"Come onnnnnnnnn... I made it just for you." Arcus smiled as he tried to feed a reluctant Penelope some soup. She'd gone on a hunger strike after being captured and was refusing to eat, stating that she'd rather starve to death than remain a captive. "Pweeez?" He begged with cute puppy eyes which seemed only to irritate the Demi-God more than anything else. “Just a bite! Come on!”

{Its got your favorite kind of boar meat!} (Arcus)

"I don't take food from traitors." Penelope huffed, turning away from him. She'd been shackled in her cell since capture, and her hands were bound with magical restraints similar to Burning Light to prevent her from attempting a breakout. Arcus had been mostly left to his own devices and was her de facto chaperon and jailer, as Akagi figured he was the only one who could keep her in check and didn't see a need to dedicate more resources to the Demi-God.

"Oh, don't be like that!" Arcus smiled as he ate some of the soup, trying to rub it in her face how good it was. "Oh, man! You're missing out, Pen! This stuff is amazing! They let me use some of the ingredients from Earth to boost the flavor and wow! It's like a five-star restaurant level of quality compared to the slop you usually make us eat!" He laughed, the Demi-God's stomach rumbling as he did. "See! Even your stomach is telling you to stop being such a big idiot! Besides it's not like a hunger strike is going to work for you. I think it would take literal years for you to starve to death, Pen."

"How can you act like this?" Penelope hissed at him, kicking at his foot. "A Demon Lord is going to destroy our home! It plans on killing everyone and everything! Why are you smiling like an idiot when-" Her words paused as a spoonful of soup was stuffed in her mouth. “MPF!”

"Eat, then we can talk." Arcus rolled his eyes as Penelope glared daggers at him before reluctantly downing the soup. "See? It's pretty good, huh?"

"As much as I hate to admit it..." Penelope sighed as Arcus gave her more soup, feeding her until it was all gone.

"There, better?" Arcus said as she put the empty bowl on the floor before sitting in front of her. "You're not you when you're hungry." He chuckled.

"Shut up..." Penelope sighed before turning away from him. "I... I can't even summon the energy anymore. Everything's over, so what's the use? Might as well just sit here and ride the end out..."

"Hmmmm.... It doesn't seem to be over to me." Arcus replied as he set the soup bowl on the floor. "I mean, we're still alive aren't we? That's gotta count for something!"

"Only because that monster probably has some use for us." Penelope retorted with a derisive snort. "I suspect she'll do whatever she did to Halifax to you and use us to help destroy this world."

{There's no way a monster like that will just let us live. We're either useful to her plans or consumed. There's no in between with a creature like that. Lady Reflia told me that's exactly how Vikes was.} (Reflia)

"You really think so?" Arcus said as he stretched. "I mean, she seems more than capable of doing whatever she's got planned without us. Heck she's even got Halifax who kicked our your butt pretty good on her side, so I don't think we add much to the equation. We both might be Divine Weapons, but Halifax is in a league of her own, and you know that."

{Which is why fighting her head on was a poor idea... But still, I knew Halifax was strong, and that power... What was that?} (Arcus)

Penelope stayed silent, wanting to retort but decided not to bother since she knew Arcus was right. "So what? Do you think she's some magnanimous individual that's going to treat us well? If so you're a real fool. Well, even more of a fool than I already took you for." She smirked.

{Nice to see you can still crack a smile at my expense...} (Arcus)

"I wouldn't go that

far." Arcus shook his head as he pulled over a bottle of water he'd brought and gave it to Penelope who gulped it down. "I mean, she did massacre an entire army in what I've recently found out was a massive setup to make a point." He sighed.

{In hindsight, Ariel was playing right into the Demon Lord's hands. Seriously, why march an army to fight a Demon Lord that killed Gods? Did she seriously think she could win? Or did she have no choice but to act? Ugh... I hate politics... Blowing up bad guys and leaving all that difficult stuff is why I like this job.} (Arcus)

"Whatever." Penelope clicked her tongue in irritation. "It's up to the Gods to handle her. But I'd wager they have plans in place for another Demon Lord, so it's only a matter of time until they act. Lady Reflia didn't seem all that worried about the situation, so that must mean it will work out in the end."

{There's no way the Gods would lose against a second Demon Lord after defeating the first. Lord Gale and Lady Reflia have undoubtedly planned for such a situation and its only a matter of time until this monster is destroyed.} (Reflia)

"A bold prediction, but one that I don't think will pan out." Arcus shook his head. "Reason number one, Halifax has sided with her so we don't have the magical Demon Lord destroying sword this time. Reason number two, you presume said Demon Lord isn't strong enough to overcome whatever plan the Gods have to defeat her." He figured that Akagi wouldn't pick this fight if she wasn't confident in victory, which worried him.

"Vikes was defeated already, and even if this Demon Lord is different than him it proves they can be destroyed." Penelope said with a smug look on her face. "Lady Reflia always told me the Gods took their near defeat at his hands seriously and increased their power after vanishing him, so I find it hard to believe they'd lose this time. Whatever 'plan' this Demon Lord has will simply be overcome by the Gods."

"Pen, you do recall that two Gods have already been killed by her, right?" Arcus looked at his companion with an exasperated expression. "She killed them through their Avatars, and neither stood a chance. I'd say that proves that this Demon Lord is a wee bit more dangerous than Vikes."

{Killing Gods is hard, but doing it like that should set off ALL the alarm bells!} (Arcus)

"They were limited due to the restrictions of their Avatars. I'm sure if they fight her at full power together they'll win." Penelope figured that nearly thirty Gods all battling against Akagi at the same time would ensure the Demon's demise. “Once they start taking this seriously, then this Demon Lord will be defeated easily.”

"Maybe, but it also could blow up the world." Elariel interrupted as she entered the jail area. She hadn't spoken to Penelope since the Demi-God had been captured but had discussed things at length with Arcus, hence his more genial attitude.

"Lady Elariel." Penelope's eyes momentarily widened as the Goddess stood on the other side of her cell bars. "So you did side with the Demon Lord."

"Less side with and more forced into cooperation." Elariel said, pointing to the black mark around her neck. "Though I'll freely admit that I was working to undermine Gale's plan even before Akagi came to this world. I was the one who sent Halifax to get help, though I never would expected her to return at the side of a Demon Lord."

{A Demon Lord that could very well unravel everything I worked so hard to tidy up. If those two meet, there's no telling WHAT that thing will tell her, and I refuse to lose my Daughter! I won't let that thing replace her!} (Elariel)

"In all fairness, I don't think anyone could've anticipated that. We were all under the impression that only one Demon Lord existed anyway." Arcus said as he stood up. "Oh how nice that would've been. But alas, fate decided to kick us while we're down."

"I find myself heavily agreeing with that sentiment... But at this point, I feel that it matters little what I think or want." Elariel said, turning her eyes to Penelope who was glaring back at the Goddess in contempt. "But you... We failed you just like we failed Halifax. I'm sorry, Penelope." Her comment confused the Demi-God, who tilted her head in confusion. "After witnessing what we'd made Halifax do to the Dark Elves, your mother decided to raise you with as much love as she could. Reflia spoiled you and allowed you to mostly do as you wish... But unfortunately, it seems the bad habits of the other Demi-Gods ended up rubbing off on you."

{I asked Halifax to care for the young girl and take her under her wing, but we couldn't keep the her away from her siblings forever. I'd hoped that a good start would keep her from falling into the same personality traps so many others had, but alas...} (Penelope)

"Wait... Dark Elves?" Penelope ignored her other comments and focused on something that caught her attention. “What do they have to do with anything? They were purged for trying to bring about the end of the world.”

"!!!" Elariel smacked her hand over her mouth, realizing that she'd just blurted out information that was not supposed to be repeated.

{Glad it was her and not me who let that cat out of the bag.} (Arcus)

{I've spent too much time around mortals that I've … Dammit!} (Elariel)

"Lady Elariel, I'd advise telling her at this point. You're not going to be able to walk that comment back. Not with this one. She's very persistent. Which, in my opinion, is one of her charms, but that's beside the point." Arcus laughed and received a kick in the shin from the Demi-God. “Also violent, but I like that about her too.” He laughed while Penelope continued to kick him.

“Shut your mouth!” Penelope hissed as Arcus continued to laugh.

Demi-Gods were by and large not told the truth behind the Dark Elves' subjugation and the massacre. This was mostly due to Gale's promise to keep Halifax's involvement a secret but also because it was simply not something they needed to be aware of, and because there was concern that it may fuel some type of distrust between the Gods and their children if they ever found out. Penelope and the others knew they were forcefully brought to heel and that it was anything but a bloodless affair, but anything deeper was intentionally kept from them.

"Well... Yeah... Everything is already falling apart, so I suppose it can't making things worse to be as honest as possible at this point." Elariel took a deep breath before explaining how the Dark Elves were massacred. How she forced Halifax to be party to that slaughter, and the events surrounding that time. As she spoke Penelope's expression turned from complete shock to anger and by the end of the story the Demi-God's teeth were grit if nothing more than to prevent herself from screaming at the Goddess. Penelope didn't have sympathy for the Dark Elves and their plight, rather she was furious that Halifax had been forced to cull their numbers against her will and because she'd been provided to the notorious Diva, an individual who's love of blood-letting disturbed even Penelope. As much as Penelope said that Halifax and the other Divine Weapons were mere tools that didn't mean she could stomach the thought of someone as kind as Halifax being forcibly used by such an individual to commit the genocide of a race. It was a shocking revelation, and gave Penelope a heaving helping of much needed context as to why Halifax had been effectively checked out for the last thousand years and why the Divine Blade had not only stood down when it came to Akagi but had sided with her.

{She... Then... That's why she... Why she told me... Why she called me...} (Penelope)

"Its an awful story, one that's never fun hearing it..." Arcus shook his head. “I can't even begin to imagine what she's gone through.”

{I suppose I was foolish not to think that Halifax's resentment from that time would drive her this far. If I'd thought about it for a moment... I suppose I'm just as dense as my idiot partner.} (Arcus)

"You knew?" Penelope turned, glaring at him in disbelief. "And you never told me?!? Why would you keep that from me! Its no wonder Halifax-"

"I only knew because Halifax told me. Naturally, I didn't spread that bit of information around since the Gods told me to zip my lip and zip it I did." Arcus shrugged, a look of guilt washing over his face. "Besides I didn't want you to hate your mother..."

"So... That's the reason why Halifax walked away..." Penelope said quietly as she slowly stood up. "That's why she hates you all..."

{That's why she called me a lost cause! That's why her eyes showed such hatred! She saw the Gods in... Oh... My... What have I... Big Sis...} (Halifax)

"You said something about Halifax betraying this world, but the truth is... We betrayed her first, Penelope." Elariel nodded reluctantly. "I should've refused Gale's orders, but I was afraid... I feared what may happen to me and thus... I sacrificed her..."

{I traded her sanity for my life... A trade I'd take back in a heartbeat if I could.} (Elariel)

"My mother... Did she agree with this?" Penelope asked, her face partially shadowed.

"She did not oppose it." Elariel's non answer was basically a confirmation that the Goddess in fact did. "No God did. They couldn't even if they wanted to. Gale alone is a powerful force but his faction would overwhelm any opposition, and thus..."

"And because of that... Halifax..." Penelope paused as she realized something. "Is the rest true? Were the Gods really lying about the Spirits? About saving this world? Is what Halifax and the Demon Lord said true? Were the Gods going to sacrifice everyone to save themselves?"

{What else have I been lied about?!?} (Penelope)

"Yes." Elariel's single word seemed to chill the room, causing Penelope's mind to go blank as everything she ever knew crashed down around her and shattered like glass.

______________________________________________________________________________

Shima POV

“Hey, I'm.... Back...” Nana's words slowed to a crawl as she entered the kitchen, her eyes transfixed on the trembling sight of her Sister clutching a coffee cup as she sat at the table, pale as a ghost. “Hey, hey, hey. What's wrong? Are you alright?!?” She said, running over to check on her. “You're white as a sheet? What the hell happened?!? I was only gone for a few minutes!”

{Did Taichi show up? Or some other member of the family?!?} (Nana)

“I... She...” Shima stammered, barely able to speak. “Rishia was here.”

“Dammit, that girl.” Nana sighed as she pulled her sister into a hug to try and calm her down. “Did she go off on your again? She really needs to-”

“NO!” Shima exclaimed, catching her off guard. “It was Rishia! Not Akagi. Rishia! She was here and...”

Calm down. Calm down.” Nana said as she rubbed her Sister's back while tears flowed from her eyes.” Now, tell me what happened.” Thɪs chapter is updated by novel-fire.net