Audomar raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t really thought about that. Why had Xellis made this guy his associate? He could have just made him a soul…
“Perhaps he saw a potential acquaintance?” Audo asked, looking up to the other god. “Maybe? I mean, he could have just made you a kept soul…”
Xellis’ cheeks turned a bright shade of pink, clearly caught off-guard. He was about to speak when Audo stopped him, knowing not to push.
“Or maybe he still plans to make you a soul…? Considering it’s one of your first days here, everything’s still uncertain and up in the air.”
"I dunno. I told him I'm pretty shit for company." Scipio shrugged, yawning boredly and examining his hands. "I'm not good at much other than killing people since that was sorta my job. I'm also not great at… let's say… doing what other people tell me to do. So I'm not sure I'd be great at the whole 'doing his bidding' for prayers and shit anyway." He hummed thoughtfully. "Can you use souls as like, a show of how rich you are? Like, the more souls you have, the higher up in the economy you are?"
“Yes, that’s technically the hierarchy. It’s not a form of currency though, if that’s what you mean,” Audo replied. “Just more souls signify the percentage of those kinds of people within the mortal plane. Like, since learning and knowledge and education became prevalent, Ivodyr started receiving souls. Those pledged to teaching others, as well as learning themselves, are now part of Ivodyr’s arsenal, so to speak. The Harbingers of Knowledge.”
Scipio nodded a bit. "Mm. Makes sense." He glanced around the room again. "I guess there's almost a constant influx of souls, but most of them don't get claimed. Why me? Why not just let me go… uh… wherever the unclaimed souls go?" He asked.
Xellis still looked very uncomfortable, wishing the boy would stop asking so many questions relating to his reasoning.
Although, Audomar was curious as well now, so he just looked up to the younger god, cocking his head and awaiting a reply.
“You were around my same mental age…” Xellis began, looking elsewhere. His face still held that flushed red hue. “I— I figured you might have been cool to… hang out with…”
He paused, taking a deep breath and resiting the urge to scream into his hands.
“I just didn’t wan’t to be alone anymore.”
Scipio ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. This guy really is desperate… "I mean, I already told you I'd stick around, but I'm really not a nice person or anything. From what I can tell, I'm not exactly the ideal companion. It's not like I've got anything else to do, but… still. I'm not good with people."
“Doesn’t matter,” Xellis said, voice slightly harsher. “I don’t care if you’re good with people or not, you seemed like a chill dude and you’ve already helped me a lot.”
He let the silence set in before gritting his teeth and continuing.
“I can absolutely let you slink into a gemstone, if that’s what you want. I can also let you seep back up to where lost souls go. How about it?”
He seemed offended but tried his best not to show it.
"Mm. How have I helped you? I've done nothing but piss you off and get pissed off. Mostly by doors. I also got very drunk and probably gave you a lot of information I don't remember. I gotta stick around to make sure you don't tell anyone." Scipio smirked a bit and sprawled across the armchair. "Living in a literal gemstone could be glamorous and all, but glamorous isn't really my style."
“Well then if you wish for a glamour-less way, feel free to sink into oblivion,” Xellis murmured with a sing-song voice.
Audomar cleared his throat, placing a hand on Xellis’s arm. The two locked eyes for a moment, before Xellis closed his and sighed.
“Doesn’t matter,” he whispered. “Just— come on, let’s go.”
He gave a small nod to Audo, flicking his head to Scipio and gesturing out the door.
Scipio got to his feet and stuck his thumbs in his pockets, whistling idly to himself as he followed Xellis out. He waved to Audomar before he stepped outside and glanced around now that he had the opportunity to do so. Having taken a portal here meant that he couldn't see the surrounding area.
Without another word, Xellis opened a new portal, the interior of it looking like the main room of the manor. The temperature change was drastic, so steam billowed at the edges of the rosy gold ring. He stepped inside, offering Scipio a hand.
Scipio hesitated before accepting Xellis's hand and stepping through. He managed to not fall over this time, but only very nearly. He stumbled and clung tightly to Xellis's hand to keep himself up, but immediately released him as soon as he felt steady.
Xellis resisted the urge to smile at Scipio‘s trouble. Not because he was making fun, but because it was moderately cute, and he wanted to be angry.
He looked up to the manor, but what he was greeted with chilled his heart instantly. A man, the man from before in the picture, sat at the table. His eyes were locked on Scipio.
“Who do you have here?” he asked, his voice fluctuating mockingly.
"Uh… who the hell are you?" Scipio asked, brushing himself off before crossing his arms. He clearly wasn't afraid of the stranger, even though he had a feeling he was probably supposed to be. "Another god? Fuck, there's way too many of you guys…"
The man let a moment of silence pass before speaking. He looked more… mortal than Xellis, if it wasn’t for his pitch black eyes— no white to be seen. His skin was paler and his hair was a dark brown, yet his sickening grin was anything but mortal.
“Well?” he asked. “Xel? Are you going to introduce your dear brother? Or are you that incompetent?”
“His name’s Elandorr,” Xellis said without missing a beat. He knew better. “The god of the art of getting lost. The god of losing oneself. Basically my counterpart, as I’m the god of finding oneself.”
As he spoke, he looked extremely domestic, like a puppy who had just been kicked.
“And look how good that’s treating you,” Elandorr muttered wickedly.
He was older than Xellis, by many millennia. Probably about 25 if it were related to human years.
"Mm. Siblings. Didn't know you gods could have those, unless you're adopted or something." Scipio examined Elandorr closely, trying to pick up as much information about him as possible. Older than Xellis? Their powers seem to counteract each other's… and they don't seem to like each other much. Probably bicker a lot. That'll be annoying… "Are you around often or are you going to get lost?" Scipio asked, raising one eyebrow questioningly. "Seeing as that seems to be your specialty and all."
Elandorr narrowed his eyes slightly, although his smile still shined through. Xellis kept his eyes locked on the man as he spoke.
“Family trees are odd. None of us are related, as we’re born from human consciousness. We’re just sorted into houses, and raised as different roles from then,” he explained quietly, his voice bleak.
“No, I’m not going to ‘get lost,’” Elandorr muttered. “That’s the people’s job. I just reap the benefits.”
Xellis turned, motioning for Scipio to follow. Although he didn’t go back to his room, he went up adjacent stairs, where a few rooms stood at the top.
As he walked off, Elandorr called from behind, “Nice seeing you, brother.”
Scipio narrowed his eyes a bit as well, only looking away when Xellis motioned for him to follow. He hesitated before trailing after him quietly. He hardly made any noise as he stepped up the stairs. He only spoke once they were out of earshot of Elandorr. "Where are you taking me?" He asked softly. "And what is your brother doing here?"
“Well, it’s his house, too,” Xellis murmured. “He’s probably just stopping by after a prayer. He might be gone soon.”
He took a small key from his pocket, where Arci had been hiding. Although, in order to do so, he had to be much smaller. He now looked like a wallet, with little hands grabbing on to the rim of the pocket. Xellis turned to one of the doors— the one that looked the most well-kept— and opened it.
“I’m taking you to your room,” he said, opening the door and motioning for Scipio to step in.
It looked roughly like Xellis’s, although everything was a shade darker, and much more monotone. It looked well-cared-for, only a bit of dust on just the highest of shelves. Other than the bed, wardrobe, vanity, bed stand, and chair, the whole place was empty. Nothing on the shelves except older books, and small candles lighting the place.
Scipio looked around the room boredly, his arms still crossed. "Mm. It'll do." He started unbuttoning his shirt as he walked around to examine the room more closely. "What are all of these?" He asked, gesturing towards all the books. "Anything actually remotely interesting to pass the time?"
“The history of the gods,” Xellis mumbled plainly. “It’s not interesting.”
He continued to stand in the doorway, then patted the wall and turned.
“I’ll be in the courtyard if you need me,” he said, setting the key down on the nearby wardrobe. “If you get hungry you can come get me, and I’ll have something made.”
With that, he stepped down, taking a deep breath and dreading having to walk past Elandorr again.
"Alright." Scipio waved and sighed. He grabbed one of the books and lay down on the bed after he'd pulled his shirt off. Might as well learn some more about these weirdos… He flipped open the book and started reading. As Xellis had said, it was dreadfully boring. He eventually fell asleep with the book laying open on his chest.
Xellis flew down the stairs and out before Elandorr could see him. Unfortunately, that’s what he thought.
He made his way wistfully to the garden, bending down, grabbing his gloves, and slipping them on. He went to work pulling weeds from the beds, whistling as he did so.
Elandorr stalked up beside him, his black eyes glinting.
“So, tell me about him,” he mumbled.
“No,” Xellis replied, not giving a second thought.
“Why?” Elandorr purred, standing still beside him.
“It’s not your business,” Xellis said, although his voice seemed passive.
“Fair,” the man cooed, preening his nails. “I just would like to know… if he’s anything like the last one—”
“No,” Xellis growled, louder now.
“Fine, fine, keep your secrets,” he laughed. “Just know—,” he rested his cold hand on the boy’s shoulder, “— Zayanzar would be so proud.”
“Leave, Elandorr.”
“As you wish,” he replied, slithering away.
Xellis let out a shaky sigh, continuing his work in the evening sun.
Scipio woke up after an hour or so, opening his eyes with a soft groan. "I must have fallen asleep…" He muttered, yawning and slipping off the bed. He slipped his shirt back on, not bothering to button it back up or to neaten up his disheveled hair. "Xellis?" He called out, heading down the stairs and out the door. "Hello?" He looked around until he noticed Xellis. "Where did your brother go?" He asked, leaning up against the wall with his hands in his pockets.
