My internal clock insensitively informed me that I had cried for an hour. Everything shook. My hands that I had coldly killed five men with. My legs that had to bear the weight of all the walls I had put up around me. My vision, which had failed me.
Yes, Mayliam was right in one thing: I cared. I cared, and cared, and cared. And all it brought me was pain, or that's what I seemed to be telling myself at the moment.
The shaking subsided several minutes later, as a passive numbness took hold.
I looked around at my camp. There was nothing for me here. It was time to move on.
If the world was going to fight me every step of the way, I was going to fight back.
I went north. If I was going to be punished for caring, I would serve cold justice. And it seemed that this kingdom needed some justice.
After the first day, the way was not as familiar to me. I let caution guide me.
For safety's sake, I rested each night that my future vision said that it would be safe. Based on my prior experience, the frequency of that was about two out of three.
I slept after my third day of travel. When I did, it was like I woke again immediately.
Rather than leaning against a single tree among a forest, I sat in a cushion chair. The room I sat in was comfortable. A young man with slicked-back red-brown hair tended a fire in the hearth to my left. A young woman with auburn hair poured a liquid from a teapot into teacups on a coffee table in the center. A pompous blonde girl with an elaborate hairdo, which seemed weightless despite the mass of hair, sat in another cushioned chair across the table from me. A bald black man sat on one of two couches to my right.
"You are quite difficult to get a hold of, Argolex." the blond said. She spoke English, so I decided to use my native tongue as well.
"By what do you mean? And you seem to know me, yet I do not know you.".
"We gods usually communicate through cryptic hints given by dreams."
"That does not seem to be the way we are communicating currently."
"You're special." the black man said, his voice gravely.
The girl with drinks offered me a cup. It still steamed. She passed teacups to the others.
"For one thing," the young man tending the fire said, "you're the first person to ever call two elements at once."
"I see that, but before we continue this chat, could you introduce yourselves? I have a hint, but I'd like confirmation before we proceed."
"I'm Brock." the black man rumbled.
"Aquaria," the girl who served the drinks said.
"Ragos." the fire-tender.
"You will refer to me as Celestia, Goddess of Air."
"As I thought. Now, this is probably about more than calling on two of them at once. Otherwise, I would have met you all so much sooner."
"Indeed," Celestia leaned forward, resting her chin on her knuckles, "this is about the fact that a soul spoke to you rather than one of us in their final conversation."
"I don't get that either." I said.
"Simply put," Aquaria said, "You're a god, like us."
"Where is everyone getting the idea that I'm a god? I've been mortal as long as I can remember. And a pretty crummy one at that. Besides, you already have the four elements covered."
"There is often a fifth element," Ragos noted, "though that element is different in each story. Sometimes lighting is different from air or fire. Sometimes water is separate from ice. Sometimes life is the fifth, or perhaps the first. It could also be void, aether, darkness, or a plethora of other options."
"Of course the geek knows that," Celestia said with a bit of snark."
Perhaps the gods weren't wholeheartedly united. I might fit in... if I were actually a god.
"I have been able to heal, but I don't think I'm of a life element. Of the ones listed, that's the closest I can imagine, but none of them seem right."
"Then what would you define the sum of your powers as?" Aquaria asked.
Time.
I didn't say it. It didn't feel right.
"I will repeat, I am no god."
My shirt disappeared. At the same time, black etchings matching mine appeared on each other person in the room. Ragos's were on both hands, almost like elbow-length gloves. Aquaria's were narrow streaks following each vein. Brock's were like the hair he didn't have. It probably extended down his back. Celestia's were along her jaw, looking somewhat like a full beard in black. It also coveted her ears.
"As you see," Celestia said, revealing a Scarred tongue as well, "We bear about the same amount of Scarring as you do."
"Is there a spell that hides them?"
"Only basic illusion spells. In this case, we control every aspect of this vision. That means not showing scars when we don't want to." Aquaria answered.
Brock nodded in agreement.
"I see. Regardless, I think you all got worked up over a fluke. The girl who passed on was my sole companion of four months. Of course she gave me last words before moving on."
"Say what you will," Ragos said, finally facing me, "but you will see the truth in time."
"And when you do, come join us in the Hall of Gods." Celestia added.
One by one, they disappeared. Celestia, Brock, Aquaria.
"There is one more thing, something the others didn't want you to know." Ragos said.
"What?"
"It is clear that you are going to walk into combat. As such, there is a shortcut to calling upon us. First, you can call us by name, rather than title. Second, when you cast a spell, you can give it a name. For example, after the next time you ask Brock and I for the sword, you can say 'Magma Blade'. We'll remember it, so in the future, you can simply say, 'Ragos and Brock: Magma Blade' for the same result."
"That will help. Why would the others not want me to know that?"
"I think it's a matter of pride to Celestia. She's the toughest to get along with, and has this queen bee attitude. The others don't mind me telling you, but I'm the only one who defies Celestia."
"What does she have over the others?"
"Nothing, really. She and Brock ignore each other, and Aquaria is nonconfrontational. That leaves me to be the only opposition to her, at least, until you join us."
"You sound so certain."
"Am I wrong to be?"
"Yes. I'm no god. If anything I'm a powerful mage. That said, I might take up the title of Timekeeper."
"Timekeeper?"
"I can see up to twenty four hours in the future or past. And the healing I mentioned, it seemed like I was undoing the wounds."
"The four elements are all elements of space," Ragos mused, "So of course the fifth element is the element of Time."
"Think what you will, but may I go? I have a journey to complete."
"Oh, sure. I'll be seeing you around, Argolex."
And the room around me disappeared. It felt like I immediately woke, though my internal clock claimed hours had passed between the meeting and now.