- Shiri, Kija, Yamato, Peter -
"A quick meeting and we'll leave," Kija tried to convince Yamato.
"Mmm," Yamato doubted.
Peter was doing repairs on Shiri's maul as Shiri noticed Kija and Yamato approaching. Shiri stood up and greeted Kija with a friendly smile. Kija seemed displeased by Shiri's appearance.
"Not what I expected," Kija commented.
Shiri stopped smiling and scratched the back of his head. "Is there a problem?"
Kija glanced at Yamato. "I just expected more...presence. No offense, Zero but-"
Shiri groaned, "Please call me Shiri. Zero is a title, and not one I even chose."
The disappointment on Kija's face grew. Before Kija could speak, Peter interrupted.
"It's done. I'm not carryin' the fuckin' thing to ya."
"No need," Shiri put his hand up.
Kija watched the maul fly into Shiri's hands. "At least you have a proper weapon. Do you mind if I hold it?"
"Uh," Shiri hesitated. "Sure, but I must warn you of its weight."
Kija laughed, "Give it."
Shiri used his magic and slowly lowered the maul into Kija's outstretched hands.
'How light,' Kija insulted in her head.
"Ready?" Shiri asked.
"Sure?" Kija questioned.
Shiri released his control of the maul. The head of the maul slammed into the ground as Kija failed to hold the full weight. Kija grunted and propped the maul onto her shoulder with one hand, grinning from ear to ear as she started to chuckle. She spoke with renewed enthusiasm.
"What is it made of?"
Shiri explained that the maul was made of a special blend of heavy metals. He explained how he had to keep reapplying the cold to his maul to keep the ice inside from turning to water.
"Can you wield it properly if needed?" Kija asked.
"I can," Shiri responded. "But it's not my preferred method."
Kija lowered the maul to the ground. "I heard about you and Susano'o."
Shiri explained how the fight with Susano'o went. Despite Shiri's disappointed tone when talking about how he beat Susano'o unconscious, Kija was laughing.
Yamato walked over to Peter. "You know smithing?"
Peter shrugged. "Enough to keep my team's weapons and armor from fallin' to complete shit."
Kija handed the maul over to Shiri. "Tell me, Shiri, do you have a partner?"
Shiri smiled softly. "Yes, sorry."
Kija laughed. "No apologies needed," She looked over at Yamato. "I would request a duel but I don't want to push the vessel's patience any more than I already have."
Yamato whispered to Peter, "Speaking of duels..."
"No," Peter responded without hesitation.
- Xiao and Yvere -
The bright scarlet color of Yvere's hair had been slowly fading over the days. Yvere had refused to drink blood, despite her growing hunger. She was alone in a cart, biting her nails as she read a book titled "Otherworld Anatomies, Volume 12". Xiao climbed into the cart.
"What do you want?" Yvere was curt. "Sorry."
Xiao shook his head. "It's fine. I know better than most how frustrating hunger can be," he pulled out a box of smokes.
"I can't talk about it," Yvere's nail-biting got faster. "If you want to know more, ask Lord Gwyn."
Xiao sat down and held the pack of smokes out to Yvere. "I'm not here for information. Take one."
Yvere's eyes quickly went from the smokes back to the book. "Won't help."
"It helped me," Xiao said as he put the smokes down and pulled out a box of matches. "If it can help the side effects of a contract..." He shrugged. "No use not trying."
Yvere put her book down and took one of the smokes out of the package. She held it out to Xiao. Xiao struck the match and lit the smoke for Yvere.
"Taste awful," Yvere mentioned after taking one drag. "But," she exhaled smoke slowly, "it's helping."
Xiao grinned, "Herbs from Jishcháá. The Wendigo tribes use it as an appetite suppressant. How long they last depends on how strong the craving is. You'll have to test the times for yourself."
Yvere rubbed her face and rested her head on her wrist. "Thank you."
Xiao stood up. "I gave Lucifer the information on what herbs to buy and the merchants that he can get them from. Some seasons are better for it than others, so I recommend not being overly reliant on it."
Yvere chuckled, "I'll keep that in mind."
- Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, Susano'o, Kazuya -
Kazuya had called the three siblings for a meeting in the castle's main dining room. The four were sitting, waiting for someone to start the conversation. Tsukuyomi broke the silence.
"Why did you not use the other sword, brother?"
Susano'o groaned, "Couldn't risk killing Ze--Shiri."
"Still should have brought it," Kazuya insulted.
Amaterasu jeered, "Don't be a child just because you lost the bet."
Kazuya punched his hands through the stone table. "What's it like?!" his eyes narrowed at Amaterasu. "What's it like being a constant fucking failure and getting away with it? Is it comforting knowing Kos favors your asinine existence?"
"Calm down, Kaz," Susano'o tried to de-escalate. "This is the better outcome."
Kazuya leaned back and sighed. "In accordance with the bet that was made, I will officially forgive the debts owed by Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi."
"I acknowledge this transaction as a third-party witness," Susano'o tried to sound diplomatic.
"It was the right choice," Amaterasu continued what Susano'o had originally been saying.
"How's that?" Kazuya folded his arms.
Amaterasu, with an irritated look on her face, went to speak but stopped. She took a breath and removed the irritation from her expression. She spoke in a respectful tone that surprised the other three.
"Let's say that Tsukuyomi and I had helped Mother kill Lucifer. There was no outcome where Father won against Death in their duel. Kazuya, you're more well-informed than any being in this territory, so you must know Death's history. Forget your hatred of Tsukuyomi and me, forget your loyalty to Izanagi and Izanami, and honestly answer me; do you think our territory would have won a battle against Death?"
Kazuya looked to the side. "Do you know why the Enenra don't worship Death? Why, despite our worship of the void, we don't show the same faith towards a being that practically represents it?" he sighed and unfolded his arms. "Because we're terrified of him. We don't want that monster to represent our beliefs..."
"Kaz..." Susano'o tried to comfort.
Kazuya stood up and chuckled. "I still fear Lord Izanami more, though."
After Kazuya disappeared, Susano'o spoke candidly with Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi.
"I can't believe you two bet your lives."
Amaterasu shrugged. "Was Tsuki's idea."
Susano'o seemed surprised. "I thought you hated gambling? Didn't you say it goes against that "balance" you believe in?"
Tsukuyomi sighed. "It does but...I thought we might die so I decided it would be worth doing one last time."
Amaterasu joined in Susano'o surprise. "You thought we were going to die?"
Tsukuyomi clenched his hands. "To Death, yes. As much as I admire Lucifer, I never thought he and his friends would stand a chance against Mother," He grinned.
- Lucifer and Arryx -
Lucifer was making a call on his echo.
"Who is it?" a deep voice answered.
"Lucifer," Lucifer responded. "I'm just calling to ask if Ryujin is a part of the Coalition?"
"Shouldn't be," Arryx answered casually. "Not unless something's changed in the last decade. Please tell me you're not planning on hunting him?"
"No," Lucifer almost laughed with his response. "As frustrating as it is, it's nice to know that the Coalition isn't looking to break the pact."
Arryx laughed, "I'd be calling you if that was the case. If you're not hunting him, then why are you asking about Ryujin?"
"Minor conflict," Lucifer joked. "It's not important."
"Hmmm," Arryx doubted. "How's the gear doing? I'm sure it could use some proper repairs if not a full replacement, knowing your team's luck."
"I'll let you know," Lucifer looked at his dagger's sheath. "I'll call you back later."
"Looking forward to it," Arryx ended the call.
Lucifer made a call to Satan.
- Death and Xiao -
"Thought you should know now, given everything that's happened," Death told Xiao.
Death and Xiao were alone in the group's camp. Death had specifically asked no one to be around, to which no one argued. Xiao was anxious, opting not to smoke or eat during the conversation. Xiao's tone was careful as he responded.
"I appreciate the early warning, sir. I have my own information to share. Lucifer knows it as well and was planning on telling you a little later but I think given what you've just told me, it might be best if I tell you."
Death was confused. He wondered what it was that Xiao could possibly know that would match what he had just said. Xiao explained that the human he fought had powers given by Gaia. Xiao wasn't sure how Death would take the news.
Death sighed. "How did Lucifer learn this?"
"Won it in a drinking game with Zeus?" Xiao was confused by Death's demeanor.
"Alright," Death seemed oddly calm.
Xiao was unnerved by Death's calm response, "Did you already know Gaia was involved?"
"No," Death responded. "I'm just thinking about the future and what comes next. I want to drag Gaia's face along the ground until she's nothing more than a stain on my hand...but I can't rush into this."
Xiao grinned, "Of course, sir."