The Mad Scientist was panicking, and Alanna didn’t know why. She lounged on her favorite sofa, a red-velvet thing imported from the outer rims, made from a plant that grew there and only there, drinking a glass of fine red wine. It was a rare opportunity she got the chance to relax…even if the Mad Scientist was making it difficult to really do so with her pacing.
“You don’t understand, Alanna,” she rambled, chewing on her fingernails and tapping her glasses, activating some sight function that allowed her to peer through the fabric of reality in ways even an Immortal could not. “He’s here. In the city. He’s here, and I can’t find the other one!” Alanna sighed and shook her head. She wouldn’t be able to relax at all with her like this. Which meant she would have to do something, and solve yet another problem herself. At least the Mad Scientist had earned a bit of help from her.
Glancing down at herself, she frowned. Her current attire, her favorite silk robes, were completely inappropriate for the Empress to be wearing, especially in public, so with a wave of her hand they were replaced with something more…modest.
And she stood smoothly, downing the rest of her wine and stalking past the Mad Scientist, crossing the room to the veranda, a cool breeze flowing in from the open glass door. Red silk curtains blew gently in the wind, the vastness of Manu Ti stretching into the distance. At least thirty islands floated in the air above the great lake below, connected by the great formation chains that were long since outdated. More powerful formations fueled the flight of the flying cities, but they were traditional, and immortals were nothing if not a bit traditional and nostalgic.
“Hey – where are you going?” the Mad Scientist asked, broken out of whatever worried trance she’d been in until now by her movement.
“I am going to meet the one you’re so worried about.” Alanna deadpanned, one foot out the door and staring back at the avian woman with an eyebrow raised. She tapped her foot impatiently as she watched the Mad Scientist’s expression rapidly morph to one of panic. A glare was all it took to stop her protest in its tracks. She didn’t have the patience for this.
For all the Mad Scientist’s gifts, she was still the Empress, and still of higher cultivation than her. But, and this was perhaps the most important, she was the only one besides the gods themselves the woman would actually listen to. “You’re being silly. Now, are you going to come with me to make sure I get the right person, or are you just going to stand there gawking?”
That got the Mad Scientist moving, practically scrambling as she darted toward her.
“But – but!” she protested, but Alanna was already flying out over the city, her guards scrambling as they took notice of her movements. Bah. She didn’t need their protection. Who did they think she was? She may not be a Dao Progenitor yet, nor the most powerful combatant, but she was still among the most powerful cultivators in all the Four Realms.
And none commanded more respect than her, a title she wore with pride. She was the Empress because she was a good ruler, not for any other reason. Dei and Xing Wu had instilled the kind of dedication necessary for that in her, and, if she could brag for once instead of playing false humility before the self-important fools who needed their egos pandered to that dominated the courts, she was better at it than he ever was.
She wondered, at times, if that was not why he’d chosen her as his successor.
Cultivators flew freely across the skies of Manu Ti, directed by formations and traffic officers to keep there from being a tangled mess of people in the sky, yet none flew over the royal palace and original island. Such an act was forbidden – unless the cultivator in question was the Empress, and anyone she gave express permission to. So it was of no surprise when many of the powerful attentions upon the island turned to her, hundreds of immortals looking toward her curiously – she didn’t care overmuch, flying through the air as she headed to the northern chain, where the Mad Scientist had previously said her…person of interest had arrived.
“I don’t think this is a good idea.” Said woman complained as she caught up, flying alongside the Empress. Alanna noted her opinion, then promptly threw it away. She was tired of walking on eggshells; the mess with the acts of terrorism in the outer regions of the galaxy was making her angry enough, she didn’t need the Mad Scientist’s concerns piled on top of it. Thankfully said acts of terrorism had died down in the past few months, many of the perpetrators being routinely caught – but it did reveal an underlying rot amongst certain high-value positions that was worrying. She’d have to double down on her efforts to rooting out the worst of it. A few greedy and corrupt magistrates or other government officials were inevitable. The amount that they’d found now?
Unacceptable. And because of that, the woman she was today would personally handle any true threats to her Empire, so long as they were within direct reach.
“Let us see what this one you speak of is all about.” She said firmly, commandingly. The Mad Scientist sighed, shook her head and, with extreme reluctance, flew in front of her to lead the way.
From there, it only took another ten seconds to find the black-haired man in question. He was walking in the main street of the district around the Northern chain, eating a piece of fried dough covered in powdered sugar – feeding bits to a little, palm-sized red and black bird that sat upon his shoulder, all the while chattering and yammering on about one thing or another.
His cultivation was nothing to sneeze at, but nor was it overly powerful. Alanna gauged it to be around the heart-center level, perhaps a little higher, with a few curious techniques fueling his growth in odd ways. No elements colored his qi, leaving it shockingly pure, and he had yet to really embark upon the fleshly body style of cultivation…Alanna pursed her lips, her wings flaring as she hovered over the man. His karma was surprisingly unstained as well, neither too positive nor too negative. It was the mark of a young soul.
Alanna would have called him curious but unremarkable had it not been for the way her close friend chewed on her bottom lip as she stared down at him.
“Shall we go say hello?” she said more than asked, already teleporting down to stand in front of him, her qi pressing outward in an intimidation display.
He looked young, but it was hard to tell his actual age, even up close. The stillness of his qi even when she appeared before him, not in her full regalia, but still unmistakable for who she was, suggested someone with far more experience. He did not flinch even as a hush ran through the surrounding people, the noise of the city falling into almost complete silence. The lines on his face suggested youth, but the casual way he looked at her, eating his fried dough, made her think of someone far, far older.
The bird upon his shoulder squawked at her…and with a start, she realized it was an Immortal. This boy could keep an Immortal bird as a companion? How had she missed that? Immediately she revised her opinion of the boy, her shoulders squaring and qi readying itself for trouble.
Anyone who could mask the aura of an immortal until she was within arm’s reach of it was someone to handle with extreme caution. She’d never even heard of such a technique before.
“Hush, you,” the man said, shushing the bird, then turned his attention back to the Empress. The Mad Scientist teleported beside her, eyes narrowed. “I must be famous, for so many people to be coming to find me. Fried dough?” he offered the treat to her, eyes flicking to the Mad Scientist once, then back to her. She shook her head, deciding the best way to go about this.
“No. But you will be coming with me back to the Celestial Palace. I have a few questions for you.” She said firmly, deciding the direct approach was best. Typically those who hid in the shadows or were good at concealment techniques struggled against sufficiently powerful brute force. Technically it was the Mad Scientist who had questions for him, but as she was the Empress she had to take responsibility for her actions, and the actions of those below her. Something that caused her no end of headaches.
The man chewed for a moment, looking contemplative.
Then, with a shrug, he popped the rest of his food in his mouth and muttered a ‘sure.’
If the Empress was supposed to feel slighted by the casual response, she didn’t. She did, however, ready a teleport spell, being certain he could see exactly what she was doing before activating it.
They appeared in the throne room of her palace, the grand, white-marble hall empty save for the four of them, bird included. The guards outside stirred, sensing the suddenness of her arrival, but with a quick burst of qi the formations carved into the stones of the throne room activated, keeping everyone out and everyone else in.
The bird squawked awkwardly, ruffling her feathers and puffing a bit of smoke out of her beak. Alanna raised an eyebrow at the little thing, judging its weight and finding it…more than adequate. It was a relatively new immortal, was it not? She hadn’t seen any new immortals rise in quite a while; they were still happening, she knew, just not nearly at the rate as they had been.
“Which one are you?” The Mad Scientist said, breaking the tense silence.
“Hmm? Which…wait, I know you.” The man perked up from where he’d been looking about the throne room curiously, a spark of interest flying across his expression. “Hold on…you set your roots down here, didn’t you? You’re – you’re the Mad Scientist! Wait, what happened to you to actually settle down here?! I thought you were like me, a wandering type!”
Alanna focused all her attention on the man now; he was like the Mad Scientist? She’d told her a little bit about her past before, but hearing another person confirm it was another thing entirely. Other universes…the thought was staggering.
“I found something worth staying for.” She said firmly, crossing her arms. “I know you are one of the two. Which are you? And where’s the other one?”
“Well obviously I’m the Rival. The First would have tried to become Emperor by now and impose his own rule.” The self-identified Rival said with a roll of his eyes. Alanna furrowed her brows at the way his mention of someone becoming Emperor made her emotions spike negatively, but made no comment on it, content as she was to listen for now. “Now spill the beans! Was it love? I bet it was love. For a scientist, I remember you being the romantic type. C’mon, tell me! I really thought you and I had the same sort of mindset.”
“Where. Is. The First.” The Mad Scientist demanded, power rising through her. Lightning crackled against her skin, wings flaring and qi rising to only a fraction of its full height – yet it was still enough to make the Rival sweat, even if his expression never changed. Alanna immediately readied her own qi, ready to back up her friend no matter what happened next.
If she said this man was a threat worth eliminating, then she would believe her.
“Do NOT!” the bird shrieked through qi, fire rising up its breast – only to fall short as Alanna snapped her fingers, her own impressive qi snuffing out the fires with ease. She met the bird’s eyes and smirked, clicking her tongue in a disapproving manner. The bird shrieked its fury at her, puffing up angrily, furious at the gap between their power.
Alanna preened at the rage in its eyes. It was rare she got to really put an upstart in their place, and there were quite a few running about right now that needed a good ego-check. The Rival, in that brief moment, hesitated, recognition flashing through his eyes.
“God…you damn kids, always taking everything so seriously. I haven’t done anything yet, just wandered about. Good god. The First isn’t with me this time. We went to separate universes, I think it was part of the deal we made so we could actually come to a universe this young. I swear on my true name and the name of the Overgod that’s the truth. Happy?” That simple statement took the wind out of the Mad Scientist’s sails, the qi she had been summoning dying almost immediately. “Gods above. I’m just here trying to find someone – there’s another person like us here, but she’s not really like us, and I knew her before and dammit it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to relax for longer than a few damn years at a time but there’s constantly people trying to fight, I got caught up in terrorism, you’re interrogating me, and gods keep trying to mess with me. That one fox girl in particular.” He whined, shoulders slumping like a petulant child.
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Alanna might have even believed it he sold it so well, were it not for his unflappable act in the face of two overwhelmingly more powerful cultivators.
“…who are you looking for? I haven’t sensed anyone else like us.” The Mad Scientist asked.
“I dunno her name now, but she’s an old flame. Tried and failed to woo her. She’s…well shit, actually, that’s her right there.” The Rival gestured with his chin at the wall behind Alanna, who furrowed her brows and looked up.
There, practically hidden behind a marble pillar and situated between two windows, was a painting. It was something Dei had an artist make up for him, all those years ago, and had remained in the palace ever since. Originally it had been in his office, but Alanna had moved it to the throne room as a reminder to herself.
Mother Statera in all her glory stared back at them, a soft smile on her lips and green eyes soft with maternal affection. Beside her, a portrait of Father Luotian sat, face stern yet not unkind, eyes glittering with mischief. Only those as old as she remembered that Father and Mother were both one; the religion itself was falling out of favor with the younger crowd, though those like her knew that the true power of the Four Realms lay solely within Them.
“You…knew Statera Luotian?” The Mad Scientist asked in a way that had Alanna’s head snapping back to her. She didn’t like the curious tone there. That usually spelled new research and funds going down the drain.
“Yeah, who is she? Did she found the Empire? I thought that was Dei.”
“It was Dei. You’re telling me that you know the creator god, personally.” Alanna deadpanned, meeting the Rival’s eyes. “This is getting ridiculous. Even for things the Mad Scientist says or does, that’s ludicrous. I – “ Alanna paused as a spiritual presence was brought to her attention, suddenly appearing despite the formations being active. It had been hiding itself up until this point, but there was no mistaking it. She looked up to see Fu Hao, one of the angels of Statera Luotian, sitting in the skies above, lazily twirling a bit of energy about one finger. She winked at Alanna when she met her eyes, and when she looked back down, the Mad Scientist was looking at her guiltily.
…no. There was no way. Had the Mad Scientist met the creator as well?
“Creator god? No. She’s not that powerful I don’t think. I mean, she’d gorgeous, yeah, with great hair and green eyes that – “
“Look like they can pierce the soul, that no secret is kept before them.” Alanna finished, the poem of the Creator echoing off her tongue. Gods, how long had it been since she’d heard that recited in the church of the Creator?
“No, it can’t be. That’s insane. Right, Solana? Tell them that’s just silly. She’s got to be just some sort of powerful cultivator.” The Rival scoffed, shaking his head and looking at his pet bird, then glancing about for confirmation. Alanna, for the first time in a long time, did not have anything to say. She’d had some interaction with the gods and powerful spiritual beings, but to say she knew everything would be wildly arrogant, even for her. “…no way. Uh-uh. That’s ludicrous. I just – an origin deity?” he was silent for a long time, expression quickly souring.
“That is a painting of Her,” the Mad Scientist said slowly. “I have met Them before. They are the Origin Deity. How do you know Them?” The Rival met her eyes with a glare, crossing his arms in defiance.
“I can’t even…are you kidding me?! Uh uh. Nope. I don’t believe it. Origin Deity? Pfft.” He was silent for a second, tapping his foot against the tiled floor in rapid impatience. “Aw, hell. STATERA MOTHERFUCKING LUOTIAN!” He shouted and, in a flash of white light, vanished.
Solana shrieked as she was suddenly midair, looking about wildly for her companion – only for Fu Hao to descend from the ceiling, lazily rolling her shoulders and addressing her directly.
“Don’t worry, Solana, he’ll be back in a bit. The Creator is merely keeping Their promise to him. As for you two, I have something else to tell you.” Fu Hao yawned, and smiled. Alanna frowned at the angel. Was this a direct communication between her and the Creator God? She…well, that sounded terrifying. “You're doing well, Alanna, and the Heavans are proud of you. Unfortunately, there is still more work to be done. The barrier between the new regions and here are coming down. It is time to expand the influence of the Dao Progenitors.”
…yep. There was definitely another headache coming on now. Alanna groaned and rubbed her forehead. As good news as that was, couldn’t she just get a little break?
***
Alala was dying as I teleported the Rival into my palace in response to him calling my name, and for no good reason in my opinion. His reaction had been funny, yes, but not rolling-on-the-ground laughing style funny. Still, her full belly laugh, head tossed back and roaring laughter echoing through the entirety of my palace was infectious, and I found myself chuckling right alongside her as the Rival appeared before us, all red-faced and furious.
We were in my library, going over some of the history of the Realms, our two true bodies getting to know each other a bit better while her incarnations interacted with my children, and my incarnations helped oversee the Karmic Realm. It was important for us to get to know each other better, before we dove into the nitty-gritty of Fate enlightenment.
“You’re the gods-damned Origin Deity?!” The Rival demanded, pointing dramatically. I tapped my chin thoughtfully, his glare falling uselessly against my thick skin.
“Am I?” I mused, enjoying his reaction far more than I had any right to. Took him long enough to figure it out, anyways.
“Is that why you had that smug little look when I said I had never met an origin deity before?! Oh my God, Sylvia!” he whined, slumping his shoulders and pouting. I smirked at him and he groaned, gaze inevitably drifting to Alala, who was quickly getting control of herself. “And who, pray tell, is this muscular beauty beside you? You didn’t tell me you had company.”
“I’m an origin deity too. Well, part of one anyway. Name’s Alala,” she said, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye as she straightened. “What’s your name, kiddo?” The Rival stared at her for a long, tense moment, and I just knew what kind of thoughts were flowing through his shameless mind.
“My name is the Rival, but you can call me whatever you want,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows. “Two origin deities in one life, Sylvia? You’re spoiling me! But worry not! Beautifully muscular you might be, and by the gods you are gorgeous Alala, but my heart will always belong to Sylvia!” he declared, spreading his arms in my direction. Alala raised an eyebrow while I flushed with embarrassment, pinching the bridge of my nose. Why, why did he always have to act like this?
“Sylvia? Your heart belongs to her? Boy, Statera is my partner,” Alala declared firmly, and promptly slid up beside me, grabbed me by the shoulders and kissed me so hard and passionately it left me breathless and flushed for a whole different reason. The Rival’s jaw dropped as Alala pulled away, smirking. My jaw dropped, left speechless by her boldness. “You may call yourself a Rival, but you won’t make a good one.”
I slapped Alala on the shoulder while I composed myself, straightening my robes and controlling my blush. She just grinned at me, completely unfazed, puffing her chest out with pride. That should not have caught me as off-guard as it had.
“Be still my heart.” The Rival finally said, pressing a hand to his chest and stumbling backward, leaning against a bookshelf and swooning. “Two beauties fighting for affection? Challenging me, however indirectly, for affection worthy of satisfying them? Don’t threaten me with a good time, girls.” Alala barked out a laugh while I sighed heavily, slumping my shoulders in defeat. Introducing these two had been a bad idea.
A very, very bad idea.
“You can’t threaten me with a good time. I’m the one with three bodies.”
“Shameless. The both of you. Absolutely shameless.” I complained, shaking my head and desperate to get the conversation back under control. The Rival and Alala both cackled, and I soon joined in, swept up in the moment. A moment that quickly sobered as the Rival turned his eyes back to me, expression firming up.
“Sylvia…no, Statera Luotian.” I straightened my shoulders, sensing his seriousness. There was no emotion rolling off of him, none of the playfulness, nor curiosity. For the first time since becoming an Origin Deity, I was looking at a completely blank slate. There was nothing within him, and I hated how that made me curious. “How did you become an Origin Deity?”
I smiled. It was a sad smile, full of all the emotion I could not convey with words.
Wouldn’t I like to know?
“That sounds like a topic for a far longer talk.” I told him softly. He nodded, seeming to accept this even as I summoned an incarnation, one to lead him away and speak on all he wished. This would be private, between me and him.
“Then answer me this. Why did the Mad Scientist put her roots here? How did you convince her? You did not see her before. She was like me. A wanderer. Content with that. Happy to continue to explore and discover new worlds. Mere trauma would not do that to her.” he demanded.
“That is what I asked you to look into.” I admitted, my incarnation moving up to him and gently laying a hand on his shoulder to lead him away. But not once did he break eye contact with my true body, despite the truth I told him. Monkey Wrenches were, in some ways, still beyond my eyesight. I didn’t know why the Mad Scientist had decided to put her roots here. I could see them. I could pick them apart, and see their emotions, but they were still…I couldn’t force them to do anything. I couldn’t grab or mess with their memories or the foreign energies.
Some part of me knew that learning how to do that would be another step in my evolution. But that was a topic for a far longer talk.
The Rival nodded to me once, then turned and followed after my incarnation, relaxing and letting pieces of his emotions show, sauntering behind me.
I turned to Alala, who was watching curiously.
“I know Reika was trying to see whether you noticed anything about him. Did you?”
“Yes, but it’s not what you’re thinking of. I just don’t care that much.” She said with a shrug, patting my shoulder and winking. “Unlike Curie, I don’t look that hard at things. That’s my gift. I see what’s in front of me and accept it for what it is – it’s a balance to Yueya, who sees potential, and Curie, who seeks truth. You see all of those at once and, to be honest, that sounds exhausting.”
I laughed. It was a deep, freeing thing that had Alala chuckling right alongside me as I nodded, silently agreeing with her. My truesight was indeed exhausting…but I couldn’t complain. It had led me to where I was now.
“Then I will simply explain it to you. After that, do you want to get to work?” I asked, and she cracked her knuckles.
“Gladly.”