In the floating void, Lassim slowly regained consciousness, his senses tingling with an unfamiliar yet profound energy.
Lassim’s eyes fluttered open to find himself under the watchful gaze of Khaalseru. The colossal deity loomed above him, her eyes twinkling with a mixture of mischief. "Rise and shine, my young hero! Nap time’s over," she declared, her voice booming yet playful as if she were waking a child from afternoon slumber.
Lassim sat up, rubbing his eyes, feeling an unusual buzz running through his veins—an odd mixture of exhilaration and unease.
He looked up at Khaalseru, who was sporting a grin that could only be described as slightly menacing. "How do you feel?" she inquired.
"Fine, but a little strange," Lassim responded, his voice trailing off as memories of what transpired before he blacked out came rushing back. "Wait, I remember now... you did something to make me pass out!"
Khaalseru’s laughter filled the void. "Indeed, I did. We had some... negotiations to settle with the other gods, and I needed to prepare your reward without any interruptions."
"Reward?" Lassim echoed, his confusion swiftly giving way to realization. "Ah!" He remembered the discussion about a potential reward for his help in cleansing the shard and relieving her million year pain.
"Yes, your reward," Khaalseru affirmed with a nod, the cosmic black holes that always appeared around her figure following the motion of her head.
"You’ve done a great service not just to me but to the future of Nexaria as well. It’s only fitting you receive something exceptional." She paused, her eyes glinting with anticipation as she shifted her gaze towards his body, waiting for him to realize.
Confused, Lassim sat up and immediately noticed something different about himself. Glancing down at his body, he saw intricate tattoo markings, completely jet black, sprawling across his chest, back, and limbs. They did not cover his hands, head or feet it seemed.
Although vaguely familiar, they were still unlike anything he had seen before, these markings were composed of elegant, symmetrical black lines that ran parallel along his skin. They were not only striking in appearance but also pulsed faintly with a power that resonated deep within his core.
"What… what are these?" Lassim asked, tracing the lines with a mix of awe and apprehension.
Khaalseru chuckled warmly. "These, my dear boy, are your progenitor tattoos. They are not merely decorative—they are a crucial part of your new existence as the first progenitor of my element. You see, those busy bodies forced me to agree to pass on my space elemental domain to the denizens of Nexaria, empowering them to help us fight against the Abyss.
While I will do that when I find good seedlings, I figured I’d go ahead and impart some of this old lady’s greatness onto you as the first. Additionally, we needed to solve that other problem of yours, so these tattoos will also help stabilize your body as it adapts to the divine mana now coursing through your veins; as you’d be dead without them."
Lassim’s mind raced as he absorbed her words, "Ah yeah… THAT problem."
"Yes," Khaalseru interjected, "since you so kindly absorbed and replaced your entire mana pathways with my own divine mana, this will have to do for the time being. But with such power comes great responsibility. You have yet to realize this, as you’ve only trained in my inner heart realm for these years, but it is a realm made literally of my divine body.
Its sturdiness and every other aspect is at the divine level. This mana is potent, vastly more so than anything you’ve wielded before. A mere flicker of it could devastate realms. When you return to your home, you are going to need to be exceedingly careful when performing any battle techniques.
A simple lightning bolt conjured from your own mana will likely destroy an entire kingdom if you are careless."
Lassim swallowed hard, the gravity of his new power dawning on him. The tattoos on his body glowed slightly, as if responding to his slight trepidation.
Khaalseru continued, "Also, as you are not a deity yet yourself, these markings will help you filter and refine the surrounding mana. They will convert it into a form you can harness without catastrophic consequences to your own well being as your body now requires divine mana to survive. I’m sorry child, but you’d find it difficult to subsist on the regular mana of Nexaria without this assistance.
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But remember, you must learn to control this power. It will be easy to unleash, but mastery will require discipline and creativity."
She continued, "Finally, as the first progenitor of the space element, you will have the freedom to shape this power and to define its use. There are no techniques or arts for you to follow. You will be the creator of your path, the architect of a new way."
"Manipulate space?" Lassim repeated, the weight of her words slowly sinking in. He could hardly believe it. The potential of such power was immense, almost overwhelming.
Lassim, feeling the weight of his situation blurted out his worry, "What about my lightning and water elements? I don’t feel a connection to a new spirit or anything else either."
"Well," Khaalseru explained. "Let’s just say that as the progenitor, you have no need for the guidance and assistance that the elemental companions provide. Your other elements are fine and untouched as well. For now, think of your own body as your elemental companion. You are not sharing your power.
While this may have downsides where most companions multiply your power by dozens fold, your potential with the space element will be much higher. Yet, unfortunately you are not ready to wield its power just yet. You are much too weak and I can’t give a child such an irresponsible weapon before they reach a certain level by themselves.
For now, until you reach the Spirit Transcendent stage, you will be unable to access any portion of the space element. Take this time until then to adapt and become one with the divine mana and make it your own."
The enormity of his new role settled into his thoughts.
Khaalseru’s expression softened. "I truly look forward to the day your own divine throne joins the pantheon alongside my own, child."
Lassim solemnly nodded, a determined glint in his eye. "I understand. I’ll do my best!"
Khaalseru beamed. "I know you will. Now, let’s discuss how we clean up the remaining mess and plan the future for my dear children. You have a significant role to play, and it’s time we got started."
As they turned to discuss the intricate details of their next steps, Lassim felt the tattoos pulse in sync with his heartbeat.
Khaalseru’s expression then tightened as she expressed her concerns of integrating her Drow children into Nexaria. "I’ve already communicated mentally with Sanvra and the others about the transition. However, I’m aware that introducing over seventeen hundred Drow into a new land that have yet to meet their species could create some... complications," she mused.
Lassim, after a moment of contemplation, responded, "Perhaps my father could help. He’s a baron in the Aurora Kingdom, and his lands could certainly benefit from the skills and abilities of the Drow. They’re a formidable and resourceful people, which would be a tremendous asset. The main hurdle, though, would be the language barrier, I think."
Khaalseru smiled, "Language will not be an obstacle," she assured him. "I will bestow upon them the gift of tongues before they depart. They will speak and understand as any native of Nexaria would."
Satisfied with this, Khaalseru prepared to send Lassim back. "Now, to return you to your last known location within Nexaria. I can still sense the faint remnants of your presence there. As the master of the domain of space, I can still feel the slight bit of Famthar’s remnant touch when he sent you to me."
Lassim’s heart skipped a beat as he remembered his last moments before being drawn into Khaalseru’s realm—he had been falling into an abyss. "AH! Wait! I was in quite a predicament last I was there. I had just jumped off a massive cliff and fell towards the abyss before I landed in the snow of your heart world.
As I am now, I’m still not exactly capable of flight and the Drow definitely aren’t either," he mentioned, a hint of worry lacing his tone.
Khaalseru paused, her divine senses extending through the fabric of space to the exact location.
Her eyes narrowed as she observed the scene—there, on a cliffside, was an elderly man, his presence marked by a distinct bloodline connection to Lassim. "Ah, it seems you will not be alone upon your return. There’s someone there... someone connected to you by blood. I’ve adjusted the portal’s exit to ensure you land safely on solid ground near this individual."
Curiosity piqued, Lassim just nodded as he said, "Thank you, Khaalseru. Knowing there’s someone familiar nearby eases my concerns."
The goddess gave a slight nod, her expression and swirling eyes turning serious. "Remember, once I send you and the Drow through, my influence must be limited. The gods of Nexaria have accepted me, but in return, I’ve vowed not to overly interfere with mortal affairs. You will now be responsible for the Drow people and will have to make their own way to the Aurora Kingdom.
But with your guidance, I trust they will manage."
Lassim prepared himself, his mind now racing with thoughts of reunions and the tasks ahead. "I understand, and I’m ready. Thank you for everything, Khaalseru."