Tangen chuckled, the deep sound echoing through the room. "Okay, this next part needs a bit of a visual aid. It's better if you see it rather than just hear it."
With that, he extended his right hand.
Maxi's eyes widened as the purple bandages wrapped around his forearm were revealed, mirroring the red ones on his left. Then, as if responding to some silent command, a thousand tiny, red stars flickered into existence above his palm, swirling in mesmerizing patterns.
Maxi instinctively jumped back slightly in his chair in surprise and awe.
This was the first time Maxi was seeing magic after his birth in this world. He had seen sparks of magic; obviously, it was in the air. It shined and sparkled like glitter, only appearing occasionally.
But due to the way Tengen talked about magic earlier, he had a sneaking suspicion that what he was using wasn't magic.
Tangen smirked, clearly enjoying the reaction. "Don't worry. You'll learn about this power soon enough in our next lesson. But for now, let's continue."
He flicked his fingers, and the stars shifted, arranging themselves into the shapes of three giant stick figures.
"After the Three Realms were created, the Earthly Gods were thrilled—but something was missing. Their domains were vast and beautiful, yet empty. There was nothing living, nothing that could interact with their worlds the way they could."
The tiny stars began moving again, surrounding the stick figures like a halo.
"The Earthly Gods voiced their desire to create life—beings who could explore, struggle, and thrive in their worlds. They wanted to guide them, protect them, and see them grow."
Tangen shrugged. "The Outer Gods and Eldritch Gods didn't really care at first, but so far, every request the Earthly Gods made had turned out interesting, so they supported the idea."
The stars shifted once more, forming the outline of a massive, shining red throne at the center of the three figures. The air around it seemed heavier, more powerful.
"The Three Gods went to their father, The King of Kings, and asked for permission to give their children, the Eldritch Gods, Outer Gods, and especially the Earthly Gods, the power to create life."
Tangen's smirk deepened. "And he agreed, but under two conditions this time."
Maxi leaned in slightly, drawn into the tale.
"First, every domain had to be connected—there had to be a way for gods to travel between them freely, to ensure none of them became isolated."
The stars twisted again, forming three interwoven paths linking the stick figures together.
"Second, everything they created had to eventually die. And once they died, the gods had to decide what would happen to them."
Maxi felt a strange chill. The inevitability of death… even in a world shaped by gods, it was a law that could not be escaped.
Maxi then took a deep breath as he sighed in acceptance. It wasn't like Maxi wanted death; no one did, but simply what could he or anyone do? Death was there, and the reality was they had to accept it by either seeing it as a way of life, by seeing it as a beautiful thing, or treating it like a plague and trying to create a way to stop it as fast as possible.
Maxi right now viewed death like the ending to a book.
Maybe it was due to him experiencing death firsthand, or due to his new endeavors with books, or a mix of both.
But overall, Maxi now viewed death as an end to a story, to every story, in fact—both bad and good. It wasn't always satisfying; there would be stuff that would be unresolved. It wouldn't always end the way you want it to, but it ended. Whether it took way too long or ended way too early, you just have to accept it.
But now that it's ended, don't think about what could have been. Think about what was, what still is. Think about the bad times, and then think about how much better they made the good times feel. Think about the people you made happy in their darkest moments. Think of how much they made you happy in your darkest moments. Think about the challenges you failed and passed. Think about how much you learned and how much you taught. Think about the countless memories you made. Think about what you were. Think about what you are now. Think about how you started, and think about how you ended. Think about who you were before and how you developed into who you are now.
Overall, no one can see where their story ends, but they can influence what happens before then. They can decide whether their life is a peaceful slice of life, action-filled with fights, an adventure exploring the world, or a romance-filled love. They can decide how they grow as a person and how the world is influenced by them. So, in that way, it doesn't matter how it ends or why, because in the end, they would have already made their story great enough for them to be satisfied with, no matter the outcome.
Well, that's what Maxi thought, at least, but he couldn't speak on too high of a pedestal. I mean, he did die the way he wanted, even though other people might not agree with him.
Who cares about other people? As long as I die happy, doing what I love, who cares about anyone else's opinion? It's my story. It's my life, so I will be the one to accept it for all its good and its bad.
Maxi then blinked and finally saw a red star in front of him.
Maxi then looked over at Tengen as he tisked and shook his head. "Kids and their imagination. You done daydreaming?"
Maxi blinked and then shook his head. "My deepest apologies, Mister Tengen."
The red star then bopped as Maxi jumped in fright.
Tengen grinned. "Your apology is accepted. Anyway, let's get back into it."
"The Three agreed, and The King of Kings granted them permission."
The stars flared, as if mimicking divine approval.
Tangen leaned forward, resting his elbow on his knee. "But there was a problem. What would actually happen to the creations they made after death?"
He gestured, and the stars rearranged themselves again.
"The Three Oldest Gods gave the Outer Gods, Eldritch Gods, and Earthly Gods the power to create life. But the second condition—the rule of death—remained unanswered. The older gods already knew the answer for the first condition, and so they completed it first."
Tangen smirked. "That's when the gods started getting… creative, as they always do, because it was basically in their nature now. Well, I think it was becoming their nature, at the very least. From what I have seen, gods love to create, and even though 'SOME'—" he emphasized—"liked to destroy what they created."
The stick figures split apart, forming three new realms.
"The Eldritch Gods were the first to suggest a solution. They proposed a world that would test souls after death—a brutal, ever-changing place designed to push them to their absolute limits."
Maxi then heard Tangen mutter,
"Sadistic pricks."
He hit his chest, clearing his throat.
The stars spiraled violently, twisting into a chaotic, unstable mass.
"Then, the Outer Gods spoke. They suggested that once a soul had endured enough trials in that world, they should be given a choice—to ascend and become one with either the Eldritch, Outer, or Earthly Gods, transforming into something entirely new."
A calm, glowing sphere formed beside the chaotic mass, symbolizing transformation.
"Finally, the Earthly Gods made their own addition. What if souls had one last option—a place where they could exist forever, peacefully, without further trials or transformation? A world where they could simply rest and admire their sleeping grandfather, their creations' true great king, their great-grandfather, The King of Kings?"
Tangen's stars solidified into three distinct shapes.
"And so, three final realms were created."
He raised a hand, pointing to each one in turn.
"The Eldritch Gods built the first realm—The Thousand Spiraling Hells, a chaotic, ever-changing labyrinth of trials meant to break and rebuild every soul that passed through it."
Maxi shuddered at the name alone.
"The Outer Gods built the second realm—The Grave, a place where souls, after surviving the trials, would make their final choice: ascend and transform, or move on and finally rest."
And finally, Tangen's hand rested on the last realm.
"The Earthly Gods built the third realm—Heaven, a peaceful, eternal sanctuary, where souls could simply exist."
For a moment, the room was silent.
Then, with a flick of his wrist, Tangen clenched his hand, making all the floating stars disappear all at once.
"That's all I'm teaching you for now." He stretched, yawning slightly. "There's a lot more, but I don't feel like explaining everything in one go."
Maxi remained still, still lost in the composition of the story he had just heard.
Finally, he cleared his throat. "I have a question."
Tangen grinned. "Figures. Go ahead."
"How did you find all of this out?"
At that, Tangen chuckled, shaking his head.
"I was given a vision of it—directly from my gods' perspective. But most people? They learn it from."
Tangen paused for a second, then finally said,
"The Library of Sofia and Savia."