Chapter IV – While The Innocent Rest

“While the innocent rest cradled safely in bed, the wicked work for those we dread.”

-Ancient proverb, supposedly popularised before the rise of the Four Kingdoms.

—

Takhris gently lay down the unconscious girl on the eight-sided bed as the door to the now-dark floor closed by itself. He had suspected that something like this could happen, though he had also hoped it would not. Manipulating the air around Exa to release the straps and catches that held the scorched remains of her armour around the girl, he carefully removed the mangled pieces one by one and cast them aside. Once he was sure that she had not hurt herself too badly, he used the control panel to dim the lights in the room and set off a soft symphony that would help Exa rest easier. Then, knowing there was nothing for him left to do at the moment, he stepped through the spheres into a bedroom belonging to the most beautiful child of the world.

The child sits on the warmly-coloured carpet, knees tucked underneath and nimble hands stacking blocks in patterns that would have seemed to have no logic behind them to one not knowing how to look at them. In measured movements the figures that lay on the carpet receive new shapes and meanings, each supplying unique threads to the stories woven which held secrets that even Takhris could only guess at. Occasionally, when lithe fingers capture one of the pieces, it changes or disappears altogether, the number and appearance of the shapes in constant flux.

Noting the soft glow in the horizon beyond the open balcony, Takhris greeted the child with a simple, “Good morning, Errata. Having fun?”

The child’s head turns up to face him with a glowing smile, speaking a courteous reply in a flawlessly melodic voice, confirming that they are, in fact, having fun. Errata continues by asking if Takhris agrees that the shape their hands are currently dancing to create is beautiful, being a direct representation of the social interactions of a community of true salamanders in a volcano near the area popularly known as the Looloq Gap.

Approaching to study the morphing display spread on the fluffy floor, Takhris looked closer and saw how a recent bubble in the magma flow had brought the tribe a new source of food and that now the creatures were celebrating. Time after time, he found himself fascinated by Errata’s abilities, though they had first met a long time ago, not much after Errata had acquired the seeds of the gift and curse that was now mostly under the control of the child. Unable to resist the temptation like always – he was almost certain that it was the strongest reason Errata had chosen the form that would have put a cherub to shame – he stroked the child’s immaculate hair, receiving in turn another heart-moving smile.

Allowing the pieces to move by themselves, Errata turns their whole body toward him and asks how the girl is. There is no hint of regret or apology in Errata’s voice just like there had not been in aeons. For such an exquisite voice, such total lack of emotion should by all means be disharmonious but strangely manages not to lose even a fraction of its perfection.

“She’s as well as could be expected after what she was suddenly put through,” Takhris replied with a shrug and a smile. “She was not as ready as I wished she would have been, but for now, I suppose I’m pleased that nothing worse happened to her. After all, most who have to endure that stage, no matter how great their souls have grown, cannot handle what they see their and break apart.”

Errata pulls out a long cushioned stick from her loose sleeve and hits the man on the head with it, saying that he should know better than to not trust their judgement in such matters and that he should have more confidence in the girl, considering the potential she has that made him personally join her as her guide.

“Oh?” Takhris looked at her with mischievous grin. “And here I was, worried that you might be jealous.”

Flashing their defectless tongue and pouting impeccably, Errata explains in no-nonsense terms that while they may or may not be jealous of not being the full focus of all Takhris’ affections, there is absolutely no question about whether or not they know what they are doing. Besides, Errata would never do such things mean-spiritedly, but rather to ensure that the other objects of his affections are worthy. If they are not, then Errata would be saddened by his disappointment.

Smiling at the child’s reply, Takhris grabbed them into a sudden hug, holding Errata a bit off the floor before they could react to the surprise and wrap their arms around him to squeeze tightly.

This is a rare joy for Errata as the man is normally dreadfully busy what with being only in one place at any given moment and thus they are not very pleased when the man lets go after only an hour. Errata understands, though, as she knew that he could feel the silent alarm notifying that Exa is about to wake up.

However, Errata was caught by surprise again as the pair let go of one another when Takhris kissed his child-shaped friend on the forehead, making her blush in a completely uncharacteristic manner. Ruffling Errata’s head, he stood up and with a wink promised, “Don’t worry, I’ll make all of this up to you ten-fold.” Having said that, he stepped back into the room where his protégée was finishing her sleep.

—

Errata stares after him for a long while, once again reminding themself that of all the things they know of this reality, he is not a part of that set. With a noise of glee that feels like a throwback to ancient times when they were truly young, Errata’s body continues to index the lizards’ lives with only a fraction of her mind paying attention to the process that subtly slips from mere observation, leading to the volcano to become a paradise for the fire-loving creatures. The rest of the deity’s immeasurable consciousness resumes its usual activities such as guiding the abundance of magical beasts that roam the planet, ensuring that they do not fight amidst themselves and keep the so-called civilised races in check.