Aeon of Creation Chapter 17

What did a god do when they were on 'vacation'? Or in other words. When they were wandering the world they were on, and doing whatever the fuck a bored god does. What happens then?

For this god, I was sitting inside a small tent atop the frozen ocean next to Belabog that the city got much of it's water from as below like fifty feet of ice, the ocean below was unfrozen and teeming with life... Life this bored god was 'halping' as I tossed some eternally warm stones into the ocean to help fill the ocean with life.

"So what's your favorite type of seafood?" I asked Dan Heng and Welt Yang as we were literally just ice fishing and having some bro time.

Welt shifted slightly before he said calmly. "I am fairly partial to more strong-tasting dishes, however I am not good with rather spicy food. I am not that picky in other words."

With Dan Heng adding on. "In terms of sea food? I prefer simple fish over the more... Odd choices like clam's and other things."

There was a moment of silence before Dan Heng spoke again. "Oh yes Jake, please don't eat catfish in front of other Vidyadhara, they have some symbolism due to their whiskers that resemble dragon whiskers."

My lips twitched as I gave Dan Heng a look and said. "It's a catfish, not a dragonfish like a... What was it called?"

Welt helpfully said in his calm deeper voice. "Betta fish?"

I nodded and said thankfully. "Yeah those."

Dan Heng's lips curled into a small smile before shrugging and saying with amusement. "Oh they are often kept as pets and held with respect in our culture as well."

We remained silent for a while, just holding onto the fishing poles I conjured up waiting in quiet companionship peacefully waiting for one of the fish below to take the bite.

I raised an eyebrow seeing Dan Heng's pole twitching and I saw Dan Heng become utterly relaxed as he held the pole lossely before he stiffened and jerked it backwards towards him.

With the pole instantly bending downwards I knew he snagged the fish that was nibbling on the bait at the end.

"Hmm I got a bigger one on the end." Dan Heng calmly noted as he began pulling the fish in but then there was just a slight problem.

"The ice hole isn't big enough hmm." Welt chuckled at the realization as Dan Heng calmly kept the fish or whatever he caught on the end. And after a moment of though Welt tapped his cane on the ground with a flare of purple and black energy crackling across the ground near the fishing hole.

"Did... You just?" I started and my hands glowed as the ice below us cracked as Welt had flexed the fucking black hole sealed within his cane to shatter the ice below us to expand the fishing hole.

Welt gave a small chuckle as he said with amusement. "Calm down Jake, I have had this gift for a long while, so I know how to use it without causing massive issues." 

I gave Welt a dry look and said flatly. "And they call me irresponsible... Flexing a black hole just to expand a little fishing hole." 

And even as Dan Heng began pulling the fish up from the deep hole of ice separating the surface from the ocean below. He said with some humor. "Who actually has said you have been using your powers too much?" 

My lips twitched and I raised an eyebrow as I said with amusement. "Probably the people who don't like the Divine Tree that's hanging over their heads making it more difficult to sleep with how it glows throughout the night."

Welt shrugged and said with some wisdom. "They can put up some blackout curtains... It's no different from living in an apartment with a powerful light hanging on the wall just outside your window."

"Speaking from experience?" I asked curiously.

And Welt nodded with a soft exhale as he spoke with some humor. "Yeah, during my days working as an animator I wasn't always in the best place." 

A soft slapping noise began ringing out with Welt and I looking with interest as Dan Heng pulled up a pretty decent-sized fish that looked a good bit like a Flounder of some sort.

But then I had a thought... "Wait do we have any idea if this fish has like toxic organs or something?" 

The three of us looked at the large fish for a long moment before we all shared a look before Welt said with a small smile. "The stomach of an Otaku, the stomach of a Vidyadhara, and of course the stomach of a god... Are you saying we should fear a fish? Is this fear allowed in the Path of Trailblaze?"

I snorted and flicked my finger toward the fish making it float into my hands where I pulled Dan Heng's hook out of it's face. "Fuck it, even if you two die I can literally bring you back to life!"

I cracked open the window to the large tent we were in and I conjured up a large wood-burning cook stove that came with an oven on the side next to the cabin holding the burning firewood. Along with a hole in the top I could remove to directly grill the fish over the flames.

"Just to be careful though, we will be just having it's muscles on the sides. Not any of the other cuts." I said as I conjured up a table and some knives to begin dismantling the fish after I dispatched it with a knife to the brain.

Though as I was preparing the food, I had a thought and I looked up at the other two men and asked. "What should we have with it as a side dish? I can conjure up some sides or vegetables for us to cook, but I know you guys are iffy about that." 

Welt and Dan Heng shared a look before Dan Heng took off his backpack and said quietly. "I got some herbs to season the fish, and a lettuce/cabbage analog that could be used as the core of a salad perhaps?"

And Welt gave a cough as he reached into his own backpack and offered with a wry smile. "I uhh, I made sure to pack some top ramen, eggs, sausage, and some other things."

"Dear god... You really were an otaku." I muttered taking the stuff before shrugging and getting to work separating the decently sized fish into three portions.

First was three portions of three different way's to cook the fish. First, I slathered the fish pieces with some BBQ sauce before putting it on a small spike I set over the fire to begin grilling directly over the fire.

So the fish would have a nicely smokey flavor from being directly cooked over the flames combined with the brown sugar BBQ forming a nice crispy crust around the fish due to the higher temperature.

Then on top of the wood-burning cook stove, I conjured up a pan and began pan-searing some more of the fish with some simple garlic butter and other aromatics.

And lastly, inside the oven, I began baking the fish which was smothered in garlic butter and lemon juice that was then wrapped up in foil and left to bake in the oven.

"Welt, Dan Heng. Do you guys want some of the fish to go in the ramen side dish as well?" 

Both men shook their heads and I nodded in understanding. I then shredded up the weird lettuce and cabbage while asking Dan Heng how it tasted after being boiled a bit to soften it up.

Then I began boiling the water for the ramen and I added the packets of noodles to the boiling water before adding the dried-out 'vegetables' the ramen came in to let them rehydrate before I added the lettuce/cabbage analog to soften up in the boiling water.

Once everything was cooking I added the egg's to boil and harden up a bit while I tended to the fish.

"So Welt, Dan Heng, let me show you a little secret for dealing with soft-boiled eggs and not wanting to break them as you open them up." I spoke.

I gently cracked the egg on the side before I rolled it over with a bit of force being applied to them which made the hard eggshell crack as I rolled it across the table I was using.

And after a couple more minutes of work, we had some good ramen with large slices of sausage to emulate pork cutlets, some soft-boiled eggs, and mushrooms from Dan Heng, and on the side, we had the three different methods of cooking the fish arrayed on a plate.

We were just chowing down on our food before a female voice spoke out. "Hey! Look, that's where the smell is coming from."

And the three of us froze as from the open window in the tent to make sure we had fresh air came to younger faces looking into our little home as we were eating.

I quickly recognized Pela and Lynx who were taking part in the huge game of dodgeball that was being held last night, even if they just now recognized me with their eyes widening as they both got off their tippy toes and got away from the window.

"Oh hello, girls. May we help you?" I asked curiously as I stood up with my bowl of ramen in my hands as I walked outside of the large tent.

And with the cold air hitting my form... And especially my food, I snapped my fingers with my free hand and the howling arctic winds that were rushing over the frozen ocean crust snapped into silence as I formed a barrier around us.

Pela and Lynx were both on the younger side of things it looked like... Although there was some confusion with Pela's lore from my memory as she got flip-flopped between a younger girls age and an adult. But the reality was that she was still a young girl in body at least.

And Lynx was the youngest sibling of the Landau family being the younger sister of Serval and Gepard. 

"Hello, young ladies... You said you could smell our food from across the ocean shelf?" I asked with some humor.

And both girls shared a look before Pela said uncertainly. "Yeah the wind was towards us, and the scent of the cooking food carried easily with the lack of any other smells." 

Which... Honestly, that was a fair point. In a land of eternal winter,r a strong smell would stand out much stronger than in like a jungle or something.

So with that question answered I took a good drink of the hot ramen broth while Welt asked curiously. "So you two decided to just... Explore and see if you could find the source of the smell of our cooking?" 

And both girls nodded easily making my lips twitch in amusement before Lynx spoke up cautiously. "So, Uhm... Do we need to pray to you or something mister Aeon of Creation? What do we even call you?" 

I heard Dan Heng snort behind me at the formal tone Lynx used. And then the Vidyadhara yelped as his traditional bucket seat 'somehow' sank into the ice with his ass hitting the ice.

And with a calm expression, I answered bluntly. "Nope, no prayers or whatever. If you desire to walk my Path, it will consist of you railing against the decay of civilization and entropy itself. So just call me the Aeon of Creation if I am not around, or Jake if I am."

There was a pause as both girls had to accept those words and then Pela being of the studious and very hard-working type asked curiously as I turned around to head back into the tent to continue my food. 

"Wait! How does one become a Pathstrider of your Path? I not... Like asking for power or anything but how does one gain your gaze from across the galaxy?" She asked curiously.

Both Welt and Dan Heng looked at me with interest and after a moment I shrugged and said. "My Path is more... Of my own visionary path, I see the works of creation I like and I bless or curse people with the goal of furthering Creation."

My eye's glowed as I looked at Pela with my essence of the Aeon of Creation leaking out before I smiled and said. "But you yourself already walk my Path of Creation Pela... Winning so many fanfiction awards, creating music, and working to safeguard civilization in restoring history."

I paused as I considered what I was doing... And then I mentally shrugged with my grin widening to inhuman lengths as my smile stretched literally ear to ear as I held up a hand with a golden orb of 'C̶r̷e̸a̴t̵i̸o̸n̶' shooting into her form as I blessed her with the Path of Creation.

"There you go Pela... Go little creator and safeguard of civilization. That which you draw and sculpt may be brought to life with your new power." 

Pela went pale at the realization I had blessed her with my Path of Creation allowing her to have the eldritch power she could call upon from that path along with her already following the path of Preservation.

Lynx held onto Pela's arm and she gave a winning smile before she said. "Well, thank you Jake for all the cake you made last night. The kids in the Underworld orphanage went wild eating all of it haha!"

And with that Lynx gave Pela's arm a soft pull and said. "Well I don't want us to intrude in your guys private time, so you all have fun!"

Lynx skillfully pulled Pela away as I shrugged and sat back down on my tradtional bucket seat with Dan Heng who had pulled his own bucket out of the ice and had taken his seat again said quietly. 

"It's odd to see that Jake, its... Just so truly odd seeing an Aeon bless and 'Gaze' on someone else other than yourself. I will certainly never forget the Hunt looking at me for sure." 

I gave a hum and looked at Welt who shook his head with a wry smile. "Sorry Jake, I am already on my own Path even if my past does fall into your path. I need to keep to my own."

I shrugged and said. "Either way, let's just relax here. Even as an aeon, the horrors of Stelle, Elysia, March 7th and of course, Himeko shopping all together is something we three can agree to avoid."

-

Back in the city, Stelle was in her natural habitat... "Stelle, why in the world are you in a trash can?" March 7th asked with exasperation clear in her voice.

The trash raccoon with no shame in her voice said happily. "This trash can belongs to that bakery on the other side of the alleyway, so it smells really good inside of here!"

"Like moldy bread more likely." March 7th riposted flatly.

And then Himiko who was watching the scene with amusement said with some wisdom. "Actually with how cold it is normally outside, mold cannot really grow that well. And even if Jake's Divine Tree has greatly increased the temperature within the city... After centuries of the cold, I highly doubt there is much if any mold still outside." 

The trash raccoon and March 7th looked at Himiko with differing expressions before Elysia, the voice of reason spoke out. "Come on Stelle, wallowing in the trash isn't something a cute girl like you should be doing." 

Before Stelle could duck down and allow the trash can lid to silence the cold hurtful world outside of her aluminum bread-smelling safety zone. March 7th literally dragged her out of the trash can with a grunt of effort.

"Ah the world is so bright! How will I survive this eternal glare from the judging divine from above!?" Stelle bemoaned making Elysia giggle as March 7th gave her a slight shove to get her act together probably.

And Himiko being the nurturing woman she was. Gave a soft and patient smile before she spoke up. "Good, let's continue on with our shopping trip. We should go check in with Serval to see what stores have the best fabrics as we all wear very custom clothes to say the least." 

"Isn't Serval scared of Jake after he did that prank of breaking the law of conservation over his knee?" Elysia asked with a wry smile as Himiko gave an elegant shrug and threw back her long crimson hair.

"Oh she is fine, Jake just played a bit of a prank... Plus it's not like he purposefully scared her. I am more worried about when Jake meets a member of the Genius Society. It's likely that we will need to make a trip back to Herta's Space station for some things."

All four ladies had awkward expressions across their face. As they were well aware how... Easy going Jake was, but with the divine tree hanging over their heads. They had a small kernel of concern about what would happen should Jake's patience snap should those Genius Society members try to mess with him.

The ladies then continued on their shopping trip with Stelle and March 7th buying a lot of sweets and snacks, while Elysia bought some more casual sets of clothes and fabric to make her more elaborate style of clothing she typically wore.

While Himiko bought a literal oil barrel filled with coffee beans she left the group to go put it away directly onto the Astral Express. "So how about we go meet up with the boys and see what they are doing?" Stelle asked a little bored after all the shopping.

The four ladies shared a look before Himiko gave a knowing smile as she said. "Oh alright. let me just message the group chat to see where everyone is."

[Himiko- Where are you guys at? We are done shopping and want to meet up?]
[Welt- Me and Dan Heng are at the base of the Divine Tree, Jake made and helping the surface people learn how to pluck off the ore and such of the tree.]
[Dan Heng- The Divine Tree even has massive nuts bigger than a cargo container that holds nothing but smaller nuts and other food items inside of them. It's a fork lift operator's dream with all the weird things for people to have to move around.]

There was a pause before Elysia made a humming noise and added into the group chat.

[Elysia- Where is Jake? Is he with you guys?]
Welt- No, he decided to head down into the Underworld... He said something about making chocolate rivers, and turning the orphanage into an amusement park.]
[March 7th- Wait... What is going to happen with the kids if he gets rid of the orphanage???]

All the ladies looked up with horror at one another before everyone began spam pinging Jake's named in the group chat pinging him and trying to get his attention.

[March7th- #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake.]
[Himiko- #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake.]
[Stelle- #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake #Jake If you make the orphans homeless I will beat you with my bat!]

[Jake- ????? Da fudge did I do??? I am busy making better robots down here to take care of the orphans and stuff!]

Stelle exhaled in relief before Himiko muttered. "Uh oh... Hopefully, he isn't messing with the programming, we really don't need another Anti-Organic Equation leading to another Galactic Civil War."

[Elysia- Where are you in the Underworld? We are trying to meet back up to hang out or something.]

There was a long pause before a message came back. 

[Jake- I made a giant castle out of regenerating sweets that will never go bad. Only be eaten by humans and other creatures with the castle regenerating to it's current form... Also I made a double-layer of moats to keep the terrible children away with one moat being good sweet coffee, and the next layer is hot chocolate. Each has lily-like pads of marshmallows constantly floating around the endlessly spinning moats.]

"I think Jake is getting bored already of this planet." March 7th said with a wry smile as she read the long message.

Himiko however took a deep breath as she muttered. "It's alright... Despite how weird it is. It's still a net positive. I just need to make sure this doesn't hurt anyone still."

[Himiko- Did you... Enchant the castle and everything to make sure it couldn't carry bacteria or anything? What about nutrients, what about people with bad sugar levels or diabetes?]

There was another couple-minute long pause before Stelle snorted at Jake's return message. 

[Jake- I enchanted all of the stuff to be bacteria, mold, and fungal-free... Anyone who drinks directly from the Hot Chocolate moat with no cup will lose their diabetes, and any other symptoms resulting from it... Also just for you Himiko, anyone who drinks directly from the Coffee moat will have their bodies purged of cancer.]

"I am not sure if I want to hug him and tell him he did good... Or put him in time out for breaking my ability to perceive the world. How does Coffee even cure cancer?" Himiko whispered as she groaned in defeat at Jake's eccentric movments. 

But it wasn't over yet as Jake message again.

[Jake- Now to make things even more fun. I am going to fill the castle with adult and child-sized meals and other sweets-styled monsters to defend the castle... It's good for kids and even adults to understand fighting for a meal. And I would have loved to have the opportunity as a kid to go out with my dad and kill a precooked Thanksgiving Turkey that I can eat right then and there.]

"Wait... Did Jake basically make a haunted monster-filled super gingerbread house???" March 7th asked incredulously but then everyone looked back at the chat seeing someone else messaged back.

[Stelle- At the center of the castle, is there some kind of super treasure or something? Maybe a pile of those chocolate gold coins but the coins are actually wrapped in real gold?]

"Stelle! Don't encourage him!" March 7th almost shouted in exasperation.

But Himiko just chuckled and said with a wry smile. "I am not happy about the so-called food monsters he made... But it's still a net positive. Certainly much better than what other Aeon's do in their creations." 

[Jake- #Dan Heng would it be racist if I made a giant dragon made out of dark chocolate, marshmallows for teeth, gummy claws, and hot chocolate for a breath attack?]

[Dan Heng- If you make it look like Long the Aeon who made the Vidyadhara yes, otherwise no its fine... Can I come and fight it to see if its worthy of the name of a dragon?]
Jake- Come on down into the Underworld, you literally cannot miss the giant castle I made in the distance... Uh oh, Natasha's orphans are trying to use blasting charges to blow up the castle walls bye!]

"So... Wanna head down to the underworld?" Stelle asked rhetorically and all the girls shared a look before pausing as they realized something.

"Wait! Elysia already left! She must be already heading down to the Underworld!" March 7th said with indignant humor at the realization they were left behind.