Infamous Goose
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2.24 For This, I am Thankful
🕑 Added 2025-05-29 06:01:13 +0000 UTCRising Wind, Crashing Wave’s power was fueled by faith. He called it the power of belief, but I preferred faith; it just had a nicer ring to it, in my opinion. That said, I was wholly disappointed that I had failed to notice the potential of such power. I’d noticed it once, back when I had first created the Fae, and promptly discarded the thought of using it for more that it first appeared.
More importantly the use of faith as a power source also explained why Rising Wind had such a dramatic leap in power in the personal power rankings from basic, to including boosts from one’s universe. Outside his universe, he was ninth most powerful. Inside, he jumped all the way to fourth; and I wouldn’t consider him that much weaker than the Primeval Dragon.
Even if she had been holding back while fighting me, comparing Rising Wind now to what I had seen of her…
Well, there was still a part of me that would like to fight him, but a bigger part of me that reasoned Rising Wind wasn’t that type. There would be no fighting for enjoyment with him.
“The obvious answer to your growth is growing the tree,” Yueya explained, rubbing her chin as she stared down at the Cosmic Planes. “But I think there’s a different answer you can reach, as well. The roots separating the planes, why not encourage them to grow as well? There are more concepts than what you’ve gathered here, are there not? Link them together, encourage the separation of Realms and let the roots grow deep and wide.”
“Indeed. Your roots are your primary feature. Let them be the focus; I, personally, cannot envision your universe growing into a Tree-like structure. Perhaps something more like a bush.” Shin mused, linking his boney fingers together as he peered down at the central structures. I rubbed my chin, envisioning what they were saying.
“I agree with them both, truthfully. The central bramble – see in the center there, where a few minor worlds have come into being?” I asked, pointing to the little ball of roots that formed the center of the universe. It looked to me like it was trying to grow upward, but couldn’t yet. More importantly, however, was the fact that what I would consider to be the mortal worlds were starting to blossom and bloom in the safety of the tangled mass of central roots. There, they were protected from the worst of the raw essences of the more concentrated conceptual realms, while still allowing small streams to influence them.
It was a beautiful balance. There was not enough concentrated energy to really make a difference to the mortal realm, while just enough to cause fundamental changes to the few minor worlds that grew there, circling their own little suns.
“Of course I see them,” Rising Wind deadpanned. I flushed a little. Right. Stupid question to ask.
“Right. Of course. Well, my point was that when you allow the roots to grow outward and the bush to grow upward, those worlds will expand. More will be born. It would be good to encourage this, because the majority of your faith power comes from there.” I reasoned. Rising Wind cocked an eyebrow at me.
“How so? The other Realms and the mortal souls within produce ninety percent of the power you talk about.”
“Quality over quantity. Those few worlds may only produce ten percent of the faith-power you wield, but how much bigger are the other Realms compared to them? Once they are allowed to fully bloom, and so long as they remain properly protected, of course, they will begin producing far, far more energy.” I said. The mortal races in Rising Wind’s universe were more varied than even my own – yet the mortal realms still produced the most faith for him to utilize. Rising Wind stared at me for a moment, then lowered his head and sighed heavily.
“I cannot believe that I did not put two and two together there. This must be a case of being too close to the problem, so I cannot see the solution. You are correct, of course. It is a relatively new development, those worlds in the center, and while I had been paying attention to them, I clearly had not been paying as much attention as I should have.” Rising Wind said. “Yueya and Shin are correct as well. These are very good suggestions and notes, and I thank you for all of them. But I do have one more question for you all before we continue my lecture.” At this the great stag looked directly into my eyes, his antlers gleaming with power. “What is the danger here? That which Statera advised Shin and the others about.” All eyes turned to me at this, though I did my utmost to keep my attention upon him alone.
I could not help but feel their gazes, regardless.
I bit my lip, watching Rising Wind closely, resisting the urge to wring my hands as I analyzed what I knew about him and his Realm. Even an action as seemingly innocuous as wringing my hands could prove detrimental here; signs of nervousness were not permitted. And, very slowly, I told him the truth.
“I do not believe it wise to give you that answer.” I told him, voice as even as I could possibly make it, aura still. And the wording of my next statement had to be precise. “I have faith you will find the answer in your own time.” Rising Wind held my gaze for a tense moment, nothing seeming to happen to my eyes.
Then – there!
A little shift in the current of his faith-energy. A strengthening of resolve that was so slight it was almost imperceptible. Almost like a puzzle piece had been only slightly popped out, and now, with a gentle application of pressure, things were back in alignment. Solving Rising Wind’s crisis was not going to be so easy, and even my sight couldn’t see through the whole truth of what it was going to be, but at the very least something had changed.
This was the limit of what I could do. Rising Wind, Crashing waves was a god of wisdom. Unlike the others, he had to see most of this through himself, without me giving direct advice. If he saw things and came to his own conclusion was one thing, but direct advice? No. There were sages and gurus who could take the teachings of others and reword them, take that advice and reach enlightenment, then pass it on to others reworded and reworked. Rising Wind was not that kind of guru.
He was the rising wind. He was the crashing of waves. He was older than the skies themselves, a fundamental force that was greater than anything a mortal could imagine. He had to be that way. He was the trailblazer and the guide – and, by the nature of his universe, he had to be that way lest he, and those who followed him, became lost.
“I see.” Rising Wind said, nodding his head. “Thank you for your advice. I will take it into consideration.” With that, he turned away, back to one of the other gods that inhabited his Realm. It did not see us as it floated over the realm of life, watching a happy marriage between two young lovers. Its form was indistinct, clouded by the faith energy Rising Wind so easily manipulated, yet was obviously a being of light and joy. “…see this god here? It was born of kindness and love between two people. Lovers. It watched over and guided them to a happy end, and in turn, began to be worshipped by more and more people as a being who blesses happy marriages…”
I listened for a long while to Rising Wind’s explanation, Shin standing beside me with his boney fingers linked together. Yueya linked her arm in mine, giving me a quick smile as she turned back to Rising Wind’s explanation.
“It is kind, what you do,” Shin said finally. “Helping others with issues we do not ourselves notice.”
“I am merely…” I stopped myself from whatever nonsense I was about to say. There was nothing merely about what I was doing, pointing out Shadows to the other Origin Deities. Mr. Boxes himself had told me that the Shadow was something every god had to overcome at some point; he’d even implied that it was an open secret. Was what I was doing here right? Wrong? I don’t think it mattered.
I was doing it because that was who I was. And I was receiving help from them, in more ways than they knew, simply by being allowed to see their realms and selves.
“You are being kind.” Yueya finished for me. “It is adorable, the way you dote on your children, and show concern for all us other gods. We are not powerless, but it does feel nice to be the ones being doted on for a change. We are usually too busy being the ones controlling things after, all.”
I flushed while Shin nodded, clacking his jaw together in what I took as a chuckle.
“I don’t mean to…” I said slowly.
“She meant it as a compliment, Statera. Take it for the spirit in which it was given, not the words in which it was said.” Shin said simply. My embarrassment deepened and Yueya laughed, shaking her head at me.
“That’s more the Statera I’m used to. Don’t get me wrong, the warrior is wonderful, but there is great charm to this version of you as well.” She teased. This sobered me up and both Yueya and Shin noticed it if the way they fell silent, staring out over the Cosmic Planes was any indication. Yueya was right. This was a version of me. Just as the Warrior was. Just as the Dragon was. Just as the Emperor was, and the Mother was. How many other versions…
I cut that thought off, relaxing slightly. I knew who I was. Asking myself a silly question like that was nothing but doubting what I already knew.
However, there was one of my children who didn’t know who they were. My first children may be confused right now and in need of perspective, but there was one who needed to find out who they were. And their time was coming soon.
“Come,” I said, pulling Yueya forward, Shin falling in step beside me as Rising Wind began to move away, taking as much time as he could to continue his tour. “We don’t have much time left, and I am quite enjoying our time here.”
***
The tension in the meeting room was palpable, the moment we emerged from the Cosmic Planes, as a result of some carnage. A hundred of MR-10’s drones lay in a smoking heap piled in the corner of the room. MR-10 itself floated above its little stand, not even rotating as it floated silently in place. The Dragon, in turn, was napping happily upon a similar pile of drones, the metal digging into her scales uselessly, their smoke curling about her massive form.
The other gods were sitting in their spots, either chatting in hushed tones or meditating, uncaring of the apparent destruction. Only Reilly looked up as we entered, taking a deep draught of the gourd he held as he met my eyes.
“Yo,” he greeted, raising one hand.
“I expected worse, if I am to be honest. The Dragon does not strike me as a being of moderation.” Rising Wind, Crashing Waves admitted as he stepped through the portal, accompanied by a new god. This was one of the ones made completely of thought and faith; and this, I assumed, was an experiment to see if said god could find a way to sustain itself outside of said power.
“Yes, well, I would say the Dragon made out better than MR-10 with the price she extracted from him. I have a thing or two to learn about negotiations compared to her.” The Emperor deadpanned.
“A Dragon takes what is theirs.” Sehuyun grunted, not bothering to lift her head. I just shook my head at the dragon, placing a hand on Keilan’s shoulder as he came to stand beside me.
For once, he did not pull away. The others began their conversations, MR-10 quietly inquiring as to the nature of Rising Wind’s universe, while I walked my son to the portal and home. He stopped me just before the portal, looking up to meet my eyes.
“I approve of what you are doing with your karma,” he said, and I beamed at him. “Thank you for giving us the opportunity to grow, as you have, as you always have. I know what you need to do next – who you need to bring next. You do too. Don’t worry, I’ve been keeping an eye on Morgan. We’ve even had a few talks since you’ve been gone. Morgan’s not as…volatile as you fear.”
“Thank you, Keilan.” I said, laying my other hand atop his head to ruffle his hair, as I had when he was little. This time he did pull away, scowling, though it held no actual heat or anger. I chuckled. “You have always been the most thoughtful of my children, even if you do not show it in the most overt of ways. For this, I am truly thankful.”
Keilan blushed at my praise, his shoulders relaxing and wings spreading slightly. “Well then. This had been an enlightening experience, Mother, but I must return. The Karmic Realm calls…as do my own meditations.” And with that, my son disappeared back into my portal and the Four Realms. I let out a breath, and glanced over my shoulder at the others.
They all were bickering with each other good-naturedly, even Sehuyun. She traded barbs with Sylphina, having calmed down significantly after our bout, the chaos butterfly matching her tit-for-tat.
“Which universe are we going to next?” I called over my shoulder, loud enough to be heard over the rising noise of conversation.
“Nyxteria’s!” Nyxteria crowed happily, claws doing little pitter-patters against the marble floors as it shifted from foot to foot, a pile of timeless crystal at its feet. As I watched it dropped another crystal in the pile - a sample of Rising Wind's roots. “Nyxteria wants to show everyone Nyxteria’s nest!” I nodded to myself, firming my resolve. Nyxteria was the one I wanted Morgan to meet the most, even over the Dragon. And, just as importantly, I felt the others were ready to meet a fully developed Shadow, even if they didn’t know what that meant at the moment.
Taking a deep breath I thrust my hand into the portal before me, and waited for Mr. Boxes to rebuke me.
None came. I smiled.
“Morgan. It’s time to say hi.”
***
Statera Luotian: MC. God of Balance. Knows who they are.
Keilan: God of Karma. Observing. Thoughtful.
Rising Wind, Crashing Waves: Stag God of Wisdom. Has to be a trailblazer, most the time.
Yueya: Elven Goddess of Art. Appreciative.
Shin: Skeleton God of the Cycle. Also appreciative.
MR-10: Machine God of Order. Currently rebuilding drones, and reevaluating life choices.
The Dragon: Sehuyun. Happy with her life choices.
Reilly: Beggar God of Luck. Likes watching the chaos unfold. Would watch midday soap operas.
Nyxteria: Bird God of Space and Time. Show everyone the nest!
Comments
Dune Black
i ship Yueya and statera. There I said it. Thanks for the chapter
Portalop
Statera's main domain os Balance tho?
Dukeofchaos
I swear if statera develops a sub domain it'll be valor it would pair well with sight. Like the valkyries finding the worthy for valhalla.
Vorquel
Shadow time! I am excite.
