"Dracosect, what's the report say?"

"My god, the deviations are within your predicted parameters. Roughly one point two seconds per kilometer. At a diameter of roughly fifteen thousand kilometers, that puts us at three hundred and sixty minutes. Or, fifty one point eight four PL-minutes, using a zero point one four four ratio. Though, I don't understand what this latter measure is supposed to represent."

It means past life minutes. It's to help me contextualize.

Roh.

"It's to help me contextualize. I have a different sense of time than the rest of you."

"I see! Because you're a time god, my god!"

"Not exactly. It has more to do with my birthplace than my title. You know what, Dracosect? I trust you, so I'll share the details. I'm reborn from another planet. I was also not originally a dragon. Not even a kaizen, as in that art that you love to admire on my temple's ceiling."

"My god, my beloved god Chronomet. I'm flattered you would share such personal information. We're so much more alike than I knew."

"That we are. I was originally a weak creature. Not unlike these many humans. Though, likely not the same species."

I gesture at the humans gawking at my temple's fine features. Roh— good! At least some are sitting at the benches. It was a great idea to use video inscriptions to let my benches replay my sermon whenever someone wanted to see. Reah, they can get the inscription free, but my temple is a whole different experience. Like a movie theater from my past life.

I refocus my distracted attention and continue speaking.

"Then, Dracosect, do you know what I did?"

"What, my god?"

"I never chased a goal nor was lazy, never helped nor hurt anyone, never did anything of merit nor demerit. Nothing good, nothing bad. I died cursing everyone who acted indifferent to my existence. Laughable, right? I was cursing myself."

"My... My god! You..."

"I was not born knowing what I wanted in life. I did not have a destiny to fulfill. If I did? I squandered it. Squandered everything. When I awoke in this world, though, my life was different. I— was different."

"My god, I may have been born with a mission. But, is it better to be born knowing purpose, or better to learn purpose through hardship? The answer is neither. It's better to have a purpose and to recognize its worth."

"To recognize the innate worth that we all hold within ourselves. That's right, Dracosect. I learned what you already know. I learned it in the hardest way possible. I've since engraved it upon every facet of my being. Dracosect, it may startle you to hear this, but, I'm not just 'a' god of dragons. I have an infinite age. Which suggests I represent the very essence of a dragon; the Origin of dragons. That may be the true reason I'm a time god and a dragon god."

"My god, I had my suspicions, given your title. Hearing you say so merely confirms my thoughts. What others say about you being 'transparent' may be correct, but it's also one of your best features. Thank you, my god. Thank you— for being who you are."

"Thank you, Dracosect, for acknowledging and accepting who I've decided to become. Ultimately, we each decide who we are, no matter what our so-called emotions try to decide for us. It's truly a thing of beauty to watch a being fundamentally change solely because they've decided they must."

"My god, you and I both have. You, far more than I. It's understandable that you are a god— and that I'm not."

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"A token similar to the one you gave me was how I embarked on the path of godhood. I owe you at least that much, Dracosect. At least that much, I shall help you build your hoard. Don't worry that you won't be big enough, or strong enough. I'm already verily in your debt."

He kneels before me.

*THOOM*

"My god. Knowing I was able to contribute so much to your glory is worth more to my hoard than all the power you may yet grant me."

I shake my dragon head.

No, no. This isn't proper. It's unhealthy.

"Intrinsic worth isn't the same as a hoard, Dracosect. We dragons accumulate a hoard to enable our Will to exert itself externally. A hoard can be clean, built with kindness and honesty. It can also be dirty, built with blood and lies. How our intrinsic worth becomes viewed by others is determined by how properly our hoards are built. It's a simple concept. Yet, it determines everything we are, and everything we shall ever become."

"Then, my god, I cannot allow my hoard to be built with gratitude?"

"Almost correct, Dracosect. You cannot build a hoard with gratitude: it's impossible. Gratitude may enable you to build a hoard. However, gratitude is merely a feeling. An ephemeral thought which may be forgotten. Hoards are built with treasures. Treasures cannot vanish upon a whim."

"My god, does that mean the reason we show off our prestige and wealth is to reinforce our Will? It has no part in building our hoard directly?"

I nod my dragon head.

"Indeed. One may put only treasures in their hoard and only feelings in their Will. Confusing the two shall eventually cause disaster."

"I believe, my god, you should make a sermon detailing this matter. It's truly enlightening. I understand ever more deeply why I was destined to be your claws."

"I can't say I understand, but I'm grateful you were. My grateful 'Will' shall be repaid with favor, and my treasure 'debt' shall be repaid with power. Rah, is there any other form of treasure you desire?"

"I want nothing more than to receive your divine grace, my god. Receiving your power, to me, is not mere strength. It's a measure of my increasing worth; to your hoard. Of how much I can be in service; of your hoard. Of how grand my existence appears; atop your hoard. All these and more. Any way I may become stronger, I desire it, for my strength shall earn me more of your favor, my god."

Sheesh, this dragon is a hopeless fanatic!

"I'm lucky to have met you, Dracosect."

"Luck played no part, my god. If I was destined, then so too were you. I'm simply doing everything I can to keep that destiny intact."

"You're right. With the aim of keeping our destiny intact: do we have any leads on why a three point six hour time deviation appeared between one side of the planet and the other? Plus, why this didn't rip the planet asunder?"

"I can only speculate on question one. I suspect your time abilities were the cause, my god."

"Dracosect, I don't have a time ability which can do that. Only one which normalizes time."

"My god, perhaps you normalized time in a wide area, then slowly retracted it?"

"Hruh, that would work. It also answers question two; why the planet didn't rupture. Three hundred and sixty minutes to settle small deviations is far easier than it happening all at once."

"Indeed, my god. However, why was time deviated? Are we under attack?"

"Hraw, Dracosect! This is fundamental physics. It's called 'time dilation.' It happens everywhere, constantly. The planet's time was skewed because... It's moving. Hreh hreh. Anything moving skews time. Time abilities are incredibly broken."

"Broken, my god? Do they not work properly?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes. They work, but the way they work is too comprehensive. If time is slowed, your body's speed, strength, and sturdiness becomes irrelevant. Slowing time must weaken all of these measures by proxy, because time— does not exist."

"Time doesn't exist, my god? Aren't you a time god?"

"'Chronometric' means to measure time. Measurement may seem useless, but it's the most powerful ability. Knowing how to measure, means being able to deconstruct. Theoretically, I should be able to deconstruct anyt—. Roh. That explains why so many of my abilities enable deconstructing and consuming. Time consumes all."

He eyes me strangely.

"Time consumes all, my god?"

"Entropy. As time passes, high-energy states tend to move toward low-energy ones. As this happens, more energy becomes unavailable. The energy is still there, but can no longer do work. So, let me ask you. If this is true, but energy can neither be created nor destroyed, then what is the fate of the universe?"

"A universe filled with energy but forever unable to move, my god?"

I nod my dragon head.

"In time, even the universe must die."

"My god, you're a terrifying existence. I am prouder than ever to be your claws."

"Even I'm unsure of what I am, Dracosect. 'Terrifying,' however, describes me perfectly."

I look out across the horizon. The sun looks huge.

I continue.

"Speaking of terrifying, we need to correct our planet's orbit. Normalizing its time seems to have put us on a collision course."

"With what, my god?"

I point my dragon claw out to the horizon.

"Our sun."

image [https://timjames.net/data/acd/images/112.png]