Xanadu began with a bombshell.

“My group and I shouldn’t have existed at all. We are false lives created to avert a dire future by the nameless, native gods of the true Orb. The closer we draw to our goal, the more we know, and the weaker we are. For instance…” She glanced at Gaius. “My memories and personality…it’s one that was created with reference to someone my age, to enable that I can function well in society.”

“There’s a lot to digest at once. Avert a dire future?” The Oracle frowned. “Does that mean that you have the power of foresight, like I do?”

“No, Galina.” Xanadu smiled bitterly. “My creators located a critical spot in history, and interfered in it. The only indicator of whether they were successful or not that I have is the amount of power accessible to me. The moment the last connection between me and my maker snaps, the future will have changed.”

“Impossible,” said Pinnacle Kolya. “I have done my own experiments. Due to the presence of Aldnath, affecting history will have no change on the future. Simply sending someone or something through time is impossible. It is but a glorified suicide technique.”

“You assume that Aldnath is still present in this future you speak of,” Xanadu replied. “Other than the Human God, none of the great gods will be around a few years from now, their powers absorbed by a singular, almighty existence. And that, is the reason why I’m here.”

“Galina.” She turned to the Oracle. “You know why we need to kill the great gods, or to convince them to free the natural elements. I trust that you have verified my words over and over, right?”

The Oracle nodded.

“You should brief me on that later,” said Kolya.

“I can’t do that yet,” she replied.

“Got it.” The Pinnacle dipped his head at Xanadu. “My apologies. Please, continue with your explanation.”

“We were talking about the true Orb, yes? It’s the place covered by the Primordial Land in your legends,” she continued on. “It’s a dead world. Most of its inhabitants were killed or forced into dormancy when the ancient gods Pabar and Tiadall fought on Orb. The remaining, true gods of Orb worked together to preserve the ruins, creating crystals and gems to seal the souls of the dead in.”

“Our creation lore has a prequel, I see.” Countess Reinford spoke out, her face pale. “And why am I here anyway? I get a feeling that I shouldn’t be hearing this, or else I’d be silenced minutes after leaving this place.”

“Don’t worry about that,” said Kolya. “We’ll just throw you into life imprisonment, that’s all. Now, do continue, Xanadu.”

“And well, the rest you probably know better than me. Covered by the Primordial Land, the original gods created a cycle of reincarnation for the Five Lands, used it as a source to maintain their slumber and the vibrancy of the sealed souls, and departed for a long rest.” Xanadu smiled. “And that’s how their story should have ended.”

“That’s…a rather unfortunate story.”

“But it didn’t end that way, or else I wouldn’t be here,” said Xanadu. “In the end, the original gods had hoped that they would siphon off enough power to revive their own believers, but their dreams were crushed abruptly when the reincarnation cycle in your Orb was destroyed.”

“Destroyed?” The Oracle frowned. “How?”

“By the cessation of all life in the Five Lands. Only the demons remained, but since they were functionally immortal, the reincarnation cycle couldn’t draw much power from the occasional death.” Xanadu shook her head. “And with that, the original gods were forcibly awakened. Looking through the memories of the departed, they learnt that this was caused by a single being, who had surpassed the great gods of Orb.”

She paused dramatically, and for a moment, Gaius wondered if she was really telling the truth. Nonetheless, no one said anything, and after Xanadu enjoyed this little moment, she continued to tell her story.

“The Demon Sovereign Asteria. From the records, Asteria was a being from another world — Earth. Infused with both the Human God and the Demon God’s power, the Demon Sovereign trampled the Five Lands and swallowed most of the other great gods. And in doing so, the Demon Sovereign became the closest being to the ancient gods…and in some ways, surpassed them.”

“Not unimaginable, given that the great gods of today were formed from the ancient gods Tiadall and Pabar.” Pinnacle Kolya, who was wearing a grave expression, mused out loud. “I can guess where this is going. This Demon Sovereign, after subjugating all life, turned his or her attention into Heritage…and the Primordial Land.”

“Precisely. The only saving grace the original gods of Orb had was the absence of an authority in the timestream of Orb. Hereward had foreseen the dangers to other worlds if the Demon Sovereign ever usurped his and Aldnath’s powers. He convinced Aldnath to flee with him, and the two tore themselves from Orb, fleeing for the great beyond.” Xanadu shook his head. “It was the best thing they could do, given their circumstances. But I digress.”

“Bitter, angry and depressed, the remaining original gods pooled their powers and became one. They cut off any and all connections to Orb and reforged their very nature, thereby reforming themselves into an existence unaffected by karma and time. The process of doing so generated, for an infinitesimal moment, an unbelievable amount of useable power, which they expended to send agents into the Orb today.” Xanadu touched her chest slowly. “And that’s us.”

“In that case…the Demon Sovereign Asteria...that being used to be one of the Constellations, right?” Isabelle, who had been listening on the side, asked. “And you didn’t know who. Therefore, you and your fellows had to kill all the Constellations.”

Xanadu eyed Isabelle, and then sighed.

“Correct. I targeted the greatest threat first, Gemini, who was in the Demon God’s territory, when I was at the height of my powers. I entered the Wildlands, slew him, and then moved into the Five Lands, where the other Constellations were.” Xanadu shook her head. “And you know the rest. The only problem is now the possibility of the Human God granting his power to another individual. If this individual is captured and turned by the Demon God…there’s nothing else we can do.”

“And that’s why you came here today. To tell us your origins, and the things we must not do.” Pinnacle Kolya closed his eyes. “The Human God will not respond to the citizens of the North, least of all the Pinnacle. My work is cut out for me, it seems.”

“And for one more thing — to convey the final wishes of the native gods of Orb,” said Xanadu. “The existence that used to be the original gods of Orb is on the verge of dissipating. Existing outside time and karma is a debilitating endeavour. They might have already vanished.”

“Name it, and I’ll do all I can.” Kolya was unexpectedly serious, and Gaius found himself admiring the man unwillingly.

“To enter Heritage, to pierce through the Primordial Land, and to retrieve the slumbering natives of Orb. To breathe life into them, and to have them walk this artificial paradise.” Xanadu inclined her head.

“Sofia…” He turned towards the Oracle. “See to it.”

“Thank you.”

“I think it’ll be best if you are to stay here in the North,” said the Pinnacle. “I’ll call for the Conference of the Five. And I’ll invite the great gods.”

“The Four now, Kolya. You destroyed one of them yourself, remember?” the Oracle replied.

“And so I did. Do remember to stay in contact, Xanadu.” The two got up. “We shall take our leave first. There are things we need to do.”