[Center][h2][color=gray]Apostate[/color][/h2][/center] [center][color=beige]...has been stood up...[/color][/center] [color=yellow]Setting: The Garden of Hevel[/color] “Hm.” Apostate hummed with annoyance. He was sitting on a wooden chair in the middle of his garden with Lorelei next to him sitting on a miniature chair. The day was mild, with spring-like winds bringing in cooler air from the north to swirl against the warmer stagnant air of the garden. Alongside the gentle whooshing of the grass in the wind, the hum of insects enjoying a toasty sunray also filled the garden with a docile harmony. In total, everything should be perfect, but Apostate would disagree. “Hm!” He hummed again, this time much louder, spooking a cotton-tailed rabbit that was nibbling near Apostate’s favorite flower. “Y-Your friend d-died. Sorry.” Lorelei said suddenly, reaching over to pat Apostate’s leg. “She better have,” Apostate growled, “It’s been six days.” He stuck up six fingers to show Lorelei. “That’s two more than four, which is what she quoted me at.” “W-When Homurans are l-late, it means t-they got c-caught. N-No more waiting. Sorry.” Lorelei explained with a small frown, taking off her hoodie to scratch her ears. “Well, you’re right about something at least.” Apostate crossed his arms. “There is no use in waiting, we’ll just have to go straight to the absentee herself.” “Why? D-Don’t look for the body, it’s gonna b-be ugly.” “HA!” Apostate rumbled a laugh, “alive or dead, I’m afraid that might be the case.” He stood up from his lonely chair and shrugged his cloak back over his shoulders, encasing him in the woolen cloth. A hand poked out from his clothes to grip the end of the sword that hung on his hip, the tip dragging in the grass below. “Remember, I already destroyed all of Astus’ army, and over here, there is nothing nearly as scary.” The god felt the need to pat himself on the back, still sore over his defeat. “Besides, I owe it to the short lady, make sure she’s ok. She lives where the Homurans are made, did you want to come?” Lorelei perked up, making a little jump in her chair and immediately turning towards Apostate with stars in her eyes. “Yeah! I-I wanna see h-happy people. W s-said everyone was h-happy in Homura.” “Well first thing’s first.” Apostate held out a finger, as if pausing the conversation. “The place we are going to is called [i]Keltra[/i] not Homura, since Homura is actually the woman we are going to see. You see, Homura was the one who created the Homurans and she is quite the type to name things after herself.” “Oh! Like A-A… A-As-” She stopped herself and pursed her lips. Apostate interjected, “asshole.” Lorelei cracked a smile and nodded, “A-And the Astalonians. Homura k-kills Homurans?” “No, not really,” Apostate replied, “she enjoys her creations, but I admit she is stuck-up and prudish. Though, I doubt she would ever harm any of them… either way, if she did, you know who would show up to teach her a little lesson.” The god shook the hilt of his blade, eliciting a nod from Lorelei, and turned to the north west. “Any more questions?” “Nop.” “Wanna get there really fast?” Apostate turned to look at Lorelei, one brow arched. “I mean, really, really fast.” “Yep!” She nodded energetically, then gasped and shook her head, “No b-bruises please!” Apostate let the forming egg fall apart before giving his adoptee a meekish grin. “Right. Well, um, can you hold your breath real good like?” A smug smile came to Lorelei as she jumped onto her feet and placed her hands on her hips, “B-Better than W!” “Alright then, hold it!” Apostate shot out his hand just as the small child sucked in a big breath. A plume of dark smoke enveloped Lorelei, the vapor linked to the god’s hand as he lifted her off the ground. He bent his legs and with an explosive release of energy, he pounded off the ground and cut into the atmosphere. [center]-0-[/center] Clouds sliced by as Apostate rocketed through the sky, a dense flame forming around him and Lorelei as if they were a double comet. The land below was moving by so quickly, it was simply pinstripes, until the pair slowed down — the jump arcing back to the Galbar below. They whistled through the azure sky above Keltra, passing over the crimson forests and glades. Targeting a spot, Apostate guided his speeding form towards the massive fortress. His feet landed on the ground right before the wall, letting loose a powerful shockwave and toppling some nearby trees. A small ring of fire burned the ground where they landed, quickly lapping into smoke and then nothing. Apostate loosed his smoky hold on Lorelei, letting her back to the ground gently. A smirk played on Apostate’s face as he guaged her reaction. She wobbled on her feet and had to hold onto Apostate’s robes in order to steady herself. After a moment, she exhaled and gasped for air. “W… Waow…” She said quietly. The towering wall before them began to ripple and shift, as though it were shaped from water, and emerging from this strange sight was Homura. She stepped through the wall and walked towards the two that stood outside. Lorelei, who was standing with half her body behind Apostate, looked at Homura with wide eyes. “Welcome to Keltra. Allow me to introduce myself; I am Homura. What is your name, little one?” The red goddess asked with a welcoming smile, approaching the child, and pointedly ignoring the god beside her. The golden spear she held became smaller and smaller, until it seemed to disappear within her palm. Lorelei opened her mouth to speak. “Hey!” Apostate stood in between the two. “Don't act so friendly before you explain yourself!” Homura closed her eyes, visibly frustrated now. “Would you rather I was hostile? There is no need to be so volatile, I only wish to welcome her.” Her impassive visage returned when she opened her eyes, and she stared at the God of Defiance with her own stoic defiance, or perhaps she was simply unfazed by his words. “You had us waiting for days,” Apostate pressed, his voice different from the last time Homura heard it. “I said it would be four days, and it has been five. I apologize for the delay, but I cannot control all that happens in the world. Even my estimates are still only estimations. We are almost finished carrying your humans onto the colossi. In one more day, we can reach the location you specified.” Homura explained, still the same, either unaware of the change in Apostate, or choosing not to react to it. “Lorelei,” Apostate said, “how many days has it actually been?” “Umm… S-Six?” The girl said in a small voice. “Six!” Apostate reiterated. “Did you die!?” “Six days then, fine. Please refrain from shouting, as it is unnecessary. I did not die, but I have been very preoccupied. You are another of my mistakes, come to haunt me during these last few days.” Homura shook her head, and looked at Apostate once more with a hint of annoyance. She took a step forward, as though to walk around him to approach Lorelei. “Mistakes?” Apostate caught her. “Of which I have made many. What do you want, Apostate? You have earned my ire, and will only frighten the child if you continue this brutish behavior. She does not deserve that, so let go.” Homura answered calmly, as she refrained from looking at the God of Defiance. Apostate bit his cheek, the words [i]”you know nothing about her”[/i] played in his mind, but he stepped to the side. “This is Lorelei.” “W s-said our home is Homuran… Ummm, K-Keltra, sorry. I-I wanted to see. It’s cold.” Homura kneeled beside the girl, and smiled once more. “There is no need to apologize. You were forged here, and Keltra shall always remain a home for you.” The red goddess said as gently gathered Lorelei’s hands in her own, and the warmth of the divine seeped into the child’s skin, like being bathed in the light of the sun when summer had arrived. “Do you wish to come inside?” Homura asked. Lorelei shifted her weight from one foot to the other, looked anywhere but at Homura’s eyes, and then sniffled and wiped her eyes with her sleeve. Pulling her hoodie down as far as it would go, she nodded. “Then follow me. There is no need to be afraid.” Homura stepped back, and turned to face the wall. She held up her hand, palm facing the fortification, and there was a pulse of otherworldly power. Like a stone being tossed into a still lake, the wall rippled once more and then an opening was created. A dim passage, filled with a soft shimmering red radiance, like an underground tunnel illuminated by the riches of the earth; rubies, garnets, and carnelians. A faint ethereal music echoed in the air around them, beckoning them onward. “Am I invited too, or shall I wait outside like the worthless dog you seem to think I am?” Apostate quipped from behind. “If the worthless dog barks far worse than he bites, he may step inside.” Homura answered, gesturing for the girl and god to follow her once more. Lorelei looked back at Apostate and then meekly followed Homura. “H-He saved me from the P-Primes. He is w-worth a lot. Four c-cans of tuna, maybe m-more.” She said with a subtle nod to herself. “I know. I know. He has my gratitude, but he can also be insufferable, so I cannot tell him that I truly have no words that could express my understanding of how much he has done for me, and I am unable to thank him properly.” Homura whispered to the girl, making sure to walk beside her, and keeping close. “You can start by getting me four cans of tuna.” Apostate walked close behind, a small smile playing on his face. “Four is a good number.” “Yep. F-Four is how many f-friends W had. They got c-caught by the H-Homura Guys.” “I do not have four cans of… tuna, but I have ninety thousand humans that wish for a home. I would hope potentially ninety thousand new friends would be worth four cans of tuna.” Homura replied, uncertain what tuna was. “Lorelei?” Apostate asked as he pinched his chin in thought. Lorelei merely tilted her head. “N-Ninety thousand is a l-lot. M-Might last umm… A really long t-time. I-I’m seven, and we l-lasted longer than t-that.” “Then start small. You said four is a good number. I would like you to meet my heralds, they would be glad to be considered your friends.” Homura said, pointing towards the end of the tunnel where the light of day could be seen. “Okay. I will p-protect them. Like W.” “You will.” Then the three stepped out from the passage, and into the vast fields surrounding the massive keep atop the hill. They could see from afar, five small shapes pushing two large stone slabs back and forth from the keep itself to another opening in the wall along the south section. A much larger opening, like a rift that had been cleanly cut into the fortification. “They have been preparing the colossi for some time now. They will be ready soon, brother.” Homura mentions while she continues walking towards the keep at a leisurely pace. “It is still a very empty place, little Lorelei. I apologize for not being able to show the wonders yet to be forged here.” She continued, looking towards the girl with a hint of shame in her eyes. “I-It’s ok. Empty is g-good. No hiding spot for d-drones. No need for Astawhacker.” She said with a shudder. “You can leave drones to me, anyway,” Apostate grunted, and Lorelei nodded. “Hmm… it is quite far from here to the keep. Would you like me to carry you?” Homura asked Lorelei, averting her gaze from the little girl, who shook her head. “W s-said that walking is good. Training. For t-travelling.” It was Apostate’s turn to nod. “It’s true.” “So be it.” Homura found herself looking skyward, wondering if she had said something wrong, but kept her thoughts to herself. And the three continued onward for some time while their trek was watched by those that pushed the stone slabs. [center]-0-[/center] The champions of Homura waited for them to arrive, standing at one of the numerous entrances into the keep. Five simulacrums of Homura herself, and a small, younger iteration of the red goddess as well. All six of them bowed when the trio approached. “It is an honor to see you again, your grace.” Pride announced, the first to arise and address the God of Defiance. Her attention then turned to Lorelei, who’d perked up upon seeing the first person in months that was close to her size. “Welcome to Keltra, child. My name is Pride, and I am the Keeper of this citadel.” Then the remaining champion stood straight in order from left to right, introducing themselves: “I’m Courage! Nice to meet ya!” Said the one among them with a blue amulet around her neck. “I am Kindness. A pleasure.” Said the second among them with a blue amulet around her neck. “Hello, I’m Fear. Nice to meet you.” Said the third and last among them with a blue amulet around her neck. Her right hand had also been sculpted from ice. “You’re so cute! Oh, and I’m Curiosity!” “Wanderer…” After all of them had spoken, they looked to Homura, who gave them a simple nod. “These are my Champions, and they will treat you as honored guests. Please forgive them if they fumble, this would be only the second time they have had a mortal visit.” Lorelei didn’t know where to settle her gaze. It travelled from Homura to her champions, then to Homura again, and finally she settled for looking down at the ground. With her hands clasped in front of her and her hoodie blocking most of her face from view, she bowed her head a little. “Uh, umm… I-I’m Lorelei. Lore. We’re f-friends. I will p-protect you. I can make s-suits and tools. Um, w-why are you all so pretty? You look different t-than me or W… Or everyone e-else…” “Pff.” Apostate grumbled in the background. Kindness was the first to recover from being stunned by Lorelei’s words, and smiled softly. “Thank you. Would you like to come and sit by the bonfire with us?” The gentle champion suggested while one of her sisters almost leapt with excitement. “You can tell us about yourself, and we can tell you about our trip to Orsus!” Curiosity exclaimed. “Calm down, Curi, she just got here.” Courage said, stepping swiftly behind her inquisitive sister and smacking her head playfully. “Mother has made us seats, and it’s very comfortable. Please ignore the fools among us.” Pride added, embarrassed by her sister’s antics. “I-I wanna talk and s-sit. Yeah. Let’s go.” Lorelei looked back at Apostate for a moment before hopping over to Pride’s side. “H-Hi.” She said quietly. “We’re taking this one for now!” Courage proclaimed, as Pride suddenly embraced Lorelei, enfolding the girl in her big sleeves and tufts of scarlet hair and eliciting a small giggle from the otherwise sullen girl. A big bandaged hand came down to rest on the very top of Pride’s head, cut fingers gripping it gently. “Oh, a hypocrite?” Apostate’s voice teased whilst somehow also being unamused. “I have been tasked by the Master of the Hunt to share my hugs with others.” The small champion explained to both Lorelei and Apostate. A groan rumbled out of Apostate and he took his hand away. “Lorelei?” Lorelei looked up at Apostate from amongst the seemingly never ending locks of red hair and nodded, returning Pride’s hug albeit a bit awkwardly. “I-I like them. My friends.” “Then I’ll leave you with them for now.” Apostate rested his hand on the hilt of his blade. “I gotta go see Homura about some tuna.” He looked at the goddess of honor — for the first time — using a human eye to look at her own. Homura nodded back, while Lorelei was led into the interior of the keep by the six champions, speaking excitedly and eager to share stories. “It seems we have much to discuss as well, brother.” The red goddess said when they stood alone outside the keep. “I think so,” Apostate agreed. He stood in silence for a while, a seriousness darkening what pieces of his visage that weren’t covered by bandage. “Homura, I know you don’t owe me any favors, but can I ask one of you?” “You seem mistaken. You have protected that child, have you not? For that, I am in your debt.” Homura answered, allowing herself to let out a sigh laden with fatigue. Her demeanor changed, and the stoic mask she wore seemed cracked, ready to shatter with a touch. Apostate looked away and cleared his throat. “Well, it’s just — my life is a dangerous one. I’m not going to be making many friends, certainly not ninety thousand.” He let himself smile a little. “What I want to ask you, is if something were to happen to me and Lorelei was still on this Galbar… could you look after her in my place?” “I would protect her, even if it cost me my life. Tell me what happened?” The Goddess of Honor promised before she asked, hesitantly stepping closer to Apostate with concern in her eyes. “I think you might have enough worry on your mind.” The God of Defiance turned to Homura. “What happened is over, for now, and even if it wasn’t, I’d take care of it.” “You do not need to fight alone. I may not brashly charge into battle, but I seek to protect that which is precious. We will not survive if we do not stand together.” Her hand reached out towards his bandaged eye, stained red with dried blood. “A tree cannot survive the storm if it stands alone. The forest fights together to preserve that which is sacred.” She continued, reflections of a terrible conflict that has yet to come in her red eyes. Apostate flinched and swatted away her hand, confusion clear in his left eye. “Your words changed quickly,” he said to himself more than to her. “Change is inevitable... I have had much to think upon these days, and perhaps I have realized what I truly am. Nothing more than a devil seeking to atone for her sins.” Homura said, holding her discarded hand. “Do you really want to share the burden?” Apostate asked quietly, a deep seriousness laced through his voice. “I do. It is why I have sought to make alliances with our kin. I do not know if they are all aware of what awaits us. There are those among us that have foolishly sided with the enemy, and those that have given up, but I cannot surrender yet.” Apostate looked down, thinking hard on what he should say next. Before he could finish his thoughts, he started speaking. “I went to war against Astus, but I failed. Lorelei was all I could save — I was too late to save anyone else. The only Astalonians that remain are holed up in the god’s bunker, awaiting whatever he desires for them next.” Shame wetted Apostate’s eye. “I was too weak. I let him keep them, I was afraid.” “Then it was Astus that had taken from me without asking. His creations that had threatened mine. I can only assume he has taken umbrage with the fact that I have commandeered his colossi. I had foolishly hoped he would approach me himself rather than resort to such cruelty. Another mistake I have made that has cost many lives. It seems we are both devils then, at war with the demons that bring death and destruction.” Homura proclaimed, as Daybringer reappeared in her hand. She then offered the celestial weapon to the God of Defiance. At first quizzically, Apostate gripped Homura’s spear, his fingers tightening with confidence. He looked up at her face and shared her vision — his eyes steeling. “This weapon can only be carried by the honorable. You do not need to seek forgiveness, brother. You need only to continue to defy the enemy.” Homura stated, her voice simmering with conviction. She nodded to him, and felt herself smile slightly. “I only wish you would be less reckless when it comes to your landings. I do not think the trees and flowers enjoy being uprooted whenever you visit.” Apostate shared her grin and pulled Daybringer closer to himself. “You know, you straddle the line between caring and chastising very well.” “My champions have told me to try and seem more compassionate. Loving. For their sake, and my own, I suppose, I will try. Thank you for your kind words. You precariously balance yourself on the line between heroic and chaotic quite well. I think Astus will regret his actions when he finds that he has acquired the anger of both Honor and Defiance.” “I’m sure he will,” Apostate agreed before standing up straight. “You know Homura. I’m starting to think you may be worth four cans of tuna as well. Thank you.” “I am still uncertain what tuna is, but I will take that as a compliment.” Homura replied, confused, but feeling a glimmer of content. [hider=Summary] OH BOY! Okay, so it’s been six days since Homura promised Apostate his deliver, which is odd because she said she’d get it to him in four days (That was an estimate!). So we open with Apostate all gumpy gumpy while Lorelei wonders if Homura keeled over and died. Eventually, the dynamic duo decide to go check up on her (but not before some jokes at her expense). Lorelei doesn’t want any more bruises, so this time, Apostate uses a new method to transport her. If you want to do the math on how quickly Apostate moved, he traveled from the Garden of Hevel to the Fortress of Keltra (distance can be mapped on the map in km) in half the duration that a seven year old is able to hold their breath for, at an arc. Either way he shows up and Homura greets them, or more accurately she greets Lorelei. Apostate is miffed and interrupts. The two gods bicker for a bit before Homura invites him inside. Lots of sly comments and jabs here. Inside Apostate is still gumps and Homura is still uptight, while Lorelei is having a blast with her two adopted parents. She eventually meets the champions of Homura, and Apostate has a short interaction with Pride, showcasing that he remembered her. Anyway, the champions and Lorelei leave the two gods alone due to a request for adult time talking. The gist of what happens is Homura lets her facade fail and Apostate shows his own weakness, the two oddly enough sharing a moment, which ends as soon as Apostate gets spooked, when Homura attempts to touch him. With that brief show of vulnerability, the two release their burdens on each other and ally themselves against the likes of Astus and similar gods. Homura hands Apostate daybreaker and calls him heroic… if not a little reckless. It is honestly a tender moment that showcases the true, more human side of both the gods. [/hider] [hider=Vigor] Apostate did not spend any Vigor. Homura did not spend any Vigor. Courage, Kindness, Fear, Curiosity, Wanderer, Pride all gain 1 Spirit. (+1 minimum) [/hider]