"Fine, fine," Morax said helplessly, forcing a somewhat stiff smile.
"Forget it, just stop smiling—it's worse than crying," Vorthis remarked.
Morax fell silent, pondering.
Was his smile really that bad?
Now self-conscious, he reflected. He had never shed a tear since his creation, so what did Vorthis mean by something "worse than crying"?
Vorthis, unconcerned with what might be going through Morax's mind, conjured a table and two chairs amidst the sea of Glaze Lilies, along with Morax's favorite tea and Vorthis's iced cola.
Watching Vorthis's smooth, practiced movements, Morax was impressed by the sheer power of manifestation but puzzled by how Vorthis seemed to focus it entirely on improving his quality of life.
"What are you doing?" Morax asked, confused.
"Picnicking," Vorthis replied with a grin.
"It's not every day you visit such a beautiful field of Glaze Lilies—why not enjoy it properly?"
But Vorthis's real intention was to linger. If they left too quickly, the God of Dust Haagentus wouldn't have time to sense their presence or show up. So, why not have a pleasant picnic in the meantime?
Shaking his head, Morax sighed. "Fine. I might as well enjoy the mundane pleasures of this outing, thanks to you."
Initially, Morax thought Vorthis would conjure some food and call it a day. But to his surprise, Vorthis continued manifesting.
Clearing a small patch of ground in the flower field, Vorthis summoned an iron barbecue grill.
Now Morax was truly baffled.
Sensing Morax's puzzled gaze, Vorthis laughed.
"What's the matter? Never seen a God cook before?"
"Wait! I know what you're going to ask—why not just conjure the food directly? But the joy is in the process of making it!"
For Vorthis, conjuring everything instantly would make life dull. He then summoned an assortment of skewers for grilling.
The grill was fired up, and the sizzling of the skewers soon filled the air. The aroma of barbecue wafted through the breeze, rising like a white plume of smoke, as if to announce their presence to anyone nearby.
Once the skewers were cooked, Vorthis sprinkled cumin and chili powder on top before plating them.
"Delicious!" Vorthis exclaimed as he tasted his creation.
It wasn't as perfect as something conjured, but that wasn't the point—it was handmade. Even if it wasn't good, Vorthis could still insist it was.
"Here, try some!" Vorthis said, handing a plate to Morax.
Morax tasted it. "Not bad. I didn't expect you to be so skilled."
Vorthis chuckled awkwardly, scratching his head. "Thanks, Morax. But honestly, the seasoning does all the work."
As the two enjoyed their barbecue amidst the Glaze Lilies, the God of Dust Haagentus—the rightful ruler of this land—set down her stone tablet. She sensed the presence of two powerful Gods nearby, which was far from good news.
The fertile, flat Glaze Lily Plains were prime territory, and two strong Gods showing up might mean trouble. If they came to claim her land, she wouldn't stand a chance.
After some thought, Haagentus decided to confront them. She couldn't abandon her people and run.
As she approached, she smelled the tantalizing aroma of barbecue. It was... oddly inviting.
From a distance, she saw the two Gods sitting at a table with a mysterious iron contraption, eating casually.
Confused, Haagentus thought, What in the world are they doing?
They didn't seem hostile. Who brings a table and eats while preparing for a battle?
Gathering her courage, she approached. "Greetings," she said. "I am Haagentus, the God of Dust and ruler of this land. You may call me Guizhong. May I know the reason for your presence here?"
Unbeknownst to Haagentus, one of her desired allies stood before her.
Vorthis smiled warmly. "Hello, hello! I'm Zennos, the God of Manifestation—just call me Vorthis. This field of Glaze Lilies was so beautiful we couldn't help but stop. Apologies if we disturbed you."
Hearing this, Haagentus felt relieved. They weren't here to fight after all. Combat wasn't her strong suit, especially against two powerful Gods.
"I am Morax, the God of Geo," Morax introduced himself succinctly.
Haagentus's eyes widened. "Morax? The God of Geo? It's an honor to meet you!"
Smiling warmly, she offered, "As the host of this land, I must properly welcome such esteemed guests. Would you both do me the honor of visiting my abode so I may offer hospitality?"
Her sincerity left no room for refusal.
"Of course," Morax replied.
Vorthis grinned. "I'm in!"
And so, their unexpected picnic turned into an invitation to the God of Dust's home.
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