The air is heavy and still after that question. Asterius wasn’t sure what to say, what could he say? The question wasn’t even really directed at him, it wasn’t even really a question at all.

Cadeyrn takes a deep breath behind him, pushes a little more into Asterius’s space. A steady hand settles on his shoulder, it is a welcoming weight. Something to ground his scattered thoughts.

“I’m sure,” Cadeyrn starts, eyes focused not on Sanctus but on Asterius, “that the goddess of Spring will listen.”

Sanctus smiles, obviously pleased, “I expect that she shall learn the truth in the coming days,” he responds back, and all the doublespeak is just getting tedious, why couldn’t Sanctus just demand that they trick the female lead into trusting him, why dress up the demand as a normal conversation? “I do not believe I need to say what will happen should our empress to-be’s heart is not settled?”

Their faces must say it all, because neither of them responds, yet Sanctus still nods as if they had screamed yes.

“Then I wish you luck on your mission Cadeyrn,” and Sanctus pauses, reaching out and taking Asterius’s forearm. He can’t hide the flinch, the sudden violent recollection of what happened the last time Sanctus touched him like that, “come now Starling,” he chides, grip tightening a fraction, “I’ve made it very clear I’m not here to punish you, unless you think you need punishment for something?”

“No!” he quickly blurts, knowing that Sanctus would use any excuse to “teach” him. And even if the words feel wrong and disgusting he still forces out a muttered, “I’ve been good.”

“Then do not be so afraid, I was only trying to say goodbye,” and he chuckles, as if Asterius’s fear amusing, “and don’t worry Starling, I’ll have a task for you soon as well, but for now just be good for me.”

Sanctus lets go, scooping up his coat and giving them a smile as the curtains rustle, letting the sunlight spill across the floor, between one blink and the next, Sanctus is gone. The curtains settle, sealing off the light once more. They are alone once again.

There are so many thoughts in his head, feelings at war, uncertainly clawing at his bones, but he knows they have to do something-

“Cadeyrn-,”

The demon shakes his head, eyes a dull maroon, barley shining in the dark, “Let us not speak of it, master. I will deal with it.”

Asterius really doesn’t like how he phrases that, wants to fight and argue even though he knows they can’t refuse an order from Sanctus. Not to mention the floating red text box next to him, screaming at him to play along or risk termination.

But before he can even start saying anything, there’s a soft, “Master?”

They both look up, and leaning over the balcony above them, is Pluma. Face half hidden by the railing, staring down at them with caution.

“Pluma!” and Asterius takes an aborted step towards him, some of his fear untangling. He hadn’t felt any noticeable pain, but the fear that Sanctus had somehow still stolen Pluma from him lingered. “It’s okay. You can come down now.”

Pluma doesn’t even wait till he’s done speaking before launching himself off the second story and fluttering down to them, shifting to his human body and clutching tightly at Asterius’s robes, “Master!” Pluma beams and Asterius has been with him long enough to tell that the smile is partly forced, “master promised we would paint later!”

“Ah yes we can-,” Asterius turns at the creaking sound, finding Cadeyrn by the open front door, “wait Cadeyrn-!”

“Master,” Cadeyrn cuts in, not turning around to look at them, all Asterius can see his is back outlined by the afternoon sun, the golden light catches on his dragon hairpin, shining and reflecting darkened sunspots onto the floor, “You don’t need to worry yourself over this. I will handle it.”

They can at least talk about it before Cadeyrn rushes off to lie to the female lead. It would be so easy to misstep and get himself killed early, Solvieg doesn’t start hanging around Maria till later in the plot but with how far things are already going off the script it was more than possible that he could be there anyway. Asterius can’t let him just walk off, “You don’t have to do it now-,”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“I shall be back before nightfall.”

“But-,” and the door closes with a loud “Snap!”, echoing loudly in the dark empty house.

‘That stupid demon!’ he thinks, yelling at him a bit more in his head before shoving down his anger. He could easily catch up to Cadeyrn if he really wanted, but he’s not sure he can walk outside in the bright sunlight right now. So he forces his attention back to Pluma, who is still buried in his robes, but has one eye peeking out towards the door, worry clear in his frown.

“You don’t need to worry about Cadeyrn,” he assures, more for himself than the little angel.

Pluma puffs up at those words, face dusting red, “I’m not worried!” he protests, turning away sharply from the door with a huff, “I’m just worried about master being worried!”

“Well thank you for your concern,” he says, giving Pluma a quick ruffle of his hair, just like last time the angel leans into it, making a happy chirping sound. Asterius will never get tired of that, the seraphim makes it too easy to spoil him. “Well I do think I promised someone we would paint?”

…

They paint until after dinner, when both of their stomachs are rumbling and they can’t ignore them anymore. Asterius had long ago changed into more comfortable robes, and his little star angels have returned to circling around his head instead of living as hair ornaments.

It becomes apparent rather quickly that neither of them are of any use in the kitchen, Asterius was raised with modern appliances to help cook and has no idea how to use any of the cooking tools, while the only time Pluma has ever cooked was a failed batch of cookies that he ad other angels tried to make for his 6th Creation Day, they were banned from the kitchen after almost setting everything on fire.

So dinner is bread, nuts, and dried fruits, plus anything else they can easily eat and doesn’t require it being cooked in any way.

They finish snacking around sundown.

Pluma convinces him to keep painting for a while longer, so needing something to work off the tension slowly building in him he agrees and they paint well into the night. Long enough that he steps up to be a responsible guardian/god and sends the pouting Pluma to bed.

It becomes hard to focus on the paintings so he takes to pacing in the living room, keeping a watchful eye on the front door, praying that it opens.

[Host needs to sleep]

“I’m not going anywhere until he’s back System,” Asterius grumbles out loud, there’s no real point in just thinking the words when it's just him and half a dozen sleepy stars taking naps in his hair.

[But Cadeyrn is fine!] the System protests, [System would have gotten an alert if the story was deviating!]

“Still not going to bed.”

[Host is unreasonable! System is just trying-]

The front door turns.

Asterius heaves a sigh of relief and practically runs over, grabbing the handle and pulling it open in a rush.

“You better have a good reason for coming home so late-,“

He stops his lecture with a startled gasp, staring in confusion at the person on his doorstep who is definitely not Cadeyrn.

“Uh,” and the god looks deeply flustered, but pushes ahead, “I know it’s late but I really need to talk to you-,”

“Vae?” he questions half convinced he's fallen asleep and is having a strange dream, "Why are you-?"

"FateWeaver," she cuts back in, and honestly Asterius probably deserved that, "I apologize for my misconduct, and I know we have never been properly introduced, but I need your help." The formal tone sounds so wrong in Vae's voice, that it sends an uncomfortable chill down his spine, especially at her complete lack of familiarity, 'She really forgot everything about us?'

"Your presence is needed on the 6th ring," She declares, staring him down boldly, before seeming to remember something with a scowl and shifting her eyes down to glare at the cobblestone under her feet.

Asterius glances at the System, [The Ring of Peace] it helpfully informs him.

'No, what is she talking about?'

[Oh, Vae is probably referring to]

Vae drops into a low halted bow, voice tight and pained, "I beseech you to help me."

"Vae I would-"

[Host,] the system wants flashing red, [OOC! Stay in character!]

"What is the problem?" he asks instead, no longer quickly rushing to agree and help.

Vae looks visibly shaken, still hunched over in her low bow, "My sister, the muse of festivities- something is wrong with her," she confesses quietly, "her divinity is fading."

'What?' he thinks trying to wrap his head around what she's saying, Asterius doesn't even remember the other muses ever being mentioned, let alone one being sick. 'Why is this happening-,' and before he can finish the thought there's a floating text box hovering in front of him.

[Third mission has begun!]

[Mission objectives: ]

[1st: Accept Vae's request]

[2nd: Visit the 6th Ring of the Heavens and met the 1st muse.]

[3rd: Allow the muse of festivities to die.]