laid upon him. Do not wait for my servant to utter a single word before you profess your loyalty to me, or my promises to you will be revoked. Remember, Lasolias, you must shout my name to the heavens as soon as you see him. He will then use the shard to stop the war.” Alistar vanished.
Meanwhile, back on Ancients Sovereign, Lasidious was still holding the gods’ attention. “Celestria and I have found enough matter to create a new world for the dragons to call their own. As promised by this Collective, the dragons are to be rewarded for their treaty of peace that was established after the God Wars.”
Lictina, the lizardian goddess, stood from her seat. “Why were we not informed of your harvest?”
Lasidious smiled. “You were ... just now. You should know by now, my secrets are my own. More than 1000 seasons ago, Celestria and I sent for this matter to be retrieved by my Salvage Angels. They have since returned. They are only Peaks from being within range for us to take advantage of this opportunity.”
Gabriel lifted off the table and then floated into a better position to hover in front of Lasidious. “You cannot create this world unless you have enough matter to birth a star to warm it.”
Lasidious waved off Gabriel’s objection. “The matter to mold a new star isn’t available to us as of yet. But a new sun isn’t necessary to create.”
The Book reached up to rub his chin. “Then how do you intend to make the new world habitable without a sun? There would be no way to sustain life.”
Hosseff stood and added to the conversation. “There is another way, Gabriel.” After lowering his hood, the shade took his human form. “I’ve been looking forward to this Peak, Lasidious. Have your Salvage Angels returned with enough matter to add size to the worlds’ existing sun?”
The God of Mischief grinned. “There’s more than enough to accomplish the task. We are sharing the same mind, shade. Please ... explain it to the others.”
As usual, Mieonus had to add her scoffing remarks. “Oh, you must! Please inform those of us who are challenged and unable to understand that a larger sun will support another world. Perhaps our tiny, little minds are incapable of understanding that more space is necessary to position this new world in an orbit of its own. Please, wise and all-knowing Hosseff … can you explain how we will control this new world? I’m sure you’re not forgetting that Lasidious still controls the pieces of the Crystal Moon. You would never forget something like that.”
The Goddess of Hate redirected her gaze. “I’m sure you’re willing to do what it takes to keep the worlds from colliding, or why would you bother creating? But tell me, Lasidious, is there also enough matter to create moons for the worlds? I’m sure the shade could also explain how these moons could safely orbit their hosts.”
As Hosseff glared at Mieonus, Lasidious and Celestria laughed.
Gabriel was the first to speak. “I don’t find Mieonus’ remarks humorous.”
Lasidious responded. “Despite Mieonus’ rude way of addressing the situation, she has actually made a valid point.”
For a brief moment, Lasidious allowed Mieonus to enjoy his compliment, and then the Mischievous One continued. “Let’s talk candidly for a moment, shall we? It seems we all know, in light of current events, my game with the Crystal Moon was about gaining the followers I need to control Gabriel and rule this Collective. So now that you finally understand my plan, it appears the game with the Crystal Moon is no longer necessary. I say we end the contest and focus on creating the new dragon world.”
Lasidious pushed back his chair and began to stroll around the table. “Regarding the Crystal Moon, I’m willing to surrender all its pieces. I’ll place them on my statue inside the Temple of the Gods on Grayham, and then I’ll release control to Gabriel ... but under a few conditions.”
Again, Mieonus entered the conversation. “I find it very entertaining that you would have the nerve to make enemies of us all. You boast about your plan to control us as if you have no fear of what we’ll do to stop you.”
Lasidious chuckled. “You’re right, Mieonus, I don’t fear any of you at all.” An dastardly grin spread across the Mischievous One’s face. “Hmmmmm! I actually feel sorry for the members of this collective. But how I feel is irrelevant to our conversation, don’t you think?”
“Completely irrelevant,”