Chapter 1837: Probabilities
"So, is it that the Black Dragon sees the potential for me to grow to the point where I could start simply creating my own dragons if I wanted one, or that he sees the potential for me to fully embrace the way of the Ancients and just do as I please without regard for the implications?" Karl asked.
"Don’t forget that he can also see the past and future. So, it might be something that you’re going to do if you get a dragon that has personally offended him before you ever thought of doing it," Cara added helpfully.
The Black Dragon Avatar sighed. "You know, there is no good way to answer that because no matter which answer I give, it only encourages you to do the other, which will still lead to the same outcome, just in a different way."
"Divine inevitability? A point in the timeline that exists in almost all possible timelines that the Black Dragon is trying to steer this reality towards avoiding?"
The Avatar stared at Karl. "I am honestly shocked that you even understand the concept. But then, you did manage to make a fifth dimensional power matrix, so it stands to reason that you understand more than a little bit about it."
Karl shrugged. "I also spend my days arguing logic with a Chaos Badger."
Lotus giggled as she saw the expression on the dragon’s face.
"That’s mostly a joke. There is no logic involved in their arguments."
"I didn’t imagine that there would be. And if the badger starts saying something that sounds logical, it’s almost certainly a trap to lull you into complacency before she does something absolutely outrageous.
Most chaos-based species are like that.
Even the Ancients are known to do it, though they usually treat it more like giving a pet treats before taking them to the vet, or other unpleasant situation."
Lotus looked scandalized again, and pointed at Ophelia. "You’re in cahoots! I knew it. Every time they do something nice like bring me a latte, it’s because there is work. You’ve been teaching them!"
Both Ophelia and the Black Dragon Avatar laughed, and Ophelia shook her head.
"If anything, they’ve been teaching me new tricks. Did you know that they found a way to make a decaf latte taste exactly like a regular one?"
Lotus smiled at a memory and nodded. "In fact, I did. Because the first time they tried it, they got it wrong, and every time after that I was suspicious. But their drinks are still really good, and I keep forgetting that they’re bribes to trick me into doing things."
The Avatar laughed. "If you think that your [If not friend, why friend shaped] is powerful, you underestimate the power of the natural aura of the ancients.
It’s nearly impossible for people to go against their will, and they’re all psychic to some level, so they’re likely subconsciously steering you toward accepting their bribes and behaving."
Ophelia winked at the immensely powerful dragon in disguise.
"Not that it’s hard to bribe Lotus with coffee, even if it’s decaf."
The pastries were quickly disappearing, and the moment that Lotus’ plate was clear, her hand was in the air, calling the staff over to order more.
"We are having story time, we need snacks. Say, another twelve assorted pastries, and I will take another latte."
"Of course, Miss."
Ophelia sighed, knowing that there would be no concept of sleep tonight for Lotus. But since they had advanced, she felt much less motivation to sleep at all. So, perhaps it wouldn’t be as big of an issue with letting Lotus have coffee, if her advanced constitution wasn’t going to cause her to be sleep-deprived all the next day.
That was one less thing to worry about.
Lotus gazed longingly at the display of pastries, wanting all the recipes so that she could add them to her own kitchen repertoire, as these were obviously Mystic Cooking produced goods.
You couldn’t just ask a pastry shop for their secret recipes, though.
That would be tacky.
So, she had to guess when they came out, using her experience to guide her next attempt to make new sweets.
Plus, she still had questions.
"So, if that’s the big issue, that Karl is too in tune with the Ancients, why are they concerned about me having dragons as a Beast Master? I’m faithful to my Goddess, I’m not an agent of chaos, and I’m not going to do bad things or mistreat them."
She was practically pouting at the injustice now, and the Black Avatar smiled.
"We’re just worried that The Karl and his Patron deity might be a bad influence on you. I know you feel aggrieved, but when you’ve lived as long as I have, perspective changes a little."
"You’re old? You don’t feel old."
The Avatar chuckled as he shifted to let the staff load more pastries onto the tables.
Far more pastries than they had ordered, he noted. However, he didn’t see himself getting out of story time with a Green Dragon Cleric in under two hours. That would be practically a miracle once she got on a roll about all the other things that he knew.
Still, he had plenty of patience, and watching the young get excited was entertainment in its own way.
Lotus waved a half-eaten donut. "You didn’t answer."
The Avatar chuckled. "I’m a little over twenty thousand years old. Actually, I think that I might have met Miss Rue when she was young. I can still feel the lingering energy of a Divine Battle’s damage on her soul, and the battlefield feels familiar.
Maybe eight thousand years ago? That sounds right.
I would have been considered young for a leader of my faction then. But like so many others, I had seen more than enough combat to last a lifetime. That world was a mess, and I don’t regret leaving after the battle."
Rue sent a Guild Message. {That means he was a Demigod eight thousand years ago.}
