Chapter 145: A Change of Priorities (1/2)
Barth dispensed with the usual formalities, since the five Creator Gods met with more haste than usual. In a matter of hours they had assembled around the circular table at the heart of the Convergence.
”I'm sure you are all aware of the reason for this meeting.” Aminatrea, Goddess of the Sun, spoke in a solemn tone, ”Our ancient foes are finally stirring, and it won't be long their minions become capable of breaching the boundary into Ea. We have a few years, a decade at most, before the invasion begins.”
”So, what's the plan?” Teun, Goddess of the Earth asked.
Aminatrea opened her mouth to reply, but was interrupted by the slender youth to her right.
”Besides running away, you mean?” Mone, one of the twin Gods of the Moon, answered.
”Are you suggesting we abandon our world? Everything we've built?” Aminatrea replied icily.
Lysande, God of the Stars, broke in. ”You are both forgetting that we are irretrievably tied to this realm, and the system that governs it. We cannot escape without sacrificing a great deal of our power. Assuming, of course, it is even possible.”
”Your fools if you think we can confront their combined might in our weakened state. Even should we succeed in throwing them back once, it will cost us almost everything. It will be a challenge to even survive the struggle. And then who will stop them the next time? No, we need to consider exit strategies, and I, for one, pride myself on always having an escape plan.” The Moon God said with a smirk.
Sparing the youth a level gaze, Lysande replied. ”You're speaking of the device you've hidden in the depths of your Divine Realm, are you not? Do you really believe it will save you from what is coming?”
Mone's eyes turned pitch black, as his face elongated, forming into a set of snarling jaws. ”How do you know about that?!” He growled menacingly.
”Who do you think built it in the first place?” The God of the Stars answered with a dry grin.
With groan of frustration, Mone vanished and was soon replaced by his sister, Mona who took up his seat, before speaking, ”We always knew creating the System would limit our options, so it should be a surprise to no one that we must now face the consequences. However, I have a hard time believing that none of you have thought of a solution to this impending crisis.”
”We may have spent much of the last ten thousand years marshaling our forces, but even in our prime we were closely matched. Now....” Lysande replied quietly.
”What of our appeal to the Ancient Ones? Have they come to a decision?” Mona asked in regards to their plea for intervention that dated to the time before Ea's creation.
”I sent another message when I detected the quake. However, I have received no reply. It seems we must face this on our own.” Aminatrea answered, bitterly, causing the assembled gods to exchange concerned glances.
”This one has a suggestion.” Yilon, God of the Void spoke in his monotone, buzzing manner.
Teun grimaced. ”So help me, if you suggest we embraced the inevitability of oblivion, I will find a way to hurt you before this is over.”
There was a pause before the floating orb of darkness replied. ”This one rescinds the suggestion.”
”That's what I thought. Does anyone else have any bright ideas?”
Silence descended on the group, all of whom were at a loss. Finally, an unlikely commentator broke in.
”What of the inhabitants of Ea? Can they not assist?” Barth asked from his position in the shadows along the rooms' sides.
The five Creator Gods looked at the speaker incredulously. This was the first time in millennia that the dedicated servant deity had spoken out of turn.
”Are you crazy?” Teun started. ”Do you really think a bunch of mortals can stand against their armies?”
”Alone? No. Divided as they are currently? Certainly not. However, should they unify behind the banner of a particularly powerful individual, one who can lead them to victory, then I believe they would be a force to be reckoned with. Isn't that the reason you tried to grant the Heroic Destiny on that mortal child, Lady Aminatrea?”
All eyes swept towards a new target. ”As I have said before, I bestowed the destiny so that he might confront the Demon God Anhilus, should its followers succeed in summoning it. However, knowing that our enemies were stirring, I had hoped that the Hero would unite the forces of Ea in the coming conflict.”
”Which would make sense, if not for someone stealing the destiny.” Teun growled. ”So we are back where we started, or actually worse, since we have to contend with the variable of an unknown and potentially hostile Hero. For all we know, he or she could be an agent of the enemy, set to strike us at our most vulnerable.”
Barth chuckled in a manner that could be construed as impolite, something that he had not done since taking over the Convergence. ”My lady, there are many possibilities concerning the current Hero. One of which is that he or she will stand in the defense of Ea. Rather than mourning the other outcomes, why not work towards ensuring the one most favorable to us? Why not ensure that this Hero will stand with us during the coming conflict?”
This caused some consternation among the assembled gods, as it was an option they had not considered initially. After all, why would they lower themselves to begging for the assistance of a thief who had stolen the Heroic Destiny from its chosen recipient?
”It could work…” Lysande muttered. ”The enemy will be forced to break through the barrier to reach Ea, leaving them weakened. If we can direct the fight into the mortal realm, they would also be restrained by the System. With a sufficiently large force, properly prepared and led by an experienced Hero, we might be able to deal them a heavy blow. One that would take them millennia to recover from.”
”There is a lot of uncertainty to that plan.” Mona commented quietly, before shooting a glance at Aminatrea. ”How has your investigation of the Hero gone? Are your followers any closer to determining his or her identity?”
Trying not to let her own misgivings show, the Sun Goddess replied. ”My followers have been able to determine two things. First, while his identity is still unclear, it appears that the current Hero is a young human male. Second, he was directly involved in halting a ritual to summon Anhilus in the middle of the city of Wyrport.”
”That's a good sign!” Teun broke in.