Gods & Mortals

Do you know the difference between a human and a god?

Truth be told, not many pondered this distinction.

Perhaps it was because some folks simply didn't believe in the existence of gods, while others lacked definitive visual proof of when these divine beings originally appeared.

Yet, Klaus was now certain that one stood before him.

Fear? No, not quite.

It was more like sheer disbelief.

Have you ever witnessed something with your very eyes and still questioned its presence, doubting its very existence?

Well, this was akin to that sensation.

In an instinctual act, everyone bowed in unison as the radiant light filled the room, bathing them all in its ethereal glow.

Klaus, however, managed to steal glances at everyone's reactions amid the surreal moment.

Most mirrored his own—utter confusion.

Yet, scattered among them were those with different expressions, ones that seemed to anticipate something significant. Lance, Quinn, and a guy seated toward the back, with grayish hair and silver eyes, all wore this peculiar look.

Still, others exhibited a range of reactions to this unexpected development.

Klaus shifted his gaze and noticed X, whose eyes blazed with pure rage. Klaus understood that X was profoundly frustrated, unable to stand, and forced into this submissive posture.

In a way, it struck Klaus as a comedic sight, seeing X's futile attempts at resistance and his eventual resignation to immobility. However, Klaus didn't have the luxury to dwell on such trivial matters.

His attention turned upward as the light fully dissipated, allowing him to witness what was unfolding.

This was when the disbelief truly began to settle in.

"A God?" Ace's voice echoed with confusion as he sought clarity on the matter. "I thought they weren't real?"

"So did I," Klaus replied, his gaze still firmly fixed in a state of disbelief.

"Am I seeing things? Could this truly be the answer I've been seeking?" Klaus mumbled, his thoughts tangled in confusion.

He struggled to accept that this could indeed be the case.

And then, as if hit by an oncoming truck, realization crashed over him.

Perhaps this was the reason why he'd never known his father. Maybe his mother's vague responses and excuses whenever he inquired about his father were all tied to this truth.

"Was she aware of this?"

Could it be that his father was truly... a God?

Within a matter of seconds, Klaus's mind was flooded with a million questions.

While it wasn't an absolute certainty, Klaus felt a deep conviction that the man before him was a God.

This despite his disbelief.

The man possessed all the physical attributes of a human: hands, fingers, feet, legs, and a head. Yet, it was the details that set him apart. His eyes lacked pupils, and his towering height defied human norms.

But how did Klaus arrive at this conclusion? What made him so certain that this man was indeed a God?

Was it the eyes, devoid of pupils?

Was it the sheer scale and presence of the man?

Klaus mulled over these thoughts, the culmination of dreams, discussions with Rose, and the validation from Quinn earlier. All of these factors led him to a definitive conclusion: the man before them was not mortal.

And amidst his intense contemplation, the man finally spoke.

"It appears Siege's counsel to decrease my presence was wise."

His words sent shivers down everyone's spines, freezing them in place as they absorbed the weight of his statement.

The man extended his arm, his voice resonating with an air of authority. "Rise, mortals."

With those words, the spell binding everyone seemed to lift, and they stood up, their movements almost guided by an unseen force.

Every eye remained fixated on the man, their gazes brimming with awe.

His appearance carried a tinge of intimidation, cloaked in a silver suit of armor that exuded an air of regality.

Flowing brown hair framed his face, lending him an imposing yet almost heroic visage.

"This doesn't match the God from the tales."

Klaus turned slightly, catching Quinn's hushed whisper. "His appearance doesn't align with what I know."

Klaus lacked any historical context; he'd consistently dismissed such accounts. Thus, he couldn't corroborate Quinn's observation.

"It seems that only a few among you are familiar with our existence. And even fewer are aware of Siege's initial manifestation."

"But I shall provide explanations in due course," the man declared.

The murmurs that had swelled around the room subsided as the man's proclamation hung in the air.

Each person held their unique reasons for seeking answers about their extraordinary abilities.

After a brief pause, the man chose to reveal his identity.

"For those who are unaware or in disbelief, I am the entity you mortals refer to as a God. I stand as one of the Gods responsible for the creation of all realms inhabited by mortals. I assume the role of protector for these realms and all that they encompass."

He took a deliberate pause, allowing his words to resonate.

"In addition, I hold the title of Guardian over this very realm before you, known as Higher World—the world of the Gods. Among all my divine peers, I possess the highest rank within this realm."

As his words echoed, glances were exchanged among the assembled, each individual processing this startling revelation.

This God wasn't just any God; he had asserted his claim to the highest echelon of divine authority.

Amid the collective shock, one prevailing belief united them: this man was speaking the truth.

The man's narrative resumed, drawing everyone's attention back to him.

"I am Zenith, and I hold the mantle of the God of Higher World, as well as the God of Nature."

The room was now as hushed as a cemetery, a stillness that mirrored the weight of the revelation.

For several moments, words seemed to elude everyone.

"So, you're truly real?" Klaus finally spoke, addressing Zenith with a mixture of wonder and disbelief.

"Indeed," Zenith affirmed, his voice resonating with a tranquil assurance.

Curiosity was etched across Rose's features as she voiced her question. "Then what exactly are we?"

Zenith paused briefly, gathering his thoughts before he began to elaborate.

He recounted the narrative from its inception, starting with Sage's idea and tracing their journey back to Higher World.

While some members of the assembly found solace in the answers they sought, others were less than pleased.

"You are all the descendants of both Gods and Mortals. You embody the future of the realms and stand as intermediaries between the Gods and Mortals. You are known... as Demigods."

The weight of the revelation left Klaus unsure if he truly felt relief.

"Demigods?" Link chimed in.

"Well, I guess the term 'anomaly' is now officially retired," Ace muttered wryly.

Rose retorted, "No one ever really used that term, you know."

Klaus, deep in thought, grappled with unexpected emotions.

He hadn't anticipated being taken aback by a circumstance he had already suspected. He considered that perhaps the experience wasn't as shocking for others, given the existence of their abilities. However, he was now struggling with a profound sense of disbelief, which seemed ironic given that the initial revelation of his abilities hadn't fazed him in the slightest.

Following a brief exchange of murmurs among the newly discovered demigods, a quiet settled over the group.

Zenith's gaze swept across them, assessing their collective presence.

"It appears that not all of you are aware of the specific God from whom you are descended," he addressed them.

Turning to XVII, who stood nearby, Zenith continued, "Before we proceed with anything else, we should arrange meetings between each God and their respective child."

"Yes, master," XVII acknowledged.

Zenith then shifted his attention back to the assembly, his stern expression softening into a smile.

"I am truly pleased that this day has finally arrived."

As he concluded his statement, a halo materialized behind him, casting its luminous glow over the area.

A description that comes close is that of a hollow ring of radiant light. The halo's enormity was notable, hovering vertically above his back.

Without warning, enormous wings sprouted from his back, and he used them to lift himself into the air, departing from their location to return to the domain of the Gods.

Shortly afterward, XVII made an announcement. Each demigod would be individually summoned and transported to the realm of the Gods, allowing them to finally meet their biological fathers.

Klaus's mind was abuzz with a whirlwind of thoughts.

Uncertainty mingled with potential happiness or sorrow. However, he recognized that he had finally obtained answers to the myriad questions that had long plagued him—about his abilities and his father.

"Interesting fact about the Gods: they all take on male forms," came a voice, interrupting Klaus's contemplation.

Turning toward the source, he recognized the owner of the brown, curly hair and the familiar voice—Quinn.

CONVERSATION

Klaus: What?

Quinn: Yup. So, before creating the realms, the Gods had no gender identity since they didn't need to reproduce. So, when they created humans, they initially fashioned them in their image, identical to themselves.

Klaus: Oh, wow.

Quinn: Women were created somewhat later, with a more distinct design. So, in a way, you could say we're the Gods' final masterpiece.

Klaus was taken aback, although it wasn't something that would completely astonish him since it made sense.

Quinn: Also, that explains my theory of why every person here hadn't met their father.

Klaus: Wait, you knew?

Quinn: Not completely but I was a bit on track.

Klaus: You seem to know a lot about the Gods.

Quinn smiled before responding.

Quinn: Yeah, unlike the rest of the population, I had a hunch it was true, so I got into studying about them all.

After a while, Ace, Rose, Quinn, and Klaus found themselves gathered together, awaiting the summons that would allow them to finally meet their fathers for the first time. Amid anticipation, they engaged in conversation, speculating about the identities and natures of their respective divine parents.

"I already have a feeling about who my dad is— the God of Mind," Quinn began, looking at the others, a hint of speculation in her gaze.

She turned her attention to Rose, offering her thoughts on her possible lineage, "Considering your abilities and the rather cliché name, I'd hazard a guess that you might be the daughter of the God of Emotion."

"Emotion?" Rose questioned, her curiosity piqued.

"Well, there isn't a dedicated God of Love, so that's the closest approximation," Quinn explained.

Ace chimed in next, noting that he could discern his probable connection to the God of speed.

Quinn responded with a correction, "There isn't exactly a God of speed, but I'm assuming you mean the God of Motion."

With attention shifting to Klaus, Quinn admitted uncertainty. What made Klaus a mystery was that his familiar abilities were rendered unusable in the Higher World's constant daylight. Only Rose, having been a witness, knew the truth.

"From what I can deduce, there are two likely options," Quinn said thoughtfully. "The God of Motion, which was my initial assumption for Ace, or... the God of Darkness."

Klaus let out a sigh, his thoughts aligning with the notion.

Given that his abilities exclusively manifested at night, Quinn's assumption seemed plausible.

Curiosity got the best of him as Klaus inquired, "So, how many Gods are there exactly?"

"Based on my knowledge, there are thirteen," Quinn replied.

Klaus requested that she list all the known God positions, and she duly complied, providing him with the comprehensive roster.

His gaze drifted downward as he delved into contemplation.

"I guess darkness does seem to hold the strongest likelihood," he mused.

Abruptly, a voice sounded, directed specifically at Klaus and addressing the conjectures they had been discussing.

"I don't think that's the case."

Klaus's eyes widened as he recognized the voice—utterly familiar yet almost unbelievable.

He couldn't dismiss the truth; it was the voice of someone he knew too well.

As he turned, his incredulity proved warranted—standing before him was none other than Shade.

"Shade?" Klaus's voice held a mix of astonishment and disbelief.

In a world teeming with supernatural revelations, his adopted brother's sudden appearance left Klaus bewildered.

"How...?" Klaus's words trailed off, his confusion palpable.

A warm smile played on Shade's lips as he replied, "Well, maybe because I'm a demigod, just like you."

Klaus rose from his seat, the surreal nature of the situation sinking in. He approached Shade and enveloped him in a heartfelt hug.

Reasons aside, Shade's presence affirmed his status as a fellow demigod.

CONVERSATION

Klaus: So how long have you known?

Shade: Well, for a while. Before you found out about yours as well.

Klaus was shocked as Shade continued.

Shade: A few years ago, I discovered that I possessed the power to manipulate shadows. I could create and manipulate shadows of objects at will. When I first realized this, it frightened me a bit. However, I sensed that it was somehow connected to me, so I chose not to make a big deal out of it to both you and Mom.

Klaus had no words.

Shade: I didn't initially notice your abilities until you began graffiti recently. I thought you might be experiencing the same nightmares as I did and were using street art as a way to cope. But, initially, it was just an assumption on my part, until I observed something unique about you.

He then took a break before he continued.

Shade: I noticed that your shadow started to fade away.

Rose: What?

Klaus was confused upon hearing that.

Klaus: Wait, how?

Shade: Well, I wasn't entirely sure either. But I did notice that it was gradually fading because there came a point when it completely disappeared.

Rose, Ace, and Quinn directed their attention to Klaus, who was left speechless.

Shade: Since I possessed the power to create and manipulate shadows, I realized that to ensure no one would discover your uniqueness, I had to do something. So, I created a shadow and substituted it for your fading one.

Words couldn't describe how shocked Klaus was.

Quinn: Wow.

After a few seconds, Shade continued once more.

Shade: And through the shadow, I also found out that I could sense your well-being and track your movements, as it was constantly linked to you.

Quinn: So like a guardian angel?

Shade: I suppose you could say that.

After taking a few more seconds to gather his thoughts, Klaus finally comprehended everything Shade had revealed. However, what troubled him was the realization that unlike himself, who had Rose's support, Shade had gone through this experience alone.

"You should've at least told me," Klaus responded, his concern evident.

"Yeah, I had intended to, until I found myself here somehow," Shade replied.

Once Shade had settled into a seat, his attention was drawn to Rose, and he recognized her from their shared school.

"Hey, I think I've seen you before at school," Shade remarked.

"Yeah, I guess this is our first time finally meeting. I'm Rose Valentine," she introduced herself.

"Shade Walker, nice to meet you."

"Oh, I know who you are; I'm a friend of your brother," Rose added.

Shade's response was tinged with confusion, "Friend? Wait, aren't you that popular girl everyone talks about?"

Rose responded with a smile and a nod, confirming his suspicion. Shade then glanced at Klaus, who found himself momentarily speechless.

"Wait, really? Wow?" Shade's astonishment was palpable.

He was taken aback that his typically reserved brother, who avoided attention from anyone, would be friends with someone as popular as Rose.

"You continue to surprise me, even to this day, brother," Shade remarked with a smile.

Klaus let out a sigh, opting to withhold his input on the discussion.

Immediately after this, Klaus's name reverberated throughout the area.

"Klaus Walker."

He turned to see that XVII had called his name and continued with urgency,

"Klaus Walker, you are the first to meet the Gods. Let us make haste and depart for the realm of the Gods."

Klaus rose from his seat and followed XVII out of the room, leading him toward what appeared to be a teleportation platform.

Standing together upon it, they were instantly transported to a distinct segment of Higher World, entirely different in appearance.

Surveying his surroundings, Klaus recognized that he was on the brink of encountering his father for the very first time and gaining a deeper comprehension of his capabilities.

A moment of awe passed before Klaus finally inquired,

"So, this is where the Gods reside?"