Chapter 62: The Power of Belief

Chapter 62: The Power of Belief

Chapter 62 - The Power of Belief

What do you think the Guide is, Kai? Virya asked.

Kais barely managed to suppress a shrug. Wouldnt it be nice to know? Not wanting to offend the mage, he tried to give it some thought. It was unlikely she expected a particular answer from him.

In the archipelago, people believe its the gift of the spirits to guide and protect us.

And what do you believe?

If the spirits were truly responsible, then it doesnt make sense how everyone else beyond our islands has access to the Guide too.

Virya nodded. Yes, there is hardly any religion that doesnt claim their pantheon is responsible for the Guide or at least its origin. Its better to avoid entering a theological debate with them. They dont usually take it very kindly when people point out the fallacies in their reasonings.

The simple truth is that no one knows for sure.

Thats very illuminating and helpful

That being said, Virya continued speaking giving him a meaningful glance, That doesn't mean we dont know anything.

Message received loud and clear. Kai schooled his expression.

Lets start from the very beginning. No records of a time before the Guide have ever been found. Its commonly accepted that it has always existed in every corner of Elydes. Countless theories have been brought forward over the millennia to explain its origin. Most didnt present more proof than the hubris of the authors and were soon forgotten, but a few stuck around. I met many scholars who dedicated their whole long lives to proving these theories. It would require years of study to properly grasp the topic.

Kai paled a little. Years? Why couldnt anything be simple?

Virya looked at him amused. Dont worry, child. I dont expect you to become an expert or even a novice in the subject. Ill make it very simple. Lets disregard any religious explanation. Have you noticed anything strange or unusual that could shed some light on the nature of the Guide?

Obviously, she cant just tell me. That would be too easy. No, she had to turn this into a test.

Sighing internally, Kai analyzed the question. The problem wasnt finding something unusualhis existence was an oddity in and of itselfbut identifying what Virya was looking for amidst all the bizarre events he had witnessed. Magic and thousands of other things appeared unusual to him.

Something thats weird about the Guide How about everything? Just miss an HP bar and it would look like a game interface.

Kai racked his brains for an answer but couldnt find anything that satisfied him. He could bet it must be something so obvious he would never think of it. Virya had gone back to browsing her book as she waited for an answer. Kai wasnt going to complain, it beat having her stare at him the whole time.

Do you want me to give you the answer? Virya raised her eyes from the tome and asked after a few minutes.

No, Kai snapped before realizing who was standing before him. I mean, its not necessary. I can do this.

The mage gave him a long look. Ill give you a hint

Thank the spirits.

Its definitely something you noticed.

Wow, that is so helpful

It wouldnt be the end of the world if he failed to answer correctly, but it would hurt his pride. Wasting time on pointless speculations had been half his life. Virya told him he knew the answer, but finding the right nugget amidst the sea of junk was all but easy.

Focusing on Meditation, Kai quieted his swirling thoughts.

Come on. Think brain. How can she be so sure I know the answer?

Recalling the exact wording she had used for her initial question, Kai realized he neglected a particular detail. Together with her hint, it pointed in a very clear direction.

Spirits, Im an idiot.

As Ive said. They are just theories.

Its fascinating, isnt it? Keep in mind that no definitive evidence has been found yet. Its all speculation for now. There is still so much to say, but I have given you enough to think about for a while.

A few hundred times more than enough.

Lets wrap this up, going back to our initial question: how do gods, Favor and the Guide link together.

Oh, boy. I need a new brain.

One of the few certainties is that peoples thoughts have power and a direct impact on the world. Not only that, the convictions of entities long gone still have ramifications today. Ill skip over the details for your sake. We can go back to this another day.

May the spirits be blessed.

From those two assumptions and a few others, people have long hypothesized the existence of a realm overlapping with our own, where all the beliefs and thoughts of the planet's inhabitants gather. It has many names, some call it the Cognitive or Hyperial realm, the place of dreams and ideas. The collective consciousness of Elydes.

Most scholarly circles have accepted its existence. Some people go as far as to claim its more than a theoretical concept used to describe a complicated phenomenon, but a real place you can go and visit. I still have my doubts. Most believe they are just the ravings of some lunatics who drank too many recreational potions. What I know is that even if its not something you can visit, its existence would explain a lot of things.

How the Guide can work and evolve, reaching every corner of the planet. How something esoteric like Favor could work. And how gods are just being that have gotten access to this realm and learned to siphon part of its power.

Kai felt like his head was about to explode. Too many thoughts and speculations were screaming for his attention. This has gotten too abstract and abstruse.

I wasnt joking when I said you would need years of study to get even an initial understanding of all of this. I believe this is enough for now. Is everything clear? Virya said with a smirk.

No, its not.

Gathering his thoughts, Kai left aside all the complicated theoretical implications and focused on what he really needed to know. What was the knowledge that could actually help him?

So, to create a god is it enough that a group of people believe it and puff, a new wild god has appeared?

Virya burst out laughing. You should be careful with casual blasphemy. Obviously, its more complicated than that. There are several conditions for a divine entity to be born. Convincing a lot of people into believing you are one, its not enough. Maybe if you had millions of years and millions of sapient beings at your command that could work.

The mage turned more serious. Any trace of mirth gone from her face. As Ive said, this is a very delicate subject. I guess you can imagine how its going to end if the wrong people learn that you know of this.

Getting killed would probably be the most merciful end. It was quite surprising Virya had shared this with him. Or was she confident enough not to worry even if someone discovered it?

I think you know enough to get into trouble. We can wait a few years for the rest. It would be very inconvenient if you caused a crusade to eradicate the misbelievers on the archipelago.

Kai gulped. There had been no hint that it was a joke.

Anything else? Virya's tone made it clear the right answer was no.

What about my blessing? That had been the initial question.

What about it? How much Favor did you get?

Hesitating for a moment Kai answered. Three.

Virya raised an eyebrow. That is more than I thought. For a small local deity that must have been a considerable cost. You must have made an impression or Tell me you didnt make a vow?

Maybe It was something very generic. What happens if I break it? Do the spirits take their blessings back? Kai asked, getting a bad feeling.

Just dont break it and everything should be fine, Virya said, standing up and slowly walking away.

What is going to happen if I break it? Kai asked again, more panicked this time.

Virya smiled at him. The next second, she was gone.