I don't own tammy's stuff.
Whoo-hoo! Nyx has this revised! She was stalled by damnable homework and school, (and school always comes first, or it should at least), but she's managed! Lets all say a thanks!
Providence Smiles
By LGR
Part IV: Burned Out
A bone-trembling chime echoed across the landscape coming from just behind them.
The Gate.
Managing to turn his head, while still keeping a tight embrace around Lynn's trembling shoulders, Gainel saw the iron and copper of the Gate flame a bright cherry red, then gold, then white, and then the Gate exploded in a rush of fire and liquid metal. A heat wave rushed over them, searing everything in its path as a being of pure fire and light stepped from the Gateway.
Lynn let out a gasp as the pull from Chaos was stopped, then screamed as drops of molten metal spattered onto her skin and clothing, searing her flesh. Heat blasted into her lungs and light ripped through her eyes as Gainel's shield shattered under the pressure of the eternal fire.
It hurt. A lot.
The paths where information traveled in her mind were blasted wide open, and senses she didn't know she had were shouting things into her brain which she couldn't understand.
Lynn blacked-out, then shot up gasping into Gainel's arms. She might have thought it was all a dream, a terrible dream, but it hurt too much to have been a dream.
Her tears were nonexistent dust, she didn't have enough moisture left in her to cry properly; even if she didn't have a headache from having her sense-ways blown open, Gods' voices blaring in her mind and crying earlier.
She hadn't realized she was screaming at the top of her lungs until someone slammed a shield on her. Lynn suddenly felt constricted and a dull throb pulsed like thunder in her eardrums, her heart was still racing, and she could still easily sense the Gods through the shield, like glowing suns and stars pulsing in different colors. A few in particular still shone straight through the veil, Gainel included. They were near painful and her head would spasm from any particularly florid beams and rays.
That sense of gossip and chatter ricocheted through her surroundings. She felt the gods talking in their silent way; streaks of energy passed by her to briefly connect the suns and she caught the ends of words or images as one passed near her, berating her and interfering with her thought patterns.
The little that she dared to open her eyes made her slam them shut again. Not only did her head feel like she was cracking it against a brick wall, but the red and blistered state of her exposed skin didn't bear thinking about, and all of her skin was exposed, and most of it had burned off.
She also noticed a moment later, that her head didn't feel lighter so much as because she was light-headed, but as all her hair was gone and her scalp was burnt, too. An image of her oozing and blistered arm reared its ugly head before she managed to push it away into that vortex of dialogue and images rising unbidden into her mind.
Sputtering and temporarily knock to her senses, Lynn suddenly found herself drenched in water. She could literally hear the hiss of her skin as the cold water touched it and turned to vapor.
Opening her eyes, she could see it, the steam drifting from her blisters in white swirls. Blessedly cold hands were trying to pry her off Gainel as she was keeping a death grip around his neck. From the jerky movement of his body, he seemed to be having trouble doing whatever it was he was doing—maneuvering her to a position where she wasn't splayed gawkily and uncomfortably half-on, half-off the floor—and she found she was actually amazed how well she managed to hold on. She'd progressed to shivering, clenched teeth and cold-flashes: not the best of signs.
Apparently he decided she needed to let go as well, so he gently tried to unclench her wrists from his neck with a maimed expression. She wondered why Gainel didn't just phase out of her. Unless, of course, he too was out of energy.
Her own strength was failing and she couldn't fight against the cold hands trying to pull her away from him any longer, but they thankfully didn't pull her far. She could barely feel the pain from her body now; she was numb, maybe in shock. More water was dumped on her, icy cold water, and she felt the water as she'd never before. She could tell it was special, not regular water, because it was filled with magic. And not just any magic, divine magic, that was trying to combat her flashes and burning skin.
Lifting her eyes took a surprising amount will, but she managed it. The shield seemed frail, like veil-cloth just thick enough to be irritating and keep fresh air from reaching you. True it was blocking most of the more dangerous forms of magical radiation from the Gods, but the brightness, the flicker of traveling and manipulating energy, it blazed through and she couldn't help feeling as if she were being sunburned from the unending flood of light.
The goddess holding her felt of damp and cold, and the magic that flowed about her in rivulets spoke of wind and water. The outlines of nymphs and fish and birds were discernable at times before they vanished to be replaced by new shapes and curlicues. Her blazing aura shone the silver of a goddess mixed with her personal colors of white and light blue. The aura was strong, but not painfully so; she was not a Great god.
This goddess was made of frost and wind. Wing shaped hair ornaments dripped large feathers covering her ears, her white skin and clothing changing to transparency as they reached her feet, before dissipating into flows of air and frost, no wonder her hands were cold.
Gainel was also being helped up, but by a Black-cloaked figure; the Black God. His visage seemed to be cut from darkness, only interrupted by a strip of white embroidered skulls, slightly less black hounds and three-headed black sheep running around the hem of his cloak and robes. His hands were also gloved in black with a single ivory ring on his left hand.
Like the other goddess, the Black God leaked an aura of silver, but his was mixed with black and sapphire blue. Unlike her though, great rays of black and sapphire light reached out searchingly from a blazing halo of power round his indiscernible head, a clear indication of one of the Greater Gods. When they lit upon her, she felt their burn.
Lynn also saw the rays from Gainel; rippling rays that jittered in endless colors and meandered zealously. She felt a faint hum as she locked onto his form and an echo of familiarity as those rays fell upon her, not in the least uncomfortable.
The Dream King's clothes looked perfectly fine, but everything else about him hadn't faired so well. Half of his side had been charred, and it looked agonizing, it was his 'good-side' the one that hadn't been slashed at by Violence. Shuddering, her own pain momentarily forgotten, Lynn's disposition sunk even lower.
"Come." A voice of fire and heat said behind her. Turning hesitantly, Lynn perceived a being of pure flame, a woman, her body just discernable as great tongues of fire arced of her body in wafts of crimson and gold and white. The air around her cracked and rippled from heat and a glow extended to touch every corner of the hall.
This must be Mother Flame.
"Take my energy. Heal thyself." She said, and held out a hand of eternal fire.
Before Lynn could think that she must be crazy to take a hand of fire, she had, and her veins felt like they'd been hit with a transfusion of molten iron. Her flesh exploded into action, regenerating itself, flushing out the fever and chills, and invigorating her, filling up her reservoir of power once again.
She was still cold, dripping and wet. At that moment Lynn realized she was naked. It was not the best of combinations. Especially when everyone was staring at you, as they were.
"Come, Heal my son." Mother Flame said, and gently led her over to where Gainel was standing next to the Black God, slightly unsteadily.
"Please, tap my energy once more. Healeth my son." She repeated, and took Lynn's hand in her own with a touch of fiery inferno, placing them together on Gainel's cheek. The energy from Mother Flame used her like a conduit, but the directing was all done by Lynn.
She had never healed anyone but herself; hadn't known she could, and she especially hadn't healed anyone who was a God, Lynn wouldn't have really thought they would need it. Why couldn't Mother Flame have done her rejuvenation thing on Gainel? Why did she use her, a mortal?
If everything else Lynn knew about gods hadn't told her they were different, this would have. She was a Shapeshifter and anatomy was her specialty. The body was human enough. But, interwoven between the organs and vitals, there were channels of flowing energy. Gods were made to use magic and this should have been no surprise; naturally they would have a much more efficient way of distributing it about the body for use. She could also see that it supported the body allowing it to sustain itself even when greatly damaged.
She could also see that what she saw here wasn't all of him. Looking 'off' in a way she couldn't describe, Lynn saw him reflected in those other dimensions: parts of his power and consciousness.
It took a lot more energy than repairing herself. Gainel's wounds, except to the damage to his eye, weren't as extensive as hers, and she didn't know if it was because she was healing someone other than herself, or just the way his body absorbed all the energy, but it was harder, and took more energy.
Gainel hissed as Lynn fixed his eye, and then opened it, more vibrant than ever, with swirls of gold, black and emerald, and bubbles of white opal.
There was a round of gasps about the room as the chatter exploded into a din. Those conversations she'd described as 'silent' were noisy enough now. She caught the mood of shock, disbelief, and curiosity through her new sensitivity. The chatter penetrated the shield violently; little of it distinguishable from the many overlaying conversations being mind-spoken at once.
Lynn snapped her hands to her ears; but it did no good, the sound wasn't physical and she didn't know how to block it. She fumbled piteously, trying to grasp at techniques she'd only just stumbled upon, to keep the uproar from invading her conscious thought.
Something had happened to Lynn, even a feebleminded idiot could see that and Gainel was the furthest thing from a feebleminded idiot. The little movement she'd done was uncoordinated and that wasn't just from her recent injuries, she was being distracted by the gods conversations; she could hear them.
She must have had these abilities all along; no wonder she could here me before. The excess chaos was blocking and confusing them, but with some of that now gone, the pathways are open. Gainel realized.
"Still your tongues, fools!" A female goddess shouted in ordinary speech. Few obeyed.
He had to do something; young gods who couldn't learn to cope were sometimes reduced to elementals or spirits before they even rose to power. The increased consciousness could be mentally damaging.
The powers and techniques to wield these senses were forbidden to humans; another of the many rules that governed to lives of the gods. He wasn't sure if that vague voice in the back of his mind that said "Is she entirely human anymore? Was she ever in the first place?" was right or wrong, good or bad, but he didn't have the time to consider it.
"Please Mother," he pleaded to the Ancient Goddess. It didn't take the slightest effort to look desperate and careworn.
After a moment of consideration she nodded, and he gave an internal sigh of relief; there had been no guarantee that she would agree, even at the behest of her son.
He checked the shield on her for cracks, but found it to be solid. Someone hadn't stinted either, just because she was a mortal, it was well made. The calming aura had his brother the Black God written all over it and he was secretly thankful to his kinsman for being so considerate. Well, he'd found a new favorite brother.
Taking her wrist, in his left hand and her bare shoulder in his right, he said in her ear, "Lynn, try to listen."
"I'm trying…everyone's talking…it's hard to…tell what's…what's…." she stuttered, still trying to jerk her hands to her ears.
"You know how to meditate, yes?" he asked her. He was fairly sure she could; both her parents and her brother were mages, she would know the practice even if she didn't use it regularly herself.
"How to…to…what?..." she asked confused.
"Meditate," he repeated.
"Med-di…yes, I …do."
To say Gods had no need to meditate would have been decidedly untrue, or rather say gods were in a constant state of meditation. The control of one's self which meditation brought was essential in the work of a God. Unfortunately meditation could only do so much, and after a time the control remained and the feeling of peace lost its potency and one was left with normal emotional responses. In fact, one had to do something like 'secondary' meditation to regain that affect. In truth it was the next closest thing to sleep.
"Do so quickly." He watched as she struggled to do the rhythmic breathing required for meditation while so many things were pushing themselves in her mind at once, but she must have been well practiced in the procedure because she managed after only a few moments.
Lynn was on the inside of an orb of opalescent color staring out. She was the orb and she could tell the difference now, between her own thoughts and others; everything she was, everything that was her, was inside that glowing globe. Her envisioned self frowned at the state of her own mind. Once it had been orderly and organized, but now there were so many new things yet to be sorted that hadn't been present previously.
Streams of whizzing information passed through unanalyzed because she hadn't the proper knowledge to do so. Those streams were rushing in everywhere at once with nothing to halt or slow them and no way of deciding what was important and what was not.
"Ahh! Don't look!" she squeaked, as she saw Gainel standing next to her, like a matron with a cluttered home when impromptu guests arrived. Somehow she didn't find it surprising that her hair was present…or her clothes.
Gainel chuckled, "I've seen worse," he said, "No need to be ashamed. It does need to be fixed, however." He took her gently by the shoulders, led her to the border of her mind and they peered out together.
"See the colors?"
"Yes." She answered, looking at the interplaying colored strands twining between the bright orbs without. A few tore straight through her little spherical sanctuary to intercept other strings. These had been the loudest conversations blaring in her unprotected mind with dangerous strength. Gainel was glaring and shaking his head viciously at the sight of them.
"One would think they could have just a little selflessness; apparently not." He observed angrily before sighing and turning back to her, "These are the magic and minds of others; in this case, the other gods." he trailed off in disgust, "You need to keep them out, this sort of situation," he indicated the strings crisscrossing her consciousness, "is dangerous for you."
"What do I do?" she asked, hanging on his every word. She loved to learn new things, especially when these new things kept her from going mad.
"You cannot push them out, there are multiple invasion points. Pushing is only practical against a single opponent and these presences are only communicating, not attacking, there is no need for offensive action; simply defense. Keep them out, but don't push. Place your shield and hold it steady." He stated informatively, then said, "Try."
"Will it…hurt them," she asked hesitantly, meaning those to whom the invading strings belonged to.
"Hurt them? No, it shouldn't. Severe head ache or jolt at most," Gainel said dismissively, "Go on. Don't be gentle; they're in your mind. They've no right to be here without your invitation. Cut them out. No mercy, when it comes to protection." He said seriously.
It took her mind a moment to finagle 'into position', as she thought of it, but once she activated it, a shield snapped up instantly severing the strands. It wanted to push out or dissipate but she managed to hold the protective dome in place with an effort.
Once the strings were sliced, she vaguely heard a groan or exclamation of irritation with her real ears, but her greater attention was for what was going on inside herself. The turmoil from outside stopped and stillness and calm reigned within as she heaved a sigh of relief.
"Very good. Well done. Now you only need to keep it up indefinitely." He said with an amused grin as she groaned.
"I'll never do it. I'm tired already." She complained.
"It may tire you at first, but your mind and body will adapt, after a time." The Dream King said.
"How long is a time?" she asked suspiciously.
"It depends. But we aren't finished yet; come here." Gainel took her by the shoulders and led her to the center of her orb. "See these channels?"
She saw them. They were paths of information, most of them new, and they passed through her wall as if it wasn't there.
"What does it all mean?" She wasn't sure whether she was talking about the new information or the fact those new channels existed, but the remark seemed required.
"We haven't the time to show you now; but later I shall. For now, which do you need and which do you not? I'm not terribly familiar with the previous state of your consciousness."
She took a look over the channels. She knew the ones which had been active before her little trip to Chaos, and told him. He showed her a way to block some of them, how to put others aside where they were still active but not at the forefront of her brain, shouting for attention, and how to protect her more prominent ones from becoming indistinct and unclear due to stray information from other channels.
Taking a last look they surveyed the results. The place was unquestionably more organized than before, Lynn decided. Gainel approved as well by giving her shoulders a hug as they examined the fruits of their labor.
"Not bad; not bad in the least." He told her, the coal of his hair and the rippling black and slightly less black patterns playing across his coat and slacks making a stark contrast against the white of her globe.
She liked looking at him. At six feet, it wasn't every day that she met someone tall enough to put their arm around her shoulders without discomfort; and not every day she would find anyone that wanted to.
Hugging him back with both arms, she let out a slightly shuddering breath, "I know we have to go back soon; what I could make out from those…those conversations, said something about a trial, but…I don't want to have to go away again like before. I can feel the difference between a dream and actuality. It isn't real, it isn't the same; I don't know how to explain it."
"You're right. It isn't the same. I'm always struggling to affect reality with these phantoms; its difficult to make it real. With you here…I feel like, like it's already coming true, just the way I dreamt," he whispered, his eyes soft and awe filled at the sudden truth of his words, "A dream…until now."
"Would you…" he asked suddenly, "Like to stay with me for a little before you go back? You can send word to your parents so they won't worry, and I'll bring you back after a few days."
"That would be wonderful…definitely!" she beamed up at him, "But wait: You'll bring me back?" she asked confusedly.
"Oh, I didn't tell you; I must have forgotten."
"Forgotten what?" she asked suspiciously, as Gainel took on a thinking pose that was probably meant for the sole purpose of teasing her, with a smile tugging on his mouth; it must be big news.
"Oh, now I remember: we said we'd hold stories for later—"
"Ahhh! Just tell me already!" she demanded hastily.
"Because of you, my Dear, yours truly can now visit the mortal realms." He nodded acquiescently as Lynn gaped.
"Because of me?"
"Because of you."
"Wait…what? How?"
"That, I'm afraid really must wait. The trial shall begin momentarily it seems. I swear before the Balance, Mithros hates me. He really could wait just a moment longer…" He trailed off frowning. He looked as drained as she felt. "Well, then, see you on the other side."
Gainel disappeared right away, but it took Lynn a little longer to let go of the meditation. Opening her eyes she found herself back in that hall feeling almost normal, if not deathly tired. She wanted to sleep for four months straight like the bears in the north did at winter time.
Lynn looked about for Gainel to find him gone and a tremor of anxiety swept her as she urgently looked about for him. Oddly enough her hair was back; she must have somehow regenerated it back when she healed herself. She blushed crimson when she realized her clothes were still gone.
As she squeaked, and hastily tried to cover herself, a musical laugh erupted from next to her. Looking up from her crouched position, she saw one who had to be a Greater Goddess. With her new shields she had to focus a little to see the flooding rays of vermillion, gold and white, stretching to touch all in the area with a faint glow from a halo of power around her head.
If she hadn't been stricken by embarrassment and apprehension at Gainel's absence, Lynn would have been giddy with delight at her success. The rays weren't blinding her, and she was aware that they were there without conflicting with her ordinary vision; they were more of an impression.
The Goddess had the deepest shade of red hair Lynn had ever seen. Wet-looking ruby curls with strands of pure gold fell down to her waste in a tumble. A gown of red velvet with imprints of roses and a center stripe of white silk covering in intricate and delicate lace designs with doves, roses and lilies. An embroidered gold edge traced itself along the length interwoven with minute pearls and there were dangling drops of ruby on her earlobes. Her face was alabaster clear and heart-shaped with sparkling turquoise eyes and long lashes.
The Goddess winked and held up her elegant hands, twiddling her fingers like those phony traveling magicians that spoke nonsense-words then miraculously pulled a white rabbit out of a tall hat.
Before Lynn could so much as raise an eyebrow at this strange behavior, she found that she was now standing in a silk-lined captain's style, silver-studded grey coat with a tall color. Black swirl-patterns ran all along its length and the form-fitting breaches of matching grey held a strip of black swirls along the side of each leg, disappearing into shiny black, heeled boots.
At least the shirt was plain enough; nice clean white. Some of the Queen's Riders might commit murder for a piece of clothing like that coat; needless to say she was impressed.
"Oh my! Thank you, err—," she racked her brain for who the goddess could be; there were only eleven Great Gods, after all.
"Apfel, Darling. And no need to thank me; its no trouble." She said and began to lead Lynn away from her spot on the ground. Her body said, "No! I'm finished, I can't do anything more! I want to sleep!" but she managed not to stumble too obviously as Apfel carted her along.
She hesitated to follow the Goddess. She wanted to be with Gainel. So many things were happening at once; had been happening at once, and were continuing to happen at once, that she needed something familiar. More specifically she wanted to be with him right now.
"Where's Gainel?" she asked in a nervous squeak, her eyes darting about the hall to analyze every face within view.
"Over there Darling, no need to worry." The Goddess pointed.
The Dream King had apparently been kidnapped by a group of lesser gods and goddesses demanding information. Gainel expression showed only slight bits of bewilderment and dread, but that was all Lynn needed to tell that he felt besieged. Those blinks and flashes were back with a vengeance, and there was no doubt in her mind he was not enjoying himself.
Despite the fact that his face was unseen, Lynn had the impression that the Black God, who was overseeing the episode from a foot or so from the crowd, was taking strident amusement out of seeing his kinsman being mobbed. Lynn didn't think it was very funny and her strength seemed to return as she contemplated terrible things to do to those who would distress her Gainel.
"Oh! What happened, what happened?"
"Is Uusoae gone for good?"
"Is it true you're bonded to a mortal?"
Gainel was slowly drawing back, the shadows over his eyes returning as he tried to discourage his interrogators' questions. Due to her new shields, she wouldn't even have noticed the reclusive behavior of his rays and halo if not for the fact the reduction was so extreme.
After a moment, Mithros bellowed a warning that the trial would begin in a few minutes. The Black God seemed to decide that Gainel had suffered enough and shooed the lesser gods away. Gainel gave him a slight accusatory look but the Black God's serenity was a clear suggestion of innocence.
"And to think, I had you labeled as my favorite brother…" Lynn heard Gainel say in satirical sadness, shaking his head, but he looked terribly relieved as the horde dissipated; he had been pale, even for him. Upon seeing Apfel toting over an exhausted Lynn he almost visibly relaxed.
Lynn felt a soft knock on her mind shield. Through some instinct she couldn't understand, she lowered her screen in a way that extended only to the knocker. She knew it was Gainel; his particular aura was becoming more and familiar to her in every way.
I'm sorry, came a thought in her head unbidden by her own mind: it was Gainel. Mithros kept insisting we would begin any moment as I was teaching you, despite the fact they were not: Apparently Violence unfroze and started rampaging, but the Smith God warded him. They're also trying to heal Discord from incapacitation; it seems that the healing goes well…unfortunately.
Unfortunately?She asked, confused.
I had wanted the lesson to stick. The mind voice was almost cold, but not towards her. Then he continued, She wouldn't have been able to function properly for at least a decade if not longer: they don't have proper healers in Chaos. Either way, however, I believe she'll think again before she tries to hurt you again. She knows I would never forgive her if she managed anything. Mother Flame and Father Universe Condemn me, but I'd destroy her.
I see, was all she could say in response; his statement was brutal, but Lynn knew she'd do the same thing if the situation were to be reversed and Discord had attacked Gainel.
"Truly?" The Black God's voice was deep and ethereal but strangely still full of expression and intonation.
Your shields are holding? You're a very quick learner. Gainel said proudly, plenty of Lesser Gods take years to learn these techniques properly; you did so in about five minutes.
It was only five minutes? It felt like hours, she groaned.
"Truly." Gainel said in mock disappointment. Lynn didn't know if it was obvious to anyone else, but she could tell he was showing a good face for everyone. The rabble had dispirited him. She understood why he hated to attend court if he was similarly affected every time he was in a crowd.
He seemed easily able to continue two conversations at once, as he continued to converse with her and attend to The Black god concurrently. Luckily no one had tried to talk to her; Lynn's thoughts were jumbled enough without having to follow two different strands of dialogue simultaneously.
Gainel took his leave of her mind after she reassured him that the shields were indeed blocking her distress and she felt sorrow as his comforting presence left her. It returned however, a moment later when she and Apfel reached them. Gainel took her hand and began massaging it between his own as she laid her head on his shoulder. If anyone objected she'd use the excuse she was 'tired'. It was true enough.
"I am dreadfully sorry." The Black god replied in response Gainel's statement, Lynn had to think a little to remember what he was talking about; her mind was fuzzy from exhaustion. He sounded like he meant it.
"Honestly," Apfel began exasperated, "Kyprioth, can't a group of friends have a chat without you nosing about like some compulsive derelict?" She demanded suddenly turning to the Great God who was inching his way distrustfully near to their group.
"What about me?" Kyprioth asked, almost genuinely; everyone ignored him as he incorporated himself into the group as if that had been his intension all along; it probably had been.
Kyprioth's rays of amber and crystal shone from his own halo. He had the appearance of an older Copper Islander Native in a bright orange and deep red sarong, and dark-toned skin with a salt and peppered beard. The effect was slightly spoiled by the pounds of gaudy jewelry draped in great swathes of gold and copper with specks of fire winking from rubies, sapphires, emeralds and cut malachite. The easy smile was a clear indicator of mischief.
"Oh, Apfel gave you new clothes." Gainel said as he examined her; the attempt at enthusiasm made it all the more obvious he wasn't entirely enthused. Both Apfel and Kyprioth made a few terribly obvious insinuations that suggested just that. Gainel didn't bother to deny them, as if the heinous allegations weren't worthy of his disapproval. Lynn actually found herself laughing along.
The first few were humorous, but as Kyprioth's jokes became more and more personal Gainel began to shoot him looks that would send any normal person running for cover.
"Look; we match: we both have coats." Lynn said with a smile, trying to change the subject.
"How long do you think it'll be before neither of you do…" Kyprioth began before she cut him.
"Well, that's hardly any of your business, now is it?" she scolded, without thinking, her face flushed with embarrassment and outrage.
But the damage had been done; she'd just mouthed-off to one of the Great Gods. And not Gainel either, with whom she was familiar with; but Kyprioth! The Great Trickster God!
She waited for an explosion that never came. Instead, Apfel started snickering and jabbing a chastised Kyprioth with her elbow, chanting, "Yeah, what do you have to say for yourself?"
"Our brother never comes to court, and he finally does and you try to scare him off again. And what's more, you anger his bonded as well. You should be ashamed Kyprioth." The Black God admonished. Kyprioth hung his head; he really did seem sorry, at the very least because he had been yelled at, if not for the sake of their actual feelings.
Bonded. Everyone was talking about being 'bonded'. It sounded important.
"The Trial will commence!" Mithros called as Violence, Discord, and Phinity were escorted to the middle of the hastily clearing hall by a pair of black swathed figures, all wearing symbol-etched gold armor and black, feather-crested helmets with lowered visors bearing sun-in-circle emblems.
"Come on." Gainel said, taking her by the arm and steering her to the left of the Dais where the gold and silver thrones sat. Rows of identical chairs had mysteriously been conjured for those present to sit in. Standing directly to the right of Mithros and the Great Mother Goddess, on the dais, were the Ancient Gods: Mother Flame and Father Universe.
"Are those…constructs?" Lynn wondered to Gainel, not sure if she was reading them properly. Not only had she never heard of any gods that matched the description of theses figures, but neither did they feel like Gods.
"Yes." Gainel answered.
Lynn tried to watch the trial but she could keep herself awake no longer, despite the seriousness of the situation; she drifted to sleep.
Providence fought with himself, but there was no other way to ensure the future that the Balance sought for him to convey. There would be more fighting, more suffering, and more sadness before the end. It was unfortunate but he would do what was needed. Providence stepped into the Realm of Chaos and began to lay the foundations for the future.
