Ball of Nothing

#35: King of Trials

While Grem busied away with putting the final touches on Zero's new clothes, Ruban x Pointes received another visitor. Jeremy politely knocked on the door announcing the visitor's presence. All four goddesses frowned. Zeus had yet to ready the accommodation and transportation arrangements. They'd agreed to meet in three days and it hasn't been a day yet so it couldn't be him.

Gaia hid Zero in her hair and encircled them around the small boy. "Don't make a sound," she told him and Zero nodded.

After confirming that Zero was well hidden, the goddesses told Jeremy to bring the visitor up. Jeremy nodded and left to escort the mystery visitor while Jen hurried to prepare some tea. It was unusual for Ruban x Pointes to serve so many high-profile visitors in a day and Jeremy was slightly worried. However, Grem had made it clear that nobody was to disturb him while he was working. The butler could only hope that a fight wouldn't break out with the tension rising.

The visitor was actually the famous King of Trials. He was known by many names but preferred to be called En by the people he was close with. Contrary to the depiction of mortals, En was a youth with red hair and black eyes with flawless pale skin. Although the job was demanding, the King of Trials never showed signs of ageing past a day of twenty-four. With Hades as his father, En was blessed with eternal beauty.

If En had a flaw, it would be his workaholic nature and tendency to be incredibly particular about details. This was both his blessing and curse for En who took over Hades' duty of monitoring the record of souls. His job was to keep the sins and redemptions tallied every week and it was a gruelling process. En would not let it rest if there was a single soul unaccounted for until he found out the reason behind it. Normally, a discrepancy would happen when a devil made a contract and took over the soul's record. En would have someone from hell deliver the statement to reconcile the statement and usually, it would tally after. Any other discrepancies were internal mistakes on hell's side or on En's side when his subordinates failed to account for the sins the angels had pardoned. However, after quarrelling with the Hell's head accountant and interrogating every employee in his office, they found that one soul was indeed missing. En traced the soul's spirit trail all the way to La Boutique's Ruban x Pointes.

Initially, En thought that it was a mistake. After all, he could sense his godmother's frightening aura at the shop where the trail disappeared. If possible, En would stay far away from Isis. The goddess gave him the chills with her stare. However, with his mothers' aura present, En steeled his resolve. With both his mothers were there, En would be able to face Isis. Then again, why should he be scared? He was over thirty thousand years old and have been running the Court of Trials in the Purgatory for about five thousand years now without Hades' help.

***

In the room, Isis hummed and smiled in satisfaction as the guest approached. Sedna raised an eyebrow when she recognised the visitor's aura. She looked at her sister who kept the poker face. Freya sighed. She could guess why her son had suddenly appeared before them. Sadly, it wasn't going to be easy to deal with him. She only hoped that her son would have mastered the art of patience over the years but that was a lost cause. Her son hadn't just taken after her looks but also her temper. Gaia's traits didn't seem to reflect much in him accept her annoying habit of making everything her business. Hades would cry if he knew how En visited them and not him. The boy hasn't seen his father ever since he succeeded as the new King of Trials.

There were two short raps on the door much like the boy's curt personality. Freya sighed and Gaia tightened the vines around Zero. "Come in," Sedna said and the door clicked open.

From behind the vine hair, Zero used Mind's Eye to examine the visitor.

[King of Trials] Enma Yama

Race: God

Age: Unknown

Parents: Hades, Freya, Gaia

Skills: Godly Mathematics, Judgement, Expert Scribe

Zero had many questions. This newcomer was actually related to Freya and Gaia. Weren't they suppose to be friendlier?

"Greetings mother Freya, mother Gaia, godmother Isis and aunt Sedna."

Freya and Gaia smiled forcefully while Isis kept a poker face. Sedna appeared stiff somehow. Only Isis replied to the greeting but it wasn't one full of warmth like how she spoke with Zero.

"What brings you here? After so many years of avoiding your mothers and your godmother, you have the nerve the show up unannounced?"

En bowed. "Apologies godmother, mothers. I was kept busy with work at the Court of Trials. It is also business that brought me here unannounced today, I apologise for not being able to visit sooner."

Isis clicked her tongue and Gaia was quick to step in when Isis wanted to give her godson a tongue lashing. However, the peace-loving Gaia interrupted them before a war could happen. Freya mentally sighed in relief when Jen came in with dew tea.

After settling down and taking a sip of the calming tea, En launched straight into business.

"I'm here today because one of the souls have disappeared from our records. His name is Egui and his trail ended here. Do you know anything about it?"