…What in the world was a Deva?

  I inspected the word within my mind while I thought of how to reply. As a word it certainly seemed to think highly of itself, at least that's what my instincts were telling me. Deva... Was that the proper name for whatever the Voice was? Its name was Etar, I'd heard it say that... But maybe Etar was a Deva the same way Morrígan was a Vampire..? Or something like that, at least. What surprised me was the fact that I hadn’t ever even considered the fact that the Voice might be something that existed outside of being a way I could interact with the system, or the fact that Morrígan might know about them. Which in hindsight was pretty stupid of me as she was hundreds of years old and been using the system for all that time; it made sense that she’d have interfaced with the Voice at some point. That did nothing to explain what was so special about it though to cause such a reaction.

  …Actually, why was I wasting time thinking back and forth to myself when I could just ask her directly.

  What's a Deva? I sent.

  The vampire looked surprised at the question, probably having expected me to answer her question rather than reply with one of my own, but she gathered herself quickly and answered.

  “Devas are gods.” She said, with a tone that implied that should be explanation enough in and of itself. Which it wasn't really. I'd heard the word before during some of my Challenges, but I wasn’t a hundred percent clear on what it meant. I thought back for a moment, trying to recall when and what I'd heard about them. As far as I could remember the Gods were a group of people, or at least people adjecent, that were so important as to be revered, though how much of that reverence they had varied. Beyond that general tidbit of information though it wasn’t exactly clear what was true, as the word had come up in a very different contexts depending on who said it.

  “Of the gods, Devas are the ones that actually interact with us mortals." Morrígan continued, cutting off my train of thought and pulling me back to the conversation. "They were called ‘The voices of the System’ in the circles within the Elorian Empire that were well versed enough in pantheonic matters to designate them with a specific name apart from the High Three. Most people just call the gods ‘the gods’ and don’t distinguish between the ranks at all.” She paused.

  That definitely sounds like it could be the same thing that spoke to me. I sent, then paused. Who are the High Three? I sent curiously.

  Morrígan blinked. “I don’t really know any details.” She said after a moment. “Us mortals barely interact even with the Deva, and I’m not aware of anyone ever having personally interacted with one of the High Three. Everything we know about them is due to a conversation with a Deva having happened in the past. We know Lady Nerian created the world, and that Lord Silex made the System, because they told us. But beyond beings of myth the High Three are rarely mentioned in day to day life. Deva's though, while rare, do occasionally interfere. I’ve heard of them acting as saviors, arbitrators, and even quest givers in times of great need. There are more churches and temples around the continent that worship them than worship the Three, despite the fact that as far as I know they’ve never actively encouraged that sort of behaviour.”

  What about the third of the Three? What did they do? I sent.

  Morrígan furrowed her brows in thought. “I know nothing about the Third beyond the fact that he exists and is 'The second brother'. I don’t even know his name, or the role he played in the world’s creation." She paused. "But I think we’ve strayed way too far off topic. I was the one that asked you to explain what happened originally.” She said pointedly.

  Ah, right. I sent apologetically. Morrígan just sighed. I thought back to the conversation I’d had with the Voice.

  There’s nothing much to say, really. I sent. I made my Edict that made it so everyone had to Challenge my Floors in order, and then the Voice came and started asking questions about it.

  Morrígan was silent for a few seconds as she processed what I’d said. “...I’m sure there’s more to it than that.” She paused. “Wait... What do you mean you require people to Challenge your Floors in order? The way you said that seems more… fundamental than simply removing the portals you put in earlier, or am I mistaken?”

  You are not mistaken. I said proudly. I had that idea too first, but that wouldn’t really solve the problem. The issue I had was with the Challengers showing a lack of engagement with the story, and just forcing them to slaughter through Floors many Tiers lower than they are aren’t going to get them any more interested.

  “It’d do the opposite probably, yeah.” Morrígan said with a nod.

  Exactly. But I did want to find a way to stop them skipping Floors. So I figured the best way to solve both problems would be if they weren’t higher tier than the Floors they were Challenging. So now they are limited to the Tier of the lowest Floor they have yet to complete, making skipping ahead impossible.

  Morrígan’s face grew a shade paler. “I had no idea that was even possible.” She said faintly. She glanced towards the entrance to the fifth.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  I gave a mental shrug. The Voice thought something similar. Though rather than it being strictly impossible he was more surprised that I had been able to do it. Personally though I don’t see what the big deal is. It wasn’t exactly difficult.

  Morrígan narrowed her eyes in the direction of my Core. “Not difficult you say…” She shook her head and once again started pacing back and forth. “Was the Voice… angry?” She asked after a minute

  Not really. He just talked, and mostly not even to me. I sent. I paused as I thought back to what Morrígan said earlier. Now that I’m thinking about it, he did talk to someone called Nerian. I only caught a bit of the conversation though, and only from his side. It was almost like I was… overhearing it through a spotty connection. Some of his words came through, but not all.

  “...You ‘overheard’ a conversation between a Deva and one of the High Three?” Morrígan said, dazed.

  I sent a mental nod. Pretty much. Though only one side of it. The Voice, I heard him call himself Etar, seemed… I paused, searching for the right word. …Incredulous might be the best word to describe it, about the Edict thing. He didn't really explain why or anything though.

  Morrígan was silent for several seconds before responding. “And you’re sure you didn’t do something to offend them or anything? Because I live here too.” She asked hesitantly.

  I don’t think so. I said after thinking about it for a moment. He was definitely confused, but didn’t seem angry. Frustrated perhaps, exaserbated definitely, but neither directed towards me. I paused. Why are you so concerned? What could I even have done?

  Morrígan hesitated for a few seconds, then spoke hesitantly. “Sorry, what you said the Edict did just hit a bit close to home…” She swallowed, then shook her head. “It’s probably not the same thing since the Deva didn’t smite you or anything, but Tier manipulation like that is quite similar to what my family tried to do with…” She glanced down towards the fifth again, then sighed. “It’s one of the effects the Aberrant can have on us, breaking down the rules of how the System functions and causing us to lose our connection to it.”

  …Oh. Yeah, I guess thats something worth freaking out about. I might owe the Voice an apology.

  ***

  Noracin walked with hasty steps and arrived at the front door of the recently completed Guildhall right as the Hallmaster and her assistant came rushing out. She gave him a cursory glance, then gestured for him to follow and continued towards the Dungeon. He slowed for half a step, then spun around to follow behind the pair. Katherine turned towards her assistant... ‘Yerin’ he thought her name was, and begun to speak.

  “Send a message to Samuel to meet us at the Dungeon. He and I’ll try and find out what happened with the Order’s Challenge - he’s got a good relationship with them so it should make things easier. Make sure to let him know to make absolutely certain that the Order didn’t do something they shouldn’t have and cause… whatever it is the Dungeon did this time.” Katherine said.

  “Yes, Hallmaster.” Yerin said, taking out what seemed to be a message stone from her pocket. “I’ll let him know.”

  “I'm sending you into the Dungeon itself to try to figure out if this new Edict, if that’s what this is, is dangerous or not.” She turned towards Noracin. “I’m still on the automatic blacklist, and I don’t want to waste time sitting around waiting to be approved, so I want you to go in with Yerin. You can tell her if you feel something’s changed inside… again.” She sighed out the last word.

  "Understood." Noracin said.

  They walked briskly forward in silence, weaving around people, tents and carts alike. Most stepped aside at the sight of the expression on the Hallmasters face, and those that couldn't made hasty apologies as they walked around them. The Outpost built around the Veos Dungeon still wasn't all that large, so even with the increased mass of people milling about due to the wave the Dungeon had sent out making everyone curious they quickly made it to the staging area around the actual Dungeon entrance. There several parties from the Order seemed to have already gathered around the recent Challenger group. Even the Bishop was there, the middle aged looking man seeming to sense them coming and looking up. He gave a curt nod in greetings, probably to the Hallmaster, then turned back town to his conversation with what had to be the recent Order Challenger party. Noracin frowned. There were fewer of them than there should be, and as far as he could see Boltar was nowhere to be found. That could not be a good sign. The Hallmaster obviously thought the same, because she quickly ordered them to continue on to the actual entrance while she veered off to go speak to the Bishop.

  Back when Noracin had been in the Order Boltar had been making a quick rise through the ranks, becoming a member of the Inquisitors junior troops before even reaching Tier 2. He rarely saw the man when he wasn't training, and though he couldn't remember them ever speaking more than polite greetings to each other, he'd heard enough from rumors to know how strong the man was. And Noracin was sure any other members of his party wouldn't be far from him in talent, dedication, or skill. If even they failed the Challenge... That did not bode well for the success rate of this particular Dungeon. At least some of them made it out. And it wasn't like he could do anything to help at this point, beyond sending a quick prayer their way to wish the dead good fortune for the Great Journey.

  He was roused from his ponderings by them arriving at the Dungeons entrance, and a stray thought arriving in his head.

  Find out what happened here, Discoverer.

  Noracin frowned. Where had that thought come from? It had just appeared out of nowhere. A part of him didn't even feel like it had belonged to him, but come from somewhere else. But he hadn't ever heard of any telepathic skill which could be made to sound like someone elses thoughts. He supposed it was a possibility, though an unlikely one. At least until the System window appeared in front of his face.