While Tia was defending the Vigilance from those who had intruded upon it in an attempt to learn from Alfheim Technology, Erich and the others were coming up with a plan. It was painfully obvious that they needed to keep Mala within the penthouse, because she had a violent personality and was quick to anger. She had already spent most of her time trying to bust down the doors of the penthouse.

Which Erich genuinely believed was a waste of energy, or it would have been, but no matter how many hours Mala beat at the doors, she never appeared to get tired, hell she did not even break a sweat. He was beginning to understand why the orcs were so feared across the galaxy.

Speaking of which, Erich was technically the Warchief of one of these clans. Sooner or later, he would have to return to them and deal with them in some capacity. But that was not his current worries. No, Erich was more concerned over the fact that he could not freely navigate through the world of Duat without being under constant surveillance.

Because of this, he did not have the ability to speak with the Ennead about the Sages’ plot. Thus, for the time being, he could only sigh and wait for time to pass. Interestingly enough, during the middle of the day, a jackal headed servant entered the room, with a cart full of food.

The servant acted normal enough until she accidentally bumped into Erich. And in doing so handed him something concealed in cloth. There was a silent whisper in a voice so low, Erich thought he was perhaps hearing things.

“The Jackal headed god wishes to speak with you. He will be waiting in the temple for you, and you alone….”

After saying this, the servant left, where Erich unwrapped the cloth he had been given to reveal a solid golden medallion in the shape of an ankh. He was curious about what this device was and quickly scanned it with his NeuroLink to find it was simply what it seemed. A golden medallion…

Perhaps it had some ulterior meaning in this world. He was about to ask when Mirage laid eyes upon it. There was a look of complete and utter shock on her face. As she grabbed hold of the medallion and gazed upon it carefully, as if it were the most sacred artifact in the universe.

Just when Erich was about to ask the woman what had gotten her so flustered, he calmed herself before informing Erich that he was the luckiest man in the galaxy.

“Sometimes, I think that the universe just finds a way to favor you….”

Erich had no idea what the woman was talking about and was about to ask when she continued on a rant.

“This is the mark of Anubis. Whoever wields this medallion is granted the protection of the gods. If you wear this around your neck, no guard can stop you, even if you committed murder in the middle of the temple!

Anubis just granted you an audience with him, and he must have done so in secret, because the other Ennead are working against him. And I think I might know who is leading these efforts…. Go to the temple, and meet with Anubis. If my suspicions are correct, he might require your services…”

Erich did not question a get out of jail free card when it was given to him. Thus, he wrapped the Ankh around his neck, and departed from the room, where even the envoy who was supposed to be watching him had to submit to the mark of Anubis.

—

In the temple of the Ennead, Anubis stood and gazed out the window into the sacred world which he and his comrades had built from nothing eons ago. If there was anyone old enough in the galaxy to remember the origins of the Great Schism between the two Elven Nations, it was him.

The ancient alien, who was proclaimed a god by his own kind, and by a quarter of the galaxy, simply stared in silence. That is until he heard a rather mocking tone call out to him.

“Well, if it isn’t Anubis? My, it has been a while since I have seen your ancient face around these parts. Tell me, to what do we owe the pleasure?”

Anubis snarled, like a jackal. After all, he appeared to be a blend between the beast and a man. It was obvious that whoever had spoken was someone who was not in his good graces. He did not even turn around as he spoke in a hostile manner to whoever had called out to him.

“Osiris…. I see you are still in good health…. Tell me, as a man who is among the most ancient of our order’s members, do I not have a right to visit the Great Temple?”

Osiris smirked as he heard this. The two “gods” had been in conflict since time immemorial. Although long ago, Osiris had usurped Anubis’ position as the so called “Lord of the Underworld.” And because of this, Anubis had since despised the man and his thuggish ways.

Though Osiris did not seem to mind Anubis’ presence, partly because no matter what the man might try to do, it was too late. The meddlesome Archon was sealed away, and the prophets of fate would be meeting with the Ennead within the hour. Even if Anubis wanted to get in the way, there was nothing he could do. After all, Osiris had ensured that the other members in the pantheon were in agreement.

Because of this, there was an arrogant smirk on the green-skinned man’s face, as he spoke to Anubis with an equally conceited tone.

“It does not matter, even if you have dragged yourself out of your tomb so that you cam make your case on why we should not align ourselves with the prophets, or as the Elves refer to them as, the sages. It is too late. The Ennead is in agreement with this alliance, even if our allies in the Svartalfheim Federation declare them to be fugitives.”

Anubis sighed heavily. He was just about to say something to Osiris when a haughty tone appeared at the other end of the corridor.

“Is that so? Well, it would not be much of a debate if the other side of the argument have already made up their minds, now would it?” 𝚘𝒱𝗅xt.𝒸𝗈𝚖

Osiris reacted in astonishment as he looked over, and saw Erich so boldly standing in the inner courtyard of the Great Temple. This was sacred ground that only the “gods” and their most loyal servants could enter. No outsider was able to step foot in this holy land. And thus Osiris was quick to react in a hostile manner.

“How did you get into this sacred ground? Guards seize him!”

The guards of the Ennead quickly reacted by withdrawing their weapons and pointing them towards Erich, who had a smug smile on his face, as he looked to Anubis.

“Do you want to tell him, or should I?”

Anubis simply smirked as he heard these words. His fangs were practically bared as he did so.

“Oh, by all means, go ahead, I wouldn’t want to spoil your big moment…”

Erich then reached into his collar, and pulled out the golden Ankh, which caused Osiris to react in shock. The guards instantly lowered their weapons knowing that this man was invited by Anubis, and thus Osiris could only seethe in rage as he shouted at the jackal headed “god”.

“You dare bring an outsider into our affairs?”

However, Anubis did not back down, as he stared Osiris in the eyes before commenting on how he was a hypocrite.

“If you had not already done so yourself, I would not have been compelled to take such reckless action. But now that the Archon is here to represent the interests of the Alfheim Dominion, and by extension our allies in the Svartalfheim Federation, I believe we will be able to have a thorough debate about whether or not the Sages are worthy of our protection… Come Erich, we need to discuss our debate strategy before the Gods convene.”

Erich simply smirked at Osiris before following Anubis deeper into the Great Temple, leaving the so called Lord of the Underworld to seethe in rage.