Yea that really ate into my mana, I’m carrying the leftover bag with what looks like a Guitar or Oud from Earth strapped to the side but looks a bit more stylish and does not appear Powered for now.

Soon enough we arrive at a large square, at the corner of each square is a large domed building with several smaller buildings nearby, many people are in the square which has a fountain in the middle.

“This is one of the main sections of the city, each of the domed buildings are temples made for the gods. Who do you want to visit first?”

“Let's start with Knowledge then go to Creature, Power and World.”

“Sure, I’m sure you have your reasons” replied Abcier with a wink. I get the feeling he knows about my plan… Nah.

We’ve entered the square from one of its sides and head toward the building on the right corner of us. We make an odd pair, some random carrying a stuffed backpack with an instrument and a priest. Sounds like the start of a bad joke, as we enter we can see a large room in the front that contains some seating and a large double door taking up an entire wall. About 15 ft tall and 10ft wide. The large door looks like it's covered in massive leather bound books.

A smaller door is set into the larger one which might be for show and we enter through it with some odd looks from others visiting and the other priests.

Going through the door we enter into the domed room, it's quite massive, the dome might be 30 ft at its tallest or higher. Once all the way through Abcier closes the door and directs me to take off the bag.

Once done a golden light starts lighting up the room, starting near the top of the dome. Slowly it takes a form that looks like a king upon a throne, sceptre, crown and all. Fancy golden and white robes with sandaled feet. He looks human, just golden, with white accents in the robes and about 20ft tall.

This all takes place over thirty seconds while he “composes himself” (sorry, bad joke) and once completed he starts laughing in a deep voice, not Morgan Freeman deep but close.

“That was a funny joke, Michael of Earth. It wasn't too bad.” he adds smiling.

“I’m gonna guess here but you must be Knowledge? Hows things?”

“Obviously I’m Knowledge, I know you're telling jokes to keep your nerve so why not ask some questions. I'll answer these freely till we get to the main ones.” He replies, leaning to the side and resting his head on his hand.

“Cheers, the first one on my mind is: Did you send me to Farmers Rest Island when I arrived to limit my culture shock with other races?”

“Somewhat, you were heading in that direction anyway but we just placed you in the best spot.”

“Do you know why the Crossing happened or why it seems to happen all the time here?”

“We may be gods, but we are the gods of our world not yours. We don’t know why the Crossings occur, just that they do.”

“Have any other humans from Earth appeared before?” “None”. Well that’s comforting.

“Do I need to worry about that Illiard guy from earlier or just leave him be?” “I think that can be answered with your Question.”

“How’d you pronounce the capital Q there? You know what nevermind, sure. How about, what knowledge of Earth’s I can or cannot talk about?”

“Good question, in short your achievements, history and almost everything can be discussed, however I want none of the details or creation of Nuclear Weapons, Guns, Chemical Weapons, Drugs, Gasoline, Plastics and Fossil Fuels.”

“Thats all?” “Yes, you can limit yourself more if you want however these cannot be shared.”

“What do you mean by details? Like I can get behind not making a How To video on making Nukes but they are mentioned in history as a massive city, potentially planet destroying weapon.”

“You can use its English name and the outcome of its use, but any other details such as how it works or the physics behind it must not be allowed to be let loose on the world”

“Ok done, how does the sewers work down here?”

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I can hear Abcier choke a little and struggle to breath, coughing a little.

“The sewers are as you picture then, tunnels of waste leading to a treatment plant, there they are turned into either fresh water or energy to power the city, Biofuel”

“Nice, very modern of you. If I did want to make guns, nuclear devices, drugs and the like, is that cool if no one knows how they work?”

After a pause and a look to Abcier he replies ”While I do not care what you do so long as the information does not become public knowledge the other gods might. You would do well to not test mine or their patience.”

“Got it, figured I'd try my hand at nuclear reactors later down the line so thought I’d ask. You appear as a man but I have heard of others referring to you either as man or woman. Do you have a physical form?”

“I do have physical form, but not what you picture. I appear to people in the image they want me to appear, or in some cases something taken from their memory.”

“Speaking of memory, what knowledge do you have from Earth?”

“All its knowledge, at the time of the crossing there was an instant where the two worlds were connected, this allowed me to understand your world. But the information collected, this I cannot share.”

“And why not, a god should be able to right?” “I do not have to share anything with you, I am answering these questions out of my own free will, the memories you have can be accessed via a Memory Crystal. As a gift I offer one to you once you leave.”

“Memory crystal huh” I would love to press, that the information from Earth is my birthright or something but I don’t think that’ll help things. “Guess that also explains the dates and exact time of my departure from Earth”

“Anything else?”

“You know I have more, why ask?” “Rhetorical.”

“Has any OutWorlders been able to successfully make it back to their worlds?”

“None have”

“Is there anyone currently working on a method to get to their worlds, or just travelling to other worlds in general?”

“Many have tried, none have succeeded.” Rats, I might have to start from scratch.

“How do the lie detector crystals work?”

“They are based on the Lie Detector machines from Earth, they measure physical responses to lies. These can be cheated using the same methods known from Earth.”

Cool, I got really into Lie Detectors for a time so it should be in the memory palace somewhere.

“Let's move onto the Big Three, why don’t we? My Questions are in the shape of a request, as Abcier had let me know that was possible.

I request a Map mode addition showing the movements of Institute members hunting or searching for OutWorlders. Live.”

“An understandable request, Granted. However you will need access to detailed maps to see the full picture of their movements.”

“Understood, my second request is for an upgrade of the Memory Palace to include my Clones' personalities and memories when re-summoned or de-summoned. I will focus on a Power to better visualise the Palace so something easily accessible where the Clones' memories can be stored and viewed as needed.”

“An interesting request, Aiwatito, the cousin of your Power created by Muahaix did not care for his clones and so the memories of them were added in an unorganised way or forgotten. Granted”

“My third request: As this world is not safe for me, it is possible I will run into people who will betray me. Who will get behind me only to stab me in the back, I would request an Interface mode that shows if someone can be trusted. And you know what I mean by “Trusted”.

“Do you not trust your friends?” “Oh I do, don't get me wrong, just that there could always be others who look trusting but are not. You should know I’ve had the pleasure of dealing with some of them”

“Hm, Granted. However you can only check this once and only once you have upgraded your System Interface with the next idea you have in mind. Once you pass the breakthrough point you and only you will have access to it.”

“Cheers. Oh also, is there a guidebook for the System Interface? It seems to change according to my mind's whims but I would like to know how it works for certain.”

Hmm, a pause as it thinks. Leaning back into its throne “That is a request that would be in a Rule of Three but you already have your requests. Tell you what” he says, standing to a larger height, the room appearing to grow even taller to 50 ft or more and in a deep voice says

“Worship me Michael, let me enter your mind in full and I will grant you the Knowledge you request.” he says waving his arms low. A pressure mounts, a feeling of the world getting smaller and smaller.

A pause from Michael this time, before his face breaks control and a laugh echoes throughout the room. “Y, you can read the minds of millions all the time. Apparently billions at just a glance and you think I would worship you!? Hahahaha.”

“Nope, not in a billion years. I may not be the most holy man but I will follow my God as best I can, despite your appearance.”

“Do not try to test your new god, this is a grand offer. My name is known throughout the world, I am Knowledge, I am Truth.”

“Ha! An offer he says, and if I don’t will you refuse my Questions? Remove my Interface and Powers? Truth, what is Truth? Will you fulfill my Questions or not?”

A god quoting the scripture of another God, throwing a quote of scripture back at him seemed like a reasonable thing to do. At least somewhat poetic?

Frowning and shrinking back to his normal 30ft tall, seated self he waves a hand and a Window appears, moving it to the side I nod and leave in silence with Abcier following looking dazed and a little fearful.