Ogrun squatted down to get a closer look at the fascinating little creature that had waylaid him. It was some type of bird with flippers for wings and a waddling gait. More fascinating still, it wore a sharp little outfit and a yellow cap. Ogrun’s eyes flashed as he used his divine Appraisal skill.
“Hey, you’re pretty strong!” The god congratulated the little bird. “I’m here to meet the boss of this place, my name’s Ogrun. I’m somewhat of a boss myself back home.”
“Lady Tabula will meet you in the lobby. Thanks for the compliment, mister Ogrun! Follow me!” The peculiar bird turned and waved a flipper. Ogrun followed with an amused grin.
Ogrun had a minor affinity for finely laid plans and well crafted things in spite of his sloppy personal life, and he studied the developing city around him with many an impressed nod as he followed the waddling bird.
“I see.” He spoke aloud as the strange dark structure known as EDEN came into range of his Appraisal. “A transcendent spatial relic. I underestimated you after all.”
He ducked slightly through the sliding glass door and took a deep breath of the lightly scented air. Gold and black marble. Lavender and leather. He had the feeling that this whole place was alive. A powerful entity permeated every facet of it, reshaping the state of every single object to suit its whims. Even Domains fell short of this level of control. This was closer to what creator gods like his mother Ariel were capable of. He felt the building turn its attention to him and manifest nearby in the form of...
“Greetings, lord Ogrun of the Radiant Empire.” A woman unlike anything Ogrun had ever seen was suddenly speaking to him. “I am Tabula Rasa, the administrator of this space and lord Gray’s primary assistant.”
Ogrun was speechless. His entire purpose for coming suddenly melted away in his thoughts. Such beauty and power, cold eyes that looked at him like a bug, a body that mocked even the once peerless Un’hana...
“Marry me.” Ogrun blurted. “Surely no mortal is worthy of you.”
The lobby went suddenly quiet, and Tabula’s face contorted in distaste and surprise.
“I must decline. I belong to lord Gray alone. Now and for all time.” She quickly recovered and her face regained its pleasant facade. “Please wait in the bar. Your drinks will be complimentary until my master is ready to receive you. In the meantime I must ask that you refrain from any other spontaneous marriage proposals to any of our other guests.”
Ogrun grumbled something unintelligible and let the little bird guide him to the bar. Rejection? Was that even possible?
“Tough luck out there, eh boss?” The little bird hopped up to land on one of the empty bar stools, with the apparent intention of sharing a drink with the deflated god.
Ogrun eyed the bar stool dubiously. There was no way it would accept his frame. Even as he thought this, the stool morphed and enlarged, as did the section of bar in front of it. That was her doing as well, he knew. In this place, for this moment, for the first time since his awakening in this mortal world, Ogrun felt defeat. A smile worked its way onto his lips without his realization. His teeth showed, and a chuckle escaped.
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“What a wonderful feeling!” Ogrun exclaimed. “The emptiness of a world without challenge... I am finally free of it!”
“That’s the spirit!” Rain cheered him on. “Two specials, bartender!”
Ogrun watched the skilled extension of Tabula’s will in the form of the bartender as it effortlessly crafted the beautiful cocktails. Normal eyes would see individual and masterful staff members going about their tasks. Ogrun could see the truth. This was all that woman. The egghead god Ahura-Guru could run many different parallel schemes and operations, and Ogrun secretly found it impressive. This however, was something else entirely.
“Boulevardier with twenty-five year whiskey aged in port casks.” The bartender informed Ogrun as he placed the old fashioned glass on the bar.
Ogrun wasn’t familiar with the name of the drink but his nose told him enough. The quality of these ingredients was higher than any he could source in The Radiant Empire. There were sweet notes of vermouth, and the scent of the aged whiskey promised impossible depth. That combined with a bright palette of herbs and fruit from the liqueur poured from the bottle labeled ‘Campari’ told Ogrun that he was about to taste something truly special.
He sighed and felt the tension leave his shoulders as the divine flavors danced on his tongue, and the familiar warmth spread all the way to his toes. This outing was already a success.
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Tabula paid close attention to the new arrival as she reported to Gray in the cosmic themed reception area.
“He’ll probably say he has come to collect his three stooges.” Gray said. “His real aim is to pick a fight with me for no reason other than he likes to fight strong enemies.”
“He also... um...” Tabula took an uncharacteristic pause, and Gray cocked an eyebrow curiously. “Instead of a greeting, he asked me to marry him.”
“What!?” Gray let out an involuntary laugh which carried on for several seconds before he rubbed his eyes and continued. ” Summon Jade and Rain, and bring him here like we discussed. Don’t bother with appearances and don’t worry about catering to human perceptions of reality. If he’s a god worthy of marrying you, he can handle at least that much. Play the music I had Baelphegor give you as well. I’d like some atmosphere for this.”
“As you wish, lord Gray.” Tabula agreed.
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Ogrun had just lifted his third Boulevardier to his lips when he felt a shift in the ambiance around him. That was his only warning as the entire bar vanished, replaced by empty colorless space. He was falling now, though he couldn’t tell how fast or to where. A moment later something came into view far below. Darkness splashed with colors of the night sky faded into reality, and a dark stone platform was rising up to catch him. Music began to play from somewhere unseen. It was a tense and mysterious orchestral arrangement that made Ogrun’s skin tingle.
He landed heavily on the platform, and surveyed the scene that made his eyes widen and his heart race. A fit, muscular girl with piercing green eyes and a wild mane of matching hair stood at ease before him. So different than the voluptuous Tabula, but yet another transcendent beauty all the same. Next to her was the friendly little bird, only now his eyes glowed with a dark red light and he seemed anything but friendly. Behind and above them on a raised dais and seated in a throne carved of black diamond sat the object of Ogrun’s search.
The one called Gray was not the mortal Ogrun had imagined, not even close to it. Just like X’lyssa, Ogrun could see the truth of him. Unlike X’lyssa, Ogrun recognized him.
“Mother finally caught up to you.” Ogrun’s voice was barely above a whisper. “After all these ages, you finally return. Polemios, Father of Warriors, Enemy of Death, welcome back my friend.”
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“It’s pronounced Gray actually, and why the hell do you look like my friend Paul from Earth?” I replied with a tide of confusion that was slowly evolving into panic in my mind. This Ogrun guy looked exactly like my best friend Paul Gresham if he were drawn by the artists from Baki. Not only that, he had the same mannerisms. His first words to his wife Serena had been ‘Marry me’ for fuck’s sake!
My thoughts and emotions collided hard enough that I decided to simply stuff them in the convenient box along with the years of repressed child abuse for now. This unwanted plot twist had sucked the wind right out of my carefully prepared epic boss fight scenario! My poser goddess definitely had some explaining to do, but that could wait.
“As a reincarnated person, I’m prepared to believe I knew someone like you in some past life. That said, I have no memory of anything like that so let’s assume this is the first time we’ve met.” I sat up straight and reclaimed some of my scattered composure. “Once again, my name is Gray. Welcome to my home.”
“Thank you, old friend.” Ogrun countered, walking calmly between Jade and Rain. “But I can’t accept your ignorance.”
Jade sensed his intent and leaped as she spun a lightning fast kick toward Ogrun’s temple. Ogrun turned his head and opened his mouth, catching her shin in his teeth. He continued to spin with her momentum and smashed her body into the platform. With a growl she rebounded.
Ogrun clapped his hands together once, as though applauding. The shockwave from that single soft clap blew Jade and Rain back a dozen meters.
“I didn’t come here to play with your toys.” Ogrun chuckled. “Though they do look fun, I’m going to need some time alone with you. Domain: Dreams of Valhalla.”