203 Dimensional Knowledge (1/2)
”The dimension that is now known as the Wildlands is the birthplace of nature itself. Or at least it's this universe's birthplace of nature. It is a dimension that is the home and birthplace of two especially powerful collectives, the fey, and salvajes.” Ariel revealed, causing my eyes to widen in shock. The angel smiled when she revealed this, smiling not in response to her own words but rather as a response to my physical response to her words.
”So I see those are creatures you've heard of.” She said, somewhat jokingly. I looked at her and chuckled, before beginning to nod.
”I have heard of both fey and salvajes. I actually have the quest I need to complete to become an archfey.” I revealed, speaking frankly to the angel. This time her eyes widened in shock. And I watched as the wheels began to turn, metaphorically of course, in her mind. In a matter of seconds her eyes narrowed and she began to nod at me, before sighing embarrassedly.
”I... had forgotten about your 'More Than Meets The Eye' trait.” She confessed after she spent perhaps twelve seconds changing her facial expressions and recalling what she knew about me. I had been forthright with my angels, during the hours I had spent assigning angels to various tasks, telling them about the myriad cults I had founded, my vast ambitions, and even the strange nature of both my relationships with abominations and my extremely odd wild traits. At the time I had thought about the risks of revealing this to the angels but considered it a calculated decision on my part to ensure that we welcomed even the angels of destruction and eldritch angels who had come to serve me.
”So... You can already become an archfey? That's impressive.” Ariel said, a few seconds later. There was a bright grin on the young angel's face. She was trying to hide it for some reason, but she was also deeply impressed. I wondered for a moment if she were trying to hide how awestruck she was.
For a second I considered how to proceed. I knew that I could act haughty and mighty and be arrogant, channeling my godly pride. I also knew that if I wanted I could simply be honest, humble, and pursue knowledge. I debated the two options, aware that others also existed but I didn't feel like mulling over every single possibility. Perhaps five seconds passed before I came to the conclusion that it was better for me to seek knowledge than to act proud. In response to that decision, I chuckled at the angel's remarks and began to speak again.
”Yes I can. But I am already an elemental overlord, and in all honesty I don't know a tremendous amount about the differences between say an elemental overlord and an archfey.” I confessed, opting to take advantage of the nature of knowledge angels, particularly in regards to how they served their divine lords. Ariel's eyes began to glow with delight due to her sensing an opportunity to teach her master something new.
”One past archfey that my mother wrote about was the known as the duke of droughts. He was a potent archfey who lived in a desert and made a palace made of glass. He held considerable power over droughts, dehydration, sands, and erosion and ruled over a court of desert-dwelling fey.” Ariel told me, potent pride emanating from her gaze. She was quite proud of her knowledge, and she was also eager to share what she knew.
”To further illustrate the differences between an archfey and an elemental overlord, an elemental overlord of the earth such as the long-dead elemental princess of earth named Dunya held powers over the earth itself but she wasn't a higher being who had influence over autumn and thus she could do little to manipulate a harvest.” Ariel declared. I listened to her thoughtful explanation and was grateful to finally have someone who could teach me about other higher beings.
”So that's the difference! How amusing.” I said in response to her words, grinning as I thought about them. I closed my eyes as I absorbed the ramifications of what I had just been told. I also thought about the seasons themselves. Autumn with its ties to the harvest, summer with its ties to growth, spring with its ties to rebirth and renewal, and winter with its ties to coldness and solitude. As well as the more direct seasons, the dry season and the wet season. Ariel studied me, curiously watching my reactions to acquiring more knowledge. After a few moments of shared, comfortable silence, the angel spoke again and added more to her previous explanations.
”Elemental overlords, though capable of creating spirits were real and solid creatures. They were material beings. That is... less the case with archfey. Archfey, like lesser fey, were both real and spiritual. That will mostly likely be the case with you when you become an archfey.” The knowledgeable angel explained, studying me for a moment. I opened my eyes and gazed back at her.
I silently began to picture the Wildlands in my mind for the first time. I had yet to try and interact with any Salvajes, though a few worshipped me, and I had had exceptionally few interactions with fey. I knew, due to having taken knowledge from some of my elven worshipers, that elves were once fey but weren't anymore. Some suspected that dwarves and gnomes also shared that unusual origin. All three species, elves, dwarves, and gnomes, were now classified as both mortals and humanoids, which differed from the classifications of fey. After a few moments though I began to think of other things.
”What do you know about Infernius?” I asked her, curious as to what she knew about the home of devils, lawful evil extraplanars who I knew to be fixated on tradition and order. The part of me that was determined to build an empire was actually quite fond of devils and their penchant for structure, organization, and hierarchy. They reminded me a bit of hymenopteran insects. Ariel took another glance at her book, just as she had earlier, and began to speak this time keeping her eyes glued to the thing while she spoke.
”Infernius is an orderly world even now, in the wake of the catastrophe that it suffered in losing the higher beings who governed over devil-kind. The dimension itself is made up of an enormous planet and the planet's surface is just one small part of the entire dimension.” Ariel revealed.
”The surface is covered in technology that was automated long ago to access to deeper portions of the enigmatic dimension. Devils lurk only underneath the planet's surface, hidden away from prying eyes that would disrupt their plots. That said, they are suffering from their own unique circumstances. Archdevils, the lords of their home dimension, served a unique and irreplicable role in the lifespan of a devil. And since there are no current archdevils... Well life in Infernius has been different since the end of the mythic age.” Ariel explained, mysteriously. There was an annoyed look on her face due to her own knowledge being incomplete.
I chuckled and soothed her, using my powers over emotions to calm her down. I could sense legitimate annoyance and surprise coming off of her. I knew even without prying that her own knowledge was incomplete. This information, incomplete as it was, was still quite informative and deeply intriguing to me. I now knew of a mystery that was evidently even a mystery to at least low-ranking angels of knowledge. Impressively, even in the wake of my powers the angel managed to still be frustrated. I could sense it in her body language.
I studied her for a few moments and then I realized I could try something that for me might have been a bit out there. I could use my words to comfort her! I knew that she'd listen to the advice I gave and even if I failed I could try a different route without much worry. So I spent a moment silently wondering what to say, before composing something that I thought struck that fine line between profound and stupid.