The Grand Weave

Cal lifted Zagreus and spun fast enough to send him flying into a comically large pool filled with jello. The adolescent hydra sank into red goop like he belonged, giving up his form to become one with the food.

Cal adjusted his jacket and sat beside me. As he did he rummaged through his pockets and pulled out another crystal.

"That was a beautiful picture. Cherish it."

I took the crystal and sent mana through the channels, revealing the picture inside.

"That's a good expression. Shock, some horror, anger? Good stuff."

"You'd have made a great photographer, it's well centered too."

"Maybe," I said, pocketing the crystal. "So what's up Cal? You have to leave soon?"

He sighed and closed his eyes, resting his chin against his knees. "Unfortunately. I'll be avoiding Ysanna's realm for a while."

"Because of the other gods?"

"Not worth the risk. But I'll come whenever you need me. Though, try not to summon me in Solara, neither you nor I want to deal with Aurelion."

"Ugh, thanks for reminding me. I need to re-study that book Brelten gave me."

"Yes. Do that. Probably for the best."

I narrowed my eyes and poked his side with my tail. It was strangely satisfying, even though it failed to penetrate his suit.

"Ever going to fill me in on your history? And why you're not in the book?"

"Nope."

"Cal."

He swiped his own tail against my nose, nearly causing me to sneeze. "Maybe one day. But for now, I prefer that history stays buried."

I shrugged. Whatever worked for him. I wasn't too pressed to figure out his dark mysterious past. In fact, those sort of details could stay far away. I didn't need more drama then I already had.

"Hey," I said, bumping into him. "Thanks for the celebration. It’s nice to see them so happy."

"Yeah, you should try it yourself sometime. Doom and gloom shouldn't be the backbones of the world."

"Haa, haa. If only."

Cal snapped his fingers and a steaming pie appeared above our heads.

Huh.

It tipped over and deposited its gooey load. I licked my lips. Blueberry and chocolate? It wasn't the best combo, but it beat the soap fettuccini from earlier.

"So, are you summoning these? Or does your abilities give you access to creating random food?"

"Sadly, I am not specialized in creation style magic. I prepared these beforehand."

I scooped some pie and jiggled it. "So you're doing the equivalent of millenials baking sourdough during Covid?"

He scowled and flicked his tail, sending a wave of flames that turned the pie to ash before the platform sucked it away. "There is nothing wrong with learning to make food. It keeps us immortals sane after all."

I chuckled and leaned back. Sereza was still grilling the others extensively. She looked riled up, but far calmer than her initial reaction. Though I would catch the occasional glare sent my way.

And my familiars continued to lounge around their food, more than half of them asleep and resting like a milk-drunk toddler.

The uncomfortable itch started and I rubbed at my chest, ignoring the blip of a headache that threatened to make itself known.

"Cyrus," Cal said heavily.

"Yeah?"

"You know what I'm going to say."

I had an inkling, I just wasn't going to acknowledge it.

"Mmm. Nope, can't think of anything."

"Cyrus..."

"Hey. What are your thoughts on the felkin tribe in the south? Sereza mentioned them and I'm curious. One of them's a demigod right?"

"I've met them, and I've met Carrinos. He's... interesting."

"What do you mean?"

"Like most tier fours, he's obsessive. And he doesn't understand that no matter what he does and how far he goes, that he will never ascend for as long as he keeps himself attached to that memory. A shame too. Another felkin as a god would help our reputations, maybe even aspire more migrators to Inoria."

"Migrators?"

"Sereza called them 'world hoppers.' The original felkins in Inoria came from a different planet."

"Does that happen often?"

He sighed. "No. For as big as Inoria is, its still far behind most civilized planets. You start with small portals, then branch into setting a portal network from city to city. From there you spread across the planet and eventually someone with the correct knowledge and skills can connect to the Weave's built in nexus. You'll experience it one day, but likely not within the next couple of centuries for this world."

"Is it that hard to do?"

"No, but it requires a level of unity that just isn't attainable at this time. And as much as I enjoy this world, it is a planet in the lower planes. There just isn't enough concentrated mana to produce the needed elements."

A lot of what he just said went over my head, so instead, I closed my eyes and enjoyed the rest. The sounds drowned away and I felt strangely relaxed.

Cal didn't interrupt, merely resting with me. Eventually the sounds of chaos settled behind us, and I cracked an eyelid to peek at the others snuggling into their chairs.

So the food coma finally hit. Good, they're going to be burning a lot of calories later.

Cal's tail booped my forehead and I turned to see him hold a finger to his lips. At once, we were on his couches, sitting opposite of each other.

"Cal?"

I watched the orange barrier stretch from the back of the couches and envelope us in a bubble. Even the platform was pushed away, separated by a thin film of mana.

Cal swiped his tail and the air outside the barrier distorted, becoming little more than a collage of colors that swirled and danced.

"What I am about to say is for your ears, and your ears only. Its imperative that you do not tell the others."

Serious then. Must be important.

"Done. What do you need?"

He smiled and gestured to a table that appeared and tapped the center with his claw. Liquid flames sprouted from the tip and stretched into the air before he retracted his hand.

It looked like a glowing, pink egg. It spun lazily through the air surrounded by a smaller egg orbiting around it.

"And this is?" I asked.

"You should recognize it."

"Cal I've never seen a glowing pink egg before. Besides Galarion that one time he wanted to mimic an ice cream scoop."

He tapped the egg and it changed shape, losing the shell and slowly morphing into a replica of Earth.

"That's..."

"When you were and I believe I'm using this term correctly; 'isekai'ed' there were pathways created from the etherstorm to your planet. It's undergoing what you would call system integration."

I raked my claws through the cushions. He didn't react, continuing to stare at me with a neutral expression that showed.

"So Earth is undergoing an apocalypse?"

"They will undergo a complete reset of civilization. The world will expand and grow in size; not to the levels of Inoria, but far larger than before."

"And everyone will get access to the system? The skills, and magic? The beasts? Dungeons and rifts?"

He nodded and tapped the image again, the shell reappearing as the land masses subtly shifted. Australia was the first, it having stretched and losing its original shape to become more squarish.

"The Grand Weave will fully integrate into the world after evolving the planet. The current residents will undergo similar evolutions, their bodies changing to match the skill system we use here. Ten actives, five passives, and they each gain a starting perk. There'll be many world firsts, unique achievements and perks rewarded by the Weave as time goes on and humanity settles into its new existence."

"What the hell, Cal? Does that mean Sam's family will become skill users?"

"Yes."

"Does the Weave regulate the level of danger? Is there a grace period or something? Her uncle, uh, Sal. He had a child, what about them?"

"They follow the same rules of the system here, but usually it accelerates the awakening period. Most likely, all children will receive system access by age ten. And will continue to do so for the next three generations."

I watched the egg slowly spin, Cal having allowed certain patches to turn transparent, exposing the minute changes across the landscape. Some islands drifted far into the sea, more than a couple banding together and expanding to form an entirely new continent.

The beautiful green that I was used to seeing, continued to exist but it spread. Where Vegas and its desert should have been was now a green strip that opened into a cluster of island masses bordering into california as the state folded away from Arizona.

But I knew what the stories were like, at least the ones I could remember.

"Does that mean kids are left for themselves? Billions will die?" I demanded.

"Any child below the awakening age will be put into a separated space. Like a rift. They'll be trained through recruited world spirits to help guide them into the world they'll be returning to after a six month grace period."

"And the other half of my question?"

"There will always be death Cyrus. And while the Weave is willing to ascend the human race as a whole, your world is peaceful, more so than most."

I snorted. "Bullshit. You've visited it right? There's enough history books on warfare."

"And yet millions upon millions of lives will never see it. They'll exist in their bubble, and worry about mundane things. You lived in such a city, exhausted by decision fatigue of what ready-made food service to order from. You never hunted, tracked prey for miles. There were no opposing beasts to steal your meal."

"Stop. I get it."

"You don't. And that's why I'm bringing this up. I wasn't planning on it; there should have been a decade's worth of time before this became relevant," he sighed. "But that's no longer an option."

"So Earth is joining the Weave. Okay. And Sam's family is in for a tough time, got it." I leaned back and stared at the sky. "Why tell me?"

"Because I knew you cared for Sam's family as if they were your own. And because the system presents a unique opportunity to Inoria."

Ysanna could take some decorating tips. Not all the clouds have to be gray or white. Where's the colors? The beautiful sunset?

It didn't take much to feel Cal's stare drilling into me.

I inhaled and exhaled slowly. But I wasn't going to meet his gaze.

"What does that mean?" I relented.

"That Earth will become a world rich with unclaimed treasure and power. That unexplored wildlands, and dangerous beasts are not the only thing Earth will have to deal with."

"And?"

"Gods. The pantheons will learn of this, and rush like rats to food. A new planet, a new population, ripe for faith and plunder. To expand their territories and give aid to those in need."

I sat up. There was anger in his tone. And judging by the hairs standing straight on his tail, he felt it too.

"So what does this all mean? You want me to return to Earth? Why?"

He paused, his eyes roving across my body. It was funny. He was examining me the way I examined him. Whatever he found, he relaxed. He swiped his hand through the illusion, scattering the mana into the barrier.

"You know? I wasn't entirely sure how you would react. The anger I expected. But that didn't stick around like I thought it would."

"So you want me to go to earth in a couple of years or what?"

"Maybe," he chuckled. "Or you avoid it entirely. I'll stand by whatever you decide, but know that as your god, you'll be given the first opportunity to world hop. Perks of being the Reborn."

"Yay," I said deadpanned.

Cal stood up and the couches fell away. I joined him and he wrapped me in a hug.

"Consider it. That's all. And if we find a way for Sam to rejoin you, she might want to go back to Earth. Not saying you have to, but we both know what that means."

Right...

"See you later?"

He ruffled my hair. "Yes, I'll be taking my leave. Just as a favor, address the bomb in your head. And think about what you want to do in the future. Whatever you decide, I'll help. I may not be the most welcomed god in existence, but I still have connections."

I stepped back and attempted to smile. "Later."

He adjusted his suit and knocked on the air. Ysanna appeared from the depths, pushing through the waves as lightning danced along her hair.

"Yes, Calstrax?" she asked.

Two more tails appeared, flickering into existence before flames sprouted from fingertips.

"About the dungeon core. The one that tried to kill Cyrus? It's about time we have a little chat..."