"My Lord," called out Brutus, who noted my presence almost immediately after I voiced my inquiry to the uncaring world that was full of violence and bloodshed. Whereupon he did quickly ran as I alighted my self upon the blood soaked earth below. There, I retracted my wings just in time for him to leap and grapple my body with his own. No. I did not fall to the earth, but I did stagger backwards to some degree from the suddenness of it all.

Here, he did attempt to squeeze my body tight as though shielding it from some unknown force. No doubt he would have released a few excess tears from his eye sockets if he had the ability to perform such an action. Instead, he continued to cling to my person with a slight tremble of fear and thankfulness. Unfortunately, such feelings almost immediately vanished due to that which was within all Undead.

Upon its disappearance, he did straighten himself away from my person in order to bow a low bow, "Welcome back, my Lord God. We were worried about your sudden disappearance."

"You should know by now, Brutus," my voice was a soft hiss which shook the air between us in a gentle manner, "that there are only a few spells which will remove my person from this world without my desire to do so. One of which the Golden Fool was able to perform against my person, which was the 'Duel of Compulsion'. Speaking of which," my head darted this way and that, "Where is the body? I desire it to be taken to Rojaahn as quick as possible."

"Body, my Lord God?" my Lich cocked his head towards his right, his eyes flickering with some confusion, "What body?"

"The body that I," I began, but stopped in order to cup my endarkened face with one of my primary clawed hands. My mind soon recalled what normally occurs within such a plane of existence when a being ceases to live. For is a Duel were to have a setting of "To The Death", then the plane takes the body of the loser as compensation instead of a massive amount of energy from the losing party.

"Nevermind, nevermind," my head shook against the cupped clawed hand, whilst another waved away the thought from us, "Just explain what has occurred whilst I was away. I do believe this army's remnants were still standing strong before I was called away."

"Indeed, my-"

"Master!" cried out Amira from behind my person. Whereupon she did leap into my arms the moment I turned around, and did cast aside her war scythe with the blade coated in blood and entrails. Yes. She was also coated in the substance, but we paid little heed as she did her best to embrace my body as tight as she could. Of course, she also had the same something which was within Brutus, but at a lesser degree. For she was not of the True Undead as my person and Brutus was, and therefore only had a minour form within her body.

"Where did you go, Master?" her eyes were wide with her ears pressed flat against her head as she pushed against my chest in order to stare into the six crimson orbs that were my own. Whereupon she did wave at Brutus in an absentminded manner as she continued with, "Brutus wanted everyone and everything to burn, then wanted to send everyone out to scour the world for you."

"It was a Duel of Compulsion," I replied with a sigh, and when I noted her perked ears and eyes full of even more inquiries, I sighed once more, "The spell forces two individuals to another plane of existence where they must fight per the aggressor's rules. The Fool," my right clawed hands waved at the space where the odd Human in golden armour once stood, "placed a 'To The Death' condition and lost.

"Therefore, I immerged the victor, and his body was absorbed into the ether. It is sorrowful that such a place took the body away."

"Why do you say that, Lord?" called out Shauu, who then proceeded to embrace the whole of my body, lifting it into the air with relative ease. After a time, she did set my person down where the rest of my soon-to-be-called-Chosen awaited my person with their own embraces at the ready.

Once such an event was over, they did await my response to the Bear Beastwoman's inquiry. Of which was soon answered with, "This is due to the fact that the golden armoured Human did not have anything betwixt his legs. The shaft was missing, as was the sack which normally held the seeds of its potential offspring. All of it was not present before my eyes."

"Why were you looking down there?" inquired the Wolfwoman Annata, her head tilting towards her left whilst her ears were greatly perked.

"I planned a torture session with the Human," came my reply with a few bobbing their heads, "but turned to slaying it in a most painful manner. Such as twisting and pulling the body to allow the blood and innards to splash to the ground. Unfortunately," my clawed hands spread outwards in a manner befitting a shrug, "the body and all of its insides were taken away as compensation for the Duel."

"But you have blood on you," called out Iinidra, who frowned at the spatterings of blood which flaked my form.

"This is a gift from Amira," of which caused the whole of the group to glance at her person with a mixture of annoyances. Whereas the Foxwoman herself giggled slightly whilst grinning, sticking her silver-pink tongue at the group, and rubbing the back of her neck. Yes. This was an adorable action of herself, but not many felt such a way towards her.

"In any case, what has occurred whilst I was away?"

"Well, my Lord God," began Brutus, "What happened was..."

*****

The Ageless paused in his speech when he noted several figures wreathed in crimson shadows standing at the doorway. Whereupon he did excuse himself and stood tall before stalking towards such beings with a sour expression stretched across his features. For it was tantamount that none disturb his person whilst a story was being produced for his audience. More so when it was for any and all children present, and doubly so for his own son. Of which was seen as a capital offence in his eyes, so if these individuals did not produce an excuse to take his dour mind, they would most likely end up having their essences denied passage into the next cycle of reincarnation. This was due to the fact that he would drain them of everything, as such an offence resulted in the offender's death.

On the other side of the dining hall, however, the Mother and Sarah chatted amongst themselves in a low tone, whereas the twins took this opportunity to pin Nox down whilst they tried to kiss him. Whereupon he did struggle and mew in a pitiful manner, as such a playful attack against his person was unwelcomed, despite the swaying of his tails. Yes. This was noticed by the two mothers, whose discussion had turned towards a betrothal of sorts, securing their futures forevermore. However, they would need the expressed permission of the Ageless. Even though the pair could circumvent his decision, there was always the off chance of them being denied.

"Now why would I dare wish to object against such a proposal?" The God King inquired, standing before their persons. Across the other side of the room, where the red shadowed individuals still stood was his backside turned towards their view.

Yes. Such a sight did startle their minds, until they noted the transparency of the one before their very eyes. For this one was in such a way that they were able to pass a clawed hand through, and even Sarah performed such an action before snatching her hand back. This was due to the tingling sensation she felt that was neither painful nor enjoyable. Instead, it was an unknown sensation she could not describe accurately. Therefore, she did not place her hand back inside the vision before their eyes.

"You seem surprised, Sarah. Well, no matter," the Kitsune's head swayed between their persons, his features containing a soft expression, "I will approve, but only if the children will it. As you well know, I and all others cannot force children to perform any actions against their wills whilst under our Domain. Therefore, you must-.

"Ah, please excuse my person," the image before themselves shimmered slowly into non-existence, but before it vanished, he continued with, "It appears I am needed on high. Therefore, Sarah," the Goddess jumped as she heard her name, which the visage of her husband found curious, but paid it no mind, "you shall continue the story."

Upon so saying, he did vanish completely, along with the shadowed creatures which stood at the doorway. Yes. This action did cause Nox to frown, and turned his attention towards his mother, begging for something. Whereas the Mother was rather curious about what just occurred, and turned towards the other, hopeful for an answer.

To which Sarah did sigh greatly, "That's the reason why he is able to handle much of the applicants for joining the Pantheon," and spoke nothing more about the subject.