I placed my hands on my hips with a sigh and a shake of my head. "Do you know where he is?" I asked, the two snickering some more before the Succubus pointed her sword towards the bonfire. 

"Ryzel is currently out right now, leading the hunting party to gather more food for tonight's celebration of The One! But, you can wait there for him if you wish." She answered. 

I tilted my head. "Celebration for The One?" I repeated, the act of the Incubus suddenly wrapping his arm around my shoulders making me raise a brow. 

He flashed me a mischievous grin. "Walk and talk with us Lady Eos, you and your centaur friend. I'll gladly tell you both all about our celebration!" He grinned, his pink eyes shining with excitement before I quickly turned my head to the sound of Cronos gasping. 

I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of the Succubus taking his hand within' her own with a flirtatious look in her eyes. "Your very cute centaur friend." She purred, the centaur shooting me a nervous look before the Incubus began to start walking. 

As we walked through the lively village, the sight of children running around making me smile a tad while people waved their hands towards us every now and again. I struggled to keep an ear open to the Incubus' explanation of the celebration as I continued to look around the village! Closer and closer to the bonfire, the ground seemed to dip a little until it was an obivous pit, the bonfire being right in the center as it burned so high it could've been one with the tree-tops! 

Jewelry, gorgeous stones, and all the likes shined and gleamed within' the dip in the ground. If this was all for The One then I was more than praying alongside the people that he liked it, after all, if I were him? I would've been dancing for joy! 

"-The One has kept us safe for another year! Your town has looked over us for three years now, without The One blessing us with the idea to come here...we would've all been dead by now." He said. 

"Giving thanks to him is a priority." He continued, causing me to point at the dip. 

"I'm guessing you guys made that dip in the ground especially for him then? I've never seen a hole in the ground sparkle like diamonds before." I questioned jokingly. 

"The hole came to us a few months into us being here!" 

A question mark formed inside my head, at least that proved the whole theory on them being capable of terra-formers somewhat. 

At least...if their god wasn't the one directly responsible for doing it. 

"But, yes! Only the best is expected out of his creations, after all, providing us the best means that he deserves the best in return.” He said, causing me to still tilt my head a little. 

Maybe I was wrong for ignoring the traditional going-ons when it came to Daemoniums...I never had a reason to really worship The One! After all, it was already somewhat of a fact that he didn't favor mortals too much to begin with. Nothing more than another thing that just happened to inhabit the earth alongside his favorites! And the Daemoniums being the favorites? 

It was so clear that it could've been clearer than water. 

Half-animal? The fact that they wielded special weapons reserved for them and only them while they were able to shift out of powerful animal forms whenever they chose to? 

And that wasn't even mentioning that the Incubi and Succubi seemed to be able to change landscapes over a period of time as well as the fact that they had healing properties in their horns! The dip had occured months into them being around the area but after years? Although I didn't know what the Under-Realm looked like...I could've sworn that their home may have been similar to what I had seen in that forest. 

The favoritism was right there. 

But, nonetheless, it did make me want to try out in participating in the celebration tonight...I mean, I was the mate to a Daemonium after all. I had to show some respect at the very least.

“I’m guessing The One doesn’t want anything from mortals then, right?” I asked with a snicker before the Incubus let out a quiet hum as soon as we stopped in front of where the bonfire was located. 

A hole where the outer edges were coated with jewelry and such...that took dedication. 

“I-” 

“The One appreciates anyone giving favor to him! An expensive gift is still an expensive gift, no matter who it comes from.” The Succubus suddenly butted in, her hand constantly running over Cronos’ backside as if he were an actual horse while he continuously tried to gently nudge her away with his front hoof. 

“But, if you wish to participate, I hope you know that you can’t do things how a mortal would? Guardian or not.” 

“Numie...we can’t allow her to go to our celebration.” The Succubus tilted her head. 

“Why ever not Viriti? I bet Chieftess Ortilla won’t mind, besides, The One likes gifts does he not?” The Succubus- or ‘Numie’ said while I simply crossed my arms.

They spoke as if he was actually going to show up! For a moment, I thought they were crazy, expecting too much out of a god that was who knows where! However...if there were Guardians, mortal deities in the mortal plane then it wasn’t too far-fetched to think that the guy could appear whenever he so chose to! 

“Yes but-” 

“I can wait for Ryzel by myself you know? No need to babysit me!” I suddenly butted in with a chuckle, trying to divert the conversation for a moment or two. 

The Succubus flashed me a grin. "Of course you can, your lovely should be here soon! Hunting doesn't take tool ong when you travel on the back of a Flame Stallion." She said. 

"In the meantime-" Viriti suddenly spoke, gesturing to the village. "-I'd suggest giving the tribe a look around? You haven't been here for quite some time now after all." He hummed, causing me to nod my head with a chuckle. 

"Will do." I agreed.

"Great! Then allow us to steal your centaur friend for a moment or two hm? Being toured around with two Daemoniums is always better than two." Viriti giggled. 

I could almost hear a smirk forming on his face as the Incubus turned on his heels to face Cronos. 

Three is better than two.” Mium said with a small wink.

I looked at Cronos, his pink face making me snicker while I looked back at the pair. I already understood that polygamy was the norm with Daemoniums but...in all honesty? I wasn’t looking to have a first-row view as to how two people could manage to seduce one person in the slightest. Much less try to figure out how they could be so calm with it!

“I think I’m better off-” 

“I can explore on my own Cronos! Besides, you’ll have to get to know the tribe some time or another.” I laughed, giving him a small nudge on the side before he let out a sigh and slowly but surely started to following after the waiting pair. As soon as they were out of sight, however? The sight of Cronos constantly trying to use his legs to keep the pair from hugging up on him making me almost feel bad for pinning the two on the guy, it didn’t take long for me to walk off and begin exploring the village. And my first stop? It was immediately the stables, after all, how could I not take a look at these horses?! 

They were awesome! All sorts of questions began to run through my mind, after all, I thought the Under-Realm creatures were restricted to only the Under-Realm!

But, after giving it a little thought? If the Beasts were forced out of their home, it wasn’t too far-fetched to think that the other creatures most likely followed after them. 

“Wow...” I gasped quietly, the sight of the horses closer up making my eyes go as wide as the sun while the horses merely looked down at me with a glare. 

Slowly but surely, a horse started to close the distance between us. It's mane, nor coat, nor even its hooves were as colorful as the other horses! Its eyes were a dull red while it seemed to be more heavily boned. A horse bred for war is what it reminded me of, but...though I was tempted to pet it on the nose, I restrained myself. 

The glare in its eyes was knowing, vengeful even!

I was apart of the race that had practically kicked it and the people who lived there originally out of their home. 

I could understand the fury!  

However, I couldn't understand the sudden sight of a pair of fangs starting to extend from its lower and upper jaws, the addition of its mouth beginning to unhinge like a snake's causing me to quickly take a few steps back immediately while the horse continued to glare and glare at me until I felt my body bump into someone. 

A familiar chuckle rang out near my ears. "Now who told my beauty that it was a good idea to go near our only Fanged Mare?" Ryzel chuckled, causing me to quickly turn towards him. 

"Fanged Mare?" 

"You've seen our Flame Stallions right?" Ryzel smiled, pointing towards the horses with the fiery manes. 

I nodded my head, still keeping an eye on the still furious horse behind me. "Fanged Mares are the only ones who'll breed with the bastards. The foals are worth it though! Adorable little things." He laughed. 

"Your realm must be pretty violent if everything it produces has fire or fangs on them..." I grumbled, causing him to slap a hand onto my shoulder. 

"Beautiful things always have some violence to them, not everything is born out of softness my love." He continued with a sigh before the mare began to sotmp its way towards us with an even angrier exprssion than before. 

Quickly, Ryzel stood in front of me. “Tranquillitas ipsum!” Ryzel scolded, the mare darting her head from me and Ryzel with a mixture of neighs, snorts and whinnies. 

The Incubus merely placed a hand on the mare’s snout with a snort. “I don’t speak snorts unfortunately girl.” He hummed, the horse leaning her nose further into his head with an unamused look.

“Just don’t go around trying to snap and bite my lovely mate will you? I’ll be quite upset.” He continued, giving the horse one more pat on the nose before he grinned at me. 

“I didn’t know you were a horse whisperer,” I commented, a mix of surprise and questioning lacing my voice before Ryzel threw an arm around me with a snicker as we began walking with one another. 

“Attractive isn’t it?” 

“More so strange but hey, I’ll give you bonus points for being an animal lover.” I scoffed, reaching up to give him a peck on the cheek before a small coat of red was left in its wake. 

“Anyway, a Succubus told me you went out hunting, I didn’t know that would leave you coming back dustier than an old cellar.” I snickered, beginning to wipe the dust off him as I began to dust him off a little. 

“The heck were you doing? Rolling around in ash?” I asked before he gestured everywhere. 

“The grass around us is ash my beauty.” He laughed.

“But I was helping some tribe-members of mine out. We managed to bring back a few elk back with us!” He continued, causing me to cock a brow. 

“Hope you save the left-overs for my town; we could use some elk! Mostly the Sabre-Wolves, they all seem to have a craving for elk as of late.” I chuckled, causing Ryzel to scratch the back of his neck with a small smile. 

“If The One allows it then I’ll come rushing right over my love, but...with The One being as big as he is. He has quite the appetite.” 

My curiosity only grew. 

“What? Is he a Beast Daemonium?” I asked, Ryzel nodding his head. 

“A very different-looking one at that. You’ll have to see him! Whenever there is a celebration in his name, he comes in the form of ash and mist...he never utters a word but, with the sound of his roar? You know it's him.” Ryzel explained. 

“Now I have even more of a reason to stay and witness tonight’s celebration, as Guardian, I think it’s nice to see the face of my employer.” I huffed, placing a hand on my hip before Ryzel placed a kiss on my forehead. 

“He’ll like you, I just know it! The loyal are The One’s favorites. Mortal or immortal.” He said, another round of kisses being placed on my forehead and even a few on my lips.  

I scoffed. 

I could only hope.