“I'm Nekcuf, god of natural phenomenon. Whenever you feel the weather, its usually me. Except the wind. That's not me. But the heat, the moist air, the seasons, the snow, the cold, the rain or other things falling from the sky, that's all me. And I just thought this sounded like fun, so I'm here.” He said, rather fast. He laughed afterwards, but more like a fox than a human.

  “My job here is to simply make sure the weather participates with Nercusamaito. Yup. Imagine you're doing something great, like hunting for the Mask of Stories, Myriodal, the god of Stories. And then suddenly it rains. But the mask is made of paper. Wouldn't that just be so inconvenient? So I'm here to stop things like that from happening. And what do I get out of it? A bunch of entertainment and a bit of food.” Nekcuf said.

  “So then what's with these extra chairs set up?” Muara asked.

  Nercusamaito said “Well, the 2 next to me are for the twins, one of which was wronged by the other. Neither can be perceived, and one doesn't actually exist yet. Next to them are the seats representing Dista and Tempo, my first comrades. Then of course is Yeltsa and Nekcuf. But then close to you, those chairs will eventually be filled with Yánsè, the goddess of colors, and Success, part of the body of Destiny. Success will guarantee my success, and Yánsè can make illusions.”

  “Between closer to you and those two, is for Fae, god of favors and favorite of the author. The other is for my brother, should I ever find him. Iselia, the god of creation. Now. Onto the topic of today.”

  Nercusamaito said, turning to face Tempo’s chair. “Did you make contact with Success?” He asked.

  “Yes, and she responded as you predicted.” Tempo replied. “Soon enough she will question. And will fulfill her purpose.”

  “Good. Thank you Tempo. Dista, how about you? Have you made contact with Feng properly yet?” Nercusamaito asked.

  “Not yet, it isn't time just yet. Soon enough the group will set out on their journey, but that's not for some months yet.” He responded.

  “Hmmm, here, I'll speed up the process a bit. I know just how to do it too.” Nercusamaito said. He turned to Muara. “I'm going to call a summons for the pantheon of the gods, you will join all of us, Muara.” He said.

  Muara nodded. “Why?” She asked.

  “Because the rest of the gods hinder my progress, this will stop those hindrances.” Nercusamaito answered. He turned into a book of infinite pages, with no cover, swirling around constantly. suddenly his voice boomed “Dista, send a page to every god and goddess known!” He commanded, his voice loud.

  Right after, he turned back into a human form, but the dark and regal look, not the simple one that looks like a person could easily talk to. “Now, Muara, take this page of the book of Wind, and swallow it. Don't tear it at all, keep it whole.” He commanded.

  Muara did as asked, eventually swallowing. “I understand a bit now.” She said. “Of the wind.” She finished.

  Nercusamaito smiled on one half of his face. “Good. You'll need at least a little bit to protect me. Many of these gods and goddesses want me dead.” He said.

  Muara nodded. “I know. I remember the contract.” She said.

  Nercusamaito looked down slightly, his face turned from a partial smile to deep in thought. “Close your eyes. Do it now, Muara.” He said.

  Muara again did as told. She felt a strange sensation of traveling, with Dista’s voice saying “Do not open yet. OK, now you can.” He said. Muara found herself standing in the middle of a… not a room. There were no walls, yet she couldn't see anything really.

  There were 13 chairs, a pedestal, and everything else was pale beyond the concept of pale, white beyond the purest of snow. There didn't seem to be an entrance or exit.

  Quickly the seats became filled, or some of them at least. Most of them. She recognized these beings, from the time she went into the temple. These were the gods of Letalio. And she was in the center of them all.

  Then, around the thrones, a bunch of other gods and goddesses. None of whom were familiar.

  From behind her, to her left and right, voices spoke with questions and authority. “Nercusamaito, why have you summoned us? What is the purpose of this?” The voices asked. “And bringing a human to a meeting of the gods, why would you break the laws so readily?”

  Muara turned around, and wished she hadn't. There were 2 thrones, both with shapes that could not be understood. One looked like everything she ever saw, ever shifting between those things, and never staying for long enough to recognize a single thing. The other seat looked like everything she had never once seen nor imagined, but only imagined she could imagine.

  “Oh it's just to let you all know that you cannot stop me anymore, in any way! You see, this girl signed a contract with me!” he said in a mocking tone.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  “You're even using a human. You're vile, bringing a human into matters among the gods.” One god said.

  “That's against the rules, we agreed after Dirk to not do that, we don't know the effects it'll have on the world.” Another said.

  “You betrayed us, and your word to me.” A many armed god spoke.

  Nercusamaito spoke back. “Fae, I never intended to listen. What will you do now that I have a human bound to me, her fate tied to mine?” He mocked calmly.

  “But all of you, you're free to join my cause anytime, it will surely help my goal, and will complete this contract sooner!” He said loudly.

  The large number of gods hurled insults and disbelief towards Nercusamaito.

  “Stop talking!” Muara shouted loudly. The gods went silent for a moment, then focused on her. “You all argue with Nercusamaito when you're not in danger, I AM!” she shouted.

  She exhaled. “Look, you're all worried, and I don't know the history or what my mentor has to do with this. But I made my choice.” She said.

  The gods and goddesses began arguing and speaking loudly again, towards Nercusamaito. They threw accusations on him, and he grinned. “Look closer at me.” he said. One by one, they quieted down as they saw his neck surrounded by a blade of wind, circling around him.

  “As you can see, Muara has no intent of letting this draw out, and who's to say what would happen if she lost control of her mental state right now?” He said.

  The gods relented. “So you've taught her ancient techniques too. Is there no end to your treachery? You know the attraction this has on more sinister beings.” Fae said. “Do as you will. None will try to stop you now. But should you misuse her, I can at least provide a swift end to her before taking care of you.”

  Some gods didn't seem to like this, and argued among themselves, instead of towards Nercusamaito. In fact, they didn't even seem to notice him now. The wind around his neck withdrew. Muara couldn't hear, but she could see Nercusamaito say something.

  She heard a whisper in her ear. “Close your eyes, I'm taking you back now.” Dista informed her.

  She shut her eyes, and quickly the sounds of arguing diminished. When she opened them, she was back in the hideout, sitting down, no one else was around though. Not even the haze.

  Dista whispered in her ear “Nercusamaito had other business, but if you wish, I can tell you the story of the gods. Tempo is currently focusing.” He said.

  “I'm pretty hungry, but I would also like to know about the history of the world and the gods.” She responded. No sooner did she respond than there was a plate of food in front of her, chicken and fruits. “Thank you, but next time I'll cook it myself, no more stealing from others.” She said.

  “As you wish, lady of the wind. Now, shall I regale you as you feast on this meal?” Dista asked.

  “Yes please, I want to know it all.” She said, taking a bite of the chicken.

  “Very well. It started with nothingness. There was no light, but neither was there darkness. There was no sound, but neither was there silence. There was nothing. Suddenly, the nothingness started to bleed ink from seemingly everywhere. The great pen, Ke, was writing.” He started.

  “The ink pooled into the area that was in nothing, and then the Author’s hand swirled the pen in the pool of ink. Within the swirls came the first of the gods, the gods that would come to be called Immutables, the very concepts required for existence. Among them was the god of time named Tempo, the god of distance named Dista, the god of Void who goes by Void, the god of Nothingness who has no name, the god of Peace who is just called Peace. There were others, but they do very little.” Dista said.

  “The author then wrote a few more gods, namely the god of Everything called Kreyada. This god would create Nercusamaito, whom you made a contract with, and many other gods. Kreyada got tired of creating, and so he made Iselia, the god of creation, to take over that job. However, Iselia didn't share the same idea of creation that Kreyada had.” Dista spoke as Muara finished the chicken, then focused on the bunch of grapes.

  “Iselia sought to be away from his father, who made him just to take a load off his shoulders, and created the world apart from the world. And so the world of Letalio came to be. A world not within the ink, but still affected by it. It was yet empty, and Iselia didn't wish to be lonely, so he created birds. He smiled as he did. Many believe birds to be his favorite creation.” Dista continued.

  “Iselia saw that the birds got tired and hungry, and so he created trees with many branches and fruits so the birds could rest somewhere. The trees didn't stick in place, so Iselia made the dirt, formed it into a disc, for all trees to stick into and lodge themselves. The trees needed nourishment beyond just the dirt they were rooted in, so Iselia created an eternal fire, and placed it far above, letting it's light be consumed by the trees when it rested on them. The dirt however, started to dry up with the heat from the fire.” Dista continued.

  “Iselia saw this, and created water, both to fill the areas where the dirt was sunken in, and to keep the soil from drying out. The water is affected by the giant fire in the sky, but it comes back as rain, and fuels the trees and soil more. Iselia rested under a tree, and resumed creating this world that wouldn't be dependant on the gods. He saw that the trees were growing too abundant, and so he created a few animals to feast on the excess trees.”

  “Those animals came to be too abundant, so he created predators, who eat the flesh of those animals. And the predators became abundant. He was at a loss for what to do. That was when Kreyada discovered him and his creation, and approached him to tell him to stop. But the great pen Ke appeared, and wrote one word in front of Kreyada. ‘No.’ Was all it wrote. So Kreyada relented, and left.”

  “Nercusamaito stayed, and sat with Iselia. It's said they talked about all of creation and it's future, but the only thing we know is the conversation of the creation, not of its future. Iselia confided in his brother his problem, and Nercusamaito listened. He came up with a solution to the problem of too many predatory creatures. Disease and sickness.” Dista spoke, as Muara finished her food.

  “Keep going.” She said.

  “Very well. Nercusamaito spoke of the importance of death, and so Iselia did what he did not want to do, and created disease, sickness, and other methods by which animals die without benefitting the world. They could not be eaten when dying by sickness or blight, and Iselia felt shame. He watched as the animals deteriorated and became one with the soil, renewing it's richness, and his mind became more clear. Iselia then looked at the pools of water, and saw they didn't turn to clouds all at once, just the top layer. So he made life in the sea, to make it beautiful.”

  “Iselia loved seeing the difference between the birds and insects in the air, the many animals on land, the the animals in the sea, and wanted to create more. He and Nercusamaito worked together to create many habitats like mountains, frozen water, very hot areas, areas rich with trees so thick the light doesn't touch the ground. And then Iselia finally rested after creating the moon. He slept soundly, and woke to find that the whole of creation was missing something. It all looked so similar, and almost blended together.”

  “To separate everything, Iselia gave things color, as he saw fit. Trees, most abundant and the source of most life, he gave green to. The eternal fire lighting up the sky, he gave the color red, and thus red became the color of intensity. The seas, tranquil yet teeming with life beneath the surface, he gave the color blue. The dirt, upon which most things rest, he gave the color brown. He went on to give everything a color, until it was all beautiful.”

  “From this realization came two goddesses, the goddess of Color, Yánsè, and the goddess of Beauty, Aurora. These two sister, twins, looked far different from each other, but they danced together, and their steps created the Aurora, named after Aurora. They stopped when they saw Iselia watching them, and Yánsè ran east, creating new life with each step.”

  “Aurora however, did not fear her father, and approached him to ask him to create something that could appreciate everything. To make something that isn't mindless, but could comprehend and see things the other animals can't. So Iselia created humans, far and wide, across the disc, even where Yánsè hid, to appreciate the beauty of nature.”

  “He entrusted Nercusamaito to teach the humans how to progress, as his creativity made him tired. He left to go east, and speak to Yánsè, and was gone for a long while. When he came back, there was a group of gods waiting for him, ready to attack, as well as several gods who came to his defense. The war would take too long to speak of tonight, so we'll end here.” Dista said.

  Muara grumbled. “But I want to hear the rest.” She said.

  “No, you actually need sleep, unlike me. So go to sleep. I'll tell you of the war later.” Dista said.

  Muara wanted to argue, but it was an exhausting day. “Alright. I'll see you in the morning.” She said.

  Dista whispered in her ear “You'll never see me.” As she went to her room. She changed out of her special robe into a set of clothes folded neatly at the foot of the bed, and lay beneath the covers. Falling asleep quickly wasn't something she was used to, but it's something she'd quickly grow accustomed to.