"What were your findings in the investigation?" Helios asked as he made hand movements to move the floating quills that write on multiple documents in the air.
Michael watches how the Heavenly Ruler does his task, "We asked the nymphs and elves to identify the black fluid but a week has passed and I received no reply."
"Black fluid..." Helios repeated in a low tone.
He did a gesture that placed the documents on his desk as a stack and the quills are positioned in their inkwells.
"Is it the sort where it can be lethal to the outside and not that harmful to the inside?"
Michael rubbed his temples as he ponders for a bit. He knows that the black substance can dissolve clothing and rot any living organism but Irene's internal organs were fine.
"Yes," he puts his hand to his side, "May I ask what kind of rare poison was used?"
"Corrupt Essence."
"Pardon?" Michael said in an uncertain tone. Corrupt Essence, a sensitive topic of the gods and blessed. This essence can be found in all divine and corrupted bodies however a god shouldn't have such an amount of Corrupt Essence in its body.
The volume of this essence is just enough to maintain balance with Celestial Essence. It can solely be obtained by immortals from their inner demons.
"Irene, no, my sister. There is no—"
"Mikhael." Helios interrupted him coldly with a sharp glare.
He bit his lip as his brows knitted. His hands tightened into fists.
"My dear son," he stood from his chair and approached Michael. He rests his hand on his son's shoulder, "When did you become so foolish? Society doesn't regard rights from wrongs, but only wins and losses."
Michael's nose wrinkled, he clenched his fists tighter which made his nails dig his palms. Blood began to appear and dripped from his hands.
Helios noticed but ignored it completely and reminded him again, "Remember the weight of your responsibilities."
His gaze then shifts to the man leaning against the wall. He is wearing something similar to a chlamys or it is a chlamys but influenced with mortal design.
"Why don't you introduce yourself, paladin."
The man smiled. "O Eternal Father, Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth, this child is named Elijah Kaplan," he adjusted the neck area of his attire before kneeling on his knee and placing his hand on his chest.
Helios raised his chin, looking downwards at Elijah. He narrowed his eyes before changing his gaze to Michael, "You are dismissed."
Michael bowed his head before taking his exit. By the time he had reached the doors, Helios and Elijah started a discreet conversation.
He saw Peter who had ended his conversation with his comrades and greeted him with a bow. When saw Michael's bleeding hands, he got worried.
"This is a scratch compared to my battle scars," his face darkened, "I have to admit, I feel powerless."
Peter was struck by a bolt of reality. No matter how impregnable his master is, he is still a creature capable of feeling emotion. As of the present, he understands why Michael is helpless.
'He can't protect his sister.'
"O'Lord Mikhael, fate has a reason to be cruel and so does us." Peter tried to console him.
Michael lifted his head and admires the blue misty sky, "I guess I'm the one who doesn't understand. I am ignorant of the world outside the battlefield."
...
"What do I owe Eric to have one of his servants appear abruptly?" Helios went behind his desk and sat on his chair.
Elijah places his hands behind his back and walked to a certain point, "Taken from his words: Dear friend, I was slightly amused when I attended the assembly."
He changed his direction from right to left then continued, "Your son is similar to you but his one flaw is his fondness of sweets. And I nearly lost composure when Pyrros ridiculed that ignorant child."
Similar to his previous movement, Elijah moved his direction from left to right. His movements distracted Helios and made two veins appear on his forehead.
"Why can't you stand still and get straight to the point? Did that infuriating trickster give you an order to provoke me?"
Elijah nodded and smiled; blinding rays of innocence exuded from his body. Helios' face completely broke into disgust and couldn't help but swear in his mind.
"Ahem," he coughed, "My master has instructed his servant to inform the supreme O'Heavenly Ruler, that he came across a person who witnessed the entire Irene incident."
"Is it another palace?" Helios immediately said.
A question mark appeared, Elijah is confused. "What compensation does he want?"
"ᚨᚾ ᚨᛗᛈᛚᛖ ᚠᛖᚨᛋᛏ, ᛖᚾᛟᚢᚷᚺ ᛏᛟ ᚲᚨᛏᛖᚱ ᚨ ᛒᛟᛏᛏᛟᛗᛚᛖᛋᛋ ᛈᛁᛏ ᚢᚾᛏᛁᛚ ᚠᛁᛚᛚᛖᛞ, ᚨᚾᛞ ᚨ ᚠᛁᚾᛖ ᛖᚾᚡᛁᚱᛟᚾᛗᛖᚾᛏ ᚹᛁᛏᚺᛁᚾ ᚨ ᚺᚢᚷᛖ ᚲᚨᚡᛖ."
Helios blinked with a long delay. He looked at Elijah whose expression on his face telepathically told him: I am merely a servant abiding his master's orders.
Then he sighs, also draining his entire color in the process. 'How did I even manage to befriend a glutton, at the same time, someone so picky and annoying?'
—————
[A/N: (Translation) An ample feast, enough to cater a bottomless pit until filled and a fine environment within a huge cave.]