Between Duty and Love

Chapter 5 - Shock

Xiao's POV

 "What did you say?!"

 The whole table full of gods exploded at the news.

 "Who is her mother?!"

 "Primordial One." Ei repeated.

 Well, I can kind of understand their reaction, I was in the same situation a year ago too. 

 Both Istaroth and Venti were being extremely casual about it, so I thought I was the odd one out.

 Now it seems like they are the weird ones.

 "Fun to watch, isn't it? Your reaction was the same too. I was a little disappointed about Barbatos, but watching you react like that was worth it." A chuckle came from behind me.

 "Istaroth. You're back."

 Did she find out anything? Did she even find her mother?

 After my call, the other also noticed her, and once again, a wave of shock was sent through the table. This time, even Morax wasn't an exception.

 "Ista-" The pyro archon was frozen in place before she could finish.

 And here we go again.

 Venti is not around, so Istaroth is back to being rude and unruly.

 "I don't remember giving you permission to use that name." She snorted.

 "Kairos. I suppose you came here because you have something to share?" 

 "Heh. It looks like I made an impression on you, didn't I?"

 "Doing something like that, it would have been weird if I forgot."

 Listening to this conversation...

 I turned to look at Istaroth with suspicion and she merely avoided my eyes.

 I knew it. She made a mess in Snezhnaya.

 Venti was right. She really might need a babysitter.

 "I do wonder why those two get to call you Istaroth." The hydro archon pointed to me and Raiden Ei.

 "Xiao is Barbatos's boyfriend and I like him too. As for her, I'm friends with her sister so she got special permission."

 How...childish.

 At this point, everyone at the table was giving her weird looks.

 Well, if no one is going to ask, then I would ask the questions myself.

 It seemed a little inappropriate with all these gods here, but...

 I really couldn't care less at the moment.

 "Did you meet your mother?"

 "Oh, I sure did." Istaroth snorted.

 This doesn't seem like a good start.

 "I barely entered that place and the first thing I know, I'm being thrown against a wall by that stupid space tunnel at the entrance!"

 And now she's ranting. Great.

 "Istaroth."

 "Could you believe that? It's not as if she couldn't redirect it!"

 "Istaroth!"

 "And even when I was trying to ask a question, I was mocked by her! Sure that one might have been my fault, but-"

 "Is-ta-roth!"