Natasha the Halve

“The Architect,” Danuva concisely replied.

I nodded, then looked at the ceiling and sighed, “The thing that supposedly put a lock on my mind?”

“Precisely,” Shorvanna confirmed.

“Perhaps you learned of something you weren't supposed to,” Saravia ventured. “Do you remember the beings of the Abyss?”

“Did they tell you something?” Danuva probed.

“Or do something to you?” Shorvanna inquired.

I shook my head, feeling a small anger rise within me. “I told you what I remember,” I stated, balling a fist.

The God of the path of the Performed put a hand on my fist. “What did you feel when you faced them?” he asked with an unfairly gentle tone.

“I don't remember,” I insisted, pulling my hand away. “Not yet, at least.”

“It's obvious something happened,” Danuva pointed out. “You understand their language, so there must have been some exposure. When the time comes that you remember, please reach to us.”

“Alright,” I agreed with a nod. “I'll do that when that happens.”

The three Gods were silent for a few seconds.

“Young Halve,” Shorvanna spoke. “In regards to our previous remarks about mortality, there is an issue to be brought up still.”

“The most important,” Saravia supplied.

“You do not have free will,” Danuva declared. “Right and wrong are subjective.”

My eyebrows joined and climbed my forehead in confusion. The change of topic was very much welcome, though.

“Galeia will demand things from you,” Shorvanna continued. “You will serve your purpose as her weapon whether you want it or not.”

“Some day you will come to think of something as wrong, yet Galeia will consider it otherwise,” Saravia explained. “The trigger to do something to correct it will be distorted.”

“Conversely, Galeia will demand you to destroy that which you see as right,” Danuva added.

I narrowed my eyes at them.

“Holistos, Vesaddi, and Plofak were fools that defied Galeia,” Shorvanna mocked. “Their irresponsible actions were seen as a threat to life, and thus were killed by their fellow Halves.”

My eyes widened in surprise. “So... I'm a slave?” I asked for clarification.

“A tool. A weapon,” Saravia specified. “A slave is a slave because it's forced.”

“Galeia is not encumbered by right or wrong,” Danuva pointed out. “Her objective is the perpetuation of life. You are the tool to achieve this goal.”

I gave each a wary look. “I'm going to need some examples,” I told them.

“Being against Monarchy, but saving a King,” Shorvanna stabbed me with her words.

“Loathing the people who tried to kill you, but not actively seeking their deaths,” Saravia slapped me with his words.

“Beliefs that don't-” Danuva started.

“Alright!” I interrupted with a hiss. “I got it. Galeia influences our judgment and shit. I thought it'd be much worse with the way you put it.”

“Young Halve,” Shorvanna deadpanned.

“Yeah, yeah,” I sighed. “A tool that serves a planet achieve balance,” I summarized. “Not a mortal, blah, blah, blah. Got it. Let's move on,” I finalized and retrieved my list of things to ask the Gods. “I have some questions for you, if you don't mind.”

“Go ahead,” Danuva agreed.

Shorvanna and Saravia nodded, the latter moving the spinning sphere within the cloud that was his head.

“Okay,” I muttered and went over the list. “You agreed to heal Elena already, so that's done.” I nodded, then read the next one. “How and why did Demons come to Galeia?” I asked, looking back at them.

“They used the power of the Abyss to open a gate between worlds,” Saravia replied. “Now that we've heard your side of what went down in Hell, it's obvious their world couldn't sustain life for much longer.”

“Life finds a way to survive,” Danuva pointed out.

“They survived their struggle,” Shorvanna chuckled. “Brave people.”

I nodded. “Nerissa wasn't what I would call brave,” I sarcastically pointed out with a scoff.

“That is not our concern,” Saravia pointed out.

“Riiiiiiiiiight,” I sighed. “When did they get here, by the way?”

“The first group arrived one million two hundred and thirty-nine thousand four hundred and eighty-three years ago,” Danuva replied. “They were lost, scattered, hungry, and desperate. Mophixelos welcomed them and got rid of those tainted by the Abyss.”

“What?” I blurted out in a quiet voice. “That... Did they get here before I went there?”

“No,” Shorvanna denied. “Mophixelos told us they spoke of a Hellwalker.”

I sighed, “That's not possible.”

“If their world was near a gravitational collapse, then yes it is,” Saravia offered. “That, or Time was involved... but there's not much of a difference in the end.”

I rubbed my temples. “Alright,” I gave up and moved on. “Are Demons Changeling's ancestors?” I asked.

“Yes, they are,” Danuva confirmed without much fanfare. “Demons went to live with Apparonzes and together they birthed Changelings.”

“Ah,” I breathed in understanding. “Did that happen before or after Apparonzes evolved into Doppelgangers?”

“After,” Shorvanna replied. “Apparonzes split a few centuries before Demons arrived. Those who left tried living in Dungeons... which is not a good idea. They lost their minds and became Doppelgangers with time. Apparonzes existed elsewhere, so that wasn't a crisis of extinction in Galeia's eyes... therefore no help came for them.”

“Nasty business,” I commented with a deep nod. “And the fact Changelings evolved from an outsider species is mostly a secret?”

“That is correct,” Saravia confirmed. “The threats were removed and Galeia welcomed them.”

“Mhm,” I hummed. “Next question: What's the deal with the trials we Halves went through?” I asked, having already heard the answer as to our memories.

“They're trials,” Shorvanna chuckled. “If you survive, you become a perfect being. Simple.”

I nodded. “So they're all about survival?” I probed.

“No,” Saravia denied. “No two trials are the same. Some survivals are of the mind instead of the body.”

I nodded and turned to Danuva. “I wanted to ask you if you could teach Alyssa Pruvik and Yolin Makav, my partners. They're both Clerics.”

“I can,” Danuva replied. “What are their Classes?”

“Alyssa is an Archbishop, Cardinal, and Soul Warden,” I told her. “Yolin is a Monk, Paladin, and Asura. Alyssa is a Krystaali Luzo and Yolin is a Red Oni,” I pitched my girlfriends. “They are super smart.”

The Goddess' six eyes squinted in amusement. “I'm sure they are,” she giggled.

I smiled and turned to Saravia. “One of my companions is a Performer,” I told him. “He's a Khlyp Satyr, Bromisnar Bahadh. His Classes are Bard, Minstrel, and Maestro. Think you could teach him?”

Saravia leaned towards me. “We Gods exist to guide, young Halve,” he reminded me. “Teaching is in our nature.”

“Cool,” I said back and went over the list again. “Any dangers I should be aware of?” I asked next.

“Galeia will let you know,” Shorvanna pointed out. “That's not our concern.”

“Right,” I sighed and read the remaining questions. “So, about Power Tongues. What's their nature?”

“Manifestation of will,” Danuva explained. “Celestial is comforting by nature. It's used to impart knowledge with unparalleled efficiency. You will understand in the following months.”

I nodded. “And Infernal?”

“Speak it,” Shorvanna requested. “We haven't heard of Infernal before.”

I arched an eyebrow. “That's Demon's language,” I pointed out, then supplied, “It goes like this.”

“A corrupted language,” Saravia hummed. “E'er rejects it. We'll find a use for it, young Halve.”

I nodded. “Alright, last question.” I took a deep breath. “Where the fuck is Yulianna?”

The three Gods glanced at each other, then went quiet for a minute.

“Oh, for fuck's sake,” I sighed and palmed my face.

“She departed to Makah after Perculis passed,” Shorvanna said what the entire planet knew. “She didn't say anything about a destination. Galeia hasn't pushed other Halves to move, so she's not a threat. You Halves would know if she's dead... so my guess is she's fighting something, learning a new Class on her own, or mourning.”

“Nilenna is looking for her, though,” I pointed out. “Maybe Galeia wants Yulianna to be found.”

“Nilenna is a nosy woman,” Danuva let out an irritated sigh.

My eyebrows went up at that. “Is she that annoying?”

“Not annoying,” Saravia chuckled. “But she has the habit of hugging everything that lives... and sometimes those that don't.”

“Danuva is not fond of that,” Shorvanna snickered.

The Goddess of the path of the Cleric rolled every single eye on her body.

It was a bit gross.

“So, are we done with out little meeting?” I asked, drumming my fingers on the table. “Can we get to the part Elena regains her memories and she gets Yulianna to come back?”

“I will prepare a room,” Danuva spoke and stood up, which meant float up. “Bring her in along with your companions. The Orators will keep watch.”

I nodded and stood up, then turned around only to face a wall.

“Follow me,” Shorvanna spoke and went in a completely different direction to the one we came from.