Chapter 291 - Uncertainties of the Universe (2/2)
”I see,” said Li. That explained the spatial tear that Lira seemed to be guarding and the presence of a Fthagguan in front of it. Why the fog felt so familiar in its coldness – it was because it was eldritch in nature to begin with.
”Then you must have called me here for a reason,” said Li.
”We are the highest beings of this universe,” said Sho-Gath. ”And it is only among ourselves that we may fight and die or be imprisoned or freed.”
”You want me to free you,” realized Li.
”You are an aspect of the Gate. Higher ranking than I am should you mature. And, as I see it-,” Sho-Gath's pupil narrowed, the ever-shifting blob of darkness thinning into a pinpoint. ”An aspect of Order as well.
Crawling chaos it was that created this box, and it is Order that will undo it. You, my longtime friend, are uniquely suited to assisting me in my predicament.”
”I cannot free you now,” said Li honestly.
”And I do not expect it,” said Sho-Gath. ”When you mature, if we are still together, and I should hope we are, I only ask that you strike the latches off this box that constrain me so.
What is it that I will do for you, you wonder? How will it be that I, a being of sheer Chaos, may aid you, a being of Order? Is that what you are thinking?”
”Yes,” admitted Li.
Sho-Gath laughed again. He never seemed to laugh at anyone, only to himself, but that made the laugh even more unsettling. ”I am invested in your journey; I will admit it. Among the many keepers of this box, you are the only one whose blood offerings I have taken with eagerness, granting shards of my power with willingness.
I will continue to aid you, provided you continue to grant me your blood offerings, of course. And when it is time, when you are matured and I am free, I will not spread my form towards this world that you protect. Nor shall I ever raise my malevolence towards you or whatever other worlds you decide to champion.”
”And will I not be able to achieve the same result by keeping you imprisoned?” said Li.
”Of course. But trust me, Gatekeeper, you will not regret shattering this box that binds me. I know it. And I do not twist my words with deception as some of my brethren do.”
”How? What do you know?”
”I do not know for sure. But I can sense it.” Sho-Gath's eye glowed bright for an instant before dimming. ”Through time and space our forms may travel, but time and space molded by others of our kind become difficult to unweave and tamper with. I cannot see all that lies in the future for you, but I know you will not regret granting me my freedom.”
”It may be some time before you find your freedom,” said Li. ”I will have to live many mortal lifetimes before I begin to fully embrace and mature into this side of mine.”
”Oh, you are starting to use words like 'mortal'. You are already maturing, but yes, it may take centuries. A millennium, perhaps. Perhaps more. Uncertainties of the universe, no? But I am willing to wait. The spans of time you bring up to me are naught but specks in a desert vaster than any that you have borne witness to.”
Sho-Gath chuckled to himself. ”I sense that you find my proposition agreeable. It is done, then. I will remain in this band an ever eager witness to your journey until you embrace yourself, all of yourself, fully. ”
Sho-Gath's form started to waver, growing opaque in the darkness like a mirage. This meeting was ending. ”And perhaps that time may come much sooner than you think.”
”What do you mean?” asked Li.
”I cannot know for sure. Uncertainties of the universe, no?”