Refusing My God’s Advances

Scarlet stood before me, her entire being radiating a vibrant blue and green aura. Her eyes glowed brightly, and her usually crimson hair shimmered with the newfound energy. She seemed more alive than ever, a magical presence surrounding her.

I heard Danielle start to say something, but her voice stretched out and then stopped along with the rest of the world around me. A circle surrounded me and then white energy shot up around me, and then outwards. Everything around me became white, and I was left standing alone with Scarlet still frozen in time.

"She is an interesting specimen, is she not?"

I turned around, but I was facing Scarlet again. I tried a few more times to look around, but my line of sight somehow kept ending back on Scarlet.

"Who are you, and what is going on?" I asked while I stared at Scarlet who was still surrounded but the blue and green energy, which was also frozen with her.

"Who am I? You don't know?"

I paused and then sighed. If this wasn't Garland's doing, then I could only think of one being that could enter this world. Only one that could have this much power.

"Are you the "Him," that everyone talks about?" I asked, and there was laughter.

"Him? Yes, I suppose they do call me as such. I am sure you are wondering why I brought you here?"

I shook my head. "I don't really give a flying fuck what you want. I am curious to know what this has to do with Scarlet. I assumed giving her the souls would have an effect like with my golem, Cynthia."

There was a pause, but then the voice spoke again, sounding a bit annoyed. "Don't you think I would explain that?"

"Then get on with it. I know time is frozen, but I am not getting any less hungry," I said, and there was another pause.

I was not going to just play along with this thing. If I can assume that everything I have learned so far is true, this thing was the reason that I was pulled into this world. While now I find it less of a problem, this thing also allowed an evil bastard like Garland to become a god. It was clear as day that this thing was on no one's side, and this was all a form of entertainment.

"I will assume you know why you were picked?"

"Because you wanted someone like me who cares about living peacefully? Kind of a bullshit excuse, but even if it is true, I am not stupid. I know that something like you, a being that seems to hand in everything, wouldn't do it for just some simple reason like that. There has to be more to this stupid motive than me just being stubborn and easy to manipulate."

As much as I didn't want to play ball, I was not stupid enough to ignore this offer of information. Even if I couldn't do anything with it currently, it would be stupid not to get all the answers I could.

There was a chuckle, and then the voice responded, "You're not entirely wrong. Your defiance and unpredictability make you an interesting pawn in this grand game. But it's not just about you. It's about the choices you make, the paths you take, and the impact you have on this world. You're a catalyst for change, and that intrigues me."

I crossed my arms, unimpressed. "So, what's the catch? What do you want from me, and why mess with Scarlet?"

"The catch? Oh, there's always a catch, isn't there? I want you to embrace your role. Continue to be that unpredictable force and interrupt the monotonous flow of reality. Forge your own path and see where it leads. As for Scarlet, she's a creation of your choices. A manifestation of your desires. I merely enhanced her potential, but her fate is still tied to yours."

I narrowed my eyes. "Enhanced her potential? What does that even mean?"

"She has become a conduit of magical energy. Her abilities will evolve with yours. The more you grow, the more powerful she becomes. It's a symbiotic relationship, you could say. As for you, Leon, embrace your destiny. Embrace the chaos. The red tide is rising, and you are at its forefront."

I really didn't like this. "Why did you let Garland take power?"

"To force your hand. I needed someone like him to work around your predispositions to draw you into conflict. It also gave me a reason to seal off Horus from the other beings. You could say that I did it as a favor to you. Not only that, but Garland can't directly affect the world. In this aspect, he is less of a god and more of a whispering ghost of a failed divine."

Well, when the big guy put it that way, he did have a point. Garland was annoying and a bastard, but he really couldn't do much besides pull me up to his realm, or come when I called as an incorporeal figure. I also suppose that things would be a lot more hectic if the other gods could just enter this world as well.

Still, I wasn't going to praise this thing for any of that. Even these choices must either benefit or entertain it. I didn't think very much was actually for my benefit. To me, I saw this "Him" as an adult child, playing with the lives of others like a sandbox of toys.

"Where does all of this end? What is your goal in all of this?" I asked, and there was more laughter.

"I hardly think telling you everything would be any good. If you knew, things might change, and you might not make the choices that you need to. Focus on what is in front of you. If you have learned anything in your short time in this new life, it should be that your control in all of this is negligible at best."

Then the voice was gone, and a new message appeared in front of me.