God of Lost Stories

#13 Deity of Balance

It's almost over now. Things are moving into the grand finale. Alloy is almost relieved, but the last two will be the true test of these monster's faiths: if they can accept reality and live with it. This truth nearly destroyed Alloy's home when he was split apart.

A portal opens, but it's not of Alloy's making. The audience is stunned from their muted seats. They stare and whisper amongst their groups. Alloy knows exactly who it is. After all, Error has been watching this entire event through a one-way portal. The God of Destruction has indeed appeared when Alloy turns around. What he did not expect was to see Paperjam and Gradient peeking out from around Error, the former with a glare and the later with awe.

"Thank you for coming, Error," Alloy nods. It's nice that he didn't have to force the other. Out of everyone in this Multiverse, Alloy's talk with Error lasted the longest. They talked of many secret things, subjects that will never be repeated outside the Anti-void. Alloy expects to have a similar conversation with the God of Creation once Ink is better. Error is the only one who knows what Alloy really is, and that he is not like Fate.

"Let's just get this over with," Error grumbles quietly. Above all else, the destroyer just looks tired. Scars and fractures litter his body. Alloy had earlier healed what he could. It's strange for the audience to see Error so...... still. The destroyer is constantly on the move, fighting someone or ripping apart worlds all with a maniac's grin. That insane smile is nowhere to be found now. Error's frame seems to sag with the weight of the Multiverse. His fire has been extinguished This is the Error from Fate's first universe, one of if not the oldest with his role. This god gave up on hope a long time ago. He's suffered far more than Alloy did in his place. The only reason Error is still standing at all might be the two kids at his heels. Who would ever look after them? Paperjam and Gradient were born of powerful explosions of magic between Error's strings and Ink's black paint. Error isn't even sure that Ink knows they exist.

"I can do all the talking, but your presence says more than my words," Alloy thanks him again. Error doesn't respond with anything more than a slight nod. He seems...... lethargic. He acted that way all throughout that meeting in the Anti-void, too. This is not something Alloy will be able to fix, at least not fully. Error's been through too much to ever be the person he once was. Still, he can be better than he is now. Alloy believes in that with all his soul. No matter how many times Alloy declares his vision for the Multiverse, Error will never grow to hope for it without seeing it first; Seeing it last. Alloy will see to it that it does.

"My next story is one you won't like to hear," the god says as he turns to face the audience, "I only ask that you take it as the truth before casting more judgment on anyone."

The Multiverse has a limit. The forces of the world are forever resting on shifting scales. Alloy explains this all to them. He tells them that Error was created by a Deity, Fate who also created Ink, to be the solution. He steers clear of Ink's unique position and focuses on Error. He was once one of them, but tossed into the Anti-void and formed into what he is today.

"Error, do you remember the first Original you destroyed?" Alloy asks once he's done, audience left stunned and reeling.

"Flowerfell. It's the only Original I've ever touched," Error replies, a faint glimpse of sadness on his face.

"That's...... not true, I'm sorry. You destroyed one other Original right after escaping the Anti-void. You wouldn't remember it," Alloy says softly. The god reaches out his hand and offers it to the other. Error doesn't react right away. He looks down at the hand with wariness. New people who gain his trust are usually the ones who betray him. Still, there's something different about Alloy. Something........ familiar. It's the only reason Error had heard him out int the Anti-void. Alloy's codes know the cruel touch of Fate. Error slowly takes his hand.