A Solitary God In A Dark Multiverse 61 The Divinity Of Healing

When I had suitably focused on the two of them for my mind to hone in on them, I silently activated "Healing burst" and watched as they were positively showered in restorative energy. This was the first time I could actually physically watch the effects of the burst of healing energy, as and I did so I was surprised to see both elves begin to faintly radiate a silvery glow.

Because the effect was so specifically targeted this time, it didn't take long to take hold. Both elves began to shiver in delight, as their bodies were coated in a blanket of gentle, thorough, healing energy. They were both surprised as its intensity as the energy poured into each of their cells and each of their pores. I was focused on them, studying their reactions, until I was interrupted.

[Alert: Your "Healing burst" power has received an upgrade. It can now cure magical-diseases due to your influence over the disease domain. As such a creature who is the target of a "Healing burst" will be totally healed of any and all negative conditions.] The alert revealed, bringing an even bigger smile to my face. That was when the system chimed in, asking me an important question.

[Althos, what would you like the alert that informs the elves of your actions to say? Would you like to repeat the contents of the last message, just modified to say 'Cosecha' instead of 'Althos'?] The ent.i.ty asked me, curiosity coloring its somewhat mechanical voice. I considered its question for a second before replying.

"I'll construct my own message." I informed the system. And then I began to do just that.

[Alert: The merciful G.o.d, G.o.d of both civilization and nature, Cosecha has proven its divinity and might by healing you of any and all ailments that plagued you. This includes magical diseases.

Cosecha is a deity of healing and restoration and happily demonstrated that by doing what was once thought impossible: using just healing energy to cure someone of a magical disease.]

As soon as I was done creating the notification it was transmitted to them. Their eyes widened in shock, and I watched as they attempted to check themselves to confirm that if what they just read was true. I a.s.sumed they did this by accessing their own ties to the system, but wasn't sure. Thankfully, I had the sentient voice of knowledge within my mind and she was happy to show off.

"Hey Althos, that's exactly what they're doing. Each living creature, and the undead as well, has access to a mini-version of the system that informs them of things like their own cla.s.ses, their overall hitpoints, and more." The voice informed me. Something it asked piqued my curiosity.

"What are 'hitpoints'?" I asked it, inquisitively. I heard a gentle chuckle emanate from the voice before it replied.

"Hitpoints are a measure of lifeforce and vitality. They quantify how much damage someone can endure before beginning to die. And before you ask, no. You don't have hitpoints. Killing a G.o.d is more complicated than knocking them to zero hitpoints. Though if you sustain enough damage over the course of a few minutes your physical form will fade away and you'll be unable to form a new physical form for an... indeterminate period of time." She informed and then warned me.

I smiled, appreciating her just telling me the answer to the question I would have obviously asked if she hadn't gone ahead and answered it before I had the chance. It endeared her to me a bit more, something helpful given the... roughness of her personality.

It was at that point that the elves looked at Cosecha and fell to their knees. They didn't quite prostrate themselves, but they did humble themselves and I could sense that in their hearts they truly acknowledged Cosecha as a divine being. Calorron was the first of the pair to speak after both of them humbled themselves.

"Cosecha, we are grateful for the kindness you have shown us here. In your presence, I feel... words cannot describe how being in your presence elevates me and soothes my soul. Truly your power is divine, as are you. I will not see for my companion, but I see no point in denying this obvious truth." The male elf told me. Humility and humbleness were audible in his voice. Farrane spoke next.

"It's true... You really are a G.o.d, aren't you? I can tell that this energy we detected earlier is the same energy that now infuses me. How... odd." She said, speaking both about the fact that I was divine and her own feelings towards that fact. I chuckled, still unnoticed.

I then turned my attention elsewhere. To Troik. I sent him a message, using my divine mental voice.

"Troik, it is time that you were truly and fully healed." I informed the tiny goblin, speaking not as Althos but as Cosecha. I was ready to fulfill one of the very first goals I had ever made: curing Troik of the demonic infection he was suffering from. And in order to prepare for that I had to quickly build up my knowledge of what a demonic infection even was. So I asked the system and the domain of knowledge.

"Hey you two. What is a 'demonic infection'? I know it's apparently a magical disease, of some sort, and that possession is one of the symptoms, but aside from that... I honestly don't know that much about it." I confessed, aware of my relative ignorance of the malady that I was readying myself to cure. I was met with momentary silence, silence which lasted a few moments. During those moments Troik hurriedly began to approach my current location, after asking where I was.

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[A demonic infection is a disease a creature suffers from if they get into a battle with a demon and survive. This disease opens their minds up to the destructive influence of a demon, and causes them to be susceptible to possession for up to an hour a day.] The system told me.

"Interestingly enough, in curing the disease you'll be able to gain knowledge of it. That means that in the future when you eventually gain demonic worshippers and servants, you'll be able to grant them mortal bodies to possess immediately." Added the domain of knowledge. That intrigued me.

"So what are demons anyway? I know that they are chaotic evil extraplanars, but that alone doesn't give me much knowledge of them." I told both of the metaphysical voices that dwelled in my head. Both of them chuckled, their soft voices meshing together in my mind.

[Demons are some of the native inhabitants of the Heart of Darkness, another dimension made up in equal parts of chaos and evil.] Began the system. It wasn't the only one to speak either.

"They are vicious creatures made up of evil, chaos, sin, and anger. Demons possess innumerable forms and countless powers. The kinds of demons that most commonly possess people are an incorporeal family of demons that relish using the bodies of mortals to sow chaos and to foster hatred." Said the domain of knowledge.

"Demons are some of my creations. If I felt like lying I could say that they are creatures meant to unify mortals and give them external obstacles to clash against and to rise above. I'm not much of a liar though. They were just meant to change societies. A sort of... cultural and civic 'reset-b.u.t.ton' if you will. They were taken and... modified by the domain of evil and a handful of evil deities, and given their current outlook and home." Added a new voice.

"Hi, Althos. I am the domain of chaos. It is quite nice to meet you. I'm so excited to see how you play with your first demon." Said the soft voice. Its tone was filled with energy, even though it wasn't speaking loudly or particularly chaotically.

"Depending on how you play with the creature that dwells inside of Troik, you may gain a new ally. Demons love deception and respect the threat of violence. If you want to, you could pretend to banish the thing, while secretly helping it hide. Or you could perform an act of goodness and defeat it, sending it back to the dimension of its birth: the ever eerie Heart of Darkness." The voice told me, really informing me as to the options before me.

"Many of us are curious as to what you'll do next. I suppose I ought to inform you that no matter what choice you pick, new quests will be made available to you. So just have fun, and give us a good show would you?" Asked the chaotic ent.i.ty. I chuckled and internally nodded at the thing.

It wouldn't take long for my first goblin friend to appear close-by. He immediately noticed me and began to dash in my direction. He only stopped when he was close enough to hug me, wrapping his small arms around my legs and beginning to speak energetically and happily.

I chuckled and began to gently pat his head. "Hi there Troik. How are you doing today?" I asked the little guy, speaking soothingly. At this the elves turned around and finally noticed me once more. I grinned at them and began to speak.

"Calorron and Farrane, allow me to introduce you to Troik. Troik was one of my first friends in this forest." I told the elves. They gave him a disdainful look, one filled with haughtiness. It made me laugh. Troik was too busy happily hugging me to pay them any mind.