[Chapter 23 part 3] Free – Idia and Torak

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…

The others departed wishing her luck, and she was guided to a simple office. It feels comparatively empty. Installing themselves in armchairs, John wasted no time, “Why don’t you tell me what you know?”

Free launched into a comprehensive overview, including a demonstration her roots. She considering injuring herself, but decided against it. Some find that disturbing.

“So you don’t use golden weapons?” John asked.

“Astra mentioned those, but she couldn’t explain them sufficiently.”

John nodded, “It’s a unique magic. Hard to figure out, but easy to master.” Light flashed from his palm, swirling and solidifying. A ghostly golden sword floated before her, unaffected by gravity. “This is a construct of pure creation, different from other summons. Golden weapons are inherently transient, their duration determined at inception. Adding power only reinforces their solidity.” The blade drifted towards her. “Try observing this.”

Free took the sword and instantly understood. It’s far simpler than I’d imagined… She concentrated and formed a transparent cube.

“Well done.” John dispelled the sword. I wonder… Focusing on her cube, she poured in everything she could muster. John raised an eyebrow, but watched silently. Slowly, the golden dice turned opaque. Free spun it in her fingers, “So this is what the Laughing Man uses…”

“Yes,” John grimaced. “He indirectly makes a mockery of our order.”

She sent the cube gliding away with a tap, “Should I switch to these in the arena?”

“No, I think not.” John answered. “Affinity is a layered thing. The more you wield a ‘concept’, the easier it becomes. You may not have noticed, but I’m certain you’ve developed a talent for roots. It’d be a waste to throw it away.”

“That said,” He continued. “You should also master golden weapons. They are, by far, the most effective means of dealing with the undead.”

This is constructive. Compared to Radin, Legonas, and Agata, John had struck her as ordinary. Turns out he’s competent.

“Do you believe in Idia?” John observed her carefully.

How should I respond? She was temped to lie, but her six sense warned her against it. Above all else, she hated the mundane and repetitive. If ‘yes’ means wasting time on ceremony…

“Not particularly, no.” She stated.

“Good,” John relaxed. “That’ll makes life simpler.” Seeing her confusion, he added, “It means I don’t have to play the role of priest around you.”

“’Play the role of priest’?” Free repeated incredulously. What kind of attitude is that!

John smiled snidely, "I know my god is real, I just don't believe in him."

He appeared more comfortable and open now. Is this his true self? “Why not?”

“Idia never intervenes. That’s my experience after centuries of laboring in his name. Sure, occasionally you’ll hear of a prayer answered or a miracle performed. However, I’ve yet to witness it myself. What’s the point in honoring in a god that’s never there?”

“My mother says people need something to cling to…”

“True,” John sighed. “The scriptures can provide assurances and purpose, which is why I act the part around strangers.” I doubt many priests would respond with such candor.

“By the way, how’d you know Idia’s real?” She asked.

“What are you asking?” John laughed.

“I’m honestly curious.” She persisted. “If you’ve never seen evidence, then how?”

John’s demeanor became subdued, “I know because his opposite exists, as much as we wish he didn’t. Talras’s interference in the mortal realm is indisputable.”

“Talras? Idia has an opposite?” She’d never heard of this. How’s that possible?

John froze, uncertainty creeping over him, “I figured, as Astra’s child, you’d know of him… I might be in trouble.”

Her excitement peaked. She’d learned something forbidden. I must make this talkative priest spill the beans!

“Since the cat’s out of the bag, you might as well tell me the rest. Who’s Talras? And more important, why is he secret?”

Contemplating briefly, John shrugged, “Sure, why not. Just as Idia is the god of life and creation, Talras is the god of death and destruction. He’s the fourth and strongest Dark God.”

“As to why he’s unknown… Two thousand years ago, Sola cooperated with him to wipe out humanity. After the Fracturing, the World Council decided to erase awareness of him. They hoped to reassure a broken world by hiding the fact that another Dark Age was inevitable. Sola might be gone, but Talras isn’t.”

Free struggled at the revelation. I always thought the main gods were just Idia and the HEAVENLY DAO. Talras threw everything into question.

“Okay, I didn’t care before, but I do now.” Free said. “Idia, Talras, and the HEAVENLY DAO. Where’d they come from and how do they relate?”

“You’re asking me for the Genesis of the world? I take it you want the real story too, not what’s spread by the church.” John sighed deeply. “I guess I asked for this. Alright, here’s the Adventurer Guild’s version.”

Free leaned forward. I’m SO going to tease Rose later.

“In the begin there was nothing, out of which came Idia and Talras. Zero became one and minus one, positive and negative.”

“With the naive optimism of a newborn, Idia immediately made shapes, light, and the universe itself. While Idia lost himself in the joy of creation, Talras waited on the sidelines. Unlike his brother, everything he touched returned to dust.”

“As the embodiment of death and the emptiness that comes after, he’d gotten the short end of the stick. While Idia’s essence is the reality we live in, Talras rules the Abyss.” And the HEAVENLY DAO governs the Ether.

“Wait, if the Abyss is his…” She muttered, memories of undeads springing to mind.

“I know what you are thinking, but no. He isn’t pure evil. The abyss was a different place before it was polluted by the souls of the dead. Empty, desolate, and absolute. Talras has largely resisted what the Abyss has become. Or so necromancers say.”

Wait, isn’t that horrible? Talras had a bad lot to start with, but it’d become infinitely worse. The Abyss turned into hell around him from the fragments of departed souls.

“Eventually, when Talras realized what awaited him was an eternity of misery, he turned on his brother. The universe began to crumble. By destroying everything, the god of death would merge with his brother and return all to nothing. Idia fought back by expanding the cosmos as fast as he could.”

“In the battle between the two, Talras had the edge. Entropy was on his side, and existence gradually shrunk. Desperate to save himself, Idia brought something into being that could resist Talras. He created life.”

So, knowing he couldn’t win, he recruited others to fight in his place? Free wasn’t impressed.

“Our souls have a weight to them that Talras can’t erase. Their presence stabilizes reality from his influence. We’re the last obstacle he must remove to know peace.”

“During the Dark Age, when the stars disappeared from the heavens, that was Talras preparing for the end. If Sola had won, he would’ve descended and enveloped Enera. That would’ve been it.“

The stakes were higher than I imagined. “What about the HEAVENLY DAO? And the other gods?”

“They came later, when drifting thoughts filled the Ether. The HEAVENLY DAO gained sentience, and our emotions coalesced into the six lesser gods.”

“Obviously, the gods of Hate, Fear, and Despair sympathize with Talras’s goal. The gods of Love, Courage, and Hope oppose this, but their intervention is less heavy-handed and harder to notice. Meanwhile, the HEAVENLY DAO remains the wild card who allowed the Dark Age.”

Free sat and deliberated. As long as we exists, Talras must suffer. Pretty unfair… She felt she understood Sola more, and the empathy wasn’t reassuring. Luckily, I’m skilled at ignoring bothersome things. Free put this aside and asked, “Who knows about him?”

“Most immortals and saints. It’s customary for someone at the guild to approach successful adventurers and explain certain details. Priests of Idia are aware. Necromancers too. Who do you think they make the oath to?”

“There are others: historians, scholars, military officials… Most stay quiet willing as there’s no downside to doing so. Talras won’t become active unless a Dark Age begins.”

“On that note, I expect you’ll inform your siblings, but please don’t spread this further.”

“Alright,” Free agreed. I don’t know anyone else anyway.