- Saint and Peter -
Peter had been cooling down from his interaction with Oliver. He felt like he should wait before speaking with someone else, afraid that he might say something he regrets. Seeing Saint come his way was almost a worst-case scenario.
"I'm about to go help the survivors, do you want to come along?" Saint asked.
Peter gave a shifting look of confusion and fatigue. He had mentally prepared himself for another argument. Hearing what she said seemed to freeze his thoughts. Saint's look of confusion as she said "Peter?" got him to respond.
Peter's tone was confused, "Uh, no. I need to go meet with the unknown's commanders," He rubbed his face and sighed. "Thanks for staying by the way. I know ya and Death have problems, and I appreciate ya puttin' them aside for this."
Saint had things she wanted to say about her "problems" with Death but decided against it. Peter wasn't the person to complain to, especially given his current expression.
"I'll be near the eastern side of camp if you have any questions. I don't promise I'll answer any of them though."
Saint had done her best not to stare at Peter's hands and hair, knowing what he had done. When she noticed a small bruise on his hand she couldn't help herself.
"Give me your damaged hand," She ordered.
Peter moved his hand towards her. He hadn't asked because he didn't want to bother her with it.
"Seems like a bit of healer overkill ya know?" He joked.
"I didn't get my current name letting small things go," Her tone was firm.
She touched her finger to the bruised area and healed it. She left, reminding Peter to come to her if he needed anymore healing, sure that he would.
Peter looked at his once-damaged hand, 'If only ya believed in us.'
- Death, Lucifer, Kahvis -
After their rounds through the camp reassuring their soldiers, Kahvis met up with Death and Lucifer in a large open area that was surrounded by a white circle. In the center of the circle was a large stone table with small stone figures.
"Let's begin, shall we?" Kahvis said.
"How much time do we have exactly?" Lucifer asked Kahvis.
"Difficult to say," Kahvis responded. "It depends how many days it would take for Moloch to combine his forces with Baal and mobilize the two armies here."
"Three days then," Death said confidently.
Lucifer and Kahvis looked at Death.
"How do you know that?" Kahvis asked.
Death stared hard at the board. "I've run through the idea of taking the Underground down in my head before. It's only an educated guess based on simulations."
"Let's say two days then," Lucifer sighed. "Best to prepare for an early attack."
Kahvis picked up two stone figures. One marked "B" and the other "M." "I've already informed every one of my soldiers what their abilities are. Can I assume you two have done the same?"
Death and Lucifer nodded.
"Blood magic for Moloch, and void-skin for Baal," Lucifer said. "Urdros has earth, Mileera lightning, Kut'thar, and Urdras are healers. Jahkar, Molakar, and Baastra are fire," He listed. "Any new commanders I've missed?"
"That should be all of them," Death said. "Their kind have never tried hiding their magic."
Kahvis moved the stone figures around. B had four next to them, while M had three. Each added figure came with stone rectangles labeled "1k" or "3k" as well.
"Twelve thousand for Baal, while Moloch has four," Kahvis stated.
Kahvis placed five stone rectangles by both the B and M models. Each added stone piece had "5k" written on it.
"And an additional twenty-five thousand for each," Kahvis said.
"They breed like rats I swear," Lucifer mumbled.
Looking at the board, Death had a sudden wave of frustration hit him, "So how exactly did you plan on dealing with this if I had refused to help?" He folded his arms.
"I had a number of plans," Kahvis looked confident. "If I didn't have your help I would have had my soldiers take the victims through Bolotano while I stayed behind."
Remembering what Kahvis showed the two of them back in the tavern stopped Death's questioning of their decisions.
"Good to know you had a backup," Death leaned over and put his hands on the table. "I assume the current plan is to have me fight Baal's side while everyone else fights Moloch's?"
Kahvis nodded. "Know that I would prefer something safer if it was possible."
Kahvis picked up three stone models with the three's initial on them. They placed D opposite of Baal's side and the K and L opposite of Moloch's.
The three went into deeper explanations on how to handle each demon commander and how they can prepare the area for the coming war. The three were on the same page as far as strategy went. The meeting had been perfectly amiable until someone showed up.
"I need to speak with you," Oliver said to Lucifer.
- Lucifer and Oliver -
"You two continue," Lucifer waved as he walked off with Oliver.
The two didn't go very far before stopping.
"What do you want?" Lucifer asked, sure he could guess.
Oliver's tone was filled with disgust. "I don't appreciate you dragging Death into this war with you."
Lucifer knew most grim didn't care for him. Except for those that worked with him, the Grim had minimal interactions with his side. They had been told by Death and Zach that he wasn't what his legends make him out to be, but there were still plenty that showed an open distaste for him.
Lucifer spoke slowly and politely, "This war needs to happen. If Death had declared war on the two demon lords, I wouldn't have hesitated to help."
"The difference between you and Death is that it matters if he dies," Oliver condescended. "Hell ran before you, Purgatory doesn't have the same luxury."
Oliver was past trying to be respectful after his conversation with Peter. He already had prejudices about Lucifer that were made far worse by the loss of his friends. On the outside, anyone would have thought him insane for what he was doing. Luckily for him, Lucifer had a wealth of experience dealing with humans that hate him.
"You think I don't know that?" Lucifer rhetorically asked. "Death's life has always, and will always be worth more. Have you ever stopped to think how he feels about that though?"
The question had caught Oliver off-guard. He had expected Lucifer to get angry with him for his disrespect. He didn't exactly want to fight, in fact, the more he thought about it he wasn't entirely sure what he was doing, but the response he got shook him a bit.
"You know Death better, but you clearly don't appreciate him," Oliver's tone was starting to become unsure. "He's one of the strongest gods in this world, he helped prevent you from becoming a monster, and yet here you are coercing him into some dangerous war started by an unknown."
"I know you weren't alive when it happened, but have you heard of the "Lycan hunt" that happened a few centuries ago?" Lucifer asked.
"What exactly do-" Oliver tried to say.
"Have you or not?" Lucifer interrupted.
Oliver got a smug grin. "Of course I have. Every Grim has, it's one of our favorite stories to tell."
"What Death did that night is the real him," Lucifer sighed. "Whether you accept that or not doesn't matter. Who he is now is his attempt at changing, not the other way around as you seem to think."
Oliver found himself trapped in the conversation. He had started an argument about Death with someone far older, and far more familiar with the man than him. He decided to keep speaking, much to Lucifer's irritation.
"So?" Oliver argued. "Just because Death used to be a Rider doesn't mean he should start fighting every war he can."
"This war is important to him," Lucifer spoke softer. "He's wanted the two demon lords dead longer than you've existed in either life. The only thing that held him back was the worry that he might fail. Kah-, the unknown, and I have given him the chance to finally see this part of the world properly handled."
Lucifer often viewed angry humans as a permanent part of his life. So long as he continued to be called Lucifer and be a warden of Hell he would always have prejudice thrown his way. His apathy to such things was far stronger than most knew. Most stories of his violent outbursts had conveniently left out the context that would have shown why he acted how he did.
"I lost two grim because of that unknown, Alex and Jakob," Oliver's tone was sad. "I know Death wants this place removed as much as I do, but I just can't forgive that unknown you two are working with."
Lucifer felt like the conversation was actually making progress. He didn't want to condescend to someone who had just lost friends. He was happy that things seemed to be moving towards some form of amicability.
'Good thing Peter isn't around,' Lucifer made a deep mental sigh. 'I hope Oliver doesn't try to talk to him later.'
"CUNT!" A loud shout could be heard.
'Shit,' Lucifer closed his eyes as he tilted his head up.
- Lucifer, Peter, Oliver -
Peter's tone was pure anger, "Ya want ta talk ta me bout Luce, fine, but don'tcha fockin' think fer a moment I'm okay with ya disrespectin' im!"
"Peter it's fine, I don't have any problems with Oliver," Lucifer tried calming him down.
Oliver had started winding down his anger with Lucifer. He had been ready to move past this until Peter shouted, reigniting his anger in full.
Oliver held up two fingers and got in Peter's face. "TWO GRIM! TWO! I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE MAD!"
Lucifer stepped between the two, pushing them apart. Oliver hit him in the face as he did. Peter's eye's widened and his nostrils flared. Lucifer placed his hand around both their throats and lifted them into the air.
"Not here," Lucifer ordered the two he was currently strangling. He dropped them and gave them a look like a disappointed parent. "Go have a duel or something. We have a common enemy who's far more important than this."
Oliver rubbed his throat. He was surprised by Lucifer's grip, sure now that his neck could have been snapped easily.
Peter hadn't stopped looking at Oliver. His face said "You're dead" so clearly that Lucifer tapped him on the head.
Lucifer ordered Peter, "Not. Here. Go have a duel, or I'm going to knock you unconscious."
Lucifer escorted the two to a separate area used for training. He explained to everyone there that the two commanders were going to have a practice match. Everyone obliged, excited to see a match between two strong humans.
"You have five minutes," Lucifer started to list the rules. "No magic, only dull weapons, no dirty moves."
Lucifer threw wooden weapons to Oliver and Peter.
Peter twirled the wooden sword in his hand. His eyes still showed clear hatred for Oliver.
Oliver held the middle of the wooden staff in-between the pit of his arm. He matched Peter's expression.
The two's clear rage had Lucifer ready to step in.
"Begin," Lucifer sighed.