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Astra arrived at the place where the natura family lives. At first glance it seems nobody has been there in centuries, but the homes are simply hidden by lush plant life.

Death (Eggy's version) was busy and wanted astra to watch life for a bit. She was able to fight off shi rather well so she'd be more than capable of protecting life.

She was surprised the see that life's room was a cave, it was lit by moss along the ceiling, with a tree in the center of the room. However there was some normal furniture in there such as a bed, a dresser, and some other drawers for toys.

Astra thought to herself that maybe unnatural materials don't do well around her, and that maybe that's why she lives in a cave. But she likely wouldn't find the true reason as it would be rude to ask.

Astra: life? Where are you? Death sent me to take care of you.

Life peeked out from behind the tree in the center of the room

Life: I'm right here...

Astra: so you're life, I've heard a lot about you.

Life: you have?

Astra: yeah! Death said you're very sweet

Life got out from behind the tree

A few hours went by, a lot of it was spent talking about animals, nature, or family. But eventually Astra took a break and left life alone for a bit to send a message to death and ask how he's doing. But while she was doing this, mors (life's father) walked in. He had just returned from a battle with the collector, near the end of the battle he put a symbol on the collector that would inflict endless pain if the collector tried to fight him again.

Mors: what are you doing here

Astra: death wanted me to watch life for a bit, he said he was busy but didn't tell me what he was doing. Probably reaping more souls or something.

Mors: so you're the creation of the collector?

Astra: I'm A creation of the collector, but a more recent one.

Mors: ... Why do you trust him?

Astra: sure some of his methods are questionable, but he always tries to do what he views as right. And will protect those he cares about until the very end. I want to be like him someday

Mors: so he inspires you?

Astra: I'm not the only one, a while back the collector was fighting zanthor, a being who has destroyed many MANY planets. Eggy's planet was one of them. He was on the edge of suicide, but then saw the collector chasing zanthor through his solar system. It gave him the strength to keep going.

Mors: ... Why does he do this? What reason does he have to protect everyone?

Astra: honestly, that's something even I have yet to find out.

Life: who r u talking to- daddy's back!

Life hugged mors' legs and mors patted her on the head

Mors: it is good to see you, life. But you should go back inside.

Life: oke

Mors: so he doesn't fight for fame, not for riches, not love, what reason does he have to keep going? What type of human protects others for no reward?

Astra: THAT kind.

Mors: and even in endless pain...

Astra: wait what?

A flash of guilt went across mors' face

Mors: it is... None of your concern. I must go.

Mors left as quickly as he returned.

Astra: ... Well he's strange.

Death finally responded to Astra's message, he asked if she wanted pizza. To which she replied: "I've never had pizza before, I'll try it."

Life: Astra? Are you done yet?

Astra: yeah, your dad just wanted to ask me a few things.

Astra still wondered what mors meant when he mentioned endless pain, but tried to keep that thought in the back of her mind until she was done taking care of life

Meanwhile the collector was looking through his collection of weapons with death, he was trying to find something that mors would like enough to trade for xander and kinyani's lives.

Collector: how about a zenith?

Death: no, he usually prefers more traditional weapons that have some sort of magical effect upon use.

Collector: ... What about vampire knives?

Death: I said traditional.

Collector: so two handed?

Death: we're not even getting close. Look, you said he gave you 8 days. So just tell the inklas they have 8 days until you either make a sufficient offering, or fail and lose their lives.

Collector: did I say I was gonna fail?

Death: you underestimate how heartless he can be. The only person I've seen sway his mind is life, and even then it hasn't happened often.

Collector: ... Wait, isn't Astra babysitting her?

Death: yeah.

Collector: and mors is on his way home.

Death: 0_0 ... Uhh... I gotta go. Find melee weapons that are ACTUALLY melee, and maybe we'll get somewhere.

Cool

I imagine, if this degenerates, in a scene, Mors will do a maniac laugh and strike someone, or the ground, a laughter so evil it would echo through the air

Wha

Anyways, idk if he'll accept a weapon, if before the last day, collector and mors meet, Mors will probably offer a deal, a soul for 2

Ok I'm gonna post it now

What if you offer a soul stone?

A soul stone is probably not worth as a literal soul

So a stone that carries literal souls isn't valuable?

You never said if it was full
But souls need to be "fresh"

Actually it most likely is.

Look at my response to Ghostie

This fits in perfectly with my little "The Agreement" story an I love it