Zeke
"Ho. I see."
He nodded and smiled as if he understood. How could he not? They truly were so similar. Their only difference was one of degrees...
"You say could, so we're not even sure it's not a divine being. Honestly... that's pretty lucky. Relax kiddo, this might be a good day for you after all. Didn't I promise? I'll save you, no matter what, your cute tiny hands will reach that dream of yours."
He tapped his back lightly and hoisted the kid on his shoulder.
"It's a gamble, but hey, worked fine for me, might do something for you. See, that quote on quote God or whatnot... I wouldn't say it's exactly the same one humans look up to. It's probably not the same MVP hotshot one other creatures preach to either. It's weird, but I really have no way to describe it. Like trying to visualize a color you've never seen. All I wanted was to see that color... being stuck in canvas or in darkness became just as mindnumbing. And trust me, there's no worse poison than tedium."
Smiling, he ascended the stairs of the laboratory and exited. Walking still, he just kept marching to the horizon.
4:45 AM
By now they had reached the outskirts of Xilbaba
"Maybe I was wrong. Maybe I wasn't. But just because I saw a prophecy doesn't mean I should sit idly." He raised a finger up to the heavens and pouted. "No no no! You should always do everything you can! So I salvaged what little scraps were left in the dark and searched for remnants of the gods. It took me years just to gain the capacity to move freely in that prison. And that's when I found it.... an angel. A true, veritable angel. Not conscious, nor alive, nor dead. It's as if God itself smiled and granted me a fortune. I could study it as much as I wished. It was my key to freedom... at least at the time."
His tone was that of a patient teacher, happy as one could be to share his knowledge. It's as if he had not a care in the world. No, he truly didn't.
"I mean, imagine. Foreign energy that ties all of us together. AN invisible connection that transcends space, time, even the heavens. A system that binds us all and controls us. But what if you could use these bonds to travel? What if you use that power in order to communicate outside spacetime, and gain access to the power of any history or possibility? These PATHS... remember that island earlier today? That was one of the first prototypes of that theory. All thanks to the visions and faith given to me... like a good fortune cookie winning me a lottery!"
He stepped over each blocky asphalt block like it was a giant game to him, hopping on one leg and making all sorts of crazy pirouettes... all with Joseph above him.
"Light, darkness, magic, power, belief... all of that shit's overrated. There's only one thing that matters in this world. It's the bonds between one another. Every deed, good or bad, sends ripples that can change history and overturn fate itself. But manipulating said bonds... you could become a transient being like me... or even gain a body that would never feel pain or suffering. And maaaybe there's a relic out there that miiiight just be one of those prototypes that mimicked said angels. And maaaaaaybe it'd be super useful to our plans. And maaaaaaaybe it'd be really worth a shot. But maybe, just maybe. Not making any promises, tut tut."
He glanced up at Joseph.
"So how about it? Wanna try?"