The entity knelt in the emptiness of the outer realm; head lowered in respect before The Creator. Gray mist swirled around the entities form, obscuring details from its normally keen senses. It was being given a new assignment. This would be the second assignment of its existence. The first had recently ended in failure.

“…and so, you will be The Arbiter of my will. Ensuring that all my creations abide by this agreement. Do you have any questions, Arbiter?” The Creator asked, the explanation coming to an end.

The entity, newly named The Arbiter kept its head lowered. Not knowing if it was its place to speak and fearing to even sound like it was questioning the Creator’s judgment.

“Speak freely Arbiter. I will not be angered by anything you say.” The Creator said noting the Arbiter’s hesitation instantly, mist doing nothing to impede its senses.

After another long pause to gather its thoughts, the newly named Arbiter raised its head and looked at the mist blurred outline of the Creator. An all seeing, all knowing being responsible for the creation of this outer realm and all the universes held within it. After a steadying breath it spoke.

“My lord,” It started. “I do not wish to question your will and I happily accept my assignment. I merely wish clarification on a few points if I may?” It then waited for an acknowledging hand gesture before it continued.

“The World Lords are beings of immense power. They are also some of your oldest creations, from a universe that has gone ignored for eons,” the Arbiter furrowed its brow in confusion as it continued. “Whereas the Souls are your favorite creation, your masterpiece, and have been purposely separated from the multiverse and its power. Why turn them into little more than game pieces for an abandoned universe?” Having asked its questions, the Arbiter lowered its head once more.

Perhaps it had been too free with its questioning of the Creator. It Waited in silence for either answers to the questions or oblivion for its daring. Time passed oddly in the outer realms it might have knelt there for a billion years, or it might have only been a handful of seconds, but eventually the Creator spoke.

“I never abandon one of my creations Arbiter. Sometimes they turn away from me, but I wait always for them to return. I know that you ask this question partly in resentment that I did not aid the universe I created you to watch over.”

The Arbiter’s shoulders tensed at the subtle rebuke in The Creator’s voice as its deepest regrets were casually spoken aloud. It was true, it did feel resentment that the Creator had let the universe it had guarded for its entire existence fall to corruption.

“I do not begrudge you those feelings child,” The Creator continued. “They were all my children and their loss saddens me. Although they turned away from me long ago, I would have aided them had they but asked.” Having addressed the Arbiter’s unasked question, the Creator continued.

“The World Lords may have turned away long ago blinded by the power I bestowed upon them. Now they have returned at last, and I will not deny any of my children who ask me for help. As for my Souls.”

The creator lifted a hand and a blue and green sphere appeared in it, pushing back the mists. The Sphere rotated slowly above the Creator’s palm, a spot of color in the otherwise colorless void of the outer realm. The Arbiter stared at the world slowly spinning before him.

“I created them weak and separate from the multiverse so that they would not be corrupted by my power. Sadly, even here they begin to turn from me. Keeping them isolated further will serve no purpose,” With a wave of the other hand the globe winked out of existence once more. The mists rushed back in to fill the once again empty space.

“I created The World lords with enough potential to shatter entire planets, and yet they ask for aid. More power will help them little; the Souls may be weak but they have free will and unlimited growth potential. There is no telling to what heights they may reach with time and guidance.” The Creator’s now empty hand pointed at the still kneeling Arbiter.

“That is why I appoint you to this task. You safeguarded the universe I entrusted to you. Many thousands I created after it and were lost to time before yours began to fall to corruption and you never wavered in your duty. You will be my Arbiter, with strength enough to keep the world lords in line, and passion enough to guide the souls past their ignorance until they choose to come home again. As I have spoken...”

The Arbiter continued to kneel, the weight of the Creator’s words pressing onto its shoulders. They echoed in the void endlessly, filling the Arbiter again with purpose. The mist thickened and drew the entity away as silence slowly fell. The Arbiter spoke into that silence before the mists enveloped him entirely.

“…So shall it be.”