Birth

Eigengrau was quite annoyed it took another 7 years until the child was born. She probably should have checked that when she was walking this path. 9 years of pregnancy was certainly something she wasn't expecting, but least she managed to hide it from the mortals.

She decided to return to the pond she talked to Sirene in that time for the birth, and while she didn't ask them to, both Vordea and Vaust came along.

"Vaust, what about your Inn?" Eigengrau asked, as she sat naked in the water of the pond.

"It's winter, Eigen. I asked Sirene to take care of it for awhile." Vaust answered. "Worry about yourself right now."

"I do not actually feel pain from this." Eigengrau stated.

"Oh?" Vordea asked.

"Pain is a mortal response to avoid injury, Vordea." Eigengrau answered. "All I feel is the contractions as the birth nears."

"I just had a thought." Vaust said, to which Vordea and Eigengrau looked over at him. "If the pregnancy took 12 times as long, 9 years instead of 9 months, how long is the labour going to last?"

---

Eigengrau was even more annoyed that labour lasted nearly a week, but finally her child was born. The God of Winter, Irnia. She regarded him fondly as he suckled on her breast in the pond.

"Congratulations to the both of you." Vordea said warmly, while wearing her black gown. "Shall we go introduce him to the mortals?"

"Not just quite yet. Let us all rest in peace here first." Eigengrau said, cradling the infant God.

"The first new outer God in over a thousand years." Vaust said with a smile.

Vordea knelt down and touched Irnia's forehead. She smiled and nodded her head before standing back up.

"Yes, his domain is set. He is the God of Winter. How fitting." Vordea said.

Before Eigengrau could reply, the 3 of them noticed bubbling coming from the pond. Eigengrau held Irnia closer and narrowed her eyes.

"Someone is coming." She said.

"Who?" Vaust asked.

"Her." Vordea replied.

Emerging from the pond wearing a long white coat, Mira Frost approached the 4 Gods with a gentle smile on her face.

"So this isturning whatof the wheel has woken me up.me." Mira said, kneeling down to look at Irnia, while Eigengrau held him tightly. "Relax Eigen, I meancome you no harm.unarmed."

"You told me if you came back it is for good." Eigengrau said, her voice wavering.

"That was just a threat. Since I'm here, Vordea it'It's good to see you.you, me." Mira said, looking over at Vordea. "My legacy of terror, you have beenexceeded everythingall a creator could have ever asked of their creation.hope."

Vordea said nothing, and merely bowed her head.

"Eigengrau, you have filled the roleunwilling you were thrust into marvellously.God. I am genuinely pleased at all you have done, especially befriending my stubborn creation, Vordea.me."

"You are welcome." Eigengrau replied, deciding to be cordial.

"Hmmm. You are... Vaust, if I'm not mistaken.Luck." Mira said, looking over Vaust. "I believe youYou met my memory at the dawn of this kalpa.dawn."

"How did you know that?" Vaust asked.

"Because you recognized me. Eigengrau has chosen well." Mira said, placing a hand on Vaust's shoulder. "Eigengrau, as I would prefer to not wake up every time you have a child, I am giving one of you a portion ofup my power."

"What?" Eigengrau asked.

Mira reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a small vial full of a glittering blue liquid. She shook the vial for a few seconds, and then handed it to Eigengrau. "If you choose to accept it, thisThis will give you the power to defy reality."

The world around them began to flicker and distort as Mira talked, and she took notice.

"Ah, it appears my time is up. I do enjoy what you've built here, so I will return to the dreamless sleep of death." Mira said, pulling out a knife from another pocket. "Until next time."

With those words, Mira stabbed the knife into her throat in a single swift motion, and fell to the ground, before fading away. Eigengrau and Vordea looked at the vial of liquid Mira left them.

"Defy reality? What did she mean by this?" Eigengrau asked.

Vordea appeared stone still, as she knew exactly what Mira meant. It was one of the last times Mira had ever talked to her, before the end. Slowly she took the vial from Eigengrau's hand.

"Vordea? What's wrong you look terrified." Vaust asked.

"I know what this vial is. The power to defy reality. She's left us a fucking curse." Vordea said, handing the vial to her tentacles. "This is what turned her into the Corpse King."

"What do you mean?" Eigengrau asked. "Was not she always a reality warper?"

"No." Vordea stated. "This is an old memory. Perhaps my oldest memory. This is a memory of Carcosa. When Mira Frost was still... that's right, what was her title?"

"Vordea, I know you have perfect recall." Eigengrau stated.

"Only in this universe. My memories of Carcosa are hazy, and incomplete. Of course. Fleet Admiral Mira Frost. The last commander of the last fleet. They knew the universe was dying, and in desperation created me. A being meant to survive past the end, and to shape the next universe." Vordea's eyes were glazed over, as if she was in a trance. "I haven't thought about this in... well, a very long time indeed."

"How long?" Vaust asked.

"Eigengrau's apotheosis was in Kalpa 12. We're currently in... well that's not really important. It's a big number, that's all you need to know."

At this point, Eigengrau decided to get out of the pond, still holding Irnia, who was now soundly asleep. Vaust carefully helped her into her grey robes, and she cradled the sleeping God in her arms.

"Let's take him to the Inn." Vordea suggested.

"A good idea." Eigengrau said. "Let us proceed."