30 Albus side, part 2

As they reached a walking crowd, August stopped and so did the rest of them.

August made a reluctant expression as he asked: "Leum can you make it look like a gust of thick vapor just gushed out of the pipe on right from us." August wasn't looking in the direction of it, as he asked, so Albus too avoided to look thinking there was a reason for it.

"Shall I do it now?" Leum asked.

August nodded and took a hold of Leum and Veri this time. Veri took Albus by arm.

There was no forest there, but it felt like moments before setting out on a fae path. Albus felt confusion, but then it came to her memory that there was something about forests not being the only places you could walk like that.

Aether shifted around them and Leum chantlessly gathered aether by the very pipe in question. Albus admired how easily dragons could command the aether found in the air, but she didn't have a long time to marvel. As soon as the vapor gushed out covering both them and the people around, August stepped ahead, pulling them all in a vividly colored, yet grotesque space where buildings blended together with human body parts. Dark shaped blobs ate these very same body parts, tearing them out of buildings, then feasted on each other too. Albus caught on her own mouth, not to throw up from the sight alone. This looked like a moving and shifting expressionist painting of a nightmare.

But that was not the worst part of this space.

The air held lingering feelings that were pushed on to those visiting. Something, or rather, this place itself, was raw, wounded and hurting, vulnerable and uncomfortable, like a living being pushed into a small cage with bars sinking in and cutting into their skin. Albus had a hard time breathing, she too felt crushed. She couldn't help but feel sorry for this place, regardless of what it was.

A few steps and August let go of Leum, reaching out towards a silver-colored blob. Leum switched to hold on to Albus. In the next moment, a boy not older than fourteen was pulled in this space, shock painted over his features.

He looked like a regular human - brown hair and gray eyes, but there was a silvery aura leaking from him - at least it looked so in a unicorn's eyes. Albus was shaken to see the Hadean royalty having a human body. She was aware that some Terreans and Soleans could descend on Urea through willing hosts, but that shouldn't be possible for Hadeans.

Before the kid could get over his shock, August made a few steps backward, as he did, his presence thinned and the same happened to all of those he was touching. When they exited the space in another crowded place, their presence was like that of a grass strand in a meadow and none of the humans passing them by seemed to notice them popping up just like that.

Albus drew a deep breath, no longer feeling like she was crushed and, while not as extreme, Leum and Veri also showed relief on their faces. The kid tried to shake his hand free, fright and shock mixing on his face.

"Can you stop that?" August asked, his hand was trembling. "I can't conceal you if there's no skin contact."

Hearing August's voice, shock faded into confusion and the kid stopped struggling.

August sighed and without letting go of the boy's wrist, he walked towards a side-alley.

No one paid any attention whatsoever to their odd procession of holding hands, yet rather than it being avoidance to look, it was more akin to them being invisible, yet people seemed to subconsciously step aside not to run into them.

There was a park nearby and August entered it, going off the path and into a spot surrounded by blooming dogwood bushes that was more or less hidden from view.

Only then he let go of the kid's wrist. There were question marks in the kid's eyes and even if he was free to he did not run away.

August spoke to something inside the bush in a language that sounded like wind passing through tree leaves, startling Albus, yet not others in their group. Even the kid seemed to be deep in observation, but not surprised.

The meaning Albus could catch from August's words was in the form of bronze vapor, an alarming feeling of danger, a desire to hide, and August pulled out a strand of his hair. It came out as easily as plucking a leaf and it didn't look like August was in any pain from doing that.

The strand turned into a big white flower, reminiscent of a lily, yet there was a white glow to it. Meanwhile, a new hair strand grew out instantly to replace the missing one.

Albus had seen something similar before, but the elf that had done the same thing had flinched when he pulled out some of his hair and the hair hadn't grown back like that either, yet it too had turned into a flower - not as bright and pure as this one, however. Albus didn't need to wonder what it was, she already knew - concentrated light alignment aether - the thing elves offered to nature spirits in exchange for their service.

The bush shook and branches sprouted out like thin fingers taking the flower. The leaves rustled and even if faint, there was a reply with the meaning of joyful agreement.

Albus could tell that August had made a deal with the treant living here - if someone oozing bronze-colored alignment stepped in, the treant would let August know and conceal them from sight.

Albus knew that treants were common beings living in both Ahea and Urea, but this was her first time meeting (or recognizing) one. Nature spirits' aether blended in with nature itself unless they acted out or let themselves be seen - finding one as easily as August had was something only dryads and perhaps some elves could do.

The kid looked towards August. "Who are you?"

"If you want to know, how about you introduce yourself first," August said.

The kid opened his mouth, then closed it. "I'm Thomass Burton, a student in Rosewood high."

August cast a 'really now' expression towards the kid. "In that case, I'm August Garold, a writer living nearby, those are Leum, Veri and Albus, my assistants."

Albus exchanged looks with Veri and Leum. Assistant had a pretty alright ring to it. Albus knew that Urea was peculiar in the way that most Ureals couldn't even perceive the astral side, so it made sense to have multiple identities.

The kid made an embarrassed expression. "I also happen to be.. Second generation Tharurun, local god, I suppose,"

August made the same 'really now' expression. "In that case, I'm also a platinum rank exorcist and these are my familiars. I was tasked with investigating what's up with a god being consumed and someone eating memories of students in Rosewood high."

The kid sighed again, giving up. "I'm also… Marcus Revo Turoleo, the second prince of Hades empire."

August's expression eased up and he said. "Didn't think you'd say it so honestly."

"You knew it already, didn't you?" The kid asked with a wry smile.

"Yes, Albus here says Hadean royalty have silver-colored alignment," August said.

The kid cast a brief look at Albus, before looking back at August. "I don't know about alignment, but Hadean royalty does have a differently structured body compared to common citizens. And.. who are you?" the kid asked.

August pursed his lips. "Someone who will be in trouble if someone eats your memory," August said.

This time Marcus had a 'really now' expression. "And what you displayed just now doesn't hint at it? Walking through Urea's sea of consciousness and ability to extract life force in an instant."

August looked uncomfortable.

"Aug, maybe we should dispose of him?" Riveria asked in a casual manner.

August gained the eyes of a dead fish. "Well, perhaps we should at least get some abyss cores then?"

Marcus didn't look all that concerned about 'dispose of him', but he took on a bewildered expression at the last line. "Abyss cores?"

"Your 'common citizens' are going around promising those in exchange for you," August said.

"Like hell they would give them," Marcus said with a frown. "They would just blow you up alongside me."

August didn't look all that surprised. And different to what Albus expected, Veri and Leum weren't surprised about such an option either.

"Neither my brother nor his underlings have any integrity, I can promise you that much," Marcus said with bitterness.

'Brother'... Was it really about a battle of succession like August had guessed?

"You can tell more about that to Tiamat. I'm too weak and uninformed to get involved in interdimensional diplomacy," August said.

Marcus took on a 'really now' expression. Albus felt like this kid was somewhat similar to August or perhaps he was mirroring?

"But let me rest for some twenty more minutes, using people for movement is draining," August added, ignoring the look Marcus gave him. "That said, how are you aware of what sea of consciousness in Urea looks like?" August asked, leaning against a tree trunk. Looked like the treant tried to make August more comfortable by stretching out some fresh new leaves to soften the place up in a caring manner.

"I can partially access the one in Hades," Marcus said. "My access authority would be similar to one high elves have for accessing Urea's. Yours appears to be on the same level as my father's."

A look of realization passed August's eyes, and he let out a long sigh. "Just how much of that elf's memory did you eat?"

"Half of it," Marcus said.

August looked at Marcus in silence for a bit before asking. "Do you know what she did after losing those memories?"

Marcus eyes gained a painful look to them "...She harmed humans, I guess. She had a lot of hatred in her, I can tell that those memories I stole had been her restraint."

August's expression was neutral as he listened to it. "What about the other students?"

"I ate their memories of this body's previous owner. He wanted to be forgotten when he committed suicide, so I'm following up there," Marcus replied.

There wasn't a change in August's expression from hearing that, Leum and Veri only showed mild traces of curiosity. Albus frowned. Suicide? Could Hadeans perfectly reanimate corpses? That was new.

"I know it's not much of a reason or an excuse, but gaps left by missing memories fill up with time." Marcus continued. "For Ureals it happens at an incredible speed at that. In about a year all of the students will have complete astral forms again."

August nodded at that, like accepting it.

"Tharurun attacked me when I was taking a stroll in astral form, I ended up eating him when he bit into me. It wasn't by choice but self-defence." Marcus added about the last thing August supposedly needed to investigate.

With that Marcus had explained all the mysterious details that could be narrowed down to being the fault of his actions.

August nodded at that as well.

"Is August Galord your only name?" Marcus asked then. His line of reasoning being clear enough. Since he already seemed to know what August was, there might not be a reason to hide other names he might have.

"I write under a pseudonym of August Gold, but I don't think that's relevant to you," August replied.

"Not to me, but this body's original owner inspired his suicide method from one of the characters in your 'White box' book," Marcus said like sharing a trivia.

Albus looked from August to Marcus. Albus had thought that 'writer' was a cover-up kind of job, but it looked like August was doing pretty well? Albus was not a fiction (got to be fiction if 'characters' were involved) reader by any means, preferring autobiographies and history books, but perhaps she ought to read something just to learn more about August.

"I'm glad to have had a positive influence," August replied with a blank look.

"I might be able to walk to mother, if that helps," Leum said as it seemed like the exchange between Marcus and August was more or less over.

"That would help," August said. "Can I stay behind and nap here?"

Leum smiled. "It's best if you come along now."

Marcus looked from Leum to August, seeming to be confused about something. "Is Urea currently threatened by something?"

"You can ask Tiamat," August said, straightening out, then spoke to the treant again, asking about a vague forest like shape with a questioning feeling to it.

Treant replied, meaning a particular forest and there was an offer of showing a path to it and August smiled towards the bush, pulling out another strand of hair, transforming it into a flower again, which the treant took with grateful joy.

August looked towards Leum. "The treant will guide you towards the closest forest, it might be draining to walk, since it's a make-shift path, though. After that - you know better where she is, I suppose."

Leum nodded and took August by hand. Albus figured she better takes hold of Leum. Veri took Albus' other hand. This time Marcus took August by hand rather than have his wrist be grabbed like before. And off they went.

The fae path this time was nothing more than a narrow trail only a cat could walk in comfort, showing sceneries of the town in between the tree gaps. Yet all along the path, there were pointers formed by tree branches showing where to go and after ten minutes of walking Leum's hands started to tremble, but they did come out in a forest.

Albus and Marcus went to empty their stomach into a bush. Walking fae paths was always dizzying, but this path had been a complete rollercoaster. Riveria looked a bit blueish too. Only August seemed fine, but he still looked tired.

"It sure is comfy when someone else takes the lead," August said, earning wry smiles from the rest of them.

"Now I'm the one in need of twenty minutes," Leum said with a tired smile.

"I can take the lead now," August said. "Just tell me where to go."

Leum thought a bit, then replied in Fae language. A scenery of a huge sky blue lake surrounded by hills came to view.

August showed surprise, but asked something more in Fae, another forest scenery coming into view, a big limestone ruin was in it.

"Yes, it's near there," Leum said.

"Can't we take a small break?" Marcus asked, wiping his mouth. "This body can't handle the speed."

Albus too wished for a break, but she didn't ask because that would make her seem whiny or weak.

"Bear with it," August said and took Veri and Leum by hands. Albus sluggishly went over to catch on Veri, internally crying. Her first meeting with Tiamat would be while puking-- life could be cruel.

Leum took Marcus by hand and off they went again, into a wide and well-lit path, forest scenery passing them by till they came out near the limestone ruin August had mentioned.

Albus and Marcus both cast their blessings on the nearest bush, almost forming a sort of a bond over it.

"Please tell me we are there--" Marcus asked in a weak voice.

Albus also prayed the last bit wouldn't be too big. She no longer had anything to throw up as it was.

"Almost," Leum said, walking towards the very same ruin. The rest of them followed.

When closer, it was clear that the ruin was of an ancient fortress of sorts, two mostly fallen over towers and a big tunnel or hall connecting them. The inside of the ruin was, well, like any ruin. The roof had fallen in long ago and the place was overgrown with shade-loving plants. Leum went to the middle of the space that was once a hall of sorts.

August was following him closely and so did the rest.

"Hmmm, for this year the password is..." Leum said to himself. "Goblins are green from smoothies," He chanted and the floor under him lit up. In a flash the circle below them ran up to the ceiling, teleporting them all into a huge cave.

Goblins certainly weren't green from smoothies, but Albus felt like a confusing sentence like that might work as a password. She wanted to ask who was thinking them up, but it wasn't the time to.

At first the cave seemed empty, but only moments later an enormous and oppressive presence appeared, had she been any younger or weaker, Albus was sure it would knock her out. Albus clutched onto August's sleeve, Marcus straightened his posture, alarmed.

"Tiamat?" August asked. He didn't look like the presence was affecting him.

A dragon as huge as a mountain peeked into the cave. Her colors too were gray and green and if she napped, she might as well be confused for a mountain herself.

"Ceruleum," Tiamat recognized her son. "Why the guest entrance?" Despite her size, the voice that came to them was soft, yet there was an apparent amount of confusion in it.

Ceruleum smiled. "Some reasons. Rather than that - here's my master."

"August Garold," Tiamat said, turning her green eyes to August. Her pupils narrowed in focus. It wasn't a question, but a statement.

Albus clutched on August's sleeve even more tightly, as August tilted his head in surprise about her knowing who he was.

"Yes, pleased to meet you," August said, not seeming all that pleased. "There's something we need to discuss, perhaps there's a better location for that?"

Tiamat chuckled and moved her head backward out of the cave. "Come along," she said, in an amused tone.

Albus hadn't heard anything amusing, so Tiamat's tone puzzled her, but she did feel some relief from Tiamat moving away.

With Leum in lead, the group walked towards the spot where Tiamat had gone to and saw the exit to the cave. Outside, there was the spot Leum had mentioned in fae - a huge lake surrounded by green hills and all around the lake there were moss overgrown stone huts in all kinds of sizes. And the dragon was missing, rather, a bit further a young woman was standing - with long green hair and bright green eyes with slit pupils, her presence was the same as the one from that dragon. She wore a white sundress and if a picture was taken, she might seem like a beautiful forest fairy, yet - in reality, her presence indicated that she was the most powerful being Albus had ever seen and all that she felt was intimidation.

Leum, being her son, was completely relaxed and so was Veri.

Veri felt Albus looking and noticed Albus' expression. She stepped closer and took Albus by the very same hand that was clutching on August's sleeve.

Albus noticed herself doing that and felt embarrassed, but since Veri offered, she switched to hold on to her. If August would be talking to Tiamat, it would be awkward if Albus clung on him.

When they walked up to Tiamat, she spoke. "I'll take you to a hut set up by elves, the size ought to be right. I would have prepared something better if my son had told about your visit," she said, peering over at Leum a bit accusingly.

Leum made an apologetic smile.

"He had no chance to," August said. "Something urgent came up."

Tiamat glanced back towards Marcus, guessing at 'urgent', but averted her eyes right away. "We can talk about that when seated. I can tell you and Ceruleum are tired."

Veri smiled, making a few faster steps ahead. Albus followed in surprise, spotting mischief on Veri's face. Pat. She pushed Tiamat's back and they leaped through a fae path, ending up just by the lake.

Tiamat glanced back in surprise. "Riveria, are you showing off?" She asked.

Albus wrapped around Riveria's arm like a koala realizing she was in reaching distance from Tiamat. And they were alone here-- August, Leum and Marcus hadn't followed them. Luckily the leap was so fast, Albus had no time to become dizzy, but this arrangement alarmed her. It was almost as if Veri had betrayed her.

"You didn't feel me approaching, right?" Veri grinned.

"I did not," Tiamat admitted. "That presence concealment is more frightening than I imagined. No wonder Purple is unsettled."

Yet, as if nothing had happened, Tiamat turned to head towards a human-sized hut nearby. This one was made from living wood and if not looked at from up close, it would simply appear to be a thickly intertwined tree bunch.

Tiamat opened the door and was greeted by a girl dressed in leaves with tree bark brown skin and green hair. A brownie. A spirit always found around Elven homes. Native to Urea, but Ahea also had some due to elves emigrating there.

If built by Elven methods, homes naturally manifested brownies and elves usually infused the home with enough aether for the brownie to happily stay around for a couple of centuries with no additional payment needed. For that reason, elves had the complete monopoly on building and supplying vacation houses in Ahea - who wouldn't want a self-maintaining house with a servant included. Automatons were usually used for a similar purpose in Ahea, but brownies were way smarter.

Albus had been to a couple of houses of this sort and this one was of the more luxurious kind, even if the interior wasn't quite like the one Aheals preferred. An Elven house built for elves, not an Elven house built for Aheals - rather than incorporating big crystal windows and wide-open spaces with minimal furniture, this house was lush green and formed entirely of wood and plant material. Colorful flowers blooming all around. It reminded Albus of August's apartment, but without the mist and constantly circulating aether discharges.

"How can I help?" the girl asked. There was some caution in her gestures.

"I need a comfortable space for sitting and talking, and…" Tiamat glanced over at Riveria. "What does August Garold drink?"

"He avoids alcohol, that much I know," Riveria replied. "I've seen him drink water, black coffee, crimson elderflower tea, and black tea."

"I guess whatever herbal tea that heals fatigue would work," Tiamat said to the brownie.

The brownie nodded and lead the three towards a wide room with an open wall facing the lake. Albus could see that a wind elemental was leisurely floating by the opening maintaining a soft, comforting airflow in the room and not letting any disturbing wind gusts through. It didn't react to Tiamat entering in any way.

The room had soft moss seats all around it, enough to comfortably let around twenty elves relax in it and view the lake.

"How many guests would come?" The brownie asked, before leaving.

"Three more. If there's something not-sour to snack on, bring that too," Tiamat said and sat down.

"Not-sour?" Riveria asked, taking a seat as well and pulling Albus along.

"I can tell that the Hadean royalty and this child," she glanced towards Albus. "Are not used to walking fae paths."

Albus turned red from the implication. Dragon noses. Of course, Tiamat could tell what she and Marcus had done before. Without Albus noticing, though, she had more or less gotten used to Tiamat's presence, no longer clutching on Riveria's arm quite as strongly. Albus wasn't surprised about Tiamat knowing that the kid was Hadean royalty. It would be more surprising if Tiamat hadn't noticed.

The brownie had disappeared, or more accurately, sunk into a wall nearby.

"Have your and Ceruleum's names changed?" Tiamat asked Veri.

"Hmm, you can't tell that either?" Veri smiled in a teasing way.

"No, I can't read your record at all right now. It's honestly frustrating," Tiamat said, letting out a sigh.

Albus had heard of Tiamat's ability to read 'records', or some external information lingering on a person. Like always knowing their name, what kind of creature they were, what blessings, curses or titles hang on them and some other things Albus couldn't quite recall. This bit hinted that it might be something related to aether signatures, as those were missing on August, Leum, Veri and likely herself as well.

"Just what sort of life has August Garold led?" Tiamat asked.

Albus wanted to know as well. Seriously. Even as his familiar, she couldn't read his Aether flow at all and she needed that to efficiently heal… not that it looked like he needed healing right now, but what if he needs it at one point.

"He didn't tell me of his past," Veri said. "But names - I'm Veri, Ceruleum is Leum and this is Albus."

"And you are all undercover, so you can't change forms and come visiting normally, I suppose?" Tiamat asked.

Veri nodded. "I might be fine, though. Many know my face, so… it's likely that I'll fly here on the solstice."

"Oh," Tiamat smiled. "Looks like my drinking buddy won't be missing then."

Veri smiled. "Everyone will be coming. I'll be introducing August to some elder witches."

"A witch," Tiamat rolled the word over her tongue, smiling faintly. "Yes, his ancestor was also one," Tiamat said. "August might be a distant relative to Rebecca now that I think of it."

"Ancestor?" Veri asked. Albus also straightened her posture at that line. August did have the look that would lead unicorns astray, but witches were… not quite the beings unicorns liked. Bicorns - oh, yes, though!

"Mhm, yes, Leum helped her out a few times. I thought he was charmed, but-- looks like it wasn't her he was charmed with, but one of her descendants who happens to share her looks," Tiamat said with an amused smile. "She was a troublesome woman, she killed the last few Urea's unicorns--"

Albus' eyes widened. August's ancestor had killed the last Urea's unicorns? So it wasn't that August had the sort of beauty that would lead unicorns to ruin, he had the exact type of beauty who had done so.

"--and led some dozen steions into ruin. That all came to a stop when she got that curse, though. She came to a bad end too, an Averea ate her soul." Tiamat said it all in a tone that might as well be used when talking about the weather.

Curse… right. Aheal descendants who had evolved to adapt to Urea's conditions - gemhearts, especially Steions and Eins - cast a powerful curse on those killing them. A brand of a murderer. If you got it, then you carried it on you and your descendants inherited it as well unless you made children with a being that outclassed the one who initially cast the curse.

"A typical end," Veri said, not seeming bothered about any part of it.

Albus could feel August coming closer and once she looked sideways she saw the brownie leading August, Leum, and Marcus in the room. The brownie seemed happy for some reason. Albus tilted her head in confusion - this was her first time seeing a brownie smile, Albus had been under the impression that Brownies were as expressionless as automatons.

August sat down next to Veri and, like usual, Leum sat on the other side of him. Marcus seemed to hesitate a little, but also sat down, although stiffly.

"Aug, did you know that your ancestor killed the last Urea's unicorns?" Veri asked like sharing a fun fact.

August frowned. "Which one?"

Leum added. "Mother of Galord family founder."

"I was never all that interested in my family history," August said and leaned back in the chair, he did look over at Albus, though.

Seeing his look, Albus shook her head to show she wasn't upset. Well, knowing that an Averea had eaten the woman's soul was enough of a punishment, really.

Tiamat glanced over at Albus, pondering. "You do look a lot like Fumus," she noted.

It was obvious Tiamat would figure it out from that. "Yes, he's my grandfather," Albus replied.

Given that it was the very same Fumus who told Albus all those sparkly tales of Tiamat's parties, it wasn't hard to tell where Tiamat had seen him. Of course, it was of a time before the travel gates between Ahea and Urea were destroyed.

When she was younger, Albus had used to wonder why did the gates needed to be cut. She used to think that Urea's technology level would grow if there was a constant stream of oddball Aheals coming. After some interdimensional history lessons she didn't wonder anymore, Urea's technology had actually grown the most in the time when all gates were cut. Aheals hadn't been treated like something to learn from either way - they were treated like gods and people were obeying them with no questions asked, waging wars in their games and that had seriously pissed some dryads off at one point, so the 'gods' were kicked out and gates were broken.

Tiamat looked back towards August. "Before we get to talking," she glanced at Marcus, then back at August. "I wanted to thank you for that prank you played on my son and --Veri." There was the tiniest pause before 'Veri', as Tiamat corrected the name in her own mind.

A trace of amusement passed August's eyes. "Welcome," he said.

"If you have a personal request, I don't mind listening to it later on," she said with a smile of a queen like benevolence.

Leum and Veri had eyes of dead fish as Tiamat said that.

"I hope they don't hatch for a century," Veri said lacking spirit.

Leum's smile was despairing, just that alone gave it away that Veri's hope wouldn't come true.

"They are growing well, I suspect they will be out in less than a decade," Tiamat added with a cheery smile.

Veri slumped towards August, burying her face in his shoulder.

August looked sideways, a bit guilty.

"You better take responsibility--" Veri mumbled, her voice wasn't despairing there though, rather expectant.

And August pursed his lips and flicked her forehead.

"Ouch--" Veri pulled back and straightened out with a 'shucks, it didn't work' expression.

Albus was, again, impressed. Such boldness. In front of Tiamat no less.

Marcus was squinting in the background with a disbelieving frown, but he didn't let out a sound. Albus didn't really wonder why.

The brownie came in and put down a tray of mugs formed from wood with some leaves growing out from them - in them was a sweet scenting tea, and there were also various sweet fruits and nuts put on broad leaves.

The only one who said 'thank you' was August and he did that in Fae language, earning a sparkling happy smile from the brownie. Albus had never seen anyone thanking either an automaton nor a brownie, but that said she had never seen a brownie looking this happy.

As soon as she came, she disappeared. That part was common.

"Alright then," August said, brushing over the silence. "Can I pass you this guy - he reeks of trouble."

"Mhm, he does reek of trouble," Tiamat agreed, looking over at Marcus.

Marcus was pursing his lips, certainly not happy with the label, but unable to retort.

"How about you tell me why are you here and inside a human body," Tiamat turned to 'the trouble' and sipped some tea.

Marcus replied. "The carrier I was on was hit off course by debris and was sucked into a dimensional crack. The passengers got thrown out somewhere above the atmosphere and the carrier dissolved as Urea's gravity pulled us down. I fell down somewhere near the capital of this country and when I got there, there was an astral body sticking out of a building. I was curious and approached and found a freshly hanged body that had almost lost its connection to that astral body. As the connection snapped, the body sucked me in."

"That's curious," Tiamat said.

Albus also felt so. But it was comforting to know that had been an accident rather than a method Hadeans used.

Marcus nodded in agreement, he too seemed to find it all 'curious'.

"Since you didn't evaporate, you killed someone in Hades, didn't you?" Tiamat asked, her tone of voice held no judgment, however. The way she asked reminded Albus of how August did his questioning - like mere checking of facts like it had no business with him.

Marcus sighed, his pupils shook. "Technically."

"Hmm, do you wish to go back to Hades?" Tiamat asked.

Marcus' eyes widened. "Yes, but only if it's possible to evade my brother's forces."

"Son, do you think you can make a few divinations?" Tiamat asked.

"After an hour," Ceruleum replied.

As Albus glanced over at Ceruleum she spotted that August had passed out, leaning on Leum. Just how secure was he feeling in front of Tiamat?? She couldn't help but be impressed. Not to mention it was in the middle of an important conversation.

Albus had conflicted feelings since Tiamat had asked practically nothing of importance. Albus had already gotten the impression that Marcus wasn't a bad person, but how could one figure out if it was a good idea to send him off with just that much information.

Marcus looked as confused as Albus did.

"Tiamat, can I ask a question?" Albus spoke up.

"Feel free," Tiamat replied.

"Are you planning to send Marcus off just like that?" Albus asked.

"Yes, if there's a good option," Tiamat replied. "He shouldn't be here. Hadean emperor candidates always have some twisted battle of succession and it's better if they mess up their own dimension while at it, not take it elsewhere. And this kid, if he doesn't leave soon he might be too bound to Urea to leave."

And so it was confirmed. It really had been about a battle of succession.

"Too bound?" Marcus frowned.

"Yes, you took over Tharurun's role and already have around," Tiamat's pupils narrowed. "Thirty believers?"

Marcus nodded. Shock painted over his features.

"Right now your record has a stronger "Marcus Revo Turoleo" identity," Tiamat said. "But if you gain thirty more followers as Tharurun, that will become your permanent record and your home will be Urea, not Hades. And if so..."

"I might lose my qualification to succeed," Marcus said, pale.

Albus knew nothing of Hadean battles for succession despite having had access to most data about Hades Aheal military had. She was far more involved with invasions from Solus and Terrea, but it wasn't like she had neglected her studies. But before she could ask about that, Marcus did.

"How do you know about the battle of succession?" Marcus asked.

"The one your grandfather had with his brother partly happened in Urea," Tiamat replied, frowning. "It was unpleasant."

Marcus eyes widened in shock and the mug in his hands let out a creak from being squeezed too tightly.

Albus didn't know which part of it was shocking to Marcus. Marcus' father had been ruling for at least seventeen millennia, Ahea too had made a deal with his father, she didn't know anything of a time before then.

Marcus put down the mug, straightening his posture. "Did my father have a brother as well?" His fingers were shaking.

"Of course," Tiamat replied, tilting her head slightly, seeming surprised at the question. "And so did your great grandfather. The emperor always has two offspring, they fight it out and the stronger eats the weaker one, then the victor eats the previous emperor."

Marcus drew a deep breath and slowly exhaled, falling silent, yet his eyes showed focus, deep in thought.

When Albus averted her eyes from Marcus, she noticed that Leum too had passed out, his head leaning on August's. Looked like Veri had taken away their empty mugs without attracting any attention.

If they could both pass out during a conversation as shocking as this… they must have been far more exhausted by the travel than they showed.

"I do wonder how you grew up without knowing it," Tiamat said after finishing her tea.

Marcus didn't reply to that.

Tiamat shrugged a little and got up. Walking towards the open wall and jumping off the terrasse.

Veri got up as well, pulling Albus along. Eh-- couldn't she stay and relax as well? Even whilst thinking that Albus didn't complain out loud and followed Veri, snatching some nuts along to munch on.