Chapter 23: When Shadows Kneel

…

In the spacious yet nearly empty sitting room of Nerez’s manor, one of the few pieces of furniture was a luxurious sofa, where two girls sat with their heads lowered.

The same girl with long twintails as red as blood who had occupied that spot before was now accompanied by another young woman whose blond hair took on different tones depending on the light, ranging from a deep gold to an almost white shade.

The bright orange eyes of the first and the silver ones of the second remained fixed on the floor.

“Would either of you care to explain why you started fighting right at the entrance to my home?” Nerez asked, arms crossed in front of them. “The spectacle you put on looked straight out of the apocalypse. What exactly am I supposed to tell the neighborhood association?”

“Neighborhood association…?” Cerys echoed, completely lost.

“In my defense, I think the thousands of skeletons that surrounded us are what made it feel more like it…” Selene pointed out without lifting her gaze.

“And you suddenly appearing out of nowhere among the skeletons to blast us with “Death’s Touch” felt pretty unfair too,” Cerys shot back.

“I’m the one who had to put up with being stuck in the middle of a pile of skeletons again… just remembering it gives me the creeps,” Nerez replied, a shiver running down his spine. “Besides, I used the weakest version. Not only does it not raise my proficiency, for gods like you it’s just momentary pain.”

“To begin with, I only came to visit my faction leader. I was the one who got attacked for no reason,” Selene remarked, glancing at Cerys out of the corner of her eye. “No matter whose side she’s on, this girl always manages to be a nuisance.”

“I dare you to say that one more time,” the redhead shot back, rising to her feet. “Besides, you said I ran away from our last fight when I was only looking for a better opening! You’re the one who disappeared when you sensed something in the distance!”

“A nuisance, and a coward who can’t accept defeat.”

“Those were your last words!”

But just as Cerys was about to summon her scythe, another Death’s Touch struck the back of her head, and she dropped into a crouch, clutching the spot in pain.

“Auuuugh…! I’m pretty sure that isn’t the right way to use that skill!”

Nerez stepped toward Selene as well, but she immediately threw both hands up at him.

“Sorry! It was my fault! Just one brush with that skill was more than enough for me, thank you very much…”

“It’s not fair. Why only me…?”

“Selene may have started it, but you’re the one who wanted to settle it with violence. You need to learn to control yourself. If any enemy can get under your skin badly enough to make you lose yourself in your emotions, you won’t last long in a real battle.”

“But I’ve spent hundreds of years on battlefields… they call me the Crimson Calamity…”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“No excuses.”

“…”

“And you, Selene? I assume you didn’t come here to tell me you want to live here too.”

“Nerez, I may not be one of the three absolute gods like you, but like Helux, who ascended as the god of the sun, I am one of Eryndea’s five major gods.”

“So you are the goddess of the moon, and Helux is the sun god… all that about the Celestial Conclave being a clan of astral gods wasn’t just talk after all.”

“Even so, I wouldn’t mind it if you set aside one of the buildings on your estate for my visits.”

“Not to mention that you already live in this very city… what do you need an entire building for?”

“Haha, don’t be silly. What happens if the city ends up in a state of war? I need enough space to accommodate my entire retinue, my wing of your faction, so to speak.”

“War… retinue… factions…”

“I actually came for two reasons. The first is your faction’s name, which is still up in the air. My followers want it settled once and for all too. By the way, my first choice is Eclipse.”