BABEL

Lancelot was as ancient as Sedna but not as strong as the council members. He was often accompanied by a flask of water wrapped around their fabric belt. But not for cutting their enemies' throats with cold water. Instead, he moved his hand up, and the water fell on the red flowers of the garden.

There was none in the garden for the demon to be bothered with

And yet, there were three familiar sounds, letting the demon's guard down.

''Found you'' Gaia said childishly, with her hands wrapped around his broad arms.

''Oh, dear''Lancelot restrained his grin. ''I am dead''. When Lancelot turned his head back, he noticed the girl's eyes were covered in a pale fabric. Lips pouting, hands clenching her stick.

''You are no fun'' She whined.

'I'm sorry,' he scoffed, moving his scaled end fingertips over her thick coal hair.

'' Is Mordred and Hephaestus coming back soon?'' She asked with a bright smile.

His eyes opened wide, searching everywhere to see if anyone was spying on them. As always. He lowered his gaze, facing his exposed torso with the birthmark facing Gaia's head.

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''I hope they will.'' He lied with a smile. ‘’You liked the new recruit, didn’t you?’’

‘’They smell like ashes’’She informed him. ''But I do not think that they will join.''

‘’I see…’’Lancelot laughed and played with the top of her hair.

After Gaia left the floor, Lancelot continued to water the flowers. But not all of them. Only the red ones.

And then, two familiar footsteps echoed right behind them. Lancelot rested his posture once more.

''What do you want?'' Lancelot asked Neptune, the person who was behind them. The right-hand man of the leader, and the arch spy. Most people thought that Hermes was close to the leader. But this is only pretending. None was close to the leader except his shadows. And one of them was hiding behind the ancient Nymph.

''All five of them are headed to Naraka,'' Neptune announced in a whisper.

''I thought they were four'' Lancelot's fingers slipped to the mark, touching it softly. A sudden burn hit his skin.

''Turns out, there is also a Hybrid,'' Neptune said amusedly.’’A nymph, it seems’’

''I thought they were extinct...''Lancelot muttered and shook his head to keep focus.

''What about the artifact?''

ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT.

One minute passed and Neptune did not answer.

''Neptune'' He turned back to see a mask made of white clay staring at his old soul. ''Where is it?'The voice panicked, thinking about the worst-case scenario.

''They were two options'' Neptune said.

''Die with the artifact or get out with it'' Lancelot said. ''You were supposed to get it first'' His eyes looked left and right once more. ''If anyone finds out the truth about it...'' Back to Neptune.

Neptune comforted him. Almost with a warning. ''This is far worse than you could imagine''

Lancelot inhaled deeply with his hands close to his face. ''How can it be more terrible than the artifact still exists?'' He rasped.

''A third option''