Modette yawned as she walked across the courtyard of the large apartment complex, stretching her arms over her head until she felt her upper back pop. She relaxed with an audible sigh, rubbing her lower back. It felt good to be back in the Heavenly Realms, or what passed for them anyway. As much as she enjoyed her job and traveling with Julian and the others, she also appreciated the sense of peace she got when she returned home. 

Things were finally settling down after the Reconstruction. Cities had been rebuilt, leadership was being reestablished, order was coming back into place. The only thing so many people were having trouble with was the bleed-over between Heaven and Hell. No one was sure what the Devil Gods were thinking when they shifted the Realms around, but the consequence of all of them interacting together was one everyone was having to deal with.

The only Realm that didn’t mix with, but seemed to protect the rest, was the Veil. At first no one could understand or even accept this new setup, claiming it was Hawk and Hero’s attempt at controlling all Realms. When that was discovered not to be the case, everyone just accepted it and moved on. Still, there were some that were against the new system, arguing that it should be corrected somehow. The problem was, however, it couldn’t.

Toji and Natsu had made the Universal Core an absolute truth, something that couldn’t be altered or changed no matter what anyone else did. The Divine, mythics, and mortals, all had to learn to coexist as peacefully as possible. The only thing everyone could agree on was that the Mortal Realm was still, by in large, separate from the rest. Humanity knew about, and interacted freely with the beings they once believed weren’t real, but they still couldn’t cross over to the Divine Realms unless they had a Divine being with them or were granted special privileges. 

It was how Ruby was able to move about so freely between Realms without any problems. Even now she was lying on the steps of the building where her apartment was located, one leg bent while the other lay straight in front of her. Both arms were stretched above her, palms open to the bright blue sky above them, her red hair splayed out around her head.

Modette rolled her eyes and grinned. “You look like a bum,” she said to the young Irish woman.

“A bum who is trying to touch the stars,” Ruby responded, not looking her friend’s way. 

“Well, you picked the wrong time of day to attempt such a feat.” She sat down next to Ruby’s head, the other woman tilting her eyes up to smile at her.

“A gal can dream any time of day,” she said.

Modette smiled, poking her gently on the nose. “How long have you been out here?”

“Not long. I went for a walk earlier; that was nice.”

“It’s eight in the morning.”

“I’m an early riser, Moddy.”

“This is true.” Modette sighed, resting her chin in both hands. “You could try and sleep in at least once when we’re on a break.”

“I did,” Ruby said. “Usually I’m awake around five, but today I slept until six.” Her eyes widened and she held a hand over her open mouth in mock horror.

Modette laughed. “You little rebel, you.”

Ruby giggled, turning her gaze back to the sky, folding her hands on her stomach. “Julian called?”

Modette nodded. “He said it was important.”

“Everything with him is important.”

“His tone suggested it was very important.”

Ruby grinned. “It’s a job.”

Modette glared down at her. “We just got back a few days ago. There’s no way he picked up another job that fast.”

The girl gave her a look. “Really, Mo?”

Modette sighed, averting her gaze. Ruby didn’t have to say what she already knew to be true. If any hunter in all the Realms could grab a job quickly, it was Julian Frae. In the last four years, the longest he had gone without working was about a week. Even then, he didn’t bother to stay at Helman Court for longer than a few days or so. He was far too restless, far too focused on other matters to stay still for too long.

“What do you think it is this time?” she asked, not bothering to argue a point she’d lose. “A missing jewel in the far reaches of the Eighth Realm of Heaven? An ancient text in the deserts of the far east? Perhaps a totem from the darkest pits of the Sixth Realm of Hell.”

“It’s a box.”

Ruby turned her head, both women’s eyes falling on their demon teammate, Felix. He was walking up to them, one hand in his pocket, the other reaching for the rest of his cigarette, turning it to ash in his hand as he blew out a long stream of smoke. His black cloak was thrown over one shoulder, his assassin's garb hugging his body tightly but comfortably enough for him to move around easily, even with all the weapons he carried. His dark hair fell over one eye, his green eyes bright in his face.

“And you know this how?” Modette asked, letting her hands fall across her lap.

“Because he told me.” He walked up two steps, stopping with his feet on separate steps, arms folded across his chest, a crooked grin revealing his sharp teeth. Ruby gulped, looking away in the hopes he didn’t see her blushing. 

“I’m sure he did,” the angel replied, rolling her eyes. “Did he tell you what was so special about the box?”

“Nope,” he said. “Just that it was a big deal to the new clients.”

“Who would be?” Modette waved a hand before her, encouraging him to provide more information.

Felix’s lips parted to answer but Julian’s voice stopped him.

“Hawk and Hero Grace Helman.”

Ruby sat up, all of them gazing at him wide-eyed. As far as they knew, the gods, Julian’s own grandfathers, never hired him for a job. They thought to question it, but the look in his light blue eyes and the set in his shoulders had them all think twice.

“Hey, boss,” Ruby said with a wide circular wave and a smile. 

Julian nodded at her. “I know we just got back a few days ago, but this may be our biggest job yet,” he said, dispensing with the pleasantries. “It will have a massive impact on the selection, and we have eight weeks to learn more about it and what it contains.”

“What does it contain?” Modette asked.

“Something that will legitimize Hero’s claim to the Throne of Heaven. Hawk isn’t sure what it is, but the writing on the box should give us an idea. All we have to do is find it, I translate and open the damn thing, and get the object back here before shit gets real.”

“Okay, hold on, we’re not just going to completely blow past what you just said about Hero’s claim,” Modette said, shaking her head and waving her hands in front of her. “What do you mean legitimize?”

“Exactly that,” Julian said. He took an old piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Ruby. She furrowed her brow, tilting her head slightly. 

“‘Godheart?’” she asked in the same tone of confusion Julian had used earlier with Hawk and Hero. “Is that what’s in the box?”

Julian shrugged. “Not sure exactly. Hawk believes it may just be what Hero is and the object somehow confirms it.” He nodded once at the paper. “You recognize that writing?”

Ruby hesitated briefly before nodding her head slowly. “I think so. It’s virtually unheard of, especially here.” She waved her hand around. “It’s called by a hundred different names depending on what text you find it in, if you find it at all. But the general translation is ‘star song,’ or ‘words from the stars.’”

“Hawk calls it by the Norse name, Stjernesang. It’s his mother’s language.”

Ruby’s eyes went wide. “You mean she was a star?”

Julian nodded. 

“Well, that’s something new,” Felix said, lighting up another cigarette as he sat a few steps further up from the girls. “Explains a lot, though.”

The other two nodded. Julian’s eyebrow ticked. “Explains what?”

“Your energy,” they all said as if the answer was painfully obvious.

“Oh, yeah,” he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. Julian knew his energy and powers were unique, and it bothered him that it sometimes made him stand out. Ren liked it, though. 

“His Majesty has celestial energy too, doesn’t he?” Ruby asked.

“Not really,” Julian said. “He can manipulate it but that’s all. It’s probably because his foundation was a star, the same as Ynda’s, but she can’t use it at all. Either way, my energy is pure celestial energy, I don’t need to pull on it like others do.”

“Like the celestial elves do?” Ruby asked, casting her eyes back to the paper in her fingers.

Julian’s finger twitched. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “Like them.”

Felix frowned, his eyes dancing over all three of them, what they weren’t saying flying straight over his head. He could have asked, but something told him it was better if he left it alone. Instead, his green eyes landed on their leader. “So, what’s the plan?”

Julian was visibly relieved to move on from the uncomfortable silence, the tension in his jaw easing. “Ruby, you and Mo are going to the library. I need you to find out everything you can about the Godheart and why it’s so important. Specifically, what it is. Mo, you’re going to look into any lore the Divine have regarding star people, or whatever they’re called.”

Modette flicked her fingers off the side of her head in an imitation of a salute.

“Felix, you’re coming with me to the Mortal Realm to talk to Ryu Kanaki.”

The demon’s eyes widened. “Wait,” he said slowly. “You mean we’re going to Helman Hall?”

“As a start, yeah.”

Felix grimaced. “Uh, is it possible I could just…not go?”

“No,” Julian said, helping Ruby to her feet. “Besides, you won’t be spending much time inside, anyway.”

“Which is fine, I’m cool with that,” the demon nodded, giving two thumbs up. “However…”

Julian rolled his eyes as they all walked down the steps and headed out. “You’re a former assassin, Felix. Just hide, you’ll be fine.”

Modette tried unsuccessfully to cover a snicker behind her hand. Ruby just smiled at him, her eyes taking on a knowing gleam. Felix groaned, burning away the rest of his cigarette with his flames.

“Guys, you’re really not getting the gravity of the situation here,” he said, joining them.

“Oh, we are,” Modette said. “We just have no sympathy, that’s all.”

Felix frowned. “Gee, thanks,” he mumbled. 

Ruby patted him on the shoulder. “Fear not, my friend,” she said, “you may get lucky and she won’t even be there.”

“I’m not holding my breath on that.”

“Wise idea,” Julian said.

-*-