"Thank The Black you were a charismatic terrorist and not like that guy with the weird breathing." Astrael declared, not knowing whether to laugh or cry about the whole fiasco my outburst caused and the extra work it gave her.
Celesael was too focused on keeping Cosmael from killing the one who insulted her mother and the man who angered her father and she was not winning.
After speaking to Eve in gestures to avoid her hearing, we called Cosmael over to us and told her we would be officially telling people that she would be "Getting adopted" as of that night, calming her immediately. We would elaborate if asked but the reality was it was a very confusing situation.
In the end we managed to get nearly the whole way around the guests before someone finally asked, though when they uttered the words "I hope this isn't rude, but is she not a little old?" everyone seemed to shimmy over a little closer to be within ear shot of the answer.
Of course it made Eve and I laugh as Cosmael clung to us and tried to make herself smaller, but I answered regardless. "Maybe, but in essence an immortal's mind is their truth. She will change when we adopt her, I have promised Eve a child and time to recover before it happens but when the time comes she will revert herself to infancy. That is why we haven't allowed her to rush it, she will retain no memory or sense of who she is now, it is more in line with reincarnation than the shape shifting the deva use to stand at human height."
"She is already our daughter in spirit, we stopped pretending she was giving it serious thought a while ago, now we just want her sisters to get used to the idea. They aren't as subtly about their sadness at losing her as they think. Though Astrael tells herself being her aunt will be fun and Celesael tells herself it will be good for her to have a chance to-"
"I wouldn't do that mage!" My outburst brought the room to a standstill, but it was too late.
A small crack appeared above a young man's head. "Don't worry he has only summoned a weak beast, I imagine he had questions he felt awkward asking." Astrael suggested, missing the point of my concern.
"How do you think a weak beast of The White will feel about being summoned by a human into the same place as two gods and three deva of The Black?"
"Ohhhhh.... Yeah that dude might be toast." She replied flatly. "Quatal grab whatever comes through, it will respect you even as young as you are."
"Ooooo new friend." She transformed into a smaller version of her feathered serpent form and flew across, then as a paw the same size as the monarclaw pushed through, Quatal coiled it and pulled. "Hush new friend, let me enjoy the fur."
The sight was as comical as it was dangerous, weak or not was a relative term and the very confused beast could kill the monarclaw without even moving, a few nobles would be no problem. Luckily it seemed to be far too bewildered to actually do any harm. "What? A baby feathered serpent? Human, where did you find this one, speak softly but make it quick."
The shivering noble explained as requested, whilst he did that I hugged Cosmael and told her it was her chance to slip away if she'd had too much attention for one day and she hugged us goodbye and opened a door to the other side beneath her and I noticed the other two do the same.
"Should we go put an end to this for now?" I asked Eve as we moved towards the summon.
"Probably or we're gonna have either a pet or a fluffy uncle or aunt."
"I am no pet, human." The beast growled, before we stepped directly in front of it and made its entire body bristle, though the drama of that moment was cut heavily by the cackling serpent who got tickled by the fur.
"We are no humans, summon. Now, I think this has caused enough drama for one day, the serpent is my daughter and it's time for her to say goodnight, but we didn't want a guest getting murdered by their own summon so we asked her to catch you before you noticed us."
"So now you use creatures of The White against e-" The beast stopped suddenly, cowering as the implication we used our daughter released our divinities almost as much as I had done earlier.
"I granted her transcendence. I did not use her. we asked her to stop you because if you had killed your summoner upon noticing us, I would have had to kill you. If you suggest something like that again, I will reconsider the most preferable outcome. Oh, and don't forget, you chose to answer his call, if you hold it against him I will ensure the outcome is fair. Now come on Quatal, Papa wants a hug too."
At my word Quatal moved over to coil around me. "Do I really have to go to bed Papa?"
"The more you sleep the quicker you get to wear your special dress."
"Sleep it is." She decided with no hesitation before opening a portal to the other side and kissing my cheek and Eve's goodnight and flying through, leaving the window open for Eve.
"I'll see you at the wedding, Adam, don't be late or your daughter will be angry for a day, maybe two." She laughed before stepping into the portal.
"Don't think I don't realise I just got left at this party. You owe me one..." I shouted through as the portal closed. "...No offence everyone. Anyway, now what will you do?"
"I will leave, but I will have to tell my creator about the new heir of the Domain of Black. If you wish to kill me then do it, I'll die with dignity at least."
That is when I tackled it. "Why would I kill something so fluffy. My daughter gets her love of fluff from me you know." I said to the laughter of the crowd and growls of my captive.
"Cease this, I'll be leaving... You seem far more, no, never mind, it is not my place to evaluate creators, but maybe I should go find the tiger I have heard about." It seemed to start talking to itself halfway through as it disappeared back through the crack in the veil.
"Now young mage, please consider this a lesson, seeking knowledge is fine, but one must remember that books can cut even lacking claws... Divine beasts can do far worse, they must be feared and respected in equal measure, not called to satisfy curiosity."
"So says the man that tackled and treated it like a kitten." A man laughed.
"In my defence... It was fluffy and Quatal is a good judge of floof. Besides that was a bit of divine politics as well. As long as the creators of white know I just want my family. fluff and peace and quiet, they will leave this world to its own devices for the most part."
The young man clearly had questions, but stayed quiet in light of my warning and everyone returned to the party.
Eventually the time came to call it a night and Leeson and I returned to his quarters, where we chatted and drank.
"Adam... I have a question..."
"I know you do, called it from the day I summoned her... Truth be told, I don't want it to happen...." His demeanour became somewhat wounded. "...Don't misunderstand, I wish you well in your endeavour, but I care for you both, so I'll make this clear now. You will die one day and I will have to watch her grieve when that day comes, she will wish I could make you immortal and maybe blame me for not doing what is beyond possibility."
"But you won't actually oppose it?" He asked hopefully.
"I won't, but if either of you do something to hurt the other, it will put me in a very tough position. Please, as a friend, do not make this decision lightly. There is no such thing as trivial to someone who has a perfect memory and an eternity to feel regret."
The fact he sank back and thought about it was more reassuring than any answer.
"What if it just ends?... we just amicably decide that it isn't what we want."
"My friend, if you still believe there is such a thing as a painless end, it means you haven't paid attention in your life. Even something as simple as a good meal leaves you wishing there was just one more bite left to saviour."
"Damn, you're right, sorry... I won't act until I'm sure, but how will I know, will it just come to me like when you get a memory back."
"No, the truth is you won't know and no one will tell you, but as your friend let me give you some advice... Don't worry about it, the one you chase is an empath after all, if your feelings are true and she is interested she will ask you... I don't see her being the type to play hard to get with something she wants."
The next day was painful, not having Eve or Quatal was disorienting, I was off balance and bored by everything. Leeson took me to train the garrison and he, Kriel and his master fought me three on one with no hope of victory.
Guests came by as I had suggested at the party to introduce themselves more personally and chat, the young mage came and apologised before asking his questions, then Celesael appeared and passed on a message from Eve.
"She said you need to stop moping and deal with it, if you don't she will not let Quatal visit you tomorrow."
"And how is she coping might I ask?"
"She has not let Quatal or Cosmael go all day, they have swam and played games, but her heart is in it about as much as yours was in the conversations I witnessed. Astrael has been doing everything Eve asks to stop her working herself to exhaustion before the wedding."
"Tell her I said "Stop moping yourself"... Also "Thank you." and thank you to Celesael I know you are dealing with your own worries at the moment, you aren't as good at hiding how much you're going to miss your little sister as you think."
"I know. She was just the one that made being a big sister mean something, Astrael is even better than me at most things." I gave her a hug and told her to be honest and tell Cosmael and Astrael that, I wanted them to have a proper heart to heart before things happened and she nodded and left.