The Ball had stretched deep into the night, its festivities spanning for hours as platters of food and goblets of wine were passed around. The revelers, both n and won, were all in a state of intoxication, their senses flitting between the realm of reality and the ethereal mist of the night.
It had been quite the sight, leaving Syris to giggle. "Is this what gods perceive mortals to be?"
Altair raised a brow. She had a point. The stronger his perception had beco, the more he could see how mortals could be considered mindless drunks before their eyes. Perhaps it had been his arrogance, yet the more he watched them lost in the wine, the more he found himself relating to Syris's words.
He grinned, "Well said. Is this also going into your Bible?"
"I'll have to spews-it-up, but perhaps," Syris said, her lips perking into a lovely smile. "Perhaps I'll compare the perception of a god to the relation between a child and a parent."
'You seed to be having quite the ti."
"I am." Syris nodded. "You should see the children Nia is training: Cute little things. Every morning, I have them sing praises towards the Vale. It's not the man that can change a kingdom but the 'force' it carries. Religion across the ages always seem to span longer than the life span of any kingdom."
It was strange hearing Syris speak so… theologically. Yet there was an aggressiveness to her words that made him wary. Religion in any form was a dangerous tool. It segregated ideals.
Still, he wasn't against the idea. Especially since the one they'd be worshiping would be him. He rely had to trust that Syris understood the power religion had on the minds of the n and won now under her control.
He grinned, pulling himself and Syris to their feet before making a few rounds to make a few more connections between the neighboring kingdoms and corporations from Genesis. He grinned when he ca across the various Saints from the Twelve Zodiacs.
"Lady Scythia Talfor, I believe it's been eight years," Altair said before the Transcendent of Scorpio.
Scythia looked surprised. " You rembered."
'How could I forget?" Altair said, lifting the Ring of Draupnir. "I'm still using this baby. It's treated well these past years."
Scythia found a smile, studying the man who was once a boy with amazent. She could hardly believe the little brat that was twelve when they t would have grown so much. She was a bit regretful she couldn't snatch him up when she had the chance.
"Actually…" Altair began. "I wanted to invite your organization to Earth formally. You've treated well years back. It's ti I return that favor, don't you think?"
"It was only a ring and a few resources," Scythia said, regretting the words as they ca.
"Perhaps, but I like you. I like your spirit. Your strong, and my Sword Maid here claims you'd make a most wonderful fiend in the future."
"A fiend?" Scythia laughed, glancing at Tasha. "Is that a complint? Well, I'll take it. Never been called a fiend before."
Tasha lips perked up. "Where I'm from is quite the complint."
"And where is that?" Scythia asked.
"Spoilers," Tasha mused with a sneaky smile. She winked, causing Scythia to flush.
'Oh my… does she prefer the company of won?' Altair wondered. He chuckled soon after gesturing to Syris. "This is my Saintess."
"I heard. Does that an you've found a God to worship?"
Syris answered for him. "As future Gods, it's unbecoming to worship anyone ourselves."
"You make it sound so simple," Sythia said dryly.
"But it is," Syris said, taking a lithe step forward. Her silvery blue eyes dazzled like the brightest light. His Highness and I are both part of a God Race. As for what grade, we'll keep that a secret. But it's only a matter of when we beco gods."
Scythia wasn't surprised, although she still didn't understand why Altair needed them. Inviting an organization to his monopoly was inviting trouble. She was rely one of many faces of Scorpio.
"Will you accept?" Altair asked.
"Can I think about it?"
"No," The Emperor said in his regal voice. "You are Scorpio's representative. You are their voice. I wouldn't have sent an invite if they hadn't sent soone without a backbone."
Scythia froze, recognizing her mistake. She bowed, knowing the invitation would only co once. "We'd be happy to accept the invitation to bring our cooperation to Earth's surface."
Altair allowed her to raise her head, offering her a drink before making idle conversation before he left for another of the Twelve Zodiacs. He didn't offer them a deal like he did Scythia but felt the rest needed to salivate to help sweeten the pot.
Sauntering through the party, Altair finally stopped before Amilia and Fat Mike, who sat awkwardly between gera and Zagreus. He wanted to laugh but stifled it as best he could.
"I hope your trip to the surface was a pleasant one. When Thanatos told you were coming, I could hardly believe it," he said, his voice cracking.
Zagreus frowned. "So you knew?"
"An hour before the party. You were preoccupied, so I didn't bother reaching out," Altair said.
"A pleasure, Lord Blackwood," gaera said, rising to formally greet him, but Altair stayed her movent with a palm.
"There is no need to rise. However, I thought your first stop would have been to see dusa. I heard you two were besties."
gaera blushed, glaring at Thanatos as he made his rounds to accompany various important guests. He smiled and waved at her before proceeding on his way.
"Damn that lord of death. I don't like that word… my Lord."
"What bestie?"
gaera flush only seed to deepen. "Yes. that one. dusa and I are rely good friends."
"Oh my god, you're cute," Syris said, a little taken aback. She could feel her battle-hardened persona bleeding out from within her skin-tight dress. It had been undeniable how many people she'd kill, yet even she had such a side to her.
"I wanna spar against you one day."
gaera rose, a head taller than Syris, nearing Altair's height. "You'd lose."
"We'll see," Syris said confidently.
"I—" gaera frowned, her eyes swaying to the perceived danger around her.
Altair seed to sense it too, the 'knowing' of his Spirit Domain filtering through his subconscious, alerting him of so unseen danger. He glanced around, his gaze narrowing on a man staring at him. The mont their eyes t, the stranger turned, but by then, it was too late.
Raven approached, her eyes a deep shade of red as she activated the Eyes of Sacrilege.
"It seems it's already taken care of," Altair mused, turning back to gaera. That's quite the sharp sense you have there. How'd you do that?"
"There is more to a domain than perceiving your surroundings in 360 degrees. When you create your 'World,' I'm sure you'll understand."
"The more I learn, the less I feel like I know." He shook his head, bellowing a sigh. "Well, I hope you enjoy the ball. I've so business with the Twelve Olympians."
****
The first god Altair had approached had been Aphrodite, conversing with Athena and Hera. The three were as lovely as he suspected them to be, encompassing the very definition of beauty. They didn't seem real, although neither did Syris Raina or Tasha. And yet…
"Altair," said Athena, quickly noticing his arrival. "Mother, this is the young man I was just speaking about."
"The boy king," Hera said cooly.
Altair looked her dead in the eye, sliding his gaze away, without further recognition, to Aphrodite, who, like her brother, appeared laid back, beaming as she opened her palm, conjuring an envelope.
"The price," She said in a lovely voice. Smoothing a strand of her red hair from her face.
Startled, to say the least, Altair accepted it and simply pocketed it without looking it over. "Your Acholyte will be released."
"Please torture her a bit. Play with her holes for so that she might understand her mistake." Aphrodite grinned when she saw Altair's disturbed expression. "You know she has a kink for that sort of thing, right? No need to feel guilty. I'm sure that little slut is imagining many ways in which you can tease her."
Altair's jaw snapped opened, finding for the first ti in a while he was at a loss for words.
"I see…" he said, pushing down the wild thoughts seeking to distort his mind. I'll keep that in mind." Then Altair rembered, "And what of you, Athena? Do you want your disciple?"
"? Well... I'd have assud that working for you would afford the luxury of having my acolyte spared," she said. Was I wrong?"
She had a point, however…
"Your words do carry so weight. I'll release Ophelia, but her freedom is no longer her own. She'll be mine from now on," Altair said, his voice hard, leaving no room to negotiate.
Athena expectantly agreed with a slight half-bow. "Then I thank you for your generosity, my Lord."
"Then I hope you two ladies are having a wonderful ti?"
"Goodness no," Aphrodite said, shaking her head. "What type of ball doesn't have an orgy? Co on, it's called a 'Ball' for a reason."
"I legitimately have no words," Altair said, embarrassed. Even Syris was laughing at him, holding her stomach.
"What about ," Hera snapped.
Altair did not seem to recognize her existence as he bid farewell to the two Gods, leaving Hera to fu where she stood.
"I warned you, Mother. Your arrogance will be your undoing."
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