“Phiva! I am so glad you could join me!”
Elkay was in a very bouncy mood as a dark red Ksithan wearing black trousers and a black hoodie and carrying a large, dusty satchel reached the main entrance of the Great Library near the centre of the universe. To the point that he nearly tripped over the ceremonial robes he was wearing. Admittedly, he was in a bit of a rush, as he had just finished a Phantasma initiation blessing ceremony, and he hadn’t been aware up until now that his old Ksithan study buddy had arrived.
“Ah, Elkay, bless you!” Phiva gently smiled. “You are as young and chirpy as ever, despite being so ancient!”
“Well!” Elkay blushed slightly, but it was hard to tell on his dark, rubbery skin. “Being made into a proper deity did revitalise me a bit. But yoooou! You look amazing, Phiva! Haven’t aged a day!”
“Hah, I have, you are just being your normal charming self. My mane has gone very grey.”
“Well… Maybe my memory is hazy. I was cut in half, after all… But either way, the grey suits you! Anyway, come in! Let me show you around! And let me take your bag as well!”
“There is no need.”
“Oh, yes, there is! I am inviting all my more curious friends, and I plan to treat you like queens!”
“Yes, but why?” Phiva was confused more than anything else. “We are friends, but you don’t have to treat us special.”
Elkay didn’t answer at first. He instead took Phiva’s bag, then wrapped his tail around her wrist and dragged her off, down mazes and mazes of corridors, halls, art galleries and book shelves.
“I think becoming a deity has driven you insane…” Phiva muttered as they eventually came to a halt outside a very large, high room.
“Oh, it genuinely has. I’m barely me any more and my kids hardly talk to be because I constantly talk and mess things up socially. I randomly spout interesting facts at the worst moments and don’t go outside for days at a time, and when I speak to people, I have started doing huge, ongoing sentences and spiels instead of talking normally. Which is why I am doing this book party thing, because I need to settle myself down a little and actually take time off while also not looking like I’m bunking off work because the fricking Whenvern is stalking me and thinks I’m going to kill him, even though my work in translating his stupid prophecy suggests that the person he’s scared of is long gone.”
Phiva stared at Elkay. Elkay realised he had done. He sighed to himself.
“You’re not doing well.”
“I’m not. I was going alright, but this fucking dragon problem is ruining me. I’m trying to fix it though with a weekend of niceness. I have nothing important planned, I’m allowed to skip the stupid meeting with Epani and Kairos tomorrow and I’m inviting all my friends!”
“Most of your friends are Skyans though, yes?”
Elkay nodded as he led Phiva into the room and sat her down in a very luxurious sofa. “Admittedly, yeah. Thitaay, the Ksa of A-Class, is coming, as is my friend Psiksi, but I invited Glaili, who is the right hand of the Imperator of the Flooded Lakes; Grand Advisor Mur’Emba is coming on Sunday and I am getting Psiksi to pick up my weird Rethan buddy Relkir in a few hours once they have finished work.”
“You are inviting a Rethan?”
“Yes.”
“They are not the best.”
Elkay eyed Phiva. “That’s a tad racist.”
“You know I am… not a fan of them. You know what they did to my own legal library.”
“Alright, I totally get that, but that was thirty years ago and they sorted their piss out and got rid of their tyrant and are slowly becoming more Skyan-like, partially in thanks to Relkir and their work. Also, Relkir is a little sweetie. Completely harmless. Apparently even when they go defensive stance, they’re mostly harmless.”
Phiva settled down. “I suppose you are right. I can’t be angry at someone who worked to fix the problems of their own race. I’m not sure what you mean by “defensive stance” though. Are you suggesting that not all Rethans become bloodthirsty monsters when they are hit by that adrenaline flood?”
“There’s a bunch of different types of defensive stance. Relkir has probably the best stance, one where they are still lucid. But, like, most Rethans never go defensive stance, so you have nothing to worry about!” Elkay smiled, then changed the subject. “Either way, pretty sure you and Mur’Emba will get on no problem. And Psiksi is always a laugh.”
“I guess. What will we be doing in the mean time?”
Elkay went back to smiling, and pointed at a large table covered in books. Next to it was a table covered in snacks. Next to that was a table covered in various beverages, including a hot coffee and tea maker.
“I went to a bunch of different book shops, bought 10 books from each one, half fiction, half non-fiction, at random. We’re gonna all grab some books and quietly read for a bit while chatting and stuff. I also bought a bunch of really shitty Temthan romance novels that we can all read and laugh at. On top of that, I’ve also made sure all the younger deities are distracted so they don’t bother me.”
“That actually sounds a lot of fun!” Phiva smiled as well. “You seem to have everything planned out!”
“I do, yes! We’re going to have a bloody wonderful time, the universe be damned!”
“Also, are you not one of the older deities?”
Elkay hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. Third oldest, after Dalosisaar and Murum’Va.”
“Interesting. Perhaps we can also spend some time discussing what it is like being a deity. Since you clearly have stories to tell.”
“That is very true!” Elkay grinned. “Anyway, old friend, in the mean time, what can I get you to drink? The classic herbal tea with a spot of milk?”
“Yes, please, Elkay.”
“Wonderful…”