Trillia sat at her table, fiddling with pieces of the game board when a knock came at her door. "Come in."

  Taking a deep breath, she stood and waited for the door to open. The woman that walked in immediately set off alarm bells in her mind. The first thing that Trillia noticed was the woman's appearance, she seemed like an orc, but not. Just like Arlyss and Riten had.

  "A deity?" At Trillia's question, the woman spared her a glance and a nod, turning on Storm, who had stepped into the room.

  "Go get us some tea, and you had better not eavesdrop, lest I drop this entire citadel from the sky! You've been hounding me about the Aetherian plane for years! If you wish to damn your entire clan, so be it, I give up. Go! Shoo!" The woman barely touched five feet in height yet was happily shooing the monarch of the storm clan away like an unruly cat. Storm, for his part, merely bowed and left. Presumably, to get some tea.

  As the door closed, Trillia felt a wave of mana roll out of the woman, sealing the room. "You're indebted to Quetzalcoatl. He has informed me of such. He also says you have very, very foolishly agreed to step foot in the Aetherian realm."

  Trillia managed to nod. The woman certainly had a force of presence about her. "Sit, sit. No purpose in standing. This is going to be a fairly long conversation. " The woman made the same shooing motion at Trillia before taking the seat opposite of Trillia.

  "Do I have permission to view your status?" At the question, Trillia tilted her head. Slowly lowering herself into her seat and nodding her permission.

  None of her skills went off. Her mana didn't budge. This woman was a higher-ranking deity than Arlyss. Which confused Trillia even more, but for now, she stayed silent.

  "Oh, good. You're immune to mana sickness. That at least makes it possible to be exposed to the Aetherian realms. You've also looked into them before. Interesting. Before we get int-" She paused suddenly and glanced at the door. Two seconds later, it swung open just as Storm was about to knock. The dragon entered and set down the tea, cups, and a metal pitcher that had steam exiting from one end. The dragon turned and left without a word, closing the door behind him.

  "Before we get into my questions, I know you have some of your own. The first that's probably rattling about in your mortal mind is how can a deity step foot onto Alirast when outside gods aren't meant to?"

  Trillia wondered briefly if the woman was just observant or was reading her mind. "That was the first thing I wondered, yes. Especially since you're stronger than Lord Arlyss."

  "Observant. Good, good. I'm not beholden to the same rules as other deities. I presume you know how the universe operates?"

  Trillia started to nod but chose to shake her head instead. "I'd be lying if I said I had a deep understanding. I know there are three axles. But truthfully - I know very little otherwise."

  The old woman put some tea leaves in a tiny metal mesh ball and dropped one in each cup before pouring the near-boiling water into each carefully. "Even better. You're willing to admit your ignorance. You might be surprised how often people will lie about what they know. Such people are impossible to teach. You aren't to blame, dear. Very few know how the universe truly works. Even I only have a loose grasp on the fundamental basics."

  The woman pushed the tea over to Trillia. Trillia couldn't help herself and let her [Divine Mana Sight] activate.

  [No]

  She blinked a few times before trying again.

  [I appreciate curiosity, but stop.]

  The woman gave her a little grin as she brought the tea to her lips and sipped. "Have you ever seen a tornado or giant whirlpool?"

  Trillia again shook her head. "I've read about them and seen pictures, but not in person."

  The woman set her tea down and raised a hand, a large whirlpool-like structure appeared faintly translucent in her hand. Instead of pulling everything in, it started at the bottom and slowly spiraled up and out. With the top of the whirlpool falling into nothingness. "At the base of this whirlpool-like structure, is a [Forge of Creation]. It is powered by a [Universe Core]. Just like dungeons, realms, and capital cities have cores that will influence change within their respective domains, so to does this core. It is responsible for the system we all use. It can update and change the core framework of the system. Then, each realm will add its own modifications as it sees fit. Classes may work differently in your realm, than they do in another. The axles can also force change on the system."

  The fact that some cities could have a core was news to Trillia. She had never heard of anything like that. "I think I am following you so far."

  "Most people, even some deities, wrongly believe that the universe is only the three axles. This isn't true. There is a place between the forge and the first axle. It is a place where the refuse of the universe collects, to be brought back into the forge. It's then turned into new realms and raw mana. Amongst this area, are a few realms and deities such as myself. We largely operate outside of traditional rules and laws of the universe, because we have no stake in anything. I can come here, talk with you, perhaps even bring you back to my realm to train. But I could not advise a realm leader during times of war. I could not empower someone in this realm to do great things. I can teach, that's all."

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  Trillia sat there in silence, slowly bringing the tea to her lips and taking a small sip as she let the information settle in her mind. "I have many more questions. But I would rather not waste any more of your time. If you choose to deny Lord Storm's request to train me, I may ask some of my other questions. Otherwise, I think I'll have plenty of time during training. Also, I'm sorry for trying to scan you, I should have asked. Especially after you were polite enough to ask me."

  The woman's tea cup paused halfway to her lips at that last sentence. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Setting the tea cup down she reached a hand across the table. "Greater Deity of Knowledge, Wisdom, and Art. Saraswati 'The Professor'. You may call me Professor. It's a pleasure to meet you, young lady."

  Trillia could feel the small pulse in power. 'The Professor' was the deity's title. Trillia extended her hand and gently shook the deity's. "Trillia Demonsbane 'Fairtrade'. Ask your questions, Professor."

  Saraswati pulled her hand back and sat in silence for a few minutes, contemplating the questions she might ask. "Do you understand, that entering the Aetherian plane brings with it the risk of soul obliteration? Things that exist there are not meant for mortals. I caution most immortals from entering. There are no rules within the Aetherian plane."

  "I was not aware of that. But I owe a debt. I will attempt to fulfill my debt whether I have training or not. That said, I'd much rather survive."

  The Professor gave her a little frown. "Honor, chivalry, nobility. Mortals do tend to grasp at morality. It makes me wonder how much of that drive is influenced by the cores, or deities."

  "Says the Greater Deity that is fulfilling a favor owed to a mortal dragon."

  The woman gave her a sharp look before cackling. "Well said, Fairtrade. Time works differently in my realm. Because it will not affect the other realms or the universe as a whole. Training with me will be grueling, at times monotonous and boring. Storm wants me to train you for nine months of your local time. That is going to become years with me. You won't be able to come back to this realm during that time. You will not age, at least not physically. But your mind will undergo incredible duress, your soul even more so. There is a very, very high chance that even with all of my training, the moment you attempt to do what Storm asks of you, you'll be obliterated before you can think to escape. Are you still certain?"

  "I am. Am I correct in assuming you brought Lord Storm to your realm to discuss all of this already? That's how you arrived so quickly?"

  "Correct. Here, take this." The professor reached into the open air and pulled out a quill, ink, and a stack of papers. "Write any letters you need to write. Last words, instructions, things of that nature. I'll go and fetch Storm and inform him to have them all delivered. Then we'll be off. Just so you're aware. You won't be the only student I have. Others may come and go. Some won't speak to you, some won't be able to interact with you at all."

  Trillia nodded once more, she lifted the quill, dipped it in ink, and began scratching out letters to her friends and family. Even writing one to Arlyss, and one to Ora'sys. Just in case. She'd ask Layla to read those to the respective gods. Part of her was terrified of failing, terrified of dying. But she had already sacrificed so much of her life towards power and the ability to make a difference. She wouldn't back down at this stage.

  Trillia hadn't even finished writing her letters by the time The Professor and Storm were in the room and waiting. Storm took the finished letters and offered a wide smile to Trillia. "I look forward to seeing you again soon, Lady Fairtrade. The Storm clan is grateful for the risks you take."

  Trillia bowed to him. As she straighted out she looked around the room to make sure she had all of her things. "I suppose I am ready, Professor."

  Trillia's eyes blinked rapidly, and she stumbled back falling to her backside. The room had simply changed. There was no flashing light, no portal. No transition, nothing. One minute she was in the storm citadel on Alirast, the next she was sitting in a well-lit room that smelled faintly of pine and flowers. It took her a moment to look around and realize the room had a small comfortable-looking bed. One wall was entirely covered in books, and there was a small desk with a dozen little drawers and a variety of tools on it. Some she recognized as writing instruments, others she had no knowledge of.

  There was a small table near her bed that had a small globe, shedding a soft blue light. There were three doors in the room, all of them open for her convenience of getting her bearings. One led into a smaller room that had bars running along the walls at height level. Another held what looked like a bathtub and a chamber pot, but the enchantments and mana flow around all of it were incredibly complex. The last led into a hallway.

  The Professor was nowhere to be seen. Trillia felt a faint tug at her mind, pulling her into the hallway. Slowly, she stood and let it guide her. The walk took longer than she expected. She passed no less than two dozen other doors identical to hers. But they were impossibly close together. There was some sort of spatial effect on them.

  After a few more minutes of walking, she finally stepped into a much larger room. This one, like the hallway and her own room, was coated in a soft blue light. A rich wooden look coated the many logs that the building seemed to be constructed from. None of it made a great deal of sense to Trillia, the size of the room seemed impossible with no structural supports in the center. She was certainly no builder, but she had seen enough buildings get constructed in her time to know mana was at play. The sheer level of mana density and enchantments lent weight to an unspoken power.

  Her eyes looked up and around and it took her a moment to realize she wasn't alone. Three other individuals were sitting at small desks, books open in front of them. She activated her [Mana-Sight]. It didn't give her the usual benefits of what a scan might. Something was blocking that ability off completely. But the weaves of mana become more crisp and clear to her. Walking over to a bookshelf, she ran her fingers along the wood and marveled at the thousands of enchantments placed on it. Malor would have been ecstatic.

  One of the first things she noticed about the other individuals, was that all of them seemed to be the exact same height and width. Her brain told her that the proportions should look wrong, but the divine magic twisting space was too powerful for her to discern. Having no idea what to do, she grabbed a book whose title she could read off the shelf and took a seat.

  Trillia had faith that the Professor would come and speak to her soon. One didn't simply demand all of a Greater Deity's attention after all.