Chapter 4810: A Meeting in Alfheimr! I
Chapter 4810: A Meeting in Alfheimr! I
The Citadel of Yggdrasil’s Echo rose from the heart of Alfheimr like a living testament to the majesty of Existence itself.
The walls were woven from luminescent vines that had been cultivating since before The Infinite Unfurling, their leaves shimmering with colors that existed only in this Primordial Realm.
Bridges of solidified starlight connected the various towers, and waterfalls of liquid Mana cascaded from floating gardens that orbited the central structure like devoted moons around a radiant sun.
The inhabitants of this place were beings of breathtaking beauty and terrible power.
Ljósálfar, natives of Alfheimr, moved through the corridors with grace that transcended physical movement, their forms composed of light given flesh and purpose.
Some had wings of crystalline energy. Others bore antlers that branched into configurations that mapped the very Weavings of Existence. All of them radiated the unmistakable signature of THE Creature’s domain, beings who had been shaped by the authority of Existence itself across countless eons.
This was the realm where THE Creature had first risen.
This was the birthplace of the most powerful of THE Four.
And today, this citadel welcomed home one of its most beloved daughters.
THE Living Origin stood at the center of the Grand Processional Hall, surrounded by lifeforms who looked upon her with reverence that transcended mere respect.
THE First Hunger stood behind her with solemn vigilance, his crimson-obsidian eyes scanning the gathered crowd.
Multiple THE Surface Depth entities floated in the outer rings of the gathering, their presence adding weight to the ceremonial atmosphere. Intermediate Depth beings occupied the middle tiers, their authority contributing to the layered Immensity that filled the hall.
And circling closest to Origin herself, eight Fundamental Depth entities gazed upon her with eyes that held memories stretching back to ages she had nearly forgotten.
"Ljósmóðir returns!"
The cry went up from countless throats.
"The Mother of Light walks among us once more!"
Ljósmóðir.
It was a distinction that Origin had earned in ages past, when she had helped THE Creature learn of the foundations of what Alfheimr would become. She had been his companion then!
The procession swelled around her with joy that felt almost painful after so long in isolation.
Ljósálfar reached out to touch her robes as she passed, seeking connection with one they had mourned as lost.
The eight Fundamental Depth entities began to sing hymns of welcome.
And for just a moment, Origin allowed herself to feel something like peace.
Peace.
And yet...peace never did last long, did it?
BOOM!
The skies above quaked!
The crystalline spires of the citadel trembled!
The hymns of welcome died in throats that suddenly forgot how to produce sound!
Three figures descended from above.
THE Primordial Chaos came first, his form shifting constantly as reality itself seemed unable to decide what shape should contain him. His presence alone was enough to silence everything within the citadel, the sheer weight of his Absolute Depth pressing down on all present like the hand of something that had existed since before differentiation.
His gaze was calm and distant as if all of this had nothing to do with him, as if he was merely passing through on his way to matters of actual importance.
THE Living Emotive floated beside him, her body crackling with emotions that cycled faster than expressions could form, joy and malice and curiosity and hunger all competing for dominance across her features.
THE Living Elemental trailed behind them, his form shrouded by Phonemes of Fire, Air, Earth, and Water.
But moments after arriving, the calm and distant gaze of THE Primordial Chaos changed.
He frowned.
His shifting features settled into something focused as he looked at Origin, sensing something on her being that interested him.
Origin and Hunger looked up with heavy gazes at this moment as they observed the new entrants.
The eyes of Origin actually only glanced at Chaos before they locked onto Emotive.
And in the next moment, Emotive smiled brilliantly toward THE Living Origin with an expression that held joy and menace in equal measure.
Her figure moved forward like a flicker of light!
The power of an Absolute crashed down immensely!
All lifeforms nearby had color draining from their faces as they were all forced to kneel under pressure that transcended anything they had ever experienced. The Ljósálfar collapsed. The Surface Depth entities buckled. The Intermediate Depth beings fell to their knees with expressions of terror. Even the eight Fundamental Depth entities, ancient beings who had existed since before THE Fallout, found themselves pressing against the ground with effort that strained their very foundations.
And shockingly, even THE First Hunger trembled!
His crimson-obsidian flames blazed desperately as he sought to prevent being forced to kneel, his pride as one who had devoured Folds refusing to allow him to bow before anyone.
Emotive came before Origin with an utterly smiling expression.
And in the next moment...
"Haha, Origin! I thought you collapsed and were forgotten, but here you are!"
...!
After she said this, Emotive actually jumped forward and embraced Origin, wrapping her arms around the being she had not seen in eons and giving her a hug as if they were long-time friends reuniting after a brief separation!
She did all of this as in contrast, everything and everyone around her was shaking from her horrific pressure that continued to press down without mercy or restraint.
But in the next moment, with a calm wave from the hand of THE Primordial Chaos above, all of this pressure faded.
Chaos looked toward Emotive and said with a voice that carried absolute authority.
"Behave."
HUUM!
The pressure emerging from her immediately faded as Emotive pouted with an expression that cycled through irritation and amusement.
But she kept her gaze on Origin, who was staring at her coldly and without any emotions warming her white-gold eyes.
Emotive let go of her embrace as she looked over Origin up and down with a smile that evaluated and judged and found entertainment in what she observed.
"Man, so much has changed since I last saw you. A bit more fat here and there, but still so gorgeous..."
Her voice dripped with honeyed venom.
"You seem to be a bit weak as... who knew I would be among those to become an Absolute before the great Living Origin?"
She tilted her head with mock sympathy.
"I mean, I can sense your Depth fluctuating as this is..."
She breathed in deeply as if she smelled something from Origin.
And she smiled even wider after.
"Oh, that’s definitely the smell of THE Creature. Did he give you a little bit of something something after all this time?"
Her emotions cycled through delight and mockery.
"But one can only be given so much, as for Absolute, it ultimately has to be yourself... ah, no worries."
She paused as her prismatic eyes narrowed.
"But why do I also smell a uniqueness of The First Tongue within you?"
Her smile became something sharp.
"Is it... true that you jumped ship? Is it true that you went to... THE Youngest making waves?"
Her voice dropped to something almost intimate.
"Osmont?"
BOOM!