Chapter 4: The God

  Time: 13:04, Day: Gibrandr, Week: 6, Month: Rogron, Year: 36651

  “You speak as if I abandoned the world. I'm no omnipotent being—I can't bend fates, only break wills. I'm a God because there are none that can challenge my title.” His words were harsh and detached, lacking any emotion. His lupine ears twitched as the Water Sprites danced across the pool.

  “Foolish boy, you should Shepherd those who named you a God.” The soft elderly voice rang out.

  “Elluraine, why must you insist that I complicate things? I sought to right a wrong and returned here. I run with the pack, and help the smaller villages deep in the forest from time to time, and that is enough.” His fluffy blue-silver lupine tail swatted the ground as if to emphasize his conviction.

  “And now that your precious forest is changing you'll sit idly by and watch it all burn?” Elluraine asked, her movements slow and stiff.

  “Elix Forest won’t burn—I won’t let it—but I will not tend to the world’s affairs.” He said with a huff, small crystals of ice forming along the grass as his breath hits it.

  “And what if they are one and the same?” Elluraine took on a more firm tone.

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  “What could threaten the forest and all of Alina?” He asked with a deep sigh, expecting more of Elluraine’s cryptic nonsense.

  “A recluse God finding a reason to live again.” Elluraine’s blunt words made his ears twitch as he lifted his head, giving her a serious yet confused look.

  “A reason to live again?” He repeats.

  “Yes, your reason and your weakness.” Elluraine nodded, the wooden branches that formed her hair rustling softly with the motion—like trees whispering secrets, “Fate has chosen you two to change Alina itself, in ways that not even I can see.”

  “Fate?” He tilts his head to the side, curious as his tail flops lazily back and forth. His golden eyes focused on Elluraine.

  “Fate binds us to our paths, yet there are those that do not walk the path of Fate.” Elluraine smiles.

  “And let me guess, I don’t walk the path of Fate?” He sighs, lowering his head with a forced laugh.

  “Did you think you did? You, born to a weak race yet ascending to godhood.” Elluraine laughs, “Your Fate was to die after your birth, but I intervened, knowing you would rid the world of Devil Kings and Humans.” Elluraine smiles.

  “So if you knew I’d do that, isn't that Fate?” He asks, not understanding the difference.

  “No, you walked the path of vengeance, and there are none born to walk that path. Fate’s rule is progression, vengeance is the past's pain. Yours was a path of ruin carved by will, not woven by destiny.” Elluraine takes on a more teacher-like tone.

  “Oh, since I wanted to kill Aranthu and had to go through the rest to do it, I've just been on my own path?” He tilts his head to the side again.

  “Yes. And now vengeance will not be enough.”

  — The Curator’s Notes —

  you catch the exact moment Elluraine stopped giving him riddles… and started giving him warnings?

  Next chapter waits just beyond the trees. Step quietly. He’s listening.