"Well, well, well. So that is how my competition looks like? I could woo you, but I do not think Selene would like it..."
Lucas turned around quickly to look at a man in his late twenties wearing a toga and carrying several scrolls. She blushed.
"Uhm... Okay, I was male and I'm a lesbian. It's VERY odd to have a man complimenting me on my looks... Hermes, right?"
"Right on. And relax. Delightful tough it might be, hitting on you might have ill effects on my health" - Said Hermes - "Our time would actually be well-spent talking shop, after all. You, who crossed linguistical boundaries for a living, who became a being that crosses boundaries, who crossed metaphysical boundaries and who are now talking to the deity of boundaries and the crossing thereof... Your whole theme, after all, seems to be this one, does it not? Angels are, after all, much like me. Messengers between man and god. And you wish for us to become equals."
Lucas shrugged.
"I thought of it sometimes, I suppose." - She then smiled - "Incidentally? I thank you. You are, after all, the god of language and commerce. I owe you a good part of my freedom... I hope I do not offend you in wanting this equality."
"You do not offend me at all. Quite the contrary. And you owe me nothing. But I appreciate it. Now, however, we are not discussing your livelihood. We are discussing your nature..."
"Something you know about my sword?" - Said Lucas.
"Not mine to tell." - Said Hermes - "But yes. And there is something else. Lucas, tell me something. What do you think it would take to cause even a lesser deity to take a step back? A literal one."
"I apologize for the bluntness, but how should I know? Selene's not a minor deity at all, but the fact is she, as the Moon, regularly took asteroids to her face and didn't dodge them. What's your point?" - Said Lucas.
Hermes chuckled a dry chuckle. For a moment, Lucas looked in his eyes and saw another side of his domains, one Lucas actually didn't mind: Backroom deals, trickery. Games played with information.
"News travel fast in our environs, my dear angel. Even more so to one who knows you, as I should know a freelance translator. Take a moment, next time you find yourself infuriated, to look around..."
"Speaking in riddles here, Hermes..." - Said Lucas.
"Good." - Said Hermes, smiling - "Now on to another thing. You know the Enemy usually cannot be seen or interacted with..."
"Yeah. I know. My third or fourth move would have me get Neruite to help me find a way. Better yet, a way to allow others to see them too..." - Said Lucas.
"Then allow me to save you the trouble. There is a way, but it will require a teensy bit of adventuring, as you would put it..." - Said Hermes.
"Can be done, I suppose. Seems I'm a fighter type, after all. What are the dangers?" - Asked Lucas.
"Well, the Delphi Police Department might want to ask why exactly you are so intent on visiting the parts of Mount Parnassus that are closed to tourists. That and you would have to deal with some beings that would be none-too-happy about you getting there specifically to get some laurel leaves..." - Said Hermes.
"The Oracle... I see. What do I do with the leaves then? And I suppose they have power now because of the Sun?"
"Just burn them. They will reveal certain truths in a radius of a few hundred meters, including to cameras and other devices... And yes. The beings in question do not attack people normally. Nor do they reveal themselves. However, if a person is going to the laurel tree specifically for such an use, they will..."
"That's three moves." - Said Lucas - "Only one move left after I do it..."
"Confident..." - Said Hermes, smirking - "As you say, though, do not wield your power like a club..."
Lucas nodded.
"You know, you make me very much at ease."
Hermes smirked.
"One, I'm the god of persuasion. Two, we are cut out of the same cloth. Three, you like tricksters."
"Point." - Said Lucas, smiling - "Oh, and thanks for the help with the chess game..."
"I believe this is the second time you are helped by the prayers of someone else... Or, rather, two others..." - Said Hermes, chuckling.
"Note to self, after I'm done, tell Robert and Maxwell I couldn't have done it without them..."
Hermes smirked.
"Twice has the power of prayer by others helped the angel that seldom prays... That would make a decent narrative, given some work..."
"Hey, Robert! Here you go!"
Robert turned around to see Rachel carrying some books. Small Gods, Equal Rites and Sourcery.
"Ah, the books you told me about? Thank you..." - Robert smiled.
"No problem. So. Where is Lucas?" - Said Rachel - "I wanna let her know I and David know about the, er... moon thing."
"David?" - Asked Robert, looking worried.
"We swore her to secrecy." - Said Rachel - "Since she can only speak the truth..."
Robert blinked at the paradox, then smirked.
"Makes a strange sort of sense, I suppose. Lucas is likely taking care of some errands at her space..."
"Cool..." - Said Rachel - "I sorta was wondering about this... Goddess thing..."
Rachel suddenly felt a slight shift, and saw herself gaining an animated tinge.
"Well, Rachel, I don't think Selene will mind being introduced to you guys... It's just that, right now, she's kinda had a hard day, though." - Said Cass, as she approached.
"Oh?" - Said Rachel - "What happened?"
Cass looked at Rachel, pausing. She wondered if she should tell Rachel of destiny and of one little girl with a very dark fate, and of Lucas's ability to, literally, fight fate strike by strike. Then there is also how much Rachel COULD know without affecting that girl's fate. Cass frowned.
"Lucas and Selene are trying to help out someone. It's hard, but they are trying to. And it's up to Lucas whether or not to tell you her part of it. I can't tell you much more, Rachel..." - She said at last.
"To be sure, however, I do not think Lucas is all that inclined to keep this a secret from anyone... At least insofar as it won't harm her plans." - Said Robert.
Rachel nodded somberly. "So, a goddess and Lucas are trying to help someone." - She then had the good conscience to step outside Cass's aura to prevent the genre effects - "That bad, huh?"
"I have faith they will find a way, child..." - Said Robert.
"I hope..." - Said Rachel.
"So you are Father Maxwell? I heard wonders about you."
Maxwell looked at the tall, silver-haired woman with moon ornaments.
"And you must be Neruite. Or Selene, more commonly... Rest assured Lucas told me wonders about you as well..." - Said Maxwell, smiling lightly - "You are free to come to this church and to this grove as you please. You seem to be a good person, and you certainly are a friend of my friend. If you ever feel the need to talk, do come here..."
Selene/Neruite looked at the tree. Here she was, a force of nature, older than civilization itself. And yet... She could use this talk. She knew that she stood to learn. And that even a goddess, especially a human made into one, could use help dealing with the worse aspects of her responsibilities...
Father Maxwell did what he did best, knowing that, goddess or not, this would make all the difference.
He listened.
