Chapter 3 - The Faithful, The Chronicler, and The Cornerstone

The dream domain had deactivated, Fredric fell to his knees crying. He's heart went back in forth time and time again.

"Little brother, you must calm down." I spoke to him.

He didn't calm down.

After around 30 minutes of listening to his pitiful cry.

"I will follow you everywhere, when my legs falter, my blood shakes, my eyes gouge, my ears bleed, and even when my life is taken I will follow you," Fredric slammed his head on the ground crying each word.

He meant it.

"Pick yourself up little brother, you and I are related by Eternum." I spoke to him, smiling at him.

He hastily stood up. The composed village leader wasn't very composed in front of me.

I grabbed his shoulders, "Follow me, and help me save everyone."

With Fredric's help I could easily find someone who had experience in writing.

"Ferio is the smartest person in the village after the elder. He will be a good scribe."

Fredric led me through the winding streets of Intreed, his steps purposeful despite his recent emotional upheaval. The village bustled with life, unaware of the profound change that had just occurred in their leader's worldview.

"Ferio lives on the outskirts," Fredric explained, his voice steadier now. "He's young, but his mind is sharper than most."

We approached a modest dwelling, its walls adorned with climbing vines. Fredric knocked, and after a moment, the door creaked open.

A young man, no older than twenty, peered out at us. His eyes, bright with intelligence, widened at the sight of the village head.

"Village Elder? What brings you here?" Ferio asked, his gaze shifting curiously between us.

"Ferio," I interjected, stepping forward. "I am Cassius. I have come with an important task for you."

The young man's brow furrowed, clearly taken aback by my directness. "Cassius? I've seen you around, but... what task?"

I smiled, knowing the weight my next words would carry. "I need you to write the story of our salvation."

Ferio's confusion deepened. "Salvation? I don't understand."

"Let us in, Ferio," Fredric said softly. "There is much to discuss."

Once inside, I began to weave the tale of Eternum, Malus, and the impending doom of our world. I watched as Ferio's expression shifted from skepticism to wonder, and finally to a mix of fear and awe.

"This is... incredible," Ferio breathed, his fingers twitching as if already itching to put quill to parchment. "But why me?"

"Your mind is sharp, your hand skilled," I replied. "You will be the chronicler of Eternumism, the scribe who will preserve our teachings for generations to come."

Ferio's eyes lit up at the prospect. "I... I would be honored. But how can I be sure this is real?"

I exchanged a glance with Fredric, who nodded almost imperceptibly. It was time to show Ferio the truth.

"Close your eyes, Ferio," I instructed. "And open your mind to the Eternal One."

As I prepared to activate the Dream State once more, I felt a subtle shift in the air. The system's voice echoed in my mind:

"WARNING: Frequent use of Dream State may lead to instability in the target's psyche. Proceed with caution. Cost: 150 FP."

I hesitated for a moment, weighing the risk against the potential gain. But the path forward was clear. Ferio needed to see the "truth" with his own eyes.

"Proceed," I commanded silently.

As Ferio's consciousness plunged into the Dream State, I crafted a vision of creation itself. The birth of stars, the formation of planets, and the delicate balance of life—all orchestrated by the hand of Eternum.

When Ferio's eyes fluttered open, they were filled with tears of wonder and reverence.

"I... I saw it all," he whispered. "The beginning, the end, and everything in between. I will write your story, Gift of God. I will spread the word of Eternum to every corner of this world."

I smiled, satisfied with the fervor in his voice. "Then let us begin, Ferio. The tale of Eternumism awaits your skilled hand."

As Ferio hurried to gather his writing materials, Fredric leaned close to me. "What now, Gift of God?" he asked, his voice low, liking the nickname Ferio gave me.

I gazed out the window, watching the villagers go about their daily lives, blissfully unaware of the cosmic drama unfolding in their midst.

"Now," I replied, my voice filled with quiet determination, "we build our hearth. And from this village, Eternumism will spread like wildfire across the land."

As the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting long shadows across Intreed, I turned to Fredric and Ferio. "There's one more person we need to convince. The village elder."

Fredric's face tightened. "Old man Thaddeus? He's... not an easy one to sway."

"He cares little for others," Ferio added, his quill pausing mid-stroke. "And he's skeptical of everything new."

I nodded, understanding the challenge ahead. "Then we shall make him care."

We found Thaddeus in his home, a weathered structure that seemed to lean with the weight of years. The old man's eyes, sharp despite his age, narrowed at our approach.

"What's this then?" he croaked, his voice like dry leaves. "The head, the scribe, and the oddity. Quite a gathering."

I stepped forward, meeting his gaze. "Thaddeus, we bring news of great importance."

What followed was a heated debate that stretched into the night. Thaddeus scoffed at our claims, his wit as biting as ever.

"Gods? Salvation? Bah!" he spat. "I've lived long enough to know there's no divine hand guiding us. We live, we die, that's all there is."

Fredric tried to reason with him, while Ferio passionately recounted what he'd seen. But Thaddeus remained unmoved.

Finally, I raised my hand, silencing them all. "Thaddeus, if you won't believe our words, perhaps you'll believe your own eyes."

Before he could protest, I activated the Dream State, bracing myself for the increased cost.

"WARNING: Dream State activated for a highly skeptical mind. Cost: 200 FP. Proceed with caution."

In Thaddeus's dream, I crafted a world of darkness. The old man found himself alone, his frail body suddenly strong again. But this strength was fleeting.

From the shadows emerged Malus, a towering figure of pure malevolence. Its clawed hand reached out, grasping Thaddeus and dragging him towards an abyss of nothingness.

Thaddeus struggled, his newfound vitality useless against Malus's grip. For the first time in decades, real fear etched itself across his face.

Then, a light pierced the darkness. I appeared, not as Cassius, but as a being of pure radiance. With a single gesture, I rebuked Malus, my voice thundering through the void.

"Release him, Malus. He is not yours to claim."

Malus recoiled, shrinking back into the shadows with a howl of frustration. Thaddeus fell to his knees, gasping.

I approached him, my light driving away the remaining darkness. "Thaddeus," I spoke, my voice echoing with divine authority. "You have lived long, seen much, and grown weary. But your journey is not yet complete."

Thaddeus looked up, his eyes wide with a mix of awe and lingering skepticism. "Who... what are you?"

"I am the one who stands against the darkness. The one who offers hope when all seems lost. And you, Thaddeus, will be my Cornerstone."

As Thaddeus awoke from the Dream State, his weathered face was transformed. Gone was the bitter skepticism, replaced by a look of wonder I hadn't thought possible on his features.

"I... I saw..." he stammered, his voice trembling. "The darkness, the light... You..."

I knelt beside him, speaking softly. "You have seen the truth, Thaddeus. Will you stand with us now? Will you be our Cornerstone?"

Thaddeus's eyes, now brimming with tears, met mine. "Yes," he whispered. "Yes, I will."

From that moment on, Thaddeus became known as the Cornerstone of Eternumism. His age and wisdom lent credibility to our cause, while his newfound faith inspired even the most doubtful.

As we left Thaddeus's home that night, our group now four strong, I felt a surge of satisfaction. The hearth of Eternumism was blazing to life, its warmth beginning to spread through Intreed.

Fredric, the Faithful. Ferio, the Chronicler. And now Thaddeus, the Cornerstone. With these pillars in place, our foundation was set. The true work of building our religion could now begin.