Chapter 334: On the Nature of Wormholes (1/2)
”So, how exactly did I end up here? I don't think this is the kind of place you can just end up accidentally, right?” Mike asked.
Barth gave a slight smile as he answered. ”On the contrary, the High Elven relic you made use of is fully capable of sending a person directly into a divine realm unless the god that governs it decides to bar them access. As the Hall of Convergence has no such governor, it was indeed possible for you to end up here with it alone.”
”Judging from your phrasing, I take it that there was more to it than that.”
The god nodded. ”You were on course for one of the less pleasant realms that neighbors Ea. While you might have managed to escape on your own, I deemed it worthwhile to intervene.”
Mike frowned unintentionally for a second before straightening his face. The implications of that statement were rather troubling.
Noticing his disquiet, Barth gave him a reassuring smile. ”Please, don't concern yourself. You need not fear the attention of other deities. Your status as a Fatetouched ensures that. I was only able to locate you due to a very specific intersection of circumstances related to my role as the god of Order. A brief moment in which I caught but a passing glimpse of your activities. Any other god, to include the Creators themselves, would only be able to detect you by the effects of your presence.”
”I'm not sure I follow.”
The god calmly took a seat across from him and held up his hand. An image of a clear body of water appeared in the air above it as he explained. ”Imagine that the destiny of Ea is a lake, and all mortal beings are leaves that rest upon its surface.”
A plethora of leaves in different shapes and sizes appeared on the lake.
”Now, the leaves float along with the currents, moving through their mortal lives until they reach their eventual and immutable end. At times, they will brush other leaves and send them along in different directions, but such events are brief and largely inconsequential in the greater scheme of things. Occasionally, however, a leaf will be big enough or move fast enough to seriously interfere with the currents that have been laid out for others. Such individuals have powerful destinies that may be capable of altering the events the gods proscribed.”
A large maple leaf obligingly demonstrated the principle by gently pushing a handful of its peers away from the edge of the lake.
”So you are saying that I am such a leaf?” Mike asked.
Barth shook his head. ”Not at all. A powerful destiny is very visible to the Creators, if they care to pay attention, and they will usually either guide such an individual towards their own desired ends or destroy them to prevent any further harm to their plans. As a Fatetouched, you are more like a fish moving underwater. You have the freedom to come and go as you please within the confines of the lake and the Creators can only tell where you have been based on the ripples on the surface. This is most obvious when you come in contact with others and alter their destinies.”
Several of the leaves vanished under the surface, leaving only a series of spreading ripples that briefly disturbed their neighbors.
”I would imagine that such a person would be viewed as dangerous by the Creators.” Mike offered, trying to ignore the chill running down his spine at the implications of the information he was getting.
”Most definitely. Although, I would say that they are especially interested in you since you've managed to acquire the Hero title and the force of destiny that accompanies it. Combined with your status as a Fatetouched, this means you represent an existential threat to the very foundations of the current world order.”
”...I see.” Mike replied after a few moments. If he was public enemy number one for the gods of this world, that complicated things.
Expression softening slightly, Barth continued. ”At the moment, the Creators are still undecided on what to do about you. A few of them believe that your destruction is the only safe way forward, while the others believe you could very well be the solution to a problem that has been weighing upon them for many millennia. The Ascended on the other hand are mostly in favor of leaving you alone.”
”...Ok, I'll bite. Why is that?”
”Simple. In the current projections, this world will end within ten years and there is nothing the gods can do to stop it.” Barth explained casually as if discussing the weather. ”Would you allow me to freshen up your tea? It seems to have gone cold.”
”Please...wait no, what do you mean the world is going to end?! I only reincarnated here a little while ago, relatively speaking! Damn that firefly goddess, sending me to a world destined for destruction!”
”I doubt Selenica is even aware of the problem. She always did care more about pursuing her hobbies than doing her job.” The god replied with a sigh. ”Which is why we have so many problems with Reincarnators. However, I should point out that even though the world is set to end, there is one factor that may be its salvation.”
Mike stared at him for a second before the point sunk home. ”You are talking about me, aren't you?”
”I am. Being a Fatetouched means that you exist outside of the confines of this world's destiny, and can have a great impact on the course of events here. Some among the Ascended believe that simply allowing you to roam freely might lead Ea down a different path. What that path may be is unclear, but any alternative is better than annihilation.”
”So that's why you helped me? You think I am going to save the world?”
The god grinned, looking truly amused for the first time since they'd met. ”In part. Although, I must confess that a greater part of my decision to intercede on your behalf stems from something else entirely.”
He stood, moving to a cart that Mike hadn't noticed before. The divine being gracefully picked up a teapot from among the many accoutrements lying on it and turned to pour him a fresh cup of tea. While he was doing so, he continued his explanation. ”Many of my peers are dissatisfied with the world and the manner in which it is governed. While their actions are heavily restricted by the System, they have nevertheless been working for centuries to overturn the status quo. These Dissidents, for lack of a better term, view you as the spark that will ignite the flame of change and bring an end to the way things are at present.”
He finished and smoothly replaced the teapot without stopping his monologue. ”I am of a similar opinion, even though I do not hold the same level of disappointment with the Creators that they do. It is my simple hope that your continued presence in this world will bring a bit of chaos into the stagnant waters of this lake.”