Gods are not made, nor are they born, nor are they mortals who seize power.
Let me explain, for those who know of examples of all these things.
Gods are wave functions. Gods are reflections of mortal minds on reality. Gods are archetypes.
Gods always exist, and if they do not they have never existed. In such a way, a god is not made or unmade- it simply is.
Gods bear no kinship- merely domains. Their families are collections of similar archetypes. In such a way, a god is not born- it simply is.
Mortals cannot become gods. When one attempts to, the mortal is destroyed. The assumption of a mantle, an archetype, overcomes the simple role a mortal has in the universe. And though a god may affect what they knew before, that does not make them a mortal. Thus, gods are not compatible with mortality.
Remember this, and remember that for all their power, gods are far more bound by any mortal. And remember well that this holds true whether you speak of a small village-god, or of the Source itself.
When unlimited power is possessed, other chains must needs be forged.

Mendam the Binder, Seer-Lord of Magnus VIII, personal writings (recovered from the fires that claimed his residence and spread across the entire continent, sending Magnus VIII into an ecological depression from which it never recovered)

9:03 TST, 1st Lunar Month, 8th Day, Year 329

X'halvram, Legate's Quarters

"Thank you for agreeing to come and talk with me, ma'am."

"Ma'am?" the well-dressed - and yes, in Tamaranean that still means only slightly less exposed skin than a nudist convention - Tamaranean asks, hands folded around her mug of tea. Clothes aside, she looks composed, her face almost ageless with only a few faint wrinkles and a slightly darker shade of orange on her skin to point to her actual age. It's fitting, for the Chancellor of the Migrant Fleet's finest (only) institute of higher education.

I pause. "Right. Doesn't translate properly. My apologies."

"The Diplomat's Kiss is not perfect," she says with a shrug. "I assume it is a title of respect?"

"More or less," I say. "But we aren't here to discuss how your species fascinating biological translation method has cracks, right? We're here to talk about Greta."

"Where...is she, specifically?" she asks.

A moment…

"With two friends she's made- Beyd'rs and Kara'va. She's testing out the spell I taught her to let her fly in one of the parks," I answer. "If you want to speak with her, she promised to be home in twenty minutes."

She nods. "It would be helpful if I could meet her, yes. Tell me - " She pauses for a moment. "What is your title, by the way?"

"You know, I've never actually asked," I say with a shrug. "My post is equivalent in some ways to a Captain, in other ways far lesser. 'Mage' would suit well, until I can clarify that with the King."

"Mage Korol'krovic, then. Your daughter has had schooling on her home planet, yes?"

"Of course."

"I am sure your home culture is different from ours...could you describe what an average schooling would be like, among your own people?"

Great. More trying to sum up difficult concepts in short sentences.

"Primary schooling starts at a young age. Basic concepts- how to read and write properly, basic mathematics, later on culture, historical, and civics education. Students typically go to a public institution, paid for by the state, though some families pay for private schools in belief that those will have better instructors. They're sorted by age and those age groups are divided into large classes. Thirty or so at a time is the general average. Secondary education typically starts around early adolescence, still sorted into age groups. More difficult math, literary interpretation, more advanced historical classes overall, some basic science education. Advanced classes are usually available during late adolescence. After secondary education is finished, people can choose whether or not to go to a higher institution or not - typically if they do it's for advanced scientific education, to become a lawyer, or a physician, or any number of fields. There's also vocational training that typically ends up being an alternative to advanced education...usually in practical engineering."

"I...see."

"Is there a problem?"

"Education among the fleet is...quite different."

"I'm aware. It's mostly apprenticeships, hands-on learning, and home-schooling, yes?"

"Exactly so. Under that, I'd have to consider how skilled Greta is at your...magic."

I run things through in my head for a moment. "She can use basic spells and cantrips quite effectively. Spell circles and rituals, she knows a few of - I've had her create the ones I use for mass healing as practice - and she wants to heal with magic as her primary goal. For raw power, she has little - that's something that comes with age, experience, and bargains with higher entities, and she doesn't have much of any - but she's good enough to muster a basic defense or attack as needed."

"And in context, that means...what, exactly?"

"She won't be doing anything major or creating anything like I am, but she can close life-threatening wounds in seconds and she has a gift for speaking with nonsapient life and making herself understood. Her shield spells could likely take a few hits from most of your infantry-scale weapons before she exhausts herself, and the few offensive techniques I've taught her will stun, rattle, and hurt, but won't be lethal. She's no battle-mage, but that's not what she wants to be."

The Chancellor nods. "And your end goals for her?"

"Most of my raw power comes from my nature. She is nearly as deeply bound to the Red as I am...but she has not made a bargain with the Parliament, and until we reach a planet I cannot even begin to puzzle out how she would make one away from Earth. But with magic, knowledge is most certainly power. She'll be able to accomplish just as much as I can...perhaps not as quickly or as instinctually, but she'll still be a Red mage in full."

"Hmmm." Her expression is inscrutable. Damn it, I wish I was better at reading people. "And you are certain you want her to come to the College? We are an institution for teaching nobility to take command and work together, not one for the higher learning you described."

I nod. "I am. She wants to, and I believe it will be good for her."

"If that is the case, I know quite a few tutors that can help her get up to speed in any portions of her education she might be lacking in."

"You have my thanks. And what do you want in return?"

She smiles slightly. "Perhaps I am simply doing you a favor, Mage Korol'krovic."

"And favors are best returned swiftly, so I'll ask again: what do you want in return?"

Her expression returns to the normal, businesslike facade. "Are you willing to take additional students?"

10:08 TST

Tothand'r, Secondary Gene Labs

"Legate, why is there a floating ball of lightning on your desk?" Argen'tal asks carefully.

"Magic barometer," I answer, prodding the little ball of blue electricity with a finger. It flickers red before returning to blue.

"I hope that means a barometer for magic rather than a barometer that functions by magic…"

"Your hopes are vindicated, then," I say with a grin.

"Why are you using it now?" Argen'tal asks.

"You know what, it's easier to show you. Hold still."

It's simple to link a strand of magic to Argen'tal, simpler still to find the potential in his soul and open his Eye. Not fully - never fully - but enough so he can see the simple structure of the spell, drawing in and containing magical energy and converting it to a simpler, mundane form.

Argen'tal's eyes widen and he takes a step back. He scrubs at his eyes, and then stops. "That's...is this what you see, all the time?" he asks softly.

"Yep."

"It's amazing...and…" His eyes narrow. "The spell. It's not working right. There's...not enough fuel."

I point a finger at him. "Precisely. Ambient magic here is much lower than on Earth. Much, much lower. In fact, I was worried if your species would be able to use magic at all. You certainly lack the small resistance to it that every human on Earth does. But you can see, can't you?"

"Yes," Argen'tal says, a little numbly.

"Good. That means I can teach, and know what I teach can be copied and repeated. Weaker, maybe, but it can still be done." I steeple my fingers, and turn in the swivel chair that's bolted in front of my lab desk. "Which means…" I pause, and look at Argen'tal, who's staring at me.

And shaking.

Shit.

"Argen'tal? Argen'tal, look at me. Look me in the eye, Argen'tal."

Argen'tal's gaze snaps up to meet my own, and his mouth drops open as he makes a choked noise.

I reach out, and slam the man's Eye shut fully, cutting off his view of my nature.

Argen'tal staggers back, one hand going to his forehead as the other grabs onto a counter for stability. He takes several heaving breaths, eyes flicking to me every few moments.

"You alright?" I ask carefully.

"What...are you?"

"Red elemental, with a nice little bit of human to run the whole assemblage," I answer. "What did you see, Argen'tal?"

"A throne...a throne, and blood," he whispers. "So much blood. Oceans of it."

"Interesting. The last person to see that was a god, you know."

"This does not help. What the hell are you?!"

"I am a creature of blood and flesh and bone. Not just physically, but down to my soul. Did you think magic was something easy, understandable? No. It is power. And power changes you. It gives you the strength to make or break worlds...and yet it gets in deep and makes you something else than mortal. Something greater."

Argen'tal's eyes drop for a moment, not meeting my eye.

Then his head snaps up, green eyes blazing with an emotion that almost makes me back up. Ambition. "Teach me."