I hurriedly shifted after coming to my realization… Pluvia said Obscura could sleep for centuries at a time. Part of her offer to bring me back to life involves befriending the goddess… I don’t want to wait centuries before I can get started! I wanted to start right away! Besides that, the terms of doing a good job in maintaining balance is somewhat vague! For how long would I need to do that?

I re-appeared in the ancient structure blanketed in shadow, within the panel room piled in requests. I hurriedly made my way to where Obscura lay sleeping. Sure enough, she was still asleep. Her sleeping face looked innocent and peaceful… I was about to destroy that peace.

“O-Obscura?” I called out. She did not even stir, so I attempted once more, only louder this time. “Obscura!”... Still no reaction. This time, then, “OBSCURA!”... Still not even the slightest stir… “Hey! WAKE UP!” I said, taking her by the shoulders and shaking her gently.

“Nnnn… Ten more... Centuries…” She trailed off, stirring slightly. Centuries? You are crazy if you think I will allow that!

“WAKE UP OBSCURA!” I yelled loudly while shaking her shoulders so furiously her head whipped back and forth.

“Nnnn… I’m up… I’M UP! KNOCK IT OFF!” She flailed at me and pushed me away. She looked flustered and galred at me. “Geez, can’t a goddess get her beauty rest? What is it?”

“There are requests that only a god or goddess are supposed to accept!” I came up with the excuse off the top of my head, remembering that first request.

“So? You handled those right? It’s not a big deal. It isn’t like I’ll lose all of my existence.”

“All of your existence?” I was perplexed, what is she referring to?

“You know, it’s how gods are made! Enough people believe in it, and it becomes reality. Then those people start worshipping that god, and the god becomes stronger. I have existed for eons, and even at my all-time low I was fine. It isn’t like I’ll suddenly vanish because you gain some worshippers.” She explained in an exasperated matter-of-fact tone.

“T-thats!” I began my objection, but Obscura just held her palm towards me in a ‘stop’ gesture, as if she hearing a lecture for the hundredth time.

“You can handle it! Shouldn’t you get back to work? Those requests aren’t going to solve themselves.” She shooed me away with her hands.

“Fine.” I said simply, and retreated to the panel room angrily. I had to befriend THAT brat? This is going to be a far more difficult task than I imagined. I selected a random panel to peruse in order to get my mind off the insufferable goddess… “Grant the hero power…” The descriptions of these requests are so vague, yet in my mind I knew exactly how it is supposed to turn out, as if I had the script to a play memorized.

I placed my hand on the panel, accepting the request, and I shifted. I rose from a pool of darkness, into what appeared to be an ancient ruined structure covered in undisturbed dust and wild fungal growth. Before me was a weary and exhausted man, sporting full plate armor, full face helmet held under his arm, and a two-handed flamberge sheathed and strapped to his back.

I began the script that ran through my head. “You seek power from the font of darkness? To what end?” My voice became grandiose and chorus as I spread my arms, as if to welcome the startled man before me.

“T-to protect my country!” The man answered simply. This followed the script, and my next lines were to be ‘Then take with you this power of darkness, but beware, for it is not easily mastered.’... But the man made me curious, and I had to ask him, deviating from the script.

“Why do you seek the power of darkness to protect?” My voice lost it’s grandiose tone and strength, becoming instead my usual soft spoken utterances. This took the man aback, and he looked at me in confusion.

“Does it matter if it is darkness or light? fire or water? Aren’t they just tools to do as you will?” Was his response. That made me smile. Indeed, more often than not, something such as darkness is misunderstood as evil or malignant. I knew this well, having been with the shadows for as long as I can clearly remember.

“Well said. Take then, this power to protect. But remember deeply, Absolute power-”

“Absolutely corrupts. I will be careful, I vow it.” He finished my re-telling of the infamous phrase that appears to span more than just my original world. This too, made me smile. From my hands a wave of shadow emerges, and envelopes the hero’s body. As the shadow continues to froth and swirl around his body, forcing itself inward, I take my leave.

I find myself in the panel room once more. I can immediately tell the layout of the ancient structure of shadows has shifted yet again. Perhaps I should name this place, for myself at least, if not for others during conversation. I’ll just call it something simple… Temple of Shadows? No, it is more maze-like and ‘Temple of Shadows’ can be confused with the structures of mortal worshipers… Ah, I’ve got it!

“The Unseen Maze. Obscura so far always seems to be walking into walls and shifting the place, after all.”... Speaking of, where is Obscura? I can’t detect her inside the maze like I did before… Is she working? Just as I was considering this, a panel appeared before me. I caught it as it fell and glanced at it… Another request from Pluvia?...

“Come pick up Obscura?” So Obscura was with Pluvia? I place my hand on the panel. I was shifted to the sprawling palace of water I met Pluvia in previously. I found myself in a room made of not the crystal clear water of the room before, but instead in a room made of a beautiful ruby-red liquid. Then the smell assaulted me. It was powerful and pungent. It was definitely wine.

Half submerged in the floor of the room sat both Pluvia and Obscura, holding crystal glasses filled with wine. Their cheeks were flushed, and they were giggling with each other in an almost maniacal fashion… Can gods get drunk?

“Ohhh, itsh Kage! Join ush for a drink or five hundred!” Obscura stated, followed by an inelegant hiccup.

“No, no, itsh time for you to go back to your plashe, shweety.” Pluvia shook her head.

“Noooooo… I don’t wantsh to…” Just as she was full of giggling energy before, she had just as quickly slipped into a drunken stupor of unconsciousness.

“Shorry, Kage, can you take her home? I’ll dry her offsh for you…” I picked up Obscura, and as I did the wine permeating Obscura’s white nightgown - does she wear anything else? - seemingly vanished, without even a stain.

At that, I nodded my thanks to Pluvia and shifted back to the Unseen Maze, Obscura in my arms.

“Haaahh…” I sighed as I find the room with her bed, and lay her on it. I cover her with her blanket, and choose to let her sleep this off… Who ever heard of a god or goddess getting drunk? Geez.