Yunan blinked and found himself back to the moment he closed his eyes, no time has passed since then and the rest did not seem to feel anything wrong, except for the scythe disappearing, nothing seemed out of order, Yunan knew there was no possibility to continue the conversation with Death so he did not say anything at all, although Yunan did not seem to give an answer it was enough for Death. The one who broke the silence was unexpectedly Theresa. She looked Death in the eye and asked with fortitude "when?".
"Tonight, an hour before dawn, in your sleep, you won't feel anything". Death was very diplomatic, it seemed to Yunan that his talk with Death was not just a talk, after all he would not have come during day time if Mother's time was at next dawn, so he stood up and said to Death "feel free to stay or leave, i have some precious time to spend with my mother, excuse us please". Not only Yunan stood up and went to escort Theresa, his wives and friends also stood up, only Hephaestus was left with Death at the table.
Hephaestus did not mind being alone with Death and started filling his stomach by the delicious meals spread on the table, he watched as Death sat there before saying "even if you no longer enjoy taste and flavours, you should try this, they keep surprising me every time I pass by". Death did not say anything before picking up a toxic lotus fruit and munching on it, he tried the accompanying wine and seemed pleased with it. He then looked at Hephaestus and asked "what do you see in him?".
Hephaestus did not stop stuffing his mouth as he responded "the same things you do, unfettered, unblinded, open and most of all accepting, he is already more capable than both of us in regard to that matter, i find that watching him paving his own path where no path can be paved is very entertaining, do you think if he was special he would be able to house so many divinities, befriend the ascended and just make his own way in life without a care?"
"I find it disturbing how ordinary he is, fluke after fluke after fluke, this timeline should not have been possible, there is no destiny in this timeline, the ones who had destiny have already failed to grasp it, now that non are left, he is challenging fate itself, warping it by simply living in his own way, this is why the higher-ups are getting antsy. He is not creating his own destiny he is creating his own fate, it should not have happened, and now, he has creation running in his blood, i fear for what is to come".
Hephaestus just shrugged the ominous words like it was nothing "that is what makes it fun, it has been too long since fate was subjected to a force it could not overpower, i find that interesting to follow on, and i have every intention to watch this story play out from a front row seat". "The higher-ups might revoke your creator nomination if you keep speaking like that". "If things keep following the current path, maybe i won't need it, remember, i have a front row seat, i might even get sprayed by the splash".
Death rolled his eyes at Hephaestus, it was of no consequence to him, he was older than the higher-ups and fate itself was born after he did, nothing in this universe would overpower him, not even this upjumped pipsqueak who is making everyone nervous, they can only turn to him to fix this if things went too far to be redeemed, as for if this kid wanted to take over his domain it wasn't too bad to have a rival, after all no being could possibly control all aspects to perfection.
"Do you think he will have a grudge against me?". "No, you can come by for a day off from your job once in a while, these kids aren't the usual kind, i bet you might even start to experience some of those long forgotten emotions, after all Death is the subject of the most emotional energy in all of existence". "Maybe i will, those bunch of dimwits under me are too useless, maybe a few days without me will help with that, call me next time there is a feast ". With that Death left with the jar of toxic wine and the bowl of toxic lotus fruits, Hephaestus chuckled to himself before he too stopped eating and went to the back garden where the family was having their last day with mother Theresa. He too will miss that woman, she was after all the first ordinary woman to treat him as an equal knowing that he was a god.
Elsewhere in a place beyond space and time, a group of elderly being sat watching a small planet orbiting its sun, behind them Death was munching on his fruits with complete disregard to the holiness and sanctity this council was giving off. The elders were discussing the same matter that Death and Hephaestus were talking about.
"Shall we cut the strings of his fate and let this end before it grows any further?", "i fear he will create new strings as we cut them, my eyes can not see his future, it is all clouded, even those who are beside him are becoming as unpredictable as he is", "we must not interfere, yet we must protect fate, any move we make may be recognised as breaking the old oath". "Why not let Death handle it? He is not bound by anything", "no, Death is the bane of fate, he must not be allowed to interfere", " then must we sit and watch as he brings about our end". "We aren't in danger yet, we may never be in danger, we must bide our time, if we break the oath too soon, we will lose it all". Death snickered behind them as he took a swig from the wine jar "this is some good stuff".