“I can’t help but notice that Drim is not amongst you,” Rathe scanned the crowd with displeasure creeping across her face. “Does he take this so unseriously that he would slight me with his disrespect? How does he expect to win my approval towards his cause when he himself won’t even come to discuss it?!”
“He asked that I deliver an apology on his behalf,” Phon spoke with far more dignity and respect than she ever had to anyone else in the room, and carefully chose the rest of her words. “Drim desperately wanted to be here today. But unfortunately, something of unparalleled urgency came up, something that could not be ignored for the sake of the world. I’d be happy to provide the details if you’d like more clarity.”
“Hmph, that boy,” the demigod’s temper seemed to cool a bit, almost mildly amused by what had been said. “Always running off to help someone else. He’s so incorrigible, even when it's against his own best interest.”
“I see you understand,” The Vixen smiled back, latching onto the shared connection. “However, I believe you would also agree that he does not need to be here for the entire duration of the discussions. We have been sent as his envoys and can speak on his behalf. But, we understand due courtesy and could likely have him arrive sometime later today to finalize everything before we move forward.”
“Yes, I would deem it necessary that I see him,” Rathe nodded once. “And do insist upon it before I would ever grant my approval to his plans. But you are right, we can take our time. There is no need to rush things. I can get ahead of myself sometimes.”
“I have also acted as a poor host. It is unseemly of me to be aggravated over those who have not come when I should be celebrating those who have made the journey. Come. Allow me to show you around.”
The demigod turned and began to slowly stride, conscious that her steps would otherwise outpace the others who now had to keep up with her. “I give you all leave to speak with me as if we are familiar. After all, I have been observing your group for some time, so to me, it is as if we have known each other for years now. If there is anything that catches your interest, or if you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask. I will answer if I am comfortable doing so.”
Before anyone could even raise a question, though, the group stopped walking, having not gone very far at all. In fact, they didn’t even leave the room. Rathe waved her hands and some of the rocky wall faded away, adding the space to the already grand hall. “This is what I suppose you’d call my workshop.”
“Oh wow,” Kada couldn’t help herself and took a step forward into the area, marvelling at the setup filled with various workbenches covered with artistry tools. But her and everyone else’s eyes were drawn to one section in particular. Several shelves lined one of the walls, looking like they’d been made from driftwood that had been touched up and repurposed.
They were all overflowing with handcrafted dolls, each designed to look like a different Fiend. Every single member and resident of Fiendish was present, even the Lessers who had smaller versions on the bottom shelf, though none bearing red eyes from elsewhere in the world were present—likely too numerous to even think of making. There was also another shelf of Fiends who had no connection to the Fiends For Hire, some that the group had never even before, likely in hiding.
Overall, it seemed those of the group were generally arranged by the organization's own internal ranking. So clearly, Rathe had quite a bit of knowledge of how the group was structured. The generals were at the top, with those of descending rank falling beneath them. However, there was one exception. Drim’s doll was above all the others.
That was to be expected, as he was the ruler of their nation and leader of their organization. But it didn’t explain why there were so many of them. The three-most top shelves were positively overstuffed with Drim’s likeness. There were dozens, or possibly even hundreds of dolls and other figures made in his image, all of various shapes and sizes, made of different materials, capturing him in all forms. It was quite possible more of the figures existed than photos that the man had voluntarily let be taken of him. Either Rathe was quite the fan of his, or there was some sort of other complicated connection—possibly an obsession.
“Is it okay if I touch them?” Kada had to ask, unable to stop ogling the adorable things.
“Certainly,” the demigod granted permission. “You may touch or play with them all you like. I also don’t mind if you take any of them with you. Making them is one of my main hobbies after all since there is little else to do here.” Upon hearing this, Alk rushed over and snatched up the Kada doll, claiming it as her own and hugging it close.
“I make them using the various items that wash ashore in one of the various cavern outcroppings that extend from this place,” the stone-skinned woman proudly explained since people had taken an interest, happy to have someone to share it with. Unfortunately, that means I am rather limited in what I can use, and I’ve had to get creative with the materials for some.”
“How I long for the days when I was lavished with gifts, given anything I could want or need. It has been so long since I’ve received proper tribute. Actually… you there,” Rathe suddenly pointed a directed finger at the group, singling one of them out. “Have you brought an offering?”
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Gatrim was shaken by the sudden question, and those around him had taken a side-step away to confirm that they weren’t the ones at the center of the demigod’s attention. “Erm, pardon me?” was all he could manage to utter as he himself was utterly confused.
“You’re a Foilepe brat, aren’t you?” Rathe confirmed with a hint of annoyance. “It has been decades… or centuries maybe… since I have last received an offering from your clan. It’s hard to keep track of time when you’re immortal, but the point being that it’s been far too long. The next time it crossed my mind, I was going to have to consider eradicating your entire lineage for not upholding your end of the bargain. But now that you’re here, you may repent for their failings.”
“My apologies, madam Rathe,” Gatrim tried to stay polite. “But I know not of any dealings that my family may have had with you.”
“Hmph, of course you don’t,” The demigod’s disappointment was obvious and her day, tarnished. “That explains it at least. Your forebearers neglected to pass down the knowledge of your family's sacred duty. Taken my gift and likely wrote it off as their own birthright. I’ve seen it too many times.”
“Well not all of us came without gifts,” Nachi saw an opportunity and shoved her way to the front of the group. From a bag she’d brought with her, The Trainer pulled out a bottle of liquor and presented it to the deity. “Knowing that you’ve been down here for some time, I fear that you have long been away from what the world now has to offer. This is my favorite drink that we as the human race has ever distilled. I hope you'll enjoy it.”
“And also,” the woman rummaged again. “After seeing your beauty, I realize this may have been a mistake, since it pales in comparison. But…” Nachi pulled out a bouquet of rare and expensive flowers. “I hope you will accept them all the same.”
“Of course I will,” Rathe graciously accepted the gifts. “At least one of you knows proper etiquette when dealing with the divine. I can’t fault you too much, since your society has long been isolated from me, but there’s only so much I can’t chalk up to common sense.”
“May I ask then,” Gatrim probed for clarification. “Is it our speed? Is that what we were granted in return for providing you offerings? I’d been told that it was the Foilepe legacy, something unique to our lineage. But that’s not the proper truth, is it? It’s something that you have granted our family.”
“At least you’re not entirely ignorant,” the demigod still wasn’t too impressed. “But you’re only half right. It is true that I made such a deal with your ancestors long ago. On your end, you would give me offerings, and on my end, I would grant you the gift of speed. After all, I am the Demigod of Haste, so such blessings to your kind are practically expected of me.”
“What I gave them, though, was not power, but knowledge. I did not directly bless them, rather, I taught them how to unlock the ability. In truth, it is something that you can all do, all of humanity can do, a power that I granted to the entirety of your kind when creating the framework for this turn of society. I found the last version of humans too unspectacular for my namesake, and wanted to make things more interesting given a second chance.”
“My intention was to spread the knowledge far and wide upon my reunion with humanity after all this time, since I have been in seclusion since your society began. It was to be a gift to bring about the next stage of your evolution, and all the freedom that would come with it, to build a budding relationship and make a good first impression.”
“However… since the primary source of my possessions are shipwrecks and the ruins I’m sure you saw on your way in, obtaining most items can be difficult. So I sent out a call many generations ago, and one of the Foilepes answered it. We struck a deal, I would tell them how to unlock the power early, and they would drop a cache of goods down The Drain on occasion.”
“This second chance you mentioned,” Roque took hold of the conversation, eager to discuss a theory he’d had for some time. “So are you confirming that we are in fact in the second dawn of humanity on this planet? That there was actually another full society before ours, another history that has been washed away, a world that you yourself destroyed before creating ours?”
Several eyes among the group glared at The Swindler, begging the question of how he could bring up something so taboo—many of them ready to punch him for his transgressions. But the demigod didn’t look too offended, though her face did droop to a sour sadness.
“It is as you say,” Rathe admitted. “I will not deny what you seem to have already uncovered. Speculation only leads to distrust, and there is no point in hiding it. Yes, I ended the last civilization and rebuilt it from the ground up, into the society you know today.”
“But that old world, it was not a good one. I will not shift the blame from myself, as much of it was a result of my own experience and naivete as a new demigod. Yet I feel I did everything I could. Things reached a breaking point, and peace became a fleeting memory. No matter what I tried, they would not stop. The planet was wrought with endless war and suffering, and its denizens became irredeemable.”
“So before every last one of them condemned themselves to an unsavory afterlife, I ended things so that their souls could at least have a chance at redemption. It was best to wipe the slate clean and start anew, and this time, I do believe I’ve found a better balance with the growth and temperament of humans.”
“Admittedly, I did use a few shortcuts this time, since my own impatience made me wary to wait and watch your humanity’s evolution carry out as painstakingly slow as it did the first time. So there were some tweaks to help move things along, making humans more ambitious, more likely to create new inventions and advance the world for the greater good.”
“A few hiccups came with it I’m afraid, such as humans being quicker to anger and shortsighted action. Fiends are the biggest shining example for this. You all are a bit more quick to cold-blooded murder than your past counterparts would have been. But overall, the results have been splendid, and I’m satisfied with the progress that has been made. Humanity has impressed me this go round.”
“Still, I mourn for the past world and… I’m sorry. I do not wish to speak on it anymore. Let’s move back to the pleasantries of today. Such as these flowers! They will wilt soon if nothing is done, but I have just the thing. Come! There is more to show you!”