"You think he was summoned? Why do you say so?" Butler Fin had his eyebrows raised in surprise. For an entity like himself, there were a few things that could surprise him. It had been millions of years ago since he was last stunned. He had been amused a few times but that was it. However, this time there was nothing amusing about what he was hearing. If what the Brute King Ray saying wasn't mere speculation, then…
"There is someone in this world that dares to summon the unpredictable god of darkness." Ray spoke his thoughts out exactly, making the older god almost question whether the young battle god had stayed with him so long that he could…
"Finish your sentences? Yeah I can." Ray smirked triumphantly upon having correctly guessed what his mentor was thinking. Butler Fin smiled in amusement. For a moment both of them cast aside their temporary worries as they cast their minds back to the simpler times. Those times when it was just the two of them. That was after Ray and Alexis had decided on a temporary break with each seeking to temper themselves in other worlds. Ray wouldn't have survived most of his encounters were it not for the butler who always stood at his side. He had no idea why the older god took a liking to him, but he was glad that he did. The old man had saved his life when some of the members of Alexis' family had deemed him unworthy to be with her. Although Alexis herself and her actual family- her father and grandfather especially- regarded him highly, it didn't stop the others from coming after him. At that time he knew nothing of his heritage.
His mother was a mere 'mortal'. There was no way he would have ever considered that his father was anything but. It was the old butler who had protected him from them, and declared himself Ray's true guardian. Any attempt made against Ray was an act of war against the Old Butler Fin. Before that, Ray had no idea that the man who had basically raised him was so fierce. Apparently the old butler had some connection to his wife's family, highlighted by the fact that when Alexis met him for the first time she was very surprised to see him.
Initially Ray thought it was because the Old Butler looked relatively young. It was later upon encountering her family did he realise that their relationship was deeper than that. His wife's family didn't fear the old butler, but they respected him. And although Alexis had been reluctant to part with him, she was convinced when her grandfather declared with certainty, 'The boy's future is bright. His talent is no less than yours. You must allow him to grow fully.' Her father had also chipped in saying, 'He would definitely be one worthy of a duel with me. Let him be.' His progress had proven them right, with Ray going on to win twenty nine out of the fifty five duels he had with her father. It had been over ten years since he and her father had last dueled. He wondered how the powerful battle driven god was doing. It wasn't as if Ray's actual father had been silent. He had protected Ray from the shadows, fearing that his true wife would find out that he had cheated again and would kill the boy.
So he kept his distance to protect his son. Besides, his uncle was also around to watch over him, serving as his master and teaching him the art of wielding. Thinking about those times left him with mixed feelings. They were times he cherished the most. His story was encased in those times, available to only him and those who believed in him. It wasn't that he wanted to return to those times. Alexis was far away from him then, and his son wasn't even born. He just missed those times, but wanting to go back was a definite no. It was strange still. 'Why would he miss those trying times?' he wondered. It didn't make sense. It was Butler Fin who broke out of the reverie first.
"This is not good." The butler exclaimed worriedly. "Did you feel that just now?" he continued. "Yes", Ray nodded. He definitely felt the pulse that swept past him as he indulged in his daydream.
"Someone was probing us right now." Ray continued. "Indeed" Butler Fin averred. Ray shuddered at the thought. Someone who was able to trap two gods- one a battle god and the other an elder god- in a memory scape was no small character. No wonder he had found himself reminiscing about the old days all of a sudden. Those days were surely special. But it wasn't fondness that he held for those memories. It was appreciation. An acknowledgement of the things he had to go through to get where he was now. It was uncommon for him to be thinking about those days, let alone start wishing he was back there. Someone had trapped him in a memory scape. It wasn't an elaborate and flashy one, where you'd get to visit your past and watch it like a movie. This one was subtle. It crept up on them like how the light creeps up on one's shadow. Like an assassin stalking it's unware prey, so were they stalked. And the person was able to evade their senses! Evading his senses wasn't anything special. Anyone with a bit of knowledge on the Brute King knew that wasn't his strength. But to be able to bypass the ultimate security and test called Butler Fin, was more than impressive. Until just now, Ray would have called it impossible, for even other elder gods who specialized in the matters of the senses and possessed the 'sight beyond sight' could not perform such a feat. Let us put it this way: if there was a class grading and rating for such gods, Butler Fin would be among the prodigies. Those who constantly fought for the first place. Ray's friend and guardian was no slouch in this department. Yet someone had been able to break this seemingly unbreakable rampart.
"Fascinating. The culprit placed the spell on you Ray. And it was done without arousing your suspicion at all. This person is remarkable." Instead of being worried, Butler Fin was examining Ray whilst praising the intruder. Ray's eyebrows twitched at the god's words. This was typical of Butler Fin. When something happened that he couldn't change, instead of worrying about it, the elder god would rather marvel at his opponent's skills. Ray breathed a sigh of relief at this reaction though. For Butler Fin to act this way meant that he had some answers.
"So?" Ray questioned impatiently, not bothering to lay out a full statement to one of the people who knew him so well. Who knows, maybe the Butler, just like his wife Alexis, knew him way better than he knew himself.
"It definitely wasn't Seth. He is powerful, yes. That much is true and irrefutable. But he has no such skill. He is at the very most, almost on par with me, and that's saying something." Ray nodded at Butler Fin's words. Any passerby may have considered the butler's words a case of hubris, but only those who truly knew the elder god would know that it wasn't. As explained earlier, if the butler's specialty was likened to a class of grade students, he would be the first. If he dared declare himself second, no one would have the bravery to claim the crown of the king. Even saying that the dark god was almost on par with him was a stretch. Although Seth could shield himself from Butler Fin's senses, if the butler truly wanted to, he would find a way to pry anyway. It was unfortunate that the older god's responsibilities made it impossible for him to truly use his power. Doing so would cause more harm than good.
"Whoever did this is comparable to me at my peak. At least, that is my thought." Butler Fin calmly stated, as though his words weren't explosive enough. Ray felt a ringing in his head. Once Butler Fin had said this, it was likely probable. To think that there was also someone like that in this world was ludicrous. Unfortunately it seemed that this absurdity was the truth.