48 Reasons And Explanations (1/2)
[So you're gonna pursue the domain of light's quest?] The system asked me, sounding not particularly surprised by that.
”Yes I am. It'll be something easy right?” I asked, hoping and honestly pretty certain that it would be. So far I had only earned influence over two non-innate subdomains and no domains that weren't innate, but their quests weren't hard.
[For you, it will be. All you have to do is restore sight to blind five people. Other gods have struggled with completing this quest, in the ancient past, but you won't. Healing is deeply tied to your soul. It's... odd and the domains and I have discussed it in the past, but your healing... it's different somehow.] The system remarked, speaking of my healing reverentially. It was... strange to listen to.
I chuckled and grinned, my black chitinous mask hiding my facial expressions from my allies and servants. ”Healing... Feels nice. I can't really explain it, but I like to heal. I suppose I'll think about it more deeply. Maybe I'll see why I enjoy healing if I ponder it, when I heal people.” I remarked to the system, revealing that I enjoyed the power to heal. I also pondered how I knew what ”blindness” was.
I was aware that I possessed some strange, intuitive knowledge. I knew now that most of what I knew was probably due to domains and subdomains innately filling me with knowledge that was ether pertinent to their areas of influence and expertise, or due to my wild traits, but it still felt strange to simply know things for no clear reason. I didn't know the mechanics of how I was given this information, or why, even though I suppose I could guess at both.
After I pondered that I closed my eyes and allowed the not-so-mini-map to overtake my vision. And I immediately dove into the filters, searching for applicable targets. At that moment I noticed something new.
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Just above the not-so-mini-map floated a few words. They said one, simple thing.
”Filter by quest”. I chuckled wondered why they appeared not and earlier.
[Explanation: The new symbols have appeared because of your new status as a 'Lesser Deity' and because of your desire to find applicable targets for a quest. From now on you'll be able to use quests as a way to filter through the countless targets you can detect whenever you use tremorsense.] The system's more automated voice told me.
I appreciated the new filter and tapped it. The automated voice spoke up once more.
['Filter by quest' filter selected. You only have one active quest therefore this will automatically choose that quest.] The system announced, making me smile. And then all at once, the not-so-mini-map grew a lot less colorful as tens of thousands of the outlines on it lost their color.
A clear and comical majority of the millions of creatures visible on the not-so-mini-map weren't applicable figures that I could engage. In a matter of seconds, plenty of creatures still remained, their outlines variously colored revealing considerable variety to their relational status to me, but it was obvious that this only a small minority of Puerto Rico's creatures were blind. None of them were creatures of any sort located in Comillas but plenty were located in San Gerardo.
I thought about the quest for a second and then wondered why this was the effectively the entry-level quest for the domain of light. As soon as I did the system, being a handy pal when it wasn't giving me attitude, broke it down for me.
[You aren't a mortal so I suppose it doesn't make much sense to you, though not many mortals in this world would know why so unaware of this id hardly unique to you... Anyways mortal eyesight relies on light. Mortals can see objects off which light bounces thanks to the peculiarity of their eyes. Your eyes can pierce through anything, regardless of whether or not any light bounces off of them, thanks to your being a god and all but mortals aren't so lucky.] The entity explained.
I nodded, appreciating that explanation. And then I focused on the contents of the not-so-mini-map. I studied it carefully as I considered who to select to heal, attempting to figure out what would be the best-case scenarios for what happened once I healed creatures.
”Curing someone of blindness is a significant act, one of immensely powerful and personal magic. I can safely and reasonably assume that the system will be telling them who healed them. What comes after that matters.” I told myself as I considered how to handle more than just the act of healing the blind, but also how to followup on that act of healing.
As I pondered that, an idea came to mind thanks to a handy power I had acquired when I first became a lesser god. A faith domain power that allowed me to give creatures visions whenever I wished.
”Bestowing a vision upon those I heal is a good idea. But what sort of vision should it be? What sort of message should it confer?” I wondered, silently asking myself this while my followers wondered what we were doing here. I chuckled and for a moment allowed myself to focus on the scene unfolding in front of me.
In fairness to them this being my lair was something I sprung on them out of the blue. Not that they had much input, I wasn't really asking them for their insights and importantly I wasn't telling them to stay with me, but they didn't' know this since I hadn't precisely explained what was going on.
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As I began to consider what all to tell my servants, I asked a friend a question. It was very similar to one I had asked the system at the beginning of my life, and I figured I owed it to myself to ask it to a relevant party this time around.
”Hey necromancy,” I began. I was referring to the subdomain, but I opted to shorten its name. ”What do mortals think of necromancers and necromancy? When I first came to life I asked the system what mortals thought of druids, I figured it was only fair to ask you the same thing just for necromancers and necromancy.” I asked before I explained why I had asked it in the first place.
I heard a peal of mirth-filled laughter. And then speech. ”Oh boy... I figured you'd ask me that question eventually. I'm glad you did before you went around showcasing your abilities to any humans. They tend to be... judgmental.” The subdomain explained.
”Mortals are scared of necromancy and necromancers. In fairness to them, as the subdomain that governs these things they should absolutely be scared of me and what I govern. I definitely want to see dead worlds. Dead solar systems. Dead galaxies. Dead universes.” Necromancy confessed, doing so with a chilling casualness that reaffirmed its ultimately violent and misanthropic nature.