Snow's POV.
Alyssa, May, Arden and my mum went out to shop for clothing-Seeing that Alexis was still in her old dress that had been drenched in the rain and dried.
I accompanied her, simply enjoying her company.
Leslie.
"Pestilence?"
The girl before you.
Cherish her.
"...I know."
You don't understand what I mean.
The amount of effort we have used-
She is the luckiest, yet unluckiest child to be born.
"What?"
Many deities have looked after her, Leslie.
You are privileged to have been chosen.
"What do you mean?" I was confused,"Chosen?"
Watch.
I found my eyes drifting towards Alexis, the scale on her collarbone lighting up as Typhon's symbol shone brightly.
A white horse with an archer appeared on her arm.
"Pestilence?"
Shh.
A thunderbolt.
A trident.
The Cerberus.
A peacock.
A hearth.
An owl, dove and vulture.
A chariot.
Hundreds of marks formed on her body, each on glowing in a gentle light that seemed to provoke a sense of majesty within me-
Stag, grapevine, anvil and hammer, an arrow through a heart, a clock, pomegranate, cornucopia and a variety of other markings just started appearing-Her body littered with marks.
"Pestilence! What the hell is happening?!"
Have you ever seen a child chosen by the gods?
"...No..."
You've seen one now.
Every marking on her body is a sacred portion of a deity's soul-Left to allow one to access their power.
Each one is a blessing.
This is why you must treasure her.
A child beloved by the gods.
In our domain, she is considered as the most precious living being alive.
Her worth is more than all living beings combined.
A lotus, chakra, crescent moon, swan, elephant, lion, vajra, buffalo, flute, mouse.
Alexis seemed to be bathed in a heavenly light, a godly aura surrounding her as she her eyelashes fluttered open-The light dissipating until it was as if nothing had happened.
My mouth was still slightly agape-My eyes in disbelief.
"A-Alexis?"
"Ngh...Hm?" She slowly sat up, still a little worn out.
"D-did you...Did you feel anything?"
"I had a chat with Typhon." She grinned at me eyes still partly close from sleepiness,"It cleared up a few things."
"W-wait. Y-you talked to Typhon?"
"Yeah. Apparently I was helped out by a few hundre-" She finally noticed her hands.
"Markings?" The markings ended at her wrist.
She looked down her dress,"...So many? Wait. My imprint? Snow, does my back have any?"
She unzipped her dress partially and faced her back to me, showing the strap of her bra.
I covered my nose.
Fuck me, you don't startle a virgin like that!
"T-there's a bunch of markings...Your wing imprints are shrunken down..."
Calm the heckle down Sno-Leslie.
Just...Be yourself.
When has Alyssa been wrong?
I softly slapped my cheeks to stop them from reddening as I squeezed out the words,"I-It's fine."
"Thanks." She zipped her dress, turning to face me again,"So, what now?"
"Wuh-What?"
WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN BY WHAT NOW!
AHHHHHHHH
"You brought me to C7 to beat the humans, right?" She raised a brow.
"Y-yes..."
"If I remember correctly, there should be six other obvliates I have to meet."
HOW ARE YOU SO COMFORTABLE WITH MY PRESENCE ALREADY?
WHAT SORCERY IS THIS?!
I was screaming internally as I spoke,"Ah...My family has gone out to buy some clothes for you...You're still...In your own clothes, y'know?"
She flushed,"O-oh! I see..."
"A-Are you hungry? I could get something for you to eat."
"A-Are you hungry?"
Are you kidding?
I've not eaten for the entire day and I've been here for six hours!
Why the hell does it take six hours to shop for clothes for a single person?!
"Well...Not particularly hun-"
'Grrrr...'
I prayed she didn't hear that but that giggle told me otherwise.
"Obviously your stomach tells me otherwise," She sat up,"C'mon, let's get some food. Maybe you can show me around your hometown?"
"S-sure." I scratched the back of my head awkwardly.
"Do you think the others will recognise...Y'know..." She gestured to her arms.
"It'll be fine. No one knows about the True God markings other than the six of us obvliate kings and their family."
"Good."
———
We left the house after Alexis took a quick shower to freshen up.
I wore a hoodie.
We were five minutes' walk from a shopping mall.
We weren't as technologically advanced as humans but we sure as hell had a stronger national identity.
Why the hell am I so flustered today?
I'm usually calm and collected...
I was a little troubled by my complicated feelings I couldn't understand.
The love deities are working their magic.
Excuse me?
I asked inside my head.
Alexis is usually very quiet.
She doesn't talk much unless she has to but Aphrodite and Venus are influencing her to be more open.
...Why?
We're trying to get you and her together, what does it look like?
...You're kidding.
I have over five hundred deities sitting with me staring at the two of you right now.
They're screaming at the 'stupid male obvliate' to hold her hand.
Aren't you guys gods?
Don't you have anything better to do?
We're too emotionally invested in Alexis so just do it.
She's about to break from Venus' control!
"Hey, by the way, why're you wearing a hoodie?"
"I'm considered a noble. I have admirers. I really don't want to deal with them right now when I'm with you."
Her eyes widened momentarily, face turning beet red,"O-oh."
SMOOOOTH.
Go on!
Grab her hand!
Venus is at her limit!
I frowned,"You owe me." I whispered inaudibly.
No, you owe Venus.
"Hey, I just remembered a restaurant I wanna eat at. Let's hurry." I grabbed her hand and gently pulled.
"H-huh? O-okay." She followed, suddenly going very quiet.