Chapter 2: Prologue: Hanging With Gods, Page 2
"How long is he going to stay like that?"
Still, in the dimensional space ruled by the one that rules the afterlife, Hespera Aris and the Primordial Chaos were sitting enjoying spicy cheese popcorn as they watched the God of Reincarnation have a slight panic attack.
Hespera watched as the admittedly handsome god talked to himself while throwing his arms around in the Aether. She tilted her head in curiosity. She usually didn't like men. In fact, she quite despised them if they weren't her family members. Males were disgusting, perverted creatures that were better off... well, it doesn't matter what she thought. Males were no better than dogs in her eyes.
{As the Author, I do not have a problem with the male species. I have three brothers who I love dearly, even if they smell like dogs most days. Please do not take what Hespera says or thinks personally. My friend told me to put this since "some people are sensitive nancies". Her words, not mine.}
Hespera noticed that the God of Reincarnation was rather good-looking.
He had silky black hair that was tied in a loose red ribbon. His eyes were of crimson molten lava.
On his forehead rested an ethereal sigil, golden and sharp, a mark of his station bestowed by the Powers themselves. His skin was unblemished and smooth as obsidian, but had a nice bronze tone.
Clad in robes, dark as the void yet shimmering with slivers of fire, the God moved franticly as he hysterically mumbled to whoever he was talking to in his head. His gauntleted hands were busy making hysteric gestures in the air as though he was trying to talk sense to whoever he was arguing with. It was quite amusing to watch. Chains of golden beads and runes fell across his form, trailing along his shoulders, chest, and arms.
'Hm, yup. Very handsome,' Hespera thought while taking a handful of spicey popcorn from the shared bag that was between her and Chaos. 'This spiciness burns just right. I should ask about this as well as the cocoa. Gods really have good food and drinks.'
"I would say another two minutes, give or take. I'm sure you noticed by now but he is quite the drama deity." Chaos answered her question. He found his old friend's hysterics amusing, even if it prevented them from finishing their business quickly.
Chaos, her new parent, was very beautiful. Hespera couldn't figure out what gender they actually were. She had seen them change gender 3 times since she agreed to be their Blessed. At first she assumed they were a he, but after they switched to a female form to hug her after Hespera explicitly explained to the two gods that she stabbed the fly that was bothering her at the club, because he touched her with its filthy hands. That led her to admitting that she didn't like men outside of her family, after Chaos asked her why the strong reaction to the guy.
Chaos in both forms shared long black hair cascading down one side and long white hair on the other. Their facial features were androgynous and ethereal, with pale skin and one gold eye and one silver eye that exuded an otherworldly presence. The symbol of Chaos, an eight arrows in a radial pattern, adorned their forehead, emphasizing a theme of imbalance and duality. They were adorned with intricate jewelry, including delicate chains and ornaments, as well as a traditional-style outfit embellished with symbolic patterns and accents.
"Hmm. Who is he pleading with? Do you know why he is so devastated about me 'being able to travel to different worlds'?"
Chaos chuckled. They always got a kick out of the Powers giving Rebirth trouble.
"The Powers—five supreme entities that supposedly created the timelines and all universes. My fellow Protogenoi and I were actually their first children… hmm, does that make them your grandparents? Oh, that sounds fun! Anyway, that's who Rebirth is talking to."
Hespera hummed thoughtfully as she popped another piece of spicy cheese popcorn into her mouth. The fiery crunch melted with a satisfying sting.
"So," she began, brushing crumbs off her lap, "There's you and Mr. Drama deity over there, but is there any more gods. You guys mentioned someone named Death. What's she like?"
Chaos giggle with sparkly eyes. "Well, she's one of the 12 Protogenoi like me and the one who I get along with the most! In fact, I should definitely get her to come over here so you two could meet! That sounds fun! Hehe. Be warned though, your most certainly her type. So be prepared when she starts clinging on to you."
Hespera raised a brow as she swallowed the last bite of her popcorn. "She sounds cute~ Can't wait to meet her! Hehe."
The air in the dimensional space shimmered with a soft golden glow as Hespera settled deeper into the plush, floating cushion that Chaos had conjured for their popcorn binge. The God of Reincarnation—whom she mentally nicknamed Drama King—was still frantically waving his arms in a series of exaggerated gestures, his expression torn between exasperation and pleading.
Hespera's gaze wandered back to Chaos, who was now absentmindedly spinning one of their silver earrings. They truly were mesmerizing in their chaotic grace, as though they embodied the concept of beautiful unpredictability.
"And the others," Hespera mused, her lips curling into a slight smirk. "You said there were 12 Protogenoi, excluding you and Death. What are they like?"
Chaos' laughter was a delightful melody that filled the space. "Oh, the others are fun to mess with. There's Time. He goes from old to young whenever he feels like it. And he's always in his clock world, playing with those old grandfather clocks. It's fun messing with him, though. Whenever I move one of the arms on the clocks back, he gets into a tizzy. It's hilarious. Abyss and Void stay in their dark whole worlds, moping all the time. Aether..." They paused, golden and silver eyes twinkling. "He's a bit of an airhead. Hehe. He has the attention span of a bird almost as bad as Oblivion." They start giggling when they remember how funny it was when Aether took a whole century trying to find where he left his glasses. He doesn't even wear glasses. "Nature and Life are the most alike in personality. Very caring on the outside but utterly sadistic on the inside. Fate, Genesis, and Celestial are... hmm, how do I explain them? They... tend to be spontaneous. Who's left? Ah, Order. Order is a goddess the Powers created to balance me. It doesn't always work. But it's cute how she tries. "
Hespera's eyes sparkled with fascination. "That's quite a lot of you. I bet family get-togethers are so exciting! By the way, When Death shows up, what should I expect? Do you have a pic?"
Chaos waved a hand dismissively. "She'll most likely drape herself all over you, recite tragic poetry about eternity, and insist on drinking a bottle of rose wine." They leaned closer with a mischievous grin. "She's partial to goth aesthetics. Think lace, black roses, and long flowy dresses. She also likes hats. She really likes hats." He paused and thought, "As for any pics... you'll just have to wait and see when she comes by."
Hespera let out a short laugh. "Sounds nice. I'm not a fan of hats, but if she's cute enough, I might not mind."
Suddenly, they heard a deep groan, earning their attention. Rebirth finally stopped his frantic octopus impression. With a resigned sigh, he spun around, rubbing his temples as though warding off a headache.
"I—" he started, his voice a rich baritone that almost made Hespera's pause mid-chew. His crimson eyes locked onto hers with a mix of suspicion and weary acceptance. "You're more trouble than you're worth, mortal. Do you realize the chaos you've caused?"
Hespera giggled and reached for more popcorn from Chaos's side. "I don't know, Drama King. I feel pretty calm." She popped another piece into her mouth and gestured vaguely. "It's not my fault you can't handle someone who isn't stuck on one path."
The God of Reincarnation's eye twitched. "That's not—Drama King?" he repeated incredulously. "I am the Arbiter of Rebirth and New Beginnings. I govern the Cycle of Souls. And you dare—"
"Yup." Hespera wiped her hands clean of cheese dust and shot him a cheeky grin. "Your name doesn't matter, silly. Drama King suits you way better."
Chaos burst into peals of laughter, collapsing sideways on their cushion. "Oh! She's precious!" they cried between giggles.
The God of Reincarnation groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Chaos, what have you unleashed upon me?"
Chaos smirked, eyes glittering with mischief. "A blessed soul who might just drive you mad. Isn't it grand?"
Hespera reclined lazily, shooting Rebirth a knowing glance. "By the way, I'm also looking forward to meeting Death. I hear she's cute."
The deity blinked. "You—Wait. What?"
Chaos waved their hand in a summoning gesture. "Oh, she's on her way already~ She won't miss this for the world."
Rebirth visibly paled. "Oh no."
Hespera's and Chaos's grins widened. ""Oh yes.""
Rebirth sighed dramatically, defeated, as he flopped down in the empty seat beside them. He stared at the popcorn as though it held the secrets of the universe. "I need a vacation," he muttered.
He ignored the amused expressions on the two headaches faces, and started going through the for those who go through new life.
"The Powers that be have granted you the ability to travel to different worlds. Within reason! There will be circumstances that you must abide by. Now on to you using your karma points." Taking a long, deep breath, he continued on to the next part while Chaos conjured a large black and white globe the size of a house. "You have 101,500 karma points to use on your appearance, powers, and which world you want to start with, as well as how you start your life, such as family, prestige, etc."
Hespera, her attention fixated on the shimmering globe. It displayed countless floating fragments—tiny, glowing representations of worlds spinning in a dance of light and shadow. Some were vibrant with color, others darker, more mysterious. Each one seemed to whisper secrets, daring her to pick them.
"So," she said, stretching out her legs and resting her hands behind her head. "What can I buy? Give me the rundown, Drama King."
Rebirth's eye twitched at the nickname but maintained his composure—barely. With a wave of his hand, a translucent panel appeared in the air, listing categories of things she could purchase:
Appearance Customization (Change your physical form, height, features, etc.)
Cost varies by complexity.
World Selection (Choose a world to reincarnate into.)
Mundane worlds (No magic, Low to Medium-Technology. Only Humans): 5,000–10,000 points.
Rare or high-tier worlds (Magic, High-fantasy/ High-Technology. All Races): 20,000–50,000 points.
Abilities and Powers (Magical, physical, or mental abilities.)
Basic: 1,000–5,000 points.
Advanced: 10,000–30,000 points.
Legendary: 50,000+ points.
Starting Circumstances (Social standing, wealth, family background, etc.)
Humble beginnings: Free or minimal cost.
Noble or prestigious start: 5,000–15,000 points.
Royalty or unique heritage: 25,000+ points.
Companions or Familiars (Optional allies or pets to accompany you.)
Simple: 2,000–10,000 points.
Powerful or rare: 15,000–30,000 points.
Miscellaneous Perks (Anything else you'd like to enhance your experience.)
Costs vary.
Hespera's grin widened as she scanned the options. "This is like a build-your-own-life simulator. I love it."
"Take it seriously," Rebirth grumbled. "These choices will define your new existence."
Chaos giggled, conjuring a notepad and pen out of thin air. "Oh, I can't wait to see what kind of chaos she stirs up. Go on, darling, start picking!"
But before she could even start, at that moment, the air seemed to chill around them. A soft breeze rustled Hespera's hair, and the edges of reality flickered with dark mist. Chaos' face lit up with delight.
"Ah, she's here! She's here!"
Hespera giggles, seeing Chaos jumping up and down in glee. She licked her lips. 'I hope she's hot.'
The mist coalesced into the silhouette of a woman whose presence commanded the very essence of death. She wore a wide-brimmed black hat adorned with jagged skeletal motifs, casting a shadow over her piercing, glowing purple eyes. Her hair flowed in cascading waves of silken black, blending seamlessly with the dark atmosphere that seemed to ripple and hum around her.
Her attire was an intricate masterpiece of macabre elegance—a sleek black coat with silver embroidery and skeletal accents, fitting her form with an air of both grace and menace. Across her shoulders and chest, the designs of skulls and bones seemed almost alive, faintly glowing with the same purple embers that burned in her eyes. Her collar rose high, emphasizing her regal yet foreboding demeanor.
Around her, the faint whispers of countless souls echoed in the air, their ethereal cries blending into a haunting symphony. Her very presence exuded an overwhelming combination of beauty and terror, as though she embodied the duality of death itself—merciless and yet strangely alluring.
Hespera's eyes flicked over the intricate details of the woman's form, from the sharp ornaments in her hat to the gleaming skulls that adorned her outfit. Death's lips curled into a faint smile, her purple eyes burning with an ancient, knowing intensity.
'Yes! She's gorgeous!' Hespera was squealing and jumping up and down in her head.
"Chaos," the woman greeted in a voice that was as soft as a winter breeze yet as sharp as a blade. Her gaze fell upon Hespera. "And you must be the Blessed child causing Rebirth all this trouble."
Hespera smirked, leaning back with a nonchalant air. "I guess that's me." Inside, she was running in circles, yelling, "My wife. My wife is here!" repeatedly.
Death's smile widened, and she extended a hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Welcome to the chaos—and no, that's not a pun."
Chaos burst into laughter. "Yes, it was!" they teased.
Hespera took Death's hand, surprised by the lightning currents that shot through them. It felt really nice. "Thanks. I guess I'm meeting the "hopeless romantic" of the divine family?"
Death's laughter was soft, but it carried weight. "Something like that. I think we'll get along well. Do you like scarves?"
Hespera chuckled and shrugged. "Sure. But only if they match my eyes." She followed it with a flirty batting of her eyelashes.
Death's eyes gleamed. "I'll make one in black and red with embroidered daggers for you."
Chaos practically bounced. "Oh! This is going to be so entertaining! I can practically see the sparks flying. Oh! Does anyone else hear bells ringing? Hehe~"
Death settled in beside them and helped herself to some popcorn, trying to ignore how cute Hespera looked when blushing.
"So, I'm just in time for the karma points shopping thing? Great. Let's see what the cutie decides to get."