45 The Three Great Rules

Minas woke up and slowly shook his head, clearing it from his sleep. He had dreamt of Mai.

It seemed as if he watched her through a screen- his image of her was dark and murky. Standing up from his bed, he walked to his wardrobe.

He wore his usual robes then sighed and longingly looked at his bed. He wanted to see Mai again.

Shaking his head, he continued on his way to the scrying water.

He would be able to see her once he helps her complete her Gods test.

As Minas walked, he thought back to what Qori had told him.

"You can't continue on like this, Minas." Qori shook her head at him as she laid the stethoscope next to her. "You did something stupid... again."

"Just tell me how it is, Qori."

"You have to sleep and conserve your energy. There isn't any way for us to have any of the Gods on our side transfer their energy to you. You've almost gone past the breaking point, Minas."

"So?"

"So? So! You're so f*cking stupid, that's what! I told you-"

"I know. I know I'm being stupid. But if all you've felt is emptiness for all of your existence. If all you've felt is nothing for all of your existence, then you'd be willing to sacrifice anything for that spark of life. I love her, Qori. The same way you love Uyir."

"Hmph, you suave god."

"Thank you."

She sighed once more as she stared at Minas' face. She grabbed her stethoscope and hung it around her neck. "Here's the plan. Sleep. Once there's been some action, we'll wake you."

"I'm not a child."

She raised an eyebrow. "With the way you're acting, Minas, you are very much like a child- you can't even take care of yourself."

.....

Minas returned himself to the present. He had felt a danger brush past Mai.

When he arrived at the scrying room, Eolia was the only one there, her hands placed on the edges of the bowl. "Eolia."

Eolia startled and some of the water splashed out of the edge. She glanced at Minas, placing a hand above her heart. "You woke up, m'Lord."

"Un." Minas glanced at the water's surface. He regretted that he had scared Eolia; maybe if he didn't, he would have been able to see a glance of Mai once again.

"You're thinking of her, aren't you?" Eolia smiled at Minas, her eyes filled with a brilliant light.

Minas blushed, the tips of his ears turning a deep red. "...yes."

"Why did you fall in love with her?" Eolia tilted her head. She raised a finger up with every reason she gave. "One. Mai's practically a babe compared to you. The age difference is ridiculous. Two. You have to protect her. Three and the most important reason, she's human."

"I thought the Goddess of Love would realize that sometimes there aren't reasons for loving someone."

Eolia whistled. "Qori's right. You're freaking suave, m'Lord."

Minas' laugh rang throughout his castle.

.......

After a short time had passed, most of the Gods of Minas' side gathered in the scrying room.

Minas very seriously sat before them, his face cupped by his palm. He turned to face Releva. "How's the situation with Brqi'a?"

Releva sighed and raked a hand through his hair. "It's not good. He's finally accumulated 99% of the souls of the Godspaces. Now, he only needs the crown on your head."

The air in the room grew heavier before Ocis tentatively raised his hand. "M'Lord."

Minas shot him a look and signaled for him to keep talking.

"I just don't understand. Why is it that Brqi'a doesn't just... er, snatch the crown?"

The older Gods in the room glanced at each other and shared a look. It was understandable that Ocis, who was younger than them all, did not understand the implemented rules.

It was Qori that began first, "Minas is the oldest god, right, Ocis?"

Ocis nodded his head.

"'Minas created everything'. It isn't inaccurate to say this, as essentially he did create the world and the original Gods which, through their actions, became the Gods of today. In essence, he did indirectly create everything. However, Minas did not create rules." Qori glanced at Minas and he continued after her.

"That's right. Although I do not remember this, I know that the past me did not create any rules up until the time that I was cursed. And after I was cursed, I still did not bother to create rules until..."

Qori and Minas shared a look and the both of them said the next three words in unison, "The Great War."

Minas straightened up in his chair as he remembered the war. "It was then that I realized that it wasn't possible for Gods to coexist without some rules. So, I created them."

Ocis' eyes widened in understanding. "The Three Great Rules."

"Exactly. I formulated them with the help of Qori and-"

"Anyways," Qori cut him off, "He formulated them."

Minas sighed and continued his narration. "It's for this reason that Brqi'a is unable to defeat me so easily."

"But he could just extend a battle invitation?" Ocis continued, confusion still evident within his eyes.

"That I can reject countless times," Minas grimly smiled. "Because I am King. This is the reason why Brqi'a must resolve to get the crown some other way- he cannot fight me directly."

The air lightened up considerably, however Minas' next words plunged the room into an even deeper gloom. "He has still been attacking Mai. And... he's almost crippled me to the point that I'm unable to complete my duties as a god."

"That's why you shouldn't have done something stupid," Qori muttered behind him.

"I rest my case. The fight now needs to be about me conserving my energy and-"

Qori cut in, "Making sure Mai is okay."

"And finishes her Gods test, because if she doesn't, then I will no longer have enough energy to sustain my god duties and I will be terminated as well."

All of the Gods in the room grew pensive as they watched the calm scrying water in the corner of the room.

That small bowl was the one thing that would tell the future of the world... and whether that future would be bright or not.

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

The Three Rules:

1. Gods are unable to directly harm humans

2. Gods cannot harm each other unless specific measures are taken in accordance to the rules of challenge

3. Gods must complete their duties or face extermination