(TW: suggestive)

Odysseus shakes his head confused and went to help Polydeuces "we need to eat this now.." he gulps, Polydeuces takes a deep breath and nods "for nefeli...and for our friends..." with that...they swallowed the root "uuuuuuuuugh tastes like Eurylochus sandles..." Polydeuces groans "wait how do you know that...?" Odysseus raised an eyebrow.

At the palace, nefeli silently cries...she wanted to go home...she wanted her mom...she wanted her brothers back "Oh dear....don't cry....you are safe with me...we can take care of you..." circe gently pets her small crow head "you...belong here..." she hums.

Nefeli stared at her in disbelief 'maybe she is right...'

The sun slowly started to set...the palace was filled with an orange light, the nymphs were petting Nefeli, taking her out of the cage and feeding her grapes...she looked depressed and letted herself be handle by the kind women "see? We mean no harm...you can stay with us...you can be safe" the nymph said softly, Nefeli's body was still bounded "but...my mother is waiting..." she mumbles "you won't make it back with the pigs..." Nefeli was shushed which she just allowed, at this point losing her will to fight them "maybe...you are right..." she mumbles laying down on their lap. Circe watched the scene with a smile "it will take less than i thought..." she chuckles, but her mood soon shifted...the ithacans have arrived...

Polydeuces enters first, looking around for any signs of Nefeli. The witch frowns dismissing the nymphs, but as they tried to take Nefeli away, she struggles enough to break her bounds "Polydeuces!!!" She caws, but more vines wrapped around her again keeping her tightly pinned. Polydeuces frowns pointing axe but odysseus lowered his weapon...putting an act "Lady of the palace, sorry that I ask this but I hope that I've been misinformed..." Odysseus smiles walking in as if meaning peace "I sent out some scouts to take a look around through here and they wound up at your door through the years we seldom....Get a warm welcome, so...I must ask just to be sure...Did you do something to them?" He eyes Nefeli, who was being tightly held. Circe chuckles "who me? All i did was reveal their true forms..." she hums "you turned them into pigs..." Odysseus raised an eyebrow "and you turned my future wife into a bird!!!" Polydeuces pounts.

Circe frowns and scoffs "huh...i don't know who you are and why you are here....but let make this one thing clear...i have people to protect...nymphs i can't neglect...so i am not taking chances, dear" she frowns, her eyes glowing and a monster chimera emerging behind her...Nefeli screeches struggling "don't worry dear...your abusers will pay...if you make one wrong move, then you are done for...anything i don't approve, then you are done for...I could put a spell on you!! Then you are done for...boys you better run or soon you will be done for..." she frowns pridely, thinking mortals would never beat her "circe!! S-stop!! Please!!" Nefeli screeches only to be ignored

Odysseus smirks at the threats, Polydeuces scoffs with a chuckle "I don't mean to tip your scale but you will fail at Placing any spells on us...we just ate a flower, One that claims your power...So you better cower now and flee!!" Po smirks waving his axe around. Circe frowns in rage, the bold mortals in front of her were getting on her nerves...all of this for a poor innocent girl they took advantage on...or so she believes "You must be a liar....Mortals can't acquire....Moly without dire consequence..." she refused to belive them "Then we must be a Gods like you cause we got this root from the ground with our bare hands" he smirks proudly, Polydeuces raising an eyebrow "Hermes gave it to you, didn't he?" She huffs, Polydeuces nods "yeah pretty much..." he mumbles, odysseus sighs deeply unsheating his blade "Okay, fine, yes, but regardless...You and I are now evenly matched...Our fates are intertwined, they're attached!!" He aims his blade, so did Polydeuces "I've got people to protect, friends I can't neglect!! So now there is no turning back!!" They said at once as a cyclops formed behind odysseus and Polydeuces, both beasts fought against eachother as the two warriors changed at circe "You've made your one wrong move, now you're done for!!I will be the one to prove that you're done for!! Not even a spell saves you, cause you're done for!! Oh, you better run or soon you will be done for!!" The two cut through her attacks, kicking her to the ground...her beast was also defeated, Polydeuces aims his axe to her neck "You've lost....give her back..." he glares down at her.

Circe freezes and groans "My nymphs are like my daughters...I protect them at all costs....The last time we let strangers live, we faced a heavy loss ...You've given me no reason to bestow you with my trust but everyone's true colours are revealed in acts of lust..." she looks back at Nefeli for a second "you will soon see..." she hums "I'm not sure I follow..." Odysseus frowns. With a snap of her fingers...her robes disappear.

She slowly got up walking around them, Polydeuces tried his best not to look...blushing mess. Nefeli gulps as she stared 'Polydeuces...' she mumbles. The witch smirks seductively grabbing Polydeuces chin "There are other ways of persuasion~ There are other modes of control....There are other means of deceit...There are other roads to the soul~" she smirks getting closer to his neck, her hot breath steaming his side as her hands roam around his waist "hey! Unhand him woman!" Nefeli screeches, the vines slowly being burnt by her elecrtricity. Circe continued with odysseus, leaning her naked body close to his chest "There are other options of passion~ You both have so much left to learn....Want to save your men from the fire?Show me that you're willing to burn, whoa~" Odysseus sighs looking down "Oh, well, who's to say, with all the mistakes I've made..." he mumbles looking at Polydeuces, who frowns blushing a bit "That they will be the last mistakes we ever make?..There is so much power, so much power but there's no puppets here..." he mumbles as he looks away, odysseus on the other hand was cornered against a couch, nefeli frowns "odysseus!! Polydeuces!! Get your heads out of your ass!!" She screeches only to be silenced by circe "This is the price we pay for love...There is the line never enough...So much power, so much power ...But there's no puppets here" she raised a dagger over odysseus...only for him to push her away "I can't!!" He yells shaking his head, circe was taken back...seeing both men regect her. The witch watched Polydeuces run to Nefeli with a knife "stop!!" She frowns, only to see Po helping Nefeli free, hugging her small body gently "a-are you okay?!" He checks her for injures "i am okay my love" she smiles. Circe was wide eyes, odysseus walks to her with sad eyes, falling to his knees "Back at home, my wife awaits for me...She's my everything, my Penelope...and she's all my power, all my power but it's been 12 long years...Oh, 12 long years since I have seen my wife and now the God of Tides is out to end my life...So I beg you, Circe, grant us mercy and let us puppets leave" he bows down, Po and nefeli followed soon after "please...circe..." nefeli said lowly. The witch stared down at them, nefeli specificly, she sighs "Ah, Poseidon, eh?...There might be a way to evade him...There might be a way to get home though this other way's very dangerous...It might be your one final hope" she puts her robs back on "I know of a brilliant prophet...Problem is this prophet is dead...I can't get you home, but I'll get you to the Underworld instead..I'll release your men and your lover, and I'll get you to the Underworld instead~" she smirks, her eyes glew...Nefeli started coughing as she grow from a crow to a girl again, she coughs out black feathers "UUUUUGH!! WARN A WOMAN NEXT TIME!!" she groans only to be tackled by Polydeuces "NEEEEEE!!" He whines tearing up "there there.." she sighs and hugs him back. Odysseus shakes his head soon realizing "Wait, you're helping us?" He asked confused. Circe chuckles "There are many ways of persuasion...There are many modes of control...Maybe showing one act of kindness..Leads to kinder souls down the road" she smiles down at Nefeli "I remember actions of passion...I have been in love once before....Maybe one day, the world will need a puppeteer no more" she casted another spell as the pigs turned back to humans "sup guys" nefeli waves.

Circe gently took Nefeli's hands "my offer still stands...i now know the truth...but please...It's up to you.." she said gently "i am sorry...but i belong with them...with Po..." Nefeli smiles "but thank you for everything...even if you turned me into a crow and caged me" she chuckles "hope we get to cross paths again...for now maybe one day, the world will need a puppeteer more..." she smiles.

And with that, odysseus and the group got back to the ships "wait...weren't a group of 4?" Nefeli raised an eyebrow "one got drunk and fell off the roof...he is dead, i am sorry" Circe sighs "ugh...shit..." Nefeli sighs.

"We are ready..." Odysseus said from the ship...Circe nods...and casts the spell