The two of them retired to a single room they rented for the night. Cawthorn said he’d sleep on the roof and watch over the inn. Once again the innkeeper gave them the night for free as it turned out his niece was among those freed. Gargrim took a different room for the evening and slightly drunk Serena noted. “Oh yeah I don’t have a change of clothes.”
She shrugged and threw off her shirt before covering up in bed and closing her eyes almost immediately. ‘Why do I feel immensely wrong getting in the bed now?’ He took a pillow and was about to throw it on the floor.
“Fine.”Serena groaned and got her shirt back on. “Get in the bed, I’m not going to do anything to you. I am used to sleeping completely naked because for so long I was forced to. Even though it has always been some of the worst memories of my life, it is now hard to sleep with clothes on. I know you didn’t see yesterday but I actually took all of my clothes off yesterday and woke up early to get dressed before you could see.”
Victor paused and his brain seemed to lock up. ‘I already slept with a naked woman? That can’t be right. No it’s definitely possible. Serena is literally just waiting on my word and she’d be on top of me immediately. So she slept naked next to me?’ He asked her. “Did you really sleep naked next to me last night?”
“I really wanted to rest my head on your chest but I didn’t want to wake you. You’re the first man I’ve ever actually wanted to share a bed with but I understand my scars have destroyed my body. I wish I had found you sooner so you could have had me whole.” She pulled the blanket closer to her covering all but her head and facing away.
‘Aw shit I screwed up. I should at least let her be comfortable.’ He lied to himself. ‘As long as I keep my pants on it will be fine.’ He sat down on the bed. “If it makes you more comfortable you can do that as long as it doesn’t go any farther.”
Her clothes ejected from beneath the blanket and the blanket fell back down on her without Victor seeing anything. A high speed stat had some advantages. He took off his shoes and laid down next to her. The bed felt especially soft as he started to close his eyes he felt her head move over to his chest. At first his heart rate skyrocketed and they both just listened to his rapid heartbeat before he eventually got used to it. ‘This doesn’t feel bad at all.’ Victor noted only to realize she passed out seconds after his heart beat slowed.
He turned to her and realized he couldn’t sleep easily but didn’t want to move her. Victor stared at the ceiling breathing in and out slowly recounting the day as Luzuzal’s Promise ticked to 0. Luzuzal appeared leaning over him. ‘Somehow I expected you to appear at the end of that ability’ Victor thought.
“I promise I will arrive when that skill completes each and every time. How did you enjoy the skill?” Luzuzal’s planet filled mouth remained completely flat seemingly genuinely curious.
‘I had intended to gain many levels today and reach level 10 or higher.’ Victor insisted. ‘It didn’t achieve that goal.’
“You know deep down that wasn’t your goal. You tried to delude yourself. My skill knew your delusion wasn’t strong enough yet and adjusted. Cawthorn arrived to slow your progress and Gargrim didn’t encounter a shop keep to the south he would have taken a quest from simply because that shop keep had to change their clothes from tripping into mud half way to her shop. Had your delusion been stronger you’d have fought the first creature in that hallway and used your jolt skill to destroy the rotting wooden beams collapsing. It could have fallen intertwining the two four armed skeletons and crushing them. You would have run.” Luzuzal shook his head. “Your dreams are little more than delusions. You seek freedom, equality, and to live in reality. When these conflict one must be supreme. You seem to value freedom the highest and as such the ability adjusted to maximize the chances of that delusion becoming a dream fulfilled.”
‘You’re a lot more long winded than last time.’ Serena put her arm around his chest while she slept. ‘You know that living in reality runs directly counter to your goals of deluding me right. Why even bother?’
“Your goals align with mine. I do not warp what you see beyond the skill I gifted you. Instead that desire causes reality to subtly warp around you to reach some ends. However in this case if you reached your goal at the keep to reach the appropriate level to take on the bandit camp it would run afoul of your goal of freedom. You knew just from thinking about it that attempting to take on that keep would result in you being too wounded, low on mana, and or dead. The skill will always prioritize your true goals when you activate it. I prioritize your true goals because freedom specifically runs to the basic antithesis of Kokoxol one of my three great enemies in the universe.” Luzuzal noted. “Become powerful and eliminate worshipers of Kokoxol and I will always bestow my blessings on you.”
‘Do you hate Kokoxol more than the other two?’ Victor asked. ‘It seems like you are putting a lot of effort into me.’
“No. All three have many followers and I loath them all. Kill any of them and I will approve. If you kill powerful or influential followers of Kokoxol, Azalagol, or Gizixil I will bless you. I only set you to a nation rife with followers of Kokoxol because it became clear to me they would be the enemies most aligned with your hatred.” Luzuzal noted.
‘I’m far too weak to accomplish such lofty goals.’ Victor closed his eyes breathing deeply.
“Ah I understand now. You value life highly, perhaps above some of those values as well. Unfortunately I cannot amend the agreement. I can offer advice. Travel north, follow the woman claiming your chest and find two other traveling companions. You will find a young cleric at one of the golden chapels.” Luzuzal instructed him.
‘You want me to kill followers of the other void lords. Do you expect me to just go around and murder people?’ Victor raised an eyebrow. ‘You know that is a stupid idea, and that isn’t who you are. You are a devious brilliant Void Lord trying to reach a world where you are the only Void Lord. I can’t possibly do that by killing a few hundred random people.’
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Luzuzal smiled once again the worlds used for his mouth extending off the edge of his face. “No but I am impressed at the foresight. You will gain power by delving to the deepest regions of this world and searching for powerful artifacts. You will naturally gravitate toward one of the many ongoing wars in this world. You will eventually lead a nation, outlaw slavery, and embrace democracy to starve Kokoxol. If you succeed you will usher in an age of peace ending war after war to starve Gizixil. You will exterminate hunger and usher in an age of plenty to avoid the feast and famine of Azalagol and so he shall finally feel starvation too.”
‘Now who’s delusional? I could never accomplish that.’ Victor glared at him.
“That feeling of realism will slowly sink in as you free life after life.” Luzuzal replied.
‘I couldn’t even save a handful of women and children without help. What makes you think I have any business being that impossibly impressive?’ Victor wanted to shake his head but refused to wake Serena.
“Yet they live.” Luzuzal paused waiting for Victor to speak.
‘Not by my hand. They live because others heard my plea and answered the call.’ Victor practically broke out in tears remembering how powerless he felt.
“Precisely.” His smile extended across the room once more darkening it. “You aren’t the most powerful of my followers. You are arguably not even the most powerful of my followers in this city as it stands right now. Your genuine kindness and unbreakable delusion that your values are right no matter your ability to reach them are irreplaceable traits. Those very traits and your ability to convince others of your delusions and embrace your values make you perfect Victor.”
‘Honestly I don’t see myself at all the way you see me.’ Victor grimaced. ‘I’m not even a tenth the man you think I am.’
“Yet you will be. My followers often achieve their goals and then pass on. Some delude themselves into seeking vengeance, some great wealth, others to be king. They often fulfill their drams and this leaves them without my blessing because they become empty. Their delusion drips from them like a cracked glass leaking all over the table, eventually once they empty it there is nothing left. Your glass will never empty even if it breaks you’ll pour all the oceans in the world into that glass and if it breaks you’ll do it again.” Luzuzal nodded. “In your world the delusions I speak of can be best described as unfulfilled dreams. For me fulfilling your delusion means little more than a fulfilled dream, but the delusion ending is the worst fate of all. No follower of mine can survive it.”
Victor cared about what Luzuzal had to say but this question most pierced his mind. ‘Why can’t I tell them I work with Luzuzal? If you are actually propping me up to stop the wars in this world and feed the hungry surely that would be a goal millions would rally behind.’
“They believe me to be evil for promoting other people’s desires. In the entire world not even 200 devotees of mine exist, though many more serve my goals by gaining the delusion skill and never knowing it progressed to my delusion.” Luzuzal explained.
‘Let me guess some people have particularly cruel dreams like breaking up a couple to be with one of them or being the head of a bandit organization.’ Victor noted.
“Yes but so long as they served my long term purpose I see no reason to deny their dream.” Luzuzal added.
‘Once the other three Void Lords are dead what will you do?’ Victor asked.
His mouth once again stretched off his face to a maddening smile. The room darkened around him and the HUD disappeared. His single bright star for an eye eclipsed itself as he drew closer. “That is of no concern of yours. Those steps to my plan will never be taken while you still live and venerate me. So long as you do whatever peace you win will remain, whom so ever you free shall remain so, and those you feed shall not die of starvation. A good deal don’t you think?”
Victor thought very hard before asking the question. ‘I want to be honest it is a good deal but your terms leave a pretty glaring loophole.’
“Please do say, honesty seems to suit you and dealing with you honestly seems to achieve the best results.” Luzuzal continued menacing him with the darkened room.
‘What if I live forever?’ Victor asked.
Luzuzal returned to normal with a hearty laugh shaking the planets used for his mouth. “If you achieve such a feat and continue to revere me even after you reach your goals for thousands upon thousands of years I shall honor my deal.”
‘I won’t reveal it now but in the future if I need to reveal it can you please let me tell others I worship you? I promise to be careful.’ Victor asked.
“Very well, I will allow this if you understand the consequences of your choice. However I will not permit you to reveal your past life. I cannot prevent the Fragment from doing so but I refuse to promote that piece of reality, and you are not to do so either.” Luzuzal shook his head.
‘Why would you care if people knew about reincarnation?’ Victor asked
“If people knew they would be reborn or even if they thought it regardless of truth their delusions would end. Those which have horrible lots in life would kill themselves without a doubt, and while that Fragment may lie to you and tell you everyone reincarnates many don’t. He may even believe that it is the truth but it isn’t. Those who the angel reincarnates have specific traits. The others have different fates.” Luzuzal insisted. “Do not tell others about reincarnation. Do not promote the idea. This is the only warning I will give you on the matter.”
‘ Understood. One last question, next time would you mind NOT coming when I have a naked woman resting on my chest?’ Victor asked angrily glaring at him.
Luzuzal laughed. “It isn’t as though I could not see the two of you without clothing if I desired. Regardless your protest is noted. I shall leave you to your companion. Farewell for now.” Luzuzal disappeared as quickly as he arrived, leaving Victor with Serena still asleep on him.
‘I guess the answer is to become strong enough to live forever.’ An almost comical overconfident smile crossed his face. ‘Never in my life would have even considered that as a goal. That is a dream I could get behind.’