"You are well aware of Estra, correct?" Palia asked, already knowing the answer. Xavier nodded. He knew Estra was made up of five continents. Each continent worshiped a different god. They, most of the time, lived in harmony. Each having their own set of problems, rules, people, etc.
"The five continents and each representing a god. Yes, I'm well aware." Xavier nodded.
"Good, then you are also aware that there's also a 6th god amongst our ranks?" Palia asked. When she mentioned the sixth god, his head couldn't recall it.
"No, I do-don't remember that. A sixth god? Who's that?"
"The darkness god. The God that exists because of my very light. Nura, the god of darkness, is a god that is shunned from the five continents. The people think darkness is an element of evil but it is not." Palia explained. "Frankly, my younger brother likes the reputation. He's neither good or bad but… he has a… Suspicious amount of followers that do varying deeds in his name."
"He's a major god?" Xavier asked. Palia nodded.
"One of the major gods that hide well in Estra. He doesn't like the title but enjoys playing around with life on Estra. Probably why so many demi-gods pop out from him and are…"
"Interesting?"
"You could say that." Palia nodded. "My children, the four elements, are the other major gods. Each of them knows my brother. They know his intentions aren't bad. He does whatever he wants and frankly, the fire god has picked up some of his uncle's bad habits as well.." Palia sighed.
"Well, when you eventually reincarnate, you’ll have some time before the Hero needs help. A dark force is on the rise and I'm worried my brother might be up to something."
"Have you talked to him about this, uh, prophecy?" Xavier asked.
"I have." Palia nodded.
"And I've told you it won't be me." A husky voice appeared behind Xavier. Palia watched as a man of pure darkness appeared out of the chair's shadow. A black haired man with tan skin, no shirt rippled with abs and black pants, appeared with his arms resting on top of the chair Xavier was occupying.
Xavier could immediately feel the god's power. He smirked at his sister. Palia sighed and motioned for him to sit. A seat appeared as Nura moved to the chair and spun on his heel to give Xavier a hello.
"This is the brat you've decided to give me?" Nura asked, sitting down. A plate appeared and filled itself. Nura began to grab a large chicken piece and take a bite out of it.
"If you really have nothing to do with what's about to happen in the future, you'll gladly take Xavier and bless him. Make him your Shade and let him do the good work for you." Palia told her brother. Nura scoffed.
"As easy as that, dear sister?" Nura looked over at her. She nodded. Nura took another bite of his chicken and set it down. He stood up and appeared in front of Xavier. He was checking Xavier out.
"If he's gonna be my Shade, I want you to approve some personal requests." Nura told Palia. Palia sighed.
"What?" She asked. Nura grabbed Xavier's thin arms and waved them.
"He must have more muscle than a sickly child." Nura let go of Xavier's arms and then peered into Xavier's eyes. "Eyes and face definitely need to catch anyone's attention as well. Scarlet like mine." Nura smiled and winked at Xavier. Xavier could feel the lust pouring out of Xavier.
"Anything else?" Palia asked, rolling her eyes. Her brother definitely had a specific "type" for his followers. That's probably why they all caused so much trouble.
"And I will personally give him a gift, too." Nura lifted himself away from Xavier and spun on his heels, looking at his sister.
"You want to give him a Divine Blessing as well?" Palia raised her eyebrows. "I thought this would be way harder."
"Oh, not a Divine Blessing. I don't think he deserves it, frankly. I wanna give him a gift. A token of our new relationship." Nura turned to look at Xavier, giving him another wink. "If he passes my expectations then maybe I'll give him a Divine Blessing, too. Hell, I'll make him a demi-god!"
"No demi-gods!" Palia shouted. "We agreed on no demi-gods. If this is gonna work, brother, we must play by the rules of Destiny. You know how it is."
"But it's so boring when we play by the rules! Let me make it interesting!" Nura pouted. Palia shook her head.
"Or we could get Father and Mother involved."
"No." Nura immediately shook his head. "Don't bring the Elder Beings into this! They must slumber for at least another five eternities."
"Then that's our answer."
"W-what gift do you want to give me, uh… N-Nura?" Xavier stuttered. Nura spun around to look at the human soul standing from his seat. Palia watched with interest. She had a feeling she had made the perfect choice by choosing the Author.
"Lord Nura to you, pipsqueak." Nura corrected. Xavier immediately nodded. Nura sighed and shook his head. "You're way too passive. If you're gonna really be my Shade, you need to represent me well."
"Chaotic and a sl*t?" Palia retorted. Nura smiled at the last word.
"I don't think he needs to keep most of his memories either, dear sister." Nura pointed.
"W-what? N-no, L-Lord Nura! I must remember!" Xavier pleaded.
"Why? Got someone in that head of yours you wanna see?" Nura asked.
"Y-yes, my wife! My children! I wanna see them again! L-Lady Palia promised!"
"Why would you promise him that? You know it can be messy if you do that, sister." Nura turned to look at Palia.
"I told him I'd give him an opportunity but that's up to him to find out." Palia commented. "For now, Xavier, you'll at least keep intact what we promised. This whole conversation and at least your knowledge about your wife and kids from your precious life will be with you when you reincarnate. Everything else is up to my brother."
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"So do you want to prove yourself to me or not?" Nura asked. Xavier gulped. He definitely didn't think it would be anything like this. He just wanted to find his wife and kids, again and live a full life.
"What do I have to do then?" Xavier asked.
"My followers are devout to me. They work in the shadows and make sure things aren't a total fiasco on Estra. Your job as my Shade is to physically represent me and my will. You could say you're a vessel for me when and if I choose to ever use you. You'll get benefits from being a Shade like the rest of the Shades. I should probably ask if you know what a Shade is before continuing…" Nura raised his eyebrow at Xavier.
"A-A mortal being who acts upon the will of their god who has marked them. They're blessed and come with divine powers." Xavier recited the information off the top of his head.
"Exactly." Nura nodded. "You'll get to use my powers and I get to use you for whatever Divine intervention is needed, whenever that happens. But, I would like to simply give you a test for my amusement and to finish out this deal."
Xavier watched as the table and chairs disappeared in front of him. He looked behind him and noticed nothing behind him. Nura stood right in front of Xavier and stuck his fists out.
"Pick one. Depending on what you pick, it'll be my gift to you." Nura smiled. Xavier gulped and looked at both of the fists.
'There's no way to tell what I'll get, so I just gave to go with my gut on this… Argh, I wish I knew about the sixth god sooner! It might've prepared me for this!' Xavier thought. Nura raised his eyebrows and smirked.
'It's cute that he thinks learning about me in his previous life would prepare him for this moment. He doesn't know what my other titles are, either.' Nura thought. 'Nura, god of Darkness, Pleasure, and Tricks.' He smiled as he watched his Shade hover his hand over the two fists.
"Which will it be? Left or right?" Nura asked with a smirk. Xavier went back and forth for awhile but ended up choosing the first to the left. Nura opened it. Palia raised an eyebrow. She didn't think her brother was capable of wielding and creating something intricate like that.
A pair of Black and silver daggers hovered in his hand. Xavier was immediately interested in it, but Palia knew it was only the first part of the gift. She had already seen what else Nura was hiding. She knew exactly what he was giving Xavier.
"Ah, the Daggers of Shadowbane. Very exquisite taste you have." Nura smiled. Xavier grabbed the Daggers and studied them. "Not the only gift. But you've chosen your answer well!"
"W-what answer?" Xavier asked. Nura's open hand reached up to Xavier's head. He pressed his index and middle finger into the side of Xavier's head. Xavier could feel a shock to the side of his head. "Ow!"
"And done!" Nura took a step back, folding his arms together as he watched Xavier.
"What did you do to me?" Xavier asked. The Shadowbane daggers dissolved in his hands. Nura nodded his head like he was satisfied and then turned to his sister.
"Can I really give him a Divine Blessing?" Nura asked, ignoring Xavier's question.
"Do whatever you want. As long as you don't make him a demi-god, we'll be fine. I'm sure my children won't mind their uncle giving his first Shade a little something extra." Palia answered. Nura frowned immediately when he heard the mention of his sister's children.
"What do those pests have to do with this?" Nura asked.
"Not everyone can just give out Divine Blessings all willy-nilly. And you're adamant on this?"
"This one interests me. Might as well give them something that'll influence their growth."
"Whatever you do, the others will know."
"It's not like they already haven't dumped a Divine Blessing on someone else." Nura brushed it off. Palia simply nodded and watched her brother turn back to Xavier.
"Before you go, I'll give you some of my own power. Maybe this'll help influence your looks and strength." Nura gave him a wicked grin. Darkness stretched and wrapped itself around Xavier. Xavier began to panic as the two gods simply watched.
"This'll remind you of who you serve." A burning pain flared on his chest and shoulder. The darkness pulled away. A large black ink mark was all that was left behind by the sea of darkness. A black circle with the wings of a crow were burned onto Xavier's body. Feathers fell off to the side of his shoulder and the Darkness god nodded in satisfaction.
"That's it?" Xavier asked.
"That's it." Nura nodded. Palia moved to stand next to her brother. Her hand raising as a large white portal appeared beside Xavier.
"With that, we are done." Nura spoke. "Go through the portal and start your new life. You will retain your will to see your wife and kids. It'll always be there for you. You will remember this conversation and your mission. I've given you some help because I think you'll need it. Don't want you to mess with my image." The God of darkness chuckled.
Xavier turned to look at the portal. It shimmered and he felt it pulling him towards it as if he was in a hypnotic state.
"Go now, Xavier. Be reborn in the cycle of life and start your journey in Estra." Palia waved her hands and the two gods watched Xavier disappear into the portal.
"You did something else to him didn't you?" Palia finally asked after the portal closed.
"What makes you think I did something?" Nura raised his eyebrows.
"You're deflecting my question. What did you give him? I know you gave him aid with the Daggers but you did something else to him."
"I only wish to aid my first Shade with the utmost care, dear sister." Nura smiled. He turned as a black sphere appeared before him and his sister. "I wonder how he'll do in this life. Can he help the Hero and stop that calamity that will happen?"