Chapter 282, 5/6

Erick stepped away from Margleknot, to a distinct kind of knot of time and area, the place three completely different lives had been all tangling collectively, again on Fenrir. Erick had many different locations he wished to be, however he went right here, first, as a result of as quickly as he went again to the Cloud Fortress over Candlepoint hed be settled in for the lengthy haul, no matter that may imply.

In Solomons Black Fortress of Dungeon Island, south of Ascendant Mountain, Erick stepped into the household gathering room on the higher flooring.

Solomon stood gathering Genesis and Divinity, arms raised large, eyes centered ahead, gold and silver melding into a big purple crystal that was probably not Pink anymore. It contained the sleeping soul of Debby, or at the least what remained of her. Solomon had not been capable of deliver her again via his [Silver Heart] rituals as a result of she had been trapped inside implacable Malevolence, inside Nothanganathors Signal of Energy.

However now Debby was right here, ready to be born once more.

Future lay on the bottom, spent. She had been serving to till she couldnt assist anymore. All of her makes an attempt to assist Solomon deliver Debby again had been ruined, and her failure and Solomons related lack of ability, and even Rozetas unwillingness to assist greater than she already had, was threatening to shatter a family-that-could-be.

Erick had stepped right into a knot of Benevolence; a black tangle within the Benevolent Sky.

Solomon hadnt even thought of calling out to Erick for assist, for to take action could be to confess that he couldn’t do that himself, which might have ruined the ritual in a complete completely different path. Wizardry labored greatest when the caster believed, in spite of everything, and Solomon had the beliefs of numerous Ericks-that-failed working with him to assist him full this magic already. He was set with assist.

However there was a fly within the ointment. Solomon thought of himself the Ericks that failed.

In one other, grander and extra comprehensible kind of method, Solomon was attempting to do an excessive amount of. He was attempting to deliver again each Jane-that-died. That was what was going to break the ritual. Solomons grand cooperative cultivation had created Fenrir, and he may do rather a lot in that kind of path, however that was simple in comparison with this. The creation of Fenrir was one particular person utilizing a bunch of different folks to make an object within the sky. What Solomon was doing now was attempting to do the [Silver Heart] ritual throughout an infinity of slices of this Layer, bringing again each Jane that ever died. Regardless of how spectacular Fenrir was, it was nonetheless only a single object. An infinity of lives was nonetheless an infinity of lives.

After which there was one other drawback. He believed it was his fault that Fenrir didn’t entice Nothanganathor.

These ideas had been poison.

Solomon checked out Erick as he forged, as mana charged the air and flowed into Debby in an infinite tide. He gave Erick a glance of utter dismay, and disappointment, that Erick was going to step in and take over. That when once more, Erick could be the one that will succeed, and he would fail, but once more.

Erick didnt try this, although.

Erick merely stated, Youve already succeeded, Solomon. You need to let her be born as who she is. You cant make her every little thing. She has to do this herself. And she’s going to.

Future propped herself up on her arms, coughing, Youve achieved enou sufficient, Solomon.

Erick had achieved no magic, and neither had Future.

That was why Solomon believed them.

He had achieved sufficient.

Solomons dismayed gaze turned softer.

He gazed upon Debby, after which he tied up his spellwork, finishing the working, reducing off numerous different useless Janes that had but to grow to be a part of Debby. He let his magic occur, because it was.

Gold directed silver and Genesis blossomed contained in the not-Pink crystal, crackling the floor as Debby as soon as once more took kind, her physique materializing in a flashing immediate.

Issues occurred quick from there.

Debby coughed. Future stated small expletives of thanks to varied gods. Solomon fell to his knees, earlier than his daughter. Debby had been modified by the Pink, her irises crimson, her hair fire-red, her nails the colour of blood. However she was Debby. She was a Jane from one other multiverse, taken out of so many various Pink Deaths after which introduced forth into this life, however principally she was the Debby that had been born of a dungeon slime, who had determined to grow to be daughter of Solomon, who had died attempting to get all of them details about Nothanganathor, to wake all of them as much as the true risk of the Pink.

Debby glanced at Erick, however then dismissed him as not her father.

Solomon, although, she stared at, as a result of she couldn’t imagine who she was seeing.

Tears of blood rolled down Debbys stoic face. These tears quickly grew to become regular tears, as she whispered, Dad?

Solomon went to his daughter and took her into his arms, hugging her tight, Im right here, Jane. Im right here.

Debby-Jane held her father, and each of them cried out on the reunion.

Finally, they might talk about Nothanganathor, multiverses, dungeon slimes turning into folks, and all of that. However for now, Father held daughter, and all was good.

Future smiled from the sidelines alongside Erick.

Earlier than all of the multiverse stuff, and after all of the crying but to return, Solomon launched Debby to Future, saying, You realize Future. Its been a number of years and many various lives because you had been right here. Future is my spouse, now.

A second of pressure snapped.

Debby frowned. Im not able to have a mom but.

Future laughed, Erick smiled, and Solomon started backpedaling, beginning to discuss concerning the multiverse and all the large subjects

Earlier than all of that! Debby checked out Erick, now, saying, So youre the uber-god, now? Thats the sense Im getting from a lingering connection to Melemizargo.

Erick stated. Proper now Im simply an uncle who may be very glad to see you Oh yeah! You didnt get to be a dragon but. All of your siblings are dragons now. You need to be a Benevolence Dragon? Or you would ask your dad about being a Genesis dragon! Or only a regular dragon; the Dragon Curse is gone.

Debbys eyebrows rose as she was left speechless.

Solomon grinned at his daughter as he requested Erick, Will anybody need to be a traditional dragon, if one thing just like the Dragon Curse was even potential?

A Dragon Curse can solely ever go up to now. It solely labored on Veird as a result of Veird was so small, and Nothanganathor disrupted all of the timelines the place the Curse was damaged. Veird would have damaged out so many various methods if not for Nothanganathors numerous methods.

Debby was slightly misplaced, so earlier than she received extra misplaced, she spoke up, Okay! I need to be a dragon, sure. I need to be taught magic now, too, from She checked out her father and uncle. From somebody. I need to know every little thing that occurred after I died, too, in order that I can be certain it by no means occurs once more, and I want phenomenal magic to do this.

Solomon and Erick checked out one another and made a cooperative alternative.

Solomon tried to be unexcited and kinda failed, as he casually stated, Im certain I’ve some issues I may train you, if you wish to be taught.

Erick added, Perhaps I’ve some helpful magics, too.

Debby smiled.

– – – –

Erick stepped into the cloud fort carrying a case of beer in cans from Margleknot. The fort was empty and the beer was the great things.

He sat down subsequent to Poi, who was watching the false solar set on the horizon, portray the world in oranges and reds. He already had some beer, however Erick set a can down subsequent to him.

Poi didn’t discover Erick straight away, as a result of Poi was in two very completely different locations proper now. Right here, and likewise on the internal floor of Fenrir, greater than 1,000,000 kilometers away. He was presently making a Crossroads with the assistance of Ascendant Prime and his sister Rizala, who had been each within the Thoughts Mage metropolis of Cerebrum on the second sphere, up above this Former Floor. To say that they had been in Cerebrum was a small lie, although. They had been principally unfold out far and wide, identical to Poi was proper now.

Poi finally seen Erick, although. He blinked a number of occasions, the pale blue gentle in his eyes returning, after which he gasped slightly, earlier than chuckling. I can see your thoughts once more.

Erick had opened up his thoughts as soon as once more. It was simple when one was a god, to do many unattainable issues directly. Utilizing Ericks reminiscences, Poi cracked open the beer can as if he had been utilizing all of them his life, and but there had by no means been beer cans on Veird till this second.

Poi stated, However thats not all of you?

Erick smiled. Ive received it set as much as present you all the conventional issues Im considering, and I may even use regular Thoughts Magic, too. So theres no actual hiding trick, aside from hiding the god stuff. And now you possibly can know the way to open a beer can with out being instructed! Its wonderful, throughout. He smirked. I’d even be weak to Thoughts Magic.

Erick had simply stepped via that delineation once more, and for the hundredth time.

It had solely been a month since they’d put Fenrir to rights, however the work of placing your complete Painted Cosmology to rights would take the remainder of Ericks life, and additional past that, as a result of there was no finish to that process, that pleasure, in any respect. It was simply life, and it was a very good one.

The Painted Cosmology was a land of sprawling components, pure of their creation. Particles had no place right here, aside from what folks introduced into this land.

Elemental Stone grew to become Elemental Mountain after which Elemental Continent when strung collectively giant sufficient.

Elemental Water grew to become Elemental Lake, after which Ocean if there was sufficient of it.

Elemental Air grew to become Wind, grew to become Environment.

Fireplace grew to become Blaze, grew to become Conflagration and extra.

Put them collectively and you bought a world operating on physics which Erick had by no means seen earlier than, however which appeared easy sufficient to grasp, particularly when a few of these Components received up and began strolling round, laying down extra of themselves, all of it fueled by Darkish Marks in each soul, carving the Darkish into what they wished it to be.

Among the many Grand Creation had been the fae of Fairy Moons court docket. They had been those doing the most important lifting, making worlds out of mana, turning numerous Darkness into steady land.

Erick crafted a number of sunstars whereas he stood there, on the Edge, setting them adrift and glowing with Benevolence, brighter than the opposite Mild-based sunstars. The place they flowed, life got here into being. Elemental Stone and Water spontaneously grew into Plant, crowding out oceans and mountains. Quickly slimes took to life. Benevolence Sprites flickered out of the Benevolence stars to coax life into extra complicated varieties.

Erick was slightly stunned at that, however he had seen it many occasions already, and he would most likely proceed to be stunned at it for some time. It was good, although, to see Benevolence so simply turning into life, all by itself, after which greater than that.

For some time, Erick simply watched all of it.

After which Rozeta floated beside him, within the area simply contained in the Darkish, watching worlds with him. She held out a muffin, harking back to so way back, besides wholly completely different. Again within the Grand Wizards Tower within the Outer Core of Veird, Rozeta had spoken to Erick about Wizards and the Painted Cosmology, and he or she had spoken of how particle-based muffins had been 90% the identical as Previous Cosmology muffins, however they had been, in reality, fully completely different. These muffins in that Grand Wizards Tower had been fabricated from carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and different hint components. This one was fabricated from Elemental Plant, which was a mixture of Mild, Stone, Water, and even a little bit of Benevolence for this specific muffin. That was simply the principle plant-based materials, although. There was additionally Elemental

Rozeta couldnt assist herself any longer. She laughed, vibrant and pleased, after which she picked up Ericks hand and put the muffin in his hand, saying, I like that when youre dressed like a human you continue to suppose like a Wizard attempting to determine all of it out.

Erick grinned, after which he bit into the muffin, and it tasted fairly regular, actually. I anticipated one thing wonderful?

Rozeta laughed once more, free and pleased. I stole that one from Kromoloks kitchen, so Ailing let him know you had been upset.

Erick modified his tune, Its a beautiful muffin. Finest I ever ate. He took one other chew. Perhaps my style buds are arrange for particles, although.

Thats the overall drawback, sure. Thats what I instructed Kromolok, too. Im certain folks will develop style buds for Components finally, after which we are able to copy that and really get pleasure from a very good muffin.

Erick smiled at that thought, and a snug silence enveloped them.

Rozeta appeared out throughout the worlds with Erick, as a mortal.

Rozeta stated, You realize its been so lengthy since Ive been right here. Its all completely different. Id say the bones had been the identical and the home is renovated, however its extra just like the world has been eliminated, after which had been constructing a brand new one and beginning with particles that are actually Components.

The fae are doing many of the work, Erick stated, not fairly certain what he meant by that.

Did you need to do some creation?

Erick made one other Benevolent sunstone and set it adrift into the Darkish. It pushed again the greedy, clawing, beckoning cacophony of the Darkish, making method for the sunshine. The Darkish welcomed the sunshine, actually, and the sunshine created each different fundamental Factor out of the retreating Darkish. But it surely was a cacophony of creation. Fully disarrayed, with Stone and Wind and Water and all the remainder showing like auroras that misplaced cohesion as Benevolence and have become smaller issues.

Among the fae working the place Erick had despatched the daylight gave Erick some unhealthy seems, as their stone received water throughout it, or their hearth received gentle all in it. They grumbled, and instructed him to ship the lights additional into the Darkish, and to go away their components of creation alone.

Erick despatched out one other Benevolent daylight, far-off from the present areas, saying, Im not that nice at creation. Melemizargo is loving it, although.

Melemizargo was a Creation Wizard, in spite of everything. Or at the least he had been, and now he was once more, of a form.

Erick watched him now, past the Darkish, contained in the Black, like a movement transferring beneath an oceans floor, unseen besides within the barest of the way, and solely via inference.

After which Melemizargo surfaced and grabbed Ericks daylight and despatched it spinning deep into the Darkish, like a spear forged from a god, which is what it grew to become. The daylight spear crashed via the Darkish, parting the Black, and the Black appeared to clap at its passing. It went far, far past sight, trailing a little bit of creation with it because it went, leaving a mana river in its wake. It will most likely hold going ceaselessly. Melemizargo had already achieved related acts of Creation with different issues the fae had created.

Rozeta frowned slightly, saying, I feel you gave him an excessive amount of energy.

Erick shrugged. I dont suppose I did.

Erick made one other daylight, the crystal of Benevolence forming in entrance of him like a radiant prism, cascading in each path with creation. He imbued this one with a [Silver Heart] of Elemental Genesis, and the entire thing began to glow just like the Lifeblood Coronary heart of so way back. The universe become an aurora, that then started to develop all by itself.

Erick gave the sunshine a flick, sending it careening into creation, passing by each single faes work and doubling what they already had occurring.

There have been many, many complaints about that, however they had been attempting to make sandcastles when the seaside was the scale of a small home. Erick thought they need to simply be attempting to make increasingly more and never focus a lot on the small proper now, however he was clearly outvoted.

He was having enjoyable anyway.

Erick smiled and pulled again from creating, saying, Ive received a celebration to attend and be again right here later. Need to come?

I’d present up, however have enjoyable with your loved ones, Erick. I do need to know once I can plan on talking with you concerning godly manners, although. Do you’ve she smirked. Workplace hours?

Erick chuckled. Nicely I used a way a number of occasions once I was realizing myself beneath the Mantle, and it appeared to work effectively sufficient. Ailing most likely pull the Mantle on tight each time I sleep, and that must be ok since Im not very linear. Aside from that, Ailing be kind of this man you see earlier than you, going ahead, within the waking hours.

Rozeta smiled softly, as feelings got here and stayed, after which moved on slowly, however probably not. Im actually glad you gained, Erick. Thanks Thanks for every little thing. And for my sons. Each of them. Kirginatharp is doing effectively now, and Idyrvamikor is adjusting. I had by no means thought Idyrvamikor may have been modified like that, however he had been. And now hes again. Thanks.

Erick smiled. These two again to combating, but?

Ha! Rozeta received a far-off look on her face as she gazed upon the Painted Cosmology, saying, Ailing give it a number of hundred years earlier than they discover one thing to combat about once more, however perhaps not? They solely fought as a result of Nothanganathor was twisting them to combat Largely. Idyrvamikor achieved Wizardry the very second he realized he was with out it, in fact. That boy was all the time vibrant. However Kirginatharp is the older brother now, by rather a lot, and he Ignited to Wizardry simply the opposite day, so thats achieved numerous good to their dynamic.

Erick nodded. I want them good luck, then, and also you, too. You certain you dont need to come to the massive social gathering? Its not simply household at this one.

Ailing see you quickly, Erick.

See you quickly, then.

Erick departed.

– – – –

Rozeta watched Erick return via the portal, which was half of the present dimension of the Painted Cosmology universe, and thought all of it fairly wonderful.

All the things had all labored out completely.

Rozeta chuckled to herself, as she watched the Painted Cosmology develop, as she thought again, years and years in the past, to when she first noticed Erick and Jane pop into the world, their little blue containers showing as a notification on the Core of Veird. They’d nearly gotten themselves killed proper off the beginning line, as a consequence of her father, after which once more as a consequence of them probably messing with the Script, which was a paladinable offense. However then she noticed his mana technology was Wizard-level, and he or she selected to do what gods normally did.

She waited, and he or she noticed.

After which Erick related constructive particles to unfavorable particles in a number of kilometers-worth of sky and brought on lightning to strike a tower in Spur.

Quite a bit had occurred since then.

Much more would occur from now till Eternity.