Part 4
Eren and Eigengrau sat in the now deserted cabin, long after Sirene and Rebecca left.
"So, a name?" Eigengrau stated.
"It had been long enough. Something about this kalpa feels different from the rest." Eren said, gesturing around. "It's like we're either reaching the end of an era, or entering the start of a new one."
"So many things have changed, yes." Eigengrau answered, giving a slight smile. "Neptis, Vordea, so much is shifting."
"I'm not sure how I feel about a female form, though." Eren said, looking themselves over. "Besides, we're a bit Goddess heavy, aren't we?"
"Now that you mention it, yes." Eigengrau said. "But, does this mean you'll be letting the others know?"
"Oh mercy me, no!" Eren said, holding their hand over their mouth as they laughed. "I don't want them to know you've been borrowing my power. You can keep using it, but Vordea's definitely figured it out already."
"How can you be so sure?" Eigengrau questioned.
"Believe me, she knows." Eren said, shaking their head. "Vordea always knows. Look how she figured out the banshees immediately. Or when you talked to her about Hargrave. She can read you like an open book."
"Should we just stop postponing the inevitable, then?" Eigengrau asked. "I could go get her."
Eren nodded, so Eigengrau briefly stepped away and returned with a slightly confused Vordea.
"Yes what's this all about?" Vordea asked. "I do have things to do from time to time, you know."
"Hello Vordea, it's well past time I properly introduce myself." Eren answered, standing up and offering a hand. "I'm Eren, the God of Time."
Vordea just smirked as she shook Eren's hand. "The reclusive God reveals himself at long last. Eigen put you up to this?"
It was Eren's turn to smirk. "Oh my, no. This kalpa has been quite intriguing, so I finally named myself. For so many millions of years, I've barely been a concept."
"Eigengrau will continue to represent my purview." Eren said, gesturing at Eigengrau. "Let's keep my existence limited to the Primals. If Agbus needs to meet me, he will."
Vordea looked thoughtful for a moment, then began to draw on the table.
"So, the potential of numbers." She said out loud. "Four primals, five inners. The divisible prime. Multiplicative roots. Four and five is nine and twenty. The root of evil and the exponent of delay. The old potentials were as follows. Three primals, four inners. Indivisible prime. Three and four were seven and twelve. Prime and divisible." She paused, and took a step back.
"Something on your mind?" Eren asked, still seated. "Five inners? I suppose you mean Neptis, but that will not be for quite some time yet."
"I do mean her, yes. In any case the pantheon is unstable. The third potential must be indivisible. But how to fix this?"
"Four and seven are eleven and twenty-eight." Eigengrau answered plainly. "The second potential cannot be six, or the third will be ten."
"Two more? You're sure?" Vordea asked.
"Account for the fifth and sixth, Vordea." Eren offered. "With four and six, the fifth and sixth are thirty-four and the tower."
"The tower? Indeed a problem, yes. With four and seven the fifth and sixth are..." Vordea paused to draw some more. "Thirty-nine and the wheel."
"Promotion of an outer?" Eigengrau asked. Vordea nodded.
"None of the others will be happy, but stability is paramount." Vordea answered. "I'll bring it up once we're ready."