Though Gabi'el wore a faint smile, Tzaphkiel remained expressionless, their gaze sharp as they stared down the human and the colossal god of death.
"Ugh. I know this pain." Bond groaned as he forced himself to his feet, legs still shaky. He shot Gabi'el a wary look. "So she's the one who used to punish us back in the day? And we're only now hearing about it?"
Ignoring Gabi'el, who was absently rubbing their head, Tzaphkiel turned their glare on Bond. He flinched.
"Lord Gabi'el owes you insects no explanation of his affairs."
Their voice was firm, laced with a clear and undeniable hostility.
Pluto, now sitting up, dusted himself off. "So... Ruben also has a Sanas? That's huge—especially if his is as... unique as yours."
Something in the way Pluto said unique clearly irked Tzaphkiel, but they turned instead to Gabi'el, who was looking slightly flustered.
In truth, Gabi'el rarely interacted with Tzaphkiel face-to-face like this. Their Sanas was fiercely loyal—so much so that they preferred to remain within their master rather than manifest physically. But when Bond and Pluto started throwing around insinuations about their master, punishment had been necessary.
Bond, still hesitant, cleared his throat. "Uh… Lord Gabi'el?"
Gabi'el, now lightly sniffing Tzaphkiel's hair, responded distractedly. "What is it, Bond?"
Bond glanced at Pluto before asking, "Are you two in, uh… a relationship?"
Tzaphkiel stiffened, though their face betrayed nothing.
Gabi'el, meanwhile, had just moved away from where they had been lightly biting Tzaphkiel's ear.
"What makes you think that?" Gabi'el asked, tilting their head. "Do we seem like we're in a relationship?"
Pluto muttered under his breath, "My Lord, I think you've been spending too much time behind your heavenly desk… anyone would think that."
"But of course." Gabi'el pulled Tzaphkiel close, causing the ever-composed Sanas to redden—just a little. "I wouldn't mind entering a relationship with you, if you wanted."
Tzaphkiel's gaze flickered away, their voice uncharacteristically unsteady. "Wh-What are you saying, Master Gabi'el? We are already bound by our souls. Our connection surpasses mere parent and child… It transcends life and death, even. What more are you asking for?"
Bond exhaled sharply and facepalmed. "Ah... I miss my wife..."
Pluto, practically vibrating with excitement, squared his hands as if framing a shot. "Yeah, just hold that position for me! This is first-rate wank material!"
Bond shot him a deadpan look. "Brother, just get married already."
"Ehhhh? Too much hassle. Marriage between gods never ends well. I envy you humans in that regard."
"Marriage between gods never ends well because you lot can't stop indulging in infidelity," Bond pointed out, eyes narrowing. "At this rate, you'll stay a virgin forever, you know?"
Pluto shrugged. "Meh. A small price to pay. And what even is 'forever'? I've been around since forever."
"...If you say so." Bond sighed, then glanced over at Gabi'el, who was still thoroughly enjoying their moment with their twin.
A thought struck him. He hesitated.
"Hey, Pluto?"
"Yeah?"
"...Isn't this kinda... you know..."
Pluto frowned. "What?"
Bond leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Isn't Lord Gabi'el basically... masturbati—"
He didn't get to finish.
A golden-red glow suddenly flared from Gabi'el's palm, blindingly bright.
"I think his mansion was… around here..." Gabi'el mused, gaze sweeping the distant horizon as if calculating a precise target.
Bond immediately dropped to his knees. "I'm sorry, Lord Gabi'el!! It was just a theory! A foolish thought! Spare my mansion—kill me instead!!"
"Fella, what are you hiding in that castle?!" Pluto exclaimed. "Now it's just shady!"
But Gabi'el had already dropped the act. Tzaphkiel, moving with effortless grace, materialized an exquisite red chair and a gold-embroidered table, before promptly serving tea.
Without missing a beat, Gabi'el took their seat as if this was the most natural progression of events. "It's possible that this Ruben has acquired a Sanas." They sipped their tea, looking unbothered.
Pluto, still on his knees, locked eyes with Tzaphkiel and subtly gestured, silently begging for some tea as well.
Tzaphkiel ignored him.
Gabi'el continued, "If he's elusive enough that even I can barely perceive him, then it's not entirely impossible."
"I see your logic, Master," Tzaphkiel said, standing beside Gabi'el after finishing serving the tea. "But I don't think that's exactly the case."
"Oh dear. Tzaph is disagreeing with me?" Gabi'el teased.
"N-No, Master, I was just—"
"It's fine." For the first time since arriving, Gabi'el offered a genuine smile. "Continue."
Tzaphkiel let out a small sigh before proceeding.
"There are only three of us in existence—myself, Zadk, and Sol. Zadk is with Namadris, but Sol went missing along with Mika'el—"
"He died."
Gabi'el's expression instantly returned to its usual, unreadable state. "He died..."
Tzaphkiel's face tightened with regret. "Apologies, Master. 4000 years ago, after Mika'el's... passing, Sol was lost. While it's not impossible for someone else to inherit them—Veeshamé, Issachar, or Job, for example—it's highly unlikely. Sol would never accept another Master so easily."
"So this Sol loved Mika'el that much?" Bond mused, eyeing Gabi'el's tea. "It's just been waiting for his rebirth?"
Tzaphkiel said nothing. Instead, he silently refilled Gabi'el's cup.
Bond made a wry smile.
"This person we're talking about is a complete question mark to me, Tzaph," Gabi'el admitted. "We shouldn't rule anything out casually."
"You're correct, Master. Perhaps it's infact Sol's influence that's making our tracking efforts so difficult."
Pluto frowned. "Huh? Why would this Sol person want to outright defy Lord Gabi'el?"
It was a fair question—but Tzaphkiel, choosing silence, ignored him entirely, acting as if they heard nothing.
Gabi'el, however, took a sip of tea before asking, "Do you know why Sol would do that?"
"I believe I do," Tzaphkiel replied.
Pluto groaned, rubbing his temples, while Bond snickered at him.
"In fact," Tzaphkiel continued, undeterred, "it's for the same reason I believe Sol belongs to no one."
Gabi'el rested their chin on one hand, intrigued. "Let's hear it, then."
"Sol, you see, is an absolute domineer. They are controlling to a fault—almost unhinged. Even Mika'el, infamous for being a Divine Delinquent, argued with them constantly over whether large-scale cleanups—genocides, really—were necessary."
Tzaphkiel paused, letting that information sink in before continuing.
"Wisdom King Sol cares only for efficiency, accuracy, and their Master's welfare. Nothing else matters—not even the Creator himself. In fact, aside from devils, Sol has an extreme disdain for the human race. Mortals, in general, are nothing more than an inconvenience to them. If they've secured a Master, then by now, that Master must have become a complete slave—spreading destruction and chaos wherever they go."