The Celestial Tribunal trembled.
Seven gods.
Infinite power.
And yet
Uncertainty had entered the room.
Lorien stood at the center of their combined assault, untouched, bells chiming softly.
Ithariel, God of Fate, tried again to tighten the threads of destiny around him.
The threads frayed.
Maevros clenched his gauntlet. "We destroy him together.
But not all of them agreed.
Lyssara, Goddess of Truth, was staring at Lorien differently.
Not with rage.
With… recognition.
When Lorien laughed, she did not hear mockery.
She heard exposure.
A quiet thought formed in her mind:
If he can mock falsehood what happens to divine lies
Velkarion sensed it.
Lyssara, he warned.
She stood slowly from her throne of golden prisms.
I see no falsehood in him she said calmly.
The other gods turned.
Nytheris whispered You would side with an anomaly
Lyssara's voice sharpened.
I am Truth. If he exists, then he is true. If his power exposes corruption then perhaps we fear exposure.
Silence.
Vorun's rigid geometry flickered.
Lorien tilted his head.
Oh A critic who appreciates the performance.
Lyssara descended from her throne.
The cosmic battlefield shifted as she approached him.
I will not help you destroy existence, she said.
Lorien placed a hand over his heart dramatically.
Perish the thought.
But, she continued, eyes glowing bright gold, I will not help them lie about you either.
The Tribunal fractured.
Seven had become six and one.
Velkarion roared. Traitor.
Lyssara faced them.
You speak of order. Of fate. Of dominion.
Her voice rang like a blade drawn clean.
But what if the Fool exists because we became stagnant
Maevros snarled He will unravel everything
Lorien chuckled.
Relax. I only unravel what's poorly written.
Lyssara turned slightly toward him.
This is not alliance, she warned. "This is observation.
He bowed exaggeratedly.
I adore complicated relationships.
Behind him, the white void pulsed stronger.
The Tribunal withdrew slightly.
Not defeated.
But cautious.
And that hesitation
That single divine blink
Would cost them dearly.