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A year ago, Axiolis would’ve been right about Zeff not being very receptive to that idea. But now?

Now he was much more tempted to agree with the reaper’s perspective.

He decided to keep that thought to himself, though. It hardly mattered, either way.

The conversation continued on, with Octavia soon bringing over her own reaper, Wen, in order to get his opinion on things, as well.

Not much was learned, however. Wen was non-committal, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Axiolis; and he didn’t offer any information about asteros that hadn’t already been discussed.

Until, that was, Zeff asked a particular question.

“Ax said that he knew of other asteros whose growth was at least comparable to Hector and Garovel’s. So tell me something. Were any of those people Rainlords?”

Ax and Wen were both quiet for a time, and they exchanged looks.

‘...There have been a few,’ said Wen. ‘But the one that comes immediately to mind... Axiolis? I have a feeling you are thinking the same?’

‘The first Water Dragon,’ said Ax. ‘Rhein Ricardo.’

Zeff took pause. That was a name he was intimately familiar with, of course. Among the long history of his kin, Rhein was arguably the single most important figure. The Redwater Twins were more famous internationally, especially in the modern day, but among the Rainlords themselves, it was hard to say if that was the case.

Certainly, though, no one else was more revered. Various reapers, such as Wen here, had known the Twins personally and therefore also had some... less than flattering things to say about them. The Twins, while beloved as heroes in their own right, were nonetheless still regarded as very flawed human men.

But Rhein Ricardo...

The stories about him were truly legendary.

Some said that was only because the tales were so old. There were just too few reapers left who had existed during Rhein’s time, they said. It was easier, therefore, for the man to maintain an almost deified status as the father of all true Rainlords of Sair.

They said that.

But Wen and Ax here had both been around during his time, Zeff knew.

Which was why Zeff couldn’t stop himself from feeling a certain type of urgency all of a sudden. “Careful,” he said, intensity in his tone. “That’s a heavy thing you’re implying, right now.”

‘We’re not implying anything,’ said Ax. ‘You asked a question, and we’re answering it. That’s all.’

Zeff stared at Ax intently.

The reaper, for his part, merely stared right back.