BOOK 5: CHAPTER 4: - GOD KING

“As you all know by now,” Ellis said, the left side of his face lit by the rising sun, “upon Fischer’s completion of two quests yesterday, the System gifted him several rewards. Most obvious are the changes to the village—including the upgrades to the theatre you currently sit within. But that’s not why you’re all here…”

Tension rose as he trailed off. No one said a word, yet the accumulated scrape of feet and shifting of bodies bounced off the half-amphitheatre’s walls, the individually quiet sounds numerous enough to become a roar. Only when it settled did Ellis continue.

“Whatever you might assume, let me assure you, the breadth, scope, and implications are likely beyond your most-ambitious of estimations.”

He paused again. This time, there wasn’t a single sound. I craved the knowledge more than I could describe. In spite of that need, something else tugged at my thoughts.

“He’s saying the same words with the same cadence as before,” Maria whispered into my mind, voicing it for me. “But it seems cool now.”

“Right? How is he doing that?”

As if he’d heard us, he removed a pipe from his pocket. The bowl lit itself when he puffed on it, a soft red glow visible even beneath the day’s brightness. He filled his chest, savored the moment, then exhaled a thin stream of smoke to the side in an annoyingly cool manner.

So fast that only those with advanced cultivation could notice, he shot Maria and me a warning glance before returning his attention to the crowd. We shared an oh shit look, both unwilling to hide our amusement.

“Unfortunately,” Ellis said, “I cannot reveal all. Not yet, anyway. To ease your minds, let me say this: There is no hierarchy at play. The information I withhold is not just being withheld from you, but the rest of Tropica as well—especially Fischer. Can you please confirm, Theo?”

“Truth!”

“With that disclaimer out of the way,” Ellis continued, “there are many things that I can reveal. First, as some of you might have already heard following the events of yesterday morning, the water gods betraying this world is a lie, but not a complete one.”

Hundreds of exclamations and mutterings answered this claim. Ellis had expected it; he let the clamour rise and fall before speaking again.

“They did not turn their back on this world, but they did betray the divine gods—only, however, after those treacherous ascendants abandoned their oaths, the heavens, and every soul living in the Kallis realm.”

I already knew this much, but as the din once more swelled and died, I found myself leaning forward, drawn in regardless.

“The gods of the divine—those who called themselves the ‘divine forces’…” Ellis’s mouth twisted in disgust. He took a tiny puff of his pipe, circulated chi through his core, then let out a slow, calming sigh. “The divine forces wanted more than they already had. For the sake of brevity, I will summarize a few points.

“Gods in this realm gain power not only from the world as cultivators, spirit beasts, or elementals do, but also from their faithful. The more followers they have, along with the strength of said followers, the stronger they grow. Factions can also be formed. Say five gods are separate, and each has one follower, they will be better off forming a faction if they are closely aligned. They won’t each receive one-hundred percent of each follower’s faith, however. The calculation is both exceedingly complex and still up for debate, but one thing is certain: The more followers a faction has, the swifter they can ascend. So, if a planet’s pantheon were able to form a single faction…”

Gods above, I thought as implications sprouted then bloomed like bloody roses, their thorns deadly and catching. I had to fight down a wave of nausea.

“I see that most of you understand the meaning of what I just said, but let me state it plainly for clarity’s sake: The divine gods spearheaded a campaign to unify this entire realm under one faction. It is unclear if the gods of water—those called the allied forces—were only pretending to go along from the start, but…” Ellis trailed off, glancing beside me.

Cal, in a gesture entirely too adorable for a horror from the deep—but just the right amount of cute for a bloke named ‘Cadet Calamari’—had raised a tentacle.

“Yes, Cal?”

“May I add context to that statement?”

Ellis gave a thoughtful nod. “So long as it only pertains to the knowledge of this realm…”

Cal nodded back. “From what I have learned, the gods of water went along with it willingly at first. It was presented as something to try. A gambit for power that, if it failed, would be abandoned. But then…”

“The divine gods did not stray from the path when it did fail, like they promised they would,” Ellis surmised.

“Just so.”

The man before us swallowed to hide his anger. “As expected—but I digress. Just as gods of water were generally ascended from spirit beasts and elementals, the divine gods almost exclusively came from human cultivators. When it became clear that spirit beasts and elementals could not—or would not—become the faithful of this new faction, whose identity too-closely resembled human sensibilities, a solution was presented.”

“Frack me…” I said, his words confirming my fears.

Ellis’s unfathomable gaze met mine. Sadness, fury, acceptance, and countless other emotions roiled behind his eyes. “You recall your deduction from weeks ago, Fischer? The one about why spirit beasts were feared by cultivators?”

“They go mad like old Rocky. He awakened by nibbling on that bloke who, despite having already carked it, hitched a ride within Rocky’s core. It was only a part of him, but it was the worst part.”

Ellis nodded. “As with all troublesome propaganda, there is a grain of truth in that, which the divine forces twisted beyond recognition. Some spirit beasts and elementals did go mad, but only when they adopted the mind of those they ate. Some were evil to begin with, of course—that is just how any population works.” I could feel Ellis’s stare boring into me; he knew I was connecting the dots. He exhaled a cloud of smoke, his mouth trying to tug into a snarl as his calming circulation of chi fell apart. “Aye, Fischer. It’s as you suspect.”

My mind raced. The shock of it all made me lose hold of my otherwise controlled senses. Waves of confusion washed down from all around me. Ellis was still grappling with his emotions, so I explained.

“Self-propagating and self-fulfilling propaganda. The divine gods set up spirit beasts and elementals as the bad guys, suggesting they were inferior and untrustworthy. As a result, people hunted them down—especially those that are already a little loopy and inclined toward violence. If the cultivators lose and get eaten… the spirit beast might become influenced by their personality…”

“And then the divine gods have more examples to point to,” Ellis continued, “drawing ever-increasing numbers of humans to their side. As Fischer so eloquently said: ‘Self-propagating and self-fulfilling’. Brilliant, really. With each spirit beast and elemental eliminated, it would leave more natural chi for human cultivators to absorb, farther pushing divine traitors toward the peak of ascension.”

Fathom nodded, glancing at Cal beside him. “Just as we surmised, then later confirmed. These tomes are factual, Archivist Ellis.”

“Truth,” Theo repeated numbly. “All of it.”

I barely heard him. I was still mulling over the title Fathom had given Ellis. It was correct, wasn’t it? Ellis had gone full circle. He’d become an archivist again, but this time, it wasn’t just a profession—it was a purpose, the ideal his very identity had latched onto, facilitating his recent breakthrough and the creation of some kinda soul library.

Absentmindedly, I felt whispers of the myriad emotions washing down from everyone filling the stands. I closed myself off to them once more and returned to the present. “How long did this go on for? Centuries?”

“Millenia, actually. The divine gods were careful—methodical—hiding their actions by disseminating these lies through countless cults, all of which they started themselves by wearing false faces, pretending to be fledgeling gods. I believe you know the pair behind it…”

“Dolos and Apate,” Fathom and Cal hissed before I could, their cores and limbs writhing.

“We will come back to them. First, we need to go in a different direction for a moment.” A plume of smoke left Ellis’s mouth, the biggest I’d seen him release. Despite everything, he wore the hint of a grin. “There is a single thing revealed in the tomes that I have been leaning on above all other positives to ease my troubled thoughts. Care to take a guess, Fathom? Cal?”

I didn’t need to extend my senses to tell they knew exactly what he was talking about.

“Archivist Ellis…” Cal said, the tips of his limbs twitching about. “I believe you should have the honor. I cannot imagine how hard it has been learning all you have in so little time.”

“Agreed,” Fathom rumbled. “We know what you speak of, and we are glad it grants reprieve. I hope it does the same for everyone.”

I smiled at the two brothers. That exchange alone was a source of joy to latch onto. Ellis blinked down at them, and I didn’t waste the seconds of downtime; I spent them practicing my gratitude for the thoughtful and kind souls I’d become surrounded by—old, new, and those yet to come. All my animal pals must have felt it, because they echoed similar sentiments my way, especially the three still nestled in my lap.

Abruptly, Ellis’s grin appeared in full, his teeth flashing and laugh-lines forming near his temples. “Thank you. I will gladly share. The revelation I adore most is the method with which the gods of water enacted their betrayal. By the time they realized it was the divine forces behind all the upstart cults, it should have been too late. So many of the realm’s spirit beasts and elementals had been driven mad or snuffed out that if they split from the singular faction, they’d have been annihilated immediately—they wouldn’t have enough followers. Enough faith.

“It’s something Tropica has used extensively, actually. Something… beautiful.” His eyes swam with meaning as he glanced around, his stare settling on me, waiting for my understanding to blossom.

“No way!” I yelled. “Don’t tell me anime was right all along?”

Ellis blinked at me. “What?”

“Extensively used and beautiful. You’re talking about the power of friendship, aren’t you? I bloody knew it. At first I thought you were referencing Maria, but—”

She whapped my arm. “Excuse me? Extensively used?”

“You cut me off! I was about to say that doesn’t make sense because you’re not extensively used. You’re the most-beautiful thing in Tropica, though, so you can’t blame me for thinking of you.”

“Hmmm.” She lowered the hand she’d raised again in threat. “Good recovery, but I’ve got my eye on you.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way. Gonna need some more hints though, Ellis. We have plenty of things oft used and pretty to look at.”

I’d hoped to inject a little levity, and I was glad to see it worked. Ellis’s grin remained. “Very well. How is this, then?” He leaned forward and peered down at the three animals in my lap. “Corporal Claws is quite fond of—”

“Clams!” she screamed so loud that my brain vibrated. “Are clams the key to power? Is that why I’m the strongest of all the animal pals? It’s the only possibility! My nat—”

She cut off as violence pulsed from another of the creatures resting against me. Rather than come from a single soul, however. It came from hundreds, each of them sharing in their master’s indignation. Snips blew a slew of bubbles that contained the rage of each crustacean within her, daring Claws to continue.

The otter audibly gulped. RPM’s top half shot from her pocket, the raccoon hugging her tight as he stared wide-eyed at the animosity and power radiating from Snips.

“Not clams,” I realized. “Oysters.”

“Ohhhhh!” Maria clapped her hands together. “Iridescent stones. Is that right? They were the method of counterattack?”

“They weren’t always the currency that they are now?” I asked. “That actually makes sense. It’s too much of an advantage toward aquatic creatures.”

Ellis nodded. “Precisely. They were a farmed and regulated object once, but…”

Cal cleared his throat. “If you would allow it, Archivist Ellis and Traveler Fischer, I can share a relevant memory.”

“Hell yeah,” I answered. “I was just getting bored with Ellis’s yapping.”

“Please do,” Ellis replied at the same time, his smile turning into a scowl as I finished the rest of my sentence.

A second later, power flowed from Cal and into Fathom, whose darkness then engulfed the theater—allowing us to look out through the eyes of another. Cal was a tiny little spirit beast in a wonderfully warm patch of ocean. He swam over the oyster beds below with great curiosity.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

He’d been listening to the cultivators that guarded and worked said beds—he had learned much about the world he’d recently awakened into. A treaty existed between the denizens of land and sea, protecting the natural resources of each. Oysters were one such protected product. Or, rather, the items they produced were. Iridescent stones had suppressing capabilities, allowing cultivators, spirit beasts, and elementals to coexist with beings of varied power without losing their temper and accidentally hurting or killing someone important, starting a blood feud.

The scene faded to black once more, then we arrived in the same place at a very different time.

Cal watched with dismay as the descendants of the first cultivators had collars thrown around their necks. “For the crime of seeking abyssal chi, the Church of Tides is hereby disbanded. All members and faithful are to face the gods’ judgement in the capital.”

“Wh-what? There has to be a mistake!” a collared man tried. “We’ve done nothing of the sort! We’re a peaceful clergy! We serve the tides and all that dwells within! The ancient accords demand—”

“Not to worry!” A golden-armored man clanked as he turned to gaze down at the collared. “We, the Divine Church, will guard them henceforth. As accused awaiting judgment by the gods, any members of the cult formerly known as the Church of the Tides are ineligible to safeguard any interests relating to the ancient accords.”

“What? Formerly? You can’t! The accords—”

“Are clear!” the gilded man bellowed, his voice firm, filled with righteous piety. “I won’t be lectured by the follower of a betrayer! Now stand, accused. I will derive no joy from striking you, I will inflict as much pain as the doctrine allows if necessary. You—”

Golden light flared nearby, so bright that Cal let out an involuntary jet of water.

“Archibald!” came the familiar yell of the armored man. “Control your core! What in the name of the Divines are you do—”

“Sir! The iridescent stones, Bishop! This can’t be…”

Cal was retreating now. He’d felt all he’d needed to. These people were far too strong to spy on if that was the power a mere grunt would unleash when surprised. Not to mention their fervency—he’d learned the hard way how dangerous people with a ‘just cause’ could be. As he slipped away into the depths, having to stop himself from fleeing as fast as he could, the armored man’s words chased him down into the darkness.

“Divines above! The betrayal was more thorough than expected.” Something struck the ground so hard that the water around Cal shook. “Traitorous bastards! This is where the missing rewards have been…”

The conversation died as Cal got farther away, having gone deep enough that they’d never catch him.

The ocean’s blackness wavered, then faded entirely, revealing a stage lit by the morning sun.

“Frack me,” I repeated. “That… Damn. Was that the first time you heard about abyssal chi, Cal?”

He nodded, his eyes swimming with the irony I was feeling. “It was. If not for that chance encounter, I would have certainly chosen a different path by the time I learned of its importance to combatting the divine. In trying to snuff out abyssal essence, they inadvertently set me on the path to embrace it, which is perhaps the only reason I ever sought and found a certain kraken.”

Fathom’s eyes swirled so hard that I might get nauseous if I kept watching them. George and Geraldine both laid a hand on his massive body, their touch and pulses of encouragement calming him. “I… You never told me that, brother.”

“It never seemed all that important. We were so busy chasing our goals… I don’t. I mean, I didn’t… We…” Cadet Calamari faltered, his body falling halfway to the floor before righting himself.

“Brother!” Fathom’s tentacles had moved in a blur, going between Cal and the ground, preparing to catch him.

“I’m—I’m fine. Sorry. I just had a moment of… I don’t know what that was. Call it a side effect of my previous affliction.”

Maria’s connection to me flared with shock, then excitement, and finally shame. I squeezed her hand and sent reassuring thoughts her way. There was no need to be ashamed about her eagerness over the prospect of healing people. I frowned at Cal’s core. His essence felt fatigued.

Ellis took a single step that made him appear before the cuttlefish. “Are you okay for us to continue, Cal?”

“I am.”

“Truth,” Theo said, seeming surprised. “I was a little worried there, if I’m being honest.”

“Very well.” Ellis stepped back onto the stage—damn it was cool how smooth he made that look. The cheeky bastard shot me a wink, clearly expecting my appreciation. “While it’s still fresh in mind, let me note an implication some of you might have missed in that memory.”

“The timing?” I asked.

“Just so. We now know that the divine forces betrayed their oaths to protect and guide all, but even if they hadn’t, it was them that made the first move against the allied forces. They’d clearly not known about the iridescent stones, yet they persecuted those that guarded them all the same. It is possible that the gods knew and didn’t tell their followers, but I doubt it. If they’d discovered the truth beforehand, I believe they’d have happily told their faithful. The more egregious the ‘crime’, the more sure of themselves and their purpose people like that will become—I’d bet my pipe on it.”

I was nodding along with Ellis up until that last bit. I choked back a laugh. “Bloody hell, mate. Phrasing.”

“What do you—oh, hah hah, Fischer. Grow up.”

“No.”

A handful of soft laughs came from the crowd behind us. Maria snickered too, abruptly stopping and averting her eyes when the archivist leveled a glare her way. “So how did they, uhhh, do it, Ellis?” she asked.

“Turning the iridescent stones into a currency?”

“Ya-huh. I get they were gods or whatever, but still…”

“Self sacrifice,” Ellis answered. “But also theft.”

“Ooooh,”Claws and RPM cooed at the merest hint of larceny.

I smiled down at them. “I’m guessing we already know where at least some of that power was yoinked from. Would you mind, Borks?”

With a ruff and a wag of his tail—and a dozen rapidfire licks to my forearm—he ripped open a small portal, which I withdrew an unlocked item from. I held it above my head for all to see. “Whatever was supposed to be in this chest, which is granted when people raise a skill to level 100—they stole that power, right?”

“And more, but that was the ‘betrayal’ part of it, yes. They also sacrificed their own bases of cultivation in order to save the world from becoming an autocracy—funny how that was not included in the histories the divine forces left behind.”

“I bloody knew the water gods were the good guys. Okay, so that explains why pearls are so useful for powering transforma—”

“Iridescent stones, you mean,” Maria corrected, her face entirely too pleased.

“I’ve just thought of a new royal decree: They’re called pearls for short now.”

“Yes, God-King Fischer!”

“Wonderful. Also, anyone correcting me is sentenced to public quartering via Sergeant Snips.” I tapped my chin in exaggerated thought. “Is that too harsh?”

“I believe so, God-King. Perhaps allow them to repent for their sins by delivering a delicious pastry to you? Or a tasty fish to Snips? We need to reward the sergeant for all the possible quarterings, you see. Executions are hungry work.”

“A wonderful suggestion. Let it be law.” I clapped my hands twice above my head like an absolute wanker before relaxing again, done with the charade. “As I was saying, we know why pearls are worth so much. One thing I still don’t get is how all this led to the gods having to leave.”

“I am hesitant to elaborate, Fischer,” Ellis said. “If you would like to know, ask. If I have the knowledge and it does not exceed the scope of this realm, I will answer.”

“You keep saying that. ‘The scope of this realm.’ That means you have knowledge of the… what did they call it? The heavens beyond?” I shook my head, stopping myself from diving into that rabbit hole just yet. “Never mind. What I don’t get is the pearls gave more power to the water gods, right?”

“Yes.”

“And before that, the divine gods were trying to gain more power by forming a single faction, then ethnically cleansing anybody or anything that couldn’t provide utility to said faction?”

“Quite a dark way of putting it, but that is ostensibly correct.”

“Right. Which brings me back to the first question: How did that cause all the gods to leave? Was that not what the divine gods wanted, hence their attempts to skip steps on the path of ascension or whatever?”

The archivist’s eyes sparkled. “It is so refreshing talking to you, Fischer.”

“I… I don’t know what to say to that. Thank you?”

“Not surprised,” Maria muttered to Claws. “People usually express the exact opposite.”

I’d just started giving her an impassioned pout when Ellis shook his head, drawing my attention. “I cannot answer that question yet. I have theories, but they are out of scope. Still, your thinking is on the right track. It’s a pleasant surprise compared to those I spoke to earlier…” He glanced toward and winked at the rest of the fishing club. “Some of my frie—er, best to call them colleagues—are not so quick-witted.”

“Keith…” someone asked in the silence that followed.

“Yes, Theo?”

“He just insulted us. Twice in one sentence.”

“He did.”

“He was joking.”

“I thought so too.”

All four seated members of Gormona’s fishing club stared up at the stage with expressions ranging from blank to confused to impressed.

Theo blinked. “It… it was actually funny.”

Ellis smirked. “Call it a joke if it makes you feel better despite knowing the truth.”

“Theo…”

“Yes, Keith?”

“He just did it again.”

Keith pinched his arm. “Perhaps we’re dreaming?”

“That does seem more likely…”

Barry cleared his throat handsomely—I wish he’d stop doing that—and stepped forward. “Before we get off track, Ellis, may I ask something?”

“Please do. I will answer if I can.”

He paused for a short—and muscular—moment. “Am I correct in assuming we’re all descendants of the divine gods’ forces?”

“That is true, yes. I would not feel bad about it, though. Your ancestors could hardly be faulted for trusting their gods. There is one more revelation I wanted to broach, though…” The archivist trailed off, his eyes roaming before landing on his target.

“Ellis?” Theo asked.

“Yes?”

“Why are you staring at me, and why do you look so happy about it?”

He shook his head as if the knowledge he bore caused him great distress. “Do you recall Fathom’s response to thinking you had lied?”

“I do…”

“The thing is, not anyone can become what you are. Auditor. Truthsayer. There are many other names for people with the skill you possess. Its origins transcend this world, which is perhaps why it lingered despite the absence of chi for millennia. By some accounts in the texts, it's a recessive gene. Others claim it's a power granted by the heavens, not passed down by blood, but by divine inspiration.” The archivist shrugged. “I cannot say for sure, but it matters little compared to what I can say.”

The look in his eye grew taunting. Claws chirped softly, both her and RPM buzzing with resonate power as they watched the scene unfold. I grabbed Claws by the waist to ensure she didn’t zap someone in excitement.

Ellis’s eyes drifted, leaving Theo to land on another. “Would you care to enlighten him, Fathom?”

“Falsesayers…” both cephalopods answered without missing a beat, their voices rumbling the ground. They glanced at one another, a slight sense of comradery taking the edge off their visceral reactions.

Fathom nodded. “Falsesayers are truthsayers that forsook—tainted—their very souls. It is hard to put enough emphasis on how twisted one’s spirit becomes as a result. For those of you who have solidified an ideal, think of your purpose, then imagine poisoning your core until it became the opposite of what it is now.”

I shivered. The idea of it made me sick.

Cal spat a squirt of water onto the ground—which was actually quite cute despite his intent—and shook his many tentacles. “I came face to face with one once. I could show you with my aura, but it’s unnecessary. You’ll know if you meet a forsaken.”

“Okay,” Theo said. “That’s pretty fracked up, but I fail to see what … oh. Ohhhh. If my ability is blood related, you’re implying I should feel guilty about my ancestors’ actions?”

“Indeed. I was planning on letting you sweat a little before revealing the truth, but I can see you’ve already worked it out. A shame.”

Theo grinned, the two men sharing a moment.

“Uhhh,” I said, frowning as I ruined said moment. “Is this what it feels like when I keep you guys out of the loop?

“Yes,” Maria answered. “How does it feel?”

“It sucks.”

“Does that mean you’ll stop?”

“What? No. I can just declare a new decree? Henceforth—”

“No leaving God-King Fischer out of the loop?” Theo interrupted.

“Yes. But also, no finishing God-King Fischer’s sentences. It’s rude.”

“Aye, sir!” he yelled, snapping off a salute so crisp it couldn’t be anything other than mocking.

“Good. I love when my peons learn from their mistakes.” Despite my words, Theo and I both beamed at each other. “Now, before your benevolent leader starts lopping off heads, can you please share what you worked out?”

“Ellis was going to loop Dolos and Apate back in, remember? The two trickster gods. Falsesayers could only be their doing. I’m guessing they were pivotal in the misinformation campaign.”

“Correct,” Ellis confirmed.

“Which is why I feel no guilt, even if I was their direct descendant. Just like with the misled faithful to the divine forces, you can hardly blame people for being fooled by their deities. The fault rests solely on the shoulders of gods.”

I expected Ellis to continue, but he puffed at his pipe instead. Twin streams of smoke flowed from his nostrils, dissipating as they hit the wooden stage and curled outward. “I believe that is almost all for today.” Since the start of his lecture, he’d been focused on those of us closest to him, only shooting passing glances at the rest of the villagers. Now, he watched them intently, his eyes slowly considering the amassed crowd. “Though I cannot share the deepest secrets of this realm, I can leave you with direction…”

His words drew on our cores cires, everyone going completely silent as we leaned in, hunger for a directive controlling the theater. He knew he had gripped us all. One of his brows arched slightly as the corner of his mouth tugged up. “Crafting,” he said, simple but filled with meaning. “The future of this village—of this entire realm—is bright. If you wish it to be even brighter, though…? Focus on crafting.”

“What do we—” the familiar voice cut off, and Bonnie cleared her throat when she realized she’d just broken the silence. “Errr, Archivist Ellis… sir?”

He laughed. It was rich, filled with joy, and lacking any hint of mockery. “Go ahead, Bonnie. No need for titles or honorifics. What is your question?”

“Oh. In that case, what professions should we focus on, and should we go all-in on one or branch out into a bunch?”

“A wonderful question, as expected of such an adventurous soul. The answer is just as straightforward as you are, Bonnie—it doesn’t particularly matter. As with most things related to advancement or creation, listen to your instincts. Spend time doing whatever makes you happy.”

“Fuuu—er, frack yeah, I mean. Cheers Ellis!”

I had to pinch my lips lest my laugh escape. She’d clearly been listening to me during our time at sea.

“No, thank you for listening—and that goes for everyone. Now, what do we have to say?”

I frowned up at him. Was he expecting everyone else to give their thanks? It seemed a bit… wanky, if I was being honest, especially for how cool the reformed Ellis… Huh? He stared back at me, his eyes aglow with mischief once more.

Why is he so—

“Thank you, God-King Fischerrrr,” the villagers all droned with the slow, inflectionless cadence of students addressing a teacher.

I blew air from my lips and rolled my eyes. I’d gotten over that whole leadership complex.

“Mate, if you think I’m gonna get flustered over a harmless prank, you’ve got another thing com—”

Something pressed into my core. Like an ephemeral finger, it reached through me, only solidifying right in the center of my being. The spot grew warm as whatever it was remained, an unseen stamp on my soul.

I stared within, then looked up at Ellis, his grin growing wider the more my eyes narrowed. “What the frack did you just do…?”

“Why, ‘twas nothing but a harmless prank, God-King Fischer.”

At that spoken title, the heat in my chest flared.

Theo cleared his throat, leaning forward to ensure I didn’t miss the smug look on his face. “Lie.”