Colen took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled—snowflakes floated from his lips like stars, drifting gently above the frozen table.
With a flick of his finger, two snowflakes descended like feathers. As they touched the icy surface, they froze the air and sculpted two lifelike figures: Lore and Oasis. The ice sculptures shimmered, animated by Colen's magic, and began to move as he began his tale.
"After their famous speech," Colen began, his cold voice calm but captivating, "Lore and Oasis dedicated themselves to rebuilding the damage they had caused. They deconstructed the ruins of every kingdom they had destroyed and held proper burials for all who had died. Every soul from the Forest of Festra attended, paying their respects—even to the ones they had never known."
New sculptures rose from the table—icy ruins of kingdoms crumbled in silence. The figures of Lore, Oasis, and several Uki worked tirelessly, deconstructing the debris. Then the ruins melted into water, only to refreeze into a field of graves—hundreds of them, stretching across the table. Statues of Lore and Oasis kneeled in prayer among Uki figures, solemn and still.
"Years passed, and through their effort, the world was rebuilt. To ensure peace, they held elections for new kings and queens. Unsurprisingly, the people chose Lore and Oasis," Colen said, tapping the table again.
The ice transformed, forming a grand kingdom. Lore and Oasis appeared once more—this time, sitting on the ground, exhausted but content. A crowd of Uki surrounded them, pointing, cheering. The kingdom then melted into a throne room, and Lore and Oasis appeared seated on majestic ice thrones. Snowflakes swirling in the air descended gently around them, taking the shape of divine beings.
"The gods, bored and ever in need of entertainment, tasked Lore and Oasis with a divine mission," Colen continued. "They were to journey through the realms of the Earthly Gods, spreading their story and teaching others how to earn the blessings of the divine—if they were devoted enough."
Oasis and Lore nodded to the gods and, before departing, asked if they could bring companions along. The gods agreed.
"As they began their journey," Colen said softly, "Lore brought along our Ancients—now reborn as a toddler. Oasis brought his brother, a girl named Pearl, and a Shark Uki warrior."
Three snowflakes fell slowly, transforming into more sculptures.
The first: a toddler with messy hair, dressed in a half-tucked shirt and short pants. His eyes were large, red, and filled with innocent wonder.
The second: a tall man with both fox ears and human ears. His long hair flowed past his shoulders, and he wore the same wave-patterned, one-shouldered outfit as Oasis—his chest partly revealed, a fur collar lining his clothing. Baggy pants, Japanese Geta slippers, and an ornate Obi belt completed his elegant look.
The third: a beautiful girl with fox and human ears, her hair tied in a Dutch braid. She wore a wrap dress secured by a waist belt that accentuated her slender frame. A ring glove adorned one of her hands, and her expression, though icy, was regal.
As the table glowed faintly beneath the ice, Colen's frozen tale paused—waiting to be continued.
Then, another snowflake fell—slow, delicate, almost hesitant—as if the weight of the story it carried delayed its descent. When it finally touched the frozen table, the air snapped cold, and ice bloomed outward like spreading veins until it sculpted the figure of a large man. He had long, wild hair, gills on his neck, jagged shark teeth frozen mid-snarl, and a massive shark tail curling behind him. His vest was open to reveal his chiseled torso, a single suspender slung loosely over one shoulder. The table seemed to shiver with his presence.
Colen's voice softened as he spoke again.
"Lore," he explained, "was the one who brought the child—our ancient. The little one trusted him more than anyone else. And Oasis… Oasis brought the rest. They were his dearest friends. Trusted more than even himself."
Colen raised his hand, fingers splayed, and the snowflakes floating above shimmered gold for just a moment.
"So they asked the gods, 'How will we travel your realms?' And the gods answered: 'With the power we have given you.' And so, they did. Grasping each other's arms, Lore and Oasis tore through the veil and entered the Astral Planes. That moment… that was the first time anyone ever discovered them."
A wave of cold wind passed gently across the room as Colen flicked his wrist. The snowflakes on the table shimmered and spun into a swirl. Then the table iced into a new scene: dark swirling skies above tunnels of stars—the Astral Planes. They walked its path, shimmering shadows in a place between time and space.
"They arrived on their first planet," Colen continued, "a world of dwarves—short, stone-skinned beings who lived deep beneath the earth. Suspicious of gods, they demanded proof. So Lore and Oasis showed them their symbols… their power… and eventually, through trust and patience, the dwarves built a church underground in honor of the Earthly Gods."
Colen snapped his fingers. The dwarven world melted, and forests bloomed next—lush, emerald green.
"The druids and dryads came next—nature-bound beings who worshipped only the god of nature. But Lore and Oasis didn't fight their faith—they simply shared a truth. That other gods existed too. With gifts of nature magic, the druids welcomed them, and a new temple was built in the heart of the woods."
Scene after scene shifted like pages in a frozen book. A dying planet turned lush. The "Dried," tree-like people with withered faces, transformed into bright, healthy trees.
"They gave the gift of fire and water from any surface," Colen said. "Then came the monsters… the silver elves… the mines. Each world faced ruin. Lore and Oasis brought salvation. And every planet offered something in return. One by one, the cosmos began to believe in the Earthly Gods."
But then Colen's tone dropped—cold and ominous. The swirling snowflakes slowed. His eyes narrowed.
"Until something happened. Something that changed everything."
The frozen winds ceased. The room grew still.
"In the Astral Plane, they tried to leave—to move to the next world—but they couldn't. They were stuck. And then…"
Colen smirked.
"…they heard Him."
He flicked his wrist.
Ice sculpted the table into the image of an immense figure. Shrouded in robes, faceless, endless. Melting and refreezing over and over, the ice refusing to settle on any one form. He was veiled in snowflakes that bowed in his presence.
"This was one of the Three Oldest Gods," Colen whispered. "A being beyond time. He told them the truth. That Lore and Oasis were anomalies—that he had never guessed that all the Earthly Gods would bless the same people. That their very existence was dangerous. That their presence in the third dimension was breaking reality."
Gasps rose from the crowd. But Colen's voice remained steady.
"So the Oldest God had a choice: destroy them… or fix the problem. And he chose to fix it."
The god raised his icy hand. Colen's finger twitched, and the sculpture rippled.
"He created the Blessing Awakening System. A method to help them control their power, suppress the chaos within them. But it was already too late. Their strength had grown too wild. He told them they must ascend. If they didn't, they would be cast back into the Third Dimension. And if that happened, the dimension would shatter under their weight."
"Lore and Oasis asked how they could ascend. The Oldest God told them: By becoming gods themselves. The power within them was a seed. They only needed to make it grow."
'How?' they asked.
'By passing my tests,' he answered."
Colen flicked his fingers again. A new sequence of frozen imagery took shape: years of trials—storms, monsters, endless battles in realms unknown.
"It is said it took years upon years. But finally, they succeeded."
Then came a moment of silence. A heavy one.
"The Oldest God was so moved, he decided to create two god seeds from their essence. One for each of them… and one more for someone they trusted."
Colen smiled now, the softest he had smiled yet.
"Oasis didn't hesitate. He chose his brother. Lore asked the girl if she wanted it. She declined. Then only two remained: the shark Uki and the child. The shark Uki refused, fearing the burden of divinity. So Lore and Oasis begged to keep the seed safe for the another day."
The sculpture of the Oldest God leaned forward.
"And he said, 'No.' Then—without warning—he placed it inside the child."
Gasps echoed again. Even now, the memory shocked them.
"But the god did not punish them," Colen said. "He only told them: 'You two caused the rise of the blessing powers. So you must create the ritual to awaken them.' And they did. The god approved. And then he let them go."
Colen raised both hands. The final scene formed: Lore and Oasis standing at the edge of a massive, gleaming temple. The oldest church, forged for the one god none dared name. They knelt. And then, the snowflake dust above them burst like stars.
"They returned to the world," Colen whispered, "and created the ritual that changed everything. They awakened their blessing powers… and became the first mortals to ascend. The first to ever awaken the gifts of the gods within themselves."