Crimes of transmigration

It's been three days since Dimitris lost consciousness. Merlin says there's nothing to worry about and that he'd wake up on his own soon enough, but never saying when exactly.

The demoness Asmodeus, together with Merlin, has been casting some demonic spells I have no idea the use of on Dim and that bastard of his supposed master has forbidden me to intervene.

During these three days I've been allowed to visit him only during the nights, someshit about him absorbing nutrients from the sun and nature that required absolute peace that would be disturbed by my presence.

I can't go on like this. What if he never wakes up? I need to find a way.

"Eternal Owl, is there really no way to wake him up safely?"

[No mortal can meddle with the laws of nature.]

Fuck.

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-Dimitris' POV-

What was I to do? There was nothing around me, I was trapped in a white space with eternal light, but no horizon on sight.

With nothing to do, I tried casting my spells, uselessly. No mana seemed to exist in this world. But when I wished for my spear so that I could at least work out, it appeared. Not exactly my spear, but what it was supposed to be before all the use, when it was in pristine condition.

Getting my hand on the familiar yet unknown weapon I felt immediately calmer. I started my training.

Basics are always the most important thing when wielding a weapon.

10 stabs, 100, 200, 500… at some point my mind was getting foggy. My body moving on his own. The basics of spearmanship becoming engraved into my very being.

Get the weapon to be an extension of your will. Never let it go. This is our way.

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My father was impressed, but with the years of experience on his back, no emotion could be seen whatsoever. On the other hand, I, was extremely anxious.

Am I wrong?

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Releasing the breath I didn't know I was holding, I simply returned to my training. This is the only way.

The only way to survive, being a member of the House of Damocles.

Work out until you pass out.

Drink poison everyday to build up immunity.

Shoot until your hands are numb.

Run until your legs crumble.

And never let go of your weapon.

In a modern world, where firearms were the norm to protect oneself, I chose knives. Not even a dagger, but regular knives.

They can be found everywhere, are easy to hide on the body and make it easier to exploit weak points.

But when I told my family of my weapon of choice, for the first time I saw emotions on their face.

Pity and displeasure.

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Opening my eyes I found myself on the white expanse.

What a shitty dream. But at least they never lied. As soon as my cancer got diagnosed I was left to my own demise.

Such was my family.

I got up and saw how despite all that I thought of them, their teachings were too deep rooted in me.

I passed out holding the spear, damn. I must be a freak.

Looking at my now bloodied hands I was already thinking about what I should do next. To continue with the spear or work on my body, but since my hands were still able to move despite being bloodied, the answer was one and one alone.

There is only one way to survive.

Days turned into weeks, weeks in months. At a certain point I realised time was a useless concept here, so I just stopped taking it into account. When my body was to exhausted, but my brain was still functioning, I recuperated using the breathing of life technique; even if no mana could be absorbed whatsoever I felt rejuvenated the same.

After sometimes, where my blood was splattered, all kinds of flowers started blooming. That made me extremely happy.

The smell of flowers accompanied me in my training and as my brutal training continued the flowers transformed into a huge garden, then bushes formed and they bore fruit.

The same fruit Asmodeus advised me to eat to increase my mana sensitivity.

There is no mana here, but I was curious of the taste.

Biting into the strawberry-like fruit I felt the existence of energy all around me. Green mots of light appeared and soon rushed into me. It was intoxicating.

This… this is my mana?

It felt like I was finally complete once again, my mana was back and I knew it was mine, it was the dryad mana from my circle.

I immediately tried casting a thorny path spell, it worked.

Well this changes all my training.

It was time to master the [flowery disperse] spell and find ways to integrate it in my combat style.

The first time I tried the spell, my arm broke.

The pain was bearable, but the shock of being aware of how the spell could be dangerous to myself woke me up again.

I was complacent, my arrogance will kill me, I need to focus more.

Months passed again, the garden was now a forest and deep into the wood I was teleporting at high speeds while performing my dance with the spear. My strength didn't increase one bit, but my understanding of magic and my technique with the spear were soaring to the skies.

After what felt like years, one day, and enormous amount of mana was swirling inside the forest, as soon as I noticed, I made my way through the woods. My mana sensitivity was extremely high thanks to the fruits I've been eating, and flowery disperse was also a better movement spell I initially thought. With the right spatial awareness, I could basically teleport wherever my eyes could reach.

When I arrived at the center of the mana dissonance I saw a small sprout, completely white in color, but emitting power I didn't know could exist.

Is this the World Tree?

"No, I'm not."

"What the fuck?!"

I hadn't expected that, a talking plant that read my mind? Sure why not.

"No need to be weary of me, I'm not the World Tree, but a manifestation of its will."

"Of course, how can I help you little one?"

"Find me Dimitris, find my real body and heal me."

"You read my mind, you know I so desperately wish to find you myself, it's just… I don't know how to get out of here."

"I know Dimitris, I know you love me as much as I love you. Remember Dimitris Damocles: there is only one way to survive, but nature is not something you need to survive. Nature needs to be lived."

"That's easier said then done."

"I know you will be able to, now I'll send you back, but I must say. I'm impressed you were able to create a forest in just 3 days. Merlin will need a month in the future."

"3 days? What are you talking about? It felt like 3 years at least!"

No answer came from the sprout but a gush of mana burst inside me. Screaming at the top of my lungs from the pain, I didn't lose consciousness this time. I saw the sprout withering away and taking with him the forest that was born through my blood, I felt robbed of my hard work, but when the woods completely withered, they transformed in green light and rushed to me. That was the moment a pain I never thought humans can tolerate without dying exploded in me. My eyes wavered and my consciousness slipped once again.

Regaining control over my consciousness I found myself in some kind of flower bed. It was clearly night and Odysseus was laying beside me. Looking around myself I couldn't find anyone else, but then a flood of system notifications appeared before me.

[Awakeing of stigma: Will of Nature successfully completed.]

[You are loved by nature. All spells related to nature will increase efficiency]

[mana absorption rate increased.]

[creation of elven magic circuits successfully completed.]

[mana sensitivity rate increased.]

[runic demonic arm successfully created.]

[your understanding of runes fulfills the requirement for the use of the runic demonic arm.]

[casting time greatly reduced.]

[Skill: basic spearmanship (E-) -> intermediate spearmanship (D+)]

[your body went through ample evolutions please create your 2nd circle to break through the E rank.]

At this point I was honestly to shocked to function properly.

Elven circuits? Runic demonic arm? What the fuck has happened?

Lifting my left arm I noticed it was fully covered in strange tattoos, just like Asmodeus'.

Wait these really are runes. But how is all of this possible?

Coming back to reality I focused on Odysseus who was sleeping peacefully beside me. I did think the man was a light sleeper, but maybe he was simply stressed. I didn't blame him.

"Odysseus, wake up."

Gently stroking his hair and looking more attentively at him, I noticed how pretty he was, he felt so delicate, yet the strength he possesses is basically unmatched. He looked so pure, yet he could be extremely ruthless.

You really are a walking contradiction.

"Odysseus, I'm just going to leave you here alone if you don't wake up."

Grumping in his sleep he hugged me and buried his face into my chest. Considering his strength was fairly superior to mine, I was left with no choice.

I lifted him who at this point was clinging to me like a koala and made my way towards the ship.

The woods felt extremely familiar and I was able to navigate them freely, but as soon as I saw the ship, our ship, a smile bloomed on my face.

Flowery disperse.

Odysseus and I, once far into the woods appeared right before the ship. There seemed to be a camp on the island so I wasn't sure what to do.

Should I just go to the cabin?

"Second commander! You're finally awake…"

Eurylochus, with tears in his eyes was approaching me, but I stopped his tracks.

Almost whispering I inquired for a place to sleep pointing at Odysseus that was still in my arms. Eurylochus just told me to go to the cabin and that he'd explain the others, so that we could rest untill morning.

Although I wasn't tired at all I couldn't exactly free myself, so with a couple of blinks we reached our cabin and finally laid down.

How could this man, that used to wake up just by my breathing changing endure all this, was a mystery to me, and then it hit me.

No, it can't be.

"Odysseus. I swear if you're fake sleeping just to cling to me, I will cut your arms."

"Can you blame me? You suddenly pass out, stay into the forest for 3 days when by the way I was forbid to visit during daytime because your master and that demon said you needed sunlight without interruption. And when you finally wake up, instead of rushing out to understand the situation you call my name and stroke my hair. Of course I'd want to cling to you!"

"You bastard! I get you want an hug but you could have saved me the hussle for fuck sake! It's not like I was having fun either."

Why do I feel so relieved though? Did I really miss this bastards games? I mean… it did feel like 3 years to me.

"I don't just want an hug Dimitris, I… you scared me. I thought you'd never wake up. You… forget it. Thank goodness you're okay now, that's all that matters."

He was clearly upset, knowing well I didn't reciprocate his feelings, he still cared deeply for me and made enormous efforts.

Would you feel the same knowing the truth?

Leaving my useless thoughts aside, I decided it was only right to indulge in this man, and maybe a little bit for myself.

"Odysseus, I don't really know what happened, but! I understand the feelings you might have experienced. I'm sorry. Come here."

Patting on my chest and then opening my arms, I waited for the inevitable train wreck on his way to approach me.

Odysseus' speed almost matched my teleportations, afraid I would change my mind he pushed himself on me breathing my scent in deeply.

"Don't I smell badly? I was unconscious for sometime wasn't I?"

"Surely you jest?"

"What are you talking about? How could I not smell?"

"Dimitris I swear if I didn't know better I would have already started… never mind. You do smell, like flowers."

Blush crept on both of our faces, we knew exactly what he really wanted to say.

Pushing his face into my chest once again I dismissed everything.

"Shut up and sleep, there's still much to do before leaving this island."