Chapter 161
Calaxious
I put some star tea on the table, my own house blend from the dust I collect when I travel. Nothing serious, just a stray gaseous blob here or there. He looked a little thin; it’ll put some meat on his bones.
“My mortals are good… I have kept the balance, but Narru…. He-” I cut him off gently.
I need to temper myself. I am too agitated, and he is too little.
“I know he steals.” I said using magic to wash the dishes, shut off the stove, and double check that the damn thing’s off! Ziri’s taken an interest in *trying* but I’ve had to command her to stop!
Her Trying is going to burn down the damn house.
“He seems melancholy. He does not participate in meetings… yet nothing irks him… I…” he paused. “I came as soon as I saw for myself my King… He… he stood too close to your throne. He roars and marks his corner of Infinity as if we would fight our own brother…”
“It is not melancholy, he’s been nibbling at those realms, stealing from me.” I said calmly. “Stay for dinner little one.” I came over and gave him a plate of beef stroganoff. I… I wanted to show off.
This does nothing for us, but I imbued a meal’s worth of magic within the food for him. He works hard that he’d learned his lesson… I cannot be angry at him for that.
“What will you do sir.” He scarfed my food, which filled me with pride.
“Nothing.” I said simply. “This time, I think it best I let this play out.” I said sitting to eat with him.
I could hear his buzzing thoughts. Karru wasn’t stupid, he knows I mean to replace Narru, however I am in no rush. Zairiel is not ready, but he will be soon. He slowly earns his place at my table. Above all the little ones, he holds the right personality for something like this.
With magic I opened the door.
“Come sit, I’ll make you a plate.” I said casually. I did so with magic. My food’s hot; I’m not interrupting my meal.
“Awe Sweet!” Shouted my grandson. “You made ice cream again too!”
I chuckled. He is too low to know how absolutely burning with rage I am, but they douse my inner fire.
“Master I got a little lost, but this whelpling helped me.” Said Tarru, with Zairiel.
Ah, a funny twist of fate I did not anticipate. I truly do love surprises like this.
Seeing the boy relaxed them by quite a bit, especially since he came with a hug, and purchased copy of the god’s version of Perfect Timing!
“Grandpa, can you sign this?” He asked sheepishly. “I was gonna ask RIGHT after training, but I saw this god floating around looking kinda lost…”
“Yeah… thanks.” He embarrassedly admitted to his king that he still gets lost walking across the street.
“Anytime.” Zairiel said with the natural charm I gave him. Hehe! He’s going to make his mate blush!
I Knew I made the right choice!
“Of course son.” I said casually.
I internally squealed.
I signed it for him with stardust… and hid instructions inside for him. “I came to say congratulations! Eskaal’s printed some without the man meat parts too for you.”
“He did that?” I asked.
“When I told him how bummed you were about your editors, as their boss, he threatened to fire them.” Zai grinned, so proud of himself. “Now mortals can find it on Kamble and Boons N’ Nobility, humanoid race and divine ingredient free.”
Oh I made a good choice.
“Stay for dinner son.” I smiled. I always make extra. I also sent Chuck his portion. I made it literally because he suggested it.
And Extra Time… a few thousand years is all I ask…
It’s selfish… but…. It seems *I’m* not ready for my whelp to leave the nest… just a little longer… I want him to Be Ready…. After all, Narru is older than the bubble I reside in…being the first Corner Guardian I made.
\----5,000 years later----
Zairiel
I was a great wyrm… there’s a certain pride that comes from being able to swallow suns… but today… a feast was laid before me, while my parents, and sisters sat on their thrones Below.
I was at the location, while all the gods of this solar system lay kneeling. I’d already captured, subdued, and bound them. With my sister’s magic, a red portal displayed their disgruntled faces. Father most of all, since he sent Zytherian to warn this world, and they tried to keep doing whatever they wished behind his back.
“What is your verdict?” I asked already shifted. I was almost as strong as father like this, but I have no intention of ever challenging him… One day… one day I might fight to raise my status within the pantheon, however I will not kill my father. I merely wish to have a crown too, not a cabochon between my looped horns.
This solar system is to be judged. It had 7 populated planets, spinning ‘round the same orbit in perfect sync, yet, every single one of them, all 20 planets are going to be devoured for their wrong. A shame the rock worlds are meant to go too, since they could have been hurled through space to possibly catch orbit in another solar system…. If not for the corruption spreading.
They dumped the refuse on them, so we can’t take chances. The thank you for so many…
It started with one world, then each neighbor did it because magic admittedly makes things easier. Whatever technology couldn’t do for them, magic did… They made cure illness potions, flying cars, and could regrow arms at the cost of the suffering of others.
Those potions are made from crude soul processing.
Those flying cars trap their fellow man in a state of painful undeath, converted to car fluids, crushed into gears and so on….
Not a single one was supposed to have it, and to attain those powers, they must kill innocents on mass… thousands at a time, process their own people like cattle, but wastefully…. The mortals who are processed become living blobs of sludge and unstable, unusable magic. It isn’t until they’re dumped into incinerators to squeeze the last drop of energy, or shipped to one of the 13 rock worlds with no life that they finally die…
There is no purpose to so much death.
They belonged to the Lady of Beauty, however…. They were *ugly* from their wrong.
It changed them from elvish men and women, to hags with leprosy skin…. This is going to taste disgusting, but this is how I’ve been power-growing. That, and training while human.
And training with father…. He holds no mercy. Even with wood swords we both go home bruised now.
“Death.” Said Zulliba. “They are awful…. I cannot defend them.”
“Death. They used their second chance.” Said Zohlliba. “I observed them behave in fear about 200 years, then the legend faded, and with it their compliance.”
“Why’s the star purple though?” I asked out loud.
“It’s just a white star.” Said dad with narrowed eyes. He didn’t see…
*but I did….*
Why?
They nearly destroyed one of the planets that circle their dense purple and black sun. It was almost as if… as if their evil corrupted it too. It felt malevolent, but my sisters didn’t notice…
Dad didn’t either… But I was hungry, and with their energy, I know I could likely double my strength if I do this right.
“Then they have been judged.” Said father. “Go ahead son.”
With a clap of my claws, I released my restrictions.
For the sake of mercy, I also encased my meal in a barrier. I condensed it and compressed until it was all within its sun, converted to base elements… I was big enough to Finally Try to swallow a solar system In One Bite.
But I wouldn’t harm the one close to it. They didn’t do anything, so I almost felt like a surgeon.
Just this system… Just those people. Not a single soul nor god escaped.
No longer am I burned by a sun. I opened my maw, and I gulped the whole thing down in one go, but the ball was kinda too big.
I could feel a tickle in my throat as I gaped my maw wide and got the whole thing. I could feel the sun pop in my throat, and it tasted like honey chipotle barbecue.
It was the first time in a year that I felt Full.
It burned, but it felt *good* going down. It felt like I’d just opened a spicy Koke No Sugar… and about 3 drops of pure peppermint as I struggled to keep the exploding sun in my throat.
“Oh that’s cool!” Yelled Dad. “His stars are pulsing.”
Why did mom cry? She looked upset, but I looked at my claws. I was being unraveled!
AH!
How do you stop unraveling?!
I took a breath… I need to calm down. The stars on my scales glowed.
… I felt my throat itch.
What is this?
I tried making a black hole again, but I swear it felt like it was forming in my throat. I thought the black hole could help be rid of the excess energy, but … it made it taste even better.
I coughed, but nothing escaped my maw. I felt myself grow from so much energy. This sun was bigger than the others, since this was a Real star, not a ball of forming gas and magic….
I blinked and I was outside the barrier of the territory…
This was infinity.
This is fine.
{….rah….}
*….Well I’m Fucked…*