16 The Big Decision

Minas breathed in relief. His pounding heart quietened. "You see? Mai is able to handle things by herself," a touch of pride could be heard from his voice.

"You were just as worried as we were," Lupa pointed out.

"And I changed your diapers," Minas shot back.

"Quick, look!" Noevl shouted, pointing at the scrying water. The Gods' heads whipped around to view the next scene.

Mai was in front of the blocked door when a hand burst through it. Croepl yelped in surprise, the image wavering in its resolution.

"Mother!" Noevl said, warning her mother to hold steady. Beads of sweat crept on Croepl's forehead as she realized that she was almost out of energy.

"I don't think I can hold this any longer," she warned.

Minas was startled. "We can't stop this now! Hold on, Croepl!"

Croepl took a deep breath as she focused. The image continued to waver, but it was enough time for the Gods to see Mai's and the other two humans' escape from the room. After that, however, the image flickered and winked out.

"D*mn it!" Minas hit the water in frustration. He turned his head, looking at Noevl before him. "Noevl! Do you think you can-"

Sola hit Minas on the arm. "You can't do that, m'Lord," she said, "The scrying glass was made by Tirna for you. It takes twice the amount of energy for anyone else to use it. And even then-"

"It needs recharging time," Croepl said, exhausted. She feebly held out her arm, and her daughter held her, helping her sit down at a nearby chair. Minas raked a hand through his long hair.

"I'm sorry," he said, "I didn't mean to push you, Croepl."

Croepl waved her hand as if to say that it was fine, but Minas could see the deep exhaustion in her features. He quickly realized the problem. "It's springtime, isn't it?" Minas looked at Corepl. "You were using four times your usual energy consumption, weren't you?"

Growing quiet, Croepl had a guilty look on her face. "Yes," she hesitatingly said, "but I am the only God in this room that is nearest to your power. I would have been able to hold the image the longest."

Minas took a deep breath to calm himself. "Understand this," he began, looking at all of the Gods in the room, "you all are important to me. I can't have another ill person on the team- just me is enough. Your health and duties come before your duty to me. Besides, I have a connection with Mai. If she is ever in mortal danger, that will be the time that I will need you all the most."

Croepl nodded in understanding, and all of the rest of the Gods followed suit. "What should we do now, m'Lord?" Noevl asked.

"It's the perfect time to plan some way to get the waters of rejuvenation from Brqi'a's side. Although we already know that he has messed with the humans realm as Heshe had meddled in the humans' affairs, we've confirmed that Mai is alright for the moment. The most important thing is to ensure that we get the waters of rejuvenation before Mai finishes with her first three goddess trials."

"Why can't Brqi'a just directly kill Mai?" Lupa's whispering to Sola caught Minas' attention.

He spoke out to answer Lupa's question. "Just like my crown, the Gods test is part of the fabric of existence. He does not have enough power to overcome it, yet."

Lupa nodded in understanding, guilt on his features. "Lord," he hesitated but decided to push through, "why did you not fight the curse when it was placed upon you? You would have had enough power to destroy all of the Gods, not to mention a puny curse."

Minas sighed and looked to the scrying water. "I found my existence too boring, Lupa. I had thought that a curse would liven things up a bit, but nothing had changed. In fact," his face darkened, "it had only made it harder to protect the one thing that is brightening my world. And for that reason, I regret not fighting back when I had the chance." Minas inhaled deeply and turned his attention to the Gods before him. Lupa and Sola were staring at him in anticipation. Croepl, though tired, had a determined look on her face. Noevl was the same. Eolia seemed to be mildly interested, and the Qori had her arms crossed. Minas looked towards a mirror. Kirna and Lorna could be seen chit-chatting on its surface- it linked their Godspace to his. "What do you think we should do, Kirna and Lorna?" Minas called out to them.

The girls shot a glance towards each other with faces filled with excitement. "We thought you'd have never asked, m'Lord!" Kirna replied. She turned towards Lorna.

"Haven't you wondered why Wurv wasn't here, m'Lord?" Lorna said. Minas could sense mischief in her voice.

"Why?" he simply asked.

"You're supposed to guess," whined Kirna, and Minas sighed.

"He's used his power to freely enter Brqi'a's camp and take a vial of the waters of rejuvenation."

The girl twins gasped in shock. "How'd you know!" Lorna's eyes were wide in disbelief.

Minas laughed. "I am-"

"Yes, yes, we get it." Qori interrupted, "The Ruler of All and all that." She turned to the mirror. "Was Wurv successful?"

Kirna's happiness slowly faded; however, a resoluteness entered her eyes. "No, Wurv was not successful, but he was able to see the state of things in Brqi'a's camp. There were a lot more Gods than we had anticipated. But-"

Lorna completed her sentence. "We knew that it wouldn't be as easy as that. So we've enlisted the help of Ocis, God of Betrayal."

Minas' eyes darkened. "Ocis," he growled, "I do not trust him ever since-"

"Yada, yada," Qori interrupted once more, "Can you please stop with the nonsense, Minas? Let them get to the point of the story, okay?"

Angry, Minas turned to Qori. However, when he gazed at her eyes and remembered what had happened before, the anger turned to guilt. He did not have the right to punish her for her disrespect. Besides, she did have a point. He needed to move past his grudges to be able to save Mai.

Turning to the twins, he motioned for them to continue. Kirna nodded, "Ocis was supposed to act as if he joined Brqi'a's camp. Then, once he's gotten their trust, he can get a vial of the waters of rejuvenation and the Soulful flowers!"

Minas took a deep breath. "And how do you know that he will not defect to the other side?"

Lorna looked grimly at Kirna. "We don't, but we trust him, m'Lord."

Noevl took this moment to walk forward. "M'Lord," she began, "Ocis is not as you have made him out to be. It was a mistake that year; he did not mean to-"

"Destroy countless human settlements?" Minas sarcastically said, "Betray my trust?"

"It's not like that!" Noevl yelled, "You need to hear both sides of the story, m'Lord. He was just saving-"

"I don't need to hear both sides of the story, Noevl. I know that Ocis was trying to save you, but he should have realized that I was waiting for him to explain that to me. I wanted him to give to me the same trust that I had given him, but he didn't realize this and instead chose to go behind my back. That is why I am angry. That is why I no longer trust him."

Noevl quietened in surprise before she responded. "That is not a reason to not trust someone, my Lord. Your existence is still unfathomable, despite the curse. He wanted to remain untainted in your eyes."

"Enough," Minas said, "We'll continue with this plan, but don't expect me to be confident that this will work. Have Wurv return to my castle." He left with these words.

Croepl had stood at this time, comfortingly holding her daughter's shoulder. "He has his reasons for everything, my daughter," her eyes had a glimmer of sadness, "Although he has not been interesting since his awakening, he still has the pride of a king. He will not rule the Gods with a half-hearted fist."

"I know, mother." She looked at the disappearing back of Minas, "But I wish he could be more... human."

"He is the only one that was not based on a human, daughter. In fact, we are all based on him."

Sola came behind Noevl and patted her back. "Don't worry about it, Noevl. Everything will work out. It always has."

Noevl nodded. She had trust in her King, but she sometimes could not help but doubt his methods. Being all-powerful does not mean omniscient. Furthermore, he no longer is omnipotent- he has lost that long ago.

Sola turned to look at Qori. "Do you believe that he will ever be able to get rid of his curse?"

Qori looked at Sola, sadness in her eyes. "Unless a miracle occurs, it will never happen. And miracles are called miracles because they don't happen."

Sola sighed.

.......................

Minas stared at his shaking hand. He could feel pain radiating over his entire existence. He knew that Qori's estimate had been generous- he most likely could only last for a hundred more years if he did not conserve his strength now. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

Trying to take in the energy of all of creation and destruction, Minas took a deeper breath and dove into his subconscious. He opened his pores, urging the energy particles of the air to diffuse into him. However, he immediately felt a barrier within his body appear, blocking the energy particles from entering his soul.

"D*mn it!" Minas muttered. This was the first time he had ever felt so useless. He could eat energy in tablets, but those quickly dissipated since they were not of his element. Even the energy that Kirna and Lorna had given him was just enough to ensure that he would survive a full 100 years without going into slumber or worse... nonexistence.

Sighing, Minas pulled his hand through his hair and felt as several strands went along with his hand. He was stressed. Covering his face with his hands, Minas took deep, calming breaths. Strangely enough, he was more afraid of not seeing Mai rather than not-existing. But he would not be able to see Mai if she were to fail her goddess test, or if she were to die before it is her time.

'Therefore,' Minas looked up, 'I must do whatever it takes to make sure we both survive.'

......................................

Back before the scrying water, Minas looked around the room. The Gods of his faction had returned to their respective area, having to complete their duties.

Minas dipped a finger into the water, stirring it. He needed to find a way to break the curse, or at least to bypass it. He thought in silence. Most of the Gods would no longer be willing to help him. He laughed. He had created all of them and given them their power. Looking into the water and at his smiling face, Minas felt as if he were peculiar. Although he was cursed by his 'children' (in a sense), he felt no remorse nor regret. He didn't expect anything from them. He had gotten everything that he had ever wanted when he created them: companionship.

Sighing, Minas confirmed the only thing that he regretted- being apathetic. He needed to get a grip on himself.

He looked once more at the scrying water, tempted to view Mai. However, he held himself back. Holding the rims of the bowl, Minas bent low, barely touching the surface of the water with his nose, mouth, and forehead.

"I miss you," he said, his eyes closed. Minas then righted himself and took a step back. It was time to see Releva.

...........................

"I heard from Qori that you are still neutral?" Minas said.

Releva looked up at him, holding a vial of something green. "Qori told you that?" He swished the contents. "Good for her. Is she still with Uyir?"

"Yes."

"Hmm," he continued to swish, "that's too bad." He paused in his movements to look up at Minas. "What're you here for?"

"I came to ask you for some help."

"Let me guess," he put down the vial and tapped his chin, "Is it for a revelation? Hmm, you don't seem the type, Minas. Oh! I know." He looked slyly at Minas. "You've come to find some way to fight your curse, am I right?"

Minas nodded. "Do you know of a way, Releva?"

"Yes... but it comes with a cost."

"What kind of cost?"

"A hefty one." Releva picked up the vial and gave it another twirl. "How's Uyir these days? I heard he went over to the other side."

"He's gone to Brqi'a's, yes."

"Hmm, how interesting. And Qori is still with you?"

"What do you want, Releva?"

Releva turned to look at Minas, a glint in his eye. "Get me a date, m'Lord. With Qori."

"She's rejected your advances too many times to count, Releva."

"Why!" He whined, "I'm a good guy! She just needs to see that, m'Lord."

"Ask for something else."

Pouting, Releva turned his head to look at his vials. He took a few seconds to see a certain one. "Word from the grapevine is that you need a vial of the waters of rejuvenation for that new interest you've got there. I happen to need a vial of the waters of rejuvenation myself. How about you get one for me as well?"

"She's not a 'new interest', she's my only interest. And I am not sure we can even get one vial, let alone two."

"Bah, you're no fun. I'll still help you then. Just make sure you tell whoever is getting the vial to try their best in getting me one too."

"Understood. Now, do you have an idea, Releva?"

"A way to bypass the curse? No."

Minas looked at him with a disbelieving face.

Releva sighed, "But I do have a way for you to heal your soul."

"How'd you hear about that," Minas' face darkened.

"I told you, I heard it through the grapevine. Now, do you want to know how to heal your soul or don't you?"

"Yes, I do."

"Good. I have just the thing." Releva handed Minas the vial filled with green liquid, as he turned and began to rummage in a large cabinet. The tinkling of glass could be heard as Releva moved the vials. "Aha!"

"What is it?" Minas curiously leaned in, trying to peek into the cabinet.

"This is it!" Releva took out a beaker. In it was a pink concoction that bubbled every few seconds.

"This?" Minas looked on with disgust, "It looks disgusting."

"And it tastes disgusting, too! But, it has the tears of a unicorn, a mermaid's last breath, and a peony's final love. The perfect concoction to heal a lovelorn soul!"

Minas scoffed. "I'm not lovelorned!"

Releva raised an eyebrow, looking at Minas up and down. "You sure look lovelorn to me."

"I'm not!"

No longer replying, Releva held out the beaker, gesturing for Minas to drink it.

"Fine," Minas snatched it, "But I'm not lovelorn!" He knocked back the beaker, chugging its pink contents. Then, he began to choke.