- Lucifer's side -
The group was standing outside the entrance of a forest. Signs with varying amounts of damage covered every tree in sight. The most common words amongst the warnings were "Pay the flesh toll" and "Beware your friends' voices."
"Ready?" Yvere said.
Lucifer nodded in agreement and pulled out his dagger. Lucifer proceeded to cut the fingers off of his right hand in one swipe, dropping them into a bag that Lao was holding. Yvere healed Lucifer's fingers, drained his mana to replenish her own, and then the two repeated the process two more times.
"Ya realize how fucked this is, right?" Peter said.
Lucifer was shaking his right hand and wincing. "We've been through this place before, why are you bringing this up now?"
Peter shrugged. "Just figured someone should be fillin' in for Elijah or Heinrich. The newest blood here is Yvere but she's well-versed on the usual fucked things we do, ESPECIALLY given how much she's had to heal ya."
"Right..." Lucifer tied the bag that was holding his fingers.
The group traveled for a little while, making small talk as they went. Eventually, Shiri asked why the team didn't go through the neighboring territory of Han-Okh.
"Because fuck dokkaebi, that's why," Peter said. "Buncha gremlin, white-furred little malice spawns that should be kicked into the sun."
Shiri hesitated. "Uh, okay?"
Yvere interjected, "Don't the wendigo of this territory worship one of the Korean gods?"
"No," Lucifer corrected. "They worship Seok-Dił, a blood god the dokkaebi made up in an attempt to control the wendigos through religion. The wendigo leaders at the time assassinated the dokkaebi that were trying to take control and took their place, spreading the religion of the made-up god to the other wendigo tribes."
Yvere looked confused. "Why were the dokkaebi trying to control the wendigo."
"Because they're assholes," Peter insulted.
Yvere looked to Lucifer for a different answer but was met with an agreeing shrug. As the group moved further into the woods they started hearing voices. The voices would range from guttural warnings, to children, to even the group's own voices at one point. Everyone stayed stone-faced through the mimicry, with the only reaction being a shifting of the eyes to check the surroundings.
As the group went, the voices changed once again. A chattering voice, clacky in tone, started to call out.
"Do you have the toll?"
Lucifer put his hand up to motion the group to stop. He held the bag full of his fingers up and responded.
"It's here, come get it!"
Sabu quickly pulled out a knife and pressed it against the throat of a shadowy creature that had appeared behind him. The creature's body seemed to be covered in a camouflaging cloak of leaves. The being's face was obscured by the leaves, with only a row of white triangles poking out from the bottom of what seemed like their head.
"Careful, soft-blood," The clacky-voiced being warned.
A shiver went down Sabu's spine as he pulled the knife away from the being's throat. The lanky being stood up fully and was now a full head above Lucifer in height. They walked past the staring group to Lucifer, grabbing the bag as they went.
"These are yours, yes?" The being said.
"Yes," Lucifer responded in a monotone voice. "Don't threaten my team again," His eyes shifted to a glare.
"No threats, no threats," The being said, grabbing into the bag and dropping one of Lucifer's severed fingers into its maw. "If anything, I'm proud of the young soft-blood for noticing my presence."
The unsettling crunching sound coming from the being's head as it chewed on the finger caused Shiri to recoil in disgust. The being noticed Shiri's discomfort. They swallowed in a clearly exaggerated way, making it easy for the group to hear. The being chuckled and spoke to the group in Lucifer's voice.
"Toll paid. Enjoy your time through Jishcháá, however brief it might be."
The being climbed up the nearest tree, disappearing in a shuffle of leaves. Shiri was the only one staring up at the treeline, not moving. He had to be tapped on the back by Peter to snap out of his stare. He exhaled slowly.
"My homeland has its own share of unsettling creatures but I don't think I'll ever get used to wendigos."
Lucifer sighed, "Given their history, it's understandable. Don't fight angels in the sky, leviathans in the water, or wendigos in the forest."
"Is that an angel saying?" Shiri asked.
"No," Lucifer said. "It's a quote from the Rider, War."
"I've never read that..." Shiri mumbled to himself.
The group hurried their way through the forest as best they could. Even rushing, it would take them two to three days of travel before they'd be out of the territory, much to Shiri's and Yvere's dismay. The team would be unwillingly greeted by two more hiding wendigos that would ask for a flesh toll. Lucifer explained to them that he had given more than enough.
One of the wendigos was about to leave the treeline to argue until they were stopped by the other.
"Three humans, one half-human. Let's not risk the pact for some fingers."
The other voice grumbled but agreed. The two left, leaving the group to continue their travels.
- Death and Ash -
Death was approaching Kahvis's main headquarters. He had expected to be greeted by Kahvis but was surprised to see Ash. He ignored her attempts to get his attention and continued looking for Kahvis.
"Don't be like that," Ash said, poking her head under Death's chin.
Death groaned, "You changed your hair, name, and motivation again I see."
Ash chuckled as she looked around at the staring faces of the demons and humans. She pulled the back of Death's robe and whispered to him.
"I know where Kahvis is right now, so just come with me and we can catch up."
Death lifted her hand off of his robe. "Fine."
Ash informed Death that Kahvis had been training nonstop over the last few days. She told Death that there had been a messenger from a certain organization who visited with intention of getting Kahvis to join. Death stayed stoic throughout Ash's talking.
"Why did you kill Tonatiuh?" Death blurted out.
Ash lied, "I didn't."
Death stopped walking. "Even IF I didn't know where you were or what you were doing, the moment I hear a prominent fire god dies my first thought is you."
"That's sweet," Ash joked. "For the sake of what Kahvis is doing, I didn't do it. Understand?"
Death sighed. "Got it. So usual reason then?"
Ash smiled, "Yes. I've given you my reasoning, return the favor. Why are you here?"
Death pulled out two black orbs from his robe. "I'm dropping these off on my way to Han'ei."
Ash's smile left her face the moment she saw the orbs.
- Kahvis and Ash -
(Past)
Kahvis had just sent Yamato to Han'ei. They were told that they had a visitor near the border of the territory who refused to show their face. Kahvis decided to bring Ash along with them to see who this visitor was. Kahvis approached the border, where they saw a tall being cloaked in shadows, surrounded by demons and humans.
"Leave us," Kahvis ordered.
The humans and demons went to argue until they noticed Ash. Everyone understood that whatever this was about didn't concern them. Kahvis and the being stood across from each other, with Ash to the side.
Kahvis spoke first. "What do you want, Nyx?"
"Come back to us," Nyx said. "Everything is in motion, proper motion mind you, and we would love to have you back."
"No," Kahvis refused. "The reason I left hasn't changed. If anything, after what the organization did in Olympus-"
"WHAT WE DID!" Nyx shouted, causing darkness to spread along the ground.
"Careful," Ash warned.
"Zeus deserved it," Nyx collected herself. "As did any of the gods who've allowed that hedonist to rule for as long as he has."
"What about Death and Lucifer?" Kahvis questioned.
Nyx clicked her tongue. "Not my decision."
"Of course it wasn't," Kahvis said.
Nyx clenched her fists. The same darkness from before started to rapidly spread but was cut off by a short ring of fire from Ash.
"You're not taking them," Ash said. "You wanted your audience, you got it."
'Who in Kos' name is she?!' Nyx gritted her teeth.
"I want to be clear about something," Kahvis started. "I know that changing this world will take strife above all else. I know that peace won't happen until certain gods are removed. I haven't forgotten the INITIAL reason our movement started. I think it would be good for you to remember what that reason was. Don't let others' ambition be strings that puppet you along."
Nyx turned around, mumbling under breath as she started to walk away. "You would do well to remember that we know what you are."