RE: Deity - The Breath of Creation

4:18 Triumphant Return

"So what is this trial thing even going to be?" The Rival asked, leg dangling over the edge of his chair as I sat beside the Oshun Trio, my power diagnosing their recovery. I’d run ahead of the war party to get back to the Four Realms, retrieving Yueya, so I could begin treatment. They had other duties to attend to as they returned, after all, and even just a few more months of extra treatment for those we captured could make a world of difference. "Because it seems kind of silly." I felt more than saw Inesa look up from where she was tending to Alala, the muscular woman's eyes open and watching her, but not speaking."It is very silly," I agreed. "But the strings that bind us together won't be resolved easily. This 'trial' is a way to resolve some of the hatred and resentment that has been built up within my children, as well as a few other things. Karmic. Fate. Even to resolve of what’s going on within the One World." It had the added bonus of resolving some of the fate strings that were trying to tie themselves around Amari Ren, the little one, and bind them to a very specific path. I found that…disagreeable. All my children deserved to choose their own paths. That is, the trial would resolve a few things, and set the stage for me to resolve others, so long as I directed it the right way.

"Oh," Inesa said, perking up. "So, it's a false trial?"

"Yes. No. Both at once." I said with a shrug. "We will need to decide on what to do with the One World. The war technically isn't over, after all. Until the entirety of the One World is free of the Rot, we will be constantly fighting it. I have an idea for that, but, well, it's going to be a long fight either way." Curie's army of SystemGuardians would be perfect for combatting the remains of the rot, but finding a permanent solution was...difficult. It wasn't like Morgan, who I could somewhat manage, and Shadows were, innately, a problem to deal with.

"So the trial, then, is a lie?" The Rival tried to clarify.

"Again, yes and no. My children desire closure. This is the answer to that. A trial, even if I am pulling the strings of the entire thing, will resolve some fate threads." How many times did I have to repeat that? Was the Rival just yanking my chain? A quick glance at him told me yes, he was being intentionally difficult, if his grin was anything to go by.

"But it may set a bad example," Inesa whispered.

"Maybe so. But there is no good, clean answer to this, and this is only step one. The Four Realms is tired and hurting, and there are a lot of emotions running through everyone. Especially the more martial minded of our people. I trust that most of the gods will understand what I am doing, but the Immortals? The Dao Progenitors, even? They need closure." I told her, kneeling next to Yueya and examining her.

Her red hair was splayed out around her head like a halo, stripped of all the rot I could find in her. The Divine aura that radiated from her chest was slowly mending, but that was just it. It was slow.

"THE LOGICAL OPTION," Curie began, from where she sat in a chair just beside Yueya, speaking through a machine. "IS TO -"

"What? Strip you three of your Authority? Make it my own, or gift it to Amari Ren?" I interjected, looking over at the machine-bound woman. Her expression, predictably, did not change. I smiled at her sadly. "That is a purely logical response, not at all considering the heart or the body. I am not certain I can contain all that Authority without growing exponentially." I told her gently, moving over to the woman and laying a hand on her head. My power seeped into her, feeling the flaking of her divinity.

Piece by piece, I was putting her back together. Already she was leaps and bounds better than she had been when I'd first found her, no longer speaking only in purely mechanical, systemized tones. Though being next to her other selves helped a lot, too. Their powers fed off of each other, creating a loop that slowly generated more and more power for each of them. Strengthening and healing their wounds.

I frowned a little bit as I reshaped a piece of her power that had turned jagged and sharp, softening it so it fit back together properly. Well, healing what wounds they could. Alala still struggled to wake, as did Yueya. I still had to be here in a large capacity to facilitate their healing.

"You're too soft-hearted." The Rival accused. "It's wild to me that you somehow managed to make a xianxia world, while this soft hearted. And it works. Somehow."

"Thank you," I said, taking that as a compliment. "Now, Rival, are you sure you want to be here? There are a thousand other, more interesting things you could be doing right now than staying here and watching me and Inesa work." Shoot, this was even just a single incarnation of mine. If he wanted to be next to me still, there were other places he could go. The same was true of Inesa, of course.

"I need to make sure they're not infected by the Rot, and it doesn't jump to you. Just in case." He said simply and that, I supposed, was that. Silence reigned for a bit more, until he spoke again. "I wish you could have met the First." I paused in my aid to Curie, fitting a piece of her divinity back to her core, and looked up at the Rival. He had a faraway look in his eyes, a drink held in one hand as he stared blankly at the ceiling.

I made a noise of interest in the back of my throat, prompting him to continue.

"You would have liked him, I think. Not now, I mean, but before. The old him. You would've got along." he muttered.

"Would I have gotten along with the old you?" I asked, turning my attention back to Curie, who relaxed into my grip as my power worked to balance her imbalances. Too much Mind. Not enough of...everything else.

"No, probably not," he said and that, if I was honest, surprised me. Not because of the answer - but because there was no quip to accompany it. No shameless flirting. Just melancholy and a faraway look. I answered equally seriously.

"Then I am content to have not met him, and am glad instead to have met you." I told him. The Rival blinked at me. Stared. Then snorted out a laugh.

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"You flirt," he told me. I flashed him a little grin, then straightened up, patting Curie on the shoulder. This was all I could do for now, until they rested a bit more. Curie’s eyes closed, her mind lulling to a regenerative sleep.

"It is about time for the parade to arrive," I said, cracking my neck. Inesa, who had been quiet, content to tend the flames and heal the sick, snapped her head up so fast her neck popped audibly.

"They’re back?" She demanded. I had beat Alexander, Keilan, and the others back to the Four Realms. It'd been nearly a full three months since I'd returned to the Four Realms with the prisoners in tow. They'd had to make a few stops along the way, after all, what with all their allies and cohorts in the One World who had, admittedly, not done overmuch to help in the big fights, but had still helped.

So I had taken the prisoners ahead, to begin their rehabilitation and start separating the rot from them. Atreum and his lieutenants were in another nearby chamber, receiving similar treatment.

But now my children were back.

"Yes. Go on, dear. I can handle things here," the sentence was barely past my lips when Inesa vanished in a flash of golden light, racing through reality to go greet her husband. I chuckled and let this incarnation turn back to its work, many others buzzing about the Realms (and a few in the One World, even) while my true body watched it all.

The war party was home. And I needed to greet them.

***

The great warships of the Mad Scientist's design were met with nothing less than the largest parade the Four Realms had ever thrown. The shell of primordial chaos around the Realms, thin though they were, split like the tide to welcome the ships in with open arms. Fang Xu and Celene sent great arcs of gold and blue fire lancing across the sky, creating brilliant arches and streamers of light. My two angels, Fu Hao and Stilicho, the former of whom was still reeling from the nasty arrow to the neck she'd taken what seemed like eons ago, led a procession of those who had stayed to the ships' sides, escorting them in. Angels and gods alike formed an escort for the ships, leading them home.

The Will of the Four Realms itself greeted them with open arms, sparing what little qi it could to wrap them in a hug.

Alexander's roar shook the heavens themselves, his joy at being home matched by everyone else upon those ships. Solana shrieked her joy and took to the skies, following Alexander and his draconic children as they danced among the flaming streamers from the Realm Sun and Lunar Star. Even Randus reached out, filling the world with dreams of victory and triumph, of a great foe vanquished and the darkness driven back, of a celebration of those who survived, and for those who died.

The three ships were led directly to the Holy Mountain, Elvira's seat of power, where they parked just outside the great gates that led within. The entirety of the Heavenly Host stood just outside the sacred halls, their spears gleaming and heads held high as they welcomed their fellows home.

The living spilled out of the ships, and were met with cheers. Kei hung from the railings, waving both arms wildly. Gods flooded forward, embracing those who returned - be they mortal or immortal or fellow divinity. Fireworks shot into the sky, celebrating the end of the worst of the war, and triumphant return of the victors.

Inesa crashed into Xing Wu, Sequoia giggling like a child possessed as he swung her and his wife around, burying his face into the crook of her neck as Inesa sobbed into his chest. Keilan privately moved all the prisoners - at least, the ones I had not taken from him - and the treasures they'd taken from the One World, to study or for other uses, to a spot deep in the heart of the Holy Mountain.

Elvira made a speech. Keilan returned to pose alongside Alexander and Rieka. Reika cast her healing light out across those who returned. And then came the funeral procession.

The bodies of the dead had long since been stored, or had been unretrievable. But their souls? Their souls were saved. Their souls were brought before Elvira, Keilan, Reika, and Alexander, to stand beside the triumphant living. Gods wept at the souls of old friends now passed. And Elvira spoke.

"You came to us in our time of need. You, all of you, went above and beyond. Whether you fought or healed, scrubbed the decks of the ship or commanded, fought in the trenches, or cleaned them afterwards, know that your service, your sacrifices, will never be forgotten. Know that you have the blessing of Heaven." She spread her arms, and white light washed out over the assembled crowd. A white light of Heaven that touched all souls, and bestowed upon them a mark. A mark that said 'this was who I was. This is what I did. It will never be forgotten, no matter how far I rise, or even if I fall.'

Then was Reika. She blessed all, similar to Elvira, walking down the line and thanking them for their service. The elements bent to her, acknowledging the changes they had experienced, promising little, yet allowing those souls to find their inner element just a touch easier. The living and the dead received different blessings, acknowledging how each had changed.

Alexander's roar shook the skies as his spirits raced out, swirling about him in gleeful abandon, so happy to have their lord back. His blessings were sparse. He named souls Dragons amongst the Living and Dead. Declared them great and mighty, those who had gone above and beyond, proven their mettle. His blessing tried to land upon Xing Wu, but the man, predictably, rejected it. Other souls did not. Little ones. Big ones. It did not matter so long as they met Alexander's criteria.

His blessing was for those who had proven themselves.

And finally, came Keilan's. His was subtle, quiet, like the man himself, yet this time he did not let it remain obscure. My son stood before the entirety of the Four Realms armies, and all those who had supported them, and let his karma free.

"Connections," he began. "Are what bind everyone. They can hinder or help us, be good or bad. This war has tested our connection. Has tested the bonds we built between each other, with our home, and the bonds our Mother helped us forge. My siblings, your eldest siblings, have blessed you. Acknowledged your deeds, bet they great, or middling. This is good. Your achievements should be recognized. I, however, will merely say this." He spread his hands, and bowed his head, karmic strings racing out to gently touch and wrap around everyone's soul.

There was no difference between any of the strings. They were all the same. Impartial. Without judgement. Yet unlike regular, standard karma, permanent. A blessing of karma, for deeds wrought.

"Thank you," he said, bowing. "For being my family. For fighting by my side. For sacrificing all that you did. And know that you will all, always, have a place within my palace."

Cheers roared up from the crowds, mixed with sobs or relief and grief a thunderous roar of approval. I smiled to myself and let the cheers wash over me, my heart clenching with both pride and grief.

There was only one left to make their appearance. One person left to say thank you.

My love washed out over the Four Realms in all its might, a hand that reached out and touched every soul and spirit - be they the lowest of bacteria or the mightiest of gods. Every single soul in the Four Realms was touched by my Hand, as they always had been. Even some of our guests, like Astraea and the God of Law, Bartholomew, felt my gratitude.

A parent shouldn't have to be protected by the child. But I was. and I made sure every soul felt my love in return, even those who tried to close their hearts to me.

And the Four Realms was awash with my love. And even Xing Wu accepted it. And even little Amari Ren, snuggled in my arms, squirmed with wordless joy. And it was known then, that come what may, we would face it as a family. My family.