81 The Great Weaver

(A/N: There is a poll up in discord about the sequence of the arcs if you care. https://discord.gg/CemN2eHRv6)

I look between the boy and two girls with powers, "This can all be solved simply, how did you all get your powers?"

They look between each other before giving a reaffirming nod, """Bit by a radioactive spider.""" The three say in unison with fairly serious expressions.

My brows raised a bit surprised at how that would even work, "And I thought Komand'r was the weird one in the room."

"Hey!" I ignore her yell as I rub my chin thinking.

"Well if that's the case I don't think you are all his scions, he is probably just attached to you by nature of being the same kin." They each appear a bit disturbed by my words.

"What do you mean 'attached' to us?" Cindy asks a bit perturbed.

I back away and gesture at the couch, "Why don't you all sit down? To answer your question requires I explain what the Great Weaver is."

The group nods as they all go to sit down on the big couch, Ruby sighs as she goes to sit on the loveseat. I walk to the kitchen to start making myself a drink.

"So, how well do you all know your mythology?"

The girl Mary raises her hand, "No need to raise your hand this isn't a classroom."

She blushes a bit as she nods, "I have been looking into spider gods since they got their powers but I couldn't find anything of use."

"I'm sure you did a good job with what you had… did you happen to look into African Gods?"

She nods, "There are far too many for me to pick one out specifically but yes, it took quite a while."

"Have you heard of the Vodū?"

Her eyes narrow while she thinks, "You mean the pantheon from Ghana?"

I shrug, "Probably, I don't pay much attention to lower gods, my people keep me informed. But anyway, the Vodū are a race of gods who supported their believers very well. Perhaps too well, they give out magic to people who really don't have a right to have it."

"I've never heard of the Vodū pantheon having a spider god?"

"Because they don't, they had a man born in the tribe with powers very similar to theirs. He was a fickle man who explored a lot, even made a race of spiders and named them after himself. Once he returned to the pantheon he made a deal with a sky god for cosmic awareness in return for his service. He broke the deal and carved out a small hole for himself in between dimensions entwining himself into the web of life connecting himself to all spiders in every dimension."

"This made him a multiversal existence despite the fact he is still terribly weak compared to a real multiversal being. There is, of course, another weaver called the 'Master Weaver' but he serves a different purpose, he is more like an active being than a crucial being of the web."

Looking up I see confused faces staring back at me so I continue, "Basically you three are connected to the web of life I assume because the Great Weaver likes you."

They appear even more confused but peter speaks up, "Wait, are you saying we got our powers because he wanted us to connect us to this 'web of life' thing?"

"He very well could have, but it is just as likely you randomly got the powers and he liked you. No matter if he put you on your path to get powers or not you still would have been connected to the web anyway once you got your powers."

"Is there any danger to us being connected to this web?"

Seeing his concern I decide to alleviate it a bit, "If someone were to destroy it you all die of course, but there are VERY few people who could do that. What you should be more worried about are hunters. Despite not being a scion of either weaver you three have the characteristics and feeling of being a totem."

His brows furrow, "And how strong are these 'Hunters'?"

"Well, they are interdimensional assassins so they aren't that bad."

"Are they stronger than you?" Gwen asks looking between me and Ruby.

I pause as I hear Ruby break out into laughter, I give her a glare as the rest of the room gives her an odd look. I turn to Komand'r who is hiding her laughter and throw an ice cube at her head.

"Ow."

I ignore her as I give Peter a smile, "When I said there are a very few people could burn the web of life, I am one of them. As are Ruby's older brothers and real father." I give her a side-eye knowing she will be upset at the mention of her father.

The guests seem surprised at my words and look at Ruby for answers, "Who is your father?"

Quickly hiding her glare she smiles again, "I would prefer not to talk about it."

Stepping up beside her I pat her shoulder, "If you are scared just stay around Ruby, she is far more than enough to kill any totem hunter. Komand'r would also be able to stop them but she isn't much of the helpful type."

Blackfire seems offended by my words, "Hey, I am known to be a fantastic friend!"

Peter laughs at our bickering, "It's not that I'm scared, I'm just worried about those around me. I don't want someone around me to get hurt because of me."

Seeing the girls comfort him I smirk, "I can see how you managed to gather a harem, you are a good young man. If it really is a concern for you, you can ask a witch to make a masking charm for you. You would need a rather powerful witch but I'm sure for you it would be worth it."

He nods with a slightly blushed face, "I didn't mean to come here just to get your help."

"It is not a problem, if you don't know any witches my servant's wife would be able to do it if you asked her."

He lowers his head a bit, "Yes, please."

Looking down at my shadow I see it rippling, "Legion has told her, she will contact you when she has time. Anyway, I'm quite curious, how did you become a fan of mine? If I remember correctly I met you back when I was a small club owner."

Peter seems to biome even more embarrassed at my words, "It was back at the first weapons expo for Stark Industries, Tony was showing off his concept for the first Arc Reactor. I remember you showed up late and walked straight through the crowd with two beautiful women in your arms. I just thought you looked really cool."

My brows raise curiously, "So you are a fan of Tony as well?"

"Yeah, not as much anymore, but I think he will make a comeback soon."

"Don't bank on it, he is working on other things right now."

Peter looks surprised, "Can you give me a hint."

I smile at his curiosity, "Tony recently became a sorcerer so he has been working on his skills in magic."

Peter's jaw drops while the girls all appear surprised, "THAT'S SO COOL!"