't dare to object the queen's request and simply guided us towards her study.

A study clearly made for a merchant, not a queen.

This was fun, being in the lion's den, but holding the reigns of the lion was indeed entertaining.

"So? What is it?"

"Aren't you a seer? Just divine it."

"You know damn well I can't see your fate."

So amusing.

The cracking of her walls, the freedom of speech unbecoming of a queen. Everything was amusing.

"Daphne, before being a queen, you are a merchant right?"

She flinched at my question, she didn't expect me to understand her immediately.

"It's clear from this room in itself. You put a lot of attention into interest, what's popular and strategic routes. But let me ask you a question."

"…"

"What is it that you are selling?"

She froze on the spot. I was just asking what it was that she was selling that warranted Apollo to ask for my intervention. But I couldn't possibly know, could I?

"That is none of your business, you're but a commoner lucky enough to warrant a quest from my father."

I stood up at that point, I didn't care either way. In her eyes, she was probably even doing a good job.

"Daphne, fate really is a bitch."

I left the study with those words, I didn't explain shit to her, but if she was the smart merchant I thought she was, she might have already started acting. I summoned a few butterflies from the Paragon and ordered them to follow Daphne's movement.

After everything that happened with Sarah, my connection with the Paragon improved greatly and we were now able to, not communicate, but understand each other.

I only know about an unclaimed demigod, but I wasn't even given a name.

How was I supposed to navigate this issue? I couldn't just blatantly rush into the market and demand for all and every slave. I didn't have the money, but most importantly I wouldn't want to give them money.

And of course, Merlin can't help.

I absentmindedly walked out of the palace subconsciously directing to were Odysseus was waiting for me, in front of the temple.

Seeing him there made me think.

"Do we have slaves at home?"

He blinked surprised by my sudden inquiry, but eventually nodded.

"Well, everywhere you go you will find slaves… it's the natural consequence of war…"

Maybe noticing the flare in my eyes, or how angry I was getting, his voice started to lower eventually sounding like a whisper.

I looked at him straight in the eyes.

I knew it was logical from his point of view, that he wasn't at fault for something that was basically part of their culture, but maybe, deep down, I had hoped he was better.

And they have the guts to judge other species.

"I see."

I didn't say anything else and just blinked away, not waiting for him, not even acknowledging Hali stealthily following me. I didn't even go to the ship and just mixed myself in the crowd of the evening enjoying the market, but soon I noticed I was too flashy.

Hiding between houses I quickly undid my hair, changed to a regular chiton and sandals and finally went back after starting to use my own stealth.

Voices of life echoed everywhere, a cacophony of laughters and people enjoying drinking and eating down the street.

Then I noticed something odd.

The mana all around Delos was a chaotic blend of murky and pure mana.

I focused on the traces of the murky mana until I finally saw a young girl with a tattoo on the back of her hand.

That was the cause of this unsettling mana.

The mark of a slave.

I felt frustrated, I wanted to kidnap that girl at this exact moment. But I was also aware that my action would change nothing.

The little girl, was serving booze to a fat man, covered in jewels, clearly a merchant and clearly her owner since the moment she made even the slightest mistake, he rose his hand and was ready to slap the girl senseless.

Yet I couldn't act.

I witnessed free violence, without a reason. My blood was boiling, Archana threatened to erupt at any given moment and when the girl skimpered away, leaving the monster to enjoy his alcohol, I approached him.

"Good evening sir! May I ask you a question?"

I had never been able to mask my emotions, but since the beast itself wasn't exactly clearheaded, he didn't notice the murderous intent behind my smile.

"I am a mage from afar and in desperate need of assistance, if you know what I mean."

Why was I acting like I was looking for something dangerous? Clearly slavery was a free concept, but I wasn't looking for general slaves, I wanted something darker.

It was impossible for a quest issued by a constellation to be as simple as buying a slave in this day and age, so I made myself look like someone experimenting magic on humans.

The disgusting beast in front of me looked around before answering.

"If you're leaving soon, I can introduce you to the Nightmares. They have the best selection, but are a bit pricey. Nothing an esteemed mage like you can't afford though."

Even the name is trash.

"I would be most grateful."

Every cell of my body was screaming to beat this bastard up, but information was needed and although there could be plenty of possibilities in this god forsaken island, I couldn't miss the opportunity.

"On the other side of the island there's a little village. At the center of the village there's a big closed market. Just knock and ask what you need for."

Is this it? No password shits and the likes? Just go and ask?

"Ah but you won't be able to enter without an invite."

Of course.

"What should I do sir? I'm really in desperate need of assistance and I must leave in two days!"

"Hahaha, I see you are a man of culture yourself!"

He slipped of one of its rings with a strange effigy on it.

"This is enough for identification, but of course I can't give it to you for free…"

"Oh but you will."

[skill - negative answer: success]

"You're right, here you go!"

The monster didn't even notice something was wrong and just happily gave me the ring before continuing to laugh his ass off.

I excused myself and went were the little girl was hiding not far from her owner.

She was still trembling from the pain of the beating, but now she was scared of me.

She unwillingly spied on us an was terrified of my magic, I was even able to obtain something from that animal without giving up nothing.

As soon as I reached her, her trembling intensified.

"Shut up, don't say anything and come here."

Maybe out of habit, or because she was simply scared shitless of me, she complied and as soon as she was being covered by my frame I started to act.

"[garden of illusory flowers]"

A few beautiful but extremely powerful flowers bloomed at the little girl's feet healing her at unprecedented speed. She gasped in surprise, but I covered her mouth in a second. After another moment, she was completely healed and nodded her head.

She is smart.

I removed the spell and lowered my voice.

"Is that a spell, a skill or an artefact?"

I pointed to the hand that she was covering.

"It's a curse type skill sir."

"How do we break it?"

"I don't know sir…"

Fair enough.

"Do you want to be free?"

Her eyes quickly welled up with unshed tears.

Free, it was more like a far dream than a state she could wish to acquire and here I was offering such a thing without even knowing how to remove the skill.

"Let's try something."

I didn't have a clear method of removing the skill from the little girl that couldn't possibly be older than 8 years old, but that murky disgusting mana did give me an idea.

"Paragon."

A little white butterfly came out of my shadow, and like a guided missile jumped to the hand of the little girl.

She gasped at the sudden action and winced for the possible pain she was feeling. But she was strong, it did help that I had casted the garden once again just to be sure, and soon enough, what I was waiting for came to reality.

[the Paragon is growing hungrier.]