TRAINS.
Eye-Deku loved trains.
He giggled as he stood on Art’s lap, watching the landscape fly by. He said happily, “Chugga-chugga-chugga-chugga!”
Art laughed lightly. “You really like trains, don’t you?”
Eye-Deku said loudly, “CHOO CHOO!”
That earned a few other chuckles from the other passengers. Eye-Deku bounced happily on his father’s lap, and returned to watching the landscape. His eyes caught everything, and he would dissect the details later. But right now, it was just fun to watch the trees zoom by.
Roscoe chuckled. “Think he’ll like the Capital?”
Art said, “I hope so. Still… did you find an apartment?”
“I found a possible one at an Adventurer’s Guild. Some new place that also runs a training ground for kids.”
Oops, did I summon Zeke again?
Roscoe said, “They said as long as Eye-Deku is under 18, we’re allowed to stay. They are focusing on families.”
Art nodded. “That’s fair for a training ground complex. How far from the Academy?”
“Only 10 minutes walk. Though this Diana was pretty snappy with whoever gave her the quote, so I’m guessing it will be closer to 20 with traffic.”
Diana? Yep, I summoned Zeke at some point. Oops.
Eye-Deku’s legs were getting tired, so he sat fully down. He grabbed his kiddie book, and started flipping through it. While beyond underneath his understanding, he was using it to figure out this dialect of Prebabel. From what he could tell, the Babel Curse had existed, but then got disabled at some time. So now Prebabel was the language of the world, but it had grown up over eons. And it was now using words that weren’t in the original library. Eye-Deku had been fine with his own knowledge of Prebabel from other words and context, but he didn’t want to fall behind.
Art rubbed his head. He said, “Still, there will probably be a transport system of some sort.”
Roscoe said, “I’d… rather walk him myself until we know he’s safe.”
Art nodded. Neither of them knew what happened with their enemies at the Capital. And, if Eye-Deku had anything to say about it, they never would.
But Eye-Deku didn’t trust the folks at the Capital. They already proved themselves nasty before he got there. And then under his Gaze. So…
Why did the multiverse have to be so damned gray?
Eye-Deku huffed and returned to studying the characters. It was a farming book, which actually had a few interesting things. Most of the animals he recognized: cows, horses, etc. But they were all slightly different. As if evolution had continued on.
So despite being in a fantasy world, he was way, way in the future.
Interesting…
Roscoe chuckled. “It’s like he’s actually studying.”
Art chuckled. “Enjoy it while you can. At some point he’ll try to avoid it.”
Eh, only if it’s repeat info. I get bored.
Eye-Deku giggled. “Booh!”
Art said, “Yes, Eye-Deku, book. And what’s in the book?”
Eye-Deku got it through his baby vocal cords: “Ah-ih-mas!”
More chuckles from nearby.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Eye-Deku clapped and laughed as well. He then felt a wave of exhaustion. Damned baby body! He yawned.
Art smiled and held him close. “I think it’s finally naptime, little one. Get some rest. We still have a long way to go.”
Eye-Deku smiled. “Chugga-chugga-choo-choo…”
He closed his eyes. But as his mortal body went to sleep…
His soul returned to work.
First on the agenda was checking up on everything going on inside of him. Usual bullshit… people were people, even when they weren’t human. People repented, got to be moved to Safe Areas. People were shits, got to be dumped in bad areas to be punished. Kids played and ran around all areas, protected by his silent Gaze. Love was made, soulmates were found, happily ever afters continued on.
Next was the prayer log. He was only in this world a month, his presence hadn’t bled out enough to even start a cult. Zeke continued to be extraordinary with his week record. Ugh. Still, nothing new, and everything taken care of in…
Milliseconds.
He sometimes hated being able to process things at a million miles per light-second.
Sometimes.
Eye-Deku then checked all the radars. So far, everything he had put scanners up for was backing up his current theory.
Eye-Deku created a puppet-body and put his main mind in it. He walked out into his Throne Room. He sat in his Throne, an adult once more, looking out at the endless void with many, many TVs.
He tapped his computer built into his throne, causing some of the TVs to scoot over to him. He looked over the energy readings. Based on everything…
“Yeah, this is fucking Earth.”
Eye-Deku got up and the holo-table in front of him withdrew into the walkway. Eye-Deku paced, reviewing the information. It was only a month, but the data was pretty solid. For once.
Eye-Deku waved his hand, bringing some of the screens closer so he could read. Air quality, the magic saturation, the aging of Prebabel, the evolution of animals, and even the geothermal and solar energy…
This was Earth.
Far, far into the future.
If he was to take a guess based on the readings alone, it was at least 5,000 years since 2025. That accounted for so much.
But…
There was also a lot unanswered.
“Hey, Boss-Man!”
Eye-Deku said, “Gamemaster. Having fun?”
“You ain’t even lookin’ at me!”
The human-sized living jester puppet got in his face. “You okay there? Or do I need to get December or Vivian?”
Eye-Deku said, “Eventually, I will figure out why they are always your go-to.”
He sighed. “No, just… trying to figure things out.”
Gamemaster said, “After a month. You haven’t even spread the Myzune.”
Eye-Deku said, “Yeah, because I don’t know if they will be safe!”
Gamemaster leaned back. “The indestructible chibi race.”
Eye-Deku glared at one of his oldest creations. “You know what I mean.”
“Yeah, Boss, and I know you well enough to know when you’re overthinking. You’re a baby again! Enjoy life!”
Eye-Deku rolled his eyes, but smirked. “Did Dad send you?”
Gamemaster smiled. “Nah, I just know your ass.”
Eye-Deku walked back to his Throne and sat down with a huff. He said, “Still. I got isaeki’d to yet another world. But this one has too many inconsistencies.”
Gamemaster said, “Hey, Knowledge God! Which book was a fantasy that took place on a super-future Earth?”
Eye-Deku glared. He had to think, though. It had been ages since he read that… Savannah? No, but it began with an S, he was pretty sure… there had been a TV show too… (Watch, the author will go bonkers trying to remember the book).
Gamemaster sighed. “OK, seriously, dude. Let’s go about this logically.”
She floated to a nearby screen, and tapped on it. “We know this is Earth, probably a few thousand years in the future.”
Eye-Deku said, “Right.”
Gamemaster said, “We also know that there had to be some sort of big, chaotic event which caused magic to return, and undo the Babel Curse.”
Eye-Deku said, “Right again.”
Gamemaster said, “But does it really matter now?”
Eye-Deku said, “I. Don’t…”
Gamemaster shoved a finger in his face. “No.”
Eye-Deku hissed, “What do you mean?”
Gamemaster said, “It doesn’t matter now. The biggest threat you faced was a bunch of mean men who wanted to play politics, right? And you sent them into your intestines.”
Eye-Deku opened his mouth… and then shut it. She was right.
He sighed and smiled. “There is more than one reason why I keep you around, GM.”
Gamemaster giggled and leaned back. “Yep. Even an immortal Knowledge God needs a reminder once in a while.”
Eye-Deku sighed. “I never said I didn’t need help. And I’ll need it for eternity.”
Especially with my miswired brain.
Gamemaster narrowed her eyes. Eye-Deku said, “No fucking way you just read my mind.”
Gamemaster said, “I’ve been here since you turned into an immortal multiverse, Boss. I know how to read your face.”
Eye-Deku groaned. Gamemaster smirked. “Now either go and take a nappy, or play with your soulmates. I can glare at readings for you.”
Eye-Deku said, “You’re worse than me. You’ll be off to punish sinners in 3 seconds flat.”
Gamemaster shrugged. “Still.”
Eye-Deku stood up, and stretched. He said, “Remind me why I am a Knowledge God again.”
Gamemaster said, “You are insane, gathered every deet you could, got every power you could through that deet-findin’, and you are also a swell guy. KABOOM, you are a god.”
Eye-Deku said, “Your over-simplications are funny.”
He smiled, starting to relax. “I’ll have a Zealot let me know if they find something. Not like they don’t already, but still. In the meantime…”
He felt his mortal body shift. “…I have a poopy.”
Gamemaster said, “EW! Reason why I don’t have kids!”
She vanished. Eye-Deku chuckled. “Yeah, fair enough.”
