Angels and Devils: Provenance I

"But Mama, why can't I go into the meeting with you?" the boy complained, running to keep up with his mother.
"Because this meeting is for adults," his mother said. "You're too young."
"I'm seven years old!" the boy said, puffing up his cheeks.
"Yes, I know how old you are, dear," his mother replied. "You're still too young."
"I dunno why you have to go to this dumb meeting anyway," the boy grumbled. "I wanna go home."
The woman stopped walking and looked at her son. "This meeting is very important," she said. "Look over there." She turned to face away from the building they were approaching. From the vantage point of the wall, fields and forests stretched out in front of her.
Her son looked as well. "Uh huh?"
"This is the world, my darling." His mother knelt next to him. "This world belongs to us. Some people took it away from us, so I'm going to go tell them we're taking it back."
"But why did they take it away? And why can't I tell them too?"
His mother laughed. "Eagerness is good. But for now, I can't take you in with me."
The boy sighed. "Okay, I guess."
"Good." The woman stood up and kept walking. It wasn't long before they reached the building. She stopped again in front of a bench near the door. "I won't be long. Stay here and wait for me, okay? Don't go running off."
"How long is not long? What if someone else comes? You said people are dangerous."
"If someone comes, or if you get scared, just call for me. No matter what, I'll hear you and come get you." She smiled and leaned down to kiss his forehead. "I love you, baby."
"Love you too," he mumbled, frowning as he sat on the bench. "Promise it won't be long?"
"I promise," she said. "And then we can go right home." She ruffled his hair, then went inside. The boy sat impatiently, feet swinging as he counted the seconds that passed. How many seconds were in "not long"? At first he thought ten, but then she still wasn't back, so twenty-
The bushes across the path from him rustled, immediately grabbing his attention. He pulled his legs up onto the bench.
"Who- who's there?" he asked. "If you do something, I'll, I'll tell my mama!"
The bush went still got a moment, before its branches parted to allow a boy about the same age with long blond hair to slide out. He wiped his eyes quickly.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you..." the boy said.
He stared for a moment before responding. "... Were you crying?"
"Um, no..." The reply was accompanied by a sniffle, and the boy wiped his eyes again, then his nose.
"Yeah you were. Why?"
"I told you. I wasn't crying. Besides, if I was it wouldn't be for any reason."
"My mama says when people cry it's cause they're angry or happy or sad. So were you angry or happy or sad?"
"I wasn't any of them! I was just crying, okay?"
"I thought you said you weren't crying."
The blond boy huffed. "You're annoying."
"I'm just saying what you told me. You're the one who's lying."
"I wasn't lying. I was just saying things that aren't true."
"... What do you think lying is?"
The other boy glared at him. "Okay, fine! I was lying and crying! Happy now?"
"No, not really. You still didn't tell me why."
A quiet sigh, then the blond boy reached back into the bush and pulled a limp sparrow's body out. "I-I saw it crash into a tree and then fall into the bush, and then I tried to warn it but it still..."
"Well that's silly. You can't warn someone they're going to die after they're dead."
"It wasn't after! I saw it first, and then... Then..." He sniffled. "'s my fault. Bad things always happen after I see them."
The first boy was quiet for a bit, then he hopped off the bench and went across the path, kneeling next to the bird. He put a finger on its head and a faint red light began to grow around it. Not long after, its feathers rustled. It wasted no time in flying away.
"Whoa! How'd you do that?" the other boy asked, wiping his eyes once more.
The first boy beamed. "My mama says I'm naturally gifted, even more than- oof!" He was interrupted by the other boy knocking him to the ground with a hug.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you! Will it stay like that forever? Is it safe now?"
He blinked. "Um, well... It could still die again, I guess, but uh... The magic won't wear off or anything..."
"So it's safe! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"You, um... Already said that..."
The other boy sat up and smiled. "I'm Odiel, by the way! Odiel Goldspirit!"
"Oh, uh..." The first boy sat up as well and tentatively returned the smile. "Alphosces Veretta."
"It's nice to meet you! Do you wanna come hang out with me and the others? They're probably wondering where I am since I just ran off to find the bird all of a sudden..."
Alphosces glanced back at the bench. "My mama told me to stay here."
"It's not far! Come on, it'll be fun!" Odiel grabbed Alphosces' hand and started dragging him toward a side path. "You can tell them all about that super cool thing you did with the bird!"
"Well... I guess if it's not far..."
"It's not! Promise!" Odiel pulled him down the path, eventually coming to an open grassy area around the side of the building. There were a number of others there, most around Alphosces' age but a few older or younger.
"I'm back!" Odiel called. "I brought a new friend!"
They were surrounded immediately, voices drowning each other out as people greeted them, introduced themselves, and asked Odiel if he was okay. Odiel waved his arms, an exaggerated "shhhh" quieting the group.
"Everyone, this is Alphosces. Al, this is... Everyone. I'm sure they'll all introduce themselves eventually! We were just playing tag, at least we were when I left, so do you wanna play with us?"
"Um... Tag?" Alphosces asked.
"You've never played tag?" Odiel asked incredulously. "It's really easy! I'll be it!" He reached over and poked Alphosces' chest. "Now you're it!"
Alphosces looked down at his chest, then up at Odiel, frowning as he tried to puzzle out the game. Finally, he poked Odiel in the chest. "You're it?"
"Yeah, exactly! Except in the actual game, everyone'll be running and whoever's it chases them! Got it?"
"I think so," Alphosces said. "So you're it?"
"Yup!" Odiel said.
"So then..." Alphosces turned quickly and took off in the opposite direction. The others ran as well, and Alphosces heard footsteps chasing him. It didn't take long for Odiel to catch up and tap him on the shoulder.
"You're it!' he said before promptly turning to run away.
Alphosces followed quickly, but didn't get far before he tripped over something--a shoe, he saw as he crashed into the ground. He yelped, clutching his knee, and rolled over to look up.
"Hey! What was that for?" he demanded.
"Don't look at me, it was an accident!" The boy's skin was a pale blue and his hair rippled as if a current ran through it.
"No it wasn't! You did that on purpose!" Alphosces insisted.
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"I said it was an accident, so it's an accident!" the boy yelled. Alphosces scrambled to his feet and pushed the boy, sending him stumbling to the ground.
"Sorry, it was an accident," Alphosces said.
"You little-" the boy started, pushing himself to his feet.
"What's going on here?" a sharp voice demanded. Alphosces looked over to see his mother striding towards them, a furious glare fixed on the boy he was arguing with.
"He tripped me!" Alphosces said, running over to her. She took his hand and frowned.
"I told you it was an accident," the boy grumbled. "But you pushed me on purpose."
"It sounds to me like your boy hurt mine to get back at him for something he didn't mean to do," another voice said. Alphosces glanced over at its owner, a tall human woman looking at his mother with crossed arms.
"Are you saying my son is a liar?" Alphosces' mother growled.
"Are you saying mine is?" the human replied.
More footsteps approached, and soon the conversation had been joined by several more adults.
"What seems to be the issue?" an aasimar Alphosces thought was probably Odiel's father asked.
"Merra," Alphosces' mother said coldly. "It seems Aleia's son tripped mine. He says it was an accident, but Alphosces believes it to have been on purpose."
"Perhaps we all ought to calm down," Merra said. "This is likely just a misunderstanding. What makes your son so sure it was on purpose?"
Alphosces held his mother's hand tightly. "I just know it was."
Merra sighed. "Well, if that's all we have to go on, there's not much evidence. If no one saw-"
"I did," Odiel piped up nervously. "Torrie stuck his foot out to trip Al. I saw it."
"Well, that complicates things," Merra said. "If Odiel saw Torrent do it-"
"Oh, please," Aleia said, rolling her eyes. "We all know your son isn't exactly a reliable witness, Merra. The strength of his gift blinds him."
Murmurs of agreement came from the others, and after a moment, Merra sighed again and looked at Alphosces' mother.
"I'm sorry, Asa. Perhaps Alphosces should apologize to Torrent."
Asa glared at him. "He won't be apologizing to anyone. Come on, Alphosces. We're going home." She pulled Alphosces after her, and he stumbled a bit trying to keep up. He glanced back at Odiel. The boy looked apologetic, and gave a tiny wave. Alphosces waved back, then hurried to follow his mother.
Once they were a ways away from the others, Asa snapped her fingers, a circle of runes appearing on the ground. She stepped into it, as did Alphosces, and within moments, they were back home.
"I'm sorry," Alphosces mumbled. "I should have stayed on the bench."
Asa sighed and looked down at him. "Those people will do anything to make us look bad, Alphosces. That's why they're so dangerous. But it's not your fault they're like that."
"Odiel isn't like that. He stood up for me."
"They're all like that. Especially the Goldspirits. You can't trust them, sweetheart. Okay?"
Alphosces hesitated, then nodded. Asa leaned down and kissed his forehead.
"Go wash up for dinner. I'll be there soon."
Alphosces ran off, leaving Asa to rub her temples. She took a step towards the door, but was stopped by another voice.
"Bad day?" it asked. Asa turned to look at the newcomer, a tanned human man with curly black hair and piercing eyes.
"Espen," she greeted. "You have no idea."
Espen turned her around and started massaging her shoulders. "I'm getting an idea from how tense you are. What happened?"
Asa relaxed a bit. "These people... They're all so arrogant. They think I need their permission to take what belongs to me."
"Then show them otherwise. You do have a god at your side, after all."
"Yes, well, as do they. Your parents are quite the nuisance."
Espen's fingers trailed from Asa's shoulder down her arm. "We'll find a way to deal with them. But in the meantime... What's the harm in causing a little havoc?"
"What do you suggest?"
"I'm good at causing trouble," Espen murmured, taking her hand and lifting it to his lips. "Send me wherever you wish."
Asa was quiet for a moment. "The Fortress," she said finally. "I'd love for the Goldspirits to have some trouble. But first, dinner."
Espen smiled. "Of course."
"And Espen? Tell your sister her children are annoying me," Asa added as she began to make her way to the dining room.
Espen bowed. "Your wish is my command."