Returning to the village of Chrysapa took me nearly a day, though I wasn't in a hurry. Instead of heading straight into the village, I circled around it and made my way directly to the altar.
"Damocles," a familiar voice called out to me. Turning my head, I saw Diana, holding a basket of flowers.
"Diana. It's good to see you again," I said.
"You were going to walk right past me without even saying hello?" she asked with a smile, stepping closer.
"Forgive me. I meant to, after I completed my business with the nymph," I replied.
"So you did it?" she asked.
"Yes. The land is safe now," I said.
"I won't keep you then, but don't forget about me. You must be tired from the road. You can rest at my home it's peaceful there," she offered.
"I will. I promise," I said.
There was something so effortless about speaking with her, as if we had known each other for ages. Was this what they called a connection of souls? We had only met twice once in the garden, and once more when I said farewell. Maybe it was just her warmth. Or maybe it was her beauty… Or maybe I had simply fallen for her like a fool. It wasn't like me this made me all the more wary of her.
I reached the place where we had met the first time. It was empty. No one came to greet me. I stepped deeper into the woods, searching for any trace of her presence.
Suddenly, a butterfly flitted past my eyes. Then another. And another, until a whole swarm danced around me. It felt like the forest had awakened. The earth shifted and moved, and beneath my feet, a path emerged.
"Amazing," I murmured. How could one ever grow used to this? The world here changed with a mere thought. Everything felt unreal and there was only one explanation: magic.
I followed the path and soon stepped into a clearing blanketed in flowers. Each petal seemed like a fragment of a rainbow that had fallen from the sky. At the center stood a great tree so ancient it felt like time itself had taken root there. Its massive roots wove into a natural structure resembling a dwelling without windows, without doors. Just a tangle of roots forming a closed space.
I peered inside. She was already waiting for me.
"I've fulfilled my part. Tell me… can the mark be removed?" I asked, stepping forward.
"Is my company truly so dreadful that you're in such a hurry to leave?" she asked with a soft smile, moving closer. Her hands rested on my chestplate, then slid upward, brushing my neck.
"No, not at all," I said quietly. "I just don't want to lose my life… not yet."
"Then you may have chosen the wrong path," she replied. Her fingers slid along my neck, and I felt a faint prick once again. "There. It's done. Though… would you like to know what the mark really was?"
"What?" I asked, uncertain where she was going with this.
"The mark. It was only a symbol. An illusion, empowered by nature's magic. It would have faded on its own in a few weeks. And I couldn't have done anything to you if you hadn't returned," she said, her voice laced with amusement.
"You deceived me," I said, stunned. I had taken the threat too seriously and knew too little about nymphs. I was lucky things ended peacefully… but what if her intentions had been different? I should have been more cautious.
"Well, I did take a small advantage of your situation. But believe me I would've helped you either way," she said, stepping closer. "Still, a hero deserves more than a simple 'thank you,' doesn't he?"
She looked me in the eyes. Her gaze was warm, playful. Her fingers reached up to my helmet, slowly lifting it.
"You're not bad looking for a Spartan," she said with a teasing tone.
"Thanks," I replied, slightly thrown off. "I don't mean to be rude, but… what kind of reward were you talking about?"
"What, am I not beautiful enough? Or has your heart already been taken by another? That girl from the village Diana, was it?" There was a strange undertone in her voice I couldn't quite place.
"She is beautiful," I admitted. "And with her, I feel at peace. But… my heart is still my own."
"That's a shame. Let me offer you some advice for the future," she said, her voice soft but sly. "It's unwise to praise another woman while speaking with the one standing before you. Still, thank you for the compliment. A pity I didn't find a place in your soul."
"What?" I said, pieces of memory clicking into place. Something wasn't right. I realized then I had only ever seen Diana outside the village. Never inside. Not once.
"As I said my name is Diana," she said, and her features began to change. Her face shifted, reshaping into the likeness of the Diana I'd met in the garden. Then, just as quickly, it changed back.
"You are a cunning and deceitful woman," I said, struggling to hide my surprise.
"I prefer the term resourceful. I'm just a weak and helpless girl, after all I have to protect myself," she said with a sly smile.
She stepped closer. A faint smile played on her lips. Her fingers brushed my face and, rising lightly onto her toes, she kissed me.
"It's time to reward my hero," she whispered.
Her touch was gentle, but it carried the untamed power of the wild. Everything else faded away. My shield and spear fell to the ground. I embraced her, my hands sliding to her hips, pulling her close. Her body responded to mine, and from her lips escaped a soft moan.
"You're a very cunning woman," I breathed, and our lips met in a kiss full of sparks and desire. It was hard to resist her and to be honest, I didn't really want to. I was young, after all.
"Thank you," Diana whispered, breaking the kiss for just a moment before pressing her lips to mine again, this time with much more passion.
Suddenly, vines coiled around my body, gently pulling me down to the earth. For a split second, I tensed, ready to break free. The nymph seemed to read my doubts and met my gaze with one entirely free of threat.
The leaves draped over her vanished like living fabric, revealing a body so alluring it could've been sculpted by the gods themselves. Full breasts, a narrow waist, movements fluid and graceful like a stream in the morning forest. She leaned over me, her fingers gliding over the straps of my armor, easing them off, exposing the cruel scars beneath.
"You've been through a lot," she whispered, tracing the marks of past battles with her palm.
"You're not planning to kill me and drain all my life force, are you?" I asked with a touch of tension, recalling tales of how new nymphs were born.
"No," Diana replied softly. "I don't need food, sleep, or other human needs. But that doesn't mean I don't crave pleasure. Even a nymph yearns for closeness now and then. And you're going to help me with that."
Her hands moved with certainty. She reached down, took my cock with a breathy sigh, and guided me inside her.
"Ah..."
In that moment, I stopped being just an observer. The instinct to take her completely consumed me. I rolled her onto the grass, pressing against her no longer led, but leading, driven by lust and burning need.
After hours of passion, I lay on the soft grass, breathless. The nymph, still as mysterious as ever, rested against my shoulder, her hand slowly drifting across my chest. Despite my Spartan endurance, my body ached with a sweet kind of exhaustion.
"That was lovely," she whispered. "You know what I like most about Spartans? Your bodies. Built for war… and for love."
"I don't want to hear about your past lovers," I muttered.
"You may not believe me," she said gently, kissing a scar on my chest, "but you're only the second in all my years. And don't ask how many that is."
"So the reward was you? I won't complain. It was... pleasant," I chuckled. In truth, I had a duty to protect Sparta regardless. Still, it stung a little to realize that 'Diana' was just a nymph, and I'd walked into her trap.
"That wasn't a reward," she said mysteriously. "Call it a bonus."
"Then what was the reward?" I asked, lifting myself up on one elbow.
"Can't you feel it? Your body hums with power, filled from within. Your soul trembles, as if preparing to be reborn. I saw it the moment you arrived you're close to becoming a demigod."
"A demigod?" I repeated. I had hoped for it one day, but to hear there was a real chance it was inspiring.
"No mortal, no matter how strong, ascends on strength alone. They need a spark, a push. Sometimes it's the faith of others. Sometimes it's pain, fear, or love. You've absorbed a great amount of natural energy. It's not enough to become a god, but more than enough to rise above all other mortals," she said, locking eyes with me. "That's your reward."
"Why are you doing this?" I asked, searching her face.
"And what if I said I like you?" Diana replied with a soft smile.
"I won't ask why me but thank you," I whispered, pulling her close and kissing her.
"Don't die. You've realized the Raven's watching you for a reason, haven't you?" she said gently, but with a note of concern.
"Yes. I've realized," I murmured, staring up at the sky through the tangle of roots.
"Let's leave the dark thoughts behind," she said, climbing atop me. I let her take control this time, simply lying back and savoring the moment of peace.