Sasrir watched silently, scrutinizing each chair.
Finally, he turned to Truman, his face shadowed, thoughts unreadable.
Lilith and the goddess stared at the "Mother" and "End" chairs, stirred by an inexplicable connection to their symbols.
"Of course," Truman said with a smile, "the fifth chair—Dream!"
The final chair symbolized boundless dreams, orbs floating in a dreamlike sea, the pinnacle of all beauty, embodying wishes fulfilled and dreams realized.
Five chairs, five positions: three cosmic pillars complete, a hinted fourth, and Dream.
"Please, take your seats!" Truman sat first in the "Dream" chair.
Sasrir, Amanises, and Lilith followed.
Thus, only "Mystery" remained vacant.
"Missing one…" Truman sighed. This seat might wait millennia for its master.
Before him was the ultimate Sun, Moon, Star trio!
"What does this symbolize?" Amanises asked.
"Pillars and dominion!" Truman declared. Only Sasrir reacted; Lilith and Amanises lacked this knowledge.
"Henceforth, this is the Dream Parliament. Any objections?" Truman asked.
The gods shook their heads. This was Truman's domain, suppressing their primal madness and coldness—they owed him gratitude.
"But these seats aren't fixed. Guard them well," Truman warned.
Lilith faced the gravest risk—a moment's lapse, and the moon's entity might consume her.
Lilith and Amanises nodded lightly. Even as true gods, they'd only embody part of these symbols.
There might be a level beyond true gods.
Who could claim it?
Sasrir remained silent.
"The Dream Parliament's convening is up to you. Call it for matters or to escape madness's erosion," Truman set the rules.
"I agree." Lilith raised her hand first. Here, she was truly herself, free from madness.
The others nodded.
"That's all for now. Feel free to discuss. Oh, one more thing—conversations here are secret, known only to you," Truman said, crossing his hands, exuding the aura of a covert meeting's convener.
Amanises approached Lilith. After a few words, they hatched a secret, long-term, ruthless plan, chilling Truman.
"Probably the two most untouchable goddesses in the world."
Sasrir, after confirming his role, bantered with Truman, eventually opening a private chat to idle.
"Lastly, to a fruitful partnership and farewell to those ancient gods soon to perish."
Truman conjured wine glasses: vodka for him and Sasrir, blood-red wine for Lilith and Amanises.
Clink!
The glasses touched, fate's gears turning, history's tide surging forward.
…
Amanises's consciousness returned to her body, exiting secrecy.
Her eyes gleamed, fixed on the Giant King's Court. "Twilight Giant…"
"Not yet the best time." She sank back into silence.
Truman, meanwhile, had returned to the Ancient Sun God's divine kingdom.
Well… Deep Dark City was merely the goddess's anchor, nearly defenseless, useless in this war. Returning there as pontiff felt utterly unrewarding.
"Need a pontiff for your kingdom?" Truman asked Sasrir.
In that moment, Sasrir's expression was comically rich. "Can pontiffs moonlight?"
Sasrir saw through Truman's faith anchors. As pontiff, God's proxy, that aura was unmistakable.
"Ahem! Just asking!" Truman said, embarrassed.
"How about a Dream Angel under the Creator?" Truman had scoped out the Sun God's kingdom—its devotees dwarfed Deep Dark City's by dozens, all true believers.
With Deep Dark City's faith anchors, he could draw Sequence 1-level power from the Book of Dreams. With dozens more, could he rival gods?
He was truly envious!
In this world, true believers weren't tied to one church…
Sasrir had never heard such a request, momentarily stumped.
"Well…" As he fumbled, a divine thought stirred, making his look at Truman odder.
"The Lord agrees," Sasrir said, face twitching, unsure what his master was plotting.
Then, he grew solemn. "The Lord prophesies: Dreams become reality!"
Truman's brow arched. "His prophecy?"
Sasrir nodded lightly.
Though not yet fully omniscient, the Ancient Sun God's prophecies held great weight.
"Dreams become reality…" A prophecy with many interpretations.
"Henceforth, you are the Dream Angel under my Lord!" Sasrir declared. "I'll record you in the holy texts, weave your deeds, and spread them among believers."
"This…" It came so easily, Truman was stunned.
"Never refuse a gift!" Truman accepted the Dream Angel title. The Sun God might have plans for him, but this was a transaction.
He needed those faith anchors.
"Good!" Sasrir nodded, arranging a residence and prime territory for Truman.
But before Truman could settle, Sasrir brought urgent news.
"Lilith has joined the war with her saguines. Other ancient gods are stirring, ready to act."
Truman's face hardened.
Ancient gods were entering the fray. Divine war hadn't erupted, but battles among subordinate gods and angels had begun.
In this era, ancient gods understood anchors' importance. Undermining them before divine war was a common tactic.
In a world of madness, being madder didn't make you much stronger—just more prone to mistakes.
"Go with Medici and the others to the Giant King's Court."
"As for your mission… do whatever you want."
Truman set off for the Giant King's Court, now a storm's epicenter—a storm he'd sparked!
(End of Chapter)
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Do You Know:
Lilith hate being called Vampire like Emelyn? Atleast in this book.