"I have no idea what's awaiting me, or what will happen when this all ends. For the moment I know this: there are sick people and they need curing."
― Albert Camus, The Plague
"A realm will, huh?" Ven forced his perspective back to his inner avatar and let the rest wash over as background noise. That actually related to his plan with the first Earth. "I'll get acquainted later, first let's go say hello to the Green Man!"
A wave of his hands brought them all, even the rather surprised system avatar, out of the star and into orbit around the most centralised Earth in his realm. Connected to Avalon by a complex megastructure that rotated with the planet, its surface was a mixture of compressed, orderly cities and expansive wildlands.
"Who said I wanted to come!" The system avatar rolled her eyes as she looked around. Her head tilted to the side in contemplation. "Things do have a different quality in person…"
"I TOLD you!" Min pushed at the system's back and directed her toward the planet's surface. "You need to get out and smell the grass, or your brain will rot out while you nap!" Hands clasped to her Older Sister, she raised puppy dog eyes. "Let's go shopping… please…"
– – – –
"Where the hell am I…" Rafe tilted his head back, unable to see the tops of the buildings. People frolicked to and fro, many with cultivations well above his own. "These people act like commoners…"
No one bowed to those with higher power, and all acted with a degree of courtesy. He could even see beings that read as all mechanical, side by side with the Humans and Beastfolk. Unknown races joined the crowds, all with smiles on their faces as they went about their days.
"Heaven maybe…"
The last thing he remembered with any clarity was his battle with Hercules. After that… everything was a jumble, countless faces and a blinding contrast of light and shadow. He shuddered and placed a hand on the wall. Wherever he'd been, it wasn't a nice place.
"Out of the way, little man!" A well built uncle hovered behind Rafe, arms filled to burst with heavy parcels. He edged gingerly around the halfling, balance unsteady. "I'm already late as it is…"
The precarious tower tipped toward the street, despite the man's efforts. A rain of packages that Rafe's nimble hands caught and stacked. The halfling squinted up at the fellow as he snatched the last parcel from the air.
"Sorry about that…" Rafe handed the man the heavy box and pointed his finger to the city around them. "Any chance you could tell me where I am?"
"This is the engineering district," The bulky man took his package and shifted to heft the rest from the ground. "If you're lost, just call out for an info-drone… and keep out of the walkways!"
Rafe blinked as the fellow lumbered off without another word. He'd learned nothing, and had more questions than ever. That man had a cultivation high enough to move at extreme speed, yet he'd failed to react well.
"What the hell is an info-drone…"
"Greetings, how may I be of assistance?" A small orb drifted from above, smooth faced and silver. It projected a smiling face with calm lights as it drifted back and forth. "The info-drone service is here to keep the people informed and connected!"
– – – –
"You want to do what?" Christopher rubbed his bushy beard and gave Ven a dubious look. "I'm not sure if it's even a replicable event…"
"It is," Ven waved to the hills that rolled in every direction. "This Earth isn't the only one among the many that has a consciousness, so it can happen more than once."
Christopher frowned, silent as he looked over the green backdrop of his homeworld. Ven's plan was to awaken all the worlds with life. If he succeeded, every planet would be truly alive. They could choose a guardian and self regulate far more effectively. His ultimate goal was to delegate some of his faith related work to the enlightened worlds.
"Just ask already," Ven rolled his eyes. "I have no plans to harm the Infinite Earths, surely you know that by now?"
"I know…" Christopher sighed. He picked up a hand full of dirt and sifted it through his fingers. "I'm just not sure I'd wish the life of a guardian on anyone," deep sadness etched itself on his face.
"We are bound to our worlds for eternity, no retirement or real freedom…" Christopher stood and cracked his back. A sweep of his arms took in the open sky. "I've lived in your realm for almost a million years, and I've never stepped beyond the orbit of my world for more than a minute."
"Why not?" Ven drifted to his feet and raised an eyebrow. The man had greater power than most Earth Deities and a durability beyond even that.
"My life is tied to the Earth I serve," Christopher's shoulder's rose and fell in acceptance. "If I leave for too long, then time catches up with me."
Ven let silence stretch, lost in his thoughts. The limit was probably not intentional, just a side effect of having your cultivation come from another being. Stray too far, for too long, and all that would be left was whatever the mortal had built on their own. For someone like Chrisopher, that meant no cultivation at all to support his ancient body.
"I might be able to solve your problem…"
Ven settled down and turned his mind to the creation of runes. He sketched in the air, then erased, rebuilt and erased again. A small, but dense formation, slowly took form as time slipped past unnoticed. Christopher settled in beside him, eyes locked on the scriptures.
"What kind of magic is this…" a vibration straightened the man's spine and the Earth took control of his body. It leaned close, a hint of desire in its gaze. "Such complicated rune-work, even more refined than the spell you used to bring me here!"
"Mmhmm," Ven nodded robotically, focused on his constructions. "I'm basing it on this," his finger tapped at the runes on his chest. "At least the very basics…"
The scripture that covered his body was too detailed for him to properly analyse. This formation was his attempt to mimic some of its creator's style. Hyperdense runes, layered so close that their functions intermingled and resonated as one. The last piece in place, he glanced at Christopher/The Earth and pointed between their eyes.
"Now, let's see if this works!"