Torn looked at the massive structure in front of him with mild curiosity. The recently anointed god had elected to visit his new “colleague” before the other god got the same idea. As far as he understood, this other deity was named “Naota”, and had taken light and grace as his domain. A tiny bit unoriginal, Torn thought to himself, but the man has a sense of grandeur. He felt, however, that he would not find Naota within the massive structure, but rather behind it. And so, Torn used his newly acquired ability to fly, and levitated over and around the enormous building, to reach the areas behind it.

The presence he sought was situated squarely within a massive forest, with trees whose canopy glistened in the light. Torn got curious, and flew down to inspect the trees. Leaves made out of precious stones… This guy might just be the wealthiest god in the conclave, Torn mused. He lazily hovered through the forest, taking in the sights. He spotted creek or river, and even they had scales made out of precious crystals. Okay. This guy is definitely obsessed with shiny. Torn figured the realm could do with some softer touches - cloth and more natural flora - but this temple wasn’t his.

Finally, he spotted a man who appeared to be his own age. Torn figured that probably wasn’t the case, but with them both being gods now, it didn’t really matter. He floated up to the other god, tentatively, from behind. Drinking in every detail of the man’s appearance before speaking, he floated in an arc overhead, before finally coming to a levitating halt no more than two feet from the man’s face - hanging upside down in the air. “You’re Naota. Right?” After a brief pause, Torn grinned broadly, his suspicions confirmed. “I am Torn! Your fellow god. Prince of Epics, god of heroism and song! Pleased to meet you,” Torn said with a grin, stretching out his left hand for a handshake he knew full well would be a bit awkward.

While the Path of Light was best for guidance and enlightenment, he loved being able to sit amongst the trees of the Crystal Garden.  Aside from his personal chambers and throne room, it was where he felt most comfortable.  The constant flow of cool water over slick stone was relaxing, and the happy splashings of the crystal koi kept him at ease.  Presently, he was sitting at one of the banks, his fingers resting in the ever cool water, stroking along the smooth scales of any koi that might swim past.  His eyes however were closed in light meditation as he slowly breathed in the crisp mountain air.
 
Suddenly there was a change, and though his eyes stayed closed, his eyebrows furrowed and his head tilted to the side.  What was that…?  There was no answer back this time, but of course there wouldn’t be…now that he and Minasé were split and given their own bodies.  That was going to take a long while to get used to.  A gentle brush of air pushed through his hair and he opened his eyes to a pair of new ones squarely in front of his face.  His own emerald eyes glowed brighter as his head pulled back in surprise.  His lips parted, eyes moving along this newcomer before quietly nodding his answer.
 
The white sigils that ran along his arms and tops of his hands glowed brighter from his curiosity, but as soon as he introduced himself it all clicked together: this was the other that had been chosen.  He seemed to be perfectly comfortable in his new godhood and he felt foolish for being so nervous in his own.  But that strong smile eased some of his otherwise anxiousness and he found himself smiling back, though his own was much softer.  He outstretched his hand, hesitant at first since the two were yin and yang in their positioning with one another, but grasped his hand as well as he could all the same and shook it gently,

“Well it’s very nice to meet you too.”  He found himself smiling easier now, “I’m Naota of Light and Perseverance.”  His lips parted and his eyes widened even more as he pulled his hand back from the other man’s, “Oh but, is there something wrong?  What brings you here?”  While he had found himself wrapped up with deities for one reason or another, he still knew that sometimes trouble plagued them.  Though the jovial nature he was giving off made him doubtful of any of that…he needed to calm down and not worry so much.  Also…something smelled familiar about this man, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

Torn perked an eye, still floating upside down. “If I had a problem, i wouldn’t go to a god who’s only been in office a few days. I’d go to Angela, she’s more experienced.” Torn grinned. “And my fiancée’s aunt.” Torn thought some more. “Actually, between my fiancée’s mother and aunt, I am a prince of Arri as well as the relative of a triune.” He was silent for a brief moment more, before chuckling. “And I was raised in a fishing village!” He laughed out loud, and floated down to the grass, his expression turning more serious.

“What about you, though?” Torn asked, looking curious while picking at the grass and sprinkling it back on the ground. “Sitting here all alone.” Torn thought about staying silent and not voice his opinion, but decided against it. He had never been one to keep his mouth shut. “You know, you’re a god now. Whatever worries you had as a mortal, you’re above them.” Torn grinned again, and flew back up into the air, throwing his arms out to his sides dramatically. “You’re the highest form of life known to man! Enjoy it!” He laughed out loud before zooming back down again, smirking slyly. “But even so, if you mope - or waver - people will pick right up on it,” he said. “And if they do, none will follow you. And if noone follows you… You can’t get any good done,” Torn said with conviction. He zoomed back again, and held out his hand in invitation. “So don’t sit there and grumble! Come fly with me, and let yourself feel what it means to be divine!”

All of it clicked when he mentioned Angela.  His lips parted, his eyes wider as he watched the man continue and right himself on the ground. Rosenites!  That’s what he had smelled, not him exactly, but the people he’d been around.  Now, he was on much better standings with the Rosenites at this point in his life as far as their race was concerned, but there was something odd about being with another person who had found themselves entangled with their lineage.  Perhaps Angela’s people just drew others to them…was it by mere coincidence that Torn and himself had gotten where they were?  Lately things with fate had been buzzing around in his head more and more.
 
He straightened his own posture, not surprised in the least that the other man advanced him in height even while seated.  His eyes softened and his own lips eased into another smile, something about seeing him be so jovial was contagious, even if his own gestures were softer in comparison.  But his smile faded down, and likewise his eyes turned away from his to watch the near hypnotizing drift of the jeweled koi.  Torn was right about one thing: he was a god now, but his mortal troubles were far from gone.  Despite how his blood pumped with celestial lace, he couldn’t let go of his humanity.  And sadly he’d only been half human at that when he’d been mortal.
 
Torn flew up into the air with great speed and he craned his head back to watch him, eyes large all over again from how much he moved about.  Godhood suited him.  His hands gripped at his ankles and he straightened quickly when he came back down, watching this man smirk so easily with such confidence in himself.  A trait that would have attracted him were he not so taken with Echo.  He breathed out a slightly harsh breath, blowing his own hair up out of his eyes before following it with a sigh.  Already he could tell this was the type of person that didn’t take no for an answer, but…in truth, he hadn’t attempted flight.  Not since that first night, the night he had ascended, and he hadn’t even realized he’d been doing it…
 
Even so, he hesitantly pushed up from the ground, looking at his hand but trying to focus on the air around him, the energy he’d been so in-tune with before but felt like a punch to the stomach now.  One day he’d get used to that strength.  “I’m glad that you’ve adapted to your new position so well…With any hope some of that will rub off on me.”  Despite the low nature of his words, he was smiling again as he slowly rose up into the air.  It was different, flying.  Levitating was one thing but it was so extremely limited once you knew what true flight felt like.  Not that he thought he’d be able to zip around like Torn was able to though…
 
“As cliché as it might sound, I didn’t come from humble beginnings though to tell you the truth I wanted to become a fisherman when I was small…”  Something his parents never would have allowed, not as a profession at least.  Not that they looked down on people in that occupation, but they had plans for all of their children and that included him: adopted or no.  His eyes closed and the markings on his skin glowed brighter as he lifted higher into the air, going faster than he had at first but still at a safe speed.  When his eyes opened the emerald of his irises were rimmed with shining white,
 
“I’ll try my best to take your advice, and I’m sure you won’t be the first to try and pull me from the past but as…almost shameful as it is to admit, it’s very difficult for me to let go of my mortality.  And the responsibilities that I had…”  Even he knew that there was no time for that anymore though.  He couldn’t just run around slaying vampires and he certainly couldn’t be hired anymore.  It wasn’t fair to have a deity in an organization so even if he hadn’t given his recognition he knew it would have been requested.  Now it was his responsibility to do so much more…
 
He managed a smile as he turned those eyes to him, “Prince of Epics though, that’s quite a title.  What do you plan to do with your newfound position?”  One could only guess the types of things a God with such a name would be able to get themselves into.  Needless to say it sounded exciting, and even though he’d only known the man for a few minutes it wasn’t hard to tell that he’d keep things that way.

Torn perked an eyebrow and frowned at Naota’s skepticism and subdued pessimism. As the other god began to approach his altitude, he flew over and poked him in the chest, playfully stern. “You need to calm down, brother,” he said, clearly not impressed with Naota’s reservations. In fact, Torn was annoyed by his fellow deity’s lack of ambition and willingness to embrace his new position. Could he not see what Torn meant with being above his mortal worries? “And think. I don’t claim to be a genius by any stretch of the imagination,” Torn said, entirely candid - he wasn’t a particularly intelligent man, and he knew it. “But even I realise that with godhood comes followers,” he continued, zipping back to a distance again. “Followers you can have take care of mortal issues for you,” he concluded. It was true - some of his mortal doings had already been taken over by angels and followers - the first Chroniclers and the mercenary band that gave the Merry Misfits their name - the closest thing Torn would ever have to clergy.

“As for my title,” Torn said with a grin that bordered on the foolish, “It means I am the god of heroism and song,” he continued. “In other words, it’s my job to keep Revaliir interesting, and find heroes to rise up and meet the most epic challenges in the world,” he said further, before laughing out loud. In truth, Torn wasn’t entirely sure what it meant, but for now, he was content making heroes, to overcome the evils of the world and give people stories to tell. “I’m also the patron god of bards everywhere,” he elaborated, his face having a more thoughtful expression. “I suppose that means I could be called the patron god of adventure.”

He floated around in a wide circle around Naota, grinning at him. “You understand what that means?” He didn’t give Naota a moment to answer - he was having way much fun dicking around with his fellow god. “That means that any heroes that spring up to combat evil in your name are also in my domain,” he explained with a grin. “To an extent, at least, as long as it involves heroism in some way.” He zoomed closer and poked Naota in the chest once more, hoping to provoke a response of some kind. “So play nice,” he said, taunting him. Torn hoped that Naota would get agitated in some way by his behaviour. Excitement, anger, that was all irrelevant, as long as he got Naota fired up - he wanted to see what his fellow deity could become. “What’s more, I can make songs written about you sound beautiful or terrible at will. So! Think there’s anything you can do to stick rods in the spoked of my wheels?” he asked, smirking slyly.

Followers, he still wasn’t used to that.  A clergy had formed and he still wasn’t entirely sure how that had happened.  Did his newfound energy draw them in?  Maybe they had been lost and looking for someone, something, anything to believe in.  If he could give them that peace of mind then maybe that was enough.  As powerful as everyone had told him he was, and as much as he had seen on his own, it was still odd.  He felt like a stranger in his own skin, or maybe just lonely in it…Either way, he couldn’t picture himself sending them off to tie up the loose ends in his old life.  Was it even his old life?
 
He laughed a little, unable to help himself.  A god whose intent was to keep Revaliir interesting?  He hoped that meant for the better but something about the other man’s smile made him think differently.  There was a difference between nice and good, and so far he wasn’t able to tell with Torn.  As he moved around him, he slowly turned himself this way and that to try and keep eye contact with him.  There weren’t too many bards that he had come across but he could think of a few things Holly might have sung about this type of person.  Sassy they would be, but enjoyable nonetheless.
 
Eyes blinking, he looked down at where he poked him in the chest, mulling over what he had said.  All of it made deity hood and their domains sound even more confusing.  Or perhaps that’s what bound them all: their similarities and crossovers.  Again he got his chest and he found himself drifting backwards to avoid another quick touch.  Not that he had a problem with touch as much as he had in his youth, but it was odd, almost like he was trying to get something from him.  Or maybe he was simply a playful fellow, he seemed it.
 
His eyebrows rose, “If I didn’t know any better I’d think you were looking for a back and forth.”  Not that he’d be opposed, but still…it would take some getting used to.  A corner of his lips turned up in a light smirk, “I guess the only thing I can possibly think is to hope that no one in your domain relies on light as their attack or defense…or holiness, then I might just have to snatch them back into my own domain.”
 
Torn, he already seemed like the type to make a formidable ally, but for some reason there was something itching in the back of his brain to tell him otherwise.  He was unpredictable, but for his whole life he’d always tried to keep everything controlled, perfect.  It might be good to be around someone that didn’t seem to hold that in high regards, or maybe that was just part of his guise.
 
“In any case I’d hope that anyone that fought in my name would only be doing so for pure reasons, I suppose that would fall into heroism.  But then we have the conundrum of them going with my teachings and that my friend wouldn’t land them in your play area.  Then again,”  The smirk widened just a bit, “I have no idea what would happen if you tried fighting with light…The rays you cast might be like puppet strings to me.”  After all: so far he’d come across no person that could best him in that area.  His deity ship was still new though, only time would tell.

Torn chuckled at Naota, thrilled at the fact that the other deity was responding in a more carefree manner. He listened as Naota gave his replies, smirking. “Sounds like I could make your life a whole lot more awkward than you can make mine,” he said, chuckling. “About the arena, though - the chance to win fame and recognition should be taken by any true soul. After all, with such fame comes a certain influence, and that can help make Revaliir a better place,” he said, floating around. The other deity was still reserved, but Torn was glad that his own demeanour rubbed off on him a little. With a snap of his fingers, he summoned his harp, and began playing an improvised tune.

“Oh light and all sanctity, somber and true,
Better gather your wits, now it all comes from you,
But a beacon of light can’t be brooding and dark,
So lighten up, bastard, or you’ll soon be through!”

Torn laughed and he strummed his harp a few times, each verse coming with what appeared to be zero effort.

“Naota, the gracious, the honoured and fine,
A god that says ‘None of this power feel mine!’
Yet he must realize that all eyes are on him,
From this day, until, hopefully, end of all time!

Naota, my brother, I sing to you now,
To remind you that mortals will all scrape and bow,
To the man they look to when all else has gone dark,
So you must make them smile, by showing them how.

So lighten up, bastard, rejoice in your might!
Don’t be afraid to laugh or to fight!
‘Cause they all will come pleading when hope has been lost
To see hope in the eyes of the master of Light…”

Torn strummed another stanza on his harp before making it vanish, providing a worthy finish to his improvised pep song. He grinned at Naota once he was done. “Now, if you don’t improve that attitude of yours soon, brother, I’ll have bards come in here to sing that song for you on a daily basis,” he said, chuckling ominously. “And I’ll add more embarrassing verses as time goes on,” the threatened, playfully. He zoomed in close, as if to poke Naota once again, but this time he feinted and poked his forehead instead. “I’ll make a merry man out of you if it takes all of eternity,” he said with a sly grin. “And you can shine your light all you will, I’ll just close my eyes and go by sound,” he said, laughing.

After a brief moment, Torn’s tone turned a little more serious. Still merry, but a bit more businesslike. “I’m marrying my fianceé soon,” he said, extending a hand as though in invitation. “It would be bad form not to invite my new colleague,” he continued, retracting his hand. Both of Keira’s aunts were sure to be there, and the third triune was due to hold the ceremony. Torn wanted the entire conclave to attend if he could, especially since he really did consider his fellow deity a brother. “Manners aside, you could probably do with a party,” he said, before grinning once again. “And I’d hate for the halls to be shabbily illuminated,” he added, as a jest. He crossed his arms, still smirking. “So what do you say, brother? Will you grace us with your presence?”

Make his life awkward?  Her certainly didn’t doubt that, but a lot of people tended to be up to that challenge with him.  Maybe that’s just how people responded to those more reserved, in any case he’d grown so used to it that it wasn’t irritating so much as it was a never ending ritual.  At least Torn wasn’t cruel, if anything it amused him to see his tries and eased some of his usual tension.  As he spoke about his arena he wondered what it would be like to go there and watch.  He wasn’t usually one for such sport, but if it was Torn’s domain?   There was no way it would or could be anything short of interesting.  One day it might be interesting to see how all of them would fair against each other: deity to deity.  Then he remembered that Angela now held domain over life itself and thought otherwise.
 
His eyes blinked a few times, widening as he watched the other man pull a song seemingly out of thin air.  At the word ‘bastard’ he couldn’t hold back the short but surprised laugh, his eyes illuminating brighter as he continued to listen.  Playful as it was, it did grow more serious towards the end and his smile faded; not for bad reasons, his lyrics were making him think about his situation in a new light.  The responsibility was still there, strong and on his shoulders, and he wondered if Torn knew just how close he’d gotten with his song.  He was the patron deity of bards for a reason.  It was refreshing actually, to hear someone else put his situation out so seemingly simply.
 
Again he laughed, this time at his threat of singing bards, “Normally I wouldn’t be too worried about someone attempting to embarrass me with song but…seeing as it would be coming from you, you’d probably be one of the few that could do it.”  Though his heart tugged when he mentioned marriage.  It was such a serious turn and a situation he was still trying to figure out himself.  More than that, he was surprised that he’d invited him at all.  There were many things he’d lived through, great and terrible things, but what he witnessed the least was acceptance.  Torn offered it readily, to the point that you’d think the two had grown up together from childhood.
 
His eyes softened but his lips upturned into a light smirk, “Well I can’t let an event go dark; how else would we see your pretty faces?”  His legs pulled up, sitting with them crossed at the ankle as they stayed in midair, “Thank you, and I do mean that.  You tell me when and I’ll be there.”  When was the last time he’d been around another man so close to marriage?  Their friendship was starting and was just fresh enough that he felt comfortable asking since there wasn’t too much to lose if the conversation went downwards, “Your fiancée…How did the two of you become engaged?  Was it something done simply?”  Hmm…  Imagining Torn doing anything simply was a stretch of the imagination, but then again he had no idea what the man was like on a romantic level.  People could surprise you.

“Did you feel pressure from it…?”  His eyes, though still glowing, dimmed ever so slightly as he smiled, “If the subject is too personal, you don’t have to say.”  Truth be told he still had no idea what he was going to do in regards to his own love…Maybe hearing the experiences of another would help.

Torn grinned at Naota as he accepted the invitation, nodding. “Great!” he said. “I’ll have you dancing and singing with the rest of us if it kills me,” he continued, with a sly wink. He meant it - no man was to be brooding on his wedding day, he resolved.

When Naota asked how Torn and Keira got engaged, Torn suddenly turned more somber. There was still a smile on his face, but less intense - serene, somehow. “Well,” he said, trying to find the right point at which to start the story. “For some time, Keira and I were just having some fun under the sheets,” he began, remembering the day they stole a ship to get to Parvpora. They had laid with one another that same evening, mostly because they thought it’d be the best way to stay entertained on the trip. “But after a while, we bonded. Things got more serious,” he continued. It had happened rather quickly, in fact - Torn and Keira were kindred spirits, fond of adventure - Keira more clever about it, and Torn more outgoing, but that didn’t change that they were so similar.

Torn hummed a bit. “Keira got pregnant,” he continued, smiling more broadly. It was clear he was fond of that particular piece of the relationship. “I was so thrilled. Still am. I loved her, and I wanted my children to be born of her,” he said. “And when they finally came, I realized I wanted them for a family. So I proposed,” he said, shrugging. There was nothing spectacular about it. Torn knew, and while he wished he could have done it more gallantly, it felt right at the moment. And still did, by the expression on his face. “It wasn’t just her I wanted,” he elaborated. “I could probably have just about any girl I like, so it was never about just her. I wanted the family and home she represents,” he said.

Torn scratched his chin when Naota asked about pressure. “You mean about the wedding? Not particularly,” he replied, sounding confident. He didn’t see a reason to feel pressure. “I already know I love her,” he explained, “And it’ll be the do of a century,” he elaborated, with a wink.

Torn stretched for a bit. “I could ask you any number of questions,” he stated, still stretching. “But I have a feeling you’d hardly know the answers better than I do,” he continued. He’d come to learn a long time ago that the quiet and brooding were often troubled, and that these troubles were usually borne of uncertainties on a personal level. Torn grinned again when he was done stretching. “Just make sure to do right by her, yeah?” Torn chuckled a bit, before looking to the horizon. “If you need me, call out or visit me. For now, I think I’ll be off - my curiosity is sated, and there’s an itch under my feet,” he said, looking at Naota again, with a grin. It was plain that if Naota had anything to say, it had better be said quickly, for Torn did not intend to move slowly.

He wondered if everything that Torn did appeared to be effortless.  Did anything scare the man?  At the same time it gave him some comfort: to see someone going through something similar and coming out the other end of it perfectly fine.  The idea of children though, that was still an obstacle he was climbing over himself.  If nothing else could be said, he knew that any child born of Torn would have at least had an interesting upbringing.  Speaking of which, he could only imagine what the couple’s wedding would be like, and even though there was still time to prepare, he already felt nerves edging in.
 
How would Echo react to such an invitation?  Would she even want to go?  It wasn’t until then that he realized he may have made the choice for her, but then no one ever really made Echo do anything she didn’t want to.  That only brought more reason to worry when it came to proposing.  Even thinking about it, he wasn’t able to properly envision what a wedding between them would be like.  Honestly he’d never even considered it an option for himself, much less this early in his life.  Coming up into his seventies didn’t seem young, but when you stopped aging in your twenties everything felt more prolonged.  With his newly granted immortality he knew that such a feeling could only grow.
 
A more reserved smile answered him, as did a nod to his offering of a visit, “Thank you Torn…”  For more than the other man could ever know.  As he watched him leave, he thought about his own stance in his domain.  Godhood fit Torn well, with any luck the same could be said for himself one day.  For now, he looked down at his sparkling grounds, the effort and power that had gone into making them, knowing that the most precious treasure of all was somewhere within its walls.
 
Newcomers walked along Hikari no Michi, and he wondered briefly what type of guidance they could be seeking.  With all that he had learned this afternoon he could use a visit himself and gently moved back down to the ground.  With silent footfalls he made his way to the glowing starts of the path.  The moment one of his bare feet touched down on the glowing stones, the sigils and markings on his body illuminated with white light: centering with the power that was ever present here.  Finally he felt more at peace, and with a comfortable droop of his shoulders, he started his own promenade.