With that confession, Kia stood. The human had family. Longed for his family. She hoped that would be enough for him to take care around hers. Looking between the other faes she sighed.

“Stop covering him like a baby. Little Flower, he’s your responsibility. Tell him the rules of the Veil. I will not interfere.” The woman wouldn’t help either. She’d watch over her sister. Her responsibility.

The wings that had been covering him disappeared as Kiara walked away. Rose sauntering after the elder, proud of the chaos she helped with. As the two spoke, Lyra placed a hand on Odysseus’s shoulder.

“Welcome, my friend, to the forest of the Veil.” She smiled reassuringly at him.

“Now that you are here, there are rules you must follow. I’ll show you the land, where you and your men may hunt, fish and gather.” She motioned for him to stand and follow. Her sisters followed behind them, allowing Lyra to explain.

“The land is vast, but once you hit the large field you must turn around. Humans may not set foot on the other side. You’ll see a ring of red mushrooms that act as a warning. Do not cross.” Thinking back to his men she looked at him apologetically.

“You have many men, but I’m afraid only three of you may be on this land at a time. You can bring two to help in your gathering.” She would do what she could to help.

“You may stay docked at our shore as long as you need. No harm will come to you or your men.” Looking back at her sisters they both nodded in agreement.

The sister stands. Odysseus's is half-expecting a strike to come tumbling down, but her words bring him to sigh from the relief. Finally gaining the favor of all three Nymphs. It gives him the confidence that he's been desperately needing after the Cyclops. Needing that reassurance that words do work. When you let down your guard...

The wings lift from their shielding, vanishing into the air as the two Nymphs leave him to his savior. The King can barely think of enough words in his language that can even begin to express his gratitude. One thing, this silver-tongue curses, and it was the moments where he should be saying SOMETHING that it fails over and over again.

Her hand brings him out of his thoughts. His own hand goes to cover hers, giving it a small squeeze in hopes that the gesture can at least say the things he isn't. Raising his head so his indebted eyes stare into hers. "Thank you." — Because that's all he CAN say. With all his heart. Flower's smile brings one across Odysseus's own.

Now that things have dissipated, it's time to get down to business. He stands tall when she beckons for him to follow. But they still weren't alone.

Odysseus pays as much attention to Flower's words as he does the noises that follow them. The rustling. He does not look back at the other two Nymphs, but that does not mean he cannot feel their eyes staring into the back of his skull.

"What? That's it? Just a ring of red mushrooms?" His brow piques upwards at his friend. A smile still on his lips despite the eyes on him. "I'll bring my most trusted men! I will tell them of your red mushrooms, your large field and rules, and they'll follow them. Easy!"

The Wind bristles past him. Blowing in his hair and cape. And there's a moment he swears that the faintest giggle brushes past the shell of his ear.

She didn’t like this. And even the human’s words sounded truthful. She walked up to her sister and took the basket. Lyra looked to be about to argue but Kiara then pressed their foreheads together. Lyra froze but then smiled and closed her eyes, leaning into the comforting gesture.

“You truly believe he is worthy of mercy and your help?” Kiara muttered.

“Yes. Not all humans are evil. Him and his men deserve a chance.”

With a resigned sigh Kiara stepped away from her sister and knelt in front of the human. Her eyes were cold as ice and just as sharp as she looked into his.

“You harm her in any way, I will be sure to end your life. Understand, Cara?” Rose snickered at the threat but the ice fae ignored her.

“I don’t know if you humans care of family or blood. But she is mine. And you only live because of her.”

The lone Nymph approaches her sister. Eyes do not follow, not for fear of what is to come, but to retain that character.

There were certain things you could do to make a character convincing. Even playing a role, in telling these small little lies, the trick was to still put SOME amount of truth into your words. Odysseus has two nymphs on his side. The two of three sisters. By his words alone. And he knows that no matter what, he needs the third. So if he has to slip out of character for even a second— it's his one chance of gaining Kia's favor.

They go back and forth once more. Before Kia drops right in front of him. The tired eyes have not gone away. The eyes of a soldier who has seen a long, bloody war. The eyes of a man whose light had gone out recently. Struggling so, so badly, and yet... And yet he had still chosen to greet the world with open arms.

The King's head bows. Not because he means to disrespect her, but to show how the weight of what he's gone through for the last eleven years is making it almost impossible to keep his head held high.

"I just want to go home to my son and wife." No character. No act. Odysseus's true, and inner self.

DIM LIGHT BEGAN TO REVEAL ITSELF, MODEST YET BURNING, a flame igniting like a beacon. In their darkest hours she came to them. In their darkest thoughts, she revealed herself. A being unlike any other, the firebird neared with fiery wings spread out behind like cascading fires, and a voice soft and child-like, yet unbelievably calming. When all hope was lost to someone she became their guide and right in that moment, it seemed Odysseus was in need of her light.

A monster? Oh no, anything but! men slain at the hands of greedy Gods, sacrificed so cruelly despite one’s judgement or error did not make for a monster, it made for a man. Odysseus was but a man, set with impossible tasks; Gods had rendered him to fail from the start, it was a cruel mission indeed. “ Odysseus —- “ Her voice so heavenly spoke. “ Odysseus, raise your head and do not fear… You are a man, I see no Monster here. ”

Even with the warmth, ODYSSEUS CANNOT BRING HIMSELF TO FEEL IT. Blocking the light that threatens to reveal itself through the cracks of his fingers, solely because he doesn't DESERVE to revel in it.

For the light had gone DARK so long ago. Taken from him. Killed from him. Over, and over, and over again. Polyphemus's curse fulfilled— THE LAST MAN TO DIE. So why didn't he? Why didn't he succumb to the lightning? The infection from his brothers' last stand? To the Sea? Was this truly the will of the Gods? Were the screams his price to pay for what he's done?

Whoever's here to help him has been met with a barrier. His hands balling into fists at his name. Bones from his fingers digging into his own eyes just to make everything DARKER. "You don't know what I'VE GONE THROUGH!" He loudly sobs. Screaming at her as if the Gods can still hear him. "You don't know what I'VE SACRIFICED!" He continues, unrelenting, hyperventilating. "Every comrade I long knew-" Continuing still. Still. Still. Growing weaker. "Every friend-" Fists shaking. Even weaker. He can hardly breathe.

I KILLED THEM.

Lyra hid her face behind the basket as she smiled. The human had used her name for him. Her sister couldn’t argue it. For all she knew, Lyra did possess the human’s name and just used a nickname.

The other two remained silent. Listening to the human’s plea. The short haired one leaned against a tree and looked to be contemplating it. The cold one did not look moved.

“Flower you are too kind. You took the name of a human because you pitied him. Why not just enslave him and take care of him as a pet?” She rubbed her head in annoyance. Lyra and Rose both made faces at that. Lyra’s wing pressing more into Odysseus protectively.

“But I do possess his name. Which means he’s my charge. And… and as such I have final say!” She huffed.

“He asks for mercy, Kia. I asked for mercy and it wasn’t given.” That was the final blow. The dark one stepped back and even Rose covered her mouth.

“Ya really feel that strong about this?” She stepped from her tree and stood on the other side of Odysseus, draping her wing over him as well.

“I stand with her.” She looked down at ‘Cara’ and smirked. “Call me Rose cause I got thorns.”

Kia looked between her sisters. A mix of emotions. Betrayal, rage, fear, confusion. She didn’t know what to do. It was her job to protect them. He was a threat!

You took the name of a human. Why not just enslave him?

There you are. Nymphs.

Nature deities. Dangerous encounters- mortals becoming dumbfounded and infatuated to the point of madness. Odysseus can only assume willingly handing over the power of your own name is what curses them with that madness. They're not mortal, no, but they are not quite Goddesses. And 'not quite' is all Odysseus needs.

Head still bowed, showing respect. Showing vulnerability of his own. Perhaps, even, to feed into this idea of 'a pet'. One who cannot move until told to. His savior's wing presses against him, tighter and tighter. It reminded him of Athena. Her wings over him, guiding him, taking in the man to make him into a Warrior. Even if she's left him... the notion still provides COMFORT.

I asked for mercy and it wasn't given.

Don't you know that pain you sow is pain you reap?

The words deeply rumble in his head. It was always about the consequences. The consequences of which the King pays for on behalf of other men. But then another Nymph joins at his side. Being the man, being the pet, he can only look at her with doe-like eyes. Just like with Flower.

Head finally turns to Kia. Looking at her with the eyes of his now. "I've taken nothing from you. I WON'T take anything from you. I have learned the consequences of stealing. Never again." A slight change in his eyes. Showing how tired he truly was. "Never again."

My favourite moment 😮‍💨

The black winged one hissed in rage. A human?! A human in their forest?

“Move, little flower.” They’d make this quick. Get their sister to safely and then get rid of him. But Lyra didn’t move. Her wings lowered so they could see him but she didn’t move from between them.

“Sisters. He’s just asking for food.” She clutched her basket and stared down Kiara the best she could.

“He hurt you! We heard you yell! Did you at least take his name?” As the two spoke, Rose made her way besides Lyra and looked down at the human. She twirled her blade in her hand. Curious but ready to attack.

“Cara. He is Cara.” Lyra placed a hand on the blade causing Rose to stop and move back. “And I really did trip. He didn’t hurt me.”

“You cannot just call him friend and use that as his name.” The fae was getting angry. Lyra moved so she was besides the human. Showing his bowed form. She draped a wing over him. The act sending a panic in her sister. Her delicate wing so close to danger.

“He speaks truth. He’s just a man trying to get home. Please listen.” He had plenty of opportunities to hurt her. Lyra understood that. And she understood he didn’t. He couldn’t be bad.

Kiara was unconvinced of this Cara’s good nature.

“Speak your name, human.” She demanded.

Move, little flower. Odysseus can feel his heart sinking to his stomach once more. Had he made the wrong decision? Was it a mistake, not killing the stranger outright so he could simply send the message to the others? Had he made a mistake, trusting his HUMANITY?

Polities...

The King quiets himself as he listens to the sisters bicker. They go back and forth. The stranger he had shown kindness to shows him that same kindness in return.

The stranger steps to his side. Odysseus was still on his hands and knees. He hadn't made the slightest movement since the other two arrived. Call it fear. Call it cautiousness. Whatever it takes to keep the calm. He shows no intention to take advantage of the vulnerability the creature shows him.

"My name is Charalambos. Cara- for short." Greek for glowing with joy.

"Eleven years I've been away from home. An island, far, far away. I fought in a war. A human war," Accentuating that humanity. Show them how frail humans are. How trivial their fights are. How little they compare. Play the character, Odysseus, King of Ithaca. "And now I am fighting my stomach day in and day out. But that does not mean I've come to raid your isle's resources. That's why I'm here. To beg for your kindness, for your MERCY. I ask for you to simply lead with your hearts. Pity us, so we can finally make it home. Please."