The scantily clad Temthans stood in the middle of the room, offering threats and war and goodness else knows what. They’d happened to invade on the one day that the leaders of each Maza race had come together alongside their representatives to discuss the future of the Maza. Well, invade was the wrong word. The Temthans were mostly standing around, preaching how awesome their religion was and that everyone should join them.
There had been a few raised eyebrows. Some had even considered the Temthans’ offer. But one particular leader knew that all of this was nonsense.
“Are you done yet?”
The Temthan leaders, an emperor and empress, both wearing almost nothing, turned to the rude, awkward voice.
“Do you recognise that one, Lenik?” the female tutted.
“I do, actually, Neraida…”
Lenik got off his little floating platform and approached the green, black and silver Panvok, who was standing on a balcony at the top of the large, round amphitheatre. Just over 2m tall, with a pair of dark, almost skeletal wings, and red, glowing eyes which didn’t match the rest of the being.
“You…”
“I see you have moved up in the world, but you have not actually learned anything!” High General Elkay growled. “And I believe that the Temthans have broken another treaty, just by being here. I am certain what I signed with your former empress was a time-based one and not related to whoever was in charge. It has not even been a single year, yet your kind are here, threatening us once again.”
Neraida seemed insulted by the being’s words, but Lenik held her back. He had respect for this being. After all, this was the same General Elkay who had somehow tricked their most loyal Temthans into not attacking, and after it all, allowed their leaders to leave peacefully.
“We are not invading,” Lenik explained. “We wish to bring to you our religion…”
“No, you are still invading, you are just using your own forced beliefs rather than an army!” Elkay immediately interrupted. “You are trying to enslave the mind rather than enslave the body. Truly a far worse crime.”
Elkay’s words only seemed to anger Neraida more. “We offer you the peace of mind you always wanted, spiritual perfection, and you REJECT IT?”
“I reject brainwashing and unprovable theories, dear,” Elkay smiled. “I believe that you should be able to believe whatever you want, but the moment you try to force that opinion on others, you are no longer worthy of your beliefs, and your ideals are immediately tarnished. After all, what is the point of a belief if you can not defend it using words alone?”
Neraida blinked. “What do you mean?”
Again, the General smiled. “Why do you believe in this Kairos fellow?”
“Because he offers eternal life to the worthy! The ability to be as timeless as he is!” Neraida snapped. “If you all follow his words then the worthy will become immortal!”
“So if everyone believes, only some people get the benefit, is that right?”
Neraida paused. “Uh, yes.”
Elkay crossed his arms, his smile no longer as obvious as before. “And everyone else? What about them?”
“Well…”
“They die,” Elkay tutted. “They die like everything else. But clearly, this Kairos person must be pretty powerful to be able to offer you eternal life, right?”
“He is all-powerful!” Neraida shouted. “He will smite unbelievers!”
A few other tuts could be heard from various other races in the room. They weren’t buying what the Temthans were offering.
“If he is so powerful, why does he not just make everyone immortal then?”
Again, Neraida paused, but this time, only briefly. “Because you have to prove your worth. You don’t want murderers being immortal, do you?”
“But if Kairos is all-powerful, then he can retroactively grant immortality and take it away, yes? After all, he would have to be all-knowing, or at least unbelievably intelligent to be able to give people immortality in the first place…”
“Okay, shut up, stop making this complicated! Kairos needs us to worship him to make us all immortal!” Neraida shouted. “Why are you attacking my beliefs?”
Elkay grinned, his eyes glowing slightly more than normal. “I am not attacking your beliefs, simply poking holes through your rather weak ideas. You have a god that requires that others worship it, presumably to stroke its fragile ego, and in return one might gain immortality. What sort of god is that? It sounds more like a scam to me.”
Neraida growled, then stamped her foot, turning her attention to Lenik. “I’m leaving. These miserable beings can all die like the mortal scum they are. They are not worth my time!”
“I thought you were immortal?” Elkay jested.
The empress roared, then stormed off, her guards following her. The emperor though hesitated.
“H-How do you do this, Thre- uh, Rethavok?” Lenik finally asked.
Elkay shrugged. “By being a massive cunt, I suppose,” he smiled. “And not putting up with the bullying of others. Speaking of which… You should probably leave now.”
Lenik sighed as he walked off. “I know. I’m sorry…”