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Alger was walking around the food market, trying his best not to think about what has happened the last few days and failing. How does one not think about how their whole world has been turned upside down, about getting cuddled by a God?
"Alger?"
Hearing his name, a rather uncommon name, he became on edge immediately and looked around for whoever called him, for whoever was a possible threat. It didn't take him long to spot a blonde man looking at him.
"You're Alger Wilson right? Captain of the Blue Avenger?"
"Former captain, you're the adventurer Anderson Hood right?"
"That's right." Anderson walked over to Alger but didn't get to close because of how on edge the man was. "What brings a pirate captain, sorry former captain, to Balam?"
Alger's eye twitching as he resisted the urge to punch the adventurer, quickly clocking him as a Hunter. "Personal reasons. What's the Fog Sea's greatest adventurer doing in Balam?"
Anderson shrugged while smirking, "Personal reasons."
There's was a bit of an awkward silence as they just stood therein the middle of market, people mulling about them minding their own business.
Alger decided to leave first, turning around as he said "See you around then."
"Wait."
He glanced back and noticed that Anderson was poorly hiding his own nerves, he narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Was here something else?" He was starting to feel the currents of the winds around them, ready to escape in a moments notice.
"So you know Danitz right? And Gehrman?"
Blazing and Gehrman? Why is he asking about them? "A bit."
"Great, great… Uh, do you know anything about that God they worship? Well, Gehrman worships, but I'm pretty sure Danitz worships Him too."
He wants to ask about Mr Fool? Why? Is he trying to catch believers or is he considering becoming a believer? "I might, why?" Again he glanced around, making sure all the exit points are still there.
Seeing that Anderson would rather stand and bite his lip than answer Alger got ready to leave again. He didn't want to risk this being a sort of setup and that Anderson was just wasting his time so his cohorts can set up the trap.
Seeing Alger getting ready to leave again, Anderson decided to throw caution to the wind. "I need someone to talk to okay? I need someone to tell me I'm not going insane."
That stopped Alger in his tracks, thoughts of himself feeling that way making their way past his theories. "Then why not try to contact Gehrman or Danitz about it?"
Anderson scratched his head, cause Alger to look around him thinking that it might've been a signal of sorts. "The last time I did something like that I ended up joining a cult worshipping the True Creator. So I'd rather speak with someone who's like a third party, you know?"
Third party? I may not be the Divine Oracle or Blessed, but I am a founding member of the Tarot Club. Subtly he clutched a charm in his pocket. Mr. G had given it to him that morning as an emergency means of contact, and by pouring a small amount of spirituality into it, he basically notified the Saint that he might need some backup.
"Not here, follow me. I know a quiet place we can talk." The quiet place he was thinking of being Gerno's home. Despite it's domestic look and feel, the longer Alger stays there, the more he's come to realise it's fortified beyond his imagination.
As he was leading the way he spotted Ouroboros from the corner of his eye nodding at him, and couldn't help but feel that might have been Mr Fool's doing.
After a while they finally reached the house and Alger let Anderson walk in first. As he closed the door he noticed that the room was much darker than usual, the shadows deeper, a sign that the Saint was controlling them.
"Ha-ha, uh, cozy place?" Anderson was starting to regret following along as the place was definitely creepy inside, making his hairs stand on end and his instincts scream that something dangerous was there.
Alger only glanced at him before walking to the living area and sitting on a couch. "Very, now why don't you sit and tell me about what's got you asking me of all people about some Evil God?"
Anderson let out a sigh as he sat down across from Alger, painfully aware that there are eyes other than the blue haired man's on him. "Okay, long story short then, and I promise you I am not going insane and all this actually happened okay?"
Seeing Alger giving him his full attention, Anderson leaned for and crossed his fingers. " A while back I received a visit from some elf looking Being with black hair, yellow eyes and wearing some intricate outfit in though colours. With him was a high sequence spectator that looked like a blond priest and the one who started the whole thing was an evil spirit with blood red hair wearing black armour. And now I'm in a situation where if I don't advance to demigod in the next few months I'm going to die."
The more Anderson talked, the bigger his eyes got. Those descriptions matched those of Mr Fool, the Angel of Imagination and the Red Angel Medici. Wait… a while back? Had Mr Fool descended to the mortal realm before? Yet there was no signs, truly Mr Fool must be powerful to do that so casually without any backlash!
"And right now I don't know if all that was real or just some intricate conspiracy to drag me into the Iron and Blood Cross Order. By the Gods, for all I know, I'm slowly losing my mind because of what's growing inside of me!" Anderson gripped his hair by the end of his little rant, explaining it to someone not involved somehow making everything more real.
"Something growing inside you?" If Alger wasn't on edge before, he was now. "Explain everything."
~~
Earlier that day Klein was sitting in the parlor of his manor, a prepared pot of tea on the coffee table. "Adam, I think it's time we talked."
Hearing a bit of snickering, he turned to look at the crow sitting on the windowsill. "Amon, please give us some privacy, complete privacy mind you. Go bother Leonard and Pallez if you are bored."
"But Mom!"
Klein raised an eyebrow at him. "No buts, now please go or should I bring out the sandal?"
The crow puffed his feather. "I'm going, I'm going." And with that he flew away.
When he turned around Adam was sitting cross from him but refused to make eye contact, having quietly appeared. "Adam, do you know what you did wrong? Do you understand why it's wrong and why I am upset?"
The questions made Adam look at Klein, this wasn't what he expected, he thought that his mother would start berating him again. "No, Mother." And that was the truth.
Klein let out a sigh, "The way I've been dealing with this is as if you were human, and that's my fault because you aren't human. You are a Mythical Creature, always have been and always will be, my little Dragon, so I need to explain things better. It doesn't help that neither I nor your Father has been the best examples."
Adam looked at him in curiosity, "What do you mean by that mother?"
"Between your Father creating the two of you without my knowledge or consent while I was was asleep causing me to become the absent parent, to his situation with Mergose, it's created a false impression that such behaviour is okay. It's not Adam, and that includes your own actions with Anderson, that's why you need to take responsibility."
"Mother…"
"I'm seriously Adam. Anyone who decided to have children are responsible for those children, just like your Father and I are responsible for you and Amon, despite how you were raised. You are responsible for that child growing in Anderson, doubly so because Anderson wasn't aware nor was he consenting. And I will not have my own sons be absent parents to themselves, a child deserves to have two loving parents."
"Would you be telling this to Amon if he was in my position?"
Klein sighed at that, realising that Adam was a bit jealous of Amon, so he leaned forward ruffling Adam's hair. "I would most definitely be having a conversation regarding parenthood with him if he ever decided to have a child. But this isn't about him, it's about you and your future child. Because like it or not, that is your child and you will be involved in their life okay?"
"Okay, but what does that mean exactly?"
What does being a parent mean? I've never actually raised someone, both of you are adults… "It means… taking care of them, both Anderson and the baby. I can't exactly explain parenthood to you, it's just something you realise when you first see your child… or even a hurt child." Thoughts of his reaction to Alger crying entered his mind.
"And what does taking care of Anderson and the… baby mean?" Adam both understood and yet he didn't, up until this point it was just a fetus in his mind, an object, a means to an end, not some egg that needs a safe and warm nest.
"Adam, what does your instincts tell you to do to take care of an expecting partner?"
"My instincts?"
"Yes, your instincts, like mine is to wrap upset babies in my tentacles and cuddle them till they're better."
"Mother! You're only sequence 3, you shouldn't be taking on your incomplete mythical from!" Adam immediately got up and started to check over Klein, who only started laughing.
"Calm down Adam, I transformed into my mythical from! He-he,he…"
"Then?" Adam looked at his mother with wide eyes.
"When I am in my spirit body, like I am above the grey fog, I don't have restrictions on my Faceless abilities and I have used it to give myself tentacles. No mythical from in site, just a loophole in my abilities."
Adam let out a relieved breath and sat back down, this time next to his mother.
"Now, those instincts you felt to make sure that I am fine, what do they say about taking care of your child and their parent?" He drew Adam closer and rested his head against his shoulder.
"Make a nest that'll protect the egg and keep it warm along with the mother while I go out to hunt food for us."
How…draconic… "Well, right now there isn't an actual egg but.. what is a baby dragon called, hatchling? Yeah, let's go with hatchling. Your hatchling is inside Anderson, growing, and both of them need you to take care of them, okay."
When he started mentioning 'hatchling' he felt Adam slightly squirm against him. He remembered reading in one thread that was one of the preferred names for baby lizards, and what were dragons if not giant lizards.
"So now that that's settled, why don't we go to Anderson and discuss everything with him and make sure both he and you are on the same page. I do want a healthy grandchild afterall." With that said he got up and shifted to his Fool form, and used an illusion on his clothes.
Adam looked only to do a double take. Something was different about this from of his Mother, but he couldn't exactly explain what. It wasn't until Klein gave him a gentle smile when he realised what was different.
"Mother, you changed your face to be completely symmetrical and without blemishes, almost doll like." He squinted his eyes as something caught the light. "Except for two lines just above or below your eyes."
Just as he mentioned the lines they opened to reveal two additional pairs of eyes, the ones on the forehead being black with star-like sparkles in the and the ones on his cheeks being different shades of grey but split into 12 segments. His mother's smile also sharpened and stretched to impossible lengths. The next moment it was all gone and back to the perfect doll-like state.
"The greatest and oldest fear of mankind is the fear of the unknown. One of the forms it takes is when something looks human, but isn't, creating the Uncanny Valley effect. I have just made a few small changes to enhance the effect I already had. As for the two pairs of fake eyes, one represents the Door pathway and the other the Error."
Adam filed the information about fear away to be used sometime in the future. "But why make yourself more terrifying to the humans?"
Klein was struck with the thought, why is he purposely making himself more terrifying? But he already knew why, "Because I find it fun, and I'm not actually harming anyone by doing it. Besides, the Fool pathway holds authority over Bizarreness, which is synonymous with madness and incomprehensibility, so it only makes sense for my godly persona to match that, doesn't it?"
Adam nodded like that was entirely reasonable, normal even. Without any further fanfare, he took his mother's arms and lead them through the spirit world to where Adam sensed Anderson was.
~~
Alger was pacing up and down the room thinking over what Anderson had told him in detail. When he heard that there was something growing inside Anderson, he was immediately weary of some sort of Evil God's unholy spawn. And since he also asked about the Fool Himself, Alger feared that he had implanted memories blaming his God, but Alger did not believe Mr Fool could do something like that after His reaction to his own situation.
Though he did think that it would be best to bring this under Mr Fool's attention, but before he could start praying, the colours in the room became more vivid. All three of the beyonders in the room instantly shifted to battle whoever stepped through. That's is when Anderson realised that the other pair of eyes he's been feeling on him is a high sequence Shepherd.
It didn't take long for two beings to step into the room, two beings Alger and Anderson instantly recognised. Gerno on the other hand was immensely unnerved by the being wearing black and yellow, His features just too perfect, unnaturally so.
"Good afternoon Mr Fool." Alger was the first to break free from his shock and respectfully greeted him with a bow.
"Good afternoon Alger, I see you have been getting acquainted with Anderson Hood. He is one of the good ones out there and would be a good friend for you. As for you Saint of my Beloved, thank you for taking care of my own in this time."
The Trinity Templar kneeled on the ground. "Blessed am I to be in Your presence, Sacred One. I was merely following the will of my Lord."
Before Klein could continue Anderson had come to his senses, "What in the ever loving Abyss is going on?!"
Klein wanted to sigh but didn't as that wouldn't fit the image of a God, same rubbing the bridge of his nose. Seeing that Anderson was sitting on the one couch, and the other one showed that someone, most likely Alger, had been sitting on it, he insisted walking over to the singular armchair and sat down in it like it was a throne. Alger seeing Mr Fool sitting down, sat back down the couch himself. Adam, not wanting to share a couch, instead imagined up a simple chair for himself. Gerno excused himself, realising that he was not needed for the coming conversation.
"Anderson, my son has a confession to make regarding your… situation. He was not entirely honest the last time."
Seeing that as his cue, Adam spoke up. "That which is growing inside you won't disappear when you become a Demigod, but you still need to become a Demigod to survive."
Anderson stared wide eyed, mouth gaping like a fish, unable to find the words to speak.
"Adam." Klein's voice was filled with warning.
"Inside you, though is was meant to be a new body for Medici, it's… a baby." Adam was going to stop there but say his Mother raise an eyebrow. "My baby…"
Anderson felt faint, he wasn't harbouring some organic construct inside him, but an actual living baby. And it's an angel's child at that. He had joked with Danitz about being pregnant with a crystal, instead now he finds out that he's actually pregnant.
"So I'm actually pregnant, as in I'm going to be a parent pregnant?" Anderson never thought that he would be the pregnant one in the relationship.
This time Klein answered for Adam. "Yes, you are, and because my Son is the one responsible for impregnating you and because you were unaware and couldn't consent to this, I'm holding him doubly responsible for that child inside you. From this point onwards, Adam is to help you through every step of the pregnancy. And if he doesn't, simply pray to me and I'll sort things out. I would prefer my Grandchild have both parents in their life, if you don't mind of course."
Anderson was quiet as he absorbed the information. "Wait, so if I ask this guy to rub my sore feet, he has to, and if he doesn't, I just pray to you about it?"
"Essentially yes." Klein confirmed. Throughout this whole scene so far, Alger was as much in awe at how Mr Fool was handling the situation as he was horrified by Anderson's situation.
"Mother!" Adam whined, actually whined.
"That's enough Adam. Pregnancy takes a heavy toll on the mother, so any way you can ease that, you should. Even if it is just a simple foot rub."
"Yes Mother." Klein can tell that Adam wasn't entirely happy with the arrangement. "If it makes you any feel better, I'd hold you Father to the same expectations when I get pregnant." Though he noticed that mentioning himself getting pregnant caught Alger's attention and he remembered that he hasn't broached that subject with him yet.
"As for you Anderson, you need to understand that Adam isn't human, he never has been. The instincts of a dragon are different, and that includes how to take care of a hatchling."
"Wait! A dragon?!" He wildly looks between Mr Fool and Adam, until Adam pulls up his sleeve and let his normal protective scales show through, a beautiful white gold colour.
Anderson made a squeaking sound at that. "I am pregnant with a dragon's child."
"Yes, and that's why you need to become a Demigod to survive. Now, I suggest you and Adam talk about what you expect from each other during this pregnancy, okay? Because Adam here will be keeping a virtual persona with you at all times to help you." He expected Adam to try and complain again, but was happy to see him nod along.
Seeing Adam turn to Anderson, Klein cast an illusion to act as a barrier between them so that he can speak privately with Alger. Feeling that he's going to need something to help him get through it, he reached into the historical void and pulled out an old traditional Chinese smoking pipe. It was one Grisha gifted him after getting him to smoke a bit using a sweet tobacco blend. The wood was a beautiful polished black, while the rest was made to look like gold.
Seeing Alger's interest in the pipe, he decided to explain after talking a light puff, he did pull out one already lit for convenience. "This is a traditional smoking pipe, one my husband gave me after he got me to start smoking. The tobacco blend is sweeter than normal."
"The Ancient Sun God smokes?" There was a bit of incredulousness in his voice.
Klein smiled at him, happy to see him ask a question so casually. "Indeed. In fact, he's the reason behind the cigarettes and cigars that you are familiar with." Klein closed his eyes as he spent a few minutes just smoking, considering how to explain things to Alger, and he was grateful that the man chose to remain silent.
Opening his eyes again, only slightly, he saw Alger staring at him in awe, probably memorising all his features. Feeling a bit mischievous, he slightly opened his two pairs of fake eyes as well.
Seeing Alger immediately look away, he chuckled a bit and closed those eyes. "In ancient times of Fairy culture, having multiple eyes were a symbol of divine wisdom, perception and protection. The one who created our written language, Cangjie, had four eyes." Of course, that's all myth of course, not that anyone's around to call me out on it.
Alger looked back up at his God in awe. That was when Klein decided to broach the subject. "Alger, I never did answer that question for you did I? What you described about your own body was a rarity, even among a nation of 1.5 billion people, you'd never meet someone like yourself." He could see how the hope inside Alger breaks at that and gave him a gentle smile.
"But we did have a word for it, jiānxìngrén, or in modern language, intersex. Alger your uniqueness, though rare, is something to be celebrated. The average person is usually Yin or Yang, feminine or masculine, but you have a bit of both in you making you more whole than other people, making you Yin-Yang."
Klein couldn't help but think about his own gender identity, he was born a man and prefers being a man, but he doesn't mind Grisha giving him feminine nicknames, enjoys it even. And though it was a bit of a shock in the beginning, he doesn't mind Adam and Amon calling him Mother. More than that, ever since he took on the form of Hellen to infiltrate the Black Tulip, he figured he doesn't have as much a problem with looking like a woman. And now that his mythical creature form is nearly complete, he has come to the realisation that regardless of gender or lack thereof, he's still just the same old Zhou Mingrui, the same Klein Moretti, inside. The outside doesn't matter so much because it's always shifting and changing. Accepting himself like that made something deep inside feel at peace.
Alger bit his lip as he contemplated his next question before asking it. "Mr Fool, are you also one of the rare ones?"
"No, I am something different. I actually don't have a gender in my true mythical from."
Alger looked on in curiosity at that, so Klein continued. "When you become an Angel you will understand that mythical creatures do not follow the same gender rules as humans. Some are still strictly male or female, others are hermaphrodites, while some, like my pathways, are genderless."
"Genderless…" Alger looked back at his hands, wondering what that would mean for him in the future. "Then what about what you said about getting pregnant, Mr Fool? How is something like that possible when one is genderless?"
"High sequence shenanigans. Once you become high sequence yourself, you'll realise that your divinity allows you to ignore certain rules humanity follows, one of which is reproduction." Feeling that the historical void smoking pipe is about to disappear, Klein returned it in a manner similar to taking it out, making it look like he's putting it away.
Alger on the other hand didn't notice anything, his thoughts filled with one thing, High sequence shenanigans… Shenanigans? High sequence beyonder are literal forces of nature, but to Mr Fool, their reality defying capabilities is just a bit of shenanigans?
The rest of the afternoon was spent with Klein telling Alger about Chinese culture while Adam and Anderson worked out things between them, though Klein had to intervene a few times to settle disagreements that started forming. Most of them were because of Adam's pride, but that won't be mentioned out loud.
~~
It was early afternoon when the prayer came through, Klein was already above the grey fog making some preparation so he easily summoned the newly formed red star over. Looking through it he saw an beautiful brunette he's seen before, except this time she's an evil spirit. With a small gesture, he pulled her about the fog.
Shermane was in the warehouse where she died, where she woke up as an Evil Spirit. Lord Medici, another Evil Spirit and a powerful one at that, had taken her under his wing. He had given her instructions to pray to a hidden God, one that rules over the Spirit World.
She didn't know what to think, what to believe, because she's been burnt far to greatly to simply trust just anyone again. But she feared Medici too much to go against him, so she was doing as he instructed and praying to the Fool.
Shortly after she finishes saying the honourific name, her vision was filled with red. When it cleared she was in a world covered in grey fog, a giant palace can be seen through it, along with a large bronze table.
"Welcome to Sefirah Castle Shermane, here you may refer to me as Mr. Fool."
She turned to look at the head of the table to see a being, a God, sitting there. "G-good afternoon, Mr Fool."
"No need to be nervous. Come have a seat, I would like to talk to you about an opportunity."
Shermane careful made her way to sit at the table. "What is this offer Mr Fool and am I allowed to refuse it?"
"The offer is a one of a kind opportunity, so if you do decide to refuse it, you won't be able to get another opportunity like this again. As for the opportunity itself, I host a gathering here for a select group of individuals. It is a place to trade for ingredients, information, items and even commission tasks."
Shermane narrowed her eyes, the opportunity was to good to be true. "What's the catch?"
Klein chuckled at that, he liked someone who understands that understood that free things are the most expensive. "From time to time I have some tasks that I commission, things that would be inconvenient for someone of my standing to interfere with. But I am someone who values equivalent exchange, so everything during the gatherings is considered a trade."
"Okay." Shermane fidgeted a bit, unsure if she's making the right decision, just like last time when she became a Demoness.
A few cards formed on the table, all upside down. "Those that gather have chosen to use Tarot cards as their aliases. Those are the cards still available, draw one to represent you."
She reached out to one of the cards and flipped it over to see The Empress. "Welcome to the Tarot Club Miss Empress. We meet every Monday at 3 PM Buckland time, which just so happens to be in a few ours."
"Thank you for inviting me." Shermane bowed her head, remembering Medici's words to be respectful.
"Tell me, has Medici been treating you well? Teaching you properly?"
The questions caught her off guard a bit and a light blush dusted her cheeks. "Yes, he's taking good care of me."
"Good, when I send you back now, tell him that you joined my meetings, nothing more, nothing less. He will understand."
Before she could respond, red filled her vision and she found herself back in the warehouse.
~~
"Good afternoon Mr Fool!" Audrey as chipper as ever greater their convener, but quickly noticed that someone new was sitting at the woman's side of the table. She looked like a beautiful brunette, but what caught her attention was the way Miss Judgement froze when seeing her, so it was quite clear she probably knew her.
Following the usual procedure, she greeted everyone in turn as they joined to introduce them to the new member, easily catch her shocked reaction to Xio.
"And what may we call you?"
Shermane looked at the blonde woman that was clearly beautiful beneath the grey fog wondering if she, too, was a Demoness. "I'm Miss Empress, nice to meet you all."
The start of the meeting was quite normal, a few minor trades made, Miss Temperance commissioned the theft of a mummy, something Amon jumped at agreeing. Eventually it came time for the free trade.
"Last week after the declaration a spirit boarded my ship intending to hunt down the artificer because he is a follower of the Mother Tree. I eventually resolved this by branding him with your symbol Mr Fool, I do hope that is not a problem?"
"None, it's a good solution. Should any spirits provide problematic still, you can pray to me."
"Thank you, Mr Fool." Cattleya was quite earnest, because the spirit in question was demigod level at the very least and she didn't want to take risks should stronger spirits try to get Cielf.
Leonard decided to go next. "Well, from my side the Evernight Goddess has officially declared me the Emissary to the Fool's Church. The upper echelon hadn't been very happy finding out that I've secretly been meeting with 'a representative of the Fool' for the last few months. My identity as a member of this gathering is still a secret, but I now have more freedom. Oh right, Mr Fool, He said that that I should make the officials believe that He is my contact point."
Everyone was curious about who He was, except for Amon who already had already figured out. "Hah, clever bastard. At least he lives up to his sequence." Amon's comment only made them more curious.
"Good, I suspected that She will do something along these lines. As for Him, I will have to meet with him soon as I can't have someone pretending to be a point of contact without knowing what they're doing."
Xio decided to speak up next. "There's rumours going about in the streets and in the official organisations about a situation at sea where Gods descended. Does anyone here have anymore information?"
"The nobility is very tight lipped about the situation, but I have noticed that those who follow the Church of Storms being on edge." Audrey has been just as curious, because even her father is being tight lipped and she hasn't received a reply from either of her brothers.
Leonard looked at the head of the table wondering if he should say anything, when Klein spoke up. "Mr Hanged Man, would you like to tell them what happened? You did have a front row seat afterall."
Alger immediately stiffened when all eyes turned on him, but decided to do as Mr Fool said and he described the events. He talked about how Mr Fool and the Storm Lord descended, about how the former made the latter kneel and beg for the curse to be removed. The more he described it, the awed everyone became, staring at Mr Fool instead.
When he was done, it was quiet as everyone digested the tale. Cattleya was feeling a bit jealous because Alger had seen the human manifestation of not one, bug two Gods, and lived to tell the tale.
"Thank you for the information Mr Hanged Man. Mr Fool," Xio wasn't sure how to continue, but feeling Fors' supporting gaze continued on, " is Miss Empress who I think she is?"
"Yes."
The short answer made her non existent breath to catch in her throat. The swallowed thickly before softly asking, "How is it possible?"
Klein glanced at Xio and then Shermane before returning to Xio. "Death is not the end, if it was, my realm wouldn't exist." The silent message rang loudly, Miss Empress was the spirit of someone Miss Judgement knew.
Eventually Danitz slowly raised his hand as if he wanted to ask a question in class, the unusual action drawing attention.
"Yes Mr Strength?" Klein was a bit amused at the display, but was curious about what the hunter had to share. He hasn't mentioned anything in any of his daily prayer.
"Well Mr Fool, you see…" Danitz pulled a bit at his hair in nervousness. "When you declared Holy war, the ship was in the middle of the ocean, so the only people around was the crew and none of them are Your worshippers but I still announced the war to them. Was… that okay?"
Oh, he's like this because he thinks that I might be upset with him not doing his duties as a divine oracle… "Well done. In time you will learn how to be a proper oracle." Something in him softened at the way Danitz lit up like a puppy getting called a 'Good dog'.
Slowly the meeting started to came to an end, and Klein couldn't help but lampoon about how it was not a chaotic mess like the last few times.
Knocking on the table to get everyone's attention, he looked at Derrick. "Little Sun, please inform the City of Silver to expect guests in the next few days."
Everyone was shocked at the news, looking at Derrick, while he looked wide eyed at Mr Fool. "Guests?"
"Yes, Mr. World, Mr. Hanged Man, Mr. Strength and one other will be travelling to the Forsaken Lands soon. The time has come to free the people there from the darkness that has plagued them for millenniums."
Alger and Danitz were shocked at what they heard, for it is the first time they're hearing about it. Derrick on the other hand lit up like a sun, a smile wider than anything on his face as he sat even more upright.
"Thank you Father!"
He's eyes widened the moment the word registered in his mind, and he's hand quickly went to cover his mouth. He was shocked at what he just called Mr. Fool. The Tarot Club was staring at him in horror, thinking that such blasphemy would surely get him punished.
Alger was looking on in curiosity too, having personally experienced the kindness of the God, while Leonard knowing his friend, only felt amused with the situation.
Adam and Amon looked between their Mother and Little Sun, before looking at each other. They knew how strong their parent's parental instincts are, and they silently started making plans to welcome Derrick as a baby sibling.
Klein was shocked. He looked at Derrick, at Little Sun. An innocent child in a world far too cruel, and orphan through the cruel mercy of fate, a survivor of the curse the Judas Trio unleashed. *Surely Grisha wouldn't mind? Especially not with his desire to impregnate me... Besides, just looking at him! Grisha-*
"Grisha would like you very much."
*Oh shit, I said that out loud.*
"Wow Mom, to think you'd reveal Father's True Name just like that." Amon was grinning, leaning back in his seat, hands behind his head.
I jinxed myself didn't I? Klein couldn't help but lampoon as all eyes were on him as if he just committed the biggest blasphemy of all.
"Mother, are you perhaps under the effects of Blind Stupidity?" It was Adam who spoke up.
Blind Stupidity my ass you brat! "No, just the general stupidity that involves your father."
Amon started giggling, "Well Mom, since you oh so graciously~ revealed Father's name, wouldn't it be fair to reveal your own True Name? Equivalent exchange and all that~"
Amon you are asking to eat the sandal again, but he doesn't have a point. "You're right, it's only fair for my true name to be revealed. So why not go ahead and reveal it."
That got Amon to immediate be quiet. "Uh…Eve?"
Adam looked at his brother and whispers, "Isn't it RuiRui?". Though with how quiet it was, everyone could hear him.
Klein just sat there in shock, his own son's didn't know his name. "Amon, Adam, did that lousy pig head of a moron not teach you my True Name at any point in the last three and a half thousand years?"
Everyone was absolutely shocked silent, the God in front of them just insulted the Ancient Sun God. Everyone was to scared to make a noise, afraid of upsetting the obviously furious Being. Everyone, except Leonard, who started choking on his own spit in an effort to contain his laughter.
Klein sighed and rubbed the the bridge of his nose. Fool persona be damned, how could he forget to teach our children my name?! "You two, come here." Carefully he shifted his spirit body to have normal tentacles, keeping them hidden in fog.
Amon glanced at Adam and shrugged, before standing up and walking to their parent, Adam followed behind him. When they arrived at the head of the table, Klein gave them the simple instruction to turn small, and then used his tentacles to drag them into a cuddle, one son sitting on each leg, but both being pulled to lean into his chest.
Ignoring the Tarot Club and whatever they might be thinking of the situation, Klein fully focused on his sons. "You two listen very carefully now. My True Name isn't Eve, RuiRui, or any of the other nicknames he's taught you, it is Zhou Mingrui okay? I'm definitely going to be having words with him about not teaching you two it."
Both Adam and Amon cuddled closer to their mother, feeling a special sort of bond now that they knew his name from before he became Klein Moretti.
Everyone was shocked at hearing the name, they can't think of anything that sounded even remotely similar, not even Cattleya, it was too foreign, too Ancient. Alger couldn't help but think that that was how the language of the Fairies sounded.
"Mr Fool, what would happen if we were to say your True Name?"
Klein looked up at Cattleya who asked the question. "Nothing fancy like being smote with lightning or spontaneous mutations, you'll simply be rendered a complete moron."
That quickly crushed any thoughts of saying his name, except only Cattleya was considering it. The rest knew better than to try and say a God's True Name.
"Let's end the meeting here."
Everyone stood up, Shermane following everyone else's lead. As one they all replied "By Your Will" as Klein cut their connection and sent them back. Everyone except his sons who he continued to cuddle.