After my return to the palace of the Angels, the king had a completely different opinion of me, though that was only natural. Without any knowledge or concept of the void, it was almost impossible for any god from this world to stumble there accidentally. In that sense, James really proved himself as the greatest anomaly, because his knowledge of the system allowed him to seek out the different realms long before that region of Fyor was opened.
I watched the king shakily sitting on his throne while digesting the information that he had just received. This world, which had a circumference tens of thousands of times larger than the Earth that I originated from, was only a single layer in an overwhelmingly massive planet. Worse, they weren’t even near the top of said planet.
Due to his divine powers, the king knew that he hadn’t just been shown an illusion. What he saw should have really been the truth. If anything, the indifference that the other party used when talking to him only further showed this fact. There was no need for him to lie. With just the strength he had shown, he would have been able to kill all of them in moments.
“I… understand.” The King spoke with a heavy nod. “I’ll get in touch with the Lady of Storms.”
As he said that, he closed his eyes, using his divinity to send out a message. Arya, I have an urgent matter to discuss with you. This could determine the life and death of both of our nations, please respond.
There were a few moments of silence after he sent that, before a surprised voice spoke back to him. Reyor, what has gotten into you? I’ve never heard such panic in your mind.
The king, Reyor, let out a deep sigh of relief when the Archon’s queen answered his call. A powerful individual has come to me. He claims to be the creator of this world. And, after what he has shown me, I believe that he is speaking the truth.
What creator? Haven’t you always prided yourself as the one true creator around here, inheriting that title from your family? There was a faint hint of mockery in Arya’s tone, before she became more serious. What did this man show you that made you accept this claim?
I doubt you would believe me if I told you, lest you saw it yourself. I have seen the world outside of our own, and the infinite abyss beyond the sky. Thankfully, this man seems to come in peace. He has resisted my pressure, and casually brushed off my guards in the process. He is looking for a negotiation, but it involves something in your territory.
Oh? And what does this mighty creator want with me? Arya asked with a dark chuckle, though Reyor’s face became somewhat awkward.
Are… you familiar with a large slate of black stone, one which cannot be destroyed by any means? Reyor couldn’t bring himself to say that he knew such a thing currently existed within a bath, so he had to skirt around that issue.
…I am. What does that have to do with anything? Arya’s tone suddenly shifted, turning more wary.
The black stone is a gate to beyond this world. The creator came through one, and said that more will arrive soon. However, to progress to the next region, they must exit through the other gate. After a moment, Reyor added on with a deep sigh. He already knows the location of the gate, so please don’t try to hide it, or it will be both of our heads.
He dares threaten the Archons? Arya asked furiously.
Arya, please listen to me for a moment. Cast aside your temper and focus on what I am about to say. Judging by the pressure I felt from this man, even if all the kings and queens of the world were to fight at once, he would be able to defeat us. Furthermore, he has hidden supporters that I can’t detect, subordinates capable of taking him anywhere he wishes to go within a moment.
Then why not simply take himself to the gate, why go through this charade of having you contact me? Arya practically growled out those thoughts, Reyor clearing his throat.
…Do you want me to tell him to do that? Doing so meant inviting this man directly into her bathing chamber.
When she realized this, Arya naturally knew what he meant, and let out a deep groan. Arrange a meeting. Let me see if this man is worthy of me altering my palace to accommodate his wishes.
Reyor nodded his head, looking at the relaxed figure before him. “The Lady of Storms has agreed to meet you. However, she is reserving judgment on the… issue until she has determined your ability for herself.”
The man nodded his head, glancing upwards as golden mist wrapped around his body once again. Only after Reyor was certain that he was gone did he let himself let out a deep breath. “I don’t know who to pity more…”
“What kind of bastard could intimidate the old man to that degree?” Arya asked herself, her brows furrowed as she sat in her opulent throne. As they often met for regular diplomatic affairs, she was familiar with Reyor’s strength. Although he wasn’t the greatest of the kings, his unique abilities allowed him to rule unquestioned.
When she saw a golden mist spread out before her throne, she immediately became vigilant. This aligned with what Reyor had told her, but there was a big difference between the two. Reyor relied on his ‘King’s Right’ to rule, subduing any who stood in his way. Arya, meanwhile, relied purely on her own strength. The entire Archon nation was wrapped in a perpetual storm so long as she existed within it, and there was not a single guard within her palace, only a few maids and other workers.
“An Azoth?” Arya’s eyes narrowed as she saw the figure appearing, recognizing his apparent race. Though, on closer inspection, there were still some differences. Azoths typically had brightly glowing golden eyes, while this man’s eyes seemed far more normal. “So, you are the one that cowed the King of Angels?”
“You must be the Lady of Storms.” The man said, though at least he kept his tone respectful. “I apologize, but I’m new to this region, so I don’t know the proper customs. The King of the Angels said that you wished me to demonstrate my ability?”
There was an almost malicious smile on Arya’s face as she heard that. “That’s right. This should be an easy task for the creator of an entire world. All you have to do is open a hole in the sky.”
The man blinked for a moment, before shaking his head. Arya chuckled, as if having caught him in his lie, before he spoke. “There is a barrier of the same black stone which you possess within the sky and the ground. As I explained to the King of Angels, it is an immutable law of this world that it cannot be altered or destroyed. Even I cannot do such a thing.”
“Oh? Then how exactly do you plan to demonstrate your power to me?” Arya asked with a raised brow. While the angels had their white wings, Archons like Arya exuded a natural aura of light around their bodies, their hair uniquely golden.
The man opposite her thought about it. “I could demonstrate the ability of the gate. Though, that would require that you let me into the location where it is stored. Otherwise, I would be willing to take down some powerful monster roaming these lands. Though, if we judge this purely on combat strength, I doubt you will be satisfied.”
“Quite.” Arya nodded her head. She did not indulge him because of strength, but the possibility of his identity itself. “Since you cannot open the sky for me, I shall ask you to prove yourself in another way. Have you created other worlds like this one?”
“Not… as such.” The man shook his head. “The other worlds that I have made are all starkly different. Only this world uses the concept of the black stone gates.”
“Very well.” Arya grinned. “In that case, take me to one of your other worlds. Show me a place which proves undeniably that you are what you claim, and I shall move my palace at your behest.”
The man nodded with a small smile, before speaking a strange name. “Aurivy, take us to Deckan.” He said, glowing mist wrapping around both his feet and Arya’s. She could feel a powerful divinity within the mist, one which far surpassed her own.
When the mist faded, she was stood upon a tall mountain, her ever present storm raging over her head. Her body felt unbelievably light, as if it were utterly weightless. She almost believed the man with just this, but knew that there was more to see.
She looked over at him, and found that he was staring up at the sky with slight annoyance. He waved his hand, and a powerful gust of wind rushed upwards from their location, piercing her storm and scattering it. She could even feel her own divinity being suppressed, preventing the storm from reforming.
As she was about to ask what the meaning of doing such a thing was, her words got stuck in her throat. Up above the storm, where she would normally see a layer of stone shining with millions of jewels, she instead saw an endless blue sea. Though, the sea did not seem to be made of water, yet hovered over the land just the same. “Where… are we?”
“This is Deckan, one of the other planets I’ve created.” The man said with a nod. “Follow me.”
After saying that, he kicked off the ground, shooting up into the endless sky. Arya hesitated, fearing that he was going to crash into the blue surface and destroy it, but followed all the same. She found that no matter how close she came to the sky, it was always further away, and yet gradually it became darker and darker, until it was replaced with an endless emptiness.
Arya opened her mouth to speak, but found that no sound would emerge. Thankfully, her people communicated through divinity itself, so her words still reached him. What happened to the sky? She asked, feeling that it was a pity for such a beautiful thing to disappear. Surprisingly, the man pointed back in the way they came, prompting Arya to turn her head to look.
What she saw was a blue and green sphere behind them. Arya felt as if she could reach out and grab it in her hands, yet at the same time knew its true size. Though it would still fit within the sky of her world, it was far from something one person could hold. Is this what you showed Reyor? She asked hesitantly, causing the man to shake his head.
I was in more of a rush with him. Since you asked to witness something that you have never seen, that is what I offer you. After saying that, he brought her attention to a massive ball of flame that existed within the otherwise empty world. Arya felt as if it were some impossibly strong attack being prepared, and immediately raised her guard.
That is the sun. In your world, the light is provided by the crystal pillar, which governs the cycle of day and night. In this world, day and night are governed by the rotation of the planet itself. Whichever side is aimed towards the sun experiences ‘day’ while the rest experience ‘night’.
Realizing that the ‘sun’ was not some threatening entity or spell, Arya allowed herself to relax. This was too far outside the realm of her understanding, the realm of what she knew to be common sense. For the light to come from an orb so far away, rather than they crystal pillar that resonated with the heavens… I see… you were being honest. Arya had a bitter smile on her face as she realized the truth of his words.
Will you arrange for my people to have access to the gate? The man asked, though surprisingly Arya raised yet another condition.
I will, but first… I want you to show me what sits beyond the gate.
