Can We Talk?

"... YOU DARE–..."

"... Huh? ..." Nelphy groaned, half asleep. "That wasn't… Bil?"

She rubbed her eyes and looked at her twin brother. As he slept soundly, Nelphy slowly got out of bed. The cold of the night crept over her skin so Nelphy quickly grabbed a coat from her pack.

"Is Bil… Okay?" the girl mumbled as she began walking out of the cave, keeping one hand on the wall to help guide her.

Outside the cave, Iskar growled through gritted teeth, glaring at the blind man. "You dare tarnish my beauty like this? I'll have your head, and your kids."

"Ahhh… Now that my tank is empty and I can think straight, can we talk?" Bil asked, turning his face directly toward the god's gaze, even craning his neck to perfectly stare back at the god.

"You.. aren't blind?" Iskar questioned with both confusion and intrigue.

"Can we talk?" repeated Bil. "Or does your pride know no bounds, even though you're merely half-ascended?"

"Huh-I–"

"You what? Didn't bother caring cause we're humans? Cause we're not you?" Bil mocked. "I can sense the veita built up in your eyes. One has enough veita to be a lower god, but the other is no different than a high angel."

"Y-you… what are you?" Iskar's voice grew colder, lower. He stepped closer to the blind man, nearly hitting Bil's chest with the god's crotch. "You will answer all of my questions, or face the judgment of a god."

"Good, you're quieter, just as I had asked," remarked Bil, unwavering and unflinching.

Irritated with the human's insolent confidence, Iskar leaned over him as holy light began to swell around his hand. "You're nothing like the blights of the town. Who and what are you?"

"I'm a wanderer, only interested in protecting the children I hold dear," replied Bil. "And who are you? A half-assed god who failed to win territory, and now chooses to face Frihet instead of another deity?"

"Y-YOU–uuuugh…"

"I said, 'Don't shout,' and I even asked nicely."

In utter shock, Iskar froze where he stood, now unable to shut his mouth.

Chortling, Bil calmly asked, "If I let you, will you please shut up?"

"..."

"If I let you, will you please shut up? Or will I be forced to–"

"Uuuj-juuuh."

"Gooood…" Grinning softly, Bil lowered his left arm and removed the tip of his sheathed sword out of the god's mouth. "There. Now, can we talk like gentlemen? Mr. Half-god?"

"... Yes. Now answer my question. What are you?" Iskar asked, more cautious this time but still looming over the human.

"I already told you. I'm nothing but a wanderer. And since you've ignored my question, I assume I was correct," Bil inferred. "How many angels do you lead?"

"Why does that–"

"How many angels do you lead?" repeated Bil, readying his sheathed sword once again.

Groaning in disgust, Iskar answered, "I lead forty angels."

"Before or after your battle's casualties?"

"... Before. I now lead thirty-four angels, including four captains."

Laughing, Bil shook his head, "That's it? You'll never breach a city with so few followers, let alone conquer one… Why so silent all of a sudden? Have you never met someone stronger than you?"

"Y-you aren't stronger than me!" Iskar grunted, hushing his tone before Bil could silence him again.

"... Then, why are you not forcing me to comply?"

"You–"

"If you're stronger, as a half-assed god, the prove it." Bil scoffed, "All you've done is destroy a town and village without true defenses or experts. Apart from the mayor and guard captain, you had no true foes to face. And yet you still had casualties. Were you not a part of the Deific War? … You weren't??"

"Even if I wasn't, my ascension is my ascension," reasoned Iskar, not backing down. "It's my divine right to lead and guide you disillusioned humans. Frihet is no nation, it's–"

"Be careful." Bil remarked, "Say one thing I don't like, and I might kill you before you're able to flee the country…

"Oh, did that shut you up? Your forces are laughable, as is your ascension. The moment you face a true expert, you and your followers will die before you can even turn tail. Leave. And never face Frihet again."

"..."

"I said leave."

Unwilling to acknowledge the man before him, Iskar clenched his fists and let the divine light grow. Iskar growled as he grit his teeth again and shook his head. But he suddenly broke out in laughter as his sinister grin twisted his face.

"Or I could–"

Bil cut the god off, even looking away from the hulking man. Bil turned and smiled back at the cave entrance, "Nelphy, go back and get some sleep."

"Bil…" Nelphy quivered. "I'm.. scared…"

Calm as ever, Bil replied, "There's nothing to worry–"

"DIE, PEST!!!"