Genesis Codex hovered beside activated smartphone with green-gold light pulsing as cosmic consciousness analyzed Earth technology thoroughly.
Adhivar's voice resonated clearly, not telepathic whisper but audible declaration for all present. "This device is called a 'smartphone.' Communication tool from Earth's technological civilization."
Everyone's attention sharpened because communication tool meant way to speak across distances, like magical message crystals Theia's ancient civilizations once used.
"Humans of Earth create these devices through technology, not magic, but engineered construction using materials, electricity, and complex internal mechanisms."
Pause, letting information settle.
"This particular device belongs to human named Daniel Hayes. Age twenty-eight. Occupation involves marketing analysis for commercial enterprise. Resides in major population center on Earth's North American continent."
Casual recitation of personal information gleaned from smartphone's digital storage.
Adhivar continued explanation as cosmic entity broke down Earth technology for medieval magical civilization. "Smartphone capabilities include: instant communication across planetary distances via invisible signal networks. Storage of images, visual captures of moments, people, places. Access to vast information repositories containing Earth's collective knowledge. Navigation systems providing geographic location and directional guidance. Entertainment media, stories, music, visual performances. Time management tools. Social connection platforms enabling interaction with other humans remotely."
Efficient summary of smartphone functions translated into concepts Theia natives might understand.
"Device operates using electrical power stored in internal battery. Rechargeable. Requires periodic energy replenishment. Currently at seventy-three percent capacity."
Technical details delivered matter-of-factly.
"Earth's civilization built entire infrastructure supporting these devices. Billions of humans carry smartphones. Standard technology on their world."
Billions as casual commonality, not rare artifact but ordinary tool.
Naelvorn's eyes widened. "Wait wait wait, INVISIBLE SIGNALS carrying VOICES across entire PLANET? That's gotta be magic, bro! Advanced magic but still magic!"
Feyra's small awed voice followed. "Capturing moments in device? Like freezing time into images? That's definitely magical!"
Sylvara analyzed. "Information repositories containing entire world's knowledge? Accessible instantly? Even our greatest archives couldn't achieve that without massive magical infrastructure."
Zor's tactical assessment came next. "Navigation providing exact location anywhere on planet? Magical tracking systems, clearly."
Velnar clicked thoughtfully. "Earth must have developed different magic traditions. Technology as magic system. Impressive achievement."
Assumption widespread: Earth equaled magical civilization using different methodology.
Nobody comprehending technology without magic because concept was too foreign.
Adhivar attempted patient correction. "Not magic. Technology. Engineered systems using physical laws, electrical principles, manufactured components. Earth's civilization developed scientific understanding enabling construction without magical energy."
Silence.
Naelvorn responded, "So magic using SCIENCE instead of mana? Still sounds like magic with extra steps, bro."
Cosmic entity sighed, if entities could sigh.
"Explanation would require extensive technological education. Simplification: Earth builds tools through understanding material properties and natural forces. Not magic. Physics."
Still confused looks.
Close enough as technology versus magic distinction clearly remained beyond current comprehension.
Moving forward regardless.
***
Malvorn's crystalline features thoughtful "You mentioned Earth is also cursed—Fate's Revenge affecting both worlds. What is Earth's current state? Still suffering like Theia?"
Critical question.
Genesis Codex pulsing with significant energy—important information incoming.
Adhivar's response measured, careful:
"Earth's situation differs substantially from Theia's current crisis."
Pause, cosmic consciousness choosing words precisely.
"When merger failed, Fate's Revenge was cast upon both worlds as punishment. The curse triggered immediately—on Earth, manifestation began with catastrophic mass extinction event approximately sixty-five million years ago. The event that ended the dominance of creatures you would call 'great reptilian beasts'—dinosaurs."
Mass extinction. Ancient catastrophe. Curse's first strike.
"However."
Single word carrying immense weight.
"After initial extinction event, Earth's Fate's Revenge entered... dormant state."
Confusion rippling through gathered group.
"Curse was cast. Punishment delivered. But rather than continuing active escalation like Theia's curse, Earth's Fate's Revenge has been waiting. Dormant for sixty-five million years. Waiting for unknown trigger point, specific condition, or predetermined activation threshold."
Waiting. For millions of years. Not active.
"During this dormancy, Earth's curse did not actively manifest. Life recovered from extinction event. New species evolved. Eventually, humanity emerged and developed civilization without supernatural interference. Technology advanced freely because curse remained inactive."
Frostina's voice quiet with disbelief "Their curse has been dormant for sixty-five million years? Just... waiting?"
"Correct. Fate's Revenge present but not activated. Earth's humans evolved, built civilizations, developed technology, reached population of eight billion—all while curse sleeps, waiting for unknown trigger."
Dormant curse. Not defeated. Not stopped. Just waiting.
"Current Earth—peaceful, stable, technologically advanced. Humans living normal lives, unaware of Fate's Revenge hanging over their world like suspended blade. Curse exists but remains inactive."
Peaceful because curse waits.
Not because curse ended. Because it hasn't truly begun.
"Contrast with Theia: your curse activated immediately upon merger failure and has been escalating actively ever since. Earth's curse triggered, then went dormant. Theia's curse triggered and continued escalating. Different manifestations of same punishment."
Velnar's cautious observation "So Earth's curse could activate at any moment. Trigger could occur tomorrow, next year, next century. They're living on borrowed time."
"Precisely. Earth appears peaceful. But Fate's Revenge waits. When trigger occurs—if trigger occurs—Earth may suffer as Theia suffers now."
Temporary peace. Built on dormant curse. Unknown when blade falls.
Naelvorn's quieter voice "So Earth's not actually SAFE. They just haven't been hit yet. Curse is like... loaded weapon waiting to fire."
Sylvara analytically "Earth had sixty-five million years to develop without active curse. Theia has suffered millennia of active escalation from the start. Completely different trajectories."
Zor's tactical assessment "If Earth's trigger activates, eight billion humans with no magic, no understanding of curses, no preparation—catastrophic casualties."
Feyra's worried voice "They don't even KNOW curse is waiting? Living peacefully while Fate watches them?"
***
Draven stood silently, processing revelation: Earth peaceful, recovered, stable with billions living without curse's active threat.
Theia suffering with corruption spreading, beasts enslaved, populations dying, curse escalating relentlessly.
Contrast unbearable.
Thought formed unbidden, desperate, impossible.
If Fate's Revenge doesn't stop on Theia, if curse continues escalating despite finding Anchors, if merger attempt fails or doesn't halt curse, if Theia becomes uninhabitable, could we evacuate everyone to Earth?
Entire Theia population, humans and beasts and all species, transported to peaceful world where curse lay dormant. Refuge, sanctuary, survival.
Earth massive enough with eight billion already there as Theia's populations could integrate. Peaceful coexistence possible, both species saved.
Desperate plan crystallized in mind born from hope and desperation.
Save everyone.
Take them to Earth.
Then reality crushed hope immediately.
How?
Inter-dimensional travel didn't exist.
Gate expelled small objects like paper clip and smartphone, nothing living, nothing large, one-way barrier as dimensional membrane remained impermeable to life.
Even if gate expanded enough for person eventually, still one direction, Earth to Theia only with no method for reverse transit.
And fundamental impossibility beyond gate mechanics existed.
Theia existed in pocket dimension as artificial reality separated from original universe. Earth existed in original universe as true reality, baseline existence.
Dimensional barrier absolute.
Pocket dimension to original universe transit? Theoretically impossible, would require cosmic-level reality manipulation, dimensional engineering beyond any known capability, power transcending even Overlords' strength.
Genesis Codex could explain theory as Adhivar possessed cosmic knowledge, but doing it? Actually transporting billions across dimensional barrier separating pocket reality from true universe?
Impossible.
Utterly, completely, absolutely impossible.
No method, no mechanism, no conceivable path.
Desperate thought died stillborn as beautiful dream met harsh physics.
Draven's expression betrayed nothing as internal crisis remained invisible to others still discussing Earth's recovery, smartphone capabilities, curse mechanics.
Impossible hope acknowledged then abandoned.
Couldn't save everyone by evacuating to Earth because no dimensional bridge existed capable of transporting living populations across realities.
Theia's fate tied to Theia with no escape, no refuge, no sanctuary waiting.
Find Anchors, enable merger, stop curse here.
Or everyone suffered endlessly.
Or everyone died.
No alternative path, no backup plan, no escape route to peaceful Earth.
Just impossible quest with five lost objects, unknown locations, unconfirmed solution.
And entire world's survival depending on success.
Draven exhaled slowly, accepting burden silently.
Smartphone glowed in snow before them, device from peaceful world Theia could never reach.
Dimensions separated absolutely.
Hope crushed by physics.
Quest continues regardless.
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