The Blind Gods
Copyright© 2025 by Wau
Chapter 109: One Last Request
The Heirs had spoken. They had deigned to give explanations, but a moment awaited for an immeasurable length of time by the human mind was rapidly approaching, and Pilgrim, Armor, and Messenger, and their retinue, were very little compared to the completion of their great plan.
They turned their gaze toward the sky, where there was nothing for humans and everything for them.
Andreï stepped forward again:
- “Excuse me. We have a request.”
The Heir of humans and that of Caliban turned around, but the former, although encased in an Armor similar to that of the Wau, adopted a very familiar posture that suggested curious surprise.
- “You entrusted powers to the Pilgrim. Could you take them back from him?
- Why? He can bring you many benefits. And just like the Armor, our other gift, lead your society toward fulfillment and happiness.”
Andreï seemed stunned by this response. His gaze met Gulmira’s, who hesitated, and he continued:
- “There is no consensus on the virtuous nature of the Pilgrim.
- Your delegation is very small. Does it represent humanity?
- Heirs, are you aware that if the Pilgrim was exiled to the far end of the universe, it is precisely because humanity no longer wanted him among its own?”
The Heirs looked at one another and communicated silently. Then the Heir of humans added:
- “I possess the memory of humanity. I read that Garen Antor was exiled following an unjust decision.
- And your source is Garen Antor? You are the result of the After, but you see, all of Garen Antor’s victims were not uploaded into the After. In the same way that you did not upload me.
- Why?
- Because...”
Andreï seemed to lack the strength to confess the truth.
- “This Armor,” said the Wau as he stood up, “was damaged by Garen Antor. He tried to kill me with his own hands, many times.
- The Armor ... sent by our temporal probes, it was meant to structure your society so that it would welcome the Pilgrim under the best possible conditions ... to serve him. You opposed him?
- I observe,” said the Wau coldly, “that you have carried out many interferences in our development.
- We are shepherds to one another,” finally declared the Heir of Caliban, almost authoritarian. “Time is pressing, and in none of you do I see malice. It would be reasonable to trust you.
- I assure you,” said the Heir, “that the history I carry of the Pilgrim is that of a man who chose love.
- Enough,” the Heir of Caliban continued authoritatively, raising his hand. “The man who chose love may have done so for millions of years after five years spent sowing suffering, and for them, they are still in that world of suffering. They have pure hearts. They gave enormously to a cause that was unknown to them and that is probably still obscure even now. They are asking neither for his death nor for his suffering, only for the withdrawal of his powers. That is very reasonable. We did not give a gift to Garen Antor the man; we gave a gift to humanity. It is a legitimate right to refuse that gift.”
Andreï thought to himself: the Heirs claim to be our continuation, and yet they do not carry the exactness of our present. Perhaps the survival of what we are is impossible. We change, and one day we are unrecognizable, even to ourselves. And yes, an empathetic, gentle, intelligent, open society may one day make of Garen Antor and his energy, perhaps, a remarkable being. But it is impossible for me to conceive of it.
The Heir of humans raised his hand again:
- “Our powers are considerable, but limited in space and time. I can grant to one of you, or even several, a power equivalent to that of Garen Antor. I can create a link between you and the source, the dimensional place from which we draw our means and our energy. Among everything you will be able to do with that link, you will be able to remove his power, and, I imagine, remove your own as well.”
Pallas took a step forward, chest thrust out, and exclaimed:
- “Then I will take this power.
- Granted,” replied the Heir.
Andreï, the Wau, Gulmira, Ada-everyone looked at one another and then at Pallas, stunned. Everyone thought the same thing: she was of the Grip. But already Pallas radiated the same power as the Aleph, which flowed among all those present: a wild, diffuse warmth.
Andreï, head lowered but smiling, approached Pallas. He guided her with an arm away from the crowd ... they went to a remote corner of the tower’s surface, while the others murmured.