“Drim Drazah, one who has survived against all odds in this cruel, unforgiving world,” the creator of the universe began the Rite of Nomenclature. “Born of malintentions to those who would seek to destroy its peace. Forced to make terrible, harsh choices even at thine own expense.”
“Yet through it all, one has shared thine prosperity, created a society that provides safety and shelter. Where those who were forced into the same fate have thrived, given them the chance and opportunity to grow into their own. Helped them along their paths and tailored their circumstances so that they too could overcome their own hardships.”
“I dub thee ‘Thorn’, Demigod of Nurture.”
Drim’s body immediately erupted in a pillar of green fire. For a moment, it felt like his skin was going to melt away as Hower’s had done mere minutes ago. It took all his effort to stay lucid, let alone standing. Cracks of light rippled across his body, but they didn’t last long, the man, no, demigod’s skin quickly stitched back together.
The spectacle didn’t linger, perhaps even feeling lackluster for such an ascension. And Drim was soon back to normal, standing as he had been, looking the same as always. “Erm, honestly, I don’t feel that different,” he mentioned as he inspected himself.
“Hmm, I suppose it would be unique for you,” the god surmised. “Since you have lived the majority of your life as a Fiend, you have already existed as a being similar to one of the divine. After all, it is from Rathe’s own power that your abilities were born. Though not divine sparks from which you were created, they can still be considered the strength of the gods.”
“And additionally, as The Demigod of Nurture, you’ll find your new powers are not centered around yourself. While they will do much in the way of aiding your own might, should you use them that way, they are designed and tied to helping others, your allies who believe in you, those you wish to see grow further. And though they might not be helpful in the immediate future with your planned societal changes, since you’ve put forth a lot of effort into refining it, they may help with benefitting all denizens of this world in the future.”
“Yes, I know about your ‘Project Fiendless’.” The god spoke with certainty. “But unlike my daughter, you have my full support in its implementation. Among all the worlds in this universe, there are none like the one you wish to create. If nothing else, it will be interesting to see the results—to judge whether it is something that should be considered elsewhere or outright banned.”
“Now then, while you may not be able to feel the roots of your enhanced divinity, I can assure you that they’re active. With the new powers, however, it would be a miracle if you suddenly knew how to control it all. Certainly, some of it will be instinctual, but not even gods can do everything alone. So I will bestow upon you two catalysts.”
“One will make it easier for you to tap into your innate divine energy, allowing you to control it at will. This will be especially beneficial when trying to boost your own abilities. And the second will serve as a diffuser, easing the burden of funneling your energy to where it needs to go, allowing you to aid your friends.”
“We will start with the latter, as it will clear the way for the first. For their creation, I will require that which holds meaning to you. Come, little one.” Suddenly the god held out his hand again, but not in a manner as if he was about to show a display of power as he had before. Rather, it was like he intended to beckon a hesitant animal.
A second later, a ball of fluff floated out of Drim’s hooded cloak, brushing past the man’s face, looking unconcerned by the sudden motion.
“Cosdamn! You had Pox with you the entire time?” The knight’s jaw dropped by the sudden realization, but then her face turned to horror when the revelation of what she’d just said caught up to her. Jaid turned to the god and began her plea. “Oh Cosmos! Err, umm, Cosmos, I am terribly sorry! It was rude of me to use your name in vain for a curse word of all things.”
“Do not fret,” the god’s faceless void twitched almost as if he was smirking. “I find that use of my name creative and amusing. I wish many other worlds weren’t so stiff when it comes to addressing the gods. It makes me feel more disconnected. And frankly, from my perspective, we’re not all that special.”
“Take this creature for example,” the divine being held up Pox as if he was a prized trophy. “He has done so much more than I. The amount of worlds he has had a hand in helping puts me to shame.”
“So it’s true then? Pox is not from here?” Drim had to know.
“That is correct,” Cosmos confirmed it. “He is from a special race, known not to just this universe, but all. When a world dies, they help clean up the aftermath to pave the way for its rebirth. As a comparison to your society, you could call them the garbagemen of all existence.”
“Rathe asked for my permission to borrow one. I had believed her intent was to utilize the creature to aid in the cleanup of the society she’d destroyed. But she had her own method for that when I pried. Instead, she used it as a means to spy on you.”
Stolen novel; please report.
“Your meeting was not by happenstance. Rathe planted him where she knew you’d be, and also gave him his own little curse. He was forcibly compelled to want to remain by your side, to follow you wherever you go. It was so that she could extract his memories, to better monitor you and watch your movements.”
“That might come across as a silly desire for a demigod, but omnipotence is not one of Rathe’s abilities, at least not to the level of your sister. She has a general understanding of what happens in her world, being the world itself, but she had to put in a lot of effort to learn specifics.”
“And it may sound harsh and heartless, knowing that the initial companionship you and this creature felt was forged unnaturally. But now, even as I break this Curse, you will find his feelings genuine. And he still will not want to leave your side. Even if I were to offer him the chance to leave, so he could return to his fellows and original purpose, he would refuse.”
“Therefore, I will give him new purpose, so he may never need be separated from you again, so long as your connection remains. I will turn him into your divine familiar. But first, I need to remove Rathe’s hold on him. Prepare yourself little one, you will feel some pressure.”
Pox did his best to brace himself in Cosmos’ glowing hands, but it was clear to see that the process bothered him. Before long, something evaporated from the little fluff ball’s body, like a shaded wisp that dissipated into the air.
“Now that he is clear, I will imbue him with your unique divinity. It will grant him new power of his own, and protect him from the rest of us. Gods and demigods can not seek to influence the familiars of others since that would be an indirect attack on their owner, and I do not allow such cowardly methods. Though others could still harm him physically, so beware.”
“For this process, we will need a marking to prove his allegiance. And I have just the one in mind.” Light etched into the air, forging a familiar sigil. It then drifted towards Pox and hit him directly in the face. Sparks splashed in all directions, but the illumination remained, becoming akin to a shining scar. A glowing Fiends For Hire symbol was now embedded onto the koala fox’s skin, stretched diagonally across one of his eyes.
“The ascension is complete,” the god mentioned. “One power you will be aware of immediately is that you can now summon him at will. It should be similar to the sensation you use to call upon your plant kin. Give it a try.”
Drim acted according to the god’s behest. He focused on Pox, and this so-called divinity that was supposed to be dwelling within him. The man held out his arms and a second later, Pox magically appeared in them. And his new familiar didn’t even wait for permission to hug his new master, wanting a bit of love after the traumatic ordeal he’d just experienced. And Drim reciprocated of course, pulling him close for a tight squeeze.
“I ask that you refrain from returning him to the spot on your head,” Cosmos requested. “At least for the moment. We will need that space. Hand Guy…” the god even went so far as to use his servant’s silly nickname. “I’m sure you know the object I need you to retrieve.”
“Yes, sir,” the disembodied voice was extremely professional, far more courteous and obedient than Drim had ever heard. A second later, the familiar hand was floating in the middle of the room, holding the crown of The Fiendish King.
“This will be the first divine artifact of Thorn,” the god decreed as he took figurative hold of it, making the metallic piece float in the air. “So I shall make it one worthy of your new name.” The crown began to spin, rotating faster and faster until it blurred, and then light began to etch around it, the green light familiar to Drim’s flames of life.
But then the crown suddenly vanished, snapped out of existence. The king looked around for it only to find Jaid staring at him while pointing to her own head, prompting the man to look up. He could only see the edges, but there his crown rested around his temple just above his ears. For the most part, it looked familiar, but there was a new sheen about it that wasn’t there before, giving it an ominous, godly feeling. And the same green light also weaved around it, taking the form of glowing thorned vines.
Drim reached up to feel it, thankful that the thorns were more figurative with his hand passing right through. But when he tried to remove it to take a better look, he found he couldn’t, the piece of headwear tightly affixed around his skull. “Wait, please tell me there’s a way to remove this.” He tried not to sound unappreciative of the gift, but he always hated wearing his crown, and the idea of it always being there for all to see made him a touch queasy.
“There is,” the god mentioned casually. “But I wouldn’t recommend it. If it were to be stolen, that would be a problem. Any mortal who took possession of it would then be gifted with untold power, that could lead to mass destruction and even their own demise if used improperly. Not only that, but since it is a direct catalyst to your very being, they would be able to siphon your energy directly and weaken you.”
“For demigods with overabundant power, they can afford a few lost artifacts without care, such as the visor that Jaid Luciri here wears—a relic given by Rathe to a favored champion during the wars in the last world, though she strangely had it attributed as a gift from me. But at your strength, it could be devastating to you, especially if you lack the ability to retrieve it.”
“However, while you should keep it connected to you, there is a trick that you have already thought of for other applications. You can use your power to make it dematerialize. It will still be as if you’re wearing it, but it will no longer reside in this plane of existence, and you won’t even feel it’s there.”
“Hrm,” Drim focused hard on the crowd, channeling the feeling of desperately wanting it gone. And the crown blinked out of existence, causing the man to do a little self-cheer. But the celebratory movement that made his head shake briefly caused the crown to flicker back and forth a few times, reminding him that it wasn’t gone for good.
“Well I do believe you’re ready,” Cosmos came to his conclusion. “In a few moments, I will have my employee take you to your comrades. And, you may consider this your last delivery, Hand Guy. With it, your contract will be considered complete, and you may depart at your leisure.”
“Before you go, Thorn. Actually, I hope you don’t mind if I call you my grandson Drim for a bit longer. I just enjoy the thought since it has been a while since a new member has joined our family. But yes, before you leave, there is one final thing you need to hear, to understand, both of you. It is a matter of grave importance.”