Chapter 4: The visitor

“Hello, kitten.”

The voice dripped with amusement, light and honey sweet, like someone watching a new plaything.

A playful tone, but with his own charm between mockery and affection. As if he found genuine delight in her surprise.

His eyes glowing red in the dark was the most distinguishable thing, I can’t take my eyes off of this unnatural glow and colors.

“Who? Who are you! Are you a god… An evil god?”

My two other selves wake up as lightly as possible to not make a sound, but the next word sent chills down my spine.

“You don’t need to wake up, it won’t be necessary. Just go back to sleep, I’ll just take clone 2 for a short stroll.”

“How.. How do you know that!?”

Ready to fight back, I clutch my mace, ready to strike – every muscle tensed to spring.

“ We won’t talk here, I won’t take too much of your time.”

*Snap*

In a single snap, my environment changed to the familiar one of the goddess home

“Is it familiar to you? Of course you do, this is the hall of summoning.”

“The hall of summoning?”

“Exactly, but I’m not here to make a contract.”

Looking around it’s exactly like the last time, an ocean made the floor, tranquill and undisturbed, only my step made echoes on the surface.

The man, while not clearly visible, now in full view, looks really human. But only, a well trimmed man, an elegant goatee, a class costume and eyes that glow red.

Trying to feel my two other selves, I suddenly frown upon discovering that they have fallen asleep instantly.

“You don’t need to be cautious, you are under my influence. Nothing would try to get inside even a god! Now let’s start the first amusement. Sit down, it would take a bit of time.”

Looking around a velvet red gothic armchair appeared behind me, no other choice than comply. Looking in front again at a table with a teapot and a set of cups.

“Do you want tea?”

“I.. I’ll accept it!”

Pouring with grace some green tea, he placed the cup in front of me. In his hands sugar and honey were put on the table, his expression told me to choose which one I should choose.

“I’ll go for honey.”

“Very well !”

My eyes now back on him, I question why he is doing that and he has already figured it out.

“You want me to tell you why I do that? No one would listen to someone without a good refreshment.”

“I can’t refute that, so what’s the real reason I’m here?”

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

“Um? Oh, right!”

Has he forgotten?

“I want to take something precious to all living things. Time! I want to take one hour of your life and I would tell you all you need to learn.”

His demande were quite strange. Why need one hour of someone's life? Is it a threat?

“Is it a threat? If it’s a joke it’s not funny!”

“This isn’t one. Life is a good thing, but time should be in possession of the creature itself. An individual’s time can only be the choice of the individual. If it’s up to someone else, then you are a slave to them. And I respect every choice, but yours even more.”

“Why mine more than others? Do you want something from me?”

“You will make possible what was impossible, but before I tell you this knowledge. I'm gonna give you a piece of advice, it would make you the nemesis of the Gods. They won’t know a thing, but once they hear about it…you’ll become their number one priority. So once you know, don't tell a soul.”

“Why would I make a dangerous choice, are you the Devil or something?”

“It would be the most accurate assumption about me.”

What do you mean by ‘the most accurate’? Is this guy crazy or he’s just throwing bombs?

“And what if I accept to hear about it, what do I gain from it? It’s clearly knowledge that would make anyone crazy!”

Amused by my reaction, he sardonically replied to my angst.

“That’s why I give people the choice. You are the only one I've made this offer to. Of course a lot of people would try everything to gain it, but you are someone who lives with good morals. Enough that anything I would tell you won't even come out of this place. Also I know you’ll try to help once you hear my reasons.”

In a fit of anger, I hit the table in frustration, my tails and ears reflect my conflict.

“Bullshit! How can you be so sure!”

“Because I know who you were, and why you are here.”

For a moment silence came in. I calmed myself and gazed into the Devil’s eyes – his gaze meeting mine, like the abyss staring back.

“Okay! I accept your offer, I need to know everything. No hold back?”

“I have nothing to hide! I’ll give you what you need for now.”

His answer was nonchalant with a bigger smile, another snap and we are now in a private library. It had candles and the whole place had the same aesthetic of a gothic interior from the 17th century.

“I’m now gonna tell you the truth about the god and even information that is not told. And for the library, it’s cool to transition to a more conducive environment for serious talk.

Now back to the subject.”

Eons ago, in an age when gods were embodiments of their powers, countless deities ruled the cosmos. But as time passed, many grew weary of the endless idleness that plagued their kind. From this unrest, two factions emerged: one clung to the unchanging order of the universe, while other– growing ever more numerous— rebelled against the stagnation that bound all things.

An Eternal war started and with it death– it consumed all parties equally until the day where change was now in march. The only survivor, a minor god, the only survivor had fled this space, becoming a taboo that no other gods can talk about nor would.

To revive the lost gods, their gaze turned to the realm of the mortal. At first It was a duty, now it's just a game for them.

“And what’s the game?”

It’s an honest question about these gods who could kill their own kin just for a divergence of idea.

“The gods game: I know you are familiar with video games and competition. Multiple mortals from several worlds who are chosen through conditions unknown to me.”

“So you mean the new gods are mortals?”

“Not anymore, they were mortal. They were granted the privilege to gain divinity and with it, their mortal body can’t stand this power and are sent to the cosmos. Here the game starts from now on, 32 gods are sent to each planet to get religious control over it.”

“And they fight to get their place?”

“Exactly! They have rules to make them fair:”

*Once a god loses too much divine power their lives depend on the winner. Most of the time they try not to kill the other gods, it’s like telling everyone that you are too dangerous.

*They gain divinity by faith, faith is made by mortals when they pray, perform sacrifice and win battle in their names.

*Chosen are their heroes and pawn on the world, they gain body and powers in exchange they fight for them until the contract is done.

*Saints are like the queen and the king in chess, they are Chosen by the gods and anyone that holds faith can become one. Unlike Chosen, they are the center of faith, they gain access to divine power by borrowing the power of their god in exchange of faith.

*The conditions to become a real god are complete domination or getting 50 lvl of faith. Faith lvl is the power the god can generate, it takes a lot of people and a lot of time to get to this point. He told me they need 1 Billion fanatical that worship for 6000 years to get to this level.

*Complete victory can be obtained by submitting other gods or a complete alliance of all gods under one. It's over once one condition is completed. But sometimes additional conditions are added for the fun of higher gods.

“It sounds really like a game, but why do the higher gods want to change rules in the middle of a game?”

“Sometimes people from different backgrounds can work with each other without any bloodshed leading to an era of religious peace. But higher gods don't take it too kindly,

It’s a competition to get potential gods, gods who can lead civilization and be an element of their society. A god represents each law and elements, they don’t want to be complacent with choice even to kill what they created themselves.”

“It sounds like a big problem.And what about my goddess, isn’t she observing us right now?”

I’m surprised that she still hasn't killed me since I’ve started this discussion. Does he have a power so powerful that she can’t do anything?

“Do not be afraid, but she is currently being punished.”

“What do you mean by ‘punished’?”

“It's what it implies, she’s punished by the backlash of the contract you made with her. Don’t be sorry for her, she deserves it.”

I frown at his declaration, something is wrong. In every possible way, she had already broken her part of the contract? But I'm still under her. What has she done to break a sacred contract made by the God of contract?

“Please tell me what she did!”