POV: The Mad Scientist

I stared idly at the Fae before me, my wings stretching out to bask in the light of the sun as we floated in space. The rays warmed my brown feathers and I sighed in contentment, giving another critical gaze at the being in purple robes that was staring at me. With a shudder I raised one eyebrow as I felt something gaze into my future...though I knew what they would find. It was always the same no matter what looked into my future, and my past. They could never see all of my past and my future was unstable at best.

"You are being surprisingly...gentle. Most...cultivators that I've met are not nearly as...nice as you are." I said slowly, picking my words with care as I always do. It is a trait that I keep no matter what life I'm living.

"It's a good thing that I'm not a cultivator then." The Fae said with a smile, still peering into my future and...soul, with those penetrating green eyes. They were so deep that I felt as if I could hide nothing, and even if I did, it would soon be found out. Those were the kinds of eyes that I had never truly seen before, because there are many things that I can hide, even to those who claim to be "all-seeing." "I am Statera Luotian, to answer your question." The Fae told me before I could even ask a simple "who are you?"

"Like from the common...mythologies." I stated, looking at the androgynous being carefully. Was Statera here just an incredibly powerful cultivator that happened to be venerated by those on the planet below? I've seen it before in the other universe with cultivation practices, but I suspect that this is not the case this time around. This one feels much more...hmm, for once I cannot find the word.

"The very one." Statera said, never once halting the search through my future and soul. With a wave of one hand a perception filter settled down around us, keeping any unwanted visitors from hearing our conversation or even seeing us. From what I could tell it was an unimaginably powerful filter, but this body is weak so I might be a little prejudiced.

"That was a very...smooth perception filter. Afraid of being watched?" I inquired innocently. Statera snorted.

"My children like to keep tabs on me. They mean well, and are looking out for the good of the Realms, but it can get a little annoying. Nothing's going to pop up that I don't sense first, and I have many ways of contacting them that would not require a bodyguard. Tea?" Statera asked, causing a pot of steaming tea to appear out of thin air. I raised my eyebrows, my thoughts whirring.Manipulation of matter...that's very high level. Incredibly so, unless I missed spatial magic...no, I'm well versed in spatial manipulation, it's doubtful that anyone would be able to slip passed me... I silently accepted the tea Statera offered, scrutinizing it closely but not drinking. "I'm impressed that you felt me do that, by the way. I wasn't being sneaky about the...filter, as you call it, but I wouldn't expect it from a mortal." Statera said calmly.

"Is that so?" I asked, still not drinking. "When are you going to tell me what I am...here for? I...presume you have a purpose in...abducting me." I drawled, raising one eyebrow. Statera chuckled and gave me a look.

"As soon as I figure out what it is you're hiding outside of the laws of my Realms." Statera said quite simply, and I blinked in surprise.What I'm...?I wondered for a brief moment before realization dawned upon me. Statera was talking about my memories. "Sorry if I'm coming across as pushy, by the by. I haven't been this interested in a challenge since I attempted to absorb Void fragments." My eyes flew open and I took a few steps back. Statera watched me with interest, but obviously didn't think anything of it.

"V-Void...fragments? You attempted to merge with the Void?" I asked incredulously. I'd only ever seen people attempt that once, and it ended...catastrophically. Five of them were erased from existence, and the other, the most powerful of the group, went absolutely insane and attempted to destroy everything around him. I was forced to kill him. Statera was blinking at me in momentary confusion as I pulled myself out of my reverie, smiling at me in an amused manner.

"That's quite the strong memory you have there. What's it from...? Oh, I see!That'swhat all this fog is...you're in a different reincarnation cycle! But instead of losing your memories you keep them, and...every life you jump to a new universe. Intriguing." Statera muttered, shocking me to my core.No onehad been able to figure that out so quickly...and never so accurately. "What would that...? Oh! It's like trading information! I see now...sort of. That's not all there is to it, is there?" Statera mused, and I bristled a bit at being considered a message system.

"What were you doing with void fragments?" I asked, hissing out my question and attempting to change the conversation topic.

"Absorbing them, of course. I succeeded after close to a million years, but I'll need more if I want to increase my powers in that direction any further. If it were anyone but me doing the absorbing I would be just as worried as you, but as a Deity of Balance, It's not nearly as dangerous. I know my limits. Also, don't think that you're going to get away with changing the subject. This is why I was guided to you after all." Statera explained.

"Guided...? A so-called deity needs guidance? From whom?" I inquired.

"Not so-called. I am the Origin Deity of the Four Realms, I am its parent as much as its creator, and I have spawned thousands of other deities. And as both I and this universe are very young, we do receive guidance from time to time. Mostly from the one who presides over the entirety of the multiverse." Statera explained quickly. "I'm beginning to see why you were suggested."

"For what...?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"Hm. Well, the short version is that there's a little meeting going on between a group of origin deities that I am allowed to bring one guest to. None of my children are ready for such a meeting, and then you were brought to my attention. So far, you're passing. Having no discernable future helps...why is that by the way?" Statera asked. I considered telling the being the truth or not, before deciding that lying would not help anything. I'd run across a few species that could detect lies, which was an aggravating racial trait.

"I am more...unstable than others of my kind. The Mad Scientist is my...designation, and talks about my...inherent nature. Names are...difficult, when we have so many." I explained slowly, omitting some details. "Why do you want...me?"

"Simple. You'd benefit from it, assuming you can withstand my pressure." Statera said. "You're doing well. I've been slowly transferring my true body into this incarnation, and you haven't yet begun to feel it. A mortal at your level would normally be looking at my toes by now." Statera said. I raised my eyebrow and snorted. Nothing this being could do would put pressure on me, deity or no.

"Go...ahead." I said with a dismissive wave of my hand, quite confident in my mental fortitude. Statera looked at me questioningly for a moment before shrugging, giving me a look that said "you asked for it." Statera took a deep breath and let it out slowly - and suddenly the entire universe was lost to me. Pure power radiated over my body, pounding into my soul and my body screaming in pain, feeling as if the molecules that made up my physical form were bound and determined to tear themselves apart. An aura of majesty and might struck me like a bolt of lightning, and I fell to my knees, kowtowing before I could even think.

POV CHANGE: Statera Luotian

I looked at The Mad Scientist, who was quivering as she stood behind me, eyeing me warily. She was still getting used to being under the pressure of being in my presence, but at least she wasn't forced to kiss the floor anymore. It'd only been a few hours, too, and she was up and about, though she was keeping a healthy distance from me. As for my children...a few of my incarnations were placating them, telling them that I would be leaving on a trip and that I didn't know how long I would be gone.

"This is the Four Realms." I said solemnly, looking out over the Tree and the Mountain and the Valley. "It's small, no bigger than a galaxy, but growing. Though it needs to grow faster..." I muttered that last part, and didn't expect the Mad Scientist to answer.

"Couldn't you just spread the...seeds of the Tree, then?" She asked, forcing each word out. I looked at her, amused, before my face contorted in contemplation.

"Remind me to try that when we get back." I told her.

"I haven't agreed to going." The Mad Scientist retorted, and I chuckled. I liked this one, she wasn't afraid to talk back. Come to think of it...Tian does that too. There seems to be a theme going here...well, discounting Inesa.

"I'm all for freewill, however in this case you don't have a choice." I said sweetly, shooting her a smile. She just grumbled, her feathers ruffling irritably as we waited for the time to leave to arrive. It should happen any moment now...

Before we get started, I believe I should talk to you a bit about your guest, Statera. She is what I affectionately call a Monkey Wrench, because they are not a creation of my own and her kind tend to mess with every universe or world they travel to in big ways. Her existence is exactly as you suspected, one where each life she is taken to a new universe, with perfect memories of her previous lives. As such, she has information from at least thirty other universes and the basics of how they are run, which will provide useful in the upcoming meeting. A fresh perspective is always welcome. And yes, she is part of the reason why this meeting is coming early. No other questions will be answered at this time.

Teleporting to Meeting in 5...4...3...2...1...The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Teleporting now.