Chapter 23: Vázoluna (2)
- Death and Lucifer -
The group arrived in the main town of Vázoluna. It was a collection of dark wood buildings, some of which were built into the surrounding trees. The roads were dirt and there were bridges high above the ground connecting various treetop houses with one another. There was actual sunlight coming through, but the area was still darker than normal.
Death had been thinking about what to say to the leader of the area.
'I just want to get through here as fast as possible. I'm sure the sooner we leave the happier everyone will be.'
As the group got further into the town they started getting more and more looks from the various lycans in the area. Lucifer was in the back, keeping his eyes forward, trying not to make eye contact with any of the onlookers. He walked up to the front to ask Death a question.
"Should we just move through without greeting the leader? They already know we're here."
Death had considered such a thing but wasn't comfortable with the idea.
"I meet with the leader every time I come through here for two reasons: One, out of courtesy. And two, out of distrust."
Death knew that Lucifer would normally just travel through Vázoluna without slowing down, but didn't think he should personally do the same.
"If you want you can go on ahead. I know we still have Cytus to worry about, but I can meet up with you."
Lucifer shook his head.
"No. We should stay together as long as we're here."
Death could see that Lucifer wasn't taking any more chances on this journey.
'Lucifer's attack against Ganesha was more powerful than it needed to be. Not knowing where Cytus is has really affected him.'
Death shrugged.
"Alright. Just be careful. It's been a while since you've spoken to the leader in person. I'm used to his personality, but you might not be."
Lucifer gave a questioning look to Death.
"You think I'll lose my temper, mister nothing-to-prove?"
Death gave a small laugh to the comment, before making a serious look.
"I know you have a lot of experience dealing with infuriating rulers, but I'm serious. Watch yourself, and don't let him get a rise out of you."
Lucifer was annoyed but knew his history with lycans was very different from Death's.
'Maybe I just shouldn't speak. It might be safer that way.'
The further into the town the group got the stronger the lighting became. The center of the town was bright with multiple street lamps on every corner.
"I'll never understand why they choose such a contrasted way of living," Lucifer commented.
"Some believe in light, others in darkness. No point in arguing when they can just divide parts of their towns." Death responded.
Lucifer gave sideways glances to the area around them. He was checking to see if the scouts from before were still tracking them.
'Seems like they left. There is a lot less room to hide in this part of their land.'
The group walked by a statue of a large wolf howling in front of a sun. Elijah walked up to Lucifer and quietly asked him a question.
"Is that Amaterasu?"
"Yes. This part of the lycan territory worships her." Lucifer answered.
Elijah had read the basic do's and don'ts of the lycan territory but had read very little of the history.
"They worship a god? In this world?" Elijah asked.
Lucifer was about to be disappointed with Elijah until he remembered that the reborn was fresh to this world.
'The further we go the more I regret convincing you to join. You should have had proper time to study.'
"Most of the upper-tier gods in this world are worshipped in one form or another. This part of the territory worships Amaterasu, while other parts worship Fenrir."
"Fenrir?"
"Giant black wolf," Lucifer informed. "Sometimes referred to as "Godslayer" in certain parts of this place."
Lucifer was feeling two major frustrations. He had left the group, which lead to them almost being killed, and he took a new reborn on a mission far too early.
'Whatever this human resistance is will probably be worse than it seems knowing our current luck.'
Lucifer sighed and asked Elijah if he had any more questions. Elijah, noticing the exhaustion of Lucifer's expression, decided he was good for now.
"I'm fine for now. I can read more about the history later." He said.
Elijah walked to the back of the carts and pulled the guide out from the supplies.
'Might as well read while I have light and am not bouncing inside of a cart.'
The group arrived at the edge of the well-lit part of town. There was a man with one yellow-eye (left) and one colorless eye (right) waiting for them. The man was wearing a black tunic and black pants. He stood six feet tall and had wild black hair.
"Thanks for meeting us on the town's border, Fensyr." Death greeted.
Fensyr ran his eyes across the group.
"Who's the angel?" he asked.
"Mira. Heaven wanted to take part in our investigation so I had her come with me." Death partially lied.
Fensyr grunted.
"Yeah iss good ta see that Heaven disrespects everyone equally."
Mira wanted to comment but knew it wasn't her place.
'Don't act like you deserve respect you dog.' She thought instead of saying.
Fensyr turned around and waved for the group to follow. Death and Lucifer were close behind, with the rest of the group following a little further back.
"Got a call from Mikey. Said angels would be making their way through our territory soon. I assume he didn't mean white cloth back there?"
"Ezekiel and a few others are helping us hunt down Cytus." Death said.
Fensyr scratched his chin.
"Right, the angel corpse you believe ta be hiding out in our woods. As I said before, it isn't here."
Death and Lucifer didn't believe the leader's words. Lucifer was especially agitated by the comment.
'You wouldn't tell us if he was. If I find out that he was hiding here all along I'll come back when this is all said and done.'
Elijah had been skimming through the history part of the lycan section in the guide. He had noticed the words "Death's lycan hunt" and had decided to read further. He only made it part of the way through before the group entered another dark part of the town.
Elijah put the guide back into the cart and looked at Death nervously.
'I'm surprised the lycans aren't hiding from you.'
Fensyr was walking quietly in front of the group until Death spoke again.
"I hope there's no problem with the angels searching the woods. I'm sure you and your soldiers are thorough, but these woods are large."
Fensyr glanced behind.
"Right. I'm sure you know these woods as well as I do." He grumbled.
Death wasn't bothered by the attitude. He was more worried about Lucifer, but to his surprise, Lucifer had a calm look on his face.
'Wait, that might be worse.' Death thought.
"Cytus is a threat to your people as well. The only allegiance he might have is with R'lyeh. If you think your kind is safe, and if you ignore him, you'll suffer." Lucifer's words came out in a biting tone.
Fensyr didn't turn around when he spoke. He didn't want Lucifer to see the anger on his face.
"Yeah, I know how untrustworthy angels are, specially one that's being controlled." Fensyr spat on the ground next to him.
Death gave a disappointed look to Lucifer.
Mira was furious and decided to wait until the group was farther ahead before continuing to walk.
Death noticed a woman with black sclera eyes and blue hair walking nearby.
"Since when did you have a yokai in your town?"
Fensyr glanced over at the woman.
"Iss some representative of Ama's. I was told she was sent to convey a message. Don't know or care what it is."
Death found the lack of information suspicious.
'Yokai rarely travel outside of their territory. Why would Amaterasu ever send someone to personally convey a message instead of just calling?'
Death was thinking about how to approach the question until Lucifer outright asked.
"Why would Amaterasu send someone to give a message? You have an echo, she could have just called."
Death was angry with the bluntness of Lucifer's question.
Fensyr kept walking and groaned.
"Look, Ama said she was sending a messenger. I asked why and she told me ta "Remember my place" and there was no arguing with her."
Death and Lucifer found Fensyr's words genuine.
'That definitely makes Amaterasu look more suspicious than him. Nothing good can come from that messenger's presence here.' Death thought.
"If you need any help speaking with Amat-"
"Don't! Just, just leave my people ta me." Fensyr interrupted.
Death decided to walk over to the yokai. He wasn't going to let something this suspicious get away from him.
Fensyr noticed Death heading towards the woman and wanted to stop him, but Lucifer stood in-between him and Death.
"Whatever is going on, it's important to my group's safety. Whether you want Death interfering or not isn't up to you."
Fensyr's face clenched.
"You're lucky we let you and your meat come through here. So don't you da-"
"Lucky?" Lucifer nearly spat. "I think you forget your own history. You're not doing us a favor by letting us through, you're keeping yourselves safe from another hunt!" He shouted.
Fensyr and Lucifer were in each other's faces as Death walked up to the woman. The woman noticed Death and started to run. Death blinked in front of the woman and grabbed her arm before she could get away.
"You really thought you could outrun me?"
"Was worth a shot." The woman said.
"Why did Amaterasu send you here?" Death asked, still holding the woman's arm.
"She wanted to discuss the chances of a new ruler. The Fenrir side has been ruling for the last few hundred years, and Amaterasu thought it was time for a change."
Death released the woman.
"Don't try running again."
The woman rubbed her arm.
"I wasn't going to."
Death had more questions but noticed that Fensyr and Lucifer were moments away from a fight and blinked next to them, pushing them apart.
"There's no point in fighting. Both of you need to calm down." Death ordered.
Death looked back at where the woman was and noticed she disappeared.
"Great, another problem to deal with." Death sighed.
Lucifer and Fensyr were still glaring at each other. Death picked both up by the back of their clothes.
"If you two don't calm down I will slam your heads together. Understood?" Death said menacingly.
Both nodded their heads in agreement and Death lowered them. He shot Lucifer an angry look and turned towards Fensyr.
"Are you aware that Amaterasu wants to replace you as leader?"
Fensyr looked away and exhaled through his nose.
"Course I am. She's wanted that ever since I was made leader. Fenrir used ta keep her in check."
Death was angry. Angry with Lucifer for getting into an argument, and angry with Amaterasu for interfering in the lycan's leadership.
'Fuck!' He yelled in his mind.
Death was standing still, his eyes closed and his hand on his face. He was thinking about what to do for now.
'He's going to hate this suggestion.'
Death opened his eyes and looked at Fensyr.
"For now, tell Amaterasu that your leadership role is protected by me. You don't have to tell anyone else, just her."
Fensyr was furious, and his face looked like it was about to explode with anger. He spoke through his teeth.
"I don't want your help."
Death placed his hand on Fensyr's shoulder and gripped it.
"You're not in a position where you can get what you want. You need my help." Death said coldly.
Fensyr's anger had turned to a look of pain in response to the grip on his shoulder.
"Fine, but you know as well as I that this isn't going ta end cleanly."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Gama_Ser
Gama_Ser Retroactive chapter fact #23
Some lycans actually worship non-wolf deities in secret. Worshipping non-wolf deities is considered a crime in Vázoluna.
"I can't blame them. Then again, I am biased against wolves."
- Lucifer speaking about the anti-sacrilege laws of Vázoluna with Peter
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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