[ETA OF STORM BORDER TO SOUTH AMERICAN LOSTBELT: TWO HOURS]


“I want you to take the Alien God’s heart.”

Inside his base camp in Mexico City, Daybit put his bagpack on the table. Beside the bag, he laid every items that he needed for his second trip to the ninth layer of Mictlanpa. Ropes, first aid kit, ointment for poisonous bug bites, food rations. He ran his fingers on each of the item, checking for bumps or leak, then put it in the bag once he was sure it was in perfect condition.

Leaning against the cabinet behind Daybit, Tezcatlipoca stopped smoking on hearing his Master’s words. His lighted cigarette dangled between his lips. “You could think of better options and decided to go with that” he asked.

“The Alien God will follow the Storm Border and try to attack Chaldea.” Daybit twisted his flashlight open to check for its batteries. Satisfied, he shoved it inside the bag. “Her presence will alert the Lostbelt King. As far as we know, the ruler of this land doesn’t like invaders and will strike her once she enters the Lostbelt. Take her heart once she’s weakened.”

His shoulders felt heavy all of the sudden, as if carrying an invisible burden. He could feel the god glaring at his back.

“And what are you gonna do with it”

The purple-eyed man zipped his bag close and turned his head to Tezcatlipoca. “Transplant it in my chest. If anything goes wrong and we can’t use Izcalli’s heart, I can always use the Alien God’s heart.”

He saw Tezcatlipoca’s expression darkened. The blonde-haired man took a long, deep drag of his cigarette and blew out a black smoke that obscured his face. The atmosphere turned oppressive as the smoke dispersed inside the camp and enveloped both of them.

As Daybit has expected, convincing the almighty god wasn’t easy.

When Tezcatlipoca didn’t say a word, he returned his attention to the preparation at hand. He opened the map of each layer of Nahui Mictlan on the table. There were routes to be remembered, weapons to be stashed –

Something cold and sharp pressed against Daybit’s neck. A hand lifted his chin from behind. From his side, he heard a snarling voice speaking close to his right ear. “Do you think I will approve your plan just like that, Master”

Of course not. Tezcatlipoca hated senseless sacrifice more than anything.

The god of the night’s obsidian nails dug deeper into Daybit’s skin, and yet he didn’t draw any blood. Daybit tilted his head to look directly into his Servant’s eyes. “I don’t think you will. But, we know neither of us possess that much hatred against Pan-Human History to guide ORT. Only Izcalli and the Alien God have that determination.”

Tezcatlipoca gritted his teeth. “It doesn’t have to be you.”

“Tezcatlipoca.” Daybit touched the god’s hand that held his chin. He made his voice clear, as clear as when he called his Servant’s name when he summoned him on top of ORT’s coffin. “If I knew my plan would be a waste, then I wouldn’t have said it to you in the first place. You could look into my heart, Lord of the Smoking Mirror. It will worth the risk I take, unless you have a better idea.”

The smoke still hung in the air as silence fell between the two men. They kept staring at each other for a moment until Tezcatlipoca raised his voice. “Fine. We’ll go with your plan, but I also have a proposal for you.”

“Go on.”

Tezcatlipoca placed his index finger on Daybit’s chest, right on top of his heart. “I will keep yours for as long as you carry the Alien God’s heart inside you.”

Daybit smiled on hearing his partner’s answer. “I don't mind that. Thank you, Tezcatlipoca.”

The blonde man huffed. He let go of him and lit another cigarette. “Meet me outside in ten minutes. I’ll go check on Izcalli,” he said as he walked out the camp. As soon as he disappeared from Daybit’s sight, the smoke vanished.

Daybit rubbed his neck. Under his fingers, Tezcatlipoca’s nail marks etched deep in his skin.


[ETA OF STORM BORDER TO SOUTH AMERICAN LOSTBELT: ONE HOUR]