Nirvan was getting skittish, Aarin could tell with the way the ghost's hand found Aarin's and held on tight. Niryati was seated in her place as both the reaper and ghost lord stood behind her. Having guests or representatives in such meetings wasn't uncommon; as the hall began to fill with other gods and goddesses, their accompaniment stood by their seats as well. Aakash greeted everyone with equal warmth, guiding them to their spots.
Aarin recognized a lot of them. Kavya, god of literature, with ever-shifting words written across his skin. Vani, goddess of sound, who watched them with sharp, calculating eyes. So on, so forth.
All of them were powerful, ancient, and currently very interested in a ghost lord's presence.
Finally, once every seat had been filled, Aakash leaned forward and cleared his throat, his wings rustling softly behind him.
"I believe you all know why we've convened today. Niryati, you requested a chance to explain what has been happening in the past few years. The council has gathered to hear you. Speak."
He spoke kindly but his tone was measured. Aarin couldn't help but feel chills run down his spine.
Niryati stood, her movements unhurried despite the pressure.
"The disturbances have worsened; it's a definite pattern. Someone is intentionally trapping a large number of souls in sites of disasters, and using them for purposes we don't understand yet."
Murmurs rippled through the assembly. Some gods leaned forward with interest. Others exchanged knowing glances, as if this confirmed suspicions they'd already held.
"You bring us theories in a time like this," Riyan called from his seat, his voice dripping with disdain.
"I've been investigating-"
"Investigating is not the same as solving," Riyan cut Niryati off. "The mortal realm suffers and the balance between life and death grows unstable while you do nothing!"
Niryati's expression remained calm. "I have not been idle. I sent my reapers to assess the situation and gather information before making decisions. Acting rashly would have made things worse."
"And what information have they gathered?" Aakash's voice cut through the rising murmurs.
This was it. The moment they'd been preparing for.
Niryati glanced back at Aarin, a subtle gesture. He stepped forward and moved to stand beside the goddess.
"Speak, Reaper," Aakash said gently. "What did you find?"
Aarin bowed to the king of gods, then to Niryati, and then in the general direction of the other gods.
"The corruption is concentrated in places of mass death. Battlefields, destroyed cities, natural calamities, so on. The trapped souls make the land unusable, even ghost lords don't stake claim on it, Nirvan here can vouch for as much."
The ghost stepped forward, standing beside Aarin, and nodded. He did not bother bowing or going through formalities, though.
"And there's… someone, or something…" Aarin looked down at his hands. "I do not know what's caused it, but twice now I have come across void-like dark ink." Nirvan tensed next to Aarin, but the reaper kept going.
"It guided me to the Festival of Ecstasy and was present in the chasm of Yethra. I don't believe it's a coincidence; it could lead us to the person doing this."
"Words with no action," Riyan scoffed."Is that all you 'Spiritual Heralds' are good for?"
Other gods began to quietly laugh as well, murmuring amongst themselves.
"Yethra," Nirvan piped up, voice loud and confident as it carried through the hall. "Seven days ago, Aarin cleansed the city, thousands of souls were freed and the corruption was cleaned at the source in one day."
For a moment, everything was silent. And then-
Chaos.
"One reaper?" someone called out. "Cleansed an entire city!?"
"Impossible," another voice. "The spiritual energy required would kill-"
"He should be dead," Kavya observed, but his tone was more curious than accusatory.
Aarin felt dozens of divine gazes focusing on him with new interest and surprise.
"I wasn't alone," the reaper said, "Nirvan assisted me."
The attention shifted immediately to the ghost lord. Aarin felt Nirvan's shoulder brush against his, and let the fragrance of cloves and jasmines ground him once again.
"You are the one from earlier," Riyan said slowly, recognition dawning. "EThe Jasmine Ghost Lord."
His expression twisted into something ugly.
Aarin moved before thinking. His hand curled around his spear, though he didn't unsheath it, and he stepped in front of Nirvan.
"He has an immortality card issued by divine authority. His presence here is legitimate and unchallengeable."
"His presence is questionable at best," Riyan sneered. "As is his involvement in reaper business. Ghost lords don't help reapers. What's so special about the pair of you?"
Nirvan's hand found the small of Aarin's back and gently pressed. They were in this together.
"As a ghost lord myself, land with spiritual activity and no owner is of great interest to me," Nirvan said coolly, skillfully hiding his true motivations.
"Is it not what we ghosts do? Stake claim to abandoned places? Gather as many souls as we can for our own purposes?" The ghost smiled wildly. For a moment, Aarin was reminded that this Nirvan was also centuries old, and a ghost lord at that, not just a young, immature and inexperienced, wide-eyed prince.
"But clearly, this rising spiritual activity was not done by any of us," Nirvan raised his hands nonchalantly in surrender. "And personally, I'm very interested to see who the mysterious culprit is. Seeing as this reaper here is as determined and talented as he is" Aarin felt his face heat up a little bit, "of course I'd join him."
"How convenient," Vani said, her voice seemingly made of a hundred different sounds, from other human voices to melodies from old instruments. "A reaper and a ghost lord, working together despite your kinds being so deeply different. Though I understand the ghost's intentions, why you, Reaper? What does he offer you?"
Aarin took in a deep breath and unhooked a vial from his side.
"Here is the medicine that reapers use for exorcisms," he held the vessel up. "I believe everyone present here has heard of it. I'm immune to its effects, and hence, can not perform such tasks as frequently or at such large scales easily."
He looked over at Nirvan, and the ghost lord nodded.
"However, Nirvan's presence has a similar effect to what this medicine does. It clears the mind and keeps me from losing my sanity-"
"Ha!" Riyan cackled. "So this ghost lord's mere presence is more effective than a goddess' own blood? Really, you should train your dogs a little better, Niryati."
"I don't think he has disrespected me in any way," Niryati responded. "Do not put words in my subordinate's mouth. Aarin, please continue."
They explained what had happened at Yethra. Once he was done, Aarin felt the weight of attention again.
"My energy was depleted," Aarin admitted. "But I'm healing. It's a small price for freeing thousands of souls."
"How touching," Riyan's voice was mocking. "A reaper risking death for one city and a ghost-lord helping him. One might almost think there was personal attachment involved."
Aarin felt Nirvan tense beside him but neither of them responded to the bait.
Aakash raised a hand, silencing the murmurs that had started. "Personal motivations aside, the method worked. That's what matters." He looked at Niryati.
"So, what will be your next course of action?"
Niryati took in a deep breath, "I will personally continue investigating, and Aarin, here, will follow the hints left behind in Yethra, wherever they take him."
Aakash frowned softly. "And the ghost will stay?"
Nirvan held Aarin's hand and squeezed gently. "Yes, yes, I will. Clearly our collaboration has made something previously thought impossible, possible."
"...Very well." Aakash hummed. "There might still be hope."
"Hope," Riyan grumbled loud enough for all to hear. "We need action, not hope. The mortal realm doesn't care about ideas while ghosts tear through their cities."
"Then what do you propose?" Niryati asked calmly. "Should we simply watch as it spreads, doing nothing because the solution isn't neat and traditional? Is that what you choose?"
"You're relying on a child's dream," Riyan countered. "One reaper and a ghost lord with questionable loyalties."
"My loyalties lie with preventing the corruption from consuming more souls," Nirvan drawled. "Whether you trust that or not is irrelevant."
"You're a guest here, ghost lord." Riyan's eyes flashed. "Have you gotten tired of existing?"
"Peace," Aakash commanded, his voice filling the chamber. "This bickering accomplishes nothing."
He stood, his wings spreading wide and casting shadows across the assembly.
"We need more information. We need to understand who's behind this and why. And we need to act fast."
He looked at Niryati. "Your Order will remain investigating. You will coordinate with other realms to track the corruption's spread."
Then his attention shifted to Aarin and Nirvan. "You two will report directly to this council. We are to hear about any new information immediately. Understood?"
Aarin nodded and bowed, having to tug Nirvan down with him.
"For now," Aakash continued, "questions about your personal ties are secondary to the larger crisis. But if we find that past attachments are compromising your judgment or if your methods prove too dangerous, this arrangement ends."
"We understand," Aarin managed to reply despite the discomfort and fear.
"Good." Aakash settled back on his throne. "The assembly is concluded. We'll reconvene in a month to assess progress. Dismissed."