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When the Embodiments appeared in the room, they immediately divided into five groups. Each of them was a team of long-familiar beings, so they immediately began talking and sharing news.
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The first group represented the calmest and most peaceful deities. It was led by Felix. No surprise, as he was one of the few Embodiments who acted as a benefactor to humans. More heartless deities sometimes glanced at his company with a mixture of irritation and contempt. Ignoring the gazes of others, they began to talk:
Felix — "Alright, buddies! Let's share what's been happening, yeah?"
Liber — "God, you're talking to us like we're kids again, Fel..."
Felix — "Oops. Sorry! I'm just in a pretty good mood, so I got carried away!"
Amoré — "It's fine. That kind of talk doesn't bother me... It's even cute in its own way." She let out a small chuckle and smiled.
Tris nodded — "Yeah... If it makes Felix happy, then why not? Right...?"
Paul — "Yes... Hm... Perhaps I'll start? Humanity has advanced quite significantly... If they don't wipe each other out, they'll achieve great success—"
Terra — "Yeah, sure... Success in destroying my planet!"
Animalia — "Mom, calm down. The planet won't disappear. I'm sure the humans will manage... somehow! They've been such good lads!"
Plantera — "I agree... I still hold out hope for them."
Felix — "Well then, great! The main thing is that people keep giving happiness to each other!"
Tris — "Yes... It's a shame, though, that they quarrel over such trifles..."
Liber — "Trifles? Ha! They're fighting for independence!"
Paul — "Independence for what? Killing each other? I understand that you, as the Embodiment of Will, have your own views on people, but—"
Felix — "Let's stop. The affairs of humans don't concern us, right? Why not change the subject?"
Amoré — "Hm... Oh, Felix, didn't you recently have a child with Tris?"
Tris — "Mm! I-it's..."
Felix — "Yeah! I'm so happy! Trevi is such a kind girl! She's already helping us with everything! Haha!"
Tris — "Yes... I'm also... proud of her."
Amoré — "That's wonderful! Mmm... I'm not surprised you two were the first to have a child in our group... You've always looked so good together."
Liber — "I have to admit... You two are damn perfect for each other! Haha!"
Felix — "Thank you, thank you! I'm sure you'll all find a partner soon too!"
Terra — "Where would I find the time... I'd rather stay with my daughters. They need constant watching, and with suitors it would be even harder..."
Plantera — "Mom. We're both over 1900 years old... You can stop treating us like children..."
Terra quickly presses Animalia to her chest and snorts irritably — "Never! You're the only things I have! I'll let you go only after I'm dead!"
Animalia — "Thanks, but... I'd like to find... someone for myself..."
Terra — "Wh-what?"
Plantera — "I'm not against it either... At this age, one can start looking, and new acquaintances wouldn't hurt..."
Terra — "Ah! You'll drive me crazy! Why exactly... so soon... I want you to stay under my wing just a little longer!"
*The other Embodiments watch this family squabble with a certain tenderness.*
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The second group consisted of Embodiments who largely remain neutral toward everyone, including their own kin. If they could be divided into factions, they would belong to none.
Perfi glanced slightly at his friends from beneath his tight glasses and raised a thumb.
Perfi — "Great! Everyone's here! Well, guys, let's share!"
Netri — "You forgot to mention the lady..."
Perfi — "Ah! Right! You too, Ficti!"
Ficti — "Of course! Hm... Let me think... Well, things are great with me! Humanity is doing so well! Have you seen all these technologies? Now almost anyone can become a writer!"
Perfi — "Yeah. Cool stuff. These little stories are always so interesting. Like... Um..."
Ficti — "Some write about such deep themes! So many different techniques! It's all so exciting!"
Perfi — "Yeah! Exactly that!"
Netri — "I get the feeling you don't know much about literature..."
Perfi — "Dude, you're right! I should read something..."
Ficti — "I know! I know! Let me find you a book! I'm sure I must have a book lying around for such an... unusual reader!"
Perfi — "Thanks, sis! We can discuss it together later at the party..."
Ficti — "Or over a cup of tea!"
Perfi — "Or that... Yeah."
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A faint aura of cruelty hung over the third group. Although many of them didn't see eye to eye, they tolerated it most of the time.
Crudy — "So, I recently had a son..."
Metu — "Yeah. Didn't expect that from... you... Haha... You and Kito only met... about 500 years ago? Seems he knows how to make an impression~"
Crudy — "Damn it, yes... Hah. A couple thousand years ago, I wouldn't have even thought about children... By the way, Metu, aren't you one to talk about children, huh?"
Metu — "Oh, true... I've got a little boy now too. Thanks to one enormous man~" He hugged Damian slightly around the waist and smirked.
Damian — "Yeah, it was stupid to think you'd change after the pregnancy... Eh... Had to fuss with this bastard, but in the end, I have an heir..."
Metu — "Heir? That sounds so heartless~ Say it right. My dear little son~"
Damian — "It seems my irritation at your antics passed from me into him... Ugh..."
Crudy — "Alright, enough. Stop flirting here... Otherwise, Zela's already ready to tear your throats out."
Zela — "Thanks for noticing, bitch... You piss me off so much, dammit..."
Metu — "Darling, I'm sure there's a connoisseur out there for your... beauty as well."
Zela — "What's wrong with your tone?!"
Damian — "Ignore this idiot... But he's somewhat right. I'm sure sooner or later you'll find someone."
Zela — "Shut your mouth! Your words mean nothing, dammit!"
Segnit reached out her hand and touched Zela. She instantly collapsed to the floor and fell asleep.
Segnit — "Your bickering exhausts me..." She yawned slightly and nestled against Zela's body on the floor.
Crudy — "Grateful for the help... That girl can be such a thorn sometimes..."
Obis — "Mmm... Yes..."
Damian — "Oh! I didn't even notice you were here. Hah..."
Metu — "Obi, hiii... How's it going? Sorry we haven't been paying attention to you, but you understand... We've been very long, deeply, and intensely occupied~"
Obis — "I'm... a little hurt... No one pays attention to me... Except Zela..."
Crudy — "That bitch hangs around with you? Haha! You must be terribly unlucky."
Obis — "N-no... I'm not as lonely with her..."
Metu — "That's great then! That means I can keep my dear hubby all to myself~"
Damian — "Yeah, sure, you damn bastard..."
Refos — "Eh... You're all so petty... Although I'm glad to see that some of you have changed for the better. Especially you, Crudy."
Crudy — "Hm, thanks for the compliment... And what have you been up to while we were undergoing such changes?"
Refos — "Trying to improve society... Well, I wouldn't say I succeeded. Unfortunately, it's still as far from perfection as ever..."
Metu — "Eh. Trying to fix these animals is a waste of time..."
Damian — "For once I agree with him... Humans aren't worthy of our efforts... Just cattle."
Refos — "Even animals can be domesticated. That's what I'm doing..."
Crudy — "I can only... wish you luck... So, who's ready to carry Zela back to her dimension?"
Voices sounded from all around — "Not it."
Crudy — "Damn it..." She let out a small sigh and lifted the sleeping Zela into her arms. "I'll be back soon... Don't miss me."
Metu — "I won't~"
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The last group consisted of the youngest Embodiments. They were mostly the children of the older deities. One could almost feel their parents' gazes intently watching over them.
Lex — "God, sometimes I'm ashamed of my parents... Anyone else feel the same?"
Trevi nodded slightly and raised her hand. The other three remained motionless.
Trevi — "Dol, you haven't had anything like that? I thought your parents were really... well..."
Dol — "Nope. Even though they sometimes act... weirder than usual, I still love them."
Lex — "You truly are exceptional, huh... Just like your father."
Dol — "Whoa, you've met Kito?"
Lex — "Yeah. We got acquainted a couple of times... He's a surprisingly interesting person... I can see who you take after, Dol."
Trevi — "Enough praising his family. It's making me envious." She said it with a dose of humor.
Lex — "You're the last person here to talk about a bad family... Mine are constantly getting stuck in the bedroom... Damn it, it's like they don't even need the other rooms..."
Dol — "You're not the only one... Well, that's probably how love works or something..."
Trevi — "Probably... Let's ask Amoré later, huh? As the Embodiment of Romance, she should know everything about it..."
Lex — "Most likely she'll express it as some ordinary abstract concept... As if 'a feeling that binds fates together' tells us anything..."
Dol — "Guess you won't know till you try? We'll just have to wait... Do you have any preferences for a future partner?"
Lex — "Of course. I need someone sufficiently annoying, decent, and law-abiding... Otherwise we won't last long together."
Trevi — "It's simple for me. Someone calm... I don't want someone loud. There'd be too much trouble with them... With you, Dol, it's easy."
Dol — "Ha... Glad to know... Well, my type? Hm... I think someone kind... always ready to help..."
Lex — "There is one candidate... Alright, let's forget it for now..."
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Only one group of Embodiments was not present here. It was by no means out of laziness or unwillingness to visit these deities. The difference in status between them and the others was so great that they were practically not permitted to attend such simple gatherings.
Esse — "Congratulations on the grandson, dear brother."
Eros — "Haha. You can drop the formalities. Thank you... I still can't believe I have a grandson now. I'm sure he'll follow in his father's footsteps and grow up to be a good god..."
Viola — "It feels like just yesterday I gave birth to Kito... And now he's already a father... God, it's so unexpected..."
Marti — "Well, they've been together for a long time... It was logical to assume that sooner or later they'd have a child... Eh."
Esse — "Hah... How long it's been since I created gods... It seems my help is no longer needed by this world."
Eros — "What then? A well-earned retirement?"
Esse — "I think so... I don't have any plans for what to do yet..."
Marti — "I still have plenty of work... Mortals are constantly destroying something..."
Eros — "Well, sometimes having work is better than complete freedom. It gives you a reason to live... I know that firsthand..."
Viola — "The world changes so quickly. It's as if we're moving to the background, and the young actors are taking the lead roles..."
Esse — "Heh. Still, one must make room for the new generations, isn't that right?"
Marti — "Indeed... Life flows so swiftly... Hah." For the first time, a faint smile played on Marti's face.
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