Thief of Time

“So, this is the Black God’s Divine Kingdom.” Claud looked around at the dark grey walls and floor. Now that he was up close, with the memory of the great Dark’s dwelling to compare with, he could see that the colour theme of the Black God was actually really dark grey, although…

Well, it would be a weird colour, at least.

“Do the divinities have issues with sharing the same colour?” Claud wondered. “I mean, there are some of the Coloured Gods that share a similar theme with the Moons.”

“It is not our place to wonder about the gods,” the nameless bishop replied. “I’m afraid I cannot enlighten you in that regard.”

“Isn’t the whole deal with being a priest or a Blessed about understanding the Coloured Gods?” Claud asked, tilting his head. “For someone high up on the ladder to say otherwise is quite jarring.”

“You do know your stuff.”

“He knows a lot of things!” Lily chipped in. “And so do I. Knowledge is power, after all. The more we know about this world, the better.”

“Mhm. I apologise for my faux pas.” The bishop considered his words for a moment. “Just as how there are hostilities between doctrinal issues, simply sharing similar identification factors are grounds for further hostilities between the divinities. For that reason, the Coloured Gods that share similar colours with the Moons are not on good terms.”

“What about the Black Church and the great Dark?” Claud asked.

“The seeming orthodoxy of the Moons and their age-old rivalry with the Dark means that neither side are competing with each other, generally speaking,” the bishop replied, and Claud couldn’t help but take note that he had said ‘seeming’.

“So, because people who worship the Black God are likely to view the great Dark as hostile and vice-versa, there’s no reason for conflict?” Lily asked.

“Well said. Indeed. Because there is no overlap in worshippers, that is indeed the case,” the bishop replied, before gazing around him. “And the Lord is rarely concerned about these affairs, given His special status in the world.”

The bishop guided them to a formal set of great double doors, and then bowed towards the door once. He held the bow for three seconds, before straightening his back and taking five respectful steps backwards.

“From this point, you two will go alone. Beget not worry, for there is but one path ahead. I will wait here until such time as you two have finished your business with the Lord.” The bishop paused. “I’ll make myself comfortable, so don’t feel bad about me. Please do not discriminate on the basis of my age.”

“We’re not,” Claud replied. “But thank you for going so far.”

“Right, we might as well give you something too.” Lily nudged Claud. “That bottle, remember? You said you wanted to give it to someone. That bottle…might as well give it to him, right?”

“Bottle?”

“Nero enjoyed drinking this very much, so I decided to bring one here, just in case his fellow countrymen enjoyed drinking too,” Claud replied, pulling out one of Schwarz’s drinks. It was his signature ultra-pure water, which Claud had kept with him, just in case it actually came in handy for one reason or another.

“Alcohol? Indeed, we do enjoy it very much,” the bishop replied.

“Excellent. Fair warning, though, it is…very strong. Impossibly strong, apparently.” Claud paused. “The two of us can’t drink it and stay sober.”

“Then I shall be careful,” the bishop replied. “Mhm. I do want to share it with Cornelius, though.”

“Cornelius? Who’s that?” Claud asked.

“The Holy Son’s double,” the bishop answered. “The two are very close friends, and share many interests. This drink should be rather enticing to him too, for that reason.”

Claud nodded. “Well, it’s yours now, so deal with it as you will.”

The bishop smiled. “I’ll drink to that.”

For some reason, the bishop didn’t even consider the possibility of him becoming a drunken mess in this sacred place, but it was also possible that he was a quiet drunk and that he knew it. None of that was his business, though, and the bishop seemed enough of a self-aware fellow to know if he was a violent rowdy drunk or a sleepy one.

The chances of him just fainting after a sip was also damn high too, so eh.

Shaking his head once, Claud looked at the double doors, and then at Lily, who smiled back. With a hand around his right arm, Lily gestured towards the door, and the two of them walked towards it in silence.

The doors swung inwards slowly as they approached, revealing walls covered with starry glints. It was as if a clear, unsullied night sky had been built into this gigantic chamber, and the two of them stopped for a few seconds to admire the sights.

“We should have one of these too,” Lily muttered.

“At least as wallpaper, I hope. I don’t quite know how to turn walls into moving pictures of the night sky.”

“Of course we don’t. But there are artefacts that can do that, right?” Lily asked. “It’ll be nice to have such a thing going.”

“I’ll keep an eye out for that, then.” Claud stilled his trembling body, and then gestured at the way ahead.

Each step he took was draining on him. Was it his hollowed lifeforce, attempting to prevent him from getting used to the sensation once more? Or was it the presence of the Black God? If so, why didn’t his previous meetings with other divinities make him feel this way? Was it because he was in a Divine Kingdom now?

Claud looked at Lily, who looked a bit horrible too. She noticed his gaze immediately, and then steeled her expression.

There was no need for words, when it came to the two of them, and in silence, they held each other and forged onwards. The starry skies revolved around them with every step they took, and before long, they came to a stop.

A rippling curtain of darkness blocked their path, a darkness that shimmered with a silver light every three seconds. On both sides of the curtain were two guards, each of them emanating a strength that Claud had seen once before during the Trial of Aeons, from the Chromatic Lords in attendance.

These two people were the first, actual high-ranked folders that Claud had met.

Septa-folders and beyond. Their presence, up close, seemed to rival that of the sovereigns of all three continents…which was a bit disappointing, considering that Emperor Grandis and his peers were all hexa-folders. Again, however, the three sovereigns had the benefit of the strongest artefacts and maybe some untold powers, so it was probably possible for them to match septa-folders.

The two guards looked at them once, and then stepped away. The curtain of darkness rose, revealing an ornate throne room. The far end of the room contained a single throne of pure shadow, one that rippled with silver light in a manner very much like the curtain. There was nothing else in the throne room, other than that throne, and for a moment, Claud wondered if the Coloured Gods all lived in this…austere manner.

Lily took a step forward. “Greetings, O Black God. We thank you for accepting our plea for an audience.”

No one had told Claud or Lily about formal procedures or rites to be carried out, but for some reason, Lily’s words felt natural.

Correct.

“Be at ease. Formalities are for games of power.” The silhouette stood up. “Lord and Lady Primus. Be at ease, for today, we speak as equals.”

He clapped his hands once, and the throne room rippled, before turning into a garden of black and silver flowers. A wooden table sat in the middle of the room, which had shrunk significantly. A small tea set, complete with a little cheerful fire, sat on the wooden table, and the shadow walked over to the tea table.

“Have a sit,” the Black God invited.

“…Thank you,” Claud replied.

Lily held his hand as they took their seats. It was pointless to prevaricate about whether they should sit or not — their host had spoken once, and it would be uncouth to make the host speak again.

“This tea is made from my favourite flowers. I hope you two enjoy it,” the Black God added, before filling all three cups. “It calms the mind and aids one’s thoughts.”

“We won’t stand on courtesy then,” Lily replied, and the two of them picked up the cups.

After savouring the tea slowly, Claud said, “The tea is both light and refreshing. Indeed, a calming tea.”

“I am glad you two enjoyed it.” The Black God paused. “So, you two have finally come. Ever since that book entered your possession, I knew this day would come.”

He closed his eyes for a moment. “But before I talk about this book, allow me to speak of my own legacy. Who I am. Who the Coloured Gods are. And how I, the Omen of the previous cycle, managed to break free from my allotted fate and enter this cycle.”

The Black God paused. “And why you are here today. Have another cup first, will you?”

The sound of pouring water followed, setting out the backdrop for the secrets the Black God was about to utter.