***Midhold, Research Facility***

***Celes***

“Those monsters killed all those people just to summon a god? How did they even get the idea?” Ireth mumbles, looking defeated. Lowering her gaze, she regards her open palms with dismay. “We should have purged all of them while we could! Risking a civil war would have been better than this! Haven't I already lost enough family!?”

Angrod is still staring at the screen with a grim expression, but he reaches out to rub his mother's back, offering comfort.

I press my lips into a thin line, hoping that Ireth won't change her ideals over this. Angrod told me that she already lost her mother and two children to the enemies of the crown and I find it commendable that she was still trying to create peace through non-violent means, even though it seemed like an impossible task.

The drones are still flying circles around the city, trying to collect as much data as possible. Thanks to the accumulating information the resolution increases, giving us a sharper image.

This allows me a good look at the summoning circle. “It looks so familiar. Somewhere, I have seen that circle before. It's on my lips.”

Angrod turns his attention to the screen. “It's the same circle which the Council used to summon us when we became gods.”

“Are you sure?” I look at him. “I thought they gave us our divinity through it?”

He smiles. “They never 'gave' us our divinity. We became gods on our own. Everyone becomes a god sooner or later, on the condition that his soul reaches the required strength. The Council is lying in order to control the less knowledgeable deities. It's much easier to make someone obey you if they think that you hold the power to take away something important.”

“They never threatened to take away our godhood!” I object, pointing out the flaw in his logic.

“No need.” He shrugs. “As long as you thought that they 'gave' it to you, you automatically assumed that they could take it away.” He tilts his head. “Given their lack of skill with soul-magic, I doubt that they could do it. The only one who even comes close to having the necessary skill is Seria. The other soul-mages in the Council's employment are bumbling buffoons.”

“How do you know that?” I ask. Then I immediately berate myself for forgetting that Ascathon was the Council's specialist for mind- and soul-magic. If anyone, he should know about the skills of his peers.

Nonetheless, Angrod decides to give me an explanation. “When they summoned me and 'made' me a god, I already knew quite a bit about magic. That circle is nothing more than an overly complicated summoning formation. I admit that it is a powerful device, but except for a change in location and a beautiful light show, combined with feeling dizzy, you get nothing from it.

“They intentionally designed the thing to be hard to analyse. The Council pulls off a big show to convince the newborn gods that they have power. But they didn't fool me. When they summoned me, I noticed that most of the runes in this circle have no function. They are just there to obfuscate its purpose.”

“Why didn't you tell anyone!?” The Council doesn't have any power over our divinity? They just let people assume that they gave it to them? To get control over them? Why would he keep such a secret hidden?

A moment before he answers, I realize how stupid I am. Spreading the truth would make him a prime target.

“Mwahaha!” Angrod chuckles with a self-berating tone. “How foolish do you think I am?”

He closes his eyes and makes a dismissive gesture. “Of course, I didn't immediately pick up on their spiel, but when they summoned me I was lucky enough to think three steps ahead before blurting out my knowledge. I bet standard procedure is to murder anyone who gets close to finding out. Later on, I snuck into Tjenemit's summoning chamber several times, just to make sure.”

Angrod taps his temple with his index finger. “Don't you think that a secret as powerful as that one is quite dangerous? What would they've done if I had told everyone of the biggest lie in the whole multiverse? Wouldn't quite a few gods decide that it isn't necessary to follow the Council's orders? Wouldn't they silence someone who knew that secret at any cost?

“I liked my life and I wasn't certain that overthrowing the Council is possible, so I kept my mouth shut. I played the scientific idiot who is much more interested in their city than in the actual circumstances of his ascension. I said 'yes' and 'amen' to everything they asked of me, hoping that I would manage to fly beneath their radar until I could start an actual revolution.”

“You planned to overthrow the Council!?” I gawk at him.

“Yes. Until a certain someone decided that I am her mortal enemy, which then required all my attention,” he grumbles, looking pointedly at me.

I close my mouth, feeling guilty about that. “I can say nothing in my defence. Looking back, I myself don't understand why I was so fanatic about you. The more I remember, the less sense it makes.” I think about it for a few seconds. “I guess you could be right. There are quite a few who are very unhappy with the Council's way of managing things. That still doesn't explain where the Meltheims got the knowledge for that circle?”

“I don't know.” Angrod shrugs his shoulders. “The only thing that comes to my mind is that someone is attempting a power-play within the Council. Something that's outside Tjenemit's or Seria's influence.”

“Could you two at least try speaking our language and explain what the Council is?” Katrine interrupts, her tone pointed and annoyed.

“Nothing to worry about. Just the gods of all gods, the rulers of the multiverse. No big deal at all,” Angrod proclaims.

“What about Seria? Can't she help us?” Arthur asks.

“Seria is also just one of the Council's minions,” I explain. “Sorry, but politics among gods are just as complicated as our own situation. We really don't know what's going on among the Council. Given our outdated knowledge, this summoning just makes no sense. The only thing I can come up with is that a lot of time has passed since our reincarnation and that we are facing a vastly different situation than we assumed it to be up until now.”

My thoughts drift to my dreams, but I dismiss the idea. It's not like I got more than vague hints from those memories.

“So, the only thing we can say for certain is that the Meltheims got their hands on some really powerful spell which is connected to the rulers of the multiverse? Why am I even trying to save my world from a civil war if the Rulers of the Fucking Multiverse are on their side,” Arthur complains, banging his fist onto the table with his scrying-map.

I lower my voice, trying to sound reasonable and appeasing. “Because if you don't even try, you will have lost from the start. We don't know much, but we know for sure that we should try to interrupt that summoning!” I try to encourage my dad again. “Somehow, for some reason, Seria ensured that only she can visit this world, or I bet someone else would have shown up already. I don't think that the someone who is trying to come here is on Seria's good side.”

Angrod sighs deeply. “At least time seems to be on our side. To power such a large ritual, you need huge amounts of mana. There is also no god who can just yank the spell-formation into the correct shape, which means that they have to rely purely on the circle. Those maniacs would need to sacrifice a whole world to run the ritual at full speed. At this rate, it will take years, maybe even a decade or two until the ritual is done.”

“Then we have time to take over the north and deal with the City of Seria later?” Arthur asks, narrowing his eyes.

“Maybe.” Angrod doesn't sound so sure, biting his lower lip. “The first thing I would do is to go for total war.”

Total war? “Angrod, I don't think that-”

He raises his hand to cut me off. “I don't suggest total war only because I want them dead. I want that, but there are also other considerations.” He points at the map. “I've fired my entire arsenal at known strategic locations and government facilities. The north should be in total chaos, giving us the perfect chance to take over. We've lost a lot of our border troops, but our own command structure is still relatively intact.

“I won't deny that a rushed attack will cost many lives, but acting quickly will save more people in this case. Our main goal should be ensuring that they can't collect even more sacrifices from their territory. We have to contain them in the City of Light. Giving them time will only allow them to march more lambs to the slaughter, which will shorten the time we have to do something about that shield.”

“Unless Seria shows up?” Ireth asks in a hopeful voice.

“I am afraid that we shouldn't count on that,” I answer quietly. “I think it's clear that Seria isn't residing in this world for most of the time, or she would have shown herself much more often. Depending on where you are in the multiverse, time can pass on a different scale. We have no idea what she is doing, so it could take her decades to check in on us if she happens to be in a lower dimension.”

Sensing that we don't have much more useful information to offer, Arthur gestures for us to get out. “If you two are correct, then I don't have any time to waste. Get out and give me time to coordinate everything. Ireth, I know that you just suffered a heavy blow, but could you stay with me to lend some credence to my words when I talk to your officers? Angrod, I need access to those spy-devices of yours.”

“They always want my toys...” Sighing, Angrod lends Arthur his tablet and starts explaining how to control the drones. Thanks to the intuitive interface the King of Stricc catches on quickly.

“I'll send you more devices with unlocked access. Your generals should also make contact with my lab. The staff there is trained in handling the spy-network. They will supply the army with everything that's necessary.” Angrod waves at the big screen which is about one meter wide and half a meter in height.

Arthur nods and gestures for Katrine and Ireth to come over. Ireth's eyes are still red and spilling tears, but it looks like she managed to pull herself together enough to help Arthur with organizing the troops.

After calling for Rose, they usher us out of the room and leave us at the door.

“I don't like it. We don't know what's going on. Do you have any feasible theories?” I ask the stupid hermit.

“We can only wait until the army has taken control of the north. It should be no problem, even though I failed in the City of Light. The rest of their command structure should be in ruins. All Arthur has to do is to march in our troops and take over. Then we can deal with the City of Light and its stupid shield,” Angrod explains slowly while thinking over something.

It sounds easy enough when he says it, but I have learned the hard way that taking over a large territory and keeping control over it are two different pairs of shoes.

“What could be the problem? If they have just one city left and we have enough time, we can crack the shield and deal with them,” I suggest.

“Yeah, the shield might be the problem. I don't know how many people they sacrificed to empower that thing. What if they used a sizeable amount? We could have trouble bringing it down.” He stares at the ground and stays silent.

“I am sorry. Nicol and Nicosar could still be alive. We haven't had any confirmation of their deaths.” I hug him. He may be an uncaring idiot with a cold heart, but at least he gets angry for those close to him. “We will get through this, don't you remember! Seria said that we will lead the world towards a better future! If we are together, nothing can stop us!” I proclaim proudly, hoping to encourage him.

He smiles weakly. “You know... I killed the last prophet who thought to mess with me.”

We go to the living room and just sit on the couch for the rest of the night. When Angrod falls asleep, I go and get a blanket for us from my bedroom. I am about to make my way towards the kitchen in order to grab a late snack, but when I turn around the corner of the main corridor, I bump into a person who rushed along the hallway.

“Celes, where is Arthur?” Nicosar stands before me, though a little dusty and bald, he is alive! He looks like the survivor of a nuclear explosion who had his hair singed off. To my disturbance, I notice that his bushy raccoon's tail also lost all its hair and now looks like a rat's tail.

My eyes widen involuntarily as I watch the ghost standing in front of me.

The real Ghost was following Nicosar, trotting after the old man. The razorclaw sniffs and him and wrinkles his nose, sneezing cutely. At least as cutely as a dog-sized cat can.

“N- Nicosar! We thought you were dead!” I drop the blanket and hug him. My chance at getting revenge wasn't taken from me after all! Oh, thank the multiverse! I can still pay him back for all those months of torture. “Where is Nicol?”

Nicosar shakes his head, showing a pained expression on his face. “I got blown a few kilometres through the air. After I regenerated, I awoke somewhere in the wilderness, naked. I didn't even have enough energy left to regenerate my hair, so I had to trek by foot. It took time to find the next civilised place with someone who could teleport me back. I fear that Nicol hasn't made it. It was... a rather big explosion...”

I gape at him. He took a nuke to the face and got up afterwards!?

It takes a few moments to get my priorities straight. “Anyway. You have to take care of Ireth. She is pretty down since we got the news of the attack. Arthur is already coordinating everything.” I take Nicosar by the hand and lead him back to the cartography room.

On the way, I stop in the living room and wake up Angrod.

Sitting up, he smiles an evil smile when he sees the old man. “I am so glad that you made it. I feared that thing got you after you didn't show up for so long.”

Together, we go to Arthur's room. At the noise of opening the door, Ireth looks up and sees Nicosar. She jumps and runs over to hug her father. “Dad! I am so glad. What…”

“I am sorry,” Nicosar whispers quickly and hugs his daughter in turn, silencing her question about Nicol. “You have to be strong, you are the queen of a country. We can't just lay down our responsibilities because we lost someone dear to us. We have to stand up and work for a future in which those things won't happen.”

Ireth nods and Nicosar takes her by the hand. “Then we should go and help Arthur and Katrine.”

Together they leave to join Arthur and Ireth.

“And what will you do now?” I ask Angrod.

“I will go back to sleep since I am tired. I have the body of a child after all,” he answers, then looks at me, narrowing his eyes. “Why are you still all chirp and happy? Shouldn't you be tired too?”

“Well, if you would train to circulate your inner magic, you would realize that it has all sorts of beneficial effects. Increased vitality and endurance are just two of them.” I place a hand on my chest, hoping that a little of the old snide between us will return him to his normal self.

He huffs, then turns to retreat to his bedroom.

Sensing my chance, I follow him! He seems to be too tired to care about what I do, so it's the perfect chance to cheer him up.

***The Centre, Crystal City***

***Lada***

Sitting down at the oval table, I stack my papers and smile at the others, hoping that this isn't another one of those meetings where everyone complains while Shaddai puts them back in their place.

Including myself, all seven Council members are present at the white table which we always use for important meetings. Beneath us, visible through a transparent floor, is a city made of crystals.

The Crystal City.

This is the largest tower in the city, its uppermost office allows a grand view on the eternal creation of those who came before us. The office's floor stretches out of the tower, surrounded on all sides by glass. It gives the impression of hovering in the sky without the need of any support.

I smile as I take a look out of the large windowfront. The sun has already set, which means that only a dim glow dyes the horizon in shades of blue and red.

Above us, the black hole which is dancing with the sun seems to swallow and distort the stars in the sky.

“I don't believe her! She is playing tricks on us!” Tjenemit complains, clearly speaking about Seria and therefore destroying my inner tranquility.

Seria was the main topic of our last two meetings!

“You guys must see it too,” he continues. “She is spending too much time outside of our surveillance! What is she doing in those Void-Zones?”

“I agree, but we never had much choice in the matter. She is the only one who can wander through those places. That makes her an invaluable weapon in finding insurrectionists. Not only is she fast, but she is also great at tracking and strong enough to subdue her prey. While others have to take detours to circumvent the Void-Zones, she can just walk in a straight line.” Amaru seems to share Tjenemit's opinion, but there is doubt in his voice.

Amaru, the scientist of our group, keeps polishing his monocle, showing only moderate interest in the subject.

“Seria is good in what she does. She brought us countless escapees who didn't approve of our guidance.” Eris shrugs. “Sometimes, her prey escapes, but what's the problem with that? Of ten assignments, she brings us nine people. That's a better track record than most other hunters can hope to achieve at their best.”

“That's the problem.” Tjenemit slams his palm onto the table. “Someone with her skills should get everyone.”

El Shaddai raises an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. “I am sure that you know yourself how unlikely it is to succeed at everything, Tjenemit. Just remember your latest fuck-up with Amaru's pantheon project. The one where you drove two deities into destroying a whole world. If that wasn't negligence, then I don't know what is.”

Everyone chuckles, except for Amaru and Tjenemit.

“I admit that Seria is a strange one, but that's only natural for someone as old as she is. If she hadn't been caught up in that Void-Zone and lost most of her memories, we would have to consider her as our elder. You can investigate her as much as you want, but I doubt that you will find some big conspiracy.” Eris picks at her nails, sounding peevish.

I take another look through the documents and statistics which Tjenemit provided. They supposedly show how Seria has a tendency to 'lose' people with certain traits. Mostly men and women with high moral standards and a tendency to fight against suppressive regimes.

“But many who escaped her never turned up again! It's all there in the evidence which I provided!” Tjenemit gestures at the papers on the table. “There are countless cases! It goes back as far as our records about her! I want to know what happened to those men and women, and I have an idea where I have to look!”

Enyo shakes her head. “Not that again. Are you seriously suggesting that she is building an unstoppable army in one of the Void-Zones?” She ruffles her long, black hair. “I admit that I am itching for a good fight, but your theory is like grasping for the stars in the sky. Not impossible for us gods, but highly unlikely. Seria is also a very impulsive person. You can't sell me a story of her gathering support for eons! Decades, yes. Centuries... maybe.”

Then she starts laughing like a nutcase while pinching the bridge of her delicate nose. “But seriously? Look at how far back those records go. She must have gathered millions, a whole world of people. Such a task borders on insanity. Is she some collector who likes deities with certain traits?”

Elohim clears his throat. “Even if she truly does such a thing, I don't care. She never showed any sign of being disloyal. Let her have them to play her games as long as she does her job. Your gripe is that she took those two, but you yourself failed to clarify what you wanted her to do with Ascathon and Myrm. If someone of her usefulness gets a bit quirky, you should make an effort to overlook it. All we truly want is information about Mana Crystals. Pressure her into giving us that information and she can have Ascathon and Myrm.”

Enyo stretches in her chair and speaks with a bored voice. “I think so too. Eternity is long. Everyone needs a hobby. I don't know which sick side of hers she is hiding from us, and I don't want to know as long as she does her job and those who vanished never show up again. Her solution of dealing with misfits clearly works just as well as ours.”

“I still think you guys are making a big mistake by turning a blind eye on her! I made a mistake in giving her those two when she asked for it! We should have locked them inside the black hole too! I know that Seria is planning something. I feel it! And soon, I will be able to prove it!” Tjenemit stabs his finger pointedly at the desk to underline his determination.

“How?” El Shaddai frowns, studying his overeager subordinate.

I sigh, hoping that Seria won't get into too much trouble for whatever she is doing. Haven't I told her more than once that antagonizing the Council isn't a good idea? I won't be able to shield her forever.

Tjenemit's expression turns smug. “I have invested quite some time in researching her favourite Void-Zone. I think that something is in there!”

I raise my voice. “I am sure that if we would just talk to her, we could reach a consensus.”

Tjenemit throws a disapproving look in my direction.

“That would be the wrong thing to do. Who says that she doesn't have the ability to relocate her whole operation if we give her a warning? I have already sent a message into the Void-Zone. It contains a summoning circle for myself and a little enticing message. If I am right, someone will find it and summon me there. With the circle, I will have a perfect conjuration point which should allow me to come and go as I please. No reason to rely on Seria.”

“Wouldn't you have to be very lucky for someone to find that message?” Amaru asks, putting on his monocle. “Even if it gets found, who says that they will use it?”

Tjenemit raises an educating finger. “That's why I used an intent-based conjuration spell! I know that this type of magic isn't very precise, but the Void-Zone is pretty much empty aside from my target. My only targeting condition was for my little bottle post to reach someone who is willing to use the contents at all costs.”

Leaning back, he smiles smugly. “And all I have to do is to lean back and wait.”

El Shaddai tilts his head, thinking. “I suppose Seria doesn't know about this.”

“Of course not!” Tjenemit answers quickly. “It would be stupid to try this with her knowledge. She would intercept my message. I could even be caught inside the Void-Zone!”

“I still think that we should talk.” I throw a pleading look at Shaddai. “Seria is a trusted aide and a friend of mine. If we plan something like this behind her back, it could destroy our relationship. Seria won't react well to such a clear show of distrust. Hasn't she proven herself over the millennia? The least we can do is to talk before we try to pry into her business.”

“I know that you are a Goddess of Harmony, Lada, but you are too trusting.” Amaru shakes his head. “Seria may be everything you think of her, but she is also in a unique position. She is the only being that's not entirely under our control.”

“Hah.” I snort. “Neither are the demons on the Infernal Planes. Or those in the dimensions that are too strange for us to understand. A God of Wisdom should know better. This is not the right path!” I cross my arms in front of my chest.

“Then we will take a vote to decide. Speak now! Who is against Tjenemit in this.” El Shaddai looks around, waiting for us to speak up. The last rays of sunlight reflect on his golden skin and the office's lights automatically switch on.

“I am firmly against intruding into Seria's business!” I am quick to respond.

Elohim, who stayed mostly silent, shifts in his chair. “I don't believe it to be the right step either.”

One of the plants on his shoulder loses a leaf and he picks it up, eating it.

Isn't that like self-cannibalism!? I suppress the urge to gag. The man got stranger and stranger over the years, but at least he is supporting me.

“In favour!” Amaru shifts the vote to two against and one for Tjenemit's plan.

“Let him try.” Eris shrugs. “I don't see the harm. Seria just has to get over it if she turns out to be innocent.”

Everyone looks at Enyo, but she waves her hand, looking bored. “I don't really care. Tell me if I can crush something, then I am all for it, but this sounds too much like an average investigation.”

“So we have two voices in favour of the plan, two against it and one without opinion,” Shaddai sums it up. “I also think that we should look into Seria's business. If for nothing else then to make sure that she isn't up to mischief. You will go through with your plan, Tjenemit. I will take my leave then. There is much to do.”

El Shaddai vanishes.

“Nice! Boring talks are done! Time to crush something!” Enyo blinks out of existence with a fist-pump, suddenly energized thanks to Shaddai's departure.

“Then I will retreat too. I will have to meditate in order to find the summoning circle.” Tjenemit fades away.

“Sorry, Lada, but creating discord is my forte! I had to assist Tjenemit in this.” Eris dissolves into particles of light with a smirk on her face. If one thing is certain, then it's that the Goddess of Discord will choose the path which will create the most trouble.

“This is wrong. Elohim, you know it too!” I turn to Elohim, the only one who was on my side.

“I am sorry Lada, but I don't agree with you. I may have voted with you, but for different reasons than friendship. I think that Seria should be left alone because she never betrayed our trust. But if Tjenemit is right... well. We can't have a freelance goddess with an army at her beck and call.”

“The thing is that Tjenemit doesn't have proof. He has just one of his stupid feelings,” I complain.

Elohim nods. “You are right, and that's why I voted against kicking the bee-hive just to test if there are some killer bees or normal honeybees inside. Even normal bees get mad if their hive is kicked. Seria did nothing to deserve this investigation.” He waves and vanishes too, leaving me behind.

Still not believing it, I grab the papers on the table and start reading.