"Oh! Look at you, holding a towel! Do I finally get a butler now?!" Baro practically sparkled as he bounced on his heels.
The butler bowed so low it looked like his spine gave up. "Of course, master. Thanks to your divine promotion to Sacred, I have been granted the honor of serving you."
Baro placed a hand on his chest like a noble in a drama. "You're welcome, now can I go in? I wanna see if my new house smells expensive!"
Behind him, Furfur's tail was swinging left and right
"Right this way, ma'—"
The butler froze mid-sentence. His eyes widened. His lips parted. And then...
Something split the clouds like a blade. He didn't know if it was a meteor, an angel, or someone's very bad Tuesday. It screamed through the sky, tearing a line right through the heavens—
BOOM.
The earth shook. A crater ate the entire mansion.
Silence.
Dust.
Dumbfounded stares.
Baro's jaw hung open like someone just told him all meat in this world was a lie.
"It can't be…" the butler whispered, as though saying it too loud might summon another catastrophe.
And then—
Blink.
Everything snapped back. House intact. Baro sighed with relief
"So it's YOU!" shouted a voice. A girl stood at the gate, finger pointed, energy crackling around her like she was about to send someone into oblivion.
She pointed at Furfur.
Furfur blinked.
Then blinked again.
Tail still wagging
"Don't act dumb with me!" she yelled. "I know who you are!"
Baro blinked too, now caught between confusion and amusement. "Uhh... Miss? What did my emotional support wolf pup do to you?"
"HE'S THE REASON MY FATHER ISN'T GETTING ANY LOVE FROM OUR GODDESS LEF!"
"…I've never even seen her, look you should calm down" Baro said, as he put his hand on her shoulder, his hand emitting a faint light, the power from the flame girl which he usually used on Furfur.
Seeing she started calming down, they both sat in front of the mansion.
...
Baro sighed "Okay. Are you Exalted? Because if you're not at least Exalted, I can't emotionally care."
The girl's eyes lit up, puffing out her chest
"I'm Exalted!" she declared, I even have a sigil! Wanna see it? It glows!"
Baro pinched the bridge of his nose.
"No, so what were you saying about your father?" he said. Just a man defeated by life and loud girls with dad issues.
Furfur sat. Then yawned. Tail still wagging.
"My dad barely comes home these days!" the girl huffed, stomping forward like the ground owed her something. "He's always away, Lef knows what he's doing—ugh, it's like I don't even exist anymore!"
Baro blinked slowly, eyes dead, soul evaporating by the second.
"I love my dad, okay?! But now? Lady Lef literally sent me a message. Me, Liora! She said I should come check on him—" she jabbed a finger at Furfur again "—'cause the Exalted from Za's faction already gave him a visit! Do you know how many mortals get to hear from Lef?! Not many! And definitely not about this fluffball!" she said her finger visibly angrier at Furfur.
Furfur let out a sneeze that somehow sounded judgmental.
"SEE!!? I don't care if he's cute! He's suspicious!
Baro looked at the sky. Then at his butler. Then at Furfur.
His butler was already going inside.
Then he looked back at her and sighed. "Figures…"
"Why are you looking at me like that?!" she snapped, her twin tails flaring.
Baro didn't answer. He just turned on his heel and stepped inside the mansion.
The butler was already there, bowing low, and set a steaming, blessed meal on the table.
They sat.
Liora poked the food suspiciously, wrinkling her nose. "Disgusting. I can't feel the passion in your prayers. This tastes like you half-heartedly whispered a blessing"
Baro smirked, stood, and waved a hand over Furfur, his tail swinging with intent.
Suddenly, the meal shined brighter, steam curling like sacred incense.
Liora blinked, mouth half-open.
"This…" she said slowly, voice almost reverent, "This is more like it."
Baro sat back down, satisfied.
Furfur sneezed once more—less judgmental this time.
"Okay maybe this little guy isn't so bad.."