- Elijah -
Elijah was in awe at the inside of the palace. It was many times the size of the vampiric castle.
Ra stopped talking to Death and walked up to Elijah.
Elijah had expected this. The guide mentioned many times that Ra found great interest in reborn. He started preparing what to say in his head.
["I see you're impressed with my home little lesser. I hope you don't feel too intimidated."]
Elijah waited until the translator spoke before responding.
"He said he notices how impressed you are and hopes you don't feel intimidated."
"Thank you for the hospitality lord Ra." Elijah kept eye contact with Ra.
The man next to Ra translated, causing Ra to make a booming laugh.
["I need no thanks for something so basic. Don't fear casual speak with me. A friend of Death's is a friend of mine. I'm not prone to acts of wrath like the Olympians."]
Elijah held in his shocked expression at Ra's laughter. It was intimidating enough that the man stood almost a full foot taller, but his description in the guide added more pressure.
"He says you're okay to speak casually because of your relationship with Death. He isn't like the Olympians." The translator said in a monotone voice.
"Of course." Elijah nodded. "I had some of your beer from Death. It was beyond anything I've ever had in the human world."
One key thing the guide mentioned was to compliment Ra's products if possible, whether it was beer or jewelry.
The translator looked annoyed at the comment. He translated to Ra who exploded with laughter, causing Elijah to flinch.
["Only translate part of what I'm about to say Jack. I see Lucifer has taught you well. I should hope he can be as mindful as he trains you lessers to be. I do appreciate the compliment though."]
Jack only translated the last part.
Elijah could tell far more was said, but wouldn't dare question the translator. Another tip in the guide was that Ra might hide some of his words.
Peter was nonchalantly looking over at Ra. His eyes showed a clear distaste for what was said.
Ra walked away from Elijah and back to Death, leaving Elijah to make a sigh of relief.
'I can't believe you and Death share a rank. The air around you two is nothing alike.'
- Lucifer and Heinrich -
Death and Ra were chatting as Heinrich slowly approached Lucifer. He was hesitant to talk to Lucifer while Anubis was around. The two had barely spoken, which only served to worry Heinrich more.
"Yes, Heinrich?" Lucifer asked without turning around.
"It can wait," Heinrich mumbled out, his eyes darting from Anubis back to the ground.
["Can you give us a moment? He means no offense by it."] Lucifer asked Anubis.
Anubis just grunted and walked ahead. Lucifer motioned Heinrich closer.
"Speak, you know how I feel about secrets."
Heinrich kept his voice as quiet as he could.
"I want to ask Osiris to measure my balance."
'Why the fuck would you want that?' Lucifer's mind filled with things he wanted to say but didn't 'Are you serious? Heinrich I understand you're confidence is at an all-time low, but please don't suggest something so foolish.'
These thoughts and many more ran through Lucifer's mind. They were pointless though, because he had his answer immediately and only wanted to pretend like he had thought it over first.
"No." He said sharply.
Heinrich look defeated at the answer. Part of him wanted to argue, the other part was smarter. He simply nodded his head and walked back to the others.
'I should've expected as much.' Heinrich felt defeated. 'Maybe on our way back through, I can convince him? I shouldn't be in a rush to make things more difficult for us.'
Lucifer was still thinking about Heinrich's question.
'I really hope Osiris isn't at the banquet. We don't need another complication.'
["Problem?"] Anubis had walked back over once Heinrich left.
["What are the chances Osiris will be at this banquet?"] Lucifer asked.
Anubis sighed.
["You know him, he never misses these things. Especially with Death being here."]
"Great," Lucifer said.
- Sabu and Peter -
"Anything of note?" Sabu asked Peter.
"Just the usual. If ya want to learn, Luce can teach ya." Peter answered.
"I don't want to spend my time on such things. I'm still green enough with wind magic and other aspects of this world. I don't even have a contract." Sabu whispered the last part.
Peter was often turned to by the other members to translate things when Lucifer was busy. The non-human language was incredibly difficult to learn for a multitude of reasons, one of the main ones being it took mana to speak.
"Ya will get a contract some day when Satan stops bein' himself long enough to let a demon give another one to our team." Peter made sure to be quiet.
Peter shook his head and scratched his neck. These were nervous ticks he hadn't bothered to hide anymore.
'I wonder what Satan's doin' durin' all this? It's either nothin' or somethin' he shouldn't be.'
Sabu noticed Peter's nervousness. He wanted to ask what he should do about Heinrich.
"If Heinrich wanted to speak to a certain someone about his actions, what would you say to dissuade him?"
Peter closed his eyes and sighed.
'For fucks sake Heinrich.'
"I would tell him that such a thing is reckless. If he truly wants to know he should wait until we're not on a mission. Most importantly, I would tell him that Luce is never going to agree to such a stupid fuckin' idea." Peter whispered the last three words.
"Don't worry about it. He'll ask Luce, who will say no, and then he'll drop it. I'm sure he plans to bring it back up once this mission is over, but we can cross that bridge when we come to it."
Sabu often found Peter strange. The way he spoke to and about Lucifer always seemed off. He seemed to know Lucifer better than even Death.
"Thank you. I wish I could have explained that to him as well as you or Lucifer."
- Yvere and Lao -
"You ready for some Apep tail?" Yvere joked.
"As long as you're ready for your pint of husk's blood."
The two went back and forth joking about how disgusting the other's meal was going to be. They had often found comfort in making fun of the other and were grateful for the peace they currently had. It didn't stop their thoughts though.
'I'm sure after Azriel's attack we can handle anything else that comes our way, and yet I feel like the universe is out to get us.' Yvere thought.
'Dmitri is going to be furious when he learns what's happened on this mission. He's going to argue with me to quit this line of work again.' Lao fretted.
The two smiled and continued their ribbing.
"I just hope you don't hurt your weak human teeth biting the meat."
'I don't want to experience the "Healer's curse." '
"I have three times your experience dealing with disgusting meals." Lao sounded confident. "I'll be fine. I just hope you've developed a taste for fetid flesh."
'If I don't agree with him I might lose him. Can't say I would blame him. I'm happy that he isn't part of this team.'
The two could feel their doubts slowly creeping onto their expressions and decided it would be best if they ended the conversation.
"No point talking about it anymore. We'll see who's got the stronger stomach soon." Yvere said.
"Agreed." Lao grinned.
- The group -
Ra led the group to a gigantic banquet hall that was covered in large banners and tapestries. The banners had various Egyptian gods on it, while the tapestries had depictions of Ra firing a beam through an army of armored soldiers. There was a large round table in the center with golden seats all around it.
["Is Bes around? I meant to thank him as well."] Death asked.
["He's busy with various tasks."] Ra answered. ["I asked him to join, but he said he would rather say hello on your return trip. He means no offense friend."]
["None taken."] Death waved his hand. ["If he wasn't so diligent I'm sure his creations wouldn't be as amazing."]
Ra laughed and slapped Death on the back hard.
'One of these days you or Lucius are going to break my spine.'
Death took a seat at the left most point of the table while Ra took the top, Anubis the right, and Lucifer the bottom. The rest of the group sat in-between Death and Lucifer. The order from Death's right was Lao, Yvere, Sabu, Heinrich, Peter, and Elijah.
The translator stood behind Ra, asking to just stand for now.
["I assume we're waiting for some guests."] Death asked.
["You know how the underworld gods can be. I know they wouldn't miss your presence for anything."] Ra said.
Anubis looked displeased by Ra's statement. Lucifer noticed and thought it was strange.
'Since when do you show that look in front of Ra? Has something happened recently?'
Lucifer had felt paranoid ever since Mira's betrayal. Things he might not give much thought to suddenly prodded his mind with questions. He was careful not to show his thoughts on his face, which for everyone except Peter, worked.
Peter couldn't help keeping an eye on Lucifer. Almost losing him back in Sol had caused him to be more conscious of Lucifer's actions.
'Whatever you're thinkin' about can't be good.'
Yvere whispered to Death.
["It would seem my friends here have made a bet with one another. If you have any husk's blood and Apep tail they would like to test their stomachs."] Death told Ra.
["I find the games of these lessers so entertaining."] Ra tilted his head to Jack. ["Please gather some husk's blood and Apep tail for the two sitting next to Death."]
["Right away my lord."] Jack said before leaving.
The group was eventually joined by four others.
["Everyone's here now. Thoth, Nephthys, Osiris, Ma'at, we have a new member of Lucifer's little group."]
Ma'at had a similar build to Nephthys, with Thoth's size being similar to Anubis and Ra. Among the four Osiris stood out. Other than Osiris they all had a lighter skin tone, dark brown eyes, and slim bodies.
Ma'at resembled Nephthys closely enough to look like her sister. She was even wearing the same type of dress. She spoke first among the four.
"Good to meet you newly-reborn." She smiled.
"It's nice meeting all of you. I must admit that I feel out of place." Elijah made a nervous smile.
"It's good to see you understand humility." Osiris said.
Osiris was a green-skinned man wearing a white robe that had a red sash around it. He had a pharaoh's beard and a white bandana wrapped around his head. He was six feet tall.
Next to him was Thoth. His head looked human, with long black hair that hung partially around his chest.
["Not wearing your "face" lord?"] Thoth asked Ra.
["Thank you for reminding me."] Ra laughed.
Ra's falcon head suddenly changed to match Thoth, with his hair being a golden color instead of being black.
["Not going to change Anubis?"] Ra asked, leaning his chin on the back of his hand.
["No. I'm sure they're fine with it."] Anubis responded.
The four sat in-between Lucifer and Anubis. From Anubis's left, it was Osiris, Nephthys, Thoth, and Ma'at.
Osiris stared at Heinrich. His pupils started to turn white. Lucifer tried catching his attention.
"You know Death has a lot he wanted to tell you about. Purgatory has been rather peaceful, maybe because of the most recent systems in place."
Death glared at Lucifer who mouthed "sorry" to him.
Osiris stopped looking at Heinrich and excitedly started asking Death about Purgatory.
'Fuck me.' Lucifer made a sigh of relief. 'He probably saw Heinrich's worry. This is almost as bad as when Satan first met him.'
Ra had the conversation translated to him by Thoth. He couldn't understand why Lucifer would push Death into such a boring conversation.
Jack came into the room being followed by multiple servants who resembled the guards from before.
["Enough of the boring underworld talks, let's eat."] Ra said.
Anubis looked angry. He looked over at Lucifer who had made sure to remain surreptitious with his looks at Anubis.
'What in Chaos's name could you possibly be thinking?' Lucifer worried.