Inessa looked out her window, waiting for Martin to come back when there was a knock at the door. She stood up, brushing herself off and hoped she didn’t look like she had been panicking the entire morning before she opened the door to see Adosina there, smiling.

“Ready?” Adosina asked.

Inessa frowned. “Sorry?”

Her smile was as bright as ever. “With the chaos that has happened the past day I do not blame you for having forgotten. My tailor is excited to meet you! I think shopping is just the thing we need now everything is calmed down.”

Inessa tried to match Adosina’s smile but it was impossible. The only thing on her schedule was trying to get Martin to notice her bruise, but she couldn’t deny she needed a distraction. She pushed her problems aside and smiled. “Yes. Yes, fine. I am excited to see the tailor.”

Adosina’s smile bubbled over. “She is a genius. Come, let’s go to town.”

Inessa got out of her room, out of the house, and into the carriage. Adosina chatted away, and Inessa only partially listened, easing herself into this roll of friend. It had been rusty with over a year of ill practice, but she could figure out a way to get back to it.

***

Indenuel was too curious and leaned over to look as Fadrique walked into the library. He saw a row of bookshelves and knew there had to be even more. Fadrique returned soon after with a small book, blowing the dust off the top of it before handing it to Navir, who held it in a loving manner. He placed it down on the table and carefully opened it, turning the pages like they would crumble to dust at any moment.

“High Elder Macabai was one of the most powerful healers in the world,” Martin said. “He was an old man when he survived the flood and lived another fifty years afterward. He was the main reason why the hundred years of chaos after the flood were only a hundred years. He was instrumental in bringing order.”

“He saw many changes and remembered life before the flood. His words are invaluable,” Navir said.

“He must not have met Mela,” Indenuel said.

“No, but he met the Prophet Jaakob when he gave the Divine Ages and his further visions of it,” Navir said.

“So Jaakob didn’t mention Mela at all?” Indenuel asked.

“If he did, no one recorded her name. Probably because she wouldn’t be believed,” Navir said.

“Because she’s a woman?”

Navir said nothing, but apparently that was exactly why. He turned a few more pages before motioning Indenuel to sit down.

“I’m fine standing,” Indenuel said.

Martin took his arm, offering him a chair. He couldn’t fight Martin, so he did so. Navir sat down across from him before clearing his throat. “‘It is known by many of the prophets of old that this world is different from all other worlds the Gods have created.”

“Gods? Plural? I thought there was only one,” Indenuel said.

Martin put a finger to his lips. Clearly that wasn’t the surprising information he was supposed to know.

Navir continued. “This world was different, in that the four magical abilities were gifted to mankind in the Paradisical Garden, and the first man and the first woman would teach and prepare their children to have their powers passed down through their posterity. No other world was known to have such, and though the first man and first woman did not understand why, it became essential for mankind’s survival. For the devil tricked the first woman to use corruptive powers which began a chain of events that destroyed the works of the Gods, causing the planets to be destroyed, and the stars that once covered the sky were erased from the heavens.”

Indenuel frowned, staring at Navir. The stars. The stars covering the night sky.

“Our world too would have been doomed to this fate, but the Gods that loved us so sacrificed Themselves to keep us alive.”

Indenuel frowned, his brows furrowing. “Wait, what?”

“In the end, through the first woman’s weakness, the Gods disintegrated to keep a shield over our world. And through our gifts, we are able to take on the responsibilities of the Gods to keep mankind in existence.”

Indenuel stood, his chair toppling over. “What!”

“In the time of the first man and the first woman, the sky was littered with stars. After they left the garden, there were four, and the Gods were disintegrated. The Savior of us all has taken on the responsibility of God, to keep the world in order, to answer the prayers of the people when a God is needed. But the Savior sits on a lonely throne and needs help, and so the God-given gifts are necessary to keep our world running.”

Indenuel stared at Navir, who was reading it all with a steady voice. None of this was new to them, but for him? He stared, slack jawed. If the world turned upside down, he wouldn’t have been nearly as shocked as this. Navir carefully closed the book. Indenuel couldn’t talk.

“Which is why a woman couldn’t have possibly written the Divine Ages,” Fadrique said as Indenuel grappled with this information. “Women have been cursed for what they did. They are God killers and must be protected from themselves.”

“This can’t be real. This must be from the devil. There is no way God is dead,” Indenuel said.

“Macabai the Healer is one of dozens of books from before the Great Flood,” Martin said quietly. “All of them confirm the Gods are dea-”

“No!” Indenuel said. “No, it can’t be. Because if it is true, if He is dead…” Indenuel curled his fists, trying to breath easily. “He’s not… They’re not… no. No, the devil is trying to trick us again.”

Remember what I told you about the powers that be.

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Indenuel gasped, leaning against the table. It was what the prophet said. They had different deities, and the translators said they were the powers that be. Indenuel had been confused, but what if it was because of this? What if the powers that be… was simply the Savior sitting alone among the multiple thrones of heaven? Indenuel closed his eyes, racking his brain for what Mela said. Mela said the Savior showed her the visions. He didn’t remember if she mentioned God at all.

“Oh shit,” Indenuel said. “Shit, shit, shit.”

“Indenuel,” Martin started to say, trying to give him comfort.

He slammed the table before glaring at Navir. “You lied to me.”

“The people are living their lives because they believe there is someone up there who is answering their prayers. If they find out there is no one, and that God died at the beginning of creation, they will have no hope. The High Elders must give them something.”

“You knew. I asked you about the final line in the Divine Ages. You knew there was a time the stars covered the night sky, and you lied to me,” Indenuel said.

“In order to protect you. You and everyone else in this world,” Navir said instead.

Indenuel’s chest was heaving. There were tears in his eyes. “This isn’t protection! This is deceit!”

“The people cannot know,” Navir stressed.

“Afraid to be called out as liars?” Indenuel asked.

“We cannot let them lose their hope,” Martin said.

“You mean you cannot lose your power!” Indenuel snapped. Martin raised an eyebrow, a distinct look of worry on his face. “You have ruled the world with this idea that God is there and listening to us. The people give money to you, they give you respect, but it’s all based on lies!”

“It is not all a lie,” Martin said.

“God is dead!” Indenuel hissed. “And you are hiding that from the public so you can keep lording over them and sit on your own thrones. To have world power!”

Navir stood, ready to get into a logical argument but Martin placed a hand on Indenuel’s arm, motioning for Navir to sit down. “He’s in shock.”

“Of course I am!” Indenuel shouted, pushing Martin away. “You are all liars and hypocrites to gain power! Forcing everyone to believe this lie so you can take it all!”

Martin grabbed Indenuel’s arms and forced him to look at him. “See how you’re reacting. You are yelling and screaming, and you have every right to do so. Now I want you to multiply that by literally every single person on this land mass and imagine what kind of chaos that would bring if this doctrine came out. Especially now, while we’re fighting a war.”

Indenuel glared at Martin. Of course he was right, but it still felt wrong. They couldn’t keep this kind of thing from the public.

But they have. Since the Great Flood.

Indenuel covered his face, feeling the hot tears running down his cheeks. How could he see this any other way? The High Elders were all lying and, in the process, keeping their power.

“The Gods may be dead, but the Savior is still there,” Martin said quietly. “I have become more aware of what he needs to do, the load on his shoulders to do what only a God could. The Savior’s coming is more important than anyone could possibly imagine. The Gods may be dead, but They never left us without a plan. A way to guide us and help us. You are part of that plan, Indenuel. The Divine Ages will guide us until the Savior is ready to claim it and become the new God of this world.”

Indenuel covered his mouth, shaking his head. “Jaakob’s words. They aren’t to be trusted.”

“But perhaps Mela’s are, vague as they seem. You will end the war, Indenuel, and we will be there every step of the way,” Martin said.

“You cannot keep lying to the people,” Indenuel said.

“And what would you suggest?”

Indenuel tried to think of something, but he couldn’t. He never considered himself a religious individual. Lucia was far more religious. God was so much a part of her life that many of his memories of her were of discussions about God or religious stories. Now they were based on lies. Now, instead of looking back with fondness about Lucia and the stories she told, there was a bitterness to it. Without knowing it, the High Elders had killed another aspect of her he desperately wanted to keep. Everything Lucia knew and lived for was based on lies. Indenuel covered his face, not wanting the High Elders to see him breaking down, embarrassed they already heard him cry.

Navir stood. “This meeting here is done.”

Indenuel leaned against the wall, sinking to his knees, the tears leaking out of his eyes. He heard the High Elders leave quietly, but he kept his face covered, trying not to sob. Everything he was ever taught, all of it a lie.

He heard the door close and assumed they had all left, but he felt someone sit down next to him.

“You’re going to be alright, my boy,” Martin whispered. “We’ve all gone through this when we first found out.”

“I can’t lie. I can’t go out into the world and pretend God is there when He’s not,” Indenuel said.

“If the morale of the people is broken, we don’t stand a chance against Kiam. It will be harder for you to win this war.”

“If I do win it,” Indenuel said, keeping his eyes covered.

The truth of it hit him hard. Jaakob’s words couldn’t be trusted, Mela’s words were far too vague, and God was dead. He might lose. He might die.

Indenuel’s body shook as a sob broke loose. Martin wrapped his arms around him, hugging him tightly. He held on, soaking the pristine white High Elder robes with his tears.

***

Inessa always thought Adosina was the more refined sister she always wanted. Her older sister had been crass and loud. Adosina was certainly loud, but there was a grace to it. Where Inessa’s older sister made everyone shake their heads in disapproval, Adosina made everyone smile. It was fascinating to see how she made the entire street that much more relaxed and happier. She smiled and waved, chatted for only a moment with people Inessa had never seen before. It was only for a moment, but she stayed, made sure she listened intently, gathered news, shared news, then was on her way.

“I’m simply ecstatic,” Adosina said. “I’m willing to bet all I have that Tima will exceed her skills with you.”

Inessa tucked some of her hair out of the way. “Well, considering I’m not expecting too much, I will be surprised with anything.”

“Nonsense. I know Tima. It will be a work of art,” Adosina said as she opened the door to the small dress shop.

Adosina walked in and Inessa heard a shrill noise. Adosina matched it, running over to a finely dressed woman. They hugged tightly. “Ari! You are betrothed!” Adosina said.

“I am! I cannot believe it!” the woman, Ari, said.

“Do you have your dress color yet?” Adosina asked.

“My father is scheduled to speak to the High Elders tomorrow to discuss my purity. I am not worried, though. I’m certain it will be pure white, but Tima can’t begin making the dress until she gets the High Elder’s results.”

Inessa never had a wedding. Her mother assured the guards of the High Elders that Inessa had never slept with another man, and that was enough to be given to Dalius. A quick certificate of authorization as a concubine, and that was it.

“You look so happy!” Adosina said.

“Oh, believe me, it’s more of a relief. It’s finally happened!” Ari said.

“Finally? You are still young yet!” Adosina asked.

“Almost thirty is quite old,” the woman said.

“Almost th-” Adosina’s eyes widened. “No! God has blessed you with such a youthful face!” She cupped Ari’s chin in her palms. Ari had soft green eyes and her face was covered in bushy blonde locks. “You are too gorgeous for Juan, you know this, right?”

“Oh stop,” Ari said. “It was either him or my father send me off to Dengria for school.”

“Heaven forbid you ever leave,” another woman said, appearing from the back. “You are too valuable an assistant.”

“Tima!” Adosina said, hugging the older woman.

“Addy, a pleasure as always.”

Adosina turned, her arm over both the woman. “Inessa, this is Tima, owner of this shop, and her assistant, Ari.”

“Inessa,” Tima said, taking her hands and spreading them out, smiling brightly. “I have heard many things about you from Addy.”

“Oh?” Inessa said. Tima dropped one of her hands and turned her around.

“The High Elders must have snatched you up as quickly as possible,” Tima said, giving her a wink.

Inessa tried to calm her reddening cheeks as she made a point not to look at Adosina. “Yes, actually. They did.”

Tima smiled as Ari giggled. Inessa could already see the calculations behind Tima’s green eyes as her mind was far away in design. She had black hair thrown up into a hasty bun, though her dress was one of careful, exquisite design. A soft blue and brown dress with multiple seams and hidden designs. If Inessa had to guess, Tima had to be almost thirty, maybe just barely.

“I cleared my entire afternoon for you two,” Tima said. “Let’s get you measured.”