Briefly before…

Like his workforce, Ben shuffled to the altar when told it was completed. It wasn’t like he had any real choice in the matter. There was only one person here he wasn’t sure actively worshiped, and that guy killed for a living. Regardless, he’d still be in attendance, because anything otherwise would draw unneeded ire and attention. The ex-Author was in the same boat. At least it was just making an appearance for now. Convincing anyone of his non-existent faith would be a tall order. Showing piety for something that amounted to a puppet was a step beyond what he could fake.

As he took his seat among others, he finally got a good view of the entire place. It was grand in its scale but still managed to have details like the occasional engravings and draperies. His visits here to consult Kinsoriel didn’t keep him long enough to admire the work. Credit where it was due, the altar was of a high quality for being built as fast as it was. Everything from top to bottom looked to have been made with love and care.

Once he was done being wowed by the scenery, his eyes were pulled down to the center. There his protagonist sat in what looked like meditation. Maybe being Wex’s champion made him some sort of priest as well and this was going to be some sort of sermon. Minutes later, the dragon rose from his haunches. Looks like he’d get his answer now.

“Disciples, scholars, gifted minds, and everything else, I welcome you to our Lord’s altar. We are a people united not for riches nor prestige, but for the rise of wisdom in all creatures.”

Yep, looks like he was right. He put his elbows to his knees as he sat, waiting for this to run its course. It was then that he noticed the reddish-orange glow that was now filling the area. He couldn’t help but stare up once he saw it. His eyes went wide as Kinsoriel’s words continued washing over and around him. The harvest moon looked huge. It had to be much closer than it normally was. So near to the world that it was a miracle that it hadn’t fallen out of orbit or caused natural disasters.

“And so, you shall be rewarded.”

A sudden increase in light from the ground demanded that Ben focus back on his MC. When he did, it was in time to see the dragon engulfed by a huge beam from above. His breath caught in his throat as the sight strangled him. There was no way Kinsoriel would just die like that, right? Not even his brother would do that, right?

Well, that was right. Instead of being reduced to ash, the dragon reappeared with different features. There was an otherworldly feel to him.

“I am here my children. Through all of your efforts, I am once again connected to the physical. I will be with you all from now on, speaking through my champion whenever my domain is full.”

Benjamin’s fingers clutched at the limestone seating to the point his hands hurt. That wasn’t just his protagonist speaking down there. It was also Wex. There were only two reasons why this could be happening right now. Either Stromwell was using the god like he had and completely changed his speech patterns, or… that was the real deal.

There shouldn’t even be a real deal! He’d stopped trying to make deities work as real entities in his works long before this one. They always ended up making everything around them worse. Either they acted too much or not enough. Having the peak of power in their universes tended to make them too independent, too hard to direct via his usual means. Ben learned to just play the parts himself and rid himself of the headaches they came with. Even if he didn’t have the full picture, he knew he wouldn’t have made them real characters.

He grit his teeth as the god occupying his MC’s body created a replica of the world similar to a hologram. The words being spoken were heard but he wasn’t listening. He was hyper-focused on a single thought: Stromwell had directly added an element to the story. It wasn’t hidden or subtle like before. This was a brazen declaration of war. It wouldn’t be enough to start unraveling everything, but it was clear just what lengths he was willing to go.

The crowd erupted into an excited frenzy with many raising their fists into the air. Even Ben couldn’t stay absorbed in his thoughts amid the high energies around him. He clumsily mimicked the gesture while noticing the reddish light was leaving the area. He fixed his attention back on Kinsoriel who was also doing the fist gesture. The changes he’d undergone had already reverted. Actually, scratch that. Was he taller?

“Return to your places of rest and sleep well. Our work has only just begun!”

Everyone gradually dispersed from the arena like obedient subjects. However, the feeling was more like that of a congregation instead. He followed the outflow of bodies but hung back after exiting the place. This was far too big for him to just keep his head down. Allowing himself to be in the dark right now would only hinder any plans he made.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

He leaned against the frame of the entrance long enough to warm the stone before hearing movement. Out came the black dragon with a pleased posture. Kinsoriel didn’t seem to notice him, so he made a loud, fake cough. The large head looked back with short-lived tenseness before the rest of the body followed suit. A claw held at a central portion of his large chest.

“Gah, must you make such noises behind me?” His MC took a breath before returning to that previously relaxed stance. “Tonight was your first time experiencing Wex’s majesty, was it not? I recall you hadn’t received a dream from him.” A glint of thoughtfulness shone from his reptilian eyes. “Oh, that’s why you’re here. All of this must be overwhelming for you. Know that I felt much the same when I first experienced his presence. You'll have my support in this trying time.”

Ben shook a hand back and forth, dismissing the notion. “I appreciate the sentiment. I really do. That’s not why I wanted to talk with you.”

“Did you wish to plan more of the city’s development with me then? Such an attitude would be applauded, but I made myself clear earlier. Do not work any further today.”

Heat circulated through the man’s forehead as he grew frustrated. “No, that’s not it either,” he said with a hitch to his voice. “It’s about the gods.”

“What about them?” Kinsoriel asked seriously.

“I need as much info on them as I can get.” Ben pulled out his notepad and took down the charcoal stick he held on top of an ear. “Being so close to one, I’ve got questions only you can answer. What was it like being possessed by one? Could you feel his intentions? Were your movements your own, or were they entirely controlled? Do you think they could take over anyone on a whim, or does it always require some kind of ceremony?”

Kinsoriel held up both hands as though to shield against the slew of inquiries. “Slow your tongue! I agree, it is important to know these things, especially now. But is it truly this urgent?”

“Absolutely! Every moment is a potential disaster I could have steered us away from. They are a massive unknown to me now; the threat they all pose is beyond what you could imagine.”

The dragon mulled over his words for an extended moment before finally responding, “Does that include Wex?”

Benjamin stood there, dumbstruck. “That’s what you took away from what I said?” He could feel the heat in his face as he flushed with irritation. Was his MC not listening to him?

“Does that include Wex,” Kinsoriel reiterated, “or does it not?”

“Of course it does! Why wouldn’t it?” Were there no tales of divine fickleness in this world? Heck, it didn’t even have to be about gods specifically. Surely someone like his main character had to have stumbled upon something of that nature. This shouldn’t be that hard to grasp.

Closing those fiery eyes and taking a deep breath, Kinsoriel bobbed his head back and forth. “I can’t help but feel disappointed in you, Benjamin. I would have thought you would take to him as readily as you absorbed my lessons.” He opened his eyes, and where Ben expected anger, he only saw a patronizing expression. “I don’t hold it against you. The blame lies upon me for forgetting your circumstances once again. One day, in this kingdom of knowledge, I’ll have the remedy for your delusions.”

At that moment, Ben was as red as a tomato. In a way, he’d have preferred if the dragon got offended about this instead of acting superior. Self-assuredness of this degree could be near immutable. Nothing he could say right now would change anything, and his honest answer had poisoned any further discussion. He’d just wasted his chance at getting anything out of him. He wasn’t sure if he was more pissed off at Kinsoriel or himself for walking into it.

Deciding to part ways before he did damage to further interactions, Ben said curtly, “Thanks for the talk. Goodnight.” He then turned his back to the dragon and walked off.

The trek to his room did little to cool him off, even in the chill of night. How many more times would his sanity be questioned? They had gotten so close to an understanding that night his brother showed himself. It was clear that Kinsoriel didn’t find the truth of everything pleasant, but he would have accepted it in time. They might have even finished this all by now if that damn pantheon didn’t get written in. And for all the hard work he was doing, all the effort, he was still not given the trust he needed.

Approaching the two-story building, Ben pulled out his key and unlocked the door. He was one of the few residents to have a place all to himself, but it wasn’t cut-and-dry favoritism. It was an office space of sorts first and foremost. Gathering all those qualified to plot out construction and the needs of the town had become unmanageable as the population grew. Having them all gather in a singular space made it much easier on Ben. The upstairs portion was where he went to bed, allowing him to get right back into his duties ASAP.

Willing himself up the stairs laboriously, the ex-Author had a scowl that refused to leave him. A pointless question popped into his head: Was he actually accomplishing anything? Even in his frustration, Ben could see the results around him. He was living indoors now, and he’d organized many of the townsfolk. He’d earned himself power and a good reputation with the residents. It was through them he would exert his influence on this narrative. He didn’t need his MC to help him anymore, and he had to accept that such help was no longer available in the way he required.

Entering his bedroom, he allowed his shoulders to slump and the stress to fall away. Taking off his armor, Ben got underneath the blanket and calmed himself down enough to drift off. There was doubt about it now. If he defied the odds and managed to pull this off, he was definitely making some revisions.