«King of Space and Time», «Beacon of Fate», «Avatar of the Origin Fortress», «Master of the Spirit-World», «
Then a question came to mind. He hesitated a moment and said: «From what I know, long before the previous civilisation ended, 'Fu Sheng Xuan Huang Tian Zun' already existed.»
The Seven Lights glanced at one another, and «Yellow Light» Venetian — thin of figure and, like other spirit-world creatures, half-transparent — let out a sigh: «This point we do not know. When the previous civilisation ended and 'the Original' awakened, the Seven Lights of those times had already been wiped away; we are pure lights re-conceived in the spirit-world during the First Era.
«That said, we do have certain surmises concerning the 'Great Sovereign Above the Spirit-World'; perhaps these will answer Your Highness's doubts.»
Klein's spirit stirred. At once he assumed a posture of attentive listening.
«Yellow Light» Venetian went on: «We suspect that of the 'Elder Ones' active in the First Era, some were Outer
«That which is separated must combine, and that which is combined must separate — this describes not only extraordinary characteristics, but 'the Original' Himself. Because most source-essences and characteristics come from this supreme Existence, they naturally have an inclination to gather back together and recombine. And 'the Original' is the collection of all contradictions in the universe; so, after source-essences and characteristics gather together, they are once again driven, irresistibly, to split.»
Is this the essence and root cause of the Law of Aggregation of extraordinary characteristics?… Was the «Lamp God» an unlucky Outer God who got drawn to this world and ran into the «Lord of the Mysteries»?... Klein nodded slightly, made no interruption, and waited patiently for the Yellow Light's surmise.
Venetian, in his lemon-yellow long robe, glanced at Klein and said: «Perhaps 'the Original' already had a tendency to divide while He still slept; so His spirit was apportioned into different parts, each under a different title secretly interfering with the real world, in preparation for His division upon waking — for example, 'God'; for example, 'the Heavenly Honoured One'…»
A plausible conjecture — one that explains many of my doubts… Klein had a sudden sense of clarification.
He weighed his words a moment and said: «So, you believe that the 'Great Sovereign Above the Spirit-World' is a part of 'the Original', and may, in some sense, be equated to 'the Original'?»
«Just so.» «Orange Light»
What sort of consolation is that?... Klein could not help grumbling to himself.
Then a thought struck him: «Since the spirit of 'the Original' has been parted into different portions, the spiritual imprints in the bodies of high-sequence extraordinaries of the corresponding pathways must likewise belong to different 'Elder Ones'.
«If what awoke in the body of the ancient Sun God was 'the Primordial' — the 'God' you just described — then the 'Original' spiritual imprint that is beginning to stir in me and to corrupt me — to whom, then, does that point?»
The answer was obvious — Klein did not need to think about it: That very «Lord of the Mysteries», the «Master of the Spirit-World», «Fu Sheng Xuan Huang Tian Zun»!
Meaning that «Fu Sheng Xuan Huang Tian Zun» had not, as he had thought, left no traces; He had already begun, in a preliminary sense, to awaken within Klein!
Damn… A chill ran through Klein from head to foot; he was inadvertently sensing what the ancient Sun God had once felt.
In that moment he was very afraid that some day, without his even being aware, he would turn into another person — into the resurrected «Lord of the Mysteries», the «Fu Sheng Xuan Huang Tian Zun».
Yet, awakening of this degree is much like what other angels have undergone — not as strong, nor as irresistible as I had imagined… Could that be because, unlike the ancient Sun God, I did not from 'birth' hold an angel's rank or even seize hold of the 'singularity'; rather, I climbed up step by step and assimilated everything in stages? If so, I owe thanks to the one who deposited that «Curtain» in the grey-white mist of the God-Forsaken Lands; perhaps there has been the help of some Existence, or several Existences… No, still doesn't quite fit — I've already become the master of the «Origin Fortress», there is no reason that the corruption upon me would be no different from that on any other Sequence-2 angel… Klein silently shook his head and did not put the corresponding question to the Seven Lights.
For him, this was one of his very core secrets; he absolutely could not let any other Existence know what his present condition truly was.
He then raised his right hand to his lips and lightly coughed: «I more or less understand.»
Having chatted over other matters with the Seven Lights, Klein rose and bowed: «Thank you for your answers.»
«It is our honour. We hope Your Highness will return to the throne of the 'Great Sovereign Above the Spirit-World' soon.» The Seven Lights rose together and answered with mild courtesy.
Are they cursing me to die? Klein joked to himself, and politely saw the seven pure lights off.
He then activated «teleport» again, returning to a quiet alley in
Pressing the top hat down a touch, Klein strolled out into the street.
What greeted his eyes first were people in every sort of state and a hubbub that had become a wave of heat.
He saw some people, in linen clothes, in groups of three or five, sawing apart trees of unnaturally giant size with saws and other tools; some, in teams, busily repairing roadside houses that had not been too greatly damaged; some, holding Dixie pies and sweet iced tea, hurrying past him as though heading to their workplaces; some driving cargo carts laden with grain, meat and vegetables, hastening to various places…