1 A Warning of the Gods
Leona knew it was a bad day when the second he stepped out of the hotel he was approached by a guy his age claiming he was the god Apollo and that his stoic accomplice was Durga.
He would have laughed if he didn't take note of the way half the people in the streets were bowing.
He leveled a flat look, hazel eyes already reflecting how he was done with today. It was quite literally still morning. "I'm in a rush I don't have time to kneel."
"I'm mentally sending my respects or whatever," he sighed glancing at his watch. 'is it too early for New year exhaustion?'
"Prince Leona just because you are an alpha doesn't make you exempt from our wrath," Durga warned producing a red and black spear that promised death.
He bristled at the threat and at the mention of his status. 'Okay they mean business,'
"Then let's have this conversation over breakfast."
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"Look you two, I have a mission after this. I don't need too much stupid stuff taking up my energy. If you're going to yap about some fake threats -"
The waitress sat down their drinks. 'Why did they seem familiar?' he wondered idly as he slid Durga's drink to her.
"-Trust me there's nothing I ain't heard before," he scowled.
"We wanted to warn you that you are in danger. A powerful primordial god is close to you and in one of their unstable moods could kill you and everything in this world," Apollo spoke.
"This matter is of utmost importance. No matter how much you say you're just friends, if you aren't careful you will die." Apollo continued.
He disliked how he already knew he was referring to his Valsillos. But Val was just a human, he couldn't use magic, and even on good days reminded him he couldn't kill normal humans.
"I take it you aren't talking about the rampant golems I'm here for?" He raised a skeptical eyebrow. Just for the benefit of the doubt.
"I knew it! You were trying to sneak off without me!" Their waitress, Val exclaimed slamming down the menu.
"What the-?" Leona started because he hadn't realized that was his friend at all. Not even by scent.
"What are you wearing?" He questioned, staring at the black, just over the knee length maid dress. Complete with a round frilled apron.
"It's the restaurant's uniform and before me they hadn't had any male workers" Valsillos hummed gesturing to himself.
"Don't change the subject!" He huffed.
"What about your divine advisors?" He asked as they disappeared.
"We don't need to take it seriously, gods are dramatic about a lot of things. At any rate trying to avoid whatever it is has a history of causing problems -not that I'm one for running away- so if I let things occur as they have whatever they're worried about won't come to pass." He hummed.
"Now about that golem you're running off to go fight. You're taking me with you," Valsillos cut in, smiling a bit too sharp.
"Val, listen you could be in danger. Two gods tried to warn me about some dangerous force- "
"No you're taking me with you and that's final!" Valsillos hissed.
"We're a team, we've always handled things together, it's how we fight," he determined.
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"He didn't take me seriously," Apollo scowled from whatever vision of the future he saw.
"I'll have to take matters into my own hands," he said pulling at his brown glittery curls.
He did not wish to fight that primordial monster alone even though it ideally could be added to his list of earned titles. Assuming he'd live to tell the tale of course.
"You fought ages ago, right? How do you think you would fare against him?" He asked.
Durga pursed her lips. "Last time we fought.. his scent was different. Stronger, but now.."
She glanced at Apollo, gaze just as serious as his own.
"But now?" He pressed voice soft.
"he's incarnated as an omega. I can't be certain I would effectively defeat that kind of strength,"
"Weakness, of this type could spell unpredictability. With the state of the world, and the fear of omegas being a dangerous threat, could we not leave them to the humans?" She asked, keeping her form minimal and ignoring the urge to summon on of her other hands to rest her head on.
"That's a horrible suggestion," Apollo winced. "That could just enrage him."
"I'll need to try a different method... Hopefully I won't be too despised for an underhanded tactic." He blinked away his doubt, watching the two leave stopping at a curio store to trade something.
"But if Prince Leona does what he should, I'm still following under my domains and preventing a worse future." He vowed, holding aloft a sparkling sphere.
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"Leo, you're always stopping at random antique and weapons stores and buying items you think you can use with your magic, but really uou should invest in a permanent weapon." Valsillos was saying.
"Besides my magic? You know it's good to stay alert and active I can't get too comfortable using my magic or trouble would start if I got in a bad situation."
"Besides what good is overworking your magic circuits?" He said with a smile.
Val sighed. "That's different,"
"Did you eat breakfast?" Leona asked.
Val stiffened and glanced behind him.
"You were at that restaurant working I highly doubt you took the time-" Leona went on.
"That boy is still following us," Valsillos cut in
"Don't change the subject" Leona snapped. Then he put down the bag of metal spikes he bought.
"Too many people have followed me all day yapping about you to not be suspicious. Is there something you aren't telling me?"
"No!" Valsillos expression shifted. You sure these people aren't here to drive a wedge?"
"Wouldn't be the first time. But..They seemed genuine that you were some kind of primordial. Gods don't come and give warnings about the end of the world as a joke."
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"Like hell are you touching Val," Leona snapped angrily. He was getting tired of this now.
Third person today insisting that his friend was dangerous, which he was in his own way. But not to him.
Val in question regarded the boy who'd been following them with a deceptive look of innocence.
"Is something the matter?" He asked.
"Yes! You are a high ranking demon. An unpredictable force of destruction," the boy insisted. He couldn't have been older than seventeen, why was he able to follow people around? Didn't he have some sort of school or hobby?
"Valsillos? A force of destruction? The same Val who dresses up in costume whenever he can? The same Val who befriends and annoys almost everyone he can? The same person who gleefully indulges in ice cream like a little kid?" Leona laughed at the idea even as something nagged at him.
"Hey now... That's a bit mean," Valsillos flushed bright red at Leona throwing him under the bus.
'I don't understand it. There's no way you aren't who the meter says you are! But you're not outputting any magic at all."
"You were probably sensing me. Valsillos here doesn't have any magic." Leona said reaching over with a fork holding a chocolate covered dessert.
Val seemed all too happy to take up on the offer and accepted the treat, eerily making him and Leona look like an affectionate couple.
"Hang on, Are you two a couple?" The boy blurted.