Part 6
Neptis landed with a tremendous crash on the grassy steppes not far outside an Orcish encampment. She smiled, remembering her promise to Chief Durzub. That wily old orc was still hanging on, she could feel it, so she approached the encampment.
"Neptis! Welcome back!" An orc she recognized said as she approached. "Here to see Old Durzub?"
Neptis was overcome with disgust at the mortal speaking so casually with her, and it showed on her face.
"That's Lady Neptis to you, worm. You speak to the God of War." Neptis replied, her voice echoing, and her aura burning so brightly it was visible.
The orc was shocked. Neptis had never been so cruel before. What had happened to her? Still, better apologize right away.
"R-right, of course Lady Neptis. My apologies." The orc stammered, bowing profusely.
Neptis paid him no heed and continued to Durzub's yurt. She announced her return by slamming the door open with her staff.
"Durzub, I have returned." She announced.
"Ah. The great warrior returns as the beautiful Goddess." Durzub replied, smiling weakly. "So, which one did you become?"
Neptis always felt a connection to Durzub, despite their differences. She smiled at the weak old man, sitting on his bed.
"What else, old man? War and Violence. Blood." She said with a grin.
Durzub laughed heartily. "Of course the fearsome warrior becomes the God of what she loved the most."
Neptis sat on her staff as it floated in the air in front of Durzub's bed. She could tell he didn't have much time left.
"She'll be coming soon, old man." Neptis said with a sigh.
"Lady Death? Yes. My time is almost up." Durzub said, coughing. "I've lived a good life, I'm not afraid to die."
Neptis and Durzub talked for several hours, his speech becoming more and more infrequent, until eventually, he stopped responding at all. His eyes were closed, and he was still breathing, but from what Neptis could tell, he was already dead. Even so, she told him about her exploits over the years, and of her ascension. Neptis then noticed the frost beginning to cover every surface, and stopped talking.
"Neptis? What are you doing here?" Eigengrau asked.
"I could say the same. I know you don't collect every soul personally." Neptis replied. "He must be special."
Eigengrau looked over at the all but dead Chieftain, and nodded. "He was an intriguing man, Neptis. Stay."
Eigengrau walked to Durzub's body, and gently touched him. Her fingers grabbed hold of his soul, and pulled him up and out of his body.
"Lady Death? So it's my time." Durzub said. "Neptis, thank you for staying until the end."
"It's the least I could do for an old friend." Neptis said, still sitting on her staff but smiling.
"Come, Chieftain, it is time to go." Eigengrau said. "Necreodin awaits you."
A shimmering black portal opened, and Durzub took one look back at Neptis.
"Good bye, old friend." Durzub said, then stepped through. The portal closed in an instant, leaving Eigengrau and Neptis alone.
"He will not be the last, Neptis." Eigengrau flatly stated.
"He wasn't even the first, Eigen." Neptis replied, rocking back and forth on the staff. "But I don't feel as grief-stricken as I thought I would. It feels like I watched an insect die."
"An insect? Curious. Every God has their own interpretation for how they view mortal souls, but your view of them being insects is a unique one."
"Let's go, Eigen. There's always more dead mortals." Neptis said, getting up off her staff and grabbing it.
Eigengrau nodded, and vanished. Neptis tapped her quarterstaff to the ground, and disappeared in a thunderclap. When the other orcs rushed in, they saw Durzub dead in his bed with a smile on his face, and Neptis's sigil drawn on his forehead. He died a warrior's death after all.