- Death, Ash, Kahvis -
Death handed Kahvis the black orbs while Ash stared in worry. Kahvis noticed Ash's concern and asked Death about the orbs.
"How exactly do these work?"
Death glanced at Ash. "They'll negate whatever magic they break inside. It should be useful to you against Huitzil."
"How does it work?" Kahvis repeated. "These containers are magic, so shouldn't they be unable to hold your anti-magic?"
Death sighed. "There's an extremely difficult to obtain resource in Fàsachadh that is able to "hold" my anti-magic. Only three bundles of these were ever made due to the materials required," He glanced at Ash once more. "The first two bundles were used for testing purposes, so I can assure you these work."
Kahvis inspected the orbs. "Homeland of the uništi..."
"You sure you put the right magic in there?" Ash finally spoke up.
"Yes," Death sounded insulted.
Kahvis's eyes shifted to Ash then back to Death. "Thank you, I greatly appreciate this. You're always welcome to join us on the coming battlefields."
"Don't expect another demon war scenario," Death said.
The three moved to another area so Kahvis could put the orbs away in a safe place. Kahvis and Ash were seeing Death off when Kahvis decided to tell Death something.
"We had no part in the attack on Olympus."
"I know," Death said as a matter-of-fact. "Your group doesn't have the resources to split your forces in such a way. The only question I have is: Do you know who is responsible?"
Ash questioned Death's motives in her head. 'Why is he asking now? Why not leverage the orbs for information? He doesn't suspect Kahvis at all?'
"I can't say," Kahvis said. "The beings in charge of that organization know my secret. If I reveal who they are to you, they'll reveal what I am to the world."
"Hmm," Death hummed. "Thanks for the information."
Death rode off, leaving Ash with a look of confusion. Ash turned to Kahvis, hoping to get answers on what just happened.
"He seemed unusually calm about that."
"He did, didn't he?" Kahvis responded. "Care to tell me how you two know each other?" they stared deep into Ash's eyes.
"Long story," Ash deflected.
"I have time."
"I was well-acquainted with the riders."
"That's not something you hide," Kahvis's eyes narrowed slightly.
"It is if you know how the riders are perceived," Ash crossed her arms.
"Mmm," Kahvis hummed in a disagreeing tone. "Well, regardless, I think I know why Death seemed so agreeable."
Ash made a small sigh of relief. She didn't ask why, expecting, or hoping, that Kahvis would just start to explain. She used the brief pause to gather her thoughts.
Kahvis explained, "He knows who's responsible. That would also explain why Nyx didn't warn me about telling Death."
Ash went to agree with the assumption but was cut off by Kahvis asking her another question.
"Why did you seem so worried about the orbs Death gave me?"
Ash bit the inner part of her mouth to stop herself from reacting. "I know what his magic is capable of, every being passed a hundred does. I'm certain he gave you anti-magic bombs but that won't stop the paranoid itch any normal being would have in this circumstance."
"Right..." Kahvis clearly didn't believe the answer. "I still owe you a great deal for Tonatiuh, so I'll let this go for now. Information is one of the most important factors in war, so please understand that I distrust for safety, not malice."
Ash nodded in agreement as she thought to herself. 'Your ways of speaking are eerily similar. I wonder if any first-gen angels have ever told you that?' she looked in the direction where Death had ridden off. 'Didn't even ask about Tera...not that I have anything to say.'
- Death and Lucifer -
(Past)
The group stopped in Sol to celebrate their survival, as suggested by Peter. Lucifer asked the team to give him some time to discuss things with Death in regards to the attack on Olympus. Lucifer claimed he didn't want to sour the mood the group had been going for and that it wouldn't take long.
The sun was beginning to set. Lucifer looked into the orange-red sky and scratched near his eyes. He took a deep breath before speaking to Death, who had been leaning on the cart waiting for Lucifer to start the conversation.
"Who did it?" Lucifer said bluntly.
"Nyx, probably," Death said. "Thanatos wouldn't betray Olympus unless his mother was giving the orders," He hesitated for a moment. "Or she died."
Lucifer leaned back against the cart. "Unlikely, given her magic. Are you going to tell me why you seemed so...aggressive when it came to killing Chronos?"
"Because-"
"And don't say because he had to die, obviously I know that. It seemed almost vindictive in your case."
"Because," Death repeated, "he NEEDED to die. Chronos's magic combined with his personality was extremely dangerous. Back when I had originally heard about his defeat I had felt," he looked at Lucifer's eyes before looking away, "well, nothing, but looking back at it over the years I started to feel relief because I knew it was one problem that I might have had to handle at some point."
Lucifer spoke respectfully, "You didn't feel much of anything back in those days, did you?"
"Hard to say," Death shrugged. "I've been told emotions affect one's memories, so I can only assume a lack of which would make remembering things a trickier process."
Lucifer didn't believe Death. He hated that he didn't. Instead of arguing or trying to dig for the real answer he just pushed the distrust to the back of his mind and asked a different question.
"Do you know who Nyx might be working with?"
Death shrugged again, "I don't. There's a long list of gods it could be but with the only current known motivation being a hatred for Olympus, there's not enough to narrow it down."
'What if it something's more?' Lucifer thought but didn't say.
Death was surprised that Lucifer didn't follow up with another question.
"What if," Lucifer spoke carefully, "there was a group that wanted to start another Ragnarok?"
Death's eyes went wide before narrowing with anger. He rubbed his index finger with his thumb as he spoke.
"If that's the case, we'll have to wait until the next big move of that organization. We can't exactly go around asking gods if they've heard of such a group given how most of the ruling gods would react."
Lucifer rubbed his head. "It was just a thought because of the writing that was on Chronos's scythe. We just have to be ready for whatever might happen."
- Death and Hades -
(Past)
Death and Hades were in the palace's armory. Death had been asked in secret by Hades to collect the scythe. Death grabbed his scythe and made it disappear, leading to a sigh of relief from Hades that was followed by a barrage of questions that Death responded to coldly.
"We all have our secrets," Death looked over at Chronos's scythe.
Hades looked at Chronos's scythe and then back to Death. He knew he had no leg to stand on in the discussion so he dropped it. He went to lead Death out of the armory until he noticed Death reading the writing on the scythe. He thought it was strange that Death hadn't reacted to the words.
'Let there be another?' Death obsessively repeated in his head.
Hades didn't ask why Death seemed so fixated with the scythe and instead tried to get out in front of a potential problem.
"There's no chance my brother will let you or Lucifer have it. Poseidon is one thing, this would be a deal-breaker for him."
"What?" Death asked. "Oh, that's too bad. Let's just leave then."
Hades thought the reaction seemed oddly agreeable but didn't question it. He was happy enough not having to argue.