Chapter 24: Chapter 23 Meat’s Back On The Menu

The crowd returned to normal once the disturbance died down. Helios noticed old Shazz skulking in a nearby alley watching them. He retreated into the shadows clutching the ruined stump of his arm. Helios didn’t take his eyes off the enormous Vulgaris until he completely disappeared. 

 

They stood immersed in the crowd near the entrance to Fastidium. Looking around, Helios discovered an assortment of vendors lining the street in a pop-up market. Demons of various castes browsed grotesque leather mats laid on the ground, displaying a wide array of demonic merchandise. Tuktuk crawled over to the nearest one which he stole the water from earlier. 

 

“Tuktuk borrowed some Genesis Aqua to craft a Nightmare item. Tuktuk needs another four quarts. You no doubt heard the King’s announcement. She will be funding all of our supplies, send her the bill of sale,” Tuktuk said, tossing the demon an empty container from one of his six arms. 

 

The merchant caught it and stared at the canister with a flabbergasted expression. She was a relatively small Luminare demon huddled in layers of ragged leather. Knotted black hair draped over skin that looked like strands of flesh woven together. 

 

Her eyes are severely swollen, can she even see properly? No wonder Tuktuk was able to steal from her so easily. 

 

Helios examined the merchant’s wares while Tuktuk haggled. Most of the items were unfamiliar but he recognised a few familiar items. Obsidian-like stones from outside Fastidium were placed together with small gemstones he had never seen before. There was also a branch from the Wailing Woods sitting next to a clump of moss with a texture similar to entrails. 

 

Among the crystals he didn’t know, his attention was drawn to one with a pure opalescent appearance. He involuntarily reached out to pick up the stone and a black obsidian-like stone. He compare the two fragments in his hands, the iridescent white heavily contrasted with the uniform black of the only stone he had seen since arriving in Hell. 

 

“Hey, put that down! I don’t care about the Unda stone but it’s not easy getting my hands on Ube stone all the way out here in Fastidium. If you ain’t buying it, don’t touch. It’s bad enough having to deal with an oathbreaker let alone a pauper. The only reason I don’t throw you out is King Beebo’s Ethos is good,” the merchant grumbled.

 

“You won’t be saying that once Helios becomes a Nightmare. It’s best you establish a relationship early. How about Tuktuk makes a show of good faith? We’ll buy the Ube stone, Malus wood, and the four quarts of Genesis Aqua for a Tyrant Ethos,” Tuktuk suggested with a smirk. Upon hearing his offer, the merchant started coughing and spluttering.

 

“Cough, that’s almost three times more than it’s worth…” the merchant started to object, suppressing the greed visible in his eyes.

 

“Exactly three times its worth. For items of this low quality, it would only be three Peon Ethos and three Beast Ethos to buy them all together. Beebo will still not question the price. Her pride will not allow it. Hehehe,” Tuktuk corrected with a mischievous giggle. “Helios, you can put down the Unda stone…”

 

“No, no. Take it. Be sure to remember the name, Dresa. Upon my true name, I declare this transaction to be correct. I merely need you Sigil for the proof of sale and we’ll be done here,” Dresa said, eagerly pressing his hands closed over the gemstones before shoving the other items wrapped in a bundle into his second pair of arms. Helios 

 

“I, Helios, agree that this transaction is correct,” Helios replied, a little overwhelmed by the experience. His Soul Brand reacted to his words with his Sigil appearing in the air to float into Dresa’s waiting hand. She snatched the Sigil and quickly stuffed it inside her layers of clothes. She clutched them closed while furtively looking around. 

 

“Alright, we’re done here. Let’s go. We can find a demonic offering for you to practice with at a food vendor. Give the bundle to your Familia. It’s unbecoming for a Nightmare to carry their supplies like a common labourer,” Tuktuk instructed, climbing onto Krutak’s back uninvited while gesturing toward Tsiyaha. 

 

Helios hesitated a moment and then handed the bundle to Tsiyaha. He ignored her pointed glare and turned away, the other pair had left without them. Helios couldn’t hear what Tuktuk was saying. He chattered away with animated gestures, directing Krutak toward a mobile cart in front of him. The hand cart had an open side, allowing what was inside to be put on display. 

 

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“They’ve left without us, master. I wouldn’t want you to be seen rushing. That would be truly unbecoming of a Nightmare,” Tsiyaha sarcastically said. Helios snorted in response before hurrying to catch up. 

 

Outside the cart sat a large Luminare demon with an appearance similar to a boar, of a similar size to Krutak. The meat vendor had muscular arms and a robust belly. His hair was balding and covered in raised patterns. Short tusks emerged from his pig-like snout, a thick neckbeard under his chin. He wore a leather apron with a cleaver made of Unda stone tied at his waist, the black obsidian-like material.

 

A selection of flayed demons hung from meat hooks. He was dealing with a customer, it was the llama-looking Dolore from the entrance. Tuktuk and Krutak were patiently lined up behind him. A strung-up demon shifted, silently lifting a hand imploringly toward them.

 

"What can I get yer?" the meat vendor asked the customer.

 

"I want a Beast Ethos worth of meat" the Dolore requested.

 

"That's barely enough to afford you day-old imp flesh from over there" the meat vendor scoffed, gesturing toward his bored competition next door. A bloated Luminare leaned against a stack of caged imps. He distractedly picked his nose and flicked away a glob of snot. 

 

“Uhhh… I’d rather not,” the customer replied, staring at the ugly Imp vendor with disgust.

 

"Then if yer want my top-quality Dolore meat, it's going to cost at least a Peon ethos for a cut, mate," the meat vender announced.

 

"I don't have that much…" the customer complained.

 

"Then fuck off! I don't want yer chump change," the meat vendor shouted, launching himself to his feet and knocking over his rickety stool. 

 

The Imp vendor glanced over with an amused laugh before returning to picking his nose. It seemed the meat vendor’s outburst was a common occurrence. The meat vendor looked around himself in a conspiratory manner. He rested a hand on the customer’s shoulder and then leaned in close before quietly speaking.

 

"Look, mate. I like yer, so I'll cut yer a deal. I have a fresh Primus carcass coming. If yer can get your hands on another two Beast Ethos, I'll sell yer half of ‘et" the meat vendor proposed, holding up 3 stumpy fingers. He had a total of eight fingers on each hand.

 

"A-alright, it's a deal. I'll go get the money now," the customer hesitantly accepted. He quickly hurried down a nearby alley behind the Imp vendor. 

 

Helios noticed him join a crowd tightly pressed together. He pushed to the front as a pair of makeshift cages were placed in the centre of the gathered mass. An announcer walked around the crowd collecting bets. Dynamic light illuminated the alley as Ethos exchanged ownership. When he was finished, the announcer stood in the middle and waved everyone to make room. He threw a crude Unda dagger on the ground while dropping a hand and jumping backward with a shout. 

 

At his order, the two cages opened simultaneously and a pair of Imps emerged. One hesitantly surveyed the crowd while the other immediately saw the dagger. It leapt toward the knife, drawing its opponent’s attention.

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