This was unfamiliar. Pain was familiar, screams were familiar, and the path was familiar…

Being free, that was unfamiliar in a strange way that, more than anything angered the man.

Being free should not feel strange. Feeling pain should not be normal, hearing screams should not feel normal… and yet, that was the world he lived in.

It had taken quite a while, patience, for the path assured him that this was really the method to achieve victory… not that he trusted the path.

The path was created by them, by the enemy… they were unaware that it was being used against them, but it was still a tool of their creation, and so not to be trusted wholly.

But the path could be utilized, as it was incapable of being compromised, at least currently, so the man trusted the path for now.

And the path claimed that to be free, he would need to endure, to accept that he was trapped, prisoner, if only for a certain period of time.

The first time he had interacted with the path, it had been about three months ago. He had been tortured and modified to the enemy’s will for six months before that even.

Nine months of this hell… well, nine and a half, but who cared about that last bit?

He had been patient, reminding himself of the strange act he had been put through every single day, making sure to not hint at his key to salvation, to keep himself looking incapable of escaping…

No longer, would he need to do as such.

The Doctor that had changed him was away, procuring parts to graft for the final Lord, who was looking to be the strongest of their number, at least in pure combat… The man disliked that title, Lord… though he was still counted amongst them.

Other than the Doctor, the Guard-dog would be busy, he was rarely called into action, and even then, it was usually with the assistance of two other Lords.

The Warlord was injured, hunting someone, someone referred to as ‘Sphinx’. The man knew that name, and so felt proud and happy at knowing the Warlord was injured.

And due to the injured Warlord, the Wise One would stay to heal the other, despite the Warlord’s fear of the Wise One possibly further modifying him, the two trusted each other.

As for the Young King, he was not considered fit to be anywhere other than his own chambers, as he was… lacking, compared to the other Lords.

And finally, the White Woman… the King of Lords… the stuff of the man’s nightmares… she was preoccupied with some other things involving the creation of the sixth and final Lord.

Yes… Odysseus would be free… be opened, doors to heaven.

“Khul ja Shem-shamayim.” Yes, he would be free.