Speaking With the Creator [2]

"I-I don't know...I just...I just saw all the other deities trying to effect as many people as they could in the shortest time possible and I thought...well, I thought that...if you only effect one person, just one, for the better, even if it's just a tiny bit, then isn't that time well spent?" I murmured, turning my gaze away from the Creator's. "So I just...I focused on doing what I was...and...then Tian came, and he looked so lost, so I..." I trailed off, waiting for a response.

It came in the form of a hug.

"Beautiful." She whispered, wrapping Her arms around me and giving me a hug. I was stunned by the action, my body freezing up even after She released me and held me at arms length. "Your way of thinking is simply beautiful. Sometimes the smallest of actions shine the brightest, no?" She said with a chuckle. "Not everything has to be big and grand, right?" I shook my head 'no,' and the Creator beamed at me. It radiated happiness and pride, all directed at me for...well, being me I suppose. It filled me with warmth down to my very soul.

...maybe She wasn't so intimidating after all.

POV CHANGE: Statera Luotian

"Point of views like hers are refreshing." I said, watching Inesa as she flew away from the Palace. We ended up talking for quite a while after I managed to coax her out of her shell, until I forced her out so she could go back to doing her thing. She really enjoyed my relaxation room, so we spent most of our time there. Then, in mid-flight, Inesa paused and turned back to the Palace, bowing ever so slightly. I frowned a bit before her words reached my ears.

"Thank you, Cr -M-mother. You are a delightful conversationalist." She murmured, before flying off once again. I just chuckled and shook my head. She is the delightful conversationalist, not I, nor Tian. Seems she hasn't figured that out yet. Well, I won't disillusion her there.

"They may be refreshing, but without aiming for higher goals she won't get too far." Randus said, stepping out of the dream world to stand next to me.

"That may be so, but there's nothing wrong with being satisfied with where you are." I reasoned. "Besides, this way she is deepening her understanding of her domain. And doing what she did is no small feat, might I add." The Four Realms had never taken direct action in manipulating events before, besides providing the Immortal Tribulations. It just hadn't felt the need to, but now it did. The reason for this was partly because of me focusing so much on expanding the Four Realms and its survival instinct. It chose the swiftest path to the end goal, a path which I was immensely pleased with. Granted, the next five years were going to be absolute hell for Tian because many things still need to be beaten into him, but...well, he can handle it. He's good under pressure.

As an added bonus to the will of the Four Realms finally kicking into gear was that much of my workload was decreased. Now I didn't have to split my attention managing a few of the major functions of the universe, as the Four Realms itself is starting to take over some of them. When true Dao Paths begin to form, I feel that its Will, will also grow in strength, thus allowing me to turn more of my attention elsewhere.

"Hm. Gilles is here to see you." Randus said, breaking me out of my thoughts. I grinned and nodded, reappearing within my "relaxation room." It was a small, simple room that connected to the library, had a big, comfy chair, a large fireplace, and fragrant plants growing in the corners of the room. Other than that, it was relatively ordinary.

"Send him in." I said, knowing that Randus could hear me. With a ripple of shadow Gilles appeared in the room, standing before me and trying to hide his nervousness. "Well? What is it you wished to talk to me about?" I asked, purposefully appearing a bit more intimidating. Normally it's so hard to get a reaction out of the secretive deity, so I have to tease him when I can.

"Th-that...I, uh..." He stammered for a moment. I raised an eyebrow as he took a deep breath, forcefully controlling his nervousness before bowing deeply towards me. "I wish for Your permission to marry Elvira." He managed to get out. The silence between us dragged on for minutes, neither one of us making a move as I stared expressionlessly at Gilles, cackling inwardly.

"Do you realize just what it would mean to marry Elvira?" I asked once Gilles started to truly sweat from the silence, my tone heavy.

"Y-yes. For all eternity." Was all he managed to get out. Marriage between deities was a very heavy topic, considering that for them to marry and make the typical marriage vows before my eyes means that they will have to love and stay with each other for all eternity...or until one of them perishes. The vows become far more binding than the vows typically stated by mortals, regardless of religion, and breaking those vows as deities will bring upon them severe consequences. After all, breaking a promise that I oversaw and was given in my name is bad.

In many cultures, this is actually why sex is viewed as a sacred or taboo thing. Because if the woman or man sleeps with another while in that culture's equivalent of the bonds of matrimony (or in the stricter cultures, losing one's virginity beforehand) that almost immediately spells divorce. Which, to me, is the true bad thing. When the marriage is made before my eyes, and in my name, then that is a promise that cannot be broken lightly. I don't honestly care who sleeps with who, just don't break vows that were made in my name.

"What if I say no?" I asked, after another tense silence. Gilles entire body went rigid and he looked up at me, his expression a mix of emotions as he looked upon my expressionless face. This was the real question.

"Then I will marry her regardless." He responded slowly. Another tense, tense silence, and I allowed a small smile onto my face.

"Good answer. You have my blessing, Gilles." I said, keeping up the pressure. Gilles was silent for a moment before his eyes went wide, and I laughed. "You should see your face! Of course I was going to say yes, you fool! Have you decided when and where to pop the question to Elvira yet? She's pretty dense, so I'm fairly certain she has no idea this is coming." I said, finally releasing the pressure I was exerting onto Gilles. He smiled weakly and stood upright, absently wiping his brow.

"I have." He said simply.

"Good. Well, don't let me keep you! I'm sure you have plans to carry out!" I laughed, slapping him on the back. Gilles, at this gesture, relaxed and smiled, obviously feeling relieved.

"Thank you. I will take my leave." He said, and vanished in a ripple of shadows. I was still grinning a bit, watching Gilles with interest as he fretted about how to propose to Elvira. He was trying to decide on a style from many different cultures, but I had faith that in the end he'd come up with his own, unique style, solely for deities. The funny thing was, that seeing my two children marry one another didn't feel all that strange, simply because of the nature of deities. It would be strange for me to marry one of them, but not for them to marry each other. As my smile softened I sat in my chair and stared into the fire crackling into the fireplace, imagining Elvira's reaction.

"I wonder who will catch the eyes of my other children." I muttered to myself. I cannot help but wonder.