The Red Hand

Chapter 487 – The Two Gods Make a Decision.

"Have you had any luck following up on what we discussed earlier?" Teiera asked the Goddess of Magic as she arrived in his realm, fluttering down like a leaf in the wind. The two had found it harder and harder to meet secretly the closer Gale came to completing his preparations for their departure. They'd been trying their best to slow down the gathering of energy for the ritual, but Cheofla was, at best, only able to delay the completion by a few weeks. The number of Power Reactors that Gale had acquired via his ground agents exceeded their original expectations, and the amount of power being channeled into the complex magic formula within his realm seemed to outpace even the Goddess of Magic's most generous estimates. This presented a problem because not only were there more reactors, there was also more power available to the Order God, and something about that left her with a feeling of dread.

"It's been hard." Chelofla said as she touched down just in front of the War God. "Gale is speeding up the timetable and wants everything ready within two weeks. According to him, Raheal is ready to proceed with the transfer, and he's already provided her with what she needs to create a tunnel." She shook her head. "The best information I could find about Zenthala's 'return' came from one of my sources on the Eastern Continent. Apparently, within Fhoulun, there was a mountaintop temple dedicated to him. It hadn't been used for centuries and was largely considered an abandoned ruin..."

"But..." Teiera gestured for her to continue, figuring that there was more to the story if she was bringing it up.

"But, as of late, there have been reports that the Temple became 'active.'" Cheofla said as the two walked along the dirt road.

The War God's realm was highly mountainous and was more or less a glorified training area where those within competed to strengthen themselves. Teiera would occasionally invite powerful mortals to test their might against his Angels to prove their worth, and due to his muscle-headed nature, his Divine Realm was filled with things to test an individual's strength and ability. If Akagi were to see it she'd probably compare it her mountainous home as it did have similarities.

"From what I was able to piece together from locals, Divine Power erupted from the temple, as it collapsed." Cheofla explained that only a few people had been in the area at the time of the eruption, but those who did see it presumed it was some kind of divine event. "Moments later, someone emerged from the rubble and flew westward at high speed. However, as for anything specific like their appearance, affiliation, or goals, I cannot yet say. Though if I were placing a bet..."

"Zenthala vanished in Fhoulun alongside Helia several thousand years ago. It's possible he's been in hiding, but why would he reappear now?" Teiera thought aloud as they continued along the mountain trail. “I could never read that guy.”

"He... She... Whatever Zenthala is/was. They're the one among us that I've never really understood." Cheofla sighed as she recalled the chaotic and downright ethereal nature of that specific God. "A God that mates with a Primordial and sires offspring is already beyond the pale, but their enigmatic nature and cryptic way of speaking make our oracles seem straightforward."

{For one of us to become confused is already a feat, and yet somehow Zenthala managed to do it regularly.} (Cheofla)

"They never were one to respect our rules." Teiera snorted. "Even back during our battle with Vikes, they dithered on what to do or how to help. I do not think I will ever understand the way Zenthala's mind works. They are to us as we are to mortals in that regard."

"Which makes this development all the more troublesome." Cheofla continued. "If Zenthala is on the move again after all this time, then it's for a reason. That aggravating creature is many things, but they always act with purpose and forethought. For all we know, their disappearance may have had something to do with the present situation."

"Do you think they're involved with the new Demon Lord?" Teiera thought that such a thing was unlikely, though possible.

"Its not out of the realm of possibility, but that would require Zenthala to know that a second Demon Lord would appear in our world, and they would have to know that said Demon Lord would be a more rational entity than Vikes." Cheofla hummed in thought as she paused on the path. “They did posses the ability to see things that even we did not, but...”

{But foresight is unreliable at best, even Elariel, with her ability to piece through the veil of time, can, at best, see a glimpse of the future. A future that we know can and will change based on actions in the present. To make concrete plans off such flimsy understanding of a changeable future, let alone one that's millennia in the future is ridiculous.} (Cheofla)

"Though, I can't write off that notion as we Gods have done just that before." Cheofla said as she began to pace back and forth, biting her thumb as she pondered. "But the question still remains who is the one doing the planning? Is it our missing diety, or someone else?"

"Zenthala never struck me as the type to think long term. They had more of a live-in-the-moment personality." Teiera commented as he watched the Goddess pace.

"Hence, why I believe that whatever Zenthala is up to requires the collaboration of an outsider." Cheofla stopped before turning to him. "The problem is that I can't pin down who it might be. Elariel doesn't make sense, as it was only after the events of the Dark Elves that she began to distance herself from the rest of us. Not to mention that had she done such a thing we would've been made aware."

"Then perhaps there is another God who intends to resist Gale?" Teiera said. Complicated things like this were never his forte as he was mostly a punch first and ask questions later kind of God. "It's not impossible that others may wish to see him fall. He's burned countless bridges, and we both know well that he has enemies."

Despite their external projections of unity the Gods were always divided. They might act as a group when needed but there were most certainly factions within the Pantheon and they were more than willing and able to undermine each other for their own goals. A group secretly opposing Gale already existed, so its entirely possible for others to harbor similar feelings about the Order God while keeping to themselves.

"You may be right, but again I just can't put my finger on which of us would fit the bill." Cheofla said as a group of birds flew out of a nearby tree. "We're talking about a plot thousands of years in the making, one that would predate anything to do with the Spirits or current events. Grudges we may hold against one another, but this whole situation seems too specific for one of us. For a God like Zenthala to get involved in a long-term scheme... I'm afraid I just can't see it, at least if it involved one of us. Which can only mean..."

"That a Primordial is involved." Teiera finished her sentence, to which Cheofla returned a nod. “Great...”

"And if they're involved, this whole situation gets far more complex." Cheofla groaned as they continued walking along the path. "Zenthala's relationship with Primordials is well known, though not exactly understood. We know that a child was born from an impossible union, but how and why such a thing was created is beyond our knowledge."

{And at this point, I don't think I want to know.} (Cheofla)

"Helia was the one to wield Halifax and strike down Vikes. Her unique existence as a being that is both Divine and Primordial served her well during the battle." Teiera noted that she was able to wield her power in such a way as to throw Vikes off and was even able to negate some of his power due to the strange mix Divine and Primordial. "If we consider the possibility that Helia's creation is itself part of whatever overarching plot Zenthala is part of..."

"Then it means our Kin was far more cunning and deceitful than any of us expected." Cheofla laughed nervously. "The question is, what is Zenthala's goal? Do they wish to aid the Gods or the Demon Lord in the coming battle? Perhaps they seek to destroy both and secure their own dominance?"

"A day ago, I would've said that Zenthala would never want to rule Enoris, but now I'm no longer confident in that assessment." Teiera said with a grimace. “We should tread lightly. They might be an odd one, but they're probably just as if not more dangerous than Gale.”

"Indeed. If this is all part of Zenthala's scheme, we need to be prepared to deal with it if the need arises." Cheofla said as she snapped her fingers, causing a small folded paper bird to appear on the back of her hand. "Neither of us can risk being caught, but we need to speak to Elariel."

"You want to send a messenger." Teira nodded. "I know the perfect candidates for the job, but Cheofla. You do know that Elariel is at the Demon Lord's main base, right? Whoever we send to speak with her could easily be killed, or worse, devoured."

"I am aware of that risk, though I'd say we have no choice." Cheofla figured that with time runnning out they could no longer afford to be cautious. "Elariel has thrown her lot in with the Demon Lord for whatever reason, and as of now, said Demon Lord has not destroyed our world. Thus, I conclude that they are a rational and reasonable individual. I highly doubt they would simply kill a messenger, especially if it is as I suspect and our interests align."

{Vikes was simply a ball of anger and hatred. His every action was steeped in a desire to destroy this world, but Demon Lord Akagi... While she is certainly a more cerebral existence, I fear that she might be even more dangerous. A wild beast is predictable and easily defeated once you understand how it responds to stimuli, but a beast that has problem solving intelligence is infinitely more dangerous. Especially when said beast has more power than a God.} (Cheofla)

"Gale intends for the two of us to go down as part of the trap, right?" Teiera said. "Then we may be able to use this to our advantage. Of the remaining Gods, the only ones willing and able to fight the Demon Lord directly would be us, Reflia, Gale, Korex, Esquire, Hilare, and Marret. If our messengers get through and the Demon Lord really is as reasonable as you believe, we should discuss taking this opportunity to turn the tables on Gale. Though if we do that, then there will be no turning back since our betrayal will be revealed."

"True, but I don't think we have much choice." Cheofla nodded as she threw the paper bird into the air, allowing it to flutter away. "If Gale succeeds in his plan, then this cycle will continue and another world will be forced to suffer... I... I won't allow that..." She balled her fist in frustration. "I betrayed the Spirits because I thought it would save Enoris' future... And I will not forgive him for deceiving me."