Beyond the main chamber with its altar and near-endless rows of seats, the cave was a veritable labyrinth of branching tunnels. It didn’t take long before Callan was hopelessly turned about. While Xeph claimed to be tracking their progress and could retrace their steps if need be, Callan wasn’t entirely confident in his new cohabitant’s memory.
For several reasons.
“So you really don’t remember the way out of here?” he asked as he stuck his head into another chamber. This one was similar to the last half-dozen they had passed, with several beds and empty trunks placed about the room. It seemed the area closest to the temple proper had been a living quarters.
It isn’t that I don’t remember, simply that I cannot access the memory.
“Right, because you locked them away when you entered that statue.”
I didn’t lock them, I compressed them. There is a difference. There was an irritated note to Xeph’s voice—at least that’s what Callan thought the sound like breaking crystal was meant to represent. It was almost like he had an inner sense for it now, with the god inside of him.
“What is the difference, exactly?” he asked.
Locking implies a simple release, if one possesses the appropriate key. Compression is a matter of sealing, which is more complicated. I cannot simply command my memories to return. Instead, they require the appropriate stimulus.
“Which is...?”
I’ll know it when I see it.
“It still seems weird to me.” Callan entered another small chamber and found it full of dusty crates. Lifting the lid from one, he discovered a pile of small packages that contained something similar to a cracker, about the size of his fist. Emergency rations, if he had to guess. “How is it that you kept knowledge about subjects like ancient China, but not something as simple as the way out of your own temple?”
I— Xeph’s voice faltered. I’m not entirely certain, he admitted after a moment.
“Well, we’ll just have to experiment until we find the appropriate ‘stimulus’, whatever the hell that means. Pity though, I’ve got, like, a billion questions.”
Then ask your questions. Perhaps your words will prove sufficient to uncompress more of my memories.
“Okay. What is the best path to get out of here?” Callan grinned as he took a bite of the giant cracker. It tasted better than he had feared, with a soft texture more reminiscent of mochi. He chewed it a moment, swallowed, then waited for Xeph’s response.
...Very amusing.
“Hey, it was worth a shot.” Stepping back into the hallway, Callan considered his next question. There was so much he wanted to know about this world, though he was guessing that Xeph’s knowledge was somewhat lacking, considering how long he’d been down here alone underground.
Actually, now that he thought of it...
“Why do you keep calling this place the Outerworld? I mean, we’re not exactly ‘outside’ anything right now, are we? Shouldn’t this be the Underworld?”
A common misconception. It is called the Outerworld because even here, we are still above the lower depths of this planet. Anything beneath the ocean’s surface is the Subworld, and beyond that is the Innerworld. Neither are places we would wish to visit at the moment, however.
“Huh. I guess that makes sense.”
Most of civilization exists in the Outerworld. At least, that is how it was before. I cannot say if life above us has changed in my absence.
“Are you sure there’s anyone even still up there? I mean, look at this place.” Callan gestured to the empty hallway, and the even emptier surrounding rooms. “Seems weird this place would just have been abandoned. Obviously there was quite the population here once.”
When Xeph didn’t respond, Callan kept on walking. “Right. Compressed memories. Well, what can you tell me?”
There must still be life in the Outerworld. Your interface proves that much.
“My interface?” With a mental flick, Callan brought his screen up again.
Name: Xeph-Zul-Karatl (3rd Sphere)
Avatar: Callan Whitlocke (Trueborn Human)
-STATISTICS-
Brawn: 0
Momentum: 0
Fortitude: 0
Concentration: 0
Influence: 0
Piety: 0
-BOUNTIES-
God Bond: Talc – I
Manifestation: Mountainform
Orison slot 1: Shape Stone (Talc - I)
Orison Slot 2: *Locked*
-DOGMA-
Total Followers: 7
Available Faith: 7
Conviction: 0/5
Conviction Rate: 0.5/week
Temples: 0/1
APOTHEOSIS: 0/25%
See? Seven followers. Even after all this time, there are still those in the Outerworld who remember my name, who still honor the old practices. Once we have found our way outside, finding them should be our first objective. They will form the basis of my new congregation, and the source of curing your calamity.
“Right, followers. Is that important? I assume it must be since it gets its own line on the interface.”
Yes, and it is not just for my own glory that you will wish to grow the number of our faithful. The more that worship my name, the more power you shall gain for yourself as well.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
“Really? How does that work?” Callan squinted over his stat screen, his eyes settling on the word Brawn. He almost jumped out of his skin as another box appeared in front of him.
Would you like to increase Brawn? Cost = 1 Faith
Like that, Xeph noted dryly, then added, You may also apply Faith to your orisons in order to increase their strength. Your God Bond and its associated manifestation will increase naturally on their own as the ranks of our followers swell. And with each additional follower will come additional faith.
“Okay, more followers equal more faith and more powerful abilities. That makes sense, I suppose. What about Conviction? Not that I have any of it at the moment to be worried about.”
Yes, that is a problem, but one we can deal with at a later time. For now, simply know that Conviction is important for many purposes, not least of which because you will require it to unlock additional orison slots.
“What, you can’t just do that for me?” Callan asked with a grin.
There are reasons for all things, human. Much of this system is meant to impose checks and balances upon us both, to ensure that I do not flood you with too much power and overwhelm your pitiful shell—
“Pitiful, really? You didn’t have to do me dirty like that.”
—And also so that you do not draw too heavily upon my own resources before I have time to replenish them. Take, for instance, the last line of your interface.
Callan dismissed the notification from earlier, then glanced to the bottom of the stat screen. “Oh yeah, Apotheosis. I’ve been wondering about that.”
It is a measure of how much of my power you may draw upon at any one time. Currently it is capped at twenty-five percent, though you may exceed that in a time of crisis. Just know that if you do, there will be consequences, including restricted access to my powers for a time following.
“What happens if it gets all the way to 100%?”
The god was silent a moment. Just when Callan was sure he wasn’t going to get an answer again, Xeph spoke in a quiet tone, his voice like the rasp of sandpaper. Then both of our lives come to an end. You must be careful never to cross this threshold. Do not even approach it, if possible.
“Okay. 100% equals death. Got it.” Poking his head into another room, Callan saw it was full of crumbling chairs and moldy bookcases. Darn, a few books might have been just what he needed right now. Even if he couldn’t read them, Xeph might have been able to use them to fix some of his own memory problems.
Hmm. It seemed like the furniture and other supplies he was coming across were growing more and more deteriorated the further he got from the main chamber. Had Xeph been protecting them somehow, or was there another reason for—
A wave of dizziness passed over Callan, and he had to grip the doorway to keep from falling over.
Human? There was a note of concern in Xeph’s voice. What is it?
“Nothing, I just—Damnit!” Callan stumbled back a step, then slumped against the opposite wall as it felt like his whole body was suddenly locked in a vise. He could feel his heart hammering against his chest, and his legs wobbled beneath him.
And here he had been so hopeful, too. He’d made it close to an hour before feeling dizzy. That was something of an improvement, but not nearly enough for his tastes.
“Don’t worry, it’s just another side-effect of my sickness. Or maybe the medicine I’m on, I don’t honestly know. I just need a minute to rest.”
Hmm. Perhaps it is time to spend some of the faith we have accumulated, Xeph suggested. Open your interface again.
Callan did so, the box enlarging to block out most of his vision. “What do I need to do?”
Concentrate on your Fortitude. Let us see about adding... three to it. That should be sufficient at the moment. If it does not improve your situation, you can always add more.
Once again, another box appeared. Callan stared at it, wondering how the hell to acknowledge it. After a moment he realized he was being an idiot, and simply concentrated on the idea of adding three points.
You have increased Fortitude by 3
Total cost = 3 Faith
Current Fortitude is at 3
Immediately, he felt much better. The pain that had been flooding him receded, although the feeling of weakness remained. Still, he could breathe a little easier again.
Good. Now do the same for Brawn.
Callan didn’t need to be told twice. Just those first three points already had him feeling like a new man. A weak, sickly man, but new, nonetheless.
You have increased Brawn by 3
Total cost = 3 Faith
Current Brawn is at 3
A warm feeling coursed through his body, starting in his toes and working upward. Wherever it passed, Callan felt a renewed sense of vigor. No sooner had he dismissed all his messages and stat screens than he scrambled to his feet.
Better?
“Much.” Callan grinned. He flexed his fingers. “So can I, like, crush rocks with my bare hands now?”
Not quite. Xeph let out a grinding chuckle. Patience, mortal. It will take hundreds of points in Brawn for you to accomplish such a task at your current physical level.
“Yeah, I suppose that’s a bit much to expect from my very first power up. Hey, so why is it all of my stats started at zero, anyway? I mean, I know I’m sick, but I didn’t think I was that sick.”
These stats do not correspond to your body’s physical condition, but rather are a measurement of how my powers enhance what you already possess. Thus, if you were to build more muscle on your own, you would find your strength magnified proportionally. Or someone who already possesses quick reflexes will naturally remain faster than an avatar who doesn’t, even if their Momentum is the same. Now, there is one last technique I would like to teach you before we continue our search. If you would, please concentrate on your orison.
“I assume you mean the one labeled Shape Stone? Since the other is locked, and all.”
Very astute. I am so pleased to have possessed such a wise and observant avatar.
“Is that sarcasm?” Callan asked. “I feel like that’s sarcasm.”
You are a clever human. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.
Focusing on the line as Xeph suggested, Callan was presented not with a single message, but multiple.
Orison: Shape Stone
Allows manipulation of any natural stone surrounding the user within a radius of 10 feet.
Apotheosis cost = 5% per cubic foot of stone
Would you like to improve the orison: Shape Stone? Cost = 1 Faith
“What the heck is ‘natural stone’? Pretty sure they didn’t cover that in geology class.” Callan shook his head. A quick confirmation later, and the box was immediately replaced by another.
You have improved the orison: Shape Stone to Talc — II
Range increased to 11 feet
Total cost = 1 Faith
“Alright, points assigned.” Callan flexed his fingers, then cracked his neck from side to side. “Shall we continue looking for the exit?”
In a bit. First, I think it is time you saw exactly what it means to become an avatar of a god.
“And what does that mean?”
Observe to your left.
Callan turned, and spotted a door of aging wood, with a sign attached to the wall beside it of equally decrepit material. Because of that, it took a moment for him to realize the sign was in English.
Training Hall.