In the moonlight mist at the main dining hall, gods, demons and heroes reunited. There was not one vacant spot, and although some of them looked eager, and some of them annoyed... No one in this place didn't have urgency.
Elysir sat at the centre of the table with her legs closed, looking at every woman in her man's life.
It was the first time she had 'summoned' everyone to one place, and being the one doing the summoning, no one could or wanted to reject.
Even when all chairs had been taken, there were still people arriving in portals.
A proud vampiress walked into the house. When she arrived, she had snow all over her clothes and on top of her umbrella. Shaltear looked into the hall where there were women whose auras made her feel like an infant.
'As expected of my dearest master~'.
Rather than feeling jealous, she felt proud. Shaltear was a relatively 'new' one among her master's lovers; she hadn't personally met everyone sitting at the table... but she knew two things: No woman here wasn't beautiful, no woman here was weak.
They watched her come and sit in a chair she materialised of her own since the diamond chairs were already all occupied.
She looked around and recognised a few faces, whom she nodded to.
Albedo and Solution, her comrades from Nazarick, then Yasaka and Haku... arguably the most influential and also the ladies with whom she had shared her master in the bedroom.
"Lady Elysir. I have an important mission that master has assigned to me. I hope whatever reason you have summoned me here is worth my while," She mumbled politely and sultrily towards the 'leader' of them all. A woman whom she hadn't spoken with much, but whom she didn't dare disrespect.
"It is definitely worth your while, Shaltear... the reason why we're all here reunited has to do with Ray. I have been observing, and I believe it is necessary to have this conversation if we wish to move forward," Her eyes peeked around at all the women reunited. "I don't think more of us are going to be coming. Kurumi is not answering calls, Azrael obviously can't attend, and Gabriel is too shy to participate... so we will have to start without them".
At the furthest end of the table. The Elf Faction: Galadriel, Anna Blair, Alana, Yuna, Merluna and Nocturna. They stared around, feeling a bit tense since it was also their first time meeting everyone. Contrary to popular belief, Yuna was the one who sat at the centre since even Galadriel was a bit scared of the auras flaring up in the room. Yuna was also filled with apprehension, but at least she knew how to pop up a pocker face.
On the right side of the table. The Draconic Deus Faction: Amaterasu, Grayfia, Kuroka, Rias, Akeno, Anna-chan, Hannah. Perhaps the most 'chill' of all factions, Rias sat in front with Akeno and Anna, who were having some snacks as usual. She was not afraid of politics, and she didn't feel she was less than anyone else sitting at the table with her; she didn't even feel smaller than the Goddess Amaterasu or even Grayfia, her older brother's wife, who sat on her side as an equal.
On the left side, Shaltear sat next to Solution, Albedo, an awed Leone, Haku and Yasaka were cross-legged with their eyes closed, as if this conversation had nothing to do with them.
At the centre sat Elysir, and Tsunade sat next to her.
On the sofa, Aqua was caressing the hair of a sleeping Ophis who was using her lap as a pillow. Out of everyone, it was Ophis who attracted the most gazes. She was the first among them all to have a big belly, and it was clear there wasn't too much left until the fateful day on which she'd lay down her egg.
It wasn't obvious, but there was a slightly protruding belly in Yasaka, Haku, Yuna and Leone as well. Fruits that would soon bring joy to this huge family.
Family matters had to be sorted first.
...
"I am actually glad you summoned me. I am bored with having to torture all those elf prisoners from the insurrection. Now that they have become Star Elves, they're quite tough to deal with," Solution said, annoyed with her job.
"Where is Kurumi-chan?~" Galadriel asked.
"Kurumi can't come... but the ones who are here are enough", Elysir said.
"Lady Elysir, could you please say the reason why you have summoned us all here? It is the first time you have done something like this, I am worried" Grayfia took the lead in expressing what everyone thought.
"Even I am feeling a bit overwhelmed, to be fair" Amaterasu brushed her hair.
There was a moment of silence in which Elysir's star eyes glared at everyone, "I have been watching... the way things are, they're not good".
The women looked at each other, not quite understanding.
"Could you elaborate?" Grayfia mumbled, tilting her head cutely.
"I will say it without sugarcoating. We are too many... Ray can't deal with all of us emotionally. Sadly, some of us will have to go; otherwise, this will turn into a bubble of emotions that will explode soon".
Finally, the shock spread, tension skyrocketed, and auras tensed so harshly that Haku's eyes opened, feeling how the moonlight mist turned heavier... she had to use more of her powers to keep it together.
"Elysir, even if I respect your position here... I don't think what you're saying makes sense," Yasaka began.
Elysir merely looked her way to draw attention, indicating for her to continue.
"Master loves all of us. It doesn't matter how much time we spend with him individually... if any of us is missing, master won't be happy–"
"He won't stop you from leaving voluntarily".
"What are you implying -nya...?" Kuroka frowned, she already knew what the words meant... she just wanted to make sure Elysir wouldn't backtrack on her words.
"Ray is emotionally overloaded; he may be able to easily satisfy all of us physically, but trying to satisfy all of us emotionally is taking a toll on him," She repeated herself with her eyes dead serious, "We are too many".
It didn't take a genius for all the women to stare at each other and realise that indeed, there were too many pretty faces here. Most of them didn't even know exactly how many ladies their beloved was entangled with... even if they talked in the group, that didn't give an accurate perspective.
Seeing everyone sitting at the table gave a perspective of how many there were.
"I don't see the problem", Shaltear said, earning attention.
"I haven't seen master personally in weeks, and I don't feel afflicted in any way. I believe if the master is having an emotional toll, it is not because of me. So don't even bother bringing me into this conversation... when I want my dearest master's blood, I can just come and get it" Shaltear stood up, much to everyone's shock, "What a waste of time".
"Shaltear, wait–" Elysir called.
"I understand the point you're trying to make, Lady Elysir. However... to take me away from master," Her eyes gained a threatening red hue, "You will have to kill me".
Her words brought silence to the room; hearing no answer, she smiled and bowed curtly to everyone.
"If that's all, then I am pleased to meet all of you. My mission is important, so I can't bear to waste time in here".
Shaltear turned heels back to the door from which she walked out. A small wind ventisca entered the room before she closed the door, and it disappeared.
"I agree with Shaltear. I am also not an emotional toll for master. I wouldn't call myself a demanding slime. And also, same, I do not intend to live his side until my core scatters".
Solution bowed as well and left the hall, a bit annoyed since she had work to do, but still quite happy with her current life.
Silence reigned once again. Tsunade stared at the women in shock... everyone agreed that their numbers were huge, but no one was willing to leave.
"Who are you to decide who must go?" Amaterasu flared up first, "It should be up to Ray if at any point he can't handle it".
"I am not deciding who has to go, Amaterasu. I am merely pointing out that some of us must go"
"Why don't you go then?" The Goddess howled.
*RUMBLE!*
Powerful aura crashed forth when Elysir stood up, outraged, and Amaterasu stood up as well, ready to carry on as far as this would take them. All the women on the table sweated profusely; one of Ophis' eyes opened. The last thing they needed was the two most powerful goddesses to fight one another.
"Amaterasu-sama, please stop" Yasaka spoke directly towards her Goddess, who was shocked that Yasaka was willing to go against her, "I beg you, please be aware that from the start, when they first arrived in our world, it was just Ray-sama and Elysir-sama".
Her words were clear: 'We are all number two, she's number one'.
Even if Yasaka spoke with sadness and reluctance, her words were undeniable. Amaterasu grit her teeth and sat down. Having an inferior position to Elysir in this family was something she had accepted from the start.
"I apologise, Elysir", Amaterasu looked at Elysir, thinking she was behaving a bit more coldly than usual.
Elysir frowned at her and ultimately decided to sit down as well, "I accept your apology".
"But I hope you understand what you're saying is heartbreaking and affects our family" Amaterasu said, now with a calmer tone, "If any of us were not happy here, we wouldn't be here".
"I agree with Amaterasu-sama-nya. This conversation is pointless; none of us will leave without a fight" Kuroka boosted up, and all the girls stated their agreement one by one.
"I agree~", even the peaceful Galadriel put her firsts together and said.
"Why do we all have to fight or anything? Can't we have a drink and enjoy?" Aqua rubbed her cheek with droplets of sweat running down. Someone had to release this tension.