One #3
"It means you'll gain more powers. It means that you will live for as long as your myth survives. Which, with the number of gods who will be helping to spread it, will likely be forever, as long as you continue to be seen and to do things."
"But those gods are just here."
"Your child is going to be the next champion of the Ulhness, and you've shown that you very much appreciate the Ulhness's people and how they live, as well as having worked to save them."
"Plus, you're both friends and former lovers," I added thoughtfully.
"That, too," Fel replied with a chuckle.
"Gomerty's people are impressed with your anti-slavery beliefs, so they might help.
Vanham Ester likes you, and he knows if he asked me to loan you to him, I'd do it.
Vikoria really likes you, and not just because of what you did for her, but because you've continued to respect her and honor her followers and watch out for them. "
"I thought they were afraid of me," I admitted.
"They know you'll fight to protect them because you've done it before.
I'm sure it'll take a while to filter out to all of the faithful, but her followers have been preyed on many times over the centuries, and now there's this big, tough champion that killed a god to protect them! " Fel said with a laugh.
"That's not exactly what happened, though."
"But it's what they believe, and I'll tell you right now, don't ever hesitate to help Vikoria's people. She's got a lot more power than most realize, and yes, she is a friend and an ally. If her people and her priestesses learn that they can count on you, they will always sing your praises."
"What about Elavan? I know Dianysyllian very much wants my offspring."
Fel laughed again, then continued, "With all of the 'horse trading', as you referred to it, that was going on, and that sooner or later I know you'll give her those children both she and Elavan want, you definitely have a point there, William."
"So what powers do I get as a mythic?"
"Well, as you already know, when you finally depart for your just reward, you'll also still be in those places you're a mythic."
"All of them? At once?"
"No." Fel chuckled. "There'll only be one of you, but you'll be able to travel to those places.
Even some others, once your myth is strong enough.
The interesting part, however, is that any god whose religion you are considered to be a part of can call to you and open a gate for you to come to one of their temples. "
"What do you mean, part of their religion?"
"Well, you're part of Stephanie's now, right?"
I blinked at that. He was right. "How much more powerful does she need to be to be able to do that?"
"Not much, and you're almost there now yourself."
"Myself?"
"One day you'll be able to gate to any temple of any god who could call to you on your own.
Not unlike how you can now gate back here to me.
You won't be able to take anyone through with you to their temple, and the usual technical restrictions will apply, of course—unless it's a part of your myth.
Now you can be blocked from doing that by the god who owns the temple you're trying to gate into.
One day, you'll probably be able to gate to some churches, as well. "
"But only with gods I'm associated with?"
"Yes. The truth is, William, that as you are seen doing things for other gods and goddesses, visiting their people, their priests, their temples, folks will start to associate you with those gods, so they'll be able to call on you, in time.
You'll be able to visit them if you're on good enough terms that they don't block you. "
"That's actually pretty cool when I think about it. Will they still owe you for my help?"
"That would depend on the circumstances, but in any case, you can still tell people I'm your god, and you're helping because I asked you to, which will, of course, help me in and of itself."
"I'll be sure to do that, then. What happens if I die?"
"You'll return to life in one of my temples."
"What other powers do I get?"
"All of your champion ones, for starters. Furthermore, your powers will refresh if you're on the holy ground of any friendly god."
I thought about that! Then, of course, another thought hit me.
"What happens when I go to the afterlife? How can I be here and there?"
"You'll be much like I am in that respect, with one minor difference."
"Oh?"
"While your self in the afterlife will know what your mythic does here, you won't be able to influence the mythic part of you, because it cannot know the things you learn in the afterlife."
"But then he won't be me anymore, after a while, right?"
"No, it will always be you. The mythical you's personality will always be your personality. He will always react as you would. He just doesn't get your afterlife knowledge."
"That's a bit hard to wrap my head around, Fel."
"Once it happens to you, you'll understand it."
"Okay. Oh, what happens to us? You and me?"
"You're asking if you'll still be my champion?"
I nodded.
"You will be mine until you decide to quit, then I'll just get another one."
"So I can be a mythic, your mythic, and you'll still get another champion?"
"Yes."
"That's…" I smiled suddenly. "That's some serious rule-bending, you know that, right?"
"And that's why there are so few mythics. When Cenewyg did what he did, he unintentionally gave me a bonus. A huge bonus. Once he made you a mythic, that meant you were free to become one everywhere."
"Wait, this isn't just because of all the things I've done for you? The gods I've killed? Any of that?"
Fel laughed, and I could hear it; he was happy.
"William, it's incredibly hard to make a mythic.
The rules are all very much against it. Otherwise, we'd have them all over the place.
The conditions, the settings, all of that are just so incredibly rare that getting all of it to line up just right…
" Fel laughed again. "Cenewyg really screwed up—epically screwed up.
He gave his biggest enemy the greatest gift he could ever have!
You only need to unlock the ability once.
Then it comes into play everywhere you exist. If I hadn't moved to the core worlds, you would have been a mythic here, and at Stephanie's.
But because I have…" Fel laughed yet again.
"Did you know this would happen when you sent me to Vikoria's?"
"Not until after I had you build me that temple. That was when I realized the full scope of what Cenewyg had done. Until that moment, I thought it would just be those two places. Most mythics are like demigods—they're tied to one place."
"But because I'm a champion, and I wasn't in my god's reality?"
"Yes. Exactly that. There are very few gods like myself, William, and absolutely none on this nodal arm. That's how rare this is."
I started laughing then. I just couldn't help it.
Fel was happy, really happy, and I had to admit that pleased me incredibly.
Suddenly, every bad thing that had ever happened to me in Fel's service no longer mattered, because my god, my best friend, was happy, and I was a big part of why he was. Cenewyg really had messed up.
"Well, somebody looks happy," Narasamman said, coming into the room. Getting up quickly, I stepped over to her, wrapped my arms around her, and kissed her.
"Go have fun. I'll talk to you later, William," Fel said. Sweeping Narasamman up into my arms, I headed off to her quarters. Tomorrow, I'd catch up with Rachel, Darlene, and Laria. But for tonight, I belonged to Narasamman.