“I will join you as well.”
My voice rang out, reaching Hector and Penthesilea, catching both of their attentions. They turned toward me, their eyes narrowing as they took in my appearance. Their expressions were a mixture of curiosity and suspicion as they assessed me from head to toe.
I had chosen my appearance carefully. My body was of average build, neither too imposing nor too slight. My face, handsome enough to be noticed but not so striking as to draw undue attention, was framed by simple armor—functional, but not ornate. I looked every bit the part of a wandering mercenary, a man with no particular allegiance or cause beyond his own survival. It was the perfect disguise.
I needed to fight alongside the Trojans without revealing my true identity as the Hero of Darkness. If word spread, it would only create unnecessary problems for Tenebria. Worse yet, it would draw the eyes of the Gods, and in this war, their attention was the last thing I needed.
“Who might you be?” Hector’s voice was calm, though there was an edge of curiosity. His gaze lingered on me, as if he sensed something wasn’t quite right.
The Amazon Queen, Penthesilea, was no less intrigued. Her eyes gleamed as she looked me over, as if assessing my potential.
“A mercenary,” I answered with a shrug, keeping my tone casual. “I’m here for money. The more useful I am, the more I’ll be paid, right?” I deliberately emphasized the greed, the desire for wealth. It was a lie, of course. I had no interest in gold. What I wanted was to test the strength of those I’d soon be fighting.
And more than that, I needed to confirm a suspicion—the possibility that my classmates might be here. Not that I cared for most of them, Sienna, Siara, Amelia, Courtney and Aisha. If they were here, I had to know.
Hector’s gaze sharpened. “Your name?” He asked.
“Heiron,” I replied smoothly, my voice steady.
“Where are you from?” Another question, this one probing deeper. His eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping into his tone. Maybe his instincts were telling him I wasn’t just a random mercenary.
“I have no country,” I said, my voice growing colder. “I travel wherever there’s work. Do you have a problem with that?” My tone was laced with annoyance, intentionally baiting them. The other warriors behind Hector bristled, their hands drifting toward their weapons.
One of them, a particularly rash young man, stepped forward, his sword drawn. “How dare you speak like that to Prince Hector?!”
Before he could finish his threat, I moved. In an instant, my hand shot out, grabbing his sword by the blade, the sharp edge biting into my palm. But I didn’t flinch. Instead, with a single twist of my wrist, I snapped the blade in half as if it were nothing more than brittle glass.
The man staggered back, his eyes wide with disbelief. “W-what?!”
Hector’s expression shifted, surprise flickering across his face, though he quickly masked it with calm professionalism. Penthesilea, on the other hand, seemed impressed, a sly smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
“I think I’ve made it clear I can hold my own,” I said, my voice even. “I’ll be more than capable of following you into battle, as will my companion. Unless, of course, you’d prefer not to have any help.”
“Companion?” Hector frowned, his gaze shifting behind me.
From the shadows, a figure stepped forward. She wore a mask that concealed her entire face, save for her eyes, which gleamed a dark, unsettling red. Her hair, a deep ocean blue, was tied back, the strands catching the light as she moved with silent grace. She stood closely behind me, her presence as quiet and dangerous as the night itself.
Penthesilea’s eyes narrowed, clearly intrigued by the mysterious figure. “And who might she be?”
“Her name is of no concern,” I replied, glancing back at the masked woman. “But she’s skilled enough to match any of your warriors.”
Penthesilea laughed, a sharp and amused sound, as she reached out her hand toward me. “You really have guts to speak like that, don’t you?”
But before she could touch me, her arm was caught midair.
My companion had stepped forward, her hand gripping Penthesilea’s arm firmly, her cold red eyes glaring at the Amazon Queen with an intensity that made the warriors around us freeze. Charybdis said nothing, but the warning was clear.
Penthesilea raised an eyebrow, impressed rather than intimidated. “Interesting. You’re quite strong, aren’t you?”
“Charys,” I called her name softly.
At my command, Charybdis released Penthesilea’s arm, letting it drop without a word. She was entirely capable of breaking it, and had I not spoken up, she likely would have. Charybdis was not one to tolerate anyone’s touch on me, and her strength rivaled that of the of certain gods.
I had found her and recruited her after the battle against Kastoria. I couldn’t bring Medea with me, as her appearance and reputation were too well-known, making her a liability. Instead, I had chosen Charybdis. While Medea was resourceful and cunning, Charybdis had raw power, surpassing even Medea in sheer strength.
It had taken considerable effort to tame her wild nature, but eventually, she had submitted to me, offering her loyalty and devotion.
Hector observed us quietly, a thoughtful look passing over his face before he nodded. “Fine. You will come with us. Get the horses ready!” he ordered his men. “We leave immediately.”
With the decision made, I motioned for Charybdis to follow me, and we slipped away from the camp, finding a secluded spot away from prying eyes.
Once we were alone, I cornered her against the wall of a nearby building, my hands reaching up to remove her mask. As it fell away, her face was revealed—breathtakingly beautiful, with features that could rival any of the great beauties of this world. But she wasn’t just another mortal woman. She was a goddess, and her power shone through in her crimson eyes.
Her expression was emotionless, a stark contrast to the intensity of her earlier actions. She stared at me, waiting, as if my words were law.
“You need to control your emotions, Charybdis,” I said, my hand brushing against her pale cheek.
“Hmn~” she let out a soft, almost involuntary moan at my touch, her cheeks flushing as her skin began to shift into a deep blue hue, the telltale sign of her transformation.
Without hesitation, I closed the distance between us, sealing her lips with mine in a deep, commanding kiss. Her body shuddered at the contact, her transformation slowing as I asserted control.
“Hmn~” Another soft sound escaped her lips, her resistance melting away.
My hand slid beneath her dress, fingers tracing her skin until they reached her breasts. I grasped them firmly, feeling her nipples harden under my palm as I massaged her.
“Once we reach Lyrnessus, you may eat whoever you wish,” I whispered, my voice low. “Is that fine?”
Her breath hitched, and she nodded eagerly. “Haa~ yes.”
Satisfied, I pulled back, watching as her red eyes gleamed with hunger.
She needed to get herself under control sometimes and only I could do it.