“Before we continue, let me see what I can do about my presence,” the literal cosmic entity was oddly considerate. “Or else your friend may not survive.” Cosmos paused his movements momentarily and focused as if he was meditating. The blinding lights that dotted his body dimmed, bringing them back down to a much more observable level.
Only now that Drim could keep his eyes on the god could he witness the true majesty of his form. Though shaped like a man, his existence was the vastness of space itself, the entire universe crammed into one small being. But the holy being would have to wait for just a moment as the king checked on his collapsed companion.
“I’m alright,” Jaid insisted as she was helped back to her feet. “I feel a lot better now. But that was unlike anything else I’ve ever felt before—completely overwhelmed by him. Not even a Fiend could do that, so I think we should take him at his word. I can’t believe I’m saying it, but that has to be Cosmos. ”
“Really, but I didn’t feel anything?” Drim was confused. Since the shockwaves stopped, Drim’s body had felt perfectly fine. The visuals and sound were off-putting, but nothing oppressive like his companion was describing.
“Well naturally, you wouldn’t,” the god suggested. “Though it must be confusing for you since you have yet to properly awaken. While not the nature of my visit, it is time you learned, Drim Drazah, that you are not a typical human and stand out among even what you call a Fiend. Knowing the truth will help you grasp the matter we need to discuss. Please listen to my explanation and attempt to understand. It has been a while since I have conversed directly with beings of a similar era to yours, so my verbiage may not adhere to your commonplace speech.”
“You were born to the humans Eleen and Relyk Drazah. That much is an undeniable fact, a natural birth just like any other. But what qualifies as unnatural is the matter of your conception. You were not created through standard human reproduction. Rather, your existence was manufactured by an outside source who implanted you into your mother. From there, you underwent standard gestation and delivery, just like anyone else.”
“This was orchestrated by none other than the being your society refers to as Rathe, my daughter, The Demigod of Haste. She is your direct creator.”
“Then that would make him…” Jaid quickly put the pieces together.
“Yes, in essence, that would make you my grandson, Drim,” Cosmos almost sounded like a proper grandparent excited to meet their grandchild for the first time. “But try not to let it fracture the identity you feel. You are still the child of your parents. Though Relyk had no physical part in your conception, his and your mother’s genetics were still used as the blueprint for your existence. Rathe would be more along the lines of a third parent rather than a replacement.”
“However, even a demigod can not make something from nothing. Since there was no physical catalyst for your embryo, Rathe had to use a part of herself as the foundation: a divine spark. Though it would have been an insignificant amount of her power, barely more than a single speck, like all life, it has grown alongside you.”
“Since it is small, only a fraction of who you are, it may have been hard to notice or understand. But I’ve been keeping an eye on you, Drim, and I am certain there have been moments in your life where you performed feats that you can not explain. Think back, and you will find my words to be undeniable.”
The man wracked his brain, trying to recall anything along the lines of what Cosmos meant. Nothing came to mind immediately, but when he really focused, two events leapt to the forefront of his memory. “Bastion… and that time at the school… Both times I said the words ‘Divine Intervention’ and then it was like miracles happened.”
“There you have it,” the god confirmed his theory. “But those were no miracles, at least not ones brought on by anything other than your efforts. That was you invoking your own divinity. Though weak and unrefined, even now it has the power to do wondrous things. In time, as you continue to grow and learn, it will reach new heights you never dreamed possible.”
“But I do want to make one thing clear, just from my own personal observation. Though the nature of your birth, Drim, is unconventional, and though you have been gifted with power and opportunity unique to your circumstances, none of that is why you are special. You are a man of your own making. All of your achievements have been by your doing, through your perseverance and struggles. I would have not appeared before you otherwise.”
“It is a fallacy amongst the divine that they immediately assume themselves better than those of lower standing. While there is a factor of truth to that just given the levels of power, I find myself distancing from those with who exude surface-level superiority. They’re usually accompanied by immediate submission to those directly above them as well. For those members of my family, I rarely answer their calls.”
“But I do not believe you share that same trait, Drim. In my expert perception, finding this fact out about yourself will not change you. I’m rather certain that even now you are untouched by greed after this revelation. And yes, you can count yourself amongst our number, though you have a long way to go before any but I would acknowledge your status.”
“That is why you are able to withstand the might of my full presence. I find it unbecoming for those in my own family to prostrate themself in front of me and to each other, though many still do, so I have removed the ability for our kind to be oppressed by the mere existence of another. Though as you’ve seen with your friend, humans and any other creature with a conscience still find themselves unable to withstand my presence, instinctually falling to submission until their bodies can’t take it.”
“That does raise a good point,” The Paladin brought up suddenly. “I’ve just been standing here, gawking. Should I be kneeling instead? I feel like I should be kneeling.”
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The woman went to make good on her comment, but Cosmos stopped her. “I ask that you refrain. For the sake of moving discussion forward, treat me like one of your own, to the best of your ability.”
“And worship is something I have never been fond of, especially since I often find myself taking credit for the actions of others, mostly my many children. I will not deny that I created the universe, but that is also where my story ends. It is my stance that the universe does not belong to me, but rather the many denizens who inhabit it.”
“You can consider me something of an absentee god, one who is merely happy to observe. That is why I delegated each planet that contains life to one of my demigods, and they are each free to develop their planets and run their worlds as they see fit. I try to keep my intervention to a minimum, only when I deem it necessary for the continuance of that world, or when the demigod has strayed too far from my wishes. That is why I’m here.”
“But before we get to the matter at hand, I’m sure you have many questions. You are free to ask what you may, though know that our time is not unlimited.”
A million questions raced through Drim’s mind, yet the one that stood out the most wasn’t even directed at the literal god in the room, and he couldn’t keep himself from asking it. Did you know about this? he questioned his heart.
“I had my suspicions,” Eleen floated out of him, facing away from her son, since it was hard to discuss the topic eye-to-eye. “Not that it was Rathe’s doing, that thought never crossed my mind, but the timing never made sense to me. As I’ve told you before, your father and I weren’t exactly the most intimate couple, so I never quite understood how my pregnancy came to be.”
“I had many theories, many fears as to how it could have happened. But after you were born, as your face grew into the spitting image of your father, I lost any doubts. Eventually, I wrote it off as a drunken mishap since it would explain why I had no memory.”
But why did she do it? That was the more important part that Drim was hung up on. Why did she choose to make me, using you as the surrogate no less?
“It must have been to torment me,” his mother spouted her theory. “That is the only reason I can think of. It’s a safe guess that she’s the one who gave you the ability to sense morality. And given my predisposition, she would guess that I would trigger it. That would be my punishment for defying her: a child that always hated me.”
“Ah, Eleen Drazah,” Cosmos suddenly butted into their conversation. “A tortured soul stuck in this plane. Rather… an anomaly that should not exist.”
“He can see me?” A shiver ran down the ghost’s spine. “You can see me, and hear me?!” she finally turned towards the god, paying him due respect.
“Of course I can,” the divine being couldn’t help but chuckle. “I see everything, after all. If you wish it, I can free you from your pitiful state of being and send you on to the afterlife where you belong—a trip that is long overdue.”
“Erm, I really shouldn’t,” Eleen suddenly retreated, hiding behind her son’s back. “My soul is what power’s Drim’s Curse after all, isn’t it? So I wouldn’t want him to lose out for my sake.”
“Hmm, that is difficult to explain in your words,” Cosmos was genuinely puzzled. “You are both correct and incorrect. “It is the essence of the dead that gives Fiends their powers, mixed with some of Rathe’s own strength, but what remains tied to this world is rather an imprint of their memory, who they were at the moment of their passing. Every other soul has properly moved on, leaving merely a mark behind. But you, you were too stubborn to let yourself crossover, and clung to your son through sheer strength of will. So if you depart now, nothing will happen to Drim.”
“Well, if it’s all the same, I’d still like to delay my parting,” the spirit requested. “There are still aspects of this world that I want to see the end of, not to mention seeing my son succeed. And… I’m not confident that where you’d send me is somewhere I’d want to go.”
“It does not matter to me,” the god was amenable. “But this will be the only time I offer. As long as Drim lives, your souls will remain intertwined unless they are forcefully separated, meaning you will most likely not be released until his own passing. However, as his divinity grows, he one day will be capable of putting you to rest, should either of you wish it to be.”
I’d wish it to be right now… the king couldn’t help but make a teasing joke at his mother’s expense.
“So cruel!” Eleen whined. “You really must be related to gods since you act just like them sometimes.”
“I do have another question,” Drim ignored the spectre's plight. “Hower. What’s happened to him? Will he return when you depart?”
Cosmos was then unexpectedly silent for a moment before proceeding. “Unfortunately, you will not be able to conclude any business with him that you may have had. When I took possession of his body, his soul was forced to the afterlife. Normally, I would be able to retrieve it as it awaited sorting, but he was ushered to the front of the line. It seems that many have waited long for him to receive retribution. He has already been judged.”
“I do still believe my method of intervention to be a crude one, and for that I will berate myself. But it was an ideal opportunity that could not be ignored. I was in the middle of dictating a missive to have delivered to you. But then a suitable vessel that could withstand my form suddenly appeared right next to you, formerly owned by someone you would deem your enemy. It could almost be called fate.”
“I find it much easier to convey what I need to say directly, and it will be easier and less spontaneous for me to provide my assistance. But that brings me back to the main point of my visit,” the god suddenly turned away, clearly looking in some direction, before facing the two Fiends once again. Though he had no defined features, it was almost as if he appeared annoyed.
“Unfortunately, we seem to have even less time than I had originally predicted. And yes, even a god can be fallible. I’ve always had a bit of a blind spot when it comes to my children. It is my own failing. But as a result, I must insist that we now move on. If time allows it, I can entertain more inquiries at the end.”
“I am here to discuss my daughter, along with the… disagreement… that your group has with her. While I do believe that your original tactic of diplomacy was a strong one, I can assure you now that it has already failed, and the Fiends For Hire have already provoked her into combat. With Rathe, there will be no peace at this point, unless you choose to surrender to her whims. I will not attempt to dissuade your current course of action, but I will warn you. If action is not taken soon, if the tide of battle does not shift, I fear for the lives of your friends.”