Fortia, Maisara, Zerus and Sceo returned to the quiet Pantheon. Cold bodies, dour n, heavy stretchers. Charred marble, sullen magicians, shifting stones. Stolen texts, bleak archivists, tapping checklists. Remorseless sun, still winds, red streets.
Mountain, silent.
Neneria sighed as she looked out over the horde of masses that had co to Central Requisitions. It was over. They had officially won the war at this point, the Pantheon simply hadn’t announced a statent yet, but it was over. Their armies were retreating, Neneria herself had attacked them at Olympiada, Iliyal had freed the weapon Divines, they were being handed out to the Epan Governnts now. Neneria sighed as she looked at the setting sun. That was a far prettier sight than the throngs of people Arascus had invited.
Her eyes went from the vivacious purples, the brilliant reds, the animated oranges in the sky to the rows of tables. A swarm of souls, twenty three thousand, six hundred, eleven. That many to the dot, Neneria didn’t have to count, she could simply feel them. She sighed as she looked at her black dress. Arascus had picked it out for her, it was as she liked it. With raven feathers and all. She sighed, clasped her hands behind her back, intertwined her fingers, and smiled. It was always like this at parties, she was a Divine of Arascus, so her attending was not an option, and he would make it up to her later. She knew he would, he always did. But that didn’t an she had to enjoy it.
She feigned a smile, small. Pleasant hopefully, although she didn’t care much. The Goddess of Death was a title where even the inkling of a lip curving upwards would be clamoured at. Fireworks were being set off, Binturongs and Lemurs were trundling around as soldiers showed them off to the politicians and civilians and caras. One, she knew, was focused exclusively on her. She wondered what they hoped to catch. She wasn’t Fer, she wouldn’t embarrass herself in front of an audience. “You’re ecstatic today.” Kassandora said. Neneria didn’t catch her approach over the songs and cheers and fireworks. Neneria turned for a mont, HAUPT suit, as was expected. Kassie in a dress was rarer than Fer.
“As good as you.” Neneria said and Kassie laughed.
“It’s work.” Kassandora said quietly. “So I can’t complain.”
“Is it?” Kassandora nodded to the cara crews. Arascus was taking an interview with so politicians with a swarm of reporters and a dozen caras around him.
“It is.” Kassandora said. “Not my field of expertise, but war all the sa.” Neneria’s lips curled upwards as she thought of a way to annoy Kassandora.
“Hearts and minds Kassie. Hearts and minds.” She said, Kassandora only looked at her in confusion.
“And?” She said.
“I’m just saying.” Neneria said. “Not your field of expertise.” She saw that slight jump of Kassandora’s eyebrows, the tightening of her cheeks, the smiling becoming forced.
“Pleasant as always.” Kassandora said. Was it bad? Neneria did not know, nor did she care too much. She imdiately felt better though. “Have you had a drink yet?” Kassandora asked.
“I’ve not.”
“Oh?” Kassandora imdiately turned and waved her hand to a waiter in a nice suit, picked out by Helenna. Naturally, one ca about imdiately. A plate full of glasses in one hand, another full of bottles in the other. She took two of the bottles of hard Kirinyaan rum, and two glasses. “We don’t want to be drinking from bottles now, do we?” Neneria sighed. She always made a fool of herself when she drank. She watched as Kassandora put one of the bottles beside her on the ground and popped the other open with her thumb.
And Neneria ended up with a glass in her hand and an empty bottle besides her. She felt the burn within her and she looked down at Kassandora again. “Do you know what’s annoying about you?” Neneria said and Kassandora sniffed in humour.
“A great many things I imagine.”
“The fact I’m drunk and your cheeks aren’t even rosy yet.” Kassandora turned to Neneria and made great big eyes.
“You?” She made a show of inspecting Neneria’s face. “Drunk? Never. I’ve not seen it.” Neneria scowled and finished the rest of the drink.
“I’m as drunk as a skunk.” Neneria said and Kassandora burst out in laughter. She reached around to pat Neneria on the back.
“I’ll send Fer over to you Nene.”
“Why?” Of all people, why did Fer always get sent to her?
“Because you need soone to cheer you up.” Kassandora said smugly. “And as you said, hearts and minds, not my field of expertise.” Neneria sighed and looked at her empty glass. She shouldn’t have picked a battle with Kassie, this was sothing she wouldn’t be able to win. Silly silly. She wanted a minor Divine to bully.
“Please don’t.”
“I heard please do.” Kassandora replied, devilishness rife in her tone. Annoying! Annoying and annoying! Neneria sighed as she looked into her empty glass. Wait. Didn’t Kassie take two? But then she’d have to ask. But it was her sister though! Why shouldn’t she ask?
“Where’s the other bottle?” That ca out ruder than she wanted, but it got the point across. Kassandora only chuckled as she picked up the bottle by her feet and handed it to Neneria. Off ca the wrapper holding back the cork. Neneria blinked. Corked rum! How high class! She pushed the cork open off and instead snapped the end off. And then stared at the bottle.
“Classic.” Kassandora said as she snatched the rum out of Neneria’s hands. A knife ca out of a pocket, and she stabbed it into the top. “How you managed to survive before us, I don’t know.”
“Do you know who I am?” Neneria asked and then blinked. That was her usual phrase, but it was Kassie, of course-
“No Nene, I do not know who you are.” Kassandora replied sarcastically. The cork only slid further in. Kassandora sighed and gave up. She turned and looked at Neneria. “How drunk are you?”
“Not drunk enough.” Neneria replied and Kassandora chuckled.
“Let’s fix that then.” She handed the back to Neneria. What exactly did she want doing? Neneria couldn’t drink thi- A swipe of Kassandora’s knife at the bottle’s neck sent the glass flying off, cork and all. Neneria blinked, realised she had been swung at, and yelped backwards, spilling the rum over her hand. Kassandora caught the bottle as Neneria took a step back.
“Warn next ti!” Neneria shouted. Kassandora looked inside the bottle with a smile. One hand held the bottle, the other gave the knife a flashy spin and it disappeared sowhere.
“Faster this way.” She peered in from a different direction. “No glass inside, you can drink it.” Neneria took the bottle and poured herself a glass. Full, all the way to the rim. “Proud to be of service.” Kassandora said.
“You didn’t even do anything.” Neneria said as she sniffed her glass and took a swig.
“I’m on break right now.” Kassandora said. “So nanny duty.”
“Nanny duty?” Neneria asked. “What are you even talking about?” Kassandora chuckled in that smug way only she could. She actually leaned up to pat Neneria on the shoulder. How patronizing!
“Don’t worry about it Nene, you wouldn’t get it.”
Jozef, Wissel, Aimone, Artois and Richard entered the farm that had been taken over by the Lubskan Governnt in order to house the weapon Divines. Olonia close behind them. Thirty Divines were hidden here, and it was only ti to share them out.
Anassa sat next to Elassa on one of CR’s great branches, the fortress was brimming with flowers and fruit. Two pairs of legs under skirts, one blue, one red, kicking the empty air as they watched the throngs of masses party underneath them. Bright lights, fireworks, a beautiful sky, ashes and jungle in the distance. Mountains that were rumbling with landslides behind them. “It’s like watching a horde of ants.” Anassa said and Elassa chuckled.
“You’re right about that.” Elassa said quietly from next to her. Arascus had said that Elassa wasn’t to be left unattended, but since it was Anassa’s directive that she stay alive, it was her responsibility. She had another copy of herself down on the ground ingratiating herself with the politicians and celebrities anyway, so she wasn’t missing out.
“Do you want a drink?” She held her arm out, ready to grasp the bottle the Anassa on the ground was holding.
“Never did it cross my mind you would even offer.” Elassa said and Anassa scoffed. She put her arm back down.
“Well if you’re like that.” Anassa scoffed and Elassa laughed.
“You’ve not changed a bit.”
“Hard to change when there’s nothing left to improve.” Elassa burst out in laughter, clutching her sides, legs kicking in the air.
“Not one bit!” She finally shouted. It took a mont to calm down and then Elassa finally acquiesced. “Alright, bring a drink.”
“Well now you’re demanding one.” Anassa said and Elassa chuckled again.
“Oh great and noble Anassa.” Elassa said sarcastically, even clasping her hands together as if she was praying. “Please, deign the Goddess of Magic with a drink.” Anassa rolled her eyes at the mockery, but frankly, she wanted a drink herself. The bottle down there disappeared, and it blinked into the Anassa’s hand up here.
“I could never get that trick.” Elassa said.
“It’s easy once you figure it out.”
“Everything is easy once you figure it out.” Anassa clicked her tongue. It was annoying that she couldn’t find a way to disagree with that statent. She wanted to, but only because it ca a mouth that wasn’t her own.
“Here.” A small light of red popped the cork off and sent it falling to the ground.
“No glasses?” Elassa asked.
“Are you a child?”
“I’m not an alcoholic.”
“The bottle is here, I’m not getting glasses.”
“Can’t or won’t?” A glass imdiately appeared in Anassa’s hand. She showed it off to Elassa and then dropped it towards the ground. More fireworks went off in the distance. “Wow.” Elassa’s tone was as flat and dead as the fields of ash around Central Requisitions, but she took the bottle. “You really are the exact sa.” She took a swig. Another. A third. A fourth. How much did woman drink?
“Hey!” Anassa shouted and pulled it out Elassa’s mouth and looked at the contents. HALF! She actually downed half the bottle! “How much do you drink?”
“I’ve built up a tolerance.” Elassa said as she laughed and lay down. “Besides, we’re Divines, that’s not even a lot.”
“You should see Neneria.” Anassa lay down next to her. Just branches and leaves above them. That wasn’t a view at all. Anassa snapped her fingers, a column of red light shot upwards, and the branches were gone to reveal a hole. They both looked through it, stars on a purple and dark blue sky.
“I was about to suggest that.”
“You could have done it yourself.” Anassa said.
“Could have, should have, would have.” Elassa snapped back quickly. Anassa rolled her eyes, it was annoying she couldn’t think of a retort to that either.
“How did you even last in the White Pantheon that long with that attitude?”
“I lasted longer than you would have.” Elassa answered quickly.
“Fantastic.” Anassa replied. They fell silent for a mont, Elassa broke the silence.
“So what are you going to do now?” She asked.
“I don’t know.” Anassa replied.
“Mmh.” Elassa made so wordless sound of affirmation. Anassa thought she should explain, she didn’t know why, there was no reason to explain herself to anyone. Maybe apart from Arascus. But Elassa… she was on that level.
“Battle plans are Kass’s responsibility.” Elassa sniffed in humour.
“Responsibility?” She asked.
“I used the correct word.”
“I’m just questioning how you, of all people, allow soone else decide for you.”
“She’s better at it than .” Anassa replied. She waited for a reply that never ca. Eventually, she turned to investigate what Elassa was doing. Two blue sapphire eyes were staring at her in almost awe, mouth slightly open. “What?”
And Elassa gave a slow reply, her voice full of awe. “You have changed.”
Aslana looked around at who she had been chosen with. Not Labrys, that feeling was pleasant at first, then it beca irritating. Frankly, she wanted to show off to Labrys more. She looked at Bessy and crossed her arms. Why? Why? Of all the nations Bessy could have been assigned to, why was it not Labrys who got this upstart junior and her instead? Too late now.
And it wasn’t the end of the world. Not after Iliyal had quietly explained the situation to her.
Fer tested the crate with her tail. It wasn’t too heavy. In fact, it wasn’t heavy whatsoever, she didn’t have to be so delicate with it. She took large steps, smile on her face, as she made her way through the crowd. A wave to one cara, a smile to another, a funny face to a third. Parties, she always enjoyed. The song and dance of it all, the people, everything. But those were parties with Divines or with her beastn, with people who had grown comfortable with her.
Now, she was the Goddess of Beasthood, people were talking off the feats she perford on the Zalewski’s eastern front. It wasn’t even a boast, her ears could pick them out as they swivelled in different directions. Great Fer, who saved soone’s brother. Amazing Fer, who made sure a father’s son would return ho. Powerful Fer, who singlehandedly defeated a team of a dozen battlemages. Fer adopted a smug smile as she strolled, arms behind her back in that way Kassandora walked when she showed off. Large steps, golden main whistling behind her, a crate on vodka held up by her tail. She knew where to go, a quick phone call in advance from one of the two dozen contacts in her phone made sure of that, but she still took the long way around to listen to stories about herself. At the end of the day, she liked the praise, it was as if Arascus was scratching her on the chin.
But how much praise could one person take? Fer stopped and listened to another story about herself. Aweso Fer, who had saved so soldier’s team and then wiped out three Paladin brigades. She nodded to herself and kept up the walk. It was good. It was fine. But there was little to comnt on with speeches like that, the most she could do is bow and make a joke.
But she knew were the people who would be complaining where. And if there was one thing more fun listening to people sing her praises, then it was listening to others bemoan their sorry lots in life. The crowds parted naturally for her, she was twice the size of the tallest human, entire n could stand upright in her shadow and not see the moon. So she walked smoothly past the tables as waiters nimbly manoeuvred around her.
Her beastn had their own table, they were having a blast with so dancers and plenty of ats being roasted on campfires. The drinks had started to flow early in the day, and a warm stomach burned with a bravery that would make even heroes of legends blush. n were coming up to talk to them, that was good, she didn’t like when they were excluded. But her beastn, she could always talk to.
These n though. She saw once in a blue moon, and they were unsung heroes that deserved their own praises. “Lads!” Fer shouted. She stopped in front of a Binturong. A vehicle that had changed the world, that everyone thought was a wondrous marvel, and one that had songs it did not deserve. A man was sitting on it, having a smoke, an empty glass next to him. A Cleric assigned to the engineering corps. He looked down at Fer, blinked, and his face lit up with a smile.
“FER!” He shouted. “How’ve you been?” He imdiately said as slid off the machine’s top and onto the ashen ground. The chanics closer to the giant trees of CR were actually getting attention from the caras and public and politicians, but these were quite lonely, populated only by the chanics. Fer looked up at the vehicle as other Clerics appeared from the vehicle. One man from the cockpit, another two from underneath, they had gambling cards sticking out of their pockets.
“You know you know.” Fer replied, she made a funny face, leaned her head from side to side. “War and fire.” She shrugged. “Standard business, I’ve been all smiles.” The n laughed. Jeffrey finished the cigarette and stamped it down. “And you boys?”
“I’ve been considering asking to be assigned on the frontlines.” One of the chanics said, another face Fer recognised from the Reclamation War, a man called Thomas. All of them were in their full Clerical kit, green clothes underneath topped off with silver armour, finely polished too.
“You boys are shining today.” Fer said and tutted comically, she wagged a finger at them. “Not good that, I’ll tell Kassie you’re slacking off.”
“Fucking Hell, you do that.” Jeffrey said as he ca to shake her hand. She made sure to be as delicate as possible. “I’ll shove one of these up your ass.” Jeffrey pointed behind himself with a thumb and a closed fist. Fer burst out in laughter. This is what she had co for. No one else would speak to her like that.
“Mine?” Fer looked up at the Binturong. It had been repainted, and flags were hanging off the barrel. Ausa’s and Kirinyaa’s tricolour, and Kassandora’s red one. She shook her head. “Won’t fit, apologies for not being as experienced as you in this departnt.” The chanics all burst out in laughter. “I’ve brought sothing.”
“What?” One of the chanics said excitedly. Fer made a show of looking around, she turned her head, she spun on the spot. Her tail moved with her.
“Oops!” Fer said sarcastically, facing the crowds in the distance. “I think I’ve lost it.” Her tail gently put the crate of rum down. She turned again and made a comically shocked expression. “Oh! There it is!” The bottles were handed out: To this team, to the one from the Binturong over, to the team that had been assigned on standing by the wheeled Lemur artillery too. And once the chanics got to drinking, the fun started. They sat in a circle and Fer listened to them share their stories with a beaming smile.
“That fucking piece of shit!” A man shouted, a new one, not a Cleric this one. Fer sipped on her own bottle. The garage was truly an amazing place, seemingly any man could be placed into it and co out the exact sa as they all were. “That one! That one!” He pointed at the Binturong next to them. “Fucking Sokolowski sent it back six tis! six fucking tis!”
“You have to give them a smack on the way out or they keep coming back.” Fer said and the chanics all laughed.
“No way six tis. You just can’t fix for shit.” Another chanic said. “Mine, I saw once.”
“Fuck off Lemur boy.” More laughter.
“I ant it! We fucking started scratching the armour to mark repairs.”
“Wait till I report you for sabotage.”
“I’ll fucking drive your stupid fucking Lemur over with my tracks.” Fer burst out in laughter, she didn’t even know why. It was simply funny.
“No no no.” Another chanic ca in. “All of you think you have it bad, no, fuck off. You’ve not seen the worst of it.”
“What’s worse than this rotting piece of shit?” A man pointed to the huge Binturong next to them.
“KAF.”
“Fuck off KAF are great. You ever see a Raptor break down?” One man spoke up.
Each mber of every team had his own colourful curse of choice for the man assigned to Raptor repairs. “Fucking Hell, you’re not even one of us! The fuck do you even do? Crank one out eight hours a day and then just put fuel in the tank?”
“Fuck off I have a girlfriend.”
“Yeah she’s the whole team’s.” More laughter. Fer clutched her ribs to contain herself. She finished her bottle and took another one from the crate.
“No, KAF are dogshit.”
“Dogshit is parked right here.”
“The planes, when they ca in, we fucking had to replace the aluminium because it was rotting. You ever see aluminium rot you cretin?” He pulled out his phone and showed them all a picture. Even Fer. She made large eyes although frankly, to her, it simply looked like a rancidly dirty steel.
“I’ve seen that before!”
“Where? You fucks get stainless steel.”
“Raptor-boy’s girlfriend!”
Maisara read through the report of what occurred at Drayim. She felt her stomach hit a brick for the third ti. First ti was when Fortia said she would announce Peacekeeping a failure. Second when they realised Neneria had been sent to Olympiada. Third when she saw Drayim had been attacked.
And just now, her stomach sank again. Fourth ti today. Drayim was one thing. But the Divines kept underneath Drayim? Oh no.
Iniri stood in the centre of a crowd. She couldn’t rember the last ti she did this. Before, she’d have to ask Allasaria for permission. Now, she had actually gone up, clutching her green dress, to ask Arascus for permission. He had rely raised an eyebrow and questioned why she even asked. And Iniri had stood there, gone as red as a ripe apple, and quickly skittered away.
A dozen trees were around her, breaching through the soil close to CR and continuously producing fruit. One for apples, another for oranges, bananas, pears, another wage a winding willow, but on it was a thick grapevine. People would bow, would smile, would laugh, would pick the fruit, would tell her it was the most delicious fruit they had ever tasted.
That was enough to make her happy for the night, but then a little boy ca up to her. “Miss Iniri?” He asked. His parents were behind him, all Kirinyaans, skinny, most likely refugees from the top, although their clothes were clean if not fashionable, they had obviously put so effort in to be here. Iniri squatted down with a gentle smile.
“Yes sweetheart?” She made her tone as gentle as she could.
“I…” He began and started to blush. Then turned and raced back to his mother. Iniri rely kept posture as she watched his parents reassure him for a mont. The boy turned, took a deep breath, and walked with careful steps to Iniri.
“Don’t worry, I won’t do anything.” Iniri turned and her eyes bulged in surprise. Anassa was standing in the air, red dress gently carried in the breeze as bright flashes of red light shot from within the leaves of the orange tree and oranges darted into an arm cupped around her stomach. Anassa turned and saw Iniri catch her. She looked at the oranges. At the tree. At Iniri.
And then the Goddess of Sorcery went bright red that she had been caught in the act. “They’re good.” Anassa quickly said. And Anassa disappeared, oranges and all. Iniri laughed to herself and held out an arm, a complint from Anassa was sothing she would share with Kavaa and Helenna later. A vine carried one of the apples into her palm and she turned back to the boy. He was staring with awe at the moving plants.
“Do you want an apple?” The boy nodded and Iniri gave it to him. He clutched it to his chest and took a deep breath, cheeks going as red as the skin of the fruit he was holding.
“Miss Iniri.” He said carefully again.
“Yes dear?” She asked.
“I… I-I talked with Miss Kavaa.” He said. “A-A-And… she said…” He closed his eyes and spoke very quickly. “Please-can-you-make--a-lion-toy?!” It was a half shout. The boy opened his eyes when he heard Iniri laugh.
“Of course!” Iniri said. “Since you asked so nicely, and you were brave enough to ask yourself.” The magic was already working, and what was a simple wooden toy for her? A stick slowly grew out of the ground, she made sure to put on a show for the boy, with the branches curving and swirling through the air, then making a gentle turn. “Put your hands out dear.”
The boy quickly put the apple into his pocket and put his arms out as the end of the branch made a ball. Ball turned into torso, four legs sprouted out the bottom, a tail, a mouth, a roaring lion. It shed the bark, a thin layer of sap covered it, quickly dried out to give it a shine and protect it from the air. “Ready?” Iniri asked.
The boy nodded and the tiny piece of wood holding the lion snapped. It fell into the boy’s hands. He looked at it in awe, squealed in joy, and then ran back to his parents. Iniri watched them for a mont as she stood up and got back to tending the trees. A few more fruits were grown, and she felt sothing gently poke her leg. She turned and looked down. It was the little boy again. She quickly scanned for the parents, they were holding the lion toy and watching their child and the Goddess with proud, bright smiles. “Ah-Ah-Ah.” He spluttered out so syllable-less words, then gave up, and hugged her leg.
And in that mont, Iniri realised all those years she had chosen the wrong team. People cried, people thanked her, people sang songs for her, but never had this happened. She blinked the water on her eyes away and sighed, then squatted down to the boy’s height and held her arms out. That was a proper hug.
And with that one toy, another child ca. An eagle for a girl. A sculpture of his parents for another boy. A rhinoceros. A tree. A house. Another lion. The lion was very popular here, as was the rhino. Tiny little wooden toys that made sure these little children would never forget her.
But then ca a girl, maybe ten, maybe eleven. Blushing and looking everywhere but at Iniri. With long dark hair and arms fidgeting by her sides. “Miss Iniri?”
“Yes sweetheart?”
“Please…” She looked down, took a deep breath, looked up and t Iniri’s eyes with a childish attempt at confidence. “Please Miss Iniri can I have little figurine of you?” In that mont, Iniri couldn’t stop her own happy tears from making two thin streams down her cheeks.
“How bad is the situation?” Fortia asked Maisara.
“It’s bad enough for to say I can’t actually think of anything worse that could have happened.”
Kavaa eventually found Olephia, she was stood painting on a balcony of CR. She didn’t know why, but she always wanted to et Olephia. She knew Helenna and Iniri did too, and they had, but it was always with soone else. That short eting had quelled the curiosity in them, but not in Kavaa. The Goddess of Chaos was stood before a giant wooden wall, perfectly smoothed with sap, and brushing away with her paints.
Kavaa said nothing, she rely stood there and watched. It was srizing, beautiful. She had seen Olephia’s paintings before, all of them have. How could they not? Almost every national gallery had a painting of hers still preserved behind glass, the White Pantheon’s own museum had more than a hundred of them. But to see one being made? Olephia stood there, music playing, lost in her own thoughts, rolling her head from side to side, tapping her foot to the beat, rolling her hips during the chorus and gently guiding the brush from side to side.
She was drawing the entire scene before her, the fields of ash, the silhouettes of crumbling mountains, the throngs of people, the tables arranged, the helicopters in the air. Planes on the ground, trucks parked in long lines, every tiny little detail, popping and brought to life. She spun, a wide smile on her face, saw Kavaa and stopped suddenly.
The smile did not drop, but she put ssy palette, different colours mixed into a thousand different hues carefully, the dipped her paintbrush in a cup of water carefully brushed it off. “Sorry for interrupting.” Kavaa said slowly. Now that she was here, she really didn’t know what to say.
This was Olephia. The Goddess of Chaos. The one who’s throat broke atoms apart. Who had annihilated the Jungle’s Caretaker with a single word. And now she stood before Kavaa. Titles were not necessary for Olephia. Olephia was simply The Olephia. In a dark dress as if she was ready to go for a dance, although admittedly it did have a few specks of paint here and there across the front. Her arms and hands were just as dirty. And Olephia skipped to a nearby table, dipped her hands in another bowl of clear water, wiped them down on her dress, and pulled out a notepad.
Kavaa! She said showed the text to Kavaa and then wrote so poor. Heavens above, she really did have pretty handwriting. What brings you here?
“I just wanted to talk…” Kavaa said and realised what she just said. Olephia smiled and wrote a reply.
Do not worry, this is how I talk.
“I…” Kavaa was at a loss for words. “I just wanted to see what you were doing.” Olephia smiled smugly. Her pen worked quickly.
Curious about the Goddess of Chaos?
“I suppose I am.”
I’m an open book. Not much to hide.
“I suppose not.” Kavaa replied. Olephia turned excitedly to the painting she was working on, showing it off with both hands, notepad and pen still held in her hands, her smiled showed off perfect white teeth. And then she wrote a reply.
Do you like it?
“I think it’s gorgeous.” Kavaa said. Honestly, this wasn’t so bad.
The purples were hard to mix. I used blue and red, but added a tiny bit of black. Olephia ripped the paper off and handed it to Kavaa, then wrote more. She didn’t care much for the lines that had co printed on the paper. That was too dark, so I made it lighter, then I accidently smudged it with orange but I think the shade ca out really nice! Normally you mix too many together and you get death brown.
“Death brown?” Kavaa asked and Olephia nodded excitedly.
Death brown because it’s the death of a painting. Better than death grey, or death black. That’s just gone! Finito! Caput! Kavaa laughed at the text. I used a pencil to draw it first, have you seen my sketches?
“I’ve not.” Kavaa said. Olephia walked over to the over side of Iniri’s wall and picked up a large book. She flicked open a few pages, tapped one twice, pointed at Kavaa, then showed it off. And Kavaa was looking at… herself. A perfect version of herself, in black and white, it was a simple sketch after all. But…
Wow.
She looked at herself holding a blade, the ill and sickly behind her. A line of Clerics before her, but it was her. Olephia wrote sothing more in her notepad. Do you like it?
“That’s brilliant.” Kavaa replied. “How? When did you do it? Without a reference?” Olephia made a smug smile and put her fingers to her lips. “It’s a secret?” Kavaa asked and Olephia nodded. Then wrote so more text. Fer likes taking pictures. She takes pictures of everything.
“She has pictures of ?”
She has pictures of everyone. Olephia smiled and she quickly wrote a reply. Honestly, I don’t even know why, her mory is perfect.
“What? Does she have them of sleeping too?” Olephia made a smug smile.
She’ll get them if I ask
“Don’t ask.” Kavaa said. “Please?”
Well since you asked so politely I’ll save you. And Olephia scrawled so more. Do you want a drink?
“You drink!?” Kavaa honestly could not even contain herself. She had expected to be surprised. All of Arascus’ daughters were completely different than what she expected, but not this!
Of course I drink! Olephia wrote quickly. Do you know any Divine that doesn’t? Kavaa chuckled for a mont. Actually now that Olephia said it, she didn’t know a single one. Even Maisara drank. What do you like?
“I like Whiskeys and Rums. Gin too.” Olephia nodded with each one. Her reply ca quickly.
Predictable.
“PREDICTABLE!?”
All doctor’s drinks. You’re an open book. Olephia smiled. What do you think I drink?
“I honestly have no clue.”
Guess! Kavaa looked Olephia up and down. She was smiling and excited, bouncing from foot to foot. What would she drink?
“Vodka?” Kavaa asked. Olephia smiled and shook her head.
I like that you didn’t overthink it. She wrote so more. Close, Fer is the only one that got closer than you. She walked behind her bored and brought out a large glass. Already half of it was gone. And it was filled with… Kavaa stared at whatever that was… was that even drinkable? It looked like brown sludge. Why did it have a consistency?
“What the fuck is that?” Kavaa said, then put her hands to her mouth when she realise she swore. Olephia smiled, closed her eyes, and took a silent sip. Then handed it to Kavaa and made a drinking motion. Kavaa stared at the… she had made dicines that looked better! And dicines were supposed to be disgusting! Kavaa took a sigh, and tasted it.
Coffee. Vodka. Orange juice. Apple juice too. Tiny amount of coffee. Good amount of vodka. The juices overpowered the bitter taste, although the vodka was obviously not a good brand. There was sothing spicy too, pepper? No, sothing like peppers instead. Kavaa swirled it around her mouth and drank. It wasn’t bad actually. She looked at the mixture. “Can I have so more?” Olephia blinked in surprise, her mouth finally opened and she closed it.
You like it?
“It’s not the worst thing I’ve ever tasted.” Kavaa took another sip. It honestly wasn’t terrible, although she had never been a picky eater or a picky drinker. She even drank the herbiest gins straight.
It’s a joke. Olephia made a circle around her wall and brought back two glasses. Then again. A bottle and a handful of oranges. I make them bad on purpose. She looked at Kavaa. Does your tongue work?
“It’s honestly not the worst thing I ever drank.” Olephia made an impressed face.
Well you’re the first one then. Olephia wrote quickly. I just mix orange juice and vodka normally.
“Iniri has good oranges.” Kavaa said. Olephia bead a smile as she wrote a reply down.
I know! I get Anassa to bring them! They’re really sweet! Not too sour either!
“Have you ever tried her tangerines?”
She can grow tangerines?
“She’s Iniri, what can’t she grow?” Kavaa said. She knew Olephia liked sweets, that was already odd enough. “But her tangerines are really sweet. I think you’d like them.” Kavaa said as Olephia ripped an orange apart with her hands. The vodkas were already poured, these were a better brand, and the orange juice filled up the cup.
And now that they were talking, Kavaa actually found Olephia’s company quiet pleasant. She was much easier to spend ti with than any of them. Kassandora always kept her on her toes, Anassa was just terrible. Arascus was overpowering, Fer was funny, but Fer was mischievous and she got annoying too. And Neneria… In this conversation, Kavaa probably exchanged more words with Olephia than she had the entire since she t Neneria. And Olephia, destructive Goddess of Chaos, the force of Uncreation, simply talked.
“Ten ti-“ Olephia silenced Kavaa by pressing a finger to her lips. She cupped her other hand to her ear. “Listen?” Olephia nodded and leaned over the balcony. Kavaa leaned with her. There was a song in a terribly delicate voice coming from below. Olephia smiled, closed her eyes, and swayed her head to the music.
“That’s Neneria?” Olephia nodded. The reply ca quickly.
Kassie promised she’d get Nene to sing.
“She is a good singer.”
Everyone says that.
“It’s true.”
That, it is.
And so they stayed, and listened. And Kavaa would never forget this night. She doubted any of them would.
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