[Book 9: Moons Muster]

“I know we’re all talking about tracking down the familiar spirit,” Dia muttered, “but do we actually have the ability to do that?”

She sighed. After killing the Red God’s Bearer of Destiny, who had actually self-destructed by taking in corruptive powers from Limbo, the big Red G had decided to dispatch one of his familiar spirits to investigate and presumably execute the punks responsible.

In other words, them. Of course, Dia wasn’t sure how all this began in the first place. They had headed to Daybreak County to show the titular ruler of the territory his place, only to stumble upon a conspiracy and a bloody sacrificial ritual spearheaded by the Red God’s Bearer of Destiny. Given that the Coloured Gods’ Bearers of Destiny were literally the guardians of their masters’ divinity and position, one would think that they would be a bit more careful…

In the end, the Red God’s Bearer of Destiny joined three others in death, enraging the God of Precision himself.

“Well, Claud was going on and on about a divinity tracker,” Risti muttered.

“Oh, you have got to be kidding. The two lovebirds fled two seasons ago. There is no way they could have predicted this, right?” Dia shook her head. “That’s seriously unbelievable.”

“I’m equally dumbstruck too. I even checked with Schwarz,” Risti replied. “Don’t look at me like that. Besides, didn’t he write a booklet regarding dangers and whatever? There was one section at the back that talked about looking out for signs of divinity—”

“Even Claud himself noted in that section that encountering a god or a familiar spirit is a nigh-improbable event, and the guy died because he was an idiot,” Dia interrupted.

“…Right, you were the one who handed out that book.” Risti bobbed her head. “Makes sense for you to know it very well, right? But if it’s theoretical, why on Grandis would he even bother to source for a divinity checker?”

“He’s paranoid?” Dia replied.

Risti raised an eyebrow, glanced at Nero once, and then shrugged. “That’s a very convenient explanation.”

“It’s the simplest explanation. I don’t think Claud has Future Sight or Sudden Inspiration,” Dia replied. “And Lucian’s Razor states that the simplest explanation is always the best.”

“I’m sure you’re using Lucian Lostfon’s words wrongly,” Risti replied.

“Hey, you caught that reference!”

“Ahem.” Nero cleared his throat. “Who’s Lucian Lostfon?”

“Oh, he’s a character that debuted in the books we were reading recently,” Dia replied. “He’s famous for exploring the Celestia Ruins.”

“And why were you reading about that?” Nero asked.

“We found a few books of the place lying around. I think Schwarz was wondering if he could get more recipes for drinks there, especially since most of Claud’s store of fizzy drinks have been consumed by us.” Dia paused. “Maybe we should have actually exercised some self-control when drinking them?”

Nero whistled innocently for a few seconds, while Risti looked at the ground.

“You two aren’t going to take any responsibility, are you?” Dia muttered. “Anyway, we’re all at blame…but it’s Claud’s fault. He ran away with Lily to begin with, and he hasn’t returned yet. It’s not our fault that he’s not safeguarding his own drinks…yeah, it’s not convincing.”

“We’ll just grovel at his feet or something when he returns,” Risti replied, before suggesting, “How about bribing him with lifestones? He loves them, after all.”

“Ah, good idea.” Nero bobbed his head. “And when it comes to lifestones, I have…well, I should have a lot, but eh.”

The three of them joked about Claud’s dwindling stock of fizzy drinks as they returned to Moon Mansion, where Farah and Schwarz had kidnapped a Moon toddler.

“What are you guys doing?” Dia asked, eyeing the little toddler waddling around the grounds of Moon Mansion.

“Remember? You told me to ask Nightfall if I could bring one of them into Moon Mansion. I just got permission today,” Schwarz replied, before holding out a small cup of bubbly orange juice — definitely fizzy drinks mixed with orange juice — to the toddler, who sipped at it happily.

“When did I do that?”

“When you went to Daybreak County?” Schwarz asked. “Anyway, this little fellow is unofficially adopted by us. We’ll raise him…her…not too sure about this little fellow’s gender, and I don’t want to check either.”

“Maybe they don’t have a gender. I’ve never seen one of them go to the toilet before,” Farah replied, rubbing the little toddler’s head. “Anyway, I think we need to be a bit serious here. Red God. Bearer of Destiny.”

“Dead Bearer of Destiny,” Dia corrected.

“No difference. They seem to be dropping like flies. I thought they were hardy fellows or something, but half of them have already died a horrible death,” Farah replied. “I’m dead certain — heh — that being a Bearer of Destiny is a magnet for suffering, pain and death. Change my mind.”

“Yeah, no. Anyway, we need to deal with a familiar spirit, but what do we know about them?” Dia asked.

Everyone turned to Nero, who raised his hands. “There’s a reason why my suggestion was misdirection and making sure that the familiar spirit doesn’t find us. None of us stand a prayer against a familiar spirit. We’ll need to get the Moons to cover for us.”

“Is it really fine for the Holy Son of the Black God to suggest such a thing?” Farah muttered.

“Eh, we get by,” Nero replied. “The Black and White Church are disliked too, since we’re not included in the Fourth Godsfall. For some reason that I’m not sure about. But this means we’re not above screwing the others over, because why not?”

“Are you really sure you’re a Holy Son?” Farah looked at Nero. “Look at this guy here! He loves booze, has no qualms running to the Moons for help and doesn’t even try to spread his faith? The other Coloured Churches do that, but this guy? No way. He’s too lazy!”

“Like I said, we get by.” Nero jiggled his shoulders. “Anyway, Nightfall’s definitely throwing the blame to the Moons and everything. The details…you two don’t bother yourself with that. For reasons.”

Schwarz let out a sigh. “We’re all playing the secrets card now, are we?”

“It’s not my fault you guys have low Authority.” Nero shrugged. “I can’t even hear them without injuring myself. You guys will die. Anyway, we need to stonewall the familiar spirit. The God of Precision specialises in perfect timing and coincidences. You must be careful at all times. We’re safe in here, but have you read books where the villain spouts out all his bad deeds in front of Emperor Grandis, who just so happens to come in?”

Schwarz and Farah nodded.

“Assume that can happen anytime with the familiar spirit,” Nero replied. “Don’t talk much, don’t chatter, and try not to leave Moon Mansion. I have shrouded it with the power of my master, which will hamper any foreign familiar spirit from sneaking in...hopefully, anyway. If you’re ever caught, just die with grace. You can’t win against a familiar spirit.”

“…That’s not very encouraging,” Schwarz muttered.

“Deal with it. We’re talking about a familiar spirit, someone who is no different from a Chromatic Lord. No high-ranked folder has appeared for millennia; while that continues to stay true, familiar spirits are impossible enemies.”

Dia felt a bit stifled at those words.

“That’s the briefing for the familiar spirit, but I’m quite sure I’ve done this before,” Nero muttered, folding his arms and staring at the little toddler drinking from the cup. “It’s going to be a mess, but we just need to tough this season out. Once the Moons descend, the familiar spirit will have to flee. Or if we’re lucky and the Moons decide to act earlier, so much the better for us.”

Dia didn’t know why Nero was examining the little toddler closely, but again, the little bauble was as cute as a ball. The way it lifted the cup and drank from it was a heart-warming sight, and she had to forcibly resist the urge to rub a head of fluffy hair.

“Just to ask, but is there absolutely nothing we can do?” Farah asked.

“Even if you kill the familiar spirit, what next?” Nero replied. “The Red God will know that it’s you for certain. You will die a death that will make quartering seem like a blissful mercy from a lover. I don’t really see the point. And more importantly, there is nothing you, I or anyone else short of the Moons can do in this situation.”

“O-okay.”

Nero rolled his eyes. “Sometimes, it’s hard to accept that there are things you cannot do, no matter what. Face it. Against a familiar spirit, we aren’t going to do anything just yet. If you want to even have a prayer against it, you’ll need to be a hexa-folder.”

“…Six folds, huh.” Schwarz looked at Nero. “Well, want a drink?”

“That’s completely unrelated…why are you offering me a drink, now of all times?”

“Well, if you do have a few lifestones lying around, maybe we can use them,” Schwarz replied. “That’s all.”

“You guys have a lot from doing all of Nightfall’s missions! Use them first!”

“Damn, you were paying attention?”