With Danu’s touch, I felt the ties that bound me to the Pantheon settle into place. I now understood my purpose, my [Domain] and [Authority] resonating within the ranks of the Tuatha de Danann.
Bloodline connections that had been a part of me since the moment the System had given me a choice, and I had chosen Sidhe solidified. The ties of blood buttressing my position within the Pantheon, connections forming like a vast cosmic spider web. Connections that came with a clearer understanding of the abilities I had wielded with a childlike naivety now that I could see how those abilities were supported by [Law].
And Danu sat at the center of the Multi-universal web that the Tuatha de Danann had spun. The fulcrum for the Pantheon’s nature spinning throughout reality, anchored in place by the Summerlands.
The Summerlands served as a transcendent beacon that made it possible for our Divinity to be spread throughout each universe without the need to create and establish mirrored copies.
The Summerlands were the foundation and bedrock for our uniqueness and the reason that the Tuatha de Danann had been trapped in [Sleep]. The other Pantheons of Gods coveted our ability to be omnipresent across the multi-verse.
They could communicate with their mirrored clones. They could even swap places with each version of themselves, but that required time and energy. The Tuatha de Danann were closer to the ideal version of the Alpha and Omega than any other Pantheon. And that resemblance rankled and engendered jealousy among Gods who hungered for those same abilities.
“Teigh,” Danu spoke, her voice rippling across the multi-verse. “[Progenitor] of the Yeti race of Sidhe. [Creator] of the Teigh-fey. The first Sidhe to gain and claim their [Domain] and [Authority]. We witness and welcome you into the family of Gods and Goddesses that exist in that place betwixt and between.
“That boundary that serves as the weft and weave of [Dream], [Fairy], and the [Wild Magic]. Be welcome as your actions resonate with change across the cosmos. The Summerlands acknowledge you as a child of and the newest God within our Pantheon.
“You have restored the Tuatha de Danann. Made whole the [Dream]. We grow stronger because of your efforts. We are restored. And we acknowledge the debt we owe you.”
Placing a kiss on my forehead as she finished, [Fate] echoed with her pronouncement. The Tuatha de Danann were careful not to allow themselves to become indebted to another. It is one of the reasons we do not lie. And we never respond to kindness or actions by giving thanks.
Thanks, imply a debt, and that was as abhorrent to the Tuatha de Danann as iron was for the Sidhe. That Danu had acknowledged that debt publicly, for other Gods to bear witness, spoke volumes.
The System ignored the significance of Danu’s words. Even limited as it was in this universe, it was powerful enough to claim items that I had earned and used as a matter of course while mortal. But at least it gave me the decision of what to do with each item as it was stripped from me.
Most of the items were of little importance, and their disposition was simple. But there were a few items that did matter.
This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
[System Notice: Select who will receive the [Ring of Hidden Depths].]
“I’d like the contents of the [Ring] to be distributed between the Sithern of this universe,” I spoke for the first time as a God. I watched in amazement as even this simple conversation caused eddies in the Divine energy attuned to the Tuatha de Danann. “Allow the Sitherns, not the Sidhe, to decide how to distribute any items they receive.
“As for the [Ring] itself, Ryu, my grandson in my Universe of Origin, should receive the item. He has already connected with the [Ring] with blood and bloodlines. It will answer to him.”
[System Notice: Select who will receive the [King’s Regalia].]
I had a harder time deciding what to do with the [Regalia]. The tenets of democracy I had been raised under before my reincarnation railed against inheritance. The position of King should be awarded to the best of the Sidhe, not to the person who had the closest of kin.
I could split the [Regalia], allowing Ryu, Wynne, and Irvin to receive a piece from the set. I had entrusted each of them with some of my authority as King. But that seemed fraught with the potential for problems.
I could envision factions forming to support each of them. Factions that would do anything to restore the [Regalia]. I didn’t think Ryu, Wynne, or Irvin would be a party to something like that, but zealots existed even among the Sidhe. There were Sidhe willing to do anything for power.
I considered briefly splitting the [Regalia] and allowing the Seelie, Unseelie, and Tuatha de Danann factions to have one piece. I quickly discounted that idea, believing it would lead to war even faster than if I’d gifted the items to Ryu, Wynne, and Irvin.
Before I remembered something.
Back in time, so long ago that few remember, back when the Sidhe were first formed and the System was new, the Sitherns decided who would rule. Each species of Fey could only claim a [Seat of Power] if the Sithern approved.
That practice had been abandoned when rulers had power-leveled their children, and the System had implemented [Ranks] as a measure of level. But there was nothing to stop me from having the System reinstate it.
“The Sitherns on Talahm have created a network that allows them to link. I would have my [Regalia] placed in trust with that connection of networked Sitherns. Allow the Sitherns to generate a way to test candidates.
“Anyone who thinks themselves worthy of claiming the [Regalia] will be tested, with the Sitherns having the option to veto anyone whom they deem unstable or unfit to stand as [Ruler].
“The person who finally accepts the [Regalia] must agree to a binding [Oath] that no piece of the set can be gifted, sold, or exchanged with another person. And they will submit to a review of their status by the Sithern network every thousand years.”
By allowing the Sithern Network to monitor the terms and conditions required to gain access to the [Regalia] and monitor those that would claim the [Regalia], the function of choosing the next King or Queen would be restored to the Sithern and removed from the auspices of the System.
By requiring reviews every thousand years, the chaos that befell the Seelie when Mab had gone insane should be tempered.
It was better to put up with a despot out of control for a thousand years than for as long as a Sidhe might live. Mab would still be ruling if I had not confronted and defeated her in combat for her imprisonment and torture of Irvin.
[System Notice: Select who will receive the [Sithern Seeds].]
This was a much easier decision. I had five seeds remaining, and I had already considered what to do with them. They would remain in this universe but not completely within Sidhe's control.
“I will gift one seed to Beowulf, the Beastkin Leader; Dracula, the Vampire Leader; Niroth Hammersmith, the Dwarven Leader; and Pythia, Queen of Elves. Morgan le Fey will be tasked with conducting the [Ritual] that will see each seed sprout, giving the magic races of this world a place of safety, a place to fall back to if the Armies of Man threaten their races with extinction.”