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“What a joke,” Zeff went on. “My kin all look at you and think that you can handle the same level of responsibility as I. Or Asad. Or Dimas or Salvador or Melchor. They look at you and see our equal. Hell, they may even see our superior!”

Hector frowned but kept his expression otherwise steady. Zeff was just spouting nonsense now, Hector felt. Surely, none of the other Rainlords actually believed that.

The Lord Elroy turned and began walking away. “Grow or die, Hector.”

Axiolis lingered.

Hector thought the reaper might apologize on the servant’s behalf, as he’d seen other reapers do several times in the past, but Axiolis surprised him.

The reaper only observed him in silence for a moment longer before following Zeff.

Well, that was fine. Hector didn’t really think Zeff had done anything to apologize for, anyway.

Garovel seemed to feel differently, however. ‘What an ungrateful piece of shit,’ he said in the echo of privacy.

‘Garovel...’

‘What? You’re gonna defend that guy’s behavior?’

Hector sighed. Right now, he really just wanted to go catch up to everyone else. He was still standing here in the entryway like a jackass while they were all off exploring the facilities and probably asking Carver all sorts of interesting questions.

As he finally started to progress deeper into the building, he found himself wondering if any of the others had witnessed any part of that incident just now. He hoped not. That would be pretty humiliating.

‘But y’know,’ said Garovel, ‘the more I think about it, the more I find that man’s behavior hilarious.’

‘What?’

‘Weren’t you listening to what he said? He feels THREATENED by you, Hector. Maybe even jealous.’

‘THAT was your interpretation? Garovel, you couldn’t be more wrong.’

‘Psh. Of course you’d say that. Let me guess. You think he’s just trying to be a good teacher or whatever.’

‘...Yeah, maybe I do think that.’

‘You’re too nice for your own good, Hector.’

‘And you’re too patronizing for everyone else’s good.’

‘Really? You’re gonna insult ME now? I’m on your side, you prick.’

‘So is Zeff. We’d both be worm food by now if it wasn’t for him.’

‘Ugh.’ The reaper sounded genuinely disgusted.

The next room over had multiple new doors to try, and Hector decided to go through the one on his right before Garovel had a chance to continue that conversation.

Now there was a sight he hadn’t seen in a while.

Plants. A whole lot of them, too. The chamber extended much farther than he’d expected, and the entire thing was filled.

Hector blinked when he realized. ‘These are the plants from the surface that you were sensing earlier.’

Garovel floated among two rows of fully grown apple trees. ‘Yeah,’ was all he said.

Hector was more than ready for the new subject, however. ‘How do they grow so far underground like this?’

The reaper pointed at the lamps in the rather low ceiling. ‘Artificial sunlight. It’s impressive technology. I’ve never seen results as good as this.’