It didn’t seem like it was an offer Claud and Lily could refuse, so after some back and forth, the two of them eventually agreed. Claud, however, was just as interested as visiting the home of the Shadowed Ones as Lily as, but he was more adamant on visiting after the entire thing was over.

Which would probably take a century or two, but that was the best compromise he could ask for.

The little tea party settled down into a regular pattern of eating and chiming in after a while, and Claud was eyeing a sponge cake when Lesser Half cleared his throat gently.

“Interestingly enough, the Red God’s familiar spirit seems to be looking for someone.” The rift that was Lesser Half rippled gently. “I am told that it is a folk hero from the Istrel Sovereignty, someone nicknamed the Thief of Time.”

It took everything Claud had to not show any weird reactions, and he forced himself to show some surprise — the kind that people exhibited when they heard something familiar — a moment after Lily’s own exclamation.

“Tot?” Lily asked. “What did he do?”

“You know of him?” Lesser Half asked, and Dust, ever the quiet observer, leaned forward slightly. “Pray do regale us about his tales.”

“Uhh…” Lily tilted her head, but Claud knew that she was already formulating a deliberate answer. “Well, the legendary Thief of Time has all sorts of stories related to him. His first appearance…well, the one that put him into prominence, anyway, was his part in Ruler Umbra’s death.”

“That’s what I heard too,” Lostfon replied, adding to the conversation. “I thought that was a smokescreen, though. Anyone with half a brain would know that the Ruler was killed by someone. Definitely didn’t die a natural death. His son…was probably made use of, though.”

He paused. “The current Ruler Istrel, Lesser Half.”

“I see.” The void made a curious sound. “Is it possible that Ruler Istrel killed his father? I am told that this method of…inheritance is quite popular amongst the nobility, since all of them have access to many, many life-prolonging methods.”

“That’s also possible, but I don’t think Duke…Ruler Istrel is someone who is actually heartless. Not many people can actually murder their family for selfish gain,” Count Lostfon replied.

That topic was a bit close to Lily’s own situation, so Claud was relieved to see that she hadn’t linked herself to Lostfon’s words yet. Nodding once, Claud said, “Anyway, the Thief of Time is quite the figure. Apparently, he had made a name for himself by robbing noble households and distributing wealth to the poor. He did, however, keep all the lifestones for himself, hence his nickname.”

“Oh, so that’s where the nickname came from,” Lostfon muttered. “Anyway, there are some wild rumours flying around out there. They say he killed a Moon Emissary and two Moon-aligned Bearers of Destiny!”

Lesser Half stirred. “While I cannot confirm the identity of the Third and the Fourteenth’s killers, I can tell you that they died in the exact same way. However, that person…no, never mind.”

“But it’s the same person, I guess?” Lily ventured, and Claud caught the faintest hint of caution. “Anyway, Tot also survived a round of ritual magic backed by the White God’s power too. He’s really impressive.”

Count Lostfon leaned back on his chair. “They say that he’s one of the old monsters that survived the Third Godsfall, a peer and equal of Emperor Grandis. I wouldn’t put it past someone like that to maybe endure ritual magic, even one backed by the White God.”

“You are gravely mistaken, in that case.” The innumerable cubes contained within the void shimmered. “No mere mortal could have survived any such attack. Only a god can resist another god. Divine destiny must be defied by divine deed.”

Claud twitched. He’d heard this before, in what felt like an eternity ago.

“So…a god, then?” Lostfon asked.

“A divinity, a close kin to a divinity, or a possible divinity,” Lesser Half replied gently. “I am now very interested in this Thief of Time.”

Claud really didn’t need that kind of interest, but he was more preoccupied by something else. “Lesser Half, the way you said it…shouldn’t you have known about such a personage before us? You are a divinity, after all.”

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“Yes, but unlike the Moons, we are not…integrated into your world. The Moons know the intricacies of mortal nature; we do not. Hence the need for this interaction today,” Lesser Half explained gently. “We do not have the information networks that humans have, and what is of note in human society is often overlooked by divinities. My side is particularly at a loss in this regard.”

Lily nodded. “Before this whole thing about the Fourth Godsfall began…or rather, before the Third was killed, I didn’t know about the Dark.”

“Me too,” Claud added.

“Me three.” Lostfon looked at the throne. “Is it something you can share with us? Or is there some deeper, higher reason that you can’t share?”

“It is not something that requires Authority, although everyone present should note that I cannot circumvent Authority either. Only a select few in this cycle can, and it is a privilege rarely exercised due to very heavy restrictions.” Lesser Half paused. “However, our choice to retreat from the world after the…after certain events were based around our true nature.”

“Your true nature?” Lostfon echoed.

“Is it not obvious based on my form?” the void asked. “We are not like the Moons. We represent certain abstract and imaginary aspects of creation. The Moons, on the other hand, have chosen to affix themselves to solid concepts and forms. Understanding us is an exercise in futility.”

Claud looked at the innumerable cubes that was Lesser Half. “What exactly do you represent, anyway? Lesser Half…is not as evocative as the blue moon of wisdom and the yellow moon of wealth. Maybe you should consider rebranding yourself…”

The void froze, before a set of amused, uncontrolled laughs echoed throughout the entire throne room. It felt like a young man guffawing at a really good joke, and Claud relaxed.

Dust, who was giving off a horrified air, sidled over as the void continued to twist and turn. “Lord Primus, do refrain from saying such disrespect—”

“Dust, Dust. It’s okay.” Lesser Half stirred once, and then gestured with what seemed like an attempt to emulate a human hand. “It is a really good suggestion, spoken in good faith and curiosity. Why would I take offence to that?”

“Lord…” Dust turned to Claud, glared at him once, and then said, “I apologise.”

“No, no. Maybe I’m indeed being a bit too disrespectful.”

“As I said, this is a social gathering over snacks. Anything goes, as long as we aren’t insulting each other,” Lesser Half replied. “In fact, it is things like this that I hope to experience more of. Be at ease. This is a learning experience too, from a mortal to a divinity. Where else would I have been told to rebrand myself?”

Claud rubbed his nose. He had gotten a bit carried away, since Lesser Half reminded him a bit of Nero. In fact, in the past two years, he had met a lot of people who didn’t know how the world worked, so Claud had treated them the best way possible — like a normal person.

This might have taken it a bit too far, though.

After exchanging a few more words and stealing some more cakes, the small little tea party came to an end.

“Right, I just remembered, but I did somewhat abduct the two of you out of a whim. My apologies for this,” Lesser Half replied, a hint of guilt in his voice. “Were you two busy, by chance?”

“We were actually going back from shopping,” Claud replied, indicating the planks of wood that they had brought. They were just lying against a random pillar, but now that he had taken a closer look at these planks of wood, they seemed like they were shining…

“Oh? What would you need wood for?” Lesser Half asked.

“Well, we were thinking of making little models,” Claud replied, his mind giving him a good answer. “Something like a small house, perhaps.”

“Like a child’s toy?” Count Lostfon asked. “Ooh, is Lady Primus — ahem, Lily — expecting?”

Claud and Lily froze, before clearing their throat awkwardly together.

“No,” Lily replied. “It’s just something we decided to do, that’s all. I can see the leaps in logic there, though…”

“Well, in trying times like this, trying for some little bundles of joy is often a good idea.” A dark emotion flickered across the count’s face. “Of course, they’re also quite worrying at times as well. My baby daughter ran over to Nightfall County and was stuck there when the barrier came up. It’s troubling.”

Claud, of course, knew who he was talking about, but he couldn’t say anything. In the first place, the two of them had left the Moon Lords for a rather long time, so…

“She’ll be fine,” Lily replied.

“Yeap, yeap.” Dust chuckled. “If she inherited even the slightest bit of your cunningness, she’ll be totally fine.”

The count paused. “Oi.”

“What? Touch your heart and tell me if it isn’t true,” Dust replied. “I’ll do handstands if you really can do such a thing.”

Claud, for one, really wanted to see a Dark Herald do a handstand, and the wave of interest Lesser Half was giving off hinted at such a thing too. Regretfully, however, the divinity had more mature considerations in mind, and the sound of someone clearing his throat filled the room.

“I’m sorry to break this up, but I think our two impromptu guests are very tired,” Lesser Half replied. “Let us call this social gathering to an end now, shall we?”

“Of course.”

“By your will.”

Lesser Half rippled once. “Lord and Lady Primus…no, Claud and Lily, I apologise for this sudden um, abduction. It was on a whimsy. I will send prior notice next time. If you have something on, do feel free to reject; this is but a gathering for fun.”

“Yes, of course,” Lily replied. “Thank you for your hospitality.”

“I’m glad you two liked it. Well then, may we meet again.” As those words echoed out, the world around the two of them began to spin.

The light of the setting sun fell all around them a moment later.