The next day.
Leyndell, the Elden Throne.
Seven chairs stood in a semicircle facing the throne that had once belonged to Godfrey and now belonged to Rellana, but that no one actually sat on.
Horace stood before the throne, surveying the seven chairs expressionlessly.
Seven. There had originally been eight. Horace had saved one for the Mother of Fingers, but she did not want to go out.
So there were only seats for seven Outer Gods.
In the first chair, Lilith lounged sideways, propping her chin on one hand as she yawned.
Her crimson eyes were half-lidded, and her whole being radiated an air of "I'm so bored."
The recent wars had all ended.
There was so little bloodshed in the Lands Between~
Lilith sighed for the umpteenth time.
Godfrey hasn't been up to much lately. Why can't Marika have any more children? Hurry up and let me watch!
The second and third chairs were empty.
Yera, the Avatar shared by Stars and Moon, stood between the two chairs, her long silver-blue hair hanging down to hide half her face.
She was in the middle of a personality split, her left brain elbowing her right brain.
The Stars half said, "Sit on the left."
The Moon half said, "Sit on the right."
Stars said, "The left is closer to Lilith. Livelier."
Moon said, "The right is farther from Lilith. Quieter."
Stars said, "..."
Moon said, "..."
Stars said, "How about we don't sit?"
Moon fell silent for a moment. "...Acceptable."
So Yera stepped back and stood behind the two chairs, a satisfied expression on her face.
Ah~ Her left and right brains had reconciled.
The fourth chair was the strangest.
A layer of crimson substance covered it, yet a tender shoot had sprouted in the center.
Scarlet Rot had no