Order was quick to return from chaos after a flash of light from the floating ball of now angry reds.

  It appeared that this was enough to intimidate Old Dwarf because he very obediently gave a brief and honest overview of everything the two had discussed so far.

  The four newcomers stared in shock and horror at the terrifying human in front of them.

  A tremendous Glimpse - no could they even still call it that? - gained after the creation of a Spirit Object by the hands of one Awakening into the fourth state of existence.

  Did that mean the foundation of this child’s Path was the Glimpse itself?

  What was this insanity?

  The Old Dwarf gave a sigh of understanding. In the way of accepting the impossible that was Jun, Dogadon was the Senior. What was there to fret? All they could do was accept it.

  It took another moment for four ageless demigods to process everything before they could give out their introductions and for why they had come as a group, which was not custom. The elegant scholarly gorilla, Gior Je the Ever Inquisitive, stepped out once more to explain.

  Almost every Elder currently residing within the Nexus had experienced the Magic Garden, and all had gains, small and large. Many of the Elders, like Dogadon, were shocked to find that their souls had hidden fractures and signs of trauma they had been unaware of until being healed within the Magic Garden.

  Those that had known of their afflictions had already exhausted great efforts in healing their damaged souls with the knowledge that it would be a long and painful journey. Then they came in to check out a Garden and were painlessly healed. For free.

  There were even several cases similar to Dogadon’s where a fully healed and nurtured soul had allowed for a delayed second or third Glimpse.

  This didn’t even take into consideration the legions of Crowns that had benefited.

  This was significant.

  In one afternoon, Jun had raised the highest Tiers strength of the Nexus.

  This deserved tremendous Merit.

  There was also the truth, that even if no one benefited, this Elder would have many visitors once the truth was revealed.

  A creator of real magic.

  A delegation had been formed to greet the newest superstar of the Nexus, so that thousands did not bother him and rob him of his peace.

  Jun really appreciated that. That was very thoughtful. He shivered at the thought of having his door pounded down by over a hundred demigods.

  So why was the Old Dwarf rolling his eyes and making gagging gestures behind the Gorilla’s back?

  “Elder Jun! As I lay my tired and weary eyes on your splendid artistic expressions, it was as if my soul had been uplifted and found peace. For your Path of Creation to have reached such accomplished heights at such a tender age of innocence?!” sang an increasingly passionate Elf who had introduced herself as Lady Cynth.

  “Elder Jun! I’ve read the disciplined markings of your work and can see a tremendous potential in the ways of combat! Why don’t you come visit our gathering of Combat Elders and see if it inspires you!” Interrupted Gior Je the Ever Inquisitive.

  The interrupted Elf was still frozen in her wild gesticulations as she gave the elegant Gorilla the stank eye.

  “You’ve captured such wonderful qualities of the fauna and flora of your realm.” She continued, ignoring the interruption, ” I would love to show you some examples of the beauties of my own home once you’re fully settled. I’m sure you could find a lot of inspiration.” The last word was spoken with such a sultry invitation that Jun had to catch himself from doing something embarrassing. In all honesty, if he discounted the Administrator who didn’t seem real, Lady Cynth was the most beautiful creature Jun had ever imagined, and her gaze was making him squirm a bit.

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  “Elder Jun!” the elegant gorilla’s bark made him jump. “With your foundations in the fourth realm, with a small amount of guidance, you will soar higher than us all! Now is the time to focus on development and I, Gior Je the Ever Inquisitive, have developed a series of training courses that will be of great import to your rise!” He proclaimed with widened eyes of excitement, face inches from Jun’s. Breathe, minty.

  “Such a genius such as yourself doesn’t need stinky old men to tell you what to do! Look at what you’ve achieved of your own merit already!” Shouted Lady Cynth as she kicked the gorilla flying. “I will show you new horizons and help you fly with freedom!” Why was everything she said feel so lustful? Oh, it was her turn to go flying as the gorilla reappeared.

  The Giant Robot, who introduced himself as Albara Tesin, suavely stepped in front of the two bickering demigods, deflecting the increasingly violent energies away from the puny, mostly mortal.

  “Don’t mind them. They are the leaders of two opposing philosophies and are just trying to recruit you. Lady Cynth represents the Freedom Paths, those that walk as they please and that is their Path.” The scary elf lady was now encased in giant waves of terrifying purple flames that repeatedly changed forms from one terrifying monster to the next, as if unsure which nightmare inducing form was most appropriate in striking down its foe.

  “Gior Je the Ever Inquisitive represents the Guidance Paths, those that believe in walking together in piercing the next realms through collected wisdom.” The scholarly gorilla was standing tall and proud with his enormous gorilla hands calmly clasped behind him like a gentleman admiring the flowers. Purple flaming monsters repeatedly chased and clawed, but the figure merely was somewhere else. Jun could swear Gior Je would be hit by all the attacks, but then the gorilla would appear somewhere safe, as if he had always been there, angry flames landing on nothing. Dogadon was jumping around laughing while swinging his jiggly hammer above him in circles. What an embarrassing dwarf.

  “The idiot fanning the flames from behind represents those of the Creation Paths that walk sometimes separately and sometimes together with the others.” The Giant Robot suavely, and helpfully, described.

  “May I ask what factions the two of you Elders are leaders of?” Jun intuitively asked with genuine curiosity.

  The Giant Robot laughed and the Orb of Light pulsed in similar amusement.

  Albara replied, “I am a faction onto myself, and my friend Mada here helps all who seek his ancient wisdom. We have come representing those of great age. Many precious things are lost to us through the passage of eras.” The Giant Robot got down on one giant metal knee and patted both of Jun’s shoulders with emotions that Jun didn’t ever expect from something cold and metal. The sounds of fighting had stopped.

  “Your Garden has allowed us to reconnect with something precious that had been thought lost. Not a mere physical recreation of old loved ones, but the image ingrained in our souls that not even time can fade, just out of reach for us. Until now.”

  Mada the Spirit of Light floated closer till the rings of silver dust escaped its orbit to flow into a stream that entered Jun’s forehead.

  The contact was momentary but extraordinary.

  Jun felt the essence of the Spirit of Light’s existence. It was an ancient being from the Age of Celestials, older than the Old Dwarf by countless eras. And it was super happy.

  Something had been gifted within his mind with that touch. A warm, clustered presence at the back of his consciousness.

  “The Elders have all gathered their gifts for you.” The still kneeling Giant Robot explained. “Each gift represents their sincerity. You may peruse them at your leisure. Traditionally, new members will host a banquet to introduce themselves to the Council and exchange small gifts, but there were too many that wished to offer you something now. We make no requirements of your time, but there are many that wish to meet you with sincerity.”

  The Giant Robot rose and backed up with the Orb of Light.

  “Since the Administrator has already assigned you a guide that will do all in their power to accommodate you, we will not intrude upon you further.” He said and the Orb of Light pulsed in a confident rhythm towards Jun that was then aimed at the Old Dwarf with a slower, stronger tempo, as if, to say, isn’t, that, right, Dogadon?

  The Old Dwarf was no longer laughing in the background. He was front and center, eyes forward, looking about to salute, sweat tracing down ancient lines.

  “Of course sirs, you havn’t got nothin to worry abouts!” Dogadon, with a nervous stutter, proudly proclaimed.

  The Giant Robot gave the stiff dwarf’s shoulder a hearty pat and exclaimed his confidence with a robot’s laugh and a few more pats. Resulting in the Old Dwarf being a bit shorter. Poor thing.

  Once the Giant Robot and the Orb of Light were satisfied with the Old Dwarf’s attitude, they dragged the two background characters away, despite their wailing objections. Something about pride and names.

  Then there was peace.

  The contrast was large.

  His Guide would solve all his questions.

  Jun looked at the still petrified Dwarf, now only chest above the ground, with a bit of doubt.