“You actually look quite good as a Skyavok…”
Kairos rolled his eyes as Arkadin put a cardboard skull on his head, painted white and decorated with antlers made of twigs and little flowers. When the Thantophor had invited him round to go and kill some people, this was not what Kairos expected.
“I literally just made myself look like you, but blue and white.”
“So you’re saying I look quite good as a Skyavok?” Arkadin smiled. He handed Kairos a paper bag. Little skulls were printed on the bag and the handles were decorated with more little flowers. “Anyway, I just wanted to spend some time together and what better way to do that than to go from house to house, gathering candy?”
The Whenvern rolled his eyes again. Ahead of them were a gaggle of Skyavok children, all being led by a group of four adult Skyavok. One of them he vaguely recognised as Psiksi, the young Skyan member of the Dessaron. The other three, Arkadin had told him, were Psiksi’s siblings, and they returned to the voidlands of Thre-Sypria every year to go “Sweet Picking.”
Apparently all of this was just the kids’ part of a two day celebration called Dyvoid. The first day, Voidling Day, involved going from house to house, wearing cute skull decorations, asking for various treats, from candy bars to small, baked pastries. The second day, Gluttoday, involved morning prayers to the Lord of the Void and the Thantophor, before kids gorged themselves on sweets and chocolate while adults got drunk out of their minds. It was a weird Skyavok tradition, but Arkadin appreciated the single morning of thoughts and prayers.
“But why are you using this as a guise to kill some fools?”
“Who said I was killing a load of vok today?” Arkadin blinked.
“You said you wanted me to come along with you while you did your job!” Kairos exclaimed as Arkadin handed him a cardboard skull hat. “Why are we here?”
“Shush now. You’re going to spoil things.” The Thantophor smiled, then rushed off towards the group of Skyavok, waving to Psiksi and his siblings. Kairos sighed, put on his paper skull hat, then followed.
There must have been about twenty children here, all of them wearing skull helmets they had decorated themselves. The four brothers were leading them from door to door in groups, five kids to one adult.
“Hi Arkay…” Psiksi immediately recognised him. “You’re not here to…”
“No, no, please, don’t be like that!” Arkadin smiled as he glanced at one of the kids. “Those are some cool skull helmets you have there!” he beamed.
“So none…”
“They’re all fine. They’ll all have a great holiday.”
“Fine. Who’s your friend?”
Kairos trailed behind the group. Psiksi and Arkay both watched as he gave the kids some candy each.
“My brother.”
“You have a bro-”
“It’s the Whenvern. You’re graced by two gods today.”
“You’re… doing something…” Psiksi hesitated.
“I assure you, Psiksi, none of these kids are going to get hurt. Not on my watch.”
Psiksi relented, then nudged the kids onwards, towards the houses.
As they walked, each door opened up. Standing inside were adult Skyavok, wearing black sheets and their own paper skull helmets. Each kid in turn would walk up, smile and wave, then ask if they had been good that year. Every time, the adults would say yes and hand them something edible. Most of the time it was individually wrapped mini candy bars. They also gave candy to the adults as well, which Psiksi explained he was going to give to the kids who couldn’t make it that night.
Psiksi’s group soon reached the end of the street. Around the corner, the other groups were walking towards the park, where a small party had been planned.
“We’ll join you in a bit, Psiksi.”
“If you insist…” Psiksi tutted as he led the kids away. “Please don’t do anything horrible.”
Arkadin and Kairos waited for the others to head off before knocking on the door of the last house. Kairos stared at Arkadin, wondering what he was up to. It took a while, but the door eventually opened, revealing a short, tattered Skyavok in an equally tattered black cloak.
“Hello!” the elderly Skyavok smiled. “Are you here for some candy too? Let me go get some.”
Before Arkadin could reply, the door slammed shut. Shuffling could be heard inside the creaky house, which seemed as ancient as its owner.
“So this is-” Kairos tried to speak, but Arkadin hissed at him.
The door opened up again. The elderly Skyavok was holding a bowl of candy. “You kinda look like my nephew. Don’t see him much any more.”
“I’m sorry, dear…” Kairos started talking, ignoring the fact that Arkadin was tugging at his arm. “But we’re not in any way related to your nephew. I am the Whenvern and this here is the Tha-”
“They are very good costumes!” the elderly Skyavok smiled weakly as she poured sweets into the two deities’ hands. “Here, have some sweeties!”
“Excuse me, madam, but-”
Arkadin slapped Kairos on the back of the head, pushing his cardboard helmet over his eyes. “Wow! This is so generous of you! Thank you very much!”
The elderly Skyavok beamed. “You are very welcome, kid. Have a happy Dyvoid!”
“You too!” Arkadin waved. He grabbed Kairos by the arm and pulled him away. “Look after yourself! And try to cut back on the wine a little. You’ll squeeze a few more years out of it!”
Once again, the elderly Skyavok smiled. She waved back at the silly Skyans and closed the door.
“What the fuck was that about?” Kairos growled as he followed Arkadin, back towards the crowd of kids.
“Dude, she gave us full-sized chocolate bars!” the Thantophor exclaimed as he opened one of the chocolate bars and took a bite out of it. “If she keeps that up, she can have a few more decades, as far as I’m concerned!”