This was a lot of fun to write.
I really enjoyed this, a great birthday present to myself.
The next few days were kind of exhausting for Aaron, between searching for a cure for Thalia's tree and the barrier, he barely had time for anyone else. He also spent a lot of time scaring idiots that mistreated Tyson, the poor guy was the sweetest being he had ever met by far. Tantalus, who stayed asleep for a solid day due to Aaron's rage, did not tempt him by acting up. He knew better... Aaron had the power to send him away and the will to do so.
Dionysius proved to be smarter too, being nicer to everyone and even loudly declaring one dinner. "Ancient laws forbid me from healing Thalia's Tree, but my sons can help heal her tree..." He turned away, hesitation in his eyes. "My sons, your powers are greater than you know. You can help Aaron with his magic, his brand of magic, what he invokes, is similar to yours. Of my family, only Persephone's magic is nearly identical to my own."
Aaron's smile had been radiant, and it seemed to sway Dionysius ever so little. The man's aura seemed to blossom afterward, the prayers of the other kids as well as their offerings must have increased. That night, while Aaron was working in the Big House on his ritualistic spell work, the God appeared behind him,
"Thank you. " He said, his tone soft. "I never realized how much disdain I had developed here, from the kids and towards them. I may be a god, but I was once mortal and yet I forgot the pain that brings." He sighed, and Aaron realized his essence had shifted, the man's form changed too. He seemed less hungover and more... at peace, more middle aged and more cared for. "The breath of life from the prayers and offerings, it soothes me and reminds me that my woes are less severe than I make them out to be. I have the chance to raise my own children, a gift I never took into consideration... but is something I realized I almost lost. I was stunned to get their prayers and feel their change, they were grateful and proud, and never have been before... so thank you for that. "
Aaron nodded, pleased. "I am happy to help, and honestly that was part of why I said something to you before at least in part. Remember, you have kids and I could see, occasionally, their disdain toward you. You treat their friends, and their family, so poorly. I knew if I said anything toward you in that regard, you might turn me into a dolphin."
The god gave a miserable laugh. "I almost lost their love, and they might have even joined my Grandfather and that would have been all my fault. So again, thank you..." He turned to him, smiling. "I would be tempted to give you a grimoire, but without you being your patron I cannot part that knowledge. What I can do is this, when you channel the earth remember it is alive. Gaia holds sway over all of nature, but mostly the earth. That is the key to that magic, to that brand of power. Never forget that."
The god vanished, in a swirl of purple mist, leaving Aaron to his work, grateful for the advice given.
Advice he used the next day as he, Dionysius' twin sons, and a whole host of Saytrs and Nymphs all readied his ritual.
"Alright, we will be channeling pure nature energy, focusing it through song. Thankfully all of us are at least a little musically inclined. I will start the ritual, and you saytrs will empower me through your songs, lending strength to the spell. Castor and Pollux, I want you to do what you would do to strengthen plants as well as disease and pollution repulsion. Nymphs, you will invoke pure growth as you would for your tree, lending your potent divine lifeforce into the spell. " Slamming his staff into the ground, a purple light flooded the ground, causing the ash circle to glisten with potent power.
"How about two more?" Aaron jumped as two beautiful souls, Sally and Medusa, walked into the circle from the otherside. "Percy told us about your spell, we thought we'd help."
Nodding, pleased, he stretched out his arms. "Let's do this, and everyone remember... I am the focus, the anchor for this spell and remember, this will not cure the tree but temporarily stem the poison's damage and restore the barrier. The ash is made of quartz and rowan and laurels and some generously offered pine needles from some local nymphs." He smiled winningly at the nymphs behind him, who blushed a deep green.
Taking lead, Aaron did not utter a spell, instead, he sang it. His voice, a deep tenor, resonated across and down the hill. Magic, potent and powerful, shot up from the earth, ripping through him with unyielding force. His words, simplistic old Latin, made the air hum with power. Panpipes and choral voices of the sweet nymphs echoed around him, and the flow of power exploded as he raised his staff. He focused hard on thoughts of peace, of power and healing, of lovely water and warm sunshine! All things invoked by the sigils of his circle and the songs of the nature spirits.
"O Terra potens, exaudi preces nostras, infunde hanc arborem majestatis spirantis! Purga venenum, confirma vitam, amor ducat viam!"
Purple light exploded from his body before being drained into Thalia's tree. Her roots became visible, as the magic sank into her and rippled throughout the valley in one giant wave. Her needles turned green, the soil turned rich and the flow of poison halted... the barrier above them thickened into one near perfect dome.
It was then that Aaron's vision went funny. He saw something, like crossing his eyes, a second image in Thalia's tree... a girl, stunning with black hair and blue eyes, smiling at him warmly. She held out her hand and before he knew it, his essence leaked away and darkness overtook him...
And then he saw light and the girl once more. He felt her power, that of Zeus and he knew her name.
"Thalia... how the hell am I in your tree?"
She gaped, and he realized she looked way younger than she ought to be. "My tree?"
"Zeus turned you into a tree, to save you from Hades' wrath." He realized he was standing. "My spell, since I was it's anchor, it must have connected us to hold the spell in place."
Her eyes filled with storm clouds. "Spell, explain."
"It's a bit of a tale, but I will start from the beginning... I am a mortal and one day, while homeless, I was attacked by a monster."
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a joy to write.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.