[centre][img]https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/divinus-iii/images/d/df/Shengshi-logo.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/310?cb=20190112093445[/img][/centre] [centre][h1]Shengshi[/h1][/centre] [centre][h1]Kalmar[/h1][/centre] [centre]&[/centre] [centre][h1]The Angels[/h1][/centre] Dawn cast its yellow rays across the golden ship of Jiangzhou which drifted lethargically down lower Nanhe. Fir and camphor hung over the banks of the insanely wide, snaking stream, and birds and wildlife sang their calls until their throats grew parched. Ribbits and rumbles echoed from between the trees, and on the bank sat a chubby farmer ape with half a stick of bamboo in its hand and the other half in its chewing mouth. In the distance to the east, hints of smoke still polluted the heavenly atmosphere of the jungle, yet squalls had made considerable efforts in halting the flame’s advance. Now, the snake could relax and think of more important things than war - like finishing the Classic of Wisdom, for one. So there he sat on the veranda of his tower, a calligraphy station in front of him and a brush in hand. To the rhythm of the surrounding harmony, he drew and stroked black ink across the rice paper pages, his mind in a state of satisfied bliss. It did not last long. A distant roar could be heard, and a massive flying five-headed lizard appeared over the horizon. It rivalled the size of Slaevatein, and its blue scales shone in the sunlight. The beast was flying straight for the ship. The snake’s eyes widened and his teeth grit together. “Ah, I thought you had survived…” He rocketed to a standing position and clenched his fists. Two columns river water rose up on either flank of the ship, both taking the shapes of massive snakes. “... No matter - I will just have to finish what I started!” [color=orange]”Stand down!”[/color] Kalmar’s voice shouted in his mind. The snakes froze, much like the snake himself. He sucked in a deep breath and straightened out his hands, the water colossi dropping into the river again. He crossed his arms over his chest, flicked his tongue disapprovingly and waited for the dragon to approach. The dragon came to a stop before the ship, flapping its powerful wings to remain hovering in the air. Kalmar sat atop the beast’s central head. [color=orange]”Where is Asceal!?”[/color] he called down to Shengshi, as if there was nothing out of the ordinary about his arrival. “She left. She and Azura both went skywards to steal from Katharsos.” The snake gave him a sour look. “Nice to see you, too, by the way,” he said flatly and cocked his head to the side as he ran his eyes up and down the five-headed monstrosity. [color=orange]”What!?”[/color] Kalmar shouted back, clearly baffled. [color=orange]”Katharsos? Why!?”[/color] “They are going to there to steal what souls they can before Katharsos manages to reform them in the flames. I know, I think it is a silly mission, as well,” Shengshi said and shook his head. Kalmar grit his teeth. [color=orange]”Has she ever made any attempt to speak to him?”[/color] he asked, already knowing the answer. ‘There is no point in speaking to the mad’, she had said, but Kalmar at least thought she would have waited for him to speak to Katharsos first. The snake shrugged. “Not as far as I know. You do know our sister - she has her… Convictions. Azura’s influence does not exactly help, either.” He sneered and pursed his lips. Kalmar scowled, and shook his head. He did not know Azura, but if she was even more extreme than Asceal, then she would be a problem. [color=orange]”I trust this means Ekon and Sartravius are dealt with?”[/color] he asked, changing the subject. The snake thumbed over to the tropical rainstorm to the east, visible even this far away. “The flames are being doused as we speak - and what was that about Ekon? Has he, too, fielded a force against my home?” He grit his teeth. “These animals, I swear…” This time it was the dragon that spoke. [color=cyan]”He has. He was with my cr… [i]Sartravius[/i], when I was first made.”[/color] Kalmar nodded. [color=orange]”They each made an army of their own. But Ekon’s was held back, for some reason. If you haven’t seen it, then I assume he is either waiting for you to let your guard down, or moving it somewhere else.”[/color] “Oh, joy… I do not envy the mortals who will find their way here.” He gave Kalmar a suspicious look. “So, why are you here, then? Did you just come to look for our sister?” [color=orange]”This is Vendral. He didn’t want to fight for Sartravius, so he fled, and found his way to Kalgrun. I saw the fighting in his memories, so I improved him and came to help.”[/color] Kalmar frowned. [color=orange]”How come neither of you told me?”[/color] The snake blinked and gave the dragon a cruel, furious glare. “I see… And the five heads would not happen to simply be a coincidence? You see, I met a dragon quite like this one and I still have a bit of a score to settle with that one.” He flicked his sharp, two-tipped tongue. “Mainly a little, itty-bitty something to account for the thousands of servants it and its followers slaughtered.” Vendral returned Shengshi’s glare, his ten eyes boring into Shengshi’s two, but it was Kalmar who continued speaking. [color=orange]”It’s no coincidence. I made Vendral this way so he could [i]match[/i] that dragon.”[/color] [color=cyan]”And I killed none of your servants,”[/color] Vendral added, his gaze unyielding. [color=cyan]”You have no score to settle with me.”[/color] The snake snickered. “I really must say, brother. You do have quite a knack for making creatures with absolutely no concept of respect for the gods.” He shook his head with a smirk. “No matter, I do not mind - truly. Not in the slightest. Now, to change the subject… Why did we not summon you over? Quite simple, really - three gods have made their attacks against the menace - we did not want to trouble you with a conflict that was nearing its conclusion.” He bowed a curt bow. [color=orange]”And yet it hasn’t concluded,”[/color] Kalmar pointed out. [color=orange]”There’s another army out there, and Asceal is off to risk another war with another god.”[/color] He sighed. [color=orange]”Did she take the angels with her?”[/color] “I said -nearing- its conclusion - exterminating dragon filth and ant-like giants takes time. As for the angels, I believe they are currently in their room doing… Whatever it is that angels do in their spare time. I gave them some books, I suppose - they might be reading those.” The dragon snorted at the use of the phrase ‘dragon filth’, but said nothing. [color=orange]”Can you bring Makab up?”[/color] Kalmar asked. The snake nodded and snapped his fingers. A servant behind him set off into the ship, presumably to fetch the angels. Shengshi raised a brow at Kalmar and poked some food out of his teeth with a claw. “So, how has life been of late?” Kalmar looked down at his dragon, and the creature extended one of its heads towards Shengshi’s tower; close enough that Kalmar could rise to his feet and climb over the railing of the veranda. He sat himself on an unoccupied chair. [color=orange]”Well,”[/color] he began. [color=orange]”I made some creatures to defend my land. I then created a mortal and set it loose on the world, like K’nell and Orvus did before me. There’s a species of mortals on the continent to the west of here - Arryn has been teaching them how to hunt. I also heard that Vakk attacked Li’Kalla. Oh, and I’m now the God of Cold.”[/color] The Hunter shrugged, before raising an eyebrow. [color=orange]“What about you?”[/color] “Wait, there are mortals now?” the snake said baffled. “My, I ought to go say hello - by west you mean the, uhm…” He snapped his fingers in thought. “... The large continent, the greatest of them all… My, what did we end up calling it again? Azhou?” Kalmar shrugged. [color=orange]“I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to the one who created it. Anyway, the species calls themselves Selka - from what I understand, they were made by Kirron. If you were to start going directly southwest from where we are now, you would find them.”[/color] "Selka, huh… How droll. What are they like, if I may ask?" The snake snapped his fingers and a servant came out of the paper doors behind him with a tea cup and a steaming mug. "Are they as bent on adventure as their creator?" he added playfully as he sipped on his tea with an extended pinkie. The servant poured a cup for Kalmar as well. Kalmar shrugged. [color=orange]“I haven’t spoken to any in person, and I haven’t met Kirron, so I can’t say. They have prayed to me, though. They asked a lot of questions. Some were more concerned about their survival, while others kept asking how they could ‘earn their own fun.’ Apparently Kirron told them that was important.”[/color] He shrugged again. [color=orange]“Maybe it is, but you can’t have fun if you’re dead.”[/color] "A hedonistic lot, then?" the snake remarked and chuckled. "Now I -really- must visit. Did you give them anything for the survival issue, though?" Kalmar stroked his chin. [color=orange]“One tribe had a food problem, so Arryn gave them some bows. He then taught them how to wield them, and also how to track. It worked so well they began to worship me. That’s how I learned about them,”[/color] he explained. “Huh, that easy, is it?” the snake made a face and clicked his tongue. “Well, I suppose I will head over there and give it a try, then. Give them some wheat to farm, you know, teach them to make dumplings - oh, dumplings.~ He Bo, please add dumplings to tonight’s dinner menu.” “Yes, Your Lordship,” went the servant with a soft voice. [color=orange]“Back to our enemies,”[/color] Kalmar changed the subject, not knowing what to make of this topic of ‘farms’ and ‘dumplings.’ [color=orange]“Sartravius, Ekon, and Orvus have all proven themselves to be threats. So has Vakk, if that story I heard was true. Asceal would let us think that Melantha and Katharsos are dangerous, but I’ve spoken to them and I know that’s not true. Do you know of any others who might be hostile?”[/color] The snake paused for a moment. He pursed his lips thoughtfully and sucked in a deep breath. “What if I told you that one of those threats has been dealt with - permanently?” Kalmar thought for a moment, and then furrowed his brows. [color=orange]“Vakk or Orvus?”[/color] he asked. “That would be Vakk. As far as I know, Orvus is still alive and well - I met his second daughter the other day. She is fun, if not a bit too open - a fun contrast to her father and sister.” Kalmar raised a brow at the mention of Orvus having a second daughter, but at the moment that was unimportant. [color=orange]“What happened to Vakk?”[/color] The snake sneered. “He was an… Unfortunate addition to our sibling flock - a purveyor of pain, a herald of hate. He grew mad and threatened to murder the mortal Hermes, whom I am certain you have encountered at least once, and likely my own shard, Xiaoli. For this, a plan was devised to end his existence - one carried out by our worthy brothers K’nell and Eurysthenes, and myself.” He paused and clicked his tongue. “Sorry for not inviting you along, by the way. We did not want to trouble you, naturally. Murdering siblings is not an activity that should be shared. Sets the wrong example for mortals.” [color=orange]“You should have invited me,”[/color] Kalmar told him. [color=orange] “we made an alliance. How can that alliance work if we don’t discuss things like this?”[/color] Kalmar shook his head. [color=orange] “But if you killed him, then well done. He sent a beast of his to hunt down Hermes, and it scratched out the eye of one of my own creations before being driven off.”[/color] “Yes, quite sorry, indeed,” the snake said into his teacup. “As an alliance of defense, I felt inviting to an offensive would be in poor taste - a misuse of allegiance, if you will - besides, four gods would have made for quite a massacre. He already suffered quickly enough at the hands of three.” He gulps down some sips of tea and held his cup out for the servant to refill. “Would you happen to know where this beast is now, by the way? I would rather not entertain the idea where Hermes is suddenly murdered by a horror thirsting for vengeance.” [color=orange] “No, I don’t. But it was heavily wounded in the fight. Even if it survived its injuries, I doubt it’s capable of even hunting a fly.”[/color] The Hunter stroked his chin once again. [color=orange]”But let’s say it did survive, somehow recovered, and didn’t abandon its task - it seemed to have been following the exact path she took throughout Galbar.”[/color] “Not good,” the snake muttered. “I will have Xiaoli erect the proper defenses against such a threat. What creature of yours did it wound, you said?” [color=orange]“Fenris, a giant wolf that is more than half the length of this boat. He lost an eye, but in return Fenris tore the beast’s lower half to shreds. I went through the creature’s memories, and that is how I learned Vakk sent it - apparently Hermes stole something from him. I would have warned her, or finished the beast off, but something more important came up, and I didn’t expect it to live anyway.”[/color] “Oh, yes, the thing she stole was some funny box, by the way,” he said with a shrug. “A fantastically silly ordeal, all of this…” He peeked up at the sky. “My, had a servant been as slow as these angels are, they would have been salted in the middle of the day for all to see, I tell you.” He shook his head disapprovingly. “How is the whole Kalgrun situation going, by the way?” As if on cue, and before Kalmar could reply, the three angels emerged from the Jiangzhou‘s tower doors. They’d been in the middle of one conversation or another before they stepped through the paper-walled slider doors, but when they looked out at the veranda they froze where they stood. Eline’s eyes widened, Makab grinned, and a dark look overtook Akam’s face. The three winged individuals had already summoned their glowing weapons before Eline noticed Shengshi and Kalmar in the great blue dragon’s shadow. She hesitated and pointed the gods out, and after a moments deliberation the three put away their weapons, however begrudgingly. Makab scratched his head and shrugged before walking towards the gods, leaving his siblings scrambling to catch up. Eline opened her mouth to complain, but before she could Akam called out, “May we presume that dragon is your… Guest, Shengshi?” One of the dragon’s heads appeared to roll its eyes, while another head glowered at the three. At the summoning of weapons, Kalmar had called his knife to his own hand, and only put it away when they did the same for theirs. He may have created one of them, but that did not mean he would stand idly by if they attacked one of his other creations. [color=orange]“His name is Vendral,”[/color] Kalmar said, before Shengshi could speak. [color=orange]“I brought him here.”[/color] “I see.” Akam intoned as his eyes swept over the God of Hunters. Beside him Makab shrugged, “Well as long as he’s not killing people.” The dragon snorted again. Meanwhile, Kalmar looked to the angels. [color=orange]“Makab…”[/color] he greeted, though he had to pause to remember the names of the other two. [color=orange]“Seline, Akan.”[/color] He looked back to the dragon. [color=orange]“We came here to investigate this war you’ve been fighting.”[/color] “No, that is quite alright. Ignore the host and keep the conversation going.” Shengshi gave a sarcastic clap and muttered into his teacup. “It is nice that you have finally left your room. Is the standard still satisfactory?” Akam cocked a brow and Eline pursed her lips irritably. They both glanced at Makab, who was wearing a rather smug grin. The brown haired angel nodded in Shengshi’s direction, “More than. You must have endless supply of wine.” He paused, “Well at least I hope you do, otherwise I imagine you might be running rather low by now.” Eline’s coughed and her eyes went wide at Makabs admission. She adroitly stepped behind her brother before Shengshi’s sour, venomous stare flicked over to the mannerless Makab and the snake put his cup down with an irritated “quite”. As this was going on, Kalmar gave Makab a subtle nod, before bringing his own cup of tea up to his lips and tasting it for the first time. The God of the Hunt immediately recoiled, adopting a disgusted expression, which he valiantly fought and failed to conceal. Ultimately he decided there was no point in hiding it. So instead, he simply called upon his powers to distill the liquid, pulling the particles of tea mixture out and summarily dumping it over the edge. He then brought the cup to his lips - now clear water, which had been chilled by his newfound mastery over cold - and took a sip. The snake’s head slowly turned to Kalmar with a death glare. He placed his cup down on the table and sucked in a long, deep breath through the nose. “Did you just…” He closed his eyes and held up a flat hand. “No, no, that is quite alright. I am not angry - not in the slightest, most miniscule, molecular way. Not a single fiber in my being trembles with rage, in fact. However, I must be so perfectly direct as to ask why you did not just request something else to drink?” If a voice could pierce through skin, Shengshi’s was similar to bamboo sticks underneath the nails. Kalmar shrugged. [color=orange]“There was no need to trouble your servants. Cold water is fine.”[/color] he took another sip, and then turned back to the angels. [color=orange]“So the battle. How did it go?”[/color] The snake hissed interruptingly and turned to the angels with a grin like a lion baring its fangs. “[i]Simply horrible of me to interrupt[/i], frankly, but I was not quite finished. Firstly, fetching whatever you may wish for is the servant’s job, nay, existence; secondly, that tea did not deserve that sort of treatment; and thirdly, how dare you so visibly and utterly waste that which was brotherly offered to you as a guest in another’s home?” [color=orange]“Now is not the time for this, Shengshi.”[/color] Kalmar frowned. [color=orange]“I came here to help you. There’s no use bickering over spilled tea.”[/color] “At some point, brother, all I ask is that you [i]for once[/i] make an actual effort to be a proper house guest. That point has long since been passed. You come into my home on a massive beast which itself knows next to nothing of how to address a being that could end its existence with a thought; you demand information of me without even saying ‘hello’ or ‘long time no see’; you did not simply pour out the tea I gave you, no, you used your divine-given power to turn into into cold water; and now you say you are going to help me!” The snake took a few ragged breaths. “An ‘alliance’, [i]brother[/i], is founded on mutual need as well as mutual respect, and I feel no respect coming from you. I have tried to remain as civil as I can despite your faux pas, yet I find myself at my wit’s end now.” With another breath through the nose, he relaxed down onto his pillow, propping himself on one hand. “A little politeness is all I ask; otherwise, and I do not say this lightly, do feel free to leave at your earliest convenience.” Makab stepped forward, and before either of his siblings could clamp a hand over his mouth he started, “You could get drunk and fight you know. That’s what me and Akam did a few nights ago. Worked out fi-” Before Makab could finish Akam all but tackled him. He swiftly shushed his brother and ushered him back before sputtering, “What my uh, what Makab means is you could try and resolve this dispute in a friendly manner rather than letting it fester. There’s no need to [i]fight[/i], but a uh, a contest could work?” [color=orange]“Akam, that was the name,”[/color] Kalmar recalled. [color=orange] “Sorry about that. I don’t see how a contest or a fight would help, though. What did you have in mind, anyway?”[/color] The blond angel, stuck defending his brothers inane plan, rambled, “Well just that you and Shengshi have such differences, ones that neither of you may be able to overcome, so perhaps you two could find an outlet for your mutual frustration? A contest was just an idea, a way to try and best one another without coming to blows.” Akam smiled nervously and added, “ Of course it was just a suggestion. I’m certain you two can find your own means of resolving this.” Kalmar sighed, then looked to Shengshi. [color=orange]“Archery?”[/color] he suggested with a shrug. The snake gave him a sour look. “... To even suggest the game in another person’s house… No, as your host, I will choose our game - and it shall be a clash of poetry,” the snake demanded and raised a hand in the air. Kalmar blinked. [color=orange]“A clash of what? Is that a weapon?”[/color] The flat-mouthed snake pinched the bridge of his nose. “No, no, it is--” Another breath was required to maintain composure. “It is when you present an idea in the form of one or more verses. You know? Like sonnets, haikus, songs, the like?” [color=orange]“I’m not familiar with any of those, either.”[/color] Kalmar said. [color=orange]“And isn’t presenting ideas to each other part of speaking? What makes a poem different?”[/color] “The verse makes it different, you--” Shengshi pinched his lips shut and stared at the floor. “Fine, we will not do poetry, then. As the host, I now permit suggestions for other games.” He drummed his claws on his calligraphy station in a fit of ennui and annoyance. [color=orange]“I suggest poetry, then.”[/color] Kalmar insisted. [color=orange] “If you explain what it is.”[/color] The snake rolled his eyes. “I think I have made attempts to explain several concepts to you throughout time, brother - few times have I succeeded, it would seem. Already, I am, frankly, a little weary. Akam, Eline and Makab, do you three have any suggestions?” “You could make something?” Eline suggested, “You two [i]are[/i] gods.” Makab opened his mouth, waved off Akam’s glare, and spoke, “Or you could get drunk and fight. Maybe even just get drunk.” The snake gave Makab a stare that could have ignited stone. “I will not threaten you out of my love for my sister, your mother, but I will advise you not to suggest that again,” he snarled and turned back to Kalmar. [color=orange]“You’d better not,”[/color] Kalmar’s face turned to snarl, as he glared at the snake. [color=orange]“That would be the second time today that you threatened one of my creations, and I already told you what would happen.”[/color] “Oh, is the divine policing force going to come for me? He is a rude guest in -my- home, and as are you. If he is utterly incapable of knowing his place when the divines speak, then I would suggest that he goes somewhere else, like back to his room - or with you, off my ship.” The snake stood up. “Yes, that second option sounds absolutely marvelous right now, actually.” Kalmar rose to his feet, his gaze unyielding. [color=orange]“Shengshi,”[/color] he said. [color=orange]“Do you know what your problem is?”[/color] “Do tell,” he replied sourly. [color=orange]“You are ruled by your own ego. You create beings who exist only to do tasks that you are capable of doing yourself. You threaten and insult those who do not know your arbitrary rules - rules which they had no way of knowing, which you only made to stoke your own pride. You speak of beings ‘knowing their place’, as if having less power than you somehow invalidates what they have to say. Even now, as two gods raise armies against you, you choose to reawaken a feud that was [i]already settled.[/i] You are a spiteful, shortsighted fool.”[/color] The hunter finished the rest of his water, and put the cup on the table with such force that it almost broke. [color=orange]“But know this. I still put weight behind my words, and I intend to honour this alliance. So I will go out. I will find Ekon’s army, and I will see what can be done about it. But first I will speak to Makab. Alone.”[/color] The snake nodded slowly. “Pardon me, but what alliance do you speak of?” he asked with a cocked head. [color=orange]“So your word is worthless after all.”[/color] Kalmar said, with disgust in his voice. “Let us take a synopsis: In addition to my complaints earlier about the nature of your visit, as well as general behaviour, you add a long, quite insightless speech that sullies my name and culture, as well as damage to my precious furniture. All in all, in my eyes, these are not qualities of a worthy ally.” He shook his head. “I can excuse the angel - truly, I can. His lifespan is short and he has not been aboard long enough to get to know my ways. I admit I may have let my anger get the best of me.” He paused for a suck of air. “But you, Kalmar… You have known me for a long time now… Known me well, too, and yet you have never, ever made a single attempt to understand me and my ways--” [color=orange]”Neither have you,”[/color] Kalmar interjected. “I have [i]tolerated[/i] your ceaseless lack of manners in my home more times than you can count, but even a god can only take so much. I understand you perfectly, brother - you are a god of survival, and I respect your value of honour and might; however, what you have in that is severely overshadowed by your complete and utter lack of finesse and social adaptability. Nothing, and I do mean nothing, has been more upsetting to me in this existence than having an ally so potentially perfect, and yet so far from grasping the bare necessities of a truly great companion. You call me short-sighted while you see nothing past the distance your arrows can fly. If egoism is my sin, then blindness is yours.” He grit his teeth together and looked down. “Now… Please, for the love of all that is sacred and good upon this world… Leave.” [color=orange]“Not without speaking to Makab.”[/color] “Then he will go with you. If you truly are so adamant about protecting him, it may be wise to keep him off this ship for a time.” The snake’s reptilian eyes blinked normal for a second. “Please, just leave…” At Shengshi’s words Akam glared at his brother and buried his face in his hands before muttering, “Mother is going to kill us.” Eline sighed and punched Makab’s shoulder, “No, she’s going to kill this idiot. If he doesn’t manage to get himself killed before she can.” At his siblings mutual chastisement Makab held up his hands, “I still think my idea was solid, but fine. I’ll go with Kalmar see where Ekon’s army is.” The brown haired angel looked to the God of Hunting and asked, “That’s still what you’re doing right?” Kalmar nodded. “Alright then,” Makab turned to his siblings and spoke more seriously, “You two stay safe.” Eline nodded and Akam, for all he looked annoyed, reciprocated the sentiment, “And you. Don’t do anything stupider than you already have.” [color=cyan]”I can’t believe I was brought all this way to watch this…”[/color] Vendral muttered, as he extended two heads toward the ship. Kalmar stepped onto one head, and moved into a sitting position between the dragon’s horns. He gestured for Makab to do the same, before looking to the other angels. [color=orange]”You two can come, if you want.”[/color] Eline shook her head, “We were told to keep Shengshi’s people safe. Scouting Ekons army is important, but there’s no point fighting if you’re not fighting for anyone.” [color=orange]“Alright then,”[/color] Kalmar said once Makab had climbed on. The Hunter gave one last look to Shengshi. He looked as if he was about to say something, but instead gave one last scowl of disgust before looking back down to his dragon. [color=orange]”Vendral? You remember how to get back to where you were created?”[/color] [color=cyan]”Yes.”[/color] [color=orange]”Then let’s go.”[/color] And with those words, the dragon began its fight northeast. Shengshi had been sitting with his face in his hands for a while now. Eventually, he finally groaned and looked up. He leaned back onto his propped-out arms and sighed, his eyes rolling over to look at the angels. “Terribly sorry you had to see that. I have a low tolerance for this kind of situation. It upsets the harmony of things. Now, a question, if I may - had your brother been drinking before he came up?” Eline coughed and looked away. Akam rubbed his temples, “Admittedly Makab… All of us have been enjoying a fair bit more wine than would be wise.” The snake nodded slowly. “For being the spawn of the Goddess of Light, none of you are particularly bright, are you?” He shook his head. “You are my guests, but you know next to nothing about respecting the host. Did your mother not tell you anything before you came? About my culture? About my person? Am I a joke to her?” “No,” Akam spoke simply, even as his sister bit her lip and glared at Shengshi, “Nobody is ‘a joke’ to our mother Shengshi. As for our education, to be frank I believe you may overestimate our mothers knowledge of you and your culture. She showed us much, and told us much after that, but she cannot teach what she does not know.” The blond angel closed his eyes for a second and went on, “She has made your acquaintance a number of times Shengshi, and she even calls you a friend, but she is not like you. She is not even like us.” The snake snickered. “‘Frankly’, he says… By my holy name, he calls me…” He shook his head. “How long have you been here? Weeks? Maybe a month or two? Did it occur to you three even once to study the place you lived in? Make a simple, feeble attempt to integrate in the slightest? Something as base as a change in tone would have been satisfactory. Still, you take this patronising, self-righteous perspective and make a flat, arrogant attempt to explain that you have no idea what you are doing.” The snake jabbed a finger outwards towards the two angels. “Mortals that cannot understand their place in relation to the gods are doomed to suffer their wrath in time…” Akam opened his mouth to speak, but Eline all but exploded beside him, “Our ‘place’ isn’t as your servants! We were given a job, to fight for you and all your people, not to join you. We’re well aware we don’t belong here, and we’ve kept our heads down as much as we can, but that doesn’t change our duty.” Eline’s brother shot her a withering look and tried to get in front of her words, “What my sister means is we have tried to stay out of your and your servants way, but there is little to be done when we are summoned. I apologize for my siblings words but you-” Before Akam could finish Eline cut in, “No Akam, you don’t get to apologize for me. I fought for Shengshi and his people, you were burned for them, and we both know we’d do it again. We’d risk our little mortal lives for a god and his people because it’s the right thing to do. If that god wants to threaten us over our manners then he can do that, but I won’t apologize for doing my job.” Another slow, sarcastic applause. The snake flicked his tongue and snickered viciously. “Beautiful - absolutely beautiful. The one among you who even attempts to be civil is interrupted by a child on a ranting spree. Your aid in the battle was much appreciated - truly, it was. Had it not been for you three, the losses would undoubtedly have been even greater; however, warriors without discipline…” He clicked his tongue disapprovingly. “No good. Your services are no longer required.” While his voice was calm, his demeanour looked absolutely livid, his claws already extended far beyond their normal length and his pupils so thin they appeared almost like cuts over his eyes. His spinal fins had turned into long, sharp barbs and his horns had sharpened. Nobody spoke, and no words were needed. Akam gave Shengshi a curt nod and unfolded his wings. He glanced back at Eline to make sure she was with him and in one flap he took off. The two hovered over the ship for a moment before heading north, far from the war and far from the people that no longer wanted their protection. The servant He Bo refilled the snake’s teacup. “Will His Lordship inform Her Holiness Asceal, Divine of Light, about this change?” The snake let out a sigh of relief at the servant’s diction. He lifted the teacup and took in a long, quiet whiff of the flowery scents. He took a sip and sighed as the sensation of heat and flavour flushed through him from mouth to tail tip. “I think I will. My dearest sister deserves to know, after all…” He sighed and took another sip. “True shame about Akam… Such potential in that young man. With only a few differently chosen words, his speech would have been so perfect.” He Bo nodded in agreement. “His Blessed Self Akam had quite the satisfying diction - His Lordship’s opinion is worthy. Yet this servant of Yours dares so humbly propose that even Her Blessed Self Eline could learn in time.” The snake shook his head. “No, she is too similar to her mother - powerful, dutiful, proud… Stubborn. She would never accept the Way of the Flow.” The servant nodded. “So, if this servant may ask - what will His Lordship do now?” The snake had another sip of tea and hummed pensively. “Eline suggested creating something… Perhaps that continent to the southwest could use some life.” [hider=Summary!] Sheng’s writing and shit in peace when a giant, five headed dragon comes over. Seeing as he’s only really seen one many headed dragon before, the snake prepares for battle. It turns out, though, that it’s just Kalmar coming to ruin the tranquility. He asks about Asceal’s whereabouts. Kinda bummed that the peace is utterly ruined, and also kinda bummed that Kalmar doesn’t really care enough about him to say hi, so the conversation is already off to a good start. When Kalmar finds out Asceal’s off on the Heist, he instead wants to see the angels. While they wait for them, they talk shit, and Kalmar’s bummed that Shengshi never invites him along for stuff, like killing Vakk and defending the jungle. Shengshi excuses their lack of communication with the old “didn’t wanna bother ya”. The angels appear and, like their mom, have no concept of Shengshese social ranking nor courtesy, which makes an already annoyed Shengshi even sourer. To add salt to the wound, Kalmar apparently hates the tea he was served when he came and, get this, extracts the tea flavour and temperature from it, leaving only cold water. Shengshi is pretty livid at this savage move and asks why he didn’t just ask for something else. Kalmar says, “didn’t wanna bother ya servant”, which makes snek hella mad and he goes on a rant about how he gets no respect around ‘ere and that if Kalmar’s only here to be rude, he may leave. The angels suggest a competition to put a bandaid on the issue, but that falls flat. Makab then suggests they have a barfight, which the agitated snake takes a little too personally and ‘advises’ the angel to shut up. Kalmar takes this as a threat and the snake’s like “he’s being rude in my house, and I can do what I want in my house, don’t tread on me.” Kalmar then drops the “ego”-bomb on Sheng with a rant, to which Sheng replies, “aight, you know that alliance? Don’t want it no more,” and demands he leaves. Kalmar insists he first talk to Makab, which makes the snake cast them both out. The angels part ways for like five minutes before the pissed off snake lobs the other two out, too, on account of what he perceives to be a lack of discipline. The snake finally decides to head to Atok East for some R&R. [/hider]