Calder had handed me a folder filled to the brim with things I could trade the souls for.
But of course I didnt look inside it.
I looked at Calder and simply sipped my tea leisurely. Before placing it down and clasped my hands while leaning in a little.
"I dont want items." I said looking at him expectantly. His gaze became slightly awkward as his face showed confusion.
"I cannot offer you those sort of services I'm afraid. I have no body to give."
I suddenly realized he had misinterpreted what I meant as my cheeks flushed and I let out a sigh.
"No. I want information. The kind of thing only the reapers can know." I said as I calmed down a bit from my embarrassment and understanding dawned on him.
"Ahh. And what kind of information could possibly be worth 200 souls? hmm?" He asked as his brows furrowed and a slight glint filled his eyes.
I couldnt help but smile as I took a napkin and wrote two names on it. "I need info on the locations, histories, and possible weaknesses of these two." I said as I folded then slid the paper toward him.
Shocked he looked at the paper. But he didnt reach for it. (He just wanted info on two individuals? Who are these people?) Calder thought.
He slowly (almost nervously) reached for the paper.His hand shaking slightly in anticipation. After picking up the paper and reading off the first name his face was slightly relaxed. But the second his eyes landed on the second name his face blanched. It was like watching a jamaican experience -40 degree weather for the first time.
He solemnly placed down the paper and looked at me with a very dark and serious gaze. "The first one is something I can give. But the second is something beyond my time and knowledge. If you wish for info on "IT" you will need to meet with my supervisor. And I do not call them in lightly." He said his voice almost a whisper.
I suddenly heard a rumble go across the sky and Calders eyes widened slightly. "It appears my supervisor is already here." He said as he suddenly knelt and placed his fist on the ground with his head bowed low.
I suddenly heard clacking. The type of sound that high heels make on tile. The type that makes you cringe in your seat in slight fear of a teacher or principle about to scold you. I felt it. The crackle in the air. And it made me, a god, sweat ice water.
The scene suddenly morphed into a white tile office with a mahogany desk piled with documents. The floor was spotless white with black lines of mortar keeping the tiles down. The walls were painted with scenes both grotesque and beautiful. Features of living bonsai trees and sakura blossoms. And closely following were brutal bloody scenes of wars with guns, swords, bows, and the like. They lined the walls giving both a balanced, serene, and nerve wracking feeling.
I found myself sitting in a comfortable chair with my tea close by on a small side table. And across from me sat a woman who was just finding her seat in a similar chair. Her hair was platinum colored but her eyes were hidden by a long thin black cloth. A blind of sorts. Her figure was slim but seemed to exude a hidden power of it's own from where she sat. Her way of dress was a white flowing top with a long black skirt and red heels.
"You may go now Calder. I will take it from here." She said. Her voice was clear, concise, and pointed. Her teeth pristine and well kept.
Everything about her screamed order and prosperity.
Calder rose and vanished without a trace. I took a breath and continued to drink my tea.
The woman sat there for a moment before addressing me.
"You certainly are as August described you to be. Not afraid of a damn thing. Or at least acting like it." She said. Immediately I felt I liked her. ( Direct and Powerful. Understandable why she's a supervisor.)
I thought.
"I am where I am from hard work and diligence. Though I thank you for the compliment." She said with a slight smile.
I shrugged. "I figured you'd be able to read my mind. Though I must ask who is this August?"
She then fished out a file that was seemingly covered in scales with a flame emblem on it.
"He was the one who transferred you from your earth to Maharba. Though I believe that is mostly due to your own luck. He is one of the best of us." She said tapping at the folder reading through it.
"Your Karma has gone down a little but it would seem you are living life much better than previously. I would say congrats but I also know we are here for a different reason entirely." She said as the file snapped closed and turned into black mist dissipating throughout the room.
"So the planet is called Maharba. That is new info to me." I grunted as I finished my tea.
I placed down my cup and calmly thought for a second before speaking. "I believe no matter where one is persons are required to introduce themselves first before delving into any nitty gritty details yes?" I said as I placed my hands on the arms of my chair.
"Ah. Yes. A custom I am not fully accustomed to as of late. I am Persephone. The one and only. But my colleagues call me Percy." She said as she crossed her legs while comfortably leaning back in her chair with her fingers knit together.
"Hm. The goddess of death. Its an Honor. Truly. You were my mothers favorite goddess to study about." I said as my eyes lit up slightly. (So the reapers do report to a god. It never dawned on me that they would do so.) I thought as I relaxed a bit.
"As honored as I was to hear your mother's love for my mythology. Earth's version of my tale was quite skewed in some regards. Though I believe that to be a tale for another time. Now I hear you want information in exchange for the souls currently in your care." She said eyeing me up like a piece of meat.
"Indeed. I want information on the one known as Mother to the Cult on Maharba. And I want information on another individual." I said as I leaned forward slightly and whispered the name.
"Beholder."
Persephone's pupil dilated as a shocked look crossed her face.
Silence filled the room as a finger tapped her chin calmly thinking. After a time it almost seemed like I wasnt going to get an answer.
"How many souls are in your possession?" She asked.
"200 Solid. No more or less I guarantee." I said as I looked over and saw my tea had somehow refilled. Taking a slow drink from it I set the cup back down again. "And I will happily exchange all of them for information regarding these two." I said with a wave.
She nodded slowly before continuing. "I will take those souls as exchange for this but it may not be what you were hoping for." She said holding out her hand. I nodded as I held up my scroll. The light was nearly blinding as little white lights filled the air. Ghostly mist seemingly drifting off of each one as the floated lazily about.
Persephone didn't even count as she suddenly snapped her fingers and they vanished with a popping sound.
"The first one. Mother is an easy target for information. She was once known as Nox. The goddess of darkness. Unfortunately Millenia of existence led her to lose her mind. Horrible the things that happen in the dark. She decided that every world should feel like she did and went against the natural laws. She sank 9 world's into the darkest abyss. A black hole of her own making.
Infuriated at her actions the other gods fought her and killed her. Though darkness is not so easily killed. She shattered her soul into ten pieces and spread them across Maharba in an attempt to recoup her powers before we could stop her. From our information network over the years it would seem she's gained quite the following. You will find her shards at these locations." She said and suddenly a map filled my mind marking every location with a shard as an X.
"Now Beholder is much more tricky. His existence actually is much older than any god. But his story is well known. As every tale goes there was originally no world or universe before our existence. But that is false." She said as she got up and pushed a panel on the wall with peaceful paintings. The panel slipped out and revealed a very old looking book. Made of black material that oozed a dark mist that drifted coldly to the floor.
"The universe or multiverse was originally one thing. A single chaos dimension. Filled with creatures of immense power that could create or destroy at will. And among these creatures was one that stood at the apex. A great serpent or Wyrm. Apophis. The one mentioned in Egyptian myth. His size was extraordinary and his hunger limitless. No being could stand before him and survive.
That is until one of light was born. A being of pure power. Filled with starlight and the power of creation. His presence drove off or killed many of the creatures of the dark. And with every death came new life. A new universe filled with galaxies. As each universe was made, this beings power grew. Each new life granted him power and glory beyond compare. And he kept destroying and creating. Till only Apophis and himself remained.
Their powers were equal and their minds made up. Only one could survive. Origin as we call him was what we came to classify as a Titan. A being created from the chaos but refused it's embrace.
While Apophis also a Titan in his own right used chaos and embraced it fully.
And so they battled across the cosmos. Planets broke apart creating meteors raining on Apophis as he swallowed entire world's whole. Each conflict causing more destruction but at the same time creating beautiful life abundant. The two were seemingly at a forever stalemate. Till Origin resolved himself to do one thing. He took Apophis by the head and began to eat him. Apophis blood sprayed out across the cosmos. But as Origin bit and tore at Apophis so too did Apophis tear and bite at him.
And so the two destroyed each other. But not completely. Origins powerful blood collided with different worlds creating beings that came to be called the gods. Meanwhile the blood of Apophis ate whatever it came in contact with to create monsters and demons. Some portions became known as greater demons or demon gods.
Beholder is one such being. His weakness I believe you already know to some extent from this tale. He is known to say he serves a master. But one has never been recorded. The only thing that could be his master is Apophis or a shred of Apophis's will that remains within him."
Persephone said as she snapped her fingers making a cup of coffee appear before her. Her lips had dried from talking and obviously she was parched.
I nodded slowly as I absorbed this new information.
"So I'm basically going up against part of the father of monsters. Argh! Why does Aed not think to tell me these important facts!" I screamed in my head as I rubbed my temples.