"You really do look aggrieved. Do you want me to apologize?" Trick teased.
"I'm only twenty-five." Aaron complained slightly. "Do you think this is fair to me?"
"No." Trick answered bluntly, then looked at him with gratification. "But being able to hold up the sky at a time like this means you're better than us. Much better."
"Does that count as a compliment?"
"It does."
"What I want isn't praise. It's a reward, compensation." Aaron said righteously. "You owe me that."
The corners of Trick's mouth rose, and the look in his eyes grew even more appreciative. "Do you have any wishes? Within this universe, as long as I can do it, I won't refuse."
Aaron raised an eyebrow and slowly turned to look at the dark red vortex. "If I may ask, who is that?"
"Chthon, God of the Underworld. The God of Dark Magic."
"One of my women draws her magical power from him, so..."
"No problem. I can sever that connection."
"What about her magic?"
"I don't think Shuma-Gorath would mind parting with some of his origin energy..."
"I mind." Shuma-Gorath said resentfully, finally getting a taste of how Aaron had felt when someone had been sharpening a knife over him.
"Whether you mind is completely irrelevant." Trick said indifferently. "But after that, she'll have to cultivate her magical power herself."
"This..." Aaron pursed his lips, wanting to speak but hesitating.
"Don't be too greedy. I'm only an avatar. It's already not easy to cut away a portion of his origin.
Besides, she's ultimately just a mortal. If she didn't already have a foundation in Chaos Magic, she simply wouldn't be able to absorb origin power on a cosmic level."
"Alright! It's just that I have several other women who are mortals too. Could you..."
"This isn't