CHAPTER 6.5: USEFUL IDIOT

***Cherflammen***

“How are you holding, Seirna Stephanie?”

“!!!” The Overseer Saint was awakened by the powerful slap of the Seductress that reverberated throughout her body, even though it was only her ‘spirit’ that was hurt. Deep in the confines of her mind, she stood before the Void monster, restrained by her miasma, which was also sapping her will to resist.

“I’m impressed that you lasted against me this far,” the Seductress told her. “But, are you sure you really have to do this? All you need to do is give up, let me control this body of yours, and I’ll give you a quick and merciful death.”

“Heh, you wish!” was the Overseer Saint’s defiant reply to her.

“Still hoping that your otherworlder will make a difference, huh?”

“You can throw everything at me, Arame…even my past,” Seirna had an exhausted, yet triumphant smirk on her lips. “Yet I will never yield!”

“Sure,” the Seductress shrugged. “I know that. Like Cassandra, you’re one big, stubborn daughter. Your real mother would regret ever raising a person like you, if she’s still alive, you know?”

There was a small pain in Seirna chest as she took in those painful words the Void monster said. Still, she had to steel herself from the provocations, and insults; while Kuro defeated her before, there was no telling what could happen if she allowed herself to be possessed by Arame. After all, the otherworlder must still be learning the ropes of godhood.

“It might be so, Seirna Stephanie,” the Void creature chuckled. “It might be so. See, you entrusted the safety of Gaius’ little world to the hands of someone who was forced to be god, not to the one who wants to be one.”

“What do you know about Kuro?”

“He’s an idiot, and a reluctant god-candidate.” The Seductress caressed Seirna’s face, trying to provoke her more. “You think the world your gods made is made of ideals? Hah! Big mistake! The otherworlder will just become like the others I devoured. And may think I am bluffing, but you’ll see…”

“See what?”

“Seirna…” the Void monster’s face contorted into one who seemed to pity her. “Look, it is already lost. You’re not the only one whose side is working to defeat their enemy. The Void is ever-shifting; by now, my brothers and sisters are working to free me.”

“I’d like to see them try!”

“What’s more, not only does the Void moving by itself; I got useful idiots in your world to help me as well!”

At that moment, Seirna said nothing. While she was confident that Kuro would not let his guard down, the danger of ‘traitors’ in his allies, or enemies working to sabotage his efforts through covert means, still remained. Nevertheless, she never lost hope; the otherworlder was never a stranger to betrayals, yet he overcame everyone. All that was needed was for her to hold the fort; keep the Seductress imprisoned within her body. The work of the Black God had already begun…it was only a few more steps to defeat the Seductress.

“You’re really underestimating me, huh? Well, we’ll see about that…” the Seductress bombarded the Overseer Saint’s mind with her visions. Bloody scenes of death, and destruction, rushed through her sight like torrential waters. However, those scenes were different from what she would usually witness; instead of the ‘future,’ it looked like the events she, Kuro, and the Iron Princess took part of when they were in Cherhom. “Look, Seirna Stephanie!” the Void monster laughed. “What do you notice? Isn’t those your little fun adventures with your otherworlder?”

“Don’t you dare—”

“And what can you do? Like your gods, we are not bound by time; we can always go back, and redo things!” the Seductress revealed. “Now, savor the moments where your pathetic efforts to destroy me will always fail!”

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***The Chamber of Time***

Just to make sure that there was no sliver of the Void that had got into the spinning wheels and its threads, the Lady of Time asked for the help of the High King of the Gods. The old deity appeared at her doorstep immediately, and revealed…

“It got through inside one of your spinning wheels,” were His first words to her.

And so, Time asked which spinning wheel was infected by the miasma she saw before. Much to her horror, the High King pointed towards the one where Kuro’s world existed. Without a second to delay, she grabbed her sword and shield, ready to jump into that universe. However, the old God stopped her.

“Don’t rush into decisions,” He reminded Time.

“Milord, it is the world of the Black God!” she tried to reason.

“While it is true,” the High King replied, “you have to remember that the Black God is the ‘Bane of the Void.’ One of the few deities the creatures from that place is afraid of. And right now, he is yet to become his destiny…still bounded by time. If you wish for him to become the danger that is for the Void, then we have to let him ‘learn the ropes.’”

Honestly, while the old God already gave His assurance, Time was still anxious. “But, milord, don’t you think we should lend him a hand at least? A bit of help, since this is a dangerous enemy who can fool anyone that he is fighting against.”

“You know Me,” the High King chuckled. “Who says we can’t do your suggestion?” At once, the old God cast a spell. Threads of light shot out from His aura and bound all the spinning wheels in the chamber, including the one where Chersea and the Other Realms existed. When the threads had fully wrapped the spinning wheels, it slowly faded until not a trace could be seen.

Even though the Lady of Time knew His power, she still couldn’t help but be awed in the High King’s capabilities.

The old God smirked as He marveled at His work, “Let’s see if the Void can outwit the Black God this time!”

“Milord, what just happened?”

“Those threads? Ah, it only means I stopped anyone from changing the histories without My permission. The Void is trying to prevent Kuro from becoming the Black God, so it has found a way to meddle with the events, sending weak parts of itself to avoid detection from anyone but Me. So, I took hold of everything for now.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Watching Him do all the ‘work,’ the Lady of Time felt she had to be useful.

The High King answered her with a gentle smile and a wink. “Can you get me a chair to sit upon, then? I’ll get us some tea and snacks.”