DESTINY;DIVINE

# Chapter 1: Big Sister Rhea

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Our trip through the void was nearly instantaneous. 

Unlike space, which was the receptacle for matter to exist, void was absolute nothingness; so there was nothing to actually travel through. 

With sufficient power, protection from void energy, and a destination, you could essentially step through the void as if the realms were right next to each other.

The concept of void travel intrigued me greatly because wandering the realms was my ultimate goal.

Initially, I likened it to wormholes, but it was something far more profound. 

Wormholes connect two distinct points in space, but void was the emptiness between everything. Realms didn’t exist in the void, the void existed between realms. 

The thought made my mind race with more questions: 

How do you find realms in nothingness?

Is there a way to map nothingness?

Do concepts, laws, and principles function in the void?

I could guess the answer to the last question. You could create in the void, but eventually, void energy would nullify it. 

Void energy was best described as an anti-energy. It wasn’t the opposite of energy, it ate and destroyed energy. 

“You do know, that we’re here right?” Pandora asked, annoyed within my soul. 

“Huh?” I asked, breaking my trance.

Pandora, my magic celestial fairy lover, and Eve, my martial void elf lover, were traveling in my soul, they could speak to me and I had shared my senses with them through soul supremacy.

“We made it to a new realm and you’re just standing here.” Pandora scoffed.

“Sorry, just trying to take it all in. The void travel was distracting.” I said, finally looking around.

I found myself in an ornate stone courtyard enveloped in a light fog. The air was different, much heavier and denser than the forest.

There was no oxygen, only aether swirling in an abundance of natural and divine energies. I assumed the planet I stood on was very large because of the increased pull of gravity. 

As I gazed around, I was awestruck by the sight of massive floating mountains that defied the laws of mortal physics. 

Surrounded by golden clouds, twelve mountains were arranged in an ever-changing formation.

Just then, a mesmerizing purple light streaked across the sky, landing gracefully in front of me.

An enchanting vision of a woman with delicate features stepped forward.

Swirling inches away from her back was a distinct two-and-a-half-foot purple halo bursting with divine energy.

Her violet, wavy hair framed her face and cascaded down past her waist.

Centered on her forehead, just above thick, rimmed glasses was a single blooming lotus sigil that illuminated a soft purple glow.

She wore a tight, violet qipao with a captivating white, floral design and a big chest window that revealed her unreasonably large cleavage.

Her aura was pristine but she radiated kindness in her expression. 

Suddenly, I felt an unfamiliar energy wash over me. It wasn’t malicious, but sudden. She was scanning my cultivation. 

“My, my, a mortal?” She asked brows creased and lips pursed in amused confusion. 

“Oh, here,” I said, releasing my energy and apotheosizing. 

The pressure of the realm dissipated, but maintaining the form was its own challenge.

I attempted to scan her cultivation only to detect incomparably more energy than me, all divine.

She gasped and her eyes widened. 

“A transcended?” She asked in a hushed whisper. “Quickly? Follow me!”

She grabbed my hand and we immediately teleported to a white gazebo surrounded by flowers.

“That old crone.” She laughed. “Please sit, sit.”

She led me to a table with pastries and a glowing, crystal tea set.

“Umm, what’s going on?” I asked nervously.

I didn’t feel any hostility coming from her, but I wasn’t certain I could do anything about it if she did want to harm me.

Just my luck to be abducted as soon as I made it to an upper realm.

“I apologize, I do, I do. I promise I mean you no harm.” She said, smiling warmly. “My name is Rhea Ivy and I’m an assistant instructor at the Golden Palace Seminary. It’s nice to meet you.”

She began to pour tea, her fingers dancing gracefully across the teacups.

“Seminary? Like a school? That’s where this is?” I asked, looking around.

I could now see that the marble gazebo was situated in the middle of an enormous garden, filled with an astonishing assortment of vine-covered trees and flora. 

“We’re currently in my garden, again, I apologize for the abrupt transition, but it was for your own safety.”

“Okay, safety from what? Something to do with being transcended?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said, her tone growing grave. “Transcended are not well-liked in the golden sea realm. It’s idiotic and archaic but it’s reality.” 

I wondered why the forest system would send me somewhere unsafe for me. But on second thought, that’s exactly what it would do.

“Golden sea realm..” I tasted the names on my lips. “Why would anyone care that I was transcended?”

“It has to do with elitism and the type of godhood practiced in the seminary. But before we get into all of that, please, please have some tea and tell me about yourself. You look remarkably young to have reached apotheosis.”

“Hmm, where do I even begin?” I asked, pondering the insane journey I had undergone.

“Well, let’s start with your name,” she said, sipping her tea.

Her words gave me a momentary pause, my old name died with the old me. 

I had accepted that was who I was when I assimilated with my inner child, but I was now a new person, with a new life. 

I was a god who planned to live to the fullest, *until the end of time*.  

“The old me has long since passed away, and so has that name.” I breathed, clearing my throat. “My name is  **Aeon**,” I spoke with divinity, solidifying the start of my new path.

“Love it! Love it! Please continue, little brother Aeon.” Rhea said excitedly, urging me to proceed. 

So, I recounted my entire story to her, leaving nothing out. 

I explained how it all began with my suicide and subsequent awakening with a new body in a rainbow forest accompanied by an enigmatic system. 

 

I spoke about my multiple deaths, meeting the celestial fairy Pandora and the void elf Eve, all the rigorous training, and my path of martial arts and cultivation. 

I broached the beast tides, Aoife, the celestial phoenix, the void dragon, and how I was transported here.

Honestly, it was cathartic to reminisce and unburden myself of all those thoughts and experiences.

“I’m still unsure who sent me to the forest, or here for that matter, but yeah, that’s my story,” I concluded, taking a sip of tea.

The incredibly refreshing, fruity tea was brimming with so much divine energy that I had to immediately cycle my spiritual energy.

Rhea burst into a hearty round of heavy applause and flowers bloomed along the gazebo railing.

“Incredible! Incredible! You’ve been on a truly wonderful journey. Love, loss, pain, gain. Oh me, oh my, big sister Rhea is so jealous!” She said, smiling with a wistful expression.

“Transcended have the most exciting stories,” she exhaled. “Anyway, yes, yes, this is an excellent place for your first steps into godhood.”

“Your mysterious benefactor made the right choice. Here, you can learn to cultivate divine energy and ascend the divine tiers.”

“As I mentioned earlier, I’m Rhea of the Ivy clan, but you can call me big sister Rhea. I’ve decided to sponsor you. How exciting!” She said then paused, glancing at me over the rim of her glasses.

Clearing my throat, “Umm, okay, big sister?” I said hesitantly. 

She remained silent and tilted her head slightly, revealing more of her mesmerizing lavender eyes.

“Big sister Rhea?” I asked dubiously.

She smiled, nodded, and handed me a pastry. 

“This will be so much fun,” she clapped to herself. “I wonder if Professor Damion has room for one more.” She mused.

“Sponsor?” I asked, trying desperately to follow.

“Oh yes, yes, to become a student in the Golden Palace Seminary you require the backing of a great clan. Considering you just arrived here and don’t know anyone else, let the Ivy clan back you.” 

“Are you sure? Just like that? What do you require from me?” I asked suspiciously. 

She just smiled. “Let’s just say our meeting was foretold by the stars. And no, no, I don’t require anything from you. Just don’t forget big sister Rhea when you’re all big and strong. I know you’re going to do big things.” 

Foretold by the stars? Ominous. Her aura didn’t indicate falsehood and according to my third eye, her karma didn’t present any red flags. 

“I see..” I said, contemplating my options.

I had none. The system sent me here for a reason and she had offered me help for nothing in return.

Unless reading divinity was different or she was a master manipulator, I believed I could trust her until she gave me a reason not to.

I cupped my fist in my palm and bowed. “I thank you for your assistance big sister Rhea.”

Her cheeks tinged pink and her eyes flashed dangerously.“My, my I could just eat you up.” She bit her bottom lip. “First we need to hide that you’re transcended. You need to convert all of your energy into divine energy.”

“I see.. and you mentioned divine tiers?” I asked.

“Yes, the ladder doesn’t end at divinity. With a divine spark and access to divine energy, you are considered Tier 0, the equivalent to a demigod.”

“At Tier 1, you ignite your energy into a divine source and create your soul realm. Tier 1 through 3 are known as lesser gods. Tier 4 through 6 are known as true gods, and Tier 7 through 9 are known as greater gods.” 

“Beyond that are supreme gods, but you don’t need to be concerned with them. They are rare and usually don’t venture out of their own realms.” She explained while munching on sweets.

I considered the ramifications of ascending tiers, and having to hide being a transcended.

“And why are transcended hated here?” I asked.

She paused and her smile faltered. “Many natural born gods, particularly those from prominent or esteemed families, hold a disdain for mortals and believe that transcendent mortals shouldn’t exist.”

“These foolish individuals have convinced themselves that their lineage grants them significance and superiority over others. Even if they have comparable divine power.”

“The Ivy clan have never held such notions. The progenitor of my clan was actually transcended.” She said, adjusting her glasses.

“So my life is in danger just because someone thinks they’re better than me? That honestly sounds a lot like mortals.” I thought aloud.

“Exactly, aside from divine energy, gods and mortals are essentially the same.” She said sipping her tea.

“What was that you mentioned about the type of godhood practiced?” I asked curiously.

“This seminary, and realm as a whole, practice faith godhood. You will learn about other forms of godhood in classes, but faith gods are considered the most powerful by far.” 

“The source of a faith gods growth is their believers. Happy and powerful believers make their god more powerful in turn.”

“The issue is with resources. Believers themselves are considered resources as well as natural energy, land, water, vegetation, and anything else not created by the god's own divine source.” 

“While wonton murder isn’t allowed at the seminary, faith gods consistently war over resources.”

“Don’t let that detour you, however. Not only are faith gods more powerful than any other type of god at the same tier, but their believers can help them battle and further their concepts, laws, and principles.”

“Okay.. That’s a lot to take in at once. A faith god.. I’ve never considered having believers or being worshipped or anything like that.” I said with a sense of unease. 

Rhea smiled warmly. “I understand but it’s easier than you might think. You can come to me if you have any questions about the finer details.”

“If you don’t mind my asking, what tier are you?”

“No, no, I don’t mind at all.” She smirked. “Big sister Rhea is a Tier 4 goddess.”

She probably had a massive following of loyal believers.

“So, what should I do next? And what does being sponsored entail?” I pondered my next move. 

“For your safety, you must remain here until you’ve converted your energy into divine energy. Once that is done, I will see about enrolling you in the preparatory class and finding you lodging.”

“As for sponsorship, you don’t have much to be concerned with. Once you become a true god and graduate, the clan may request your assistance from time to time.”

“It’s fairly normal, and a decent trade in my opinion. You wouldn’t be considered a member of the Ivy clan, but your actions would reflect on us. Please be mindful.”

“You also won’t be considered a full student until after you reach Tier 1, but the preparatory class will assist with that.” She explained in detail.

“I see, and what about necessities? Is there somewhere I can work for money?” I asked. 

Rhea let out a musical laugh. “No, no, in this realm, we use faith crystals for bartering, and the seminary only requires a specific percentage of your monthly earnings as tuition.”

I never heard the term before, so I asked curiously, “What are faith crystals?” 

“Crystalized faith energy. You will be able to create it once you have denizens in your soul realm. For now, you’re a guest of big sister Rhea. I’ll take care of you.”

“Oh, well okay. Thank you.” I said, bowing again. 

She smirked, “You’re very welcome.” 

Before leaving me to convert my energy, Rhea explained how the seminary functioned. It catered to students up to Tier 3. 

Unlike schools I was familiar with, it didn’t have a fixed graduation time as cultivation journeys were varied.

Moreover, it wasn’t feasible for everyone to ascend the tiers due to potential bottlenecks, weak foundations, lack of resources, and any other growth hindrances. 

It was perfectly normal for a deity to remain at Tier 1 for the entirety of their existence.

From what I gathered, students could stay at the seminary as long as there was space and they paid tuition fees.

Nearly 70% of the student body consisted of Tier 1 students, with 20% being Tier 2 and less than 10% as Tier 3. Tier 0 students didn’t constitute a specific percentage.

***

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“So what do you two think?” I asked Pandora and Eve.

We were floating over my spiritual sea, next to my flickering, black divine spark.

“She’s hot, I like her!” Pandora shouted.

Eve rolled her eyes. “She seems genuine enough, but I’ll withhold my judgment until we get to know her better.”

“Yeah, I agree. I didn’t get any bad signs from my aura reading or karmic intuition, but I worry about meeting new people, especially those that offer assistance with little to nothing to gain.” I said.

Pandora scoffed. “You two worry too much. She probably just wants to bang..” She looked at me lovingly. “Aeon.”

I blushed. “Yeah, it just came to me.” 

“I love it!” The excitable fairy raved.

“I think it fits you perfectly.” The stoic elf said with a warm smile.

I cleared my throat. “Anyway, what about this seminary and faith godhood business?” I asked, changing the subject. 

“Easy, We’ll be your first believers!” Pandora concluded.

“Are you sure? We don’t know how the process works yet. What if it prevents you from becoming goddesses?” I asked concerned.

“I don’t care. I said you were stuck with me and I meant it. Besides, it’s not like we could travel around anyway. This realm hates mortals and transcended, remember.” She added.

Eve nodded. “Agreed. I will follow you no matter what form that takes.”

I sighed deeply. “I don’t deserve you two.” 

“Nah, but you can earn it.” Pandora joked mischievously.

“He has work to do. The faster you convert your energy, the faster you can actually start class and become a Tier 1 god.” Eve urged.

Pandora blew out a breath in slight agitation. “Fine.. But you owe me.” She said with a pout.

I snorted. “Yes, Princess Pandora.” 

After giving them both a kiss, I focused on converting my spiritual energy.

The task was more tedious than difficult. Similar to apotheosis, it required channeling my energy through my divine spark, but instead of immediately using the energy, I would send it back into my spiritual sea. 

Without any other distractions, I floated in the lotus position and began my work.