456 A New Chaotic Era (1/2)
”Destiny?” asked Daniel with visible surprise.
”That is what I've said.” Responded Conflict with his usual calm and emotionless tone.
After confirming that he hadn't heard it wrong, Daniel started to understand why Iewah's faction was how it was. Their systems matched the character of the original hosts, and the competitiveness of the newly born consciousness was nothing but a trait necessary to manifest one's destiny.
Unfortunately, along with answering to a few of his questions, this revelation added some mystery to the matter. ”Destiny sounds pretty important.. Is that why he wasn't as fearful towards you as the others? Is he special?” he asked with curiosity, while sitting on a chair that formed right underneath him.
”Oh, he is definitely special. You can say that he is the youngest of us, but he is also not quite like us.” Responded Conflict before sitting onto a second chair that Daniel had created for him. He then picked the demonic wolf cub, and after placing him onto his legs, he continued by saying, ”While he is unequivocally part of our kin, his existence began the very moment the first sentient beings developed conscience, and started to aspire to more than just banging rocks together. However, instead of coming to be, his existence was born from a fraction of Fate.”
”Fate? Isn't it the same as Destiny?” Asked Daniel with confusion.
”Destiny is an ever changing consequence to a being's actions. Fate, on the other hand, is an already written story that transcends time, and has already taken into consideration the changes that a being's free will, will have on the future. Now that I say it out loud, they don't seem to be much different, but that little change in perspective is what separates Destiny, but one of the low-tiers of our kin, from Fate.. A ruler in our pantheon.” Explained Conflict with a matter-of-fact tone.
Daniel slouched onto his chair, and after a few moments, he muttered, ”So that is how it is.. We are little gears in a machine that provides power to your kin..”
”If that is how you wish to see it.” Responded Conflict while once again observing his champion.
”How else am I supposed to see it? Aren't we still breathing because of your whimsical decision? I don't believe he is more important to you than any other champion you have in any other dimension.” Said Daniel while pointing his finger at the wolf cub, who straightened his ears and tried to reach for it, but was stopped by Conflict's hand.
”You seem to have misunderstood something. We do not live to rule over you, nor do we care to. We simply exist. Would something change for you if you discovered that this sky has feelings? Would you feel dejected if I told you that your sword is thinking about something else other than how you are going to use it?” Said Conflict, slightly annoyed by Daniel's attitude.
Daniel was taken aback from the deity's words, which to him, were both reasonable and absurd at the same time. ”Be as it may, can you understand how dispiriting it is to know your are but an unaware ant that hasn't been stepped on yet, right?” Asked Daniel.
”If only you knew the stupidity of what you've just said. You would be surprised about the degree of struggle that ants put on to survive a world where they can be stepped on at any time.. Calling your race ants is overpraising yourself.” Responded Conflict with a hint of irritation.
What Conflict said gave Daniel made him realize something important. Ants would not stop trying to survive just because there was a chance of dying a pointless death. Was that not the same as cultivators, who strived for power despite how many more cultivators were able to snap them into nothingness?
For the next few seconds Daniel felt ashamed of his defeatist attitude, and was glad that conflict could help him get rid of it with a few right words. ”What do you gain from helping me? Why are you sitting in front of me and explaining this to me?” Asked Daniel with visible interest and a deeper confusion.
”I am trying to satisfy my curiosity,” said Conflict.
”Regarding what?” Asked Daniel after straightening his back.
Conflict did not answer right away, and instead put down the cub, stood back up, and started pacing back and forth for a few seconds, considering whether it was appropriate for him to share what he was thinking. After about a minute, he finally said, ”An idea.”
”Does this idea have anything to do with Iew.. Destiny?” Asked Daniel while reaching for the cub with his hand, and allowing it to once again retreat in the comfort of his shadow, where it would feel the closest it could be to Daniel.
For the first time, Conflict showed the parvence of a smile as it looked at Daniel, pleasantly surprised about his intuition. ”Him, you, those who call themselves as his children, and their followers,” he said before turning to look at the vast line of trees that appeared in front of him as a natural barricade. He then added, ”We may be powerful, and above everything else.. But even we have a limit. Do you know what that is?”
”..you cannot procreate.” Said Daniel right away.
The smile on Conflict's face widened, but only for a moment. ”Once again, you are almost correct.. We couldn't procreate, not until Destiny was born.” He said before taking a small pause, after which he added with what felt like a passionate tone, ”Think about it, how infinitesimal the chances of this happening are. Mortals gain self-awareness, and suddenly, Destiny branches out from Fate, and we become linked to one another. To create beings who can dictate death, time, feelings, karma even! That is no trivial matter. Children of Iewah, as you call yourselves in this dimension, are my kin's spawn.. And thanks to your ambition and strive for conflict.. I should be your most favourite relative.” As he reached that point, he took a small pause, recomposed himself, and after turning to look at Daniel, he added, ”Well, all but you, of course.”
”Because I am an anomaly..”
Conflict did not respond, and instead slowly nodded his head once.
”What now, then? Do we go on like nothing happened?” Asked Daniel with curiosity.