Dante sensed the shift before anything happened. The drunken constellation-gods argued about star-mapping symmetry, hiccupped small planets, and flinged glittery drinks. Their chaos was harmless.
This new presence was not.
A pressure rolled through the Shimmering Chalice, a slow tidal wave that pushed into the room without shattering anything. Dante straightened. Anarissa's eyes brightened. Torwen's mist settled into a tight circle. Marion's relaxed posture stiffened.
Young gods stood at a far table.
They rose one by one, synchronized by ego. Dante recognized the lead figure—Aelius Var Chron. Red hair like molten iron, ember-rune eyes, and a half-scar from a duel with a primordial.
Aelius pointed at Dante.
"Look at that," he drawled. "The Oblivion twins wander the realm like they own it."
His companions snickered. Divine sparks flared.
Torwen whispered, "Ignore him. His pride is a terminal condition."
Anarissa didn't turn. "We came here to relax."
Aelius slammed his hand on the table. Orange flame shot across the bar floor, startling a spirit-server.
"Relaxation is for gods who work," he called. "You two spend weeks in fancy gardens and suddenly everyone treats you like you're special."
Dante took a slow sip. "Pick a different night if you want to start something."
Aelius's smile sharpened.
"He thinks he can choose when a challenge is convenient," he said loudly.
His group laughed, too loudly.
Fate intervened in the worst way possible.
A drunken constellation god crashed into Torwen, spilling his drink across Dante's lap.
Torwen gasped. "Seriously?!"
Another drunk god, with orbiting motes, stumbled into Anarissa, nearly knocking her out.
Her drink sloshed, and solar flicker surged in her eyes.
Aelius laughed, coughing. "What is this? A tavern or a training yard? You newborns can't even stay upright!"
Anarissa's expression hardened. "Sit down."
"Or what?" Aelius asked.
Marion groaned. "Here we go."
The first punch was thrown by the drunk god who'd crashed into the wrong table.
He shouted, "STOP YELLIN' YOU COSMIC PEACOCKS!" and punched Aelius in the jaw.
The punch sounded like a meteor hitting ground.
Aelius flew backward.
The bar erupted into chaos.
Aelius roared, summoning a searing flame that carved a molten line through the air. Dante grabbed Anarissa and rolled out of the path as light burst against the wall. Marion vaulted over a table. Torwen mist-phased away just before someone flew through his space.
Aelius' friend lunged at Dante, arms wrapped in spiraling plasma.
Dante ducked, catching the second blow on his forearm before shoving the attacker backward—straight into spectral drinkers.
The spirits shrieked and retaliated with ethereal blasts.
The brawl spread.
Anarissa caught a blow with her palm, her fingers bursting with solar flame.
"Who throws a punch at a goddess trying to have a drink?!" she yelled.
Marion wrestled a starlight god. Torwen circled them like a hurricane.
Aelius focused on Dante.
"Fight me properly, wolf prince!"
"I'm trying not to," Dante said, flipping a table to redirect a flame wave.
Aelius hurled a flaming star. Dante caught it, moonlight flaring through his limbs, and crushed it.
Conversation died.
Aelius froze. "How—?!"
But he didn't finish. Anarissa's spinning kick sent an ally flying past him.
"That one aimed for Torwen," she called. "Be grateful I'm still in a good mood."
The bar trembled. A constellation god summoned a gravity pit, bottles floated, chairs flew, a harp screamed, and a cosmic jellyfish stung everything.
Marion grabbed a floating drink, took a sip, and said, "I love this place."
Torwen yelled, "Speak for yourself! I think I got elbowed by a nebula!"
Lightning erupted as storm gods joined the fight, unaware of the cause.
Dante, Anarissa, Marion, and Torwen ended up in the center, surrounded by predictable enemies.
"This is ridiculous," Anarissa muttered, kicking a table.
"A little," Dante admitted, dodging a plasma fist and redirecting it. "But fun."
Marion pointed upward.
"Fun's over."
Divine authority crashed through the bar, flattening the chaos. Drunk gods froze, tables dropped, and the jellyfish perked up.
A shimmering doorway opened.
Three armored gods stepped through—tall, gleaming, and radiating energy that said they enforced laws.
The lead one surveyed the wreckage, his eye twitching.
"Who started this?" he asked, his voice deadly calm.
Silence.
Dust motes settled.
Aelius pointed at Dante.
Dante, Anarissa, Marion, Torwen, two storm gods, a constellation pair, a trembling harp, and the cosmic jellyfish shouted in unison:
"HE DID!"
Aelius froze mid-accusation.
The patrol captain exhaled slowly, wishing he'd chosen a different career.
"This will be a long report," he said.
Dante rubbed his forehead, Anarissa sighed, Torwen whimpered, and Marion whispered, "Worth it."
As the gods were escorted out, one truth settled over them:
Chaos followed the twins everywhere.