Three bright lights shone in the cosmos next to Atlas's CDI. This time, he was ready. Not smelly, unkempt, and wearing old clothing- but pristine, mentally prepared, ready to hit the ground running!
First came Myra, in her typical fashion, a blood-red mist rising from the ground. Her eyes glinted with both disdain and respect as they flashed upward to meet his gaze before lowering again as she knelt.
Second came Celeste. The space around her seemed to expand and push everything outward, drawing Atlas's surprise as everything stretched like a rubber band away from them. True to her form in the CDIM replays, and from watching her on his globe, her scales were pure white, with sharp sapphire eyes that gleamed with wisdom and beauty. Like Myra, but much more reverent, her head lowered in respect.
Last came Ira, similar to Celeste but smaller in size, with black scales and crimson irises. His eyes gleamed with respect and pride. Rather than being silent, however, he roared and bellowed in a prideful declaration.
"I am IRA! I am ready to serve! Your enemies will burn by my flames!" Ira, amidst his prideful boast, caught Myra and Celeste glancing up at him from their prostrated postures with annoyance. His crimson eyes widened briefly in surprise before silently following suit, lowering his head.
"That is, in part, why I want you here," Atlas said amusedly. "My name is Atlas, your god."
All three, unmoving and unresponsive, didn't even twitch.
"There is a gathering of gods- Weavers- that I must attend. I've chosen you three to accompany me."
Atlas's gaze shifted between Celeste and Myra. "This will answer a few questions about me and my role. It will also let you glimpse foes that threaten to annihilate your world, your homes. My role is no different than yours, as Queens, but on a larger scale."
"You may rise and speak freely."
"Is this in regard to the next war-" Myra began, but Ira's fresh, boisterous roaring overtook her.
"Show me the enemies! I will burn them all!"
Atlas could see the veins visibly popping on Myra's neck as she restrained herself from lashing out as usual. Even Celeste couldn't hide the subtle twitch on her scaled features.
"It is," Atlas said. "The enemy will be more numerous than the Smiling Tree but with enemies on par with your strength."
"Celeste, well done. You've yet to disappoint me."
At his words, her tail flicked back and forth behind her like a happy dog receiving a compliment.
"Thank you. My people are at your disposal for the next war, but…" Celeste paused, clearly hesitant, before continuing nervously. "My people, my children…"
'Ah, yes. She doesn't want to lose more of her kin. Understandable,' Atlas thought, frowning. Celeste, seeing this, flinched and resumed, as if to reassure him, "But we will fight nonetheless and defend this world as its guardians!"
"Your people aren't the ones I'm worried about," Atlas said in a comforting tone, raising his hands in a calming gesture toward her conflicted demeanor. His gaze slowly shifted away from her toward Myra, who instantly stiffened in reaction. "It is your people."
"Mine?" Myra asked, gritting her teeth. "My people?"
Atlas nodded. "The Weaver will, I assume, begin their invasion in the desert."
"Based on what assumptions?" Myra demanded, her eyes glinting dangerously and distrustfully. "Are you forcing my people to become involved?"
"No," Atlas responded firmly before gesturing upward. "Wisp."
"Yes, Weaver Atlas," Wisp flew in, its orange wisps trailing behind the bird as it attracted their attention. Celeste and Ira watched curiously, with more excitement from Ira, while Myra's deadpan gaze followed it.
"The enemy is an insect-type. Closer to the Arachnids you've faced, Myra, and other creatures of similar nature. Their world is a desert," Wisp explained. "Which, if they are seeking to establish a foothold in a familiar environment, is the most likely reason they would choose the desert to initiate their attack."
"Unless they are intelligent," Atlas added grimly. "Which we won't know until after this Weaver Gathering."
"Assess our enemies and determine their battle plans," Ira breathed with excitement. "Fight foes of worth- it is an honor to be allowed this opportunity!"
"Yes, yes. Battle," Atlas drawled, growing less amused about the battle part as he switched to a more decisive tone. "But also negotiations. I want you to be my show of strength, but also friendly. Diplomatic. Myra."
"You refer to the elves? I did my part," Myra curtly replied.
"It was terrible. No compassion or empathy toward the elves and their situation."
Myra gestured upward, unapologetically. "I felt they were lacking and would submit. And they did. You have your new Smiling Tree."
"World Tree," Atlas corrected. "One who is doing well, might I add."
"As long as it doesn't harm my people, I care little," Myra snorted. "Keep your failed processes away from my people."
"Sky-God, allow us to discipline her!" Celeste said, wide-eyed in horror, her head snapping between them before glaring at Myra, who didn't seem to care. Ira, however, didn't join in, watching carefully from the sidelines.
Atlas shook his head. "It's alright. You should be fine with the next part then."
Myra's eyes narrowed suspiciously, having already connected the dots. The goblins on the western continent were his doing.
"Selena," Atlas said, and her eyes widened. "Your people have been using her cave, her body, as an outpost."
"Do you plan to sacrifice my people in the process of fighting this Weaver?" Myra asked, a dangerous edge in her voice, clearly uncaring that he was her god.
"No. When the war is near your people must move to survive. And you must be the bait. Two birds with one stone."
The gears in her mind seemed to visibly turn. Selena, the threat that forced her to change to save her people? Gone. Enemies that threatened this world and her people? Dead or weakened. Her expression was thoughtful as she mulled over this plan of action before Celeste interrupted.
"Who is this Selena?"
Wincing, Myra turned her head away from Celeste's curious gaze. Celeste then looked to Atlas for guidance.
'Well, best get it out there now.'
With a few quick movements of his hand, the replay of Selena was shown: her trek through the desert with a baby in hand; her death, mutations, and the birth of the goblin creatures; the final evolution that shook the earth and spawned abominations en masse as she, an eldritch horror, stalked her way toward the cave of Myra's people, leaving massive craters in her wake.
It quickly showed Myra's own evolution and, with the veil of the dark sphere lifted, the massacre of the goblin army that attempted to wipe out her people.
"I see. That explains where those green-skins come from," Ira mused, his gaze shifting to Myra. Though her face couldn't be seen by the others, Atlas could see her hollowed eyes staring off into the distance.
"I am sorry, Myra," Celeste said softly, her expression downcast. Her thoughts briefly flickered to her own losses, and she realized, at last, they may be nothing compared to hers.
"Unfortunate beginnings... compared to the Primordial Mountain and the western continent."
"This was unwelcome," Myra whispered bitterly and angrily. "Their prying eyes, your reminder of my past- you're a fucking bastard."
Atlas let the words hang in the air. Raw, bitter, deserved.
"I know," he said quietly, his voice stripped of grandeur. "You didn't deserve what happened. None of your people did. And I won't pretend an apology erases it."
Myra didn't move. Her eyes still locked onto nothing.
"But I brought you here not to shame you, but because you're the only one who survived it and rose from it. No one else understands the cost of survival like you do. Not even me."
Still no response.
"You think I care about obedience?" Atlas continued. "I want your choice. I need someone beside me who isn't blinded by faith or titles. Someone who will call me out when I'm wrong. Someone who's endured torment and still stands."
Her gaze flicked toward him, just barely.
"If we fall to this Weaver, your people fall too. But if we stand together- you, Celeste, Ira- we can build a world where no one has to relive what you did."
A long pause.
Then, quietly, "You get one mistake more," Myra muttered, her voice tight. "One."
Atlas nodded slowly, and the atmosphere eased if only slightly. Celeste glanced sympathetically at Myra before returning her gaze to Atlas, her demeanor shifting back to her mature, queenly nature.
"When will we meet these Weavers?" she asked.
"Now. Are you all ready?"
"Indeed," Ira rumbled. "I'm ready for conflict, Weaver!"
"Let's get this over with," Myra said flatly, her voice still touched by the bitterness she hadn't yet buried.
"Most certainly, Atlas," Celeste added, her regal tone measured and composed.
Hearing his name from her lips gave Atlas a moment's pause, but he masked it well. With a nod of approval toward the three, Wisp fluttered back into view trailing sparks of golden light.
Behind Atlas, an archway portal opened, radiant and swirling with golden energy. The light framed him like a divine halo. He turned, adjusting his posture- calm, composed, purposeful.
"Let us go meet them, then."