This is so awkward. You don't just go knock on random Gods' doors. It's not professional. I should really-

"Good day Mumbo Jumbo! How may I help you?"

"Oh!" Mumbo turned and bowed his head respectfully. "Hello Language. It's nice to see you again"

"There is no obligation for such formality! Please call me Joe" the literature God requested, beckoning Mumbo into his palace. "Whatever brings you to my humble abode?"

"Oh... well um" Mumbo scratched the back of his neck. "I was wondering if I could have a look in your library?"

"Bestimmt!" Joe exclaimed, giving him a polite smile.

The older God led Mumbo down several long hallways to a pair of large double doors which opened into a library the equivalent size of the entirety of Grian's castle.

Mumbo's jaw dropped as he looked at the thousands upon thousands of shelves of books, each perfectly placed in a polished glass case.

"Schön isn't it?" Joe said happily. "I have a duplicate of every manuscript on earth in addition to every book of the heavens. Is there any scripture in particular I may assist you in locating?"

"I'm, uh, looking for a book on the history of the Gods" Mumbo said.

"Oh magnifique!" Joe snapped his fingers, and a glass cabinet about twenty shelves up opened, allowing seven books to fly down from their perch and land in Joe's arms. "These are official records of the Gods, their function and occupation, their abilities, and their appearance, organized by the date of their ascension. Will this be sufficient?"

"Yes! Yes, that's perfect! Thank you"

Joe handed Mumbo the books and headed towards the opposite end of the room.

"Do feel at liberty to make yourself comfortable and avail yourself of my hospitality as long as it pleases you. I will be organizing Stress's new compositions over there"

Mumbo settled himself in a large cozy chair and spread the old books out on the table in front of him.

What does my page look like?

Mumbo flipped to the last page of the seventh volume, and cringed at the picture of his own face that greeted him.

God of Redstone
Chosen name: Mumbo Jumbo
Unique Ability: Technopathy
Physical Description: Tall, black hair, mustache, dark eyes, pale, red wings
Personality Characteristics: Shy, tepid, loyal, polite, organized, responsible

"Yeesh" He muttered, touching the picture. His smile looked more like a grimace, and one eye was half shut as though he were attempting and failing to wink. Mumbo shuttered and closed the book, pushing it far away from himself before taking out the second volume and flipping until he found Stress's page.

God of Music
Chosen name: Stress
Unique Ability: Sound manipulation
Physical Description: Short, brunette, brown eyes, peach skin, pink wings
Personality Characteristics: Kind, enthusiastic, creative, friendly, trustworthy, compassionate

Mumbo smiled and flipped to the front. If the book was organized in order of ascension, then the primaries should be first.

God of Life
Chosen name: Xisuma
Unique Ability: Creating the souls of living creatures
Physical Description: Dark hair, medium height, olive skin, white wings
Personality Characteristics: Calm, thoughtful, humble, optimistic, just

God of Death
Chosen name: Cub
Unique Ability: Taking the souls of living creatures
Physical Description: Medium height, balding, white skin, black wings
Personality Characteristics: Confident, ethical, disciplined, principled, fair

God of Earth
Chosen name: TFC
Unique Ability: Control over earth
Physical Description: Tall, silver hair, white skin, brown wings
Personality Characteristics: Patient, generous, forgiving, attentive, gentle

God of Ocean
Chosen name: Cleo
Unique Ability: Control over water
Physical Description: Short, red hair, green eyes, blue wings
Personality Characteristics: Quiet, strong, adaptable, resourceful, dutiful

God of Weather
Chosen name: Doc
Unique Ability: Control over weather
Physical Description: Tall, dark hair, bronze skin, grey wings
Personality Characteristics: Tough, sincere, honest, innovative, dynamic

Flipping to the next page, Mumbo was surprised to see that it had been completely covered with black ink.

"Joe?"

"Yes Mumbo Jumbo?"

Mumbo stood up, book in hand, and walked over to where the older God was sitting.

"Sorry to bother-"

"Do not grievance yourself! How may I assist?"

"Um, well" Mumbo held out the book. "Why is this page blacked out?"

Joe's eye twitched slightly at the sight of the inky paper, and he coughed roughly into his fist before responding.

"It is simply a border partitioning the primaries from the remaining Gods. Nothing to concern yourself with"

"Oh... but why-"

"If you will pardon me Mumbo Jumbo" Joe cut in standing up abruptly. "I have some urgent business to attend to. You are most welcome to abide as long as you wish"

"Oh, ok. Th-thank you"

Mumbo watched the God leave before returning to his seat.

How strange. No matter. Now, if I'm going to find him, I guess I'll just have to go through every single God...

____________________________________________________
"Mumbo? Mumbo is everything ok?"

"Huh?!" Mumbo jerked his head away from the sixth volume to see Iskall looking at him with a concerned expression.

"I-Iskall? What are you doing here?"

"Joe let me in. I was worried because we haven't seen you in three days"

"Three days?" Mumbo looked at the clock. "Has it really been three days?!"

Without needing to eat or sleep he had completely lost track of time.

"Yeah" Iskall sat down next to him. "What have you been doing?"

"I've been, uh, reading these records over and over looking for Grian"

"Grian? The mask God you're obsessed with?"

"I'm not obsessed!" Mumbo snapped.

Iskall raised an eyebrow and Mumbo buried his head in his hands.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm just frustrated. I've read every record through at least eight times each and he just isn't there!"

"Mumbo..." Iskall put is hand on Mumbo's shoulder gently. "Are you sure he's... real? None of us have ever heard of him, and-"

"Of course he's real!" Mumbo cried in exasperation. "Grian is real!"

"Ok, ok, ok" Iskall soothed. "I believe you, I believe you, I just had to ask"

"I beg your pardon"

The two friends turned to see Joe standing in the doorway, his wings folded behind his back.

"Mumbo, the primaries wish to speak with you"

"M-me?" Mumbo squeaked. "Why, uh, why would they want that?"

"Mumbo calm down" Iskall hushed. "You don't have to be afraid of them. We're all equals"

"Yeah, yeah, you're right, ok"

Mumbo stood up.

"So-so I just go to, uh, Life-uh, Xisuma's palace?"

Joe gave him a simple nod and another polite smile.

Mumbo was getting really sick of the polite smiles.
____________________________________________________
"Good afternoon Mumbo Jumbo" Life greeted him.

Mumbo bowed his head at each primary in turn, trying to subtly wipe his sweaty palms off on his jacket.

"Good afternoon. Did I... do something wrong?"

"Of course not!" Ocean said kindly. "We just have a couple questions about-"

"Why were you looking through the records?" Weather cut in, making Ocean roll her eyes.

"Weather!" Death gave him a pointed look before turning back to Mumbo with a diplomatic smile. "We just thought that if you were looking for information on one of the Gods we may be of service"

"Oh, well, uh" Mumbo looked down at his feet. "I was just looking to find some more information. I-I mean I don't know the majority of the Gods, s-so I thought it would be good to, uh... learn"

"No other reason?" Life questioned. "We've heard through the grapevine that you've been asking about someone"

Mumbo glanced up.

"You know him?"

They primaries exchanged uncomfortable glances.

"Chaos... Chaos used to be a God" Ocean explained slowly. "But he... he was destructive and-"

"Chaos?" Mumbo interrupted. "Grian is the God of Chaos?!"

"Grian?" Death arched his eyebrows. "He took on a chosen name?"

"Everybody hush" Life commanded putting up his hand. "Look Mumbo. I know he may seem intriguing and fun but he's dangerous. He doesn't like to make friends and-"

"He seceded" Weather cut in for the second time. "He left the heavens because he didn't like the rules or the responsibilities"

"You can... secede?"

"Well no" Death spoke up. "He's still a God, and can technically come up to the heavens whenever he wants, but he made it perfectly clear that he has no intention of ever coming back"

"But... I saw him at my ascension"

"What?!" Weather exclaimed, straightening up in his seat. "Where? When?"

"Weather"

Earth finally spoke up, slowly rising to his feet and looking down at Mumbo with a calm fatherly expression.

"Mumbo. We're happy you are taking an interest in the Gods. I know you've been struggling to speak with others, and the fact that Chaos was able to pull you out of your shell is wonderful!" His serene expression turned suddenly serious. "But Chaos is wild. He doesn't understand harmony or amity, and has no concept of risk. He will end up harming you with no remorse. It would do you well to stay far far away from him"

"O-ok" Mumbo took a step back and clasped his hands behind him. "I... I'm sorry"

"Oh no need for apology" Ocean said kindly. "We just want to help you"

"Of-of course. Thank you...?"

"Glad we got that straightened out" Life said, waking over to Mumbo and giving him a firm pat on the back, forcing him to begin moving down the hall. "No need to speak of this again now, right?"

"Um, no... no of course not"

"Good"

They had reached the threshold, and Life held the door open for him.

"Have a nice day"

Hope you enjoyed the chapter! If you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a like and leaving a comment to let me know what you think!