Chapitre 36: Consequences
In a place outside of reality lived a being of incomprehensible form. There were others like her around as well, going about with their own works. But not her. She didn't believe in herding her followers. She believed in a path made by ones own volition. Unguided by divine hand.
That's what Celecia believed. She wanted her children, the humans she once shaped with her godly will, to follow what they believed, whether for good or ill. Even other gods if they so choose. It was their choice to make. All she could hope was that it was the right choice for them.
The image that she had crafted for the humans was not the form she was use. She preferred the one she was currently in. If a mortal could witness it, they would describe it as warped clouds and starlight that stretched into infinity. Right before collapsing into madness from not being able to comprehend what they truly saw. A dangerous price to pay for stepping into a divine realm.
And what was hers? To be bound to a will of a Star that couldn't think but still needed to function so that her children can thrive; one that drifted endlessly across space and eyed by hungering maws that lurk in the spaces between realities. Others have paid as well.
It is why she came to a pocket in space. A single dark room lit only by the faint empyrean starlight that floated above the world. Here, she coalesced into her being. The one place where they had all agreed to meet only in mortal form. Once, this was just a meeting place for them. But now the talk, gossip and scheming were gone. As much as they could among themselves.
Now this dark room held only a single large table. A map of the whole world laid strewn across it's mesa. On top, however stood numerous carved figures of alternating black and white as if it was a chess board. Another godly figure leaned on the other end of the table, carefully eyeing an ivory piece with thoughtful consideration. The moment she had entered, his gaze rose up to meet her.
"Celecia." He muttered with a neutral tone, "I had thought you decided to abstain from directly participating in stopping these forthcoming tribulations."
"I had thought so as well." she replied, "But I had found the last piece I needed. I am here to officially place him as my champion."
She hated it. Even while the world has started to fester, we still are compelled to compete with each other. But the will of this Star cannot be denied. Not by her. Not anymore.
Celecia approached the table and from within her robe, pulled out a porcelain figure. She beheld it with a gentle affection before carefully placing it next to another figure. One colored as black as the space between worlds and shaped as an incomprehensible mass of flesh and teeth. There were others like it strewn across the board. Too many she thought. But compared to the rest of the other black figures; so many in the shape of creatures, of mortals, of monsters. Of things not meant for this world, this little piece of black mass and it's ilk was just one of many of the problems that now have begun to crop up.
The other Divine scratched at his lavender hair. As gods they could take whatever shape they had wanted but nothing could be done about the color of their hair. No matter what form they took, the color of lavender would always give them away.
"So that's your scheme..." he thoughtfully says while moving towards the figure Celecia had placed, "I had heard rumors that you were working with your sisters. The others were saying that Penumbria would be the one who would bring forth a champion for you three."
Celecia scoffed at his words, "They are your sisters too, Ceartas. By the the Will of the Planet are we all Kin."
"I know." Ceartas replies, "But you three are the closest to each other among us. Do not presume we do not see you confiding with each other despite your conflicting alignments. Hmm... but this one..."
He looks closely at the newcomer before his eyes turned to shock. Ceartas raised his eyes to meet with Celecia's with indignance.
"I know that golem, Celecia! Who's soul is within that vessel!?" his questions hotly.
She unflinchingly met his stare, "One who can bring out it's full potential. Restalia searched endlessly for him and I made sure it was the right one personally."
Nevertheless, Ceartas did not back down, "You know what will happen if your champion fails, Celecia!? I know what kind of crystal that golem holds and you'd be a fool to think he could overcome it!"
"I am aware of the consequences." Celecia stated. Her expression was unwavering towards the Aspect of Justice, "But even you know how many ways this could end. How many futures have we've seen where we failed?"
Ceartas' expression became grim, "Too many... The star cracked in half by machines of war. Another future where nothing lived, the entire world a wasteland devoid of all life. One was predicted where we were all devoured by things that lurked between realities. And so many others..."
She nodded, "Which is why I went to such extreme measures. If we are to fail, then let it be so. But if we are to succeed... we must do so without faltering and prevent this from happening again."
He eyed her wearily, "Is that all? I can sense something hidden behind those words."
Celecia smiled at the God of Justice, "You know the rules, Ceartas."
He let out a grunt underneath his breath, "By the will of the planet, of course... By your leave, Celecia."
With that, he walked off and dispersed into his true form as he left the room. Celecia was now alone in this solitary room only seen by the divine. She looked back at the figure she had placed once again.
"I have faith in you, Arlan," she spoke kindly, "Even if you lost a bit of faith in me."
She extended a finger towards the black mass that sat next to golem shaped piece and with a quick flick, knocked it flat on the ground.
She too began to walk off towards infinite space. Celecia had explained to her sisters the plans she had lain for their Chosen. She had hoped Arlan would grow on his own, without depending on their strength. But she knew her sisters better than anyone. They didn't share the same ideals of noninterference she held within her.
Restalia would at least follow her wishes. She had always confided with her. Penumbria was the one she was worried about. As the one who created the Devil-kin, the Goddess of Darkness would not stand to have her shared Chosen to be weak. That would be quite unbefitting of her.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone