Book 5- Chapter XXXV
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Morrigan paused in front of the class, the eyes of human, Eskarii and Marmuro’k staring at her holographic form in utter silence as she clasped hands in front of her.

And that is how the Imperium started… and how I became Empress,” she said looking the students over. She began pacing in small strides, “The point of that story is, we are all fallible, including me. Nothing is perfect nor is anyone and we all have our faults, but we can take those imperfections and use them to create something positive…and though some dreams are unobtainable in the moment, dreams are always a possibility. To this day, with the relief effort that has been created through our unity, Gelia will be restored by the damages wrought by the Federation, and I wait for the time we will all be able to walk its beautiful surface once more.

The students remained quiet as they watched her pace the amphitheater floor. “That’s why on this remarkable day, the Day of Remembrance, we remind ourselves of the sacrifices that day, those lives given and lost to bring us the lasting peace we have cone to enjoy these last 14 years, but also, today we celebrate the achievements you all made here. You are the first graduating class of the Imperial University, and it is my honor to congratulate you,” Morrigan said with pride in her voice. She could see many of the students sit up, taking pride in themselves and she couldn’t help but smile.

Now get out of here, enjoy the day because Pandora has an exciting night planned for you all tonight at the celebration,” she concluded with amusement and watched as the students got up and began to shuffle out of the lecture hall, chatting to each other with excitement.

The moment they left, Morrigan sighed and hung her head for a second before looking at Professor Belmecuri, who lounged with his feet up on the familiar solid wooden desk that had been recreated mirroring the original she had once destroyed. The old man smiled even as she said, “I… don’t think that went well.

The old professor laughed and leaned back with his arms held behind his head, “They just heard their Empress’s personal history from her very mouth, it’s a lot to absorb and take in. The only reason why I’m okay is because I’ve heard it all before,” he said in amusement regarding her kindly.

Morrigan chewed on her lip as she glanced around the room. “Do you really intend to do this with each graduating class?” he asked, drawing her attention back to him.

She let out a low groan before sighing, turning towards him and shaking her hands in doubt, “This took up way more time than I expected, I’ve already fallen behind on so many things… I guess we’ll see if it makes a difference,” she stated before crossing her arms.

“We could just use the recording of this next year, just cut out the part where you congratulate the “first” graduating class?” Solomon mused in a non-serious tone, knowing that should would never take away the meaning of a personal touch.

You know, I could always use your expertise, I’m still not used to you not being the Lord Inquisitor,” she said pointedly, amusement betraying the faux-venom the comment was meant to hold.

Belmecuri chuckled and took his feet off the desk to lean forward with a weathered grunt, “No, no. I’m retired, and you gave the position to someone who had been well deserving of it. Clare had always been in the spotlight as my replacement until you came along,” he said in good humor.

Morrigan smiled, nodding in agreement. She looked at the man that had risen her up, Gregory Solomon now Greg Belmecuri, never retired but instead, went from shaping the galaxy through Inquisitorial vigilance, to shaping young minds.

How’s Mom?” she asked. Her mother, after the war had ended, found solace in the previous Lord Inquisitor. His intelligence and kindheartedness being a well needed buffer to the new world Morrigan had begun to create and the bloodstained path it had required. Four years later, they had gotten married, and moved to the very sector of the Void Star where Morrigan had first stepped foot on her new home.

“She’s good, certainly misses you and everyone else, especially the girls,” he said not hiding the fact that he too missed them all, “You’ll have to come by as soon as you’re not busy.”

Morrigan groaned and rolled her eyes, “When am I not?” she complained humorously. Despite not living far, Morrigan rarely ever had the time to go anywhere, something always needing her attention. “Besides, they’ve been quite the handful lately like seriously, was I ever this bad when I was their age?

Belmecuri shot her a deadpan look, “I’ve read your file.”

She laughed at that and sighed wistfully, “They’re growing up so fast… I can only imagine how Mom feels.

“Well, have someone else do the work for you, you do need a break as well, Mori,” he said factually, knowing full well if it were possible she would have worked herself to death.

Morrigan’s face scrunched at the idea, “I’m more of a hands on kind of person, you know that… but maybe you’re right,” she huffed indignantly, mulling over who she believed could take some of the weight off of her shoulders so she could bring her family together once more. “By any chance, will you be at the party tonight?” she asked hopefully.

He nodded, “I will be, naturally. I suppose I can convince my wife to leave her office and stop reviewing trade agreements between worlds long enough to spend a night on the town.” His words were filled with mirth as his knowing gaze fell on her.

Morrigan snickered, accepting the irony he spoke of. Much like her, her mother had always been one to dive headfirst into her work. Morrigan mildly regretted giving her mother the position as a galactic trade administrator though having something that put her mother’s analytical skills to use certainly made her mother happy.

Like daughter like mother,” She stated with a small smile informing him that she had gotten the point he had insinuated.

With a nod, she straightened, “Alright, I have a few more things to take care of before the party, and the girls should be home any minute. We will see you both tonight.

Belmecuri nodded respectfully as he smiled, “See you tonight, and don’t work too hard.”

Morrigan snickered and flashed him a grin that revealed her fangs as her holographic image faded.

◇◇◇

With an accomplished sigh, Morrigan stepped off the projection platform and took in her familiar surroundings. Her office was ornate, darkened polished wood with the walls carved to depict tales of her adventures as a young Inquisitor. It hasn’t been her idea but instead, Yekku as the lead architect on the ever-expanding Void Star, insisted on it. She smirked as she glanced at past experiences; she had grown to appreciate his handy work, though pompous as it seemed, it served as a reminder of everything that she had gone through to end up where she had now.

She walked through the door and walked up the spiral staircase since Yekku had her office built into the basement to give her privacy. Upstairs, she walked into the massive foyer, the white sheen of polish white stone that had been used for Marmuro’k ships greeted her. Ahead of her to the left Skoll lay between the two stairways that led upstairs, his head lifting up at her approach. Beyond the massive Danthïr was the living room where Mo’Emori sat on a massive white leather sectional sofa and watched TV.

By the sound that echoed off the walls, her wife had been watching the Imperial news, an inclusive program Morrigan had commissioned to reach across the galaxy, each segment having a little bit of everything for everyone.

She stepped into the living room and continued to the right, where an open kitchen waited for her.

“It looks like the Inquisition found another group of resistance on Toros,” her wife said, dejected.

Morrigan paused with a sigh. Several days after the day the Federation fell, she decreed on a galaxy-wide broadcast that anyone of the Federation who could not put there prejudices aside and open their hearts to the unity they offered, were to be exiled as Outcasts; those military personnel who fought that day would be given the Malleus Die, after it had been repaired and its cannonry permanently disabled, and sent on their way outside of the new unified territory of the Imperium.

The people of Imperial worlds quickly purged their populace of any and all Federation supporters thereafter, causing a mass exodus of Outcasts from the governed systems. Typically, there had been those clever enough to hide their support for the Federation, and slowly formed sects of insurgents.

They were small in number though, and smaller in quantity across her broad empire. What had been more pressing had been the formation of cults that sprouted up like weeds.

“It’s a shame, I know. But they’ll be given fair trials and offered leniency if they truly decide to renounce the Federation ways…” Morrigan noted, tiredness filling her voice as she poured herself a glass of wine.

Ever since the story of her triumph, or perhaps the fact she committed actions across her Inquisitorial campaign that very few could ever manage, and mixed with the fact that the galaxy knew vaguely of her abilities; there were people in her empire that began to view her as some kind of god. It sickened her that people saw her as some kind of deity, becoming Empress was more than enough and if she were honest, it was still too much in her opinion. That was the position her actions had thrust her in so she came to terms with it and she began enacting her plans to bring the Imperium together.

Since she couldn’t ban religion when it came to all three species, she instead opted to renounce it when it came to interspecies planets allowing the original Eskarii worlds to keep their subtle, non-violent religion as respect to the race’s history. But the ones that formed under her name were not peaceful but instead becoming various religions that revolved around her history of violence.

Since their inception, Morrigan had charged the Inquisition with snuffing out any trace of such cults but to her dismay, the retaliation did not deter them, in fact it bolstered their resolve as well as their claims, and they seemed to be everywhere there were shadows.

There was a recognizable roar that came from the long entrance to her home that grabbed everyone’s attention. Morrigan sighed wearily as she knew the sound.

“Don't yell at me you overgrown lizard!” came the voice of a very angry girl before the large double doors on the other side of the foyer flew open and crashed against either side of the wall with a resounding bang.

“Insolent child!” Xol hissed slowly and angrily as he stalked in a few feet behind her. Morrigan rounded the corner and stepped out from behind the staircase to observe what was transpiring between Xol and one of her daughters.

A moment later, two more girls skipped into the foyer, blissfully ignorant to the argument that ensued ahead of them. Vii’ona, ever since being rescued by Morrigan and Nora, had become part of their lives as their pseudo-adopted daughter. Though Alice had legal claim to Vii’ona, Morrigan’s rise in status had given no resistance in keeping themselves within their girl’s life and Alice had been more than welcoming for them to continue being there for the young Eskarii girl.

It helped that she had become fast friends with her other daughter, Arahan, once she came to the same mental age as Vii’ona.

Naestra, her spitfire child, had piercing green eyes, freckles against porcelain skin and short wavy red hair and had inherited her mother’s wrath. Whereas Arahan had blue eyes, her mother’s long dark brown hair, fair complexion, and her inquisitive mind. For being twins, they couldn't have been more opposite in nature.

Xol hissed angrily and Naestra spun on him, unafraid of the massive Kêzi’kân, and taunted him by mimicking the noise he made.

“Back the fuck off or I'll put you down!” she roared as a crackle of crimson energy arced across her body.

Morrigan's eyebrow raised as she turned her attention to Arahan and Vii’ona, who aimed to move past her to the couch before Vii’ona stopped, turned to Morrigan and curtsied, and said with a giggle, “My Empress.”

Morrigan rolled her eyes before reaching out and ruffling the girl’s hair, “You know you don’t have to do that Vii, you’re basically family,” she said in an amused tone.

You can try, little human,” Xol growled in his tongue, standing tall with his arms folded and bearing his fangs in a challenge.

Though the girls had been taught all three languages, Naestra was far from academically inclined in comparison to her sister.

“You can’t beat me,” Naestra spat, staring into his glare as she squared up to the old warrior who towered over her. If she had done more than pay attention long enough to identify what a Marmuro’k would say, she would’ve responded in his own language.

Morrigan turned her attention back to them and huffed, tutting as she leaned against the staircase, “You know, Xol has been the only one aside from your Uncle Sigurd who could hold their own against me, and you have but a fraction of my power,” she stated firmly before taking a sip of the wine.

In truth, both girls inherited her powers, though it seemed to be a diluted form of it. Arahan had very little aptitude for it, which always seemed odd to her though the girl’s intellect far exceeded her sister’s. Whereas Naestra grasped the use of her power naturally. It’s as if both girls were a duality of who Morrigan was given life, and frankly that’s what they were.

Morrigan knew the answer to their aptitude disparity though. Naestra was always angry, much like Morrigan when she had been young, and was the key to her power,  whereas Arahan had been easy-going, analytical and logical when it came to her emotions.

Both of them looked at her as if noticing her for the first time, Xol snapping to attention while her daughter growled and stormed across the room past her mother and sat at the kitchen counter.

Morrigan raised her eyebrows in understanding, knowing full well that Naestra was about to be in trouble. She was ever-obstinate, but became less confrontational when she knew she had done something wrong.

“What has she done now?” she asked through a sigh over the sound of Mo’Emori and Vii’ona giggling in conversation behind her.

“I didn’t do anything!” Naestra exclaimed as she picked at the underside of her nails.

She could hear Mo’Emori sigh in disappointment. Her wife was incredibly kindhearted and spent more time spoiling the girls than anything else which often left Morrigan and Nora to be the stricter parents in a sense.

Xol twitched his head and averted his gaze to the floor. He had respected Morrigan, this much was known and spent a good portion of her life as her guardian. Every since becoming Empress though and giving birth to the twins, he finally relinquished his role as her guardian but instead became their ever-vigilant protector.

Xol knew Morrigan could defend herself, but her children, the young of her clan, were a different story to him, and with that, came the odd desire to protect their privacy as well.

Morrigan narrowed her eyes at the Kêzi’kân. She understood Xol could be overbearing and a common cause for Naestra’s annoyance, but the fact that he sided with the privacy of her life as if he could handle it, even though she was his chieftain and Empress, never ceased to annoy Morrigan.

Her sister though, had no such inclinations and spoke up merrily as she read a book on the sofa, “She got caught in the under-hive again after Xol came to escort us from school.”

“What the fuck, Arahan!” Naestra growl furiously before slamming a small, energized fist into the counter. Luckily, the stone counter was also made from the same material as the Marmuro’k ships

“Sweetie, what have I told you about swearing?” Mo’Emori’s smooth, lyrical voice rose.

The girl grunted and crossed her arms as she pouted.

Morrigan pressed her palm into her forehead to relieve the pressure in her head as she tried to ignore how many times she told her daughter that she couldn't go to the under-city of the Void Star. As much as she hated to admit it, because she adored all of her citizens, but with all her effort she was never able to remove the gap in economic classes. As such, those that lived in the under-city and were those responsible for maintaining many of the station-world’s standard functions working such as plumbing, auxiliary power and so on, often living in poorer conditions than those above.

 “You can't keep going down there, Naestra,” Morrigan stated, trying to keep her anger from surfacing, “We had just uncovered three different cults down there in the past year.”

Her daughter threw her hands up in exasperation, “So what? We basically are gods! That shouldn’t keep me from my friends!”

“Excuse me?” Morrigan growled, her tone bleeding the anger she held back.

Let me speak to her, Apollyon demanded in her head.

Morrigan restrained herself to only grunt before looking around the room. Apollyon would never admit it openly, but the deity had adored the girls even before they were born. To it, they were a precious anomaly and though Apollyon left the parenting to Morrigan, the deity enjoyed spending time with them whenever it could.

Fine, maybe you can talk some sense into her,” she thought back, fed up with having the same argument with her daughter time and time again.

“Your grandpa would like a word with you,” she stated firmly before focusing her power and pushing the deity out of her body. Apollyon’s existence had been a closely guarded secret, once only known by her own mother but Morrigan couldn’t keep the secret from her family forever. So aside from her mother; Nora, Mo’Emori, her daughters, Xol and Vii’ona knew of Apollyon.

Ever since the first time she had done it on the Archangel, Apollyon insisted that Morrigan practiced the process and once the Federation fell, she committed to the deity’s request. Now it took little effort to bring Apollyon into the real world.

Wisps of energy flowed from Morrigan's body, the tendrils growing more dense as each moment passed until the form of Apollyon's spectral upper body coalesced into existence.

Apollyon cackled like a mad man into existence as it always had. It was something the deity did to make the girls laugh when they were younger as they found Apollyon’s theatrics amusing rather than being terrified by its otherworldly form.

Arahan looked up from her book for the first time since coming home and smiled brightly, “Hi Grandpa Apollyon!”

Morrigan smiled. Being connected to the deity, she knew that Apollyon adored the fact that the girls called it grandpa, it’s masculine yet sinister voice giving the illusion that Apollyon could be considered a guy. She found the notion adorable that the deity of destruction could love her daughters as it's own descendants and Apollyon enjoyed every moment it could giving them attention and not so family-friendly life advice to annoy Morrigan to no end.

Apollyon turned its gaze to her, the two red orbs burning brightly as it chuckled in a sinister tone, “There’s my favorite little bookworm!” Apollyon said as it floated around the room, a tether of energy trailing behind as it kept the deity connected to Morrigan. “What are we reading today?” it asked as it stopped behind her, it’s massive horned head towering over her as it raised a single claw nearly as long as she was tall, and adjusted the book to see the cover.

“Vlad the Impaler? I remember him,” Apollyon mused as it read the title.

“Really?” Arahan asked to indulge the deity, knowing full well the possibility that it knew of the man from the book.

“Oh yes, yes. A genius of his time and a respectable man,” Apollyon stated, only to see Arahan crunch her face, only having made it part way through the new book she had picked out from the human history in the school's library.

“A man who stood up to corruption and oppression, defeated several times yet created such a wonderful art for striking fear in the heart of his nation’s enemies, never giving up on the love for his people and bringing prosperity to his people before his unfortunate demise on the battlefield,” the deity explained with a flourish.

Arahan looked at the book before closing it, losing interest in it as she hooked onto Apollyon’s words. “He was defeated multiple times?” she asked.

“Oh yes, three times in fact. Though the third was the last sadly, but I’ll let you in on a secret, though no one knows where his body was buried, I know that Sir Tepes was buried in a casket underneath House Dracul.” Apollyon informed her before looking up to see the two Eskarii women smiling at the deity giving the young girl a history lesson.

Apollyon leaned up, as much as a disembodied upper torso could and waved it’s long claws playfully, “Mo’Emori, Vii’ona, how are you two darling ladies doing today?”

“Hi Apollyon!” Vii’ona chirped brightly.

“A pleasure as always, and you?” Mo’Emori said sweetly, dipping her head in respect to the deity.

Apollyon grunted in faux-indignation, hovering closer to both Eskarii, “Enjoying retirement, seeing the sights, putting my feet up on our dear Mori’s cerebellum,” Apollyon mused causing both of them to giggle and earning a snort out of Morrigan as she sipped her wine.

“Are you keeping out of trouble?” Apollyon asked, glancing at Vii’ona.

“Of course!” Vii’ona said before Apollyon turned its gaze to Mo’Emori.

“And is Mori taking care of you properly?” the deity asked.

Morrigan nearly spit her drink out causing Mo’Emori to laugh. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Morrigan demanded.

“What? I’m just saying, you should take this precious woman out for a date or something. You know, you don’t realize how good you have it sometimes!” Apollyon stated sarcastically, causing Mo’Emori to laugh more.

“She treats me just fine, Apollyon. I appreciate your concern though,” she said as Vii’ona giggled childishly next to her.

“Keep it up wise ass and I’ll drag you back into my head, kicking and screaming,” Morrigan threatened, pointing at her head in punctuation.

“See what I have to deal with?” the deity complained getting a chuckle out of everyone except for Naestra who continued to fume in the kitchen.

Apollyon looked at her, and Morrigan could feel genuine concern mixed with understanding as the deity floated over to her.

“Ah, sweet Naestra,” Apollyon said serendipitously, “Your anger is as beautiful as ever.”

Naestra rolled her eyes, and side-eyed the deity as it hovered close to her side and outstretched one of its long arms, brushing her bangs from her eyes from the other side of her. The act annoyed her even more as she shook her head, messing up her hair even more to spite the deity.

Apollyon chuckled darkly, “You are so much like your mother, all anger and no finesse.”

“I am not mom!” Naestra growled, snaking her face towards the floating deity. A pang of her hurt stung Morrigan's heart and through their bond, Apollyon could feel it too.

In an instant, Apollyon captured the girl’s jaw between two incredibly sharp claws, the points threatening to pierce her skin as it forced her to look until it's burning gaze. “Oh but you are! More than you'll ever know, my wrathful granddaughter,” Apollyon stated smoothly, not raising its voice.

“So filled with rage, and begging for an outlet… but, I am not here to yell at you,” Apollyon added before releasing her, watching as she reactively rubbed her jawline to ensure there wasn’t a wound.

“Then why are you here?” she scowled.

“Because, you need to understand your situation,” Apollyon stated, watching as her scowl twisted into a silent snarl.

“We know!” she snarled only for Apollyon to shift forward, coming mere centimeters from her face.

“Your sister does but you do not,” Apollyon said deeply, “You two are royalty, which brings danger as is the nature of such privilege,” the deity stated before pulling away and drifting over to her other side, “But there is more, you two are also unique, the only two of your kind… you carry my power in your veins, something that no one but your mother could ever claim and that makes you priceless.”

Naestra huffed indignantly as she crossed her arms once again. Morrigan wanted to butt in and agree with Apollyon, but she knew that would cause her daughter to become more rebellious.

“With that, there are those who will seek to use you,  to harm you, and you must be ever-suspicious of ulterior motives; especially humans, humanity has a very long history of envy and scorn,” Apollyon added.

Everyone was silent for a moment as Naestra absorbed what the deity said. “Its just… unfair” she started in a huff before letting out a calming breath. Suddenly, both Morrigan and Apollyon could see a sadness settled in her daughter and that was a cause for concern for both of them.

“What is?” Apollyon demanded calmly.

Naestra chewed on her lip, much like her mother did whenever she tried to find the words to formulate what she wanted to say. “Being treated this way, like I’m different. Having my every move watched!” she said loud enough for Xol to hear.

Morrigan glanced at him and heard him let out a low rumble though he chose not to say anything.

“I don’t get to play with my friends, and I barely see them at school but they treat me like a normal person and are even okay that I’m so… aggressive sometimes,” she continued, revealing a long held onto problem.

Morrigan’s heart sank at this realization. Though she knew Naestra had inherited her anger problem, she could even admit that she was far too angry far too often yet her duties kept her from fully investigating it, more often than not, it kept her from her family on most days.

Mo’Emori’s ears lowered, she too feeling the heartache at hearing her little girl express her sadness. She too had always been busy since she worked later in the day within the Cathedral as an agent of Inquisitorial public relations; which looking at the time, she had already been late; but leaving wasn't an option for her yet.

Apollyon hummed thoughtfully, absorbing everyone’s emotions in the room as it brought a claw to its near featureless face.

“Have you ever tried, you know, talking to your mothers about it?” Apollyon asked, it's voice holding a hint of amusement at the illogical process of a young mind.

Naestra didn’t respond, which caused Mo’Emori to crack first. “Apollyon is right sweetheart, you know you can talk to us about anything,” she said sweetly though a deep sadness edged her voice.

Morrigan stepped into the kitchen and sat down kitty corner from her upset daughter. “Momma Mo’Emori is right, hun. If something like this has been bothering you, why haven’t you said anything?”

Naestra refused to look at her, or anyone else as her gaze fixated on the counter, “Its hard for me to make friends… the teachers say I’m so rough when it comes to sports, I go overboard in defensive training… most of the kids are afraid of me but the kids from the under city are scrappy, nearly as scrappy as me,” she said, ending the statement with a small smile.

“We can wrestle, or play sports… they find me funny and they aren’t scared of me. They make me feel normal…” she added solemnly.

Morrigan let out a small sigh and looked at Mo’Emori. Her wife shifted her glassy eyes to meet her gaze and she could tell that she was on the verge of tears.

“Well, we don’t even know who your friends are, sweetie. Perhaps, if you give us their names, then maybe…” Morrigan paused, considering what it was her daughter needed versus how she could keep her safe. “Maybe I can get ahold of their families, and invite your friends here for playdates. We do have a massive yard where you all can play in,” she said, gesturing towards the front of the mansion they lived in. The front of the mansion, though built more like a fortress, had over half an acre of open yard in the front separated from the rest of the Void Star by tall ramparts.

During the recovery after the war, a lot of the main Cathedral district had been ravaged by the conflict so Morrigan had a relatively large section that sat off several blocks away from the Cathedral cleared out for Yekku and his builders to construct their new home.

Naestra pursed her lips together, as if uncertain about the idea. After a moment of thinking, she came clean, “Their families… they’re not fond of us… some are even afraid of you…Mom.”

Morrigan pursed her own lips together. She had always known there would be a disparity between her family and the rest of the Imperium especially with the ever-present separation in classes. Morrigan had built herself up, regardless of intent, into a person of renowned through both fear and respect. But in between those, there was always the chance for disdain to be bred as well.

She wanted her children to grow on their own, to make mistakes and learn from them rather than be pampered through life; their entitled hierarchy made it hard to balance that and often left her leaving words of warning, and entrusting vigilant eyes to watch over her children. They were 14 though, and still needed to be kids.

“What if we invite them all here?” Mo’Emori asked, a glint of hope shining through her sadness.

Morrigan cocked her head to the side at the question, telling her wife that she should elaborate.

Mo’Emori sat up straight, “Perhaps, if we invite the families over we could speak to their parents while the children play. Maybe, if they are willing to share their issues, we can help solve them?”

Morrigan pondered the idea for a moment, Apollyon watching her thoughtfully as curiosity transferred into her from the deity.

“Do you think that would work?” Naestra asked, her tone hopeful.

Morrigan shrugged, “I don’t know sweetie… we have to be careful about it. We can’t let it be expected that we can solve everyone’s issues, despite how hard I already try. No matter what, there will always be hardship for those who struggle in the presumably lower class.” Her words caused Naestra’s shoulders to slump and disappointment spread across her face.

“But,” Morrigan quickly added, not wishing to give the wrong idea, “For you. We can give it a try, and hope for the best.”

She watched her daughter smile as hope flared within her, “Thanks, Mom.”

Morrigan smiled, “Of course sweetie,” she said, glancing to Apollyon.

Naestra too turned to the floating deity, “And thank you, grandpa!” her tone coming out more cheerfully.

“Of course kiddo,” Apollyon said, one of its eyes extinguishing briefly to impersonate a wink before adding, “Now, I think you and your sister should get ready for that fancy party tonight.”

Naestra nodded and got up, collecting her sister as well as Vii’ona, and hurried upstairs.

Before anyone could say anything else, Skoll strode over with a long, needful whine as he stared at Apollyon.

“Of course I have scratches for the best of boys!” the deity said with an amused chuckle before dragging long claws through Skoll’s fur, the great beast groaning with pleasure before collapsing to the ground and rolling on his back.

Everyone chuckled at the display, enjoying the reprieve from the heavy conversation they just had. The respite wouldn’t last long though, as Mo’Emori had to rush off to work, and there had still been duties Morrigan had to fulfill.

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