POV: The Mad Scientist

I stared idly at the Fae before me, my wings stretching out to bask in the light of the sun as we floated in space. The rays warmed my brown feathers and I sighed in contentment, giving another critical gaze at the being in purple robes that was staring at me. With a shudder I raised one eyebrow as I felt something gaze into my future...though I knew what they would find. It was always the same no matter what looked into my future, and my past. They could never see all of my past and my future was unstable at best.

"You are being surprisingly...gentle. Most...cultivators that I've met are not nearly as...nice as you are." I said slowly, picking my words with care as I always do. It is a trait that I keep no matter what life I'm living.

"It's a good thing that I'm not a cultivator then." The Fae said with a smile, still peering into my future and...soul, with those penetrating green eyes. They were so deep that I felt as if I could hide nothing, and even if I did, it would soon be found out. Those were the kinds of eyes that I had never truly seen before, because there are many things that I can hide, even to those who claim to be "all-seeing." "I am Statera Luotian, to answer your question." The Fae told me before I could even ask a simple "who are you?"

"Like from the common...mythologies." I stated, looking at the androgynous being carefully. Was Statera here just an incredibly powerful cultivator that happened to be venerated by those on the planet below? I've seen it before in the other universe with cultivation practices, but I suspect that this is not the case this time around. This one feels much more...hmm, for once I cannot find the word.

"The very one." Statera said, never once halting the search through my future and soul. With a wave of one hand a perception filter settled down around us, keeping any unwanted visitors from hearing our conversation or even seeing us. From what I could tell it was an unimaginably powerful filter, but this body is weak so I might be a little prejudiced.

"That was a very...smooth perception filter. Afraid of being watched?" I inquired innocently. Statera snorted.

"My children like to keep tabs on me. They mean well, and are looking out for the good of the Realms, but it can get a little annoying. Nothing's going to pop up that I don't sense first, and I have many ways of contacting them that would not require a bodyguard. Tea?" Statera asked, causing a pot of steaming tea to appear out of thin air. I raised my eyebrows, my thoughts whirring. Manipulation of matter...that's very high level. Incredibly so, unless I missed spatial magic...no, I'm well versed in spatial manipulation, it's doubtful that anyone would be able to slip passed me... I silently accepted the tea Statera offered, scrutinizing it closely but not drinking. "I'm impressed that you felt me do that, by the way. I wasn't being sneaky about the...filter, as you call it, but I wouldn't expect it from a mortal." Statera said calmly.

"Is that so?" I asked, still not drinking. "When are you going to tell me what I am...here for? I...presume you have a purpose in...abducting me." I drawled, raising one eyebrow. Statera chuckled and gave me a look.

"As soon as I figure out what it is you're hiding outside of the laws of my Realms." Statera said quite simply, and I blinked in surprise. What I'm...? I wondered for a brief moment before realization dawned upon me. Statera was talking about my memories. "Sorry if I'm coming across as pushy, by the by. I haven't been this interested in a challenge since I attempted to absorb Void fragments." My eyes flew open and I took a few steps back. Statera watched me with interest, but obviously didn't think anything of it.

"V-Void...fragments? You attempted to merge with the Void?" I asked incredulously. I'd only ever seen people attempt that once, and it ended...catastrophically. Five of them were erased from existence, and the other, the most powerful of the group, went absolutely insane and attempted to destroy everything around him. I was forced to kill him. Statera was blinking at me in momentary confusion as I pulled myself out of my reverie, smiling at me in an amused manner.

"That's quite the strong memory you have there. What's it from...? Oh, I see! That's what all this fog is...you're in a different reincarnation cycle! But instead of losing your memories you keep them, and...every life you jump to a new universe. Intriguing." Statera muttered, shocking me to my core. No one had been able to figure that out so quickly...and never so accurately. "What would that...? Oh! It's like trading information! I see now...sort of. That's not all there is to it, is there?" Statera mused, and I bristled a bit at being considered a message system.

"What were you doing with void fragments?" I asked, hissing out my question and attempting to change the conversation topic.

"Absorbing them, of course. I succeeded after close to a million years, but I'll need more if I want to increase my powers in that direction any further. If it were anyone but me doing the absorbing I would be just as worried as you, but as a Deity of Balance, It's not nearly as dangerous. I know my limits. Also, don't think that you're going to get away with changing the subject. This is why I was guided to you after all." Statera explained.

"Guided...? A so-called deity needs guidance? From whom?" I inquired.

"Not so-called. I am the Origin Deity of the Four Realms, I am its parent as much as its creator, and I have spawned thousands of other deities. And as both I and this universe are very young, we do receive guidance from time to time. Mostly from the one who presides over the entirety of the multiverse." Statera explained quickly. "I'm beginning to see why you were suggested."

"For what...?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"Hm. Well, the short version is that there's a little meeting going on between a group of origin deities that I am allowed to bring one guest to. None of my children are ready for such a meeting, and then you were brought to my attention. So far, you're passing. Having no discernable future helps...why is that by the way?" Statera asked. I considered telling the being the truth or not, before deciding that lying would not help anything. I'd run across a few species that could detect lies, which was an aggravating racial trait.

"I am more...unstable than others of my kind. The Mad Scientist is my...designation, and talks about my...inherent nature. Names are...difficult, when we have so many." I explained slowly, omitting some details. "Why do you want...me?"

"Simple. You'd benefit from it, assuming you can withstand my pressure." Statera said. "You're doing well. I've been slowly transferring my true body into this incarnation, and you haven't yet begun to feel it. A mortal at your level would normally be looking at my toes by now." Statera said. I raised my eyebrow and snorted. Nothing this being could do would put pressure on me, deity or no.

"Go...ahead." I said with a dismissive wave of my hand, quite confident in my mental fortitude. Statera looked at me questioningly for a moment before shrugging, giving me a look that said "you asked for it." Statera took a deep breath and let it out slowly - and suddenly the entire universe was lost to me. Pure power radiated over my body, pounding into my soul and my body screaming in pain, feeling as if the molecules that made up my physical form were bound and determined to tear themselves apart. An aura of majesty and might struck me like a bolt of lightning, and I fell to my knees, kowtowing before I could even think.

POV CHANGE: Statera Luotian

I looked at The Mad Scientist, who was quivering as she stood behind me, eyeing me warily. She was still getting used to being under the pressure of being in my presence, but at least she wasn't forced to kiss the floor anymore. It'd only been a few hours, too, and she was up and about, though she was keeping a healthy distance from me. As for my children...a few of my incarnations were placating them, telling them that I would be leaving on a trip and that I didn't know how long I would be gone.

"This is the Four Realms." I said solemnly, looking out over the Tree and the Mountain and the Valley. "It's small, no bigger than a galaxy, but growing. Though it needs to grow faster..." I muttered that last part, and didn't expect the Mad Scientist to answer.

"Couldn't you just spread the...seeds of the Tree, then?" She asked, forcing each word out. I looked at her, amused, before my face contorted in contemplation.

"Remind me to try that when we get back." I told her.

"I haven't agreed to going." The Mad Scientist retorted, and I chuckled. I liked this one, she wasn't afraid to talk back. Come to think of it...Tian does that too. There seems to be a theme going here...well, discounting Inesa.

"I'm all for freewill, however in this case you don't have a choice." I said sweetly, shooting her a smile. She just grumbled, her feathers ruffling irritably as we waited for the time to leave to arrive. It should happen any moment now...

Before we get started, I believe I should talk to you a bit about your guest, Statera. She is what I affectionately call a Monkey Wrench, because they are not a creation of my own and her kind tend to mess with every universe or world they travel to in big ways. Her existence is exactly as you suspected, one where each life she is taken to a new universe, with perfect memories of her previous lives. As such, she has information from at least thirty other universes and the basics of how they are run, which will provide useful in the upcoming meeting. A fresh perspective is always welcome. And yes, she is part of the reason why this meeting is coming early. No other questions will be answered at this time.

Teleporting to Meeting in 5...4...3...2...1...

Teleporting now.

The world spun for a moment, and we suddenly found ourselves standing at the edges of a circular platform of a see-through material. Twelve blank flags hung from tall poles surrounding area, and as I watched the flag directly behind me shimmered and changed to show a Mountain, Tree, Valley, and River. In the middle of the area was a large round table with twelve chairs around it...apparently our "plus one's" were supposed to stand behind us while the origin deities sat. All around us stretched chaos, nothing but pure chaos. Purples and blues flashed as nebula and galaxies twirled in the distance, asteroids and giant clumps of chaos hurtling by as I watched. It was very...impressive.

"This looks suspiciously like a...meeting between nations." The Mad Scientist said monotone.

"That's exactly what I was thinking." I grumbled, stepping forwards and waving my hands. Instantly the table was filled with good food and hot tea sat at every seat, leaving just enough room for the other deities to provide their own delicacies, if they are so inclined. "There. Now we can all have tea and chat." I said with a nod.

Nice. You going to put flowers out, too?

Quiet, you.

"That's a naive way to think." The Mad Scientist mentioned.

"Perhaps. But it's the way I prefer to think, even as I prepare for the worst." I said with a smile.

"Remind me why I'm here again?" The Mas Scientist asked as I moved back to stand next to her, glancing up at my flag with a frown. It'll have to do for now...

"Because you are. If you were not supposed to be here, you would not be." I replied simply, watching carefully for the arrival of any of the other deities. Time seemed to slowly tick by until I thought of a question I had simply not thought of before. Although I had warned my children that I would be leaving on a journey, I did not know how long I would be gone. Before I could even ask the question, Mr. Blue Boxes answered me.

You will be returned to your universe the exact moment that you left. For all intents and purposes, time has ceased to flow within the Four Realms.

Huh. Neat. So when are the other deities going to arrive?

Soon.

Thanks. That really clears things up. To my surprise, however, I didn't have to wait long for other deities to begin appearing. The first was a ball of scintillating white light that floated in midair, twisting and distorting with no predictable pattern. An aura of endlessness seemed to radiate from it, causing the Mad Scientist to tremble under its pressure. With a mere wave of my hand the Mad Scientist was protected from the aura, and she shot me a grateful look.

"Oh, I am not the first one here, it appears." The ball of light said, flashing with each word. From behind it stepped a centaur, carrying a halberd and dressed in gilded silver armor that covered his top half, glaring at me with unconcealed hostility. He was male, with light brown hair and a dappled horse body, his lower half prancing about impatiently as his nearly golden brown horse tail swished. "Do not stare, with such hostility, child." The centaur looked properly chastised, bowing towards the ball of light and schooling his features impressively. Though it couldn't fool me, he obviously was still treating me as a threat.

Not that I could blame him. Alexander would most likely be doing the same. As I watched the flag behind the ball of light shimmered, the image of a whirlpool appearing on it. I smiled and nodded towards the ball of light, attempting to fly over to it but finding that my movement was restricted.

"It looks like we cannot move too much until the others arrive." I mentioned idly.

"Yes, it does appear, that way." The ball of light mentioned. "But I do not, think we will have, to wait long." As if in response to the ball's words two more origin deities stepped into the chamber, choosing to appear via portal.

One of them was a non-humanoid being, taking the form of a giant eight-winged bird seemingly carved out of the starry sky. Stars glittered in its pitch-black feathers, purple gasses seeming to drift along its body and entire worlds seemed to fit underneath its wings. (Almost imperceptibly one of the chairs shifted into becoming a perch for the great bird.) Its talons tapped the floor as it inspected the other origin deities, its eyes seeming like they contained the boundlessness of time. Behind it fluttered a small creature that looked like a small, red sparrow. From it, I could sense a fiery rage that could rival the heat of a sun. As for its flag, it showed a large circle, surrounded by numerous smaller circles.

The other appeared directly to my left, and was...a slovenly man, accompanied by a righteous-looking female warrior, clad in shining golden armor with brilliant silver wings stretching from her back. She looked at me and nodded respectfully, her glowing silver eyes catching my own. I could see the way she shuddered when she met my eyes, and I smiled at her wondering why she shuddered. She stood in front of the slovenly man, surprisingly enough. Then I flicked my eyes to the slovenly man behind her, my smile widening when our eyes met. He was dressed like a beggar, looked like one too, what with his greasy black hair and grime-covered face, and held a pair of dice in one hand. Anyone who looked at him would never think that he would be an origin deity, but I could sense him and knew that he was. When he met my eyes his expression flickered imperceptibly before he shot me a wink, to which I chuckled inwardly and turned away. The slovenly man's flag shifted to appear as nine lines stacked on top of one another.

The next one to appear appeared alongside a six-armed hollow hunk of armor, while the origin deity itself was a floating pyramid made of a sleek black material and glowing with blue lights. It surprisingly appeared mechanical in nature, and exuded a very mysterious aura. Its flag depicted something that looked like a venn diagram - two spheres merging with one another.

"Tea and snacks...?" The pyramid intoned, it's attention obviously on the table.

"Ah, yeah. I didn't know what all was coming, so I kinda just laid out whatever I thought would be tasty." I admitted with a shrug. "If there's anything you want, just lay it on the table or let me know if you specifically want anything."

"I do not require sustenance." The pyramid said.

"Nor do I." The ball of light agreed.

"Nor do I, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy it." I grumbled, folding my arms across my chest and mock-pouting. When nothing else was said I sighed. "Feel free to add to the table." I muttered.

"Don't mind if I do. I'm rather fond of these." A sudden newcomer said in response to my words, cubes of condensed and purified elemental essences appearing on plates next to my own food. The being itself was a stag, with great, branching horns that flashed a myriad of colors. Its silky fur shone in the light, and it radiated an aura of pure elemental power. Behind it floated a mermaid, smiling sweetly at everyone while holding a coral sword. Its flag showed innumerous symbols of elemental essences.

"I will not eat any of your...'snacks.' And I shall not consume any of your other foods." Another newcomer intoned.

"Psst." A sudden voice caught my attention, causing me to look over to the slovenly origin deity. "Got any booze?" He asked in a stage-whisper. I winked conspiratorially at him, flicking a hand behind my back and causing a flask fly over to his side. He uncorked it, sniffed, took a swig, and groaned in appreciation. "You and I are going to be good friends, if that's the kind of booze you keep on you." I snickered and glanced at the three newcomers.

The first one, the one that had previously spoken out against the food, had six arms and wore gaudy clothes and a shining crown. The being radiated an aura of majesty, and yet another warrior in shining armor stood behind the being. Its flag depicted a castle.

The next was a skeleton covered in a pitch-black robe, a menacing scythe strapped to its back. Black smoke poured off of the bones I could see, its red eyes peering out from beneath its hood, while behind it stood a young woman dressed in a black kimono, her eyes closed and hands clasped before her as she stood guard. Its flag was a balancing scale, with two circles on either side, balanced perfectly. I narrowed my eyes in discovering that this origin deity was not a being of death, but more...cyclical in nature.

Finally, the third was an absolutely gorgeous elf with flaming red hair and a bewitching smile that she turned to everyone present. Beautiful could not even begin to describe her or the blonde elf that stood behind her, a bow strapped to his back. Her flag depicted a single line with a two circles on either side of it. I returned her smile, waving slightly before looking back at the table, watching in amusement as more and more food (or anything equivalent to food) began to pile up on it. Apparently I started a war.

I sagged slightly upon realizing that there were still three more deities left to appear, and already the origin deities present were already arguing. One in particular, the six-armed one wearing a crown, was acting rather pompous in my opinion. Every sentence came across as arrogant, and I found myself quickly becoming rather put out with him. Said deity turned his attention to me, met my eyes, and promptly swallowed whatever it was he was going to say before turning back to the eight-winged bird as he continued to bicker with it, leaving me to wonder why he didn't say anything to me.

Still though, my excitement over meeting the other origin deities prevented me from getting too down. Especially when the next two appeared, because I recognized one of them. The one I recognized was from the strange portal incident, when that wind elemental momentarily disappeared...

That one was a butterfly, with flowers growing on its wings. Its aura was very chaotic and ever-changing, which was partly how I knew it was the other origin deity I had met. Behind it was a flower of yellow and red that gently swayed in the non-existent wind. Its flag was covered in what looked like stars, and I waved at the butterfly happily. It flapped its wings once, a gentle gust reaching over to rustle my hair, which I took as acknowledgement.

The eleventh deity looked like an oni, with basic human features plus a single horn sticking out of its forehead, and dressed in the colors of the rainbow. Its robes were almost...obnoxious to look at, and behind it stood a tiger beastman. The flag behind them fluttered and formed a cloud above a flat line, which was above a flame. The oni radiated a strange aura, one I didn't fully understand myself.

I was actually surprised to not see any dragons, though I held out hope for the final deity...though my thoughts and the conversation currently taking over the room were silenced by the blue boxes that appeared before us.

All deities have assembled. The Twelfth origin deity will not make an appearance at this time due to the nature of its universe. You will have a small amount of time before the meeting officially starts to mingle and chat with your fellow deities. Get to know each other, and above all behave. Have fun, children.

Time until meeting begins: 40:00:00