All of the high-dimensional beings in existence, outside of Affection, stared at Rou in utter confusion at his remark.

"Fishing, boy? Have you lost your wits?" Creation asked incredulously.

"Fishing. Your explanation, especially of rippling, reminded me of something is all. So we are a solid pebble wrapped in a bubble of aether, outside of which is a layer of high-dimensional space - which in turn is wrapped in aether, presumably, as if it wasn't the predator you speak of would have already found you? High-energy beings such as yourself, Aether, Creation, seem to be purely energy. I assume this predator is too, otherwise it would be either low-dimensional or ascending to extra-dimensional. I also assume it is not some anti-existence, simply… much more grand in scale? Perhaps an abomination of nature?"

"..."

Being the only one who had ever seen the predator that they were speaking of, Creation neither confirmed or denied Rou's belief. Though internally he was wondering just how this fellow was able to put together such dots.

"Thus, fishing. It has to be relying on instinct, otherwise it wouldn't just be bottom-feeding, it would be systematically stirring the waters to find out which have fish within. The intelligence is limited, perhaps not even present. What is your antithesis as a high-energy being? For us mortals, we have many weaknesses. Aether exsanguination, poison, bloodloss, so forth. But what can kill /you/ other than being absorbed? If you are only created either spontaneously or through ascension, something has to be able to kill you… yes?"

"And why ever would I expose a weakness to you? Sure, all of us know what could kill us, but you are asking not just for trust, but to hold power over us fully?" once again Creation balked.

"Because I love my family, my friends, and Affection here, and I don't very well like the idea of sitting here and hoping we are not swallowed up by some high-dimensional carp like a piece of fish shit on the bottom of a river. Have you sat here so long, hiding in fear, that you've forgot the basic rule of life? Kill or be killed. Instead of waiting for it to kill you… finish it first."

"Fool. And here I thought you might have something of value to say. Folly me for thinking too highly of you." and with that, Creation vanished on the spot, back to whence he came. The other gods in some fashion did much the same, only a few remained. Affection. Aether. Curiosity. And a few he'd never met before. One, he'd heard of. Curiosity, as he learned from Affection mentally acknowledging each of them in turn. Adventure. Soil. And also… Laughter. Unlike the others who had no body, this Laughter was present in a Hyena-like form. Snaggle-toothed, looking absolutely ridiculous, but with an amused expression.

"You asked how to kill us, Rou, was it? Betrothed of Affection." Soil was the one who spoke up, leaving Rou to nod. "As with the predator for us, consumption. Absorption. Energy cannot be destroyed, only transmuted in forms. But… the grander the dimensional being, the more… congealed their energy is, the more resistant it is to being siphoned away or consumed. Equally, suicide. All it takes is the desire to cease existence, and existence will cease to exist. The dissipation of energy is the typical route of most high-dimensional beings who reach a point of no longer caring about existence. Either through age, or apathy."

"There are, ever so rarely, natural poisons of sorts that can destroy the 'stickiness' that energy beings like us naturally produce. And there are also energy anti-existences, which are impossible to control and are more like… natural deadzones where high-dimensional energy cannot exist. For an analogy, a fish can only leave a pond for so long before it dies. Only in this case, leaving the pond would result in immediate dissolution for energy beings. And of course, overwhelming power, but that is neither here nor there because that is a fact of life from most beings."

Soil's answer left Rou in deep through. "That is how you may kills us energy beings. And do not fault Creation. He speaks tough but he does care for all of us in his own way. It is because he cares that he was so upset just now. You… briefly gave him hope for a better future, somehow. He truly has faith in you, a mortal, to even lend his proverbial ear."

Rou nodded and added, "I understand. I hold nothing against them, or you. Thank you for the explanation. And I will act within my capacity to keep those I hold dear safe. Including Affection. And by proxy, you. Please do not interfere if it ever comes to it."

Those gods present said nothing, but Laughter began to laugh. He walked over and patted Rou's shoulder as if encouraging, only to walk off laughing once more.

Notice

Perk Gained - [Cute]

"..."

Rou was quite confused.

Affection smiled and kissed Rou's cheek.

"Was he flirting with me?" Rou asked finally, earning a snort from other gods, and Affection, as they were left alone - even Aether departed.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"No, silly. He simply found you cute. Now I… am flirting with you. Who would have thought that I'd ever hear you claim that you would protect me like that. You deserve a treat."

–

Some time later, Rou slid back into the lower dimension, laying on his bed, staring at the ceiling and feeling a bit drained. He knew gods didn't need sleep but at this point, Rou almost felt as if he had no more to give.

–

Worldwide Notice

Screen system is being reworked. Until otherwise given notice, do not expect your Screens to function normally. They will be disabled for an unkown amount of time, but you are no weaker for it. Your capacity remains exactly the same as it was last you looked at the screen.

–

Rou smiled as he realized Aether took some of his suggestions to heart. But his mind returned to the high-dimensional predator. How could they even interact with it? The only thing he could think of was a low-dimensional being who was somehow capable enough to traverse this dimensional plane, finding an energy anti-existence of some variety, and luring the predator that way somehow while managing to survive. But if it was an energy anti-existence… what was on the other side for non-energy beings like him?

"No way to know, dear. No high-dimensional being like us could ever know. And no low-dimensional being is capable of traversing the dimensional planes, as only energy beings can."

"Exactly, it is quite the riddle. But, in my old world, despite humans being required to breathe, we still managed to both go to space, and swim to the bottom of the ocean. Perhaps… a low-dimensional being could use a high-dimensional being as a ship, then wrap said high-dimensional being in their own aether? Two in one so to speak. Like you and me. Not that I'm asking you to, of course."

"Naturally."

"Do… high-dimensional beings have souls?"

"In a sense? Not an aetheric soul like yours with a defined boundary and contents, but our entire body is loosely exactly that."

"So would it be possible, in theory, for one to have two… cores in one being? An aether core and an energy core? An aetheric inside, and an energy outside, two sides of a coin? Freely able to traverse the dimensional plane, but also not being bound by the limits?"

This time, Creation perked up and responded, "If you want to try… mm. I both want to strike you down on the spot to protect us all, but equally… I want to give you the chance, because your mind works in strange ways, Rou. But before you coud do that… you would need a second soul. And that is not easy to come by. You, personally, would need a second soul. Not just someone elses in your body, but one in its entirety for yourself. Naturally that does not exist. And I cannot very well just couple you up with another soul that freshly entered reincarnation. It would need to… naturally bond with you, join, commune. And then it would need to die and be reborn."

Rou perked up slightly and sat up in his bed, "Then…"

"Do not plan for this. It will not happen. Not in all existence that I have lived have I heard of such. Not before the predator, and most certainly not within this world I created. But you have my blessing. If by some miracle of creation, not me, but creation itself, through utter coincidence and calamity, you somehow wind up with two souls to your name… come to me. Come to us, the 'Gods'. I speak for us all. We will watch as you succeed, or fail. Either way, we could not know the outcome. If you fail and perish, know your memory will always be preserved. But also know… how deeply you would hurt Affection. Do not pursue this fancy of yours half-heartedly."

"You overlooked something plain, Creation."

"Oh? What would that be, young Affection."

"He already has a second soul. Mine."

"Bah. You know damn well that's not what I mean, you lovestruck twit."

–

Being as touched as he was for Affection's phrasing, Rou went back up despite not having any energy and spent far longer than he knew with Affection. Even his family down below began to worry for him, not knowing where he went, having been gone for so, so long. But eventually, when he returned, he was safe, and happy.

And now, there was a matching ring on Affection's finger. And around the base of her tail. Something she happily showed off to Aether, who was amused but also a bit miffed she hadn't offered that to Affection before. Especially as when she suggested adding a 'ring' to Affection's left hand ring finger, Affection denied that, happily proclaiming herself only for Rou from now until forever. She wasn't jealous, but gained an extreme satisfaction in devoting herself to her 'dear' betrothed.

Aether sunk away after she left, for the first time in her existence, actually experiencing rejection.

Laughter laughed and laughed. The two started to get into a fight before Creation slapped them both down and delivered a warning. Soil smiled and spoke to Rou.

"Do you have any desire for a blessing from me? I govern the earth below your feet, the metals and craftswork. Works made by hand and natural, from buildings to structures and statues to equipment."

Rou thought about it, but shook his head. "However, there is this old Gopher I am rather fond of that could put it to use."

–

Notice

Perk Gained - [Soil's Blessing - Everything you craft has a chance to qualitatively advance into a named masterwork. A named masterwork has a chance to qualitatively advance into a legend. A legend will personally receive my blessing if created by hand, and will attain recognition of the world and the Gods alike.]

Perk Gained - [Hands of a Craftsman - All craftswork receives a guaranteed increase in quality, randomly if not specified.]

"WHAT THE *whistle* FUCK?!"

"MASTER?!" a cohort of apprentices leapt to grab their fallen teacher, the old gopher whom Rou had met a while back, who seems to have fainted from shock. Or had a heart attack. Or quite possibly all of the above.

Notice

You should thank Fluff Sage. Might wear a dress when you do though. He seems to think you'd look pretty in one.

"Fuck me… no wait, I'd rather he not."

–

About an hour later, the Erials were woken up by someone frantically banging on their door like the plague had returned. Instead, they found a frantic elderly gopher fellow who was covered in soot, grime, smelled of metal and sulphur… and was wearing a flowery dress. "IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED KID? Ya got weird taste, but everybody has a price!" He shouted into the house, assuming wherever Rou was, he could be heard. Let no one claim he did not pay his dues.

While Dominic and Shiela were terribly confused, Millet covered her siblings eyes as best she could, though they were all giggling. When Rou finally appeared and saw it, he and Affection both snorted and began to laugh, painfully hard.

Even Laughter joined in briefly, a bark of amusement heard round the world.

"Gods above, even Laughter's having a go at me." the old gopher whined, but knew even if he suffered far worse humiliation, the gift he'd received? He could never pay back in his lifetime.