The Newt and Demon-7.70 - Thomas

Theo was immediately unsure of what to think about Thomas. It was his first true exposure to someone from Bantein, and he hoped not all of them were like this. Still, he was the son of the leader of that nation, and it could be far worse. While the alchemist wasn’t sure where to start, he simply walked the man through the city. The entire time his guest was silent, just taking in the sights. Until he saw the arena.

“What a marvel,” Thomas said, standing with his hands on his hips as he looked over the arena. “You don’t have a list of the events yet, do you?”

“We’re still working on it,” Theo said. “The arena was just completed, and we weren’t expecting guests so early.”

“You’d be surprised how quickly news travels,” Thomas said, his face darkening slightly. “To see a young nation seize the world’s attention is concerning. I’m sure you understand.”

“Not that we asked to be the ones to fix the planet,” Theo said with a shrug. “Many of the system’s aspects were suppressed. When we let them go, it kicked off the reset.”

“So, you’re more involved in this ‘reset’ process than I thought,” Thomas said, stroking his chin. “Are you limiting the amount of people you bring over?”

Theo tried not to react negatively, but it was hard. It seemed almost as though Thomas was more interested in the changeover than in participating in the events. However, he calmed himself down. The entire world was being reset, and that was not something people would take lightly. He had to consider the fear they must have felt receiving information secondhand. When somebody said the world was ending, everyone would assume the worst. Until they learned that the reset meant they were just going to new planets, there would be quite a lot of fear and anxiety throughout the world.

“Maybe it's better if we spread accurate information,” Theo said with a sigh. “I feel as though the knowledge you've gained secondhand doesn't quite describe what's really happening. Should I summarize it for you briefly?”

"By all means," Thomas said, spreading his arms wide.

Theo spread his aura wide, encapsulating both himself and the dignitary. He then interjected, bringing them into the void. Thomas was silent for only a moment before he screamed. It was a satisfying sound that brought some comfort to the alchemist's heart. He brought them just above the mortal plane, affording them a view of the many dots lingering in the emptiness. He gestured back toward that blue marble from where they came.

“That is the mortal plane, the place the locals have dubbed Iaredin. We consider that to be the lower plane, and if you turn this way, you'll see the middle planes, which currently consist of three planets and a moon. If you look well beyond that, you can see the high planes or the heavenly realms. Right now, we have access to the lower and middle planes freely. There are no restrictions on mortal souls from traveling, although spending time in the middle worlds or the void can have… effects on your body.”

Thomas seemed to have accepted the information for a few minutes. But as the silence stretched out, he opened his mouth to scream again.

“Did you get it all out of your system?” Theo asked, angling them toward Tero’gal. “You were very interested in this a few moments ago.”

Yet Thomas remained silent. Theo thought he gained a better measure of the man’s character after that, understanding the relationship he had with his father. He saw some of Hanan in there, and wouldn’t fault the man for being so hasty with his demands. Things were weird, and they would only get weirder.

“This is my world,” Theo said, bringing them to the welcome area on Tero’gal. “A small town called Boar Hollow.”

Thomas stammered for a few moments, his face contorted in concern and confusion. Eventually, he got some words out. “This is a world?”

“An entire world. And there are more,” Theo said. “When the system recognized the flaws in its creation, it compensated. These new worlds already house souls that were lost in the void. Those souls were meant to go to Death’s Realm.”

“Death?” Thomas said, clearly crapping his pants by now. It was one thing to hear about the world resetting, and another to experience the truth of it.

“We have true gods now. I’m certain you noticed how your cores changed,” Theo said.

“Right,” Thomas said, seeming to fix his composure slightly. “The names on some changed, and a good amount of our people lost their alignments.”

“And the gods stopped answering your prayers or talking to you. Because they were pretender gods,” Theo said. “What we have now are true gods. They sit in the higher realms, writing the rules for us down here. But there is a check on them. The Thrones of Power. The throne I hold allows me free travel through the void. While the Arbiter can also do the same, he doesn’t leave his world often.”

“Amazing,” Thomas said. “And frightening.”

Theo shrugged. “You get used to it.”

“Everything good, Theo?” Belgar asked, jogging over.

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“Thomas, this is Belgar. He was a lost soul. As you can see, he now has a completed body,” Theo said, gesturing to the trotting dronon. “Belgar, this is Thomas. He’s the son of the leader of Bantein.”

“A pleasure,” Belgar said, bowing slightly. “Make sure he doesn’t stick around for long. At best he’ll get sick. At worst? Well, we haven’t tested that yet, have we?”

“No, we haven’t,” Theo said. “Have we?”

“Seems some other mortals have found the Bridge. Uz’Xulven let them over as a joke,” Belgar said. “Or she let them through because she doesn’t have the authority to stop them. I don’t know.”

“What happened?” Theo asked.

“They lingered in Tero’gal for a day, but had to leave,” Belgar said. “They started throwing up everywhere. It was a real mess.”

Theo nodded as though that was a normal thing. “At least they got out, right? Anyway, this is just a taste for you to see. Hopefully it helps you understand the way things are going to work.”

“I’m frightening beyond imagination,” Thomas said. “Belgar, you’re a… person? A fully realized, sapient person?”

“Last I checked,” Belgar said with a shrug.

“And there are more like him?”

“There might be more than the population of Iaredin, if I’m honest,” Theo said. “But I don’t know how many people live on the lower plane. Anyway, ready to go?”

“Why? I want to see the other worlds,” Thomas said.

Theo’s reason for bringing the man here was to give him a little fright. Now he wanted to tour the other worlds? Well, why not? Theo wasn’t interested in spending time with the man back on Iaredin, and it would be fun to check out the other worlds. He expected some migration to those places, so he wanted to check up on those populations.

“Okay. Let’s go,” Theo said, wrapping them in his aura again. “Nice seeing you, Belgar.”

“Have fun,” Belgar said, waving and smiling to himself. “Try not to get sick, Thomas.”

The man didn’t have time to respond. Although Theo was interested in showing him around, his desire to check population numbers on the various worlds caught more of his attention. A moment later, they were standing on the swampy surface of Tero’gal’s moon. They arrived in a swamp town that looked much like Broken Tusk had when the alchemist had first arrived. Buildings were constructed on stilts, keeping them above the level of the muddy water. A few marshlings ran over raised walkways, joined by dronon. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

Toru’aun made herself known in time, coming out of one building and shaking her head. “Giving mortals tours, now?”

Theo shrugged. “We’re just having a bit of fun,” he said. “How are things?”

She shrugged, crossing the distance between them and placing a hand on Theo’s forearm. “We’re doing well enough. This world might be chaotic, but I’m getting used to it. Anyway, I see you’ve brought Thomas the Whelp along.”

Thomas dabbed the sides of his mouth, his face pale. He was no doubt feeling sick from traveling through the void. “A pleasure, I’m sure… Do I know you?”

“No, but I’ve heard of you through my ex-followers,” Toru’aun said. “You’re said to be shrewd.”

“But of course. Is this one of those wayward spirits you were talking about?” Thomas asked.

“No, that’s Toru’aun, Queen of Mystery.”

Thomas blinked heavily. “Oh. A demon god.”

“No longer a god, if ever I was one,” Toru’aun said. “Now, if you wouldn’t mind leaving me alone, that would make me very happy.”

“Right. Just checking out the population,” Theo said with a wave. “Have a good one.”

Toru’aun only nodded, waving the pair away as she went back into her home. Theo had to wonder what she did all day, but it was her business so whatever.

“We can leave now, can’t we?” Thomas asked.

Theo pressed forward without answering, checking the town out. Although it was simple, it was pretty nice. The homes were all well-lived in and the locals were friendly. They were mostly living off the land, hunting in the swap or fishing in nearby ponds, lakes, and rivers. Compared to Tero’gal, the population here was very low. Although the alchemist couldn’t determine an exact number, he could feel a general sense from Tresk’s connection to this place.

“Good enough,” Theo said, extending his aura and pulling them both into the void. Thomas vomited this time, but the trip didn’t last long. It felt like a blink before they were standing on Fenian’s planet, a place he had named Erradon.

“Could you stop for one moment!?” Thomas shouted, wiping the corners of his mouth.

Theo looked back with a shrug. He had deposited them somewhere on an open plane, outside the largest city on Fenian’s home continent. The white marble walls sprawled far into the distance, seeming to stretch forever. Rising from within the walls was a spire that rose high, almost seeming to stab in defiance of the gods. Thomas complained the whole way toward those walls, but when the alchemist picked up something from the wind, a flash of a confusing emotion rushed through his body.

“I guess we have some locals?” Theo said, clicking his tongue. “Or the city is on fire.”

“I’ll burn it down here in a moment if we don’t leave,” Thomas said, shambling behind.

“Let me know when you’re done complaining and when you actually wanna leave. This is what Iaredin looked like a long time ago. As best as can be remembered, anyway.”

“Really?” Thomas asked, looking up. “That’s interesting, I suppose.”

Theo pressed forward, walking along a cobblestone road and taking note of everything he saw. Off to the right were orchards thick with both trees and fruit. He couldn’t spot any monsters or feel anything that put his mind in a state of unrest. Instead, he only felt the latent magic in the air that prickled against his skin. The world was working on itself, but it had a while to before completion.

Coming alongside another small group heading into the city, Theo grilled them. The city was called Vesta, which the people living here had gleaned from writing within the city itself. Once they were inside the walls, the pair explored to find something completely expected. Wayward spirits, as Thomas had put it, had settled down within the city. They were scattered throughout the area, taking up residence in random buildings and otherwise taking to the street like urchins. But there seemed to be little to no strife between the people living here. Instead, it presented as a much more peaceful place than Theo had expected.

“The spire has to be the palace, right?”

“How should I know?” Thomas shot back.