Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Lansendel pondered over everything and could only think of two possibilities: one being a certain prophecy archmage in the shadows... erratic, either locked in this crystal ball or confined within that tattered book.

But Amanata... Lansendel believed that after experiencing that great deception in the Nais Empire, that guy probably wouldn’t trust any mage anymore.

Though it sounds like he’s speaking well of Amanata, the fool, Lansendel, who once lived as his neighbor, knew a bit about why Amanata sat on the sidelines watching the circus, without intending to stop that fool, the card-whatever-it-was guy.

That fellow Amanata was overly convinced of the belief in the Nais archmage god, their divine status.

Though Lansendel also found it somewhat unbelievable... everyone knows that the ability of Nais Foresky City to implement their trivial rules relied entirely on Amanata’s laws and policies.

The respect of the Nais mages for Amanata wasn’t because he was the Sun God but because he provided them, who yielded to none, a reason to live in the same city, allowing them to find their position and pursue a better goal.

After all, during that time, dragons and elves were the strongest forces in the world.

The Nais Empire initially was just a group of hapless mages gathering for survival.

Otherwise, why would any mage want to cluster together?

Why so easily submit to another mage! After all, they weren’t their own teachers.

At that time, although Amanata wasn’t any good either, he was at least shrewd... so he found a very good entry point.

When other deities of the Ferun Pantheon were still unaware of what was happening, Amanata already had his own temple and missionaries.

However, even so kind and fair a person like Mystree wanted to deal with mages, is it really possible for him to always be respectful towards Amanata?

Moreover, who doesn’t want to have someone to take the blame?

Thus, Amanata, upon discovering traces of that matter and consulting with those renowned prophecy archmages, concluded that Toril might be shaken by it but won’t suffer worse consequences.

The Weave still existed within Toril.

Of course, the other party did not lie.

They simply omitted the turbulence in between.

Amanata indeed left many warnings to the Toril Gods... such as not to believe human mouth, especially those in high positions.

Later, when the Black Eye ascended, their widespread sealing off of the mages effectively received silent support from all gods.

The Nais archmages destroyed not only Mystree.

It could be said that two great divine powers fell because of them.

Even Lansendel eventually figured it out... what those prophecy archmages saw was vague, but when someone truly became a god, they could indeed see it.

Of course, they also saw the turmoil caused by this and the curse from mortals towards Amanata.

However, they did not see the fleeting light, the falling of the Floating Cities, and the downfall of Amanata.

In the hearts of these archmages, they were achieving three goals with one arrow... weakening Mystree, having their own deity, and incidentally undermining Amanata’s prestige.

A Sun God cursed by mortals... under such circumstances, wasn’t it only right that the Nais converted their faith to their own people!

Even though those curses originated from themselves.

With such wishful thinking, unfortunately, the result was radiant.

Not to mention those ghosts who could only live in shadows; even those few prophecy archmages who teamed up to deceive Amanata... as Lansendel knew, almost none met a good end.

Death would be a relief for them.

Regrettably, no one could have it.

Therefore, Lansendel absolutely does not believe that Amanata would trust any prophecy mage’s nonsense anymore.

The second possibility is the former God of Prophecy, Safras.

But Lansendel, after thinking over this repeatedly, couldn’t understand why Amanata would trust the words of Mystra’s divine subordinate?

Even if A.O. shamelessly had Safras take the Tablets of Fate to find that cup, Lansendel thought Amanata would only feel he’s about to fall into misfortune, right?

Any god related to the Weave would want him Amanata dead!

The longer someone has lived, like Safras, and the more skilled they are as former mages, the more they would loathe him.

To these powerful mages, Mystree’s era was the best era.

The current Mystra, whoever she might be, is about to seal off the path for these mages to step out of the Weave.

Edna is the same.

Edna Mistrala is even more troublesome.

Because she is very fair.

For this young lady, those she trusts don’t need to rely on the Weave to do anything... then why should anyone else be given special treatment?

Even Azuth could not obtain privileges... despite the undeniable blood relationship with her body.

So, the chaotic magic-free zones filled with primordial power under the previous Goddesses of Magic in Toril, have completely disappeared.

There is no place in Toril without the Weave.

Including the Underworld.

Edna, unlike Midnight, doesn’t disdain those evil spells within the Shadow Weave.

As long as the Weave doesn’t sound an alarm, she doesn’t care what others use or teach.

It looks very good, but in essence, it’s the most troublesome.

Because there are no loopholes to exploit... those two from before would always offer a little convenience to their own.

So, as long as you found that convenient existence, you could make use of it.

But now, it’s just that impenetrable net.

It’s also due to this reality that Amanata had to go outside Toril to seek his opportunity.

Mages who have reached above level 30, basically curse him whenever they think of it.

Then, Lansendel once again found himself lost... Who exactly could Amanata trust so wholeheartedly, implementing this plan without hesitation.

Really, even if misfortune and fortune took the stage together, Lansendel still finds it hard to believe Amanata, with his old suspicion, would trust so easily... Looking at the difference in laws between Tyr and Amanata, it’s clear the Sun is truly the darkest mind.

Does anyone really think they can suppress the creative ideas of the mages!

If the Floating City adopted Tyr’s set of laws, it would crash within 10 days... destroyed by internal strife.

If it wasn’t certain that AO didn’t interfere... Lansendel, understanding the logic, would know if that old guy personally took action, he wouldn’t be able to avoid it.

Tsk~

He must take this opportunity to get the truth out of Amanata!

Otherwise, how could he linger around Shaer... Lansendel could almost hear the thunderous gasp from the Toril Gods!

This is entirely different from their previous visits to the Hill Family as guests.

Several beings holding grudges against him or Shaer have likely started desperately calculating how to resist if the two join forces, and with whom they might ally to handle it.

However, this was one of his purposes... though he doesn’t know Shaer’s real intent, her not leaving Lansendel’s sight probably has that aspect in consideration too.

With three more gods of strong combat power, Toril’s future will certainly see some turmoil for a while.

However, this time is also the best to distinguish friend from foe.

Especially those who harbor ill intentions but haven’t put them into action, covertly working hard behind the scenes; they likely find it hard to stay put.

Naturally, Lansendel isn’t actually afraid of Shaer, not even if he is aware of his thoughts by AO behind Shaer, as everything he’s done is aboveboard.

But he doesn’t wish to drag Hill, who obviously wants to stay away from Toril, into this quagmire.

The presence of AO makes a clever god like him not dare to invite his friends over... any friends he considers worthy are undoubtedly excellent in various ways.

Who wants to be the next Tyr!

Don’t look at that guy who joyfully went back as a guest, returning still full of gloom... Tyr, having struggled, survived, and finally able to contend with those bastards in Toril, doesn’t fit in with that Positive Energy Plane he enters.

Not every Positive Energy Plane is like the Heavens controlled by the God of Order... even if one’s moral character isn’t great, one can still reside in the lower two layers as long as they abide by the order of those shameless beings.

The lower planes of the Heavens are endless, with countless god systems residing there.

Although the armies of demons and devils aren’t overly arrogant, they have destroyed more than a few residences as they pass by.

The location of the Greek Gods is relatively far from the Dimensional Gate that leads to the upper planes.

If not for the Abyssal Will targeting Zeus specifically, they might only encounter a few lost Great Demons... Heh~ how amusing~ Dimogogan’s map of the Heavens is probably more detailed than those in the hands of angels.

But why did AO only favor Athena, Apollo, and Artemis?

Lansendel doesn’t think it’s just because their divinities are suitable... it’s because, among the suitable deities, their divinities are relatively acceptable.

”It seems the battle is about to end.” He suddenly looked up at the distant mountains where lightning and thunder were still raging... yet the most frantic and formidable moves didn’t stop the double-headed baboon’s fists, ending Zeus’s life.

”Cyric has moved.” Shaer said softly, ”Those ones have caught up as well.

Do you know why?”

”I don’t know... I really am not familiar with the Greek Pantheon.” Lansendel said with some resignation.

However, in the Magic Tower, Celene asked Hill the same question.

”Before Athena was born, she was swallowed by Zeus, and only emerged after splitting open the divine king’s head.” Hill indeed had some speculation, ”And such a daughter, Zeus, being as suspicious as he is, still granted her very strong power.

There has always been a saying that Athena left something within Zeus’s stomach.”