Derlik just chuckled softly as Luca clung to him, lightly patting his back and holding him close to the god's chest. He didn't have anything in particular in mind, but it was rare he ever did.
"I've got ya. I'm not going to let such a well-behaved toy break, after all." The god hummed softly, starting to walk once more.
"Mm… I want to go check on my village. Surely they're upset they gave up one of their own only for a traveler to come through a couple hours later."
Luca wasn't necessarily well behaved, he was just terrified to the point where he could barely process anything any more. He was grateful that the god didn't seem intent on killing him… Yet. He paused and tensed in fear when he mentioned fear in the thought of the god going to the village. The village hadn't cared about him- he hesitated. He pressed into his chest, now scared of what might happen to the village since they basically threw him out… He inhaled shakily knowing that no one would think on it much.
Derlik didn't see a difference, so long as Luca did what he was told. The god kept the small man against his chest as he walked, still rubbing his back with one finger. Luca was a sweet little thing, wasn't he? So cute… The god continued to relatively short way from his clearing to the village, climbing up into a tree gracefully and sitting on a branch to watch the village from there.
"I wonder how they would react, if you came marching back in with my mark on your neck," the god mused, looking down at Luca and gently rubbing his cheek.
Luca glanced down and squeaked, choking back a bit of fear. Don't look down, don't look down- he hid his face in the gods chest, just trying so desperately not to think about the drop. He started shaking again, both at the thought of going home and the thought of being dropped. Both things terrified him. "They didn't like me all that much." He whispered. "Only mum…" He whispered, still clinging to the god for dear life. He felt like he was going to collapse from the amount of stress his body was going through at the moment. He wanted to scream, or cry… Or both.
Derlik looked down, holding Luca to his chest before gently pulling him into another euphoria inciting hug.
"Well, I like you quite a lot," the god said softly, hand running over the back of the head hiding in his chest. He held Luca close in the hug, jumping down from the branch before starting to walk into the village. These people had things to answer to, after all.
The feeling of euphoria washing over his body slowly helped him ease once again, his body relaxing into the gods grasps. He clung closer to the god when he jumped off the tree, the euphoria in his system making it as if he were floating. He looks towards the village, his mind hazy for a moment before he asked quietly, "What… What are you going to do to them?" He glanced up at the god fearfully, scared he had made the god angry.
"Mm… I'm not sure yet," Derlik admitted. He didn't seem angry at all, holding the back of Luca's head still. In a moment, Luca was back to being human, body stretching out and returning to flesh. Derlik held the man in his arms still, letting his head rest on Luca's.
"Let's go say hello, hm? It's been a long while since I visited my village, after all."
He startled when he was stretched back into human size, his eyes widening a little bit. He was glad to be bigger again, but the god was still bigger then him and it would be an absolute nightmare to try and run at the moment. And that might set off the gods rage. He didn't want to say hello, didn't want to face the people that so willingly got rid of him. It was a split second choice for the council… He tucked his head into the gods shoulder. He didn't want to see the people of the village. His home was the furthest from the center of the village, it was past the farms, and near the edge of the forest.
Derlik was quiet as he walked, rubbing Luca's back lightly as they went along. He wasn't going to get out of facing these people, being around them, but he wouldn't have to do anything. Derlik would handle all of this.
"Would you like to stop by and see your mother when we're done in the village?" The god offered, lips curling up in a smirk as he thought of something… fun, he could do with Luca.
The touches eased him, although he wasn't sure if it was because of the gods ability or he was so touched starved to the point that the god offering that physical affection and comfort where he was stressed just eased him. He perked up at the idea of seeing his mother again, just one last time before he was whisked away forever… But he felt like that would be to painful for her. But he nods slowly. "Can we just check in on her?" He asks softly.
"As soon as I'm done with the council, we can," Derlik informed Luca. He continued with the gentle touches, fingers going up to run through Luca's hair. He continued down the path, not caring if anyone spotted him or not. It was hard to mistake his as anything other than the god he was, after all, so he knew they wouldn't try anything.
"Then afterwards we can go do something to take care of that stress of yours."
Luca clung to the god now, what did he mean by that? Dealing with the council? Was he planning something? Most likely- but he stayed quiet, not wanting to be reprimanded. After all, the god had threatened this morning to kill him. Messing with a god was a dangerous thing. And with the possibility of his mother getting hurt he stayed quiet. Something about his stress? Ah… He was very stressed… Last night and this morning had been stressful.
Derlik tucked his head against Luca's shoulder, humming still as he held the human to himself. He made his way into the center of the village again, looking around.
"Hey!" He snapped, to get the attention of anyone and everyone in the area. He gently rubbed Luca's back, not making him look.
The village was busy with children dancing and playing around, the mothers or fathers watching fondly nearby. It was very clear that the village suffered nothing when they got rid of Luca. It was like the sacrifice had done nothing, maybe cheered them up a bit really. People in the village found him strange for his mismatched eyes, his small stature, his quiet ways. He tensed when the god yelled, burying his face into the gods shoulder, not daring to look. He could hear the laughter, the celebrating. No remorse or sadness for his sacrifice. The people quickly looked at the god, silence befalling the people as they gathered, and there was a tremor of sudden tension.
"Well, isn't this a sight to see?" Derlik started. He took the time to glare at the people around him, holding Luca close to himself.
"I came here thinking it would do this place good to see the one you offered to me was still alive, but I think you're all fucking disappointed in that from how you seemed to celebrate giving him to me! I want everyone on the council to step forward, now." Derlik pointed to a spot in front of him, frowning deeply as he waited.
The village people stepped back to reveal five people, three men and two women. Each of them wore the symbol of the god standing in front of them. Each of them looked absolutely terror stricken. Luca didn't dare look at the people, keeping his eyes firmly shut tight, and his face pressed into the gods shoulder. Now that he knew the truth, now that he understood how truly worthless he was, he didn't care at this point. The god could kill him if he wanted, throw him away, but the harsh reality hit him hard. The council members dared not to speak, each of them bowing deeply, nearly groveling at the sight of their god in front of them.
That same symbol was on Luca's neck, now, marking him as the god's. Derlik took a moment to gently run his fingers through Luca's hair, then turned to look at the five people groveling before him.
"What made you think this was a good idea?" He demanded, voice raising some. "EVery year I have ensured there has been a traveler for you to offer to me. Did you grow impatient?! Or did you just want to be rid of this man?!"
Luca didn't tense at the touch this time, to lost within his own mind. His chest hurt- no everything hurt at this point. The realization that he was never wanted in the first place. He felt dizzy, like he was losing control, spiraling within his own mind. Nothing made sense- not any more at least.
"We apologize, mighty one… We were fearful that a traveler wouldn't make it in time- we simply wanted the sacrifice to be on time- we swear." The woman's voice was shaky. It was a partial truth, that much was obvious. But it wasn't the whole truth.
"You had three weeks more time for the traveler to come. The traveler did come, not three hours into the night. I'd guided him here myself." Derlik stepped up to the woman, taking her chin in his hand.
"And I would suggest telling me every single part as to why you gave me Luca before you get punished."
The woman's eyes widen slightly when she was grabbed, looking over at Luca desperately. "He does nothing for this village." She swallowed thickly. "He and his mother live on the outskirts of the village. He doesn't help the village, simply stays in his home or runs around in nature. He contributes nothing." Luca visibly winced at that. He stayed home because his mother had gotten injured when he was young. He hunted for their food, grew their gardens, did what he could for his mother. Of course he grew up secluded. The last time he was in a big village- no he didn't dare think of it.
"So, you really did just want to get rid of him, then." Derlik was not happy with that. He tossed the woman down to the ground by his hold on her chin, and before she could even do anything to resist his head came down on her head. Her skull was crushed, blood staining Derlik's heel.
"If you are all so keen on getting rid of those you deem unwanted, you should have no problem doing that every year. No more travelers are ever going to be coming through here again. I'm going to cut you all entirely off from the rest of the world." Derlik lifted his foot from the woman's head as her blue soul orb pushed out of her chest. Derlik reached down to pick her up, looking her over before just tossing her to the side.
"No- wait please-" Her cries were cut off sharply and Luca tensed at the sounds of her skull getting crushed, and the metallic smell of blood rushed through his nose. He almost vomited- almost being the key word. If he had he wasn't sure what the wrath of the god would be. But what about his mother? His mother was still here, still alone. What if she got sent next? What would happen to her? "Sir-" He whispered hoarsely. "My mother- she could be next if that happens…" He knew it was useless to say such things, he was simply a toy to the god now- a doll as he had been called this morning.
Derlik just ran his fingers through Luca's hair as he wiped his shoe off in the grass.
"Anyone having any objections-?" Derlik looked down as Luca did voice his concern, holding the man close. He considered for a moment, then lightly patted Luca's back.
"If she gets offered," Derlik assured him, though it was loud enough for the remaining council members could hear, "I'll raze this village to the fucking ground." The god offered a sweet smile that didn't match his words, humming softly.
"If no one else has anything to say, I'll be taking my leave." A threat- anything else said and the person might just end up like the dead council woman.
None of the villagers spoke, fear laced with their eyes, children holding on to their parents tight in fear, no one dared to speak a word when the god was speaking, no one dared utter a word of opposition. The body tossed to the side still continued to gush blood, and the remaining council members shook with fear. Luca however, was surprised that the god had listened to him, he doubted however that it was something that would happen frequently. He kept quiet now, not saying anything else. He didn't dare look up, didn't dare make eye contact with any of the villagers. The didn't look at him thankfully, to busy looking at the ground or staring horrified at the body.
"That's what I thought." Derlik turned to walk away, pausing for only a moment when he came to the woman's soul, laying on the ground partially cracked from where he'd tossed her. He let out an annoyed sigh, leaning down to pick her up and putting her in his pocket.
"Let's go visit your mother now, hm?" Derlik patted Luca's back, walking out of the main part of the village towards her home.
