Chapter 569 Poor Negotiations

Chapter 569 Poor Negotiations

There is a particular building within the heavenly lands that has lie empty for the better part of a few hundred years.

Asherah called it The Throne of Grace.

It is a great white spire cathedral overlooking the vast reaches of heaven from beginning to end.

Not only that, at the very top of the tower, there was a single throne made of wood carved from the tree of life.

And by sitting on it, Yesh could see everything, everywhere, all at once.

There are four 'guardians' who sit beside the throne.

They should also be classified as angels, but... it is difficult to actually refer to them as such.CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m

They resemble creatures that a child might come up with in art class.

Their appearances are that of a lion, calf, man, and eagle, with only a single face but eyes all throughout.

Like stone statues, they kneel eternally without respite; as a sign of respect to the grand leader that left them behind so long ago.

Not even the presences of the seven could wake them, nor could they order them.

However, there was atleast one that they would move for.

*Crack*

After centuries of standing there motionlessly, the sound of the statues' movement was like the snapping of branches.

In unison, the four of them stood up and stretched their bones.

Their myriad of eyes flashed open after centuries of remaining tightly shut.

Abaddon's first instinct was to pull Ayaana, and surprisingly Sif, behind him.

Admittedly, he was quite surprised.

Not just because of how powerful these things were, but because he had no idea they were even here in the first place.

"It's been so long. How are my faithful friends doing?" Asherah flung her arms around the necks of two of the guardians happily.

It was clear that this sort of reunion was a very longtime coming for them.

The guardians spoke in such old enochian that even Abaddon had to readjust his brain to understand exactly what they were saying.

*Sniff, sniff...*

"Is it truly..."

"L-Lady Asherah..."

"Y-You've returned from retirement!"

"No, He and I are still retired." Asherah said energetically.

Her words sent all four guardians into a state of rampant depression.

"Please, cheer up my darlings. We always knew that we would have to separate one day, but isn't it nice that we atleast have this moment to catch up?"

This seemed to console the hearts and minds of the guardians tremendously.

They believed that they would spend the entirety of creation asleep; forced only to remember the times from before where they were in service to their lord.

Compared to that, it was indeed nice to spend this brief moment just to say 'hello' once again.

Once Abaddon saw that the guardians were too busy fawning over Asherah to engage in hostilities, he released his hold on Ayaana and Sif.

But suddenly, he noticed an inhuman glare boring into him from the side.

"....The hell is your problem?"

Nyx continued to glare at him as she folded her arms across her chest. "Is there any reason you didn't try to protect ME from some undesirable fate?!"

"You're more than powerful enough to take care of yourself."

"So are your wives!"

"I exchanged vows with them. It's my duty to protect them whether they require it or not."

"W-What about Sif?!"

"Thea would be sad if I let her birth mother die. You know how frail Sif is."

"Everyone... I hope you are having a telepathic conversation."Asherah said, trying not to voice her annoyance.

All: "We aren't."

"Honestly now, is this any way to behave? I would have hoped that there would be a bit more ofa dialogue going by this point."

Uriel looked concerned as she took Asherah's hand. "Mother... how can you possibly endorse conversing with a being like this?"

"Abaddon is not what he was, dear. He has his sanity now, and has reclaimed position as Overlord of Tehom.

With it, he has vowed to protect the vast universes from the threat of those lurking behind the gates. Along with his brides, of course."

Ayaana smiled at her as she clung to the arm of her husband.

"He vowed to kill all gods who did not align with him." Uriel reminded. "And you would say that such a being is on our side and not deserving of our fear?"

Asherah started to comment on that, but eventually she realized that this would be a good segway into conversation.

"Tathamet, do you care to address that statement of yours?"

After a long period of sitting in silence, Abaddon reopened his three eyes and dragged them over every angel present.

His answer, as one would have expected, was less than forthcoming.

"...Not really."

"...Would you like to elaborate as to why?" No one could see it, but Asherah's brow was twitching.

Abaddon absentmindedly traced his thumb over the giant multicolored diamond in his wife's wedding ring.

"The way I see it, the only ones who fear me are the ones who should.

The irresponsible, the cowardly, the overindulgent, the self important, the children with power that they neither deserve nor understand.

My armies will burn to ash all those who abuse their titles as gods and drown in excess while the world below them withers away in squalor.

And from what remains, we will create a paradise for mortals and immortals alike.

I can accomplish this with help if those who understand are inclined to give it, or I can do it on my own. It makes no difference to me. "

Suddenly he looked past his wife, to Sif who was merely stirring her tea as she listened to his words.

"Have you ever feared me, Sif?"

"Feared you...? Only when you kidnapped me I suppose."

"I thought that you loathed me."

"Two things can be true at once."

Abaddon rolled his eyes as he turned toward Nyx.

"And what about you, Nyx? Were you ever fearful I would harm you?"

Nyx gave him a 'Be Serious' look.

And surprisingly, that made Abaddon and Ayaana laugh just a bit.

"So you see, I'm not really interested in explaining my words or even correcting them.

Those that want better for everyone have nothing to fear from me, and those that insist on remaining blind, deaf, and dumb can stay that way all the way up until their heads are separated from their shoulders.

I'd much rather not talk about this, as I find the conversation to be boring and tedious by this point.

But I am interested in something else if you'll indulge me in the conversation, Asherah."

"Oh? I wonder what that might be."

Abaddon placed his elbows on the table as he stared at the four guardians still standing behind Asherah's chair.

"I have been aware of every single object, blank space, and hidden pathway from the moment that I fused with this realm, but I could not sense those four until you woke them."

Underneath her veil, Asherah could be seen smiling sheepishly.

"Yes... I should have figured that they would catch your attention."

"Indeed they have. Would you care to tell me exactly what they are, and why they are vastly more powerful than these seven sad pigeons sitting across from me?"

Azrael: "I thought we were friends?"

"My bad, six pigeons."