After explaining everything about the sanguine velmoryn to Amon, I had hoped he would offer some useful input. Although he was an extension of me, the moment he separated, he became more different than similar.
It pained me to admit it, but when it came to magic, he was clearly superior. I believed it was due to his lack of multiple threads and his strong interest in the subject. He could focus on it and excel.
So I expected his opinion to be worth hearing. But instead, he quickly proved he could not care less.
“Did you bring me here just to tell me that? Why? I could’ve used this time to work on my magic… What am I even supposed to do about that vampire?” he snorted, scratching a swollen insect bite on his cheek. “Wait… Verde, don’t tell me you’re thinking of sending me there? I might seem strong compared to the velmoryns, but that’s a demigod… let Aurelion deal with that, please…”
“Calm down. I’m not sending you anywhere,” I cut him off. “Well, technically, I am sending you somewhere. It’s time you leave for the human nation. I need you to gather information about the Night God. I must know if his followers are more than we can handle and how he rules them.”
“I wanted to spend a little more time with Karla. She’s teaching me… can she come with me?”
“No. And before you ask, I’m not creating a dragon, a griffin, or any magical creature for you either.” I couldn’t help but chuckle when I saw Amon sulk.
“Fine. But at least bring Karla here and extract her knowledge about magic. I’m sure she would gladly agree,” he said, this time more seriously.
For once, I didn’t feel like refusing.
If anything, I was impressed by the idea. It had never even crossed my mind that I could do that. If Karla focused her thoughts on her understanding of magic, I could turn those thoughts into words and record them. The cost would be minimal, yet the knowledge would benefit not only Amon, but all the velmoryns.
Why hadn’t I thought of that?
If my avatar could be creative, why couldn’t I?
Was it his emotional attachment to the subject that made the difference?
The only thing that truly excited me was divinity. It was a sad realization, but not one I could change. I suspected most gods were the same.
Then I remembered how I had managed to create the concept of the God of Many Faces, and it confirmed my theory. The only things I could confidently call my own were all tied to divinity or served the purpose of increasing my power.
Well, technically I had also improved Eriavel. I had given Tekla the seeds of a tree that could warm the entire settlement in winter and even created a sewer system. But one was a necessity, and the other was just something I copied from what I had seen while traveling in Japan.
It was clear that to create something new, to be truly creative, there had to be some level of emotional investment.
Then I should create a version of myself that is fascinated by technology…
“Verde, you seem distracted. Should I leave?” Amon asked, noticing my focus was elsewhere.
“Prepare for departure. You will be leaving in three days, and tell Karla I’ll bring her here soon. But before you go, now that you’ve spent a few days in Eriavel, what do you think the place lacks the most?”
“A proper toilet and bathroom,” he answered promptly, disgust written all over his face. Then he chuckled. “But I doubt you care about how we mortals struggle to relieve ourselves, so I’ll give you a different answer - management. The council is doing fine, but they haven’t divided responsibilities. Even though you… we… always thought bureaucracy was a bad thing, now that I’ve lived without it, I see why it matters. Someone has to handle specific roles.”
“I have already considered that, but Eriavel is too small. Fewer than ten thousand people do not need a government made up of a hundred, or even dozens…”
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“I agree. I’m not suggesting ministries or complicated structures that weaken bureaucracy rather than strengthen it. But the council as a ruling mechanism will not work in Eriavel’s case. Velmoryns are beings who need one leader they trust and follow. That leader can still rely on the council as advisors and assign each of them specific responsibilities. Tekla is clearly the spiritual leader of the entire race, so she shouldn’t be burdened with anything else. Dariel could handle military matters. Othrien could take care of the mages and the training of the next generation… I’m just throwing ideas, but you understand the concept. Oh, and Karla, she should be given the role of a guide and sent with me.”
As he spoke, Amon drew a sliver of my divinity and directed it to the swollen patch on his skin. The redness faded instantly, and he grinned.
[Warning: Passing the Divinity consumed 0.1 Divinity Points!]
“Payment for my guidance,” he said with glee before I could scold him. “And about the leader… I’d advise against monarchy. But a short-term leader doesn’t sound great either.”
The idea was interesting. Interesting enough that I let him have that 0.1 divinity.
“Maybe I should appoint the leader myself. That would guarantee their authority, but I must make it clear it’s a temporary position, and that the one I choose is not above question. Otherwise, the velmoryns might begin following them without doubt… I will select a new one when the time comes. Good job, Amon. I like the idea.”
“Then how about a reward?” he said, rubbing his hands together.
“That divinity you took is your reward.”
Before Amon could protest, his figure blurred as I returned him to the mortal world.
Each time I spoke with him, my mood improved. His somewhat rude attitude and playfulness entertained me, and the fact that I could be myself with him, without maintaining an image, felt refreshing.
But now I needed to focus on what had to be done.
First, I turned my attention to the thread connecting me to Aria.
She stood at the edge of a fairly large crowd, leaning on a wooden fence, watching the fight in the arena. Her expression. tense but fully absorbed, made it clear all her attention was fixed on Avenor, who was about to knock out his opponent with a wooden sword.
Knowing Aria’s personality, she should have been somewhere quiet, reading a book on magic, or searching for new knowledge in a library. Instead, she had come to watch Avenor.
And she was enjoying it.
Interesting…
But my amusement didn’t last long. I had too many things on my mind. Focusing on our connection, I whispered into her mind.
“Child, I have a task for you. Seek out information about the God of the Moon and Night. If you encounter their subordinates, you may invoke my name.”
Startled, Aria nearly jumped on the spot. She glanced around, subtly checking if anyone had noticed. But the crowd was too focused on the arena.
Her reaction coincided with Avenor striking his opponent across the mouth, knocking him out and ruining his teeth. Many in the crowd reacted just as strongly.
“By your will, High Father,” she whispered and traced my symbol over her chest.
I had noticed her faith had deepened significantly after I allowed her to leave and pursue her childhood dream of traveling beyond the velmoryn settlement. Perhaps there was more to it, but what mattered was that her devotion had reached 75.
As I was about to withdraw and focus elsewhere, I felt a strong pull toward a specific place in the mortal world.
I willed the Window to zoom in, expecting to see Tekla, Amon, or someone closely connected to me.
Instead, I saw something entirely unexpected.
In a dim room lit by two torches, two people stood beside a bed, leaning over Vivien as they helped her give birth.
“Lily,” Vaelari shouted. “Quick, bring the healing potion from the satchel on the table. Hurry!”
He turned back to Vivien, who lay pale and drenched in sweat. She writhed on the bed, her fingers gripping the sheets as tightly as she could.
“Breathe, girl. It will be over soon,” Lily said as she grabbed the satchel and loudly pulled out a potion, hitting a few other bottles in the process. Even she, usually emotionless, seemed shaken. Her hands trembled slightly as she passed it to Vaelari.
The healer uncorked it, poured part of it over the open wound between Vivien’s legs, then handed the rest back to Lily.
“Make her drink it. Hurry!” Vaelari ordered as he channeled more mana into her.
“Lord, please… help her. Please do not let Vivien or her child die. I cannot let Roy’s family die… I cannot…” he prayed inwardly, panicking.
At first, I didn’t understand his concern.
Then I noticed it.
The mana he was channeling vanished before it could affect her body. Even the potion had no effect.
As if confirming my suspicion, a red notification appeared before me.
[Warning!]
The vitality of the First Child is declining rapidly. If death occurs before the parents bestow a name, the soul will dissipate and cannot be reborn.
The title First Child can no longer be granted.