"How's the match going?"
Hero asked him son who was watching a screen with a sharp gaze.
"Well, seeing as he killed the best player at the start of the match, he's breezing through it."
Alex answered as he leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. Hero sighed in disappointment.
"Next match, see if you can't tamper with the system and send him higher in the ranks than he belongs."
"The gods won't allow it."
"Alex, do I really need to spell every little thing out for you? Yohr is gone. The gods no longer have a guard dog. Go speak with Erus and make him."
"What would I even say?"
"Alright fine, I'll go tell him and you'll come with me. Pay attention because you'll have to speaking with the gods over. The board won't like it if I keep visiting them."
"Okay."
Erus was sitting in his cold, dark room. He knew it was a matter of time for him until Hero came. He just hoped Auclair was faster.
"Don't let me down Vostus."
He clapped his hands and his room illuminated revealing a floor covered in wax. Candles were stacked onto everything to provide as much light as possible. It revealed Erus' body that was completely wrapped in bandages.
He slowly unraveled some of the bandages on his arm, revealing text inscribed on his skin. It was remarkably small and unreadable to any average eye. He wiped his thumb against some of the text, emitting an unbearable heat as he erased the words.
He pulled a specially made needle from his mouth and started stabbing his skin. He was tinkering with the system that he had created a long time ago.
"Before they arrive, seal Erus' room. Give him enough time to change the system."
Outside of Erus' room stood a god and goddess. They looked at the metal door that lead into a massive Gothic cathedral.
"You stole away the root of this place, our strength is wavering constantly. The seal could fluctuate; he might be stuck in there for eternity or for five minutes."
"So do it when they arrive. All you have to do is give them the illusion he's sealed away."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Don't tell me how to do my job." The goddess shrugged the other god off and made her way over to the door.
While passing through security, Alex spoke to his father.
"This is my first time meeting the gods."
"No, I brought you to meet them on your tenth birthday."
"Really?"
"Yes, a long time ago now, but you still did meet them briefly."
"Which gods?"
"Technically only Yohr, but all the gods watched any interactions Yohr had with us."
"So he created a separate space between us and the other gods and projected everything to them. That's brilliant."
"Yes." Hero sighed, "Before we enter, show them respect upon meeting them. Yohr was like a floodgate for both of us. While we have them trapped in their own home, they're still gods. Albeit weakened."
The two finally passed through security and entered the door that used to lead to Yohr's room. Now instead it brought the two of them to the bottom floor of the Iron Tower.
It was the realm of the gods.
It was a beautiful place, full of life and splendor. The only way to describe it was another dimension. How else could all of this fit into a building?
There was even a sky, clouds, and a sun. It really was like another world.
"Hero."
Hero and Alex heard a voice call to them from a nearby forest. A tall man with a very similar face to Auclair walked out in a robe. Each step he took created small budding flowers.
"Alex, greet Iyseuss, the god of life."
Alex bowed deeply.
"It seems someone has manners, although next time say your name." Iyseuss said with the faintest hint of disappointment.
"Follow me, I wish to speak with you and your father."
"Yes sir." Alex responded.
Iyseuss turned and began heading back into the forest with a calm pace. Alex looked towards his father who gave him a nod. They slowly followed Iyseuss and Alex's eyes were full of wonder at the trees which seemed to reach far above and into the sky.
"Hero, you're here to speak with Erus, are you not?"
"Yes I am. I'm also here to show Alex the ropes and introduce him to you all."
"I see the council has finally ousted you."
"You are correct."
"Can't say you didn't see it coming I suppose. Out with the old, in with the new. A saying you ought to be familiar with by now."
Iyseuss' words contained hostility within them, but his tone was absent of any. Hero held his tongue for a moment to calm down.
"Yes, I suppose you are correct. You had something you wanted to say to me however, I'd like to shift the topic to it. We don't have all the time in the world." Hero said slowly.
"On the contrary my old apostle, ancients and gods have much in common. Young Alex, how faithful are you in running your father's old game."
"It will be a learning experience, but I'm confident in my success."
Iyseuss tilted his head. His eyes slowly trailed over to Hero.
"Oh really? Then I take it you don't wish to discuss Auclair."
"No, I would like to. I'm including him in the learning curve of this whole ordeal." Alex said matter-a-factually.
Iyseuss let out a hearty laugh.
"A learning curve! My brother is a learning curve! Ha! Hero, he may be your son, but he definitely has a sense of humor you never did."
Iyseuss' eyes narrowed and he glared at Alex.
"Listen up boy. If you think Auclair is a 'learning curve,' you're sorely mistaken. I take it he's much weaker now than ever, correct?" Iyseuss asked Hero.
"Yes. We came to get Erus to manipulate the system to put Auclair into a higher skill bracket. We can nip this whole problem in a bud as long as we can get Erus to listen to us."
Iyseuss gently rubbed his lips and looked at Alex.
"Boy, your father told you we saw every contact the ancients had with Yohr, correct?"
"Yes."
"What was the phrase Yohr used Hero? Hoisted by your own petard? Hero- the gods here are done with you and the ancients. I personally have a rivalry with my brother, but I respect him. He repented for his sins long before he was sealed, as far as I'm concerned."
"Then why were you one of the most outspoken supporters for sealing him?" Hero asked sharply.
"Politics Hero, politics. I personally regret my discussion, as do most of the gods. If you search hard enough, will you find gods here who believe what Auclair did to be unforgivable? Yes. However, he is the god of death, so perhaps he's allowed to eat half the universe."
Iyseuss laughed.
"Eat half the universe?" Alex mumbled.
"I believe you call it the forgotten region now. A place where even the nothingness of space really earns its name."
"Can we speak with Erus now?" Hero interrupted Iyseuss.
"You're really not fun. Yes, go. It won't matter anymore, my goal here is finished. To answer you, Erus won't change his decision."
Iyseuss turned and headed deeper into the forest, not responding to the calls of Hero anymore.
"Shit! Follow me."
Hero quickly left the forest and began heading further into the beautiful land. They reached a town, although the word town barely did it justice.
The town was complete with extravagant buildings, roads, and plants. It was simply awe inspiring to any race besides the gods. To them, it was simply home.
In the roads walked a few gods, all wearing different types of clothing. They all were doing nothing in particular, it wasn't as if they could do anything anyway.
There was only so much you could do in a place when you've been trapped, regardless of how large the space is.
If you ignored the surroundings, they even seemed oddly regular.
Hero brought Alex to a cathedral that was grander than anything Alex had seen before. The stained glass on the outside had characters on it that seemed to move, telling a story, the masonry was nothing short of perfect, and the building seemed to touch the clouds.
Hero went to the large metal doors that lead to the inside of the building only to find a goddess sitting there sleeping. On the doors were paper tags with mad scribbles adorning them.
Seeing her, Hero clicked his tongue in disappointment. He pressed his hand onto the doors and found them not budging in the slightest.
"Sly bastards." Hero muttered.
"Watch your tongue in a lion's den." The 'sleeping' goddess said clearly.
Hero rolled his eyes.
"What's Erus doing?" Hero asked.
"Hmm. Should I tell you? I wonder…"
"Please."
"Oh, since you're such a gentlemen, I guess it couldn't hurt."
The goddess slowly opened her eyes and leaned up.
"He's doing what you came to ask, he's altering the system. Although, I don't think he's doing exactly what you want him to do."
"Then?" Alex interrupted asked.
"Who's this pup? Oh, he looks like you Hero. Except much more dashing than you are now." She giggled. "Well little one, it seems you lack time."
"Time? Stop being cryptic." Alex glared.
"Watch your tongue before I rip it out your throat."
"Sorry." Alex realized his slip up and bowed quickly.
"Iyseuss mentioned earlier that ancients and gods have much in common. That is time. Since we have so much time on our hands, we tend to get wisdom at a much slower pace than other races. Meaning little pup that you're young and stupid. What I was saying earlier, is Vostus, Auclair, whichever name he goes by now, will get a special system. Crafted specially for him."
The goddess gave a beautiful smile and looked at Hero.
"Now go on home. I bet the hounds are begging to bite you Hero, give them a show for me like old times."
Hero began leaving without a word, leaving the smiling goddess in his wake. Alex quickly followed after his angry father.
"Who was she?"
"Erus' sister. They're twins, Erus is the god of the mystical and faith. She is the god of truth and lies. She's a twisted one."
"Did she seal away Erus then?"
"It doesn't matter. All that matters is that place won't easily open, even for other gods. Whether she really sealed it away or created a universal lie, we won't know. It doesn't make any difference either. Either way, the hounds are probably the board. If she's telling the truth, they'll want to speak with us."
"But what's her name?"
"Remis."