World Walker Park [Magical Amusement Park Base-Building]

Luka Prime, Luka Three, Luka Four, and Luka Eight, were all currently indisposed, each hosting a tour of their associated park with various VIPs of the faithful—high priests, votaries, other devout high donors to a church or two.

Each Luka had their group of people and each Luka mimed the exact same talking points, fun facts, and keen observations. They were, after all, the same person who built the park. Maybe it was strange for eight realities to all be stacked on top of each other, but if it allowed more guests than the normal capacity, then that was fine with everyone!

Except for Vale. The gods didn't copy her—and she was A-okay with that! "I don't want seven others of me running around," she told Luka Two, "what if one of them gets the idea that they are the real one in their head and tries to kill me and take over?"

Luka Two blinked at the answer. He hadn't even considered that! But now… now he wondered if that would work. Everyone knew the eight different realities would eventually be obliterated—once the holiday was over. That meant Luka Two through Eight were going to die… Luka Two peered through the levels of reality to Luka Prime.

What if…

No, no. That wouldn't be right. The gods had plans for all the duplicates, right? …Right?

"When you're obliterated, your memories are going into Luka Prime," Goddess Tippy said in a huff, appearing beside Luka Two with a disappointed frown. "All you clones are the same person, don't get any funny ideas. I've already had to stop Franky Three from stabbing Franky Prime with a spork."

Vale quirked an eyebrow. "Would that even have hurt him? Orc skin is rather thick."

Tippy sighed regretfully. "Franky Three seems to be a little duller than the others…"

"How is that possible?"

"How is it possible that a clone is duller than the original, or how is it possible that someone is duller than Franky?"

"Both?" Vale impishly asked.

Luka Three recoiled. "I'm a little insulted for my friend here. Franky is not dull, and as your friend, Vale, I would expect more. Same to you, Goddess."

Vale considered for a moment before saying, "Luka Three is a prude who can't take a joke, eh?"

"Seems the clones are not perfect," Tippy said dryly.

"Remind me," Luka Three muttered, "who did both of you monumental favors at the cost of my own sanity, monetary security, and reputation, especially for you, Vale, who even Tippy wanted me to kick to the curb?"

Tippy leaned over and whispered, "Hit the nail on the head, eh?"

Vale laughed.

Luka Three rolled his eyes.

Elsewhere, Luka Five was standing with Jear Prime, Jear Two, Jear Three, Jear Four, Jear Five, Jear Six, Jear Seven, and Jear Eight, consoling Ressen Prime, Ressen Two, Ressen Three, Ressen Four, Ressen Five, Ressen Six, Ressen Seven, and Ressen Eight. Why? Because all the Ressens were annoyed with each other… or something. Luka Five wasn't fully sure of the details—only that all the Jears had their faces resting in their palms.

"It's not like the sunlight is gone," Jear Three muttered.

There was a burst of wind—well, eight bursts of wind as all the Ressens spoke over each other. Luka was never the best at hearing Ressen's "words," so he wasn't too upset he couldn't hear all eights'.

"I know she's taking some light, you all are," said Jear Two.

"No—the light is there to share," said Jear Four.

Another eight bursts of wind.

"Do not uproot yourself, Ressen!" Jear Seven snapped.

Seven bursts of wind this time—and Luka did understand her words. "I did not say I was going to uproot myself!"

"Well one of you did!" Jear Prime yelled. "This is ridiculous! You are all the same person! Just—"

Three winds.

"Okay—fine, you're not a person but rather a tree. Glad we cleared that up, can I go back to my lecture?"

Two bursts.

Three of the Jears groaned in annoyance. "Anytime you want to help, Dear, go right ahead!"

The leaves of the forest trembled, Tannin—who was across the world and not actively multiplied by the gods—said something. Luka wasn't sure, but he sounded stressed. Who could blame him? He suddenly had eight wives and eight daughters!

Jear Six rolled her eyes and muttered, "This is just like those weird crab-things from nine-hundred years ago."

The leaves rustled significantly.

Then eight interested bursts of wind rushed.

"No!" Jear Prime snapped. "You are too young to hear that story! Ask when you're older."

As one, eight bursts of air spoke clearly enough for Luka to understand, "Now I really want to know."

Luka Five was interested as well.

The gods' multiplication spell was weird. Guests were not multiplied, only villagers and park employees. Tangential employees, like Jear and Princess Alexandra, were as well. Why? Well, only the gods could say.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

Whatever the case, the park thrived and the faithful partied-on.

***

"Would this be all?" asked Eve, uh, Three? She couldn't remember her number, not that it mattered.

The guest hemmed and hawed, eyeing a set of keychains and a pair of sunglasses. "Do those come in red?"

Eve reached under the counter and removed a red matching set. "Would that be all?

The guest considered, tapping his finger on his chin. "Do you gift wrap?"

Eve pulled out two colors of paper. "Blue or white?"

"Are they the same tensile strength?"

"…Yes?"

"You don't sound sure."

"They're the same paper, so…"

The guest pursed his lips. "You don't sound sure."

Eve paused a moment. "Would this be all?"

The guest rolled their eyes. "Some service this park supplies." He turned on his heel and walked out.

Taking calming breaths, Eve watched the man go, glad there weren't eight of him. She got back to work, also glad her shift was almost over. Working the souvenir shops was the woooorst. Besides the boredom and tedium, talking to guests who weren't actively buying something felt like walking on glass.

Whatever. Eve swept the floor, helped a lost kid find his mom, then tagged out with an employee who was just getting in. From there, she rushed to the employee changing room, got dressed in her best orcish dress—a sleeveless shirt and slacks—and hurried to Goddess Tippy's proscenium for the holiday event.

It was time to announce the reincarnations.

Eve shuffled into the proscenium, tentatively called the Grand Theater, pushing past guests trying, and failing, to get in. But Eve had her employee pass and skirted the line and traveled down the colosseum-like seats to the stage. She hopped up, then went behind the curtain.

Goddess Tippy had created the Grand Theater in an afternoon with her brother… or something. Eve wasn't sure. One moment the plot of land was empty and waiting, the next the hulking building was there—shiny and brand new.

It could fit a few thousand guests, but its outward façade didn't seem like it. The building, on the outside, was a brick and mortar—as Luka would call—steampunk "factory" of bronze, raw metal, and spinning gears, and fun. Musical notes hung in the air around it, dancing famously and inviting guests in. Spotlights scanned the air, waving back and forth. Performers stood alert, putting on skits and comedy routines.

Tippy was now the Goddess of Entertainment, and her first holy building with the title was going to show it. Inside was grand. A simple word, but one that carried heart and soul. Gold trim, red accents , colors and identity that mattered to Tippy as a mortal, once upon a time, and mattered even more as an immortal. No one should forget their roots, and here in the Grand Theater, a goddess' will transposed.

Eve… Three? found everyone ready and waiting backstage. Her… sisters were already present, along with her actual brother and all his clones. The Frankies were, of course, punching each other to pass the time. Briefly, Eve thought about talking to him but decided against it. Instead, she found Luka Prime.

"Hey."

"Hi. You ready?"

Eve shrugged. "I guess. We're not really doing much, right? We're just standing and waving?"

Luka blinked. "I honestly have no idea. Tippy said she would 'handle it,' then disappeared."

She could see that. The gods loved to disappear after getting the last word in. Wait! Was that blasphemous!? A few months ago, she would never have thought of something so daring! What was becoming of her?

The answer was obvious. Luka.

She glanced at him and blushed when he looked back. Eve Three swallowed. She didn't know what to think about the man. In every way, he had saved her life. From financing the village and creating the park, to reincarnating her parents and rekindling her relationship with her aunt—Luka had done it all without so much as a favor back.

Eve's eyes found a certain princess in the backdrop. Alex Prime through Eight were watching the Frankies do… whatever it was they were doing, smiling greatly and lovingly.

Eve's heart thumped. Oh. Ohhhhhh.

She turned back to Luka, blushing harder. Oh jeez. What was she even doing? She was a clone. A simulacrum. A copy. She wasn't Eve Prime, yet here she was, talking to Luka Prime like she was the original.

But at the same time… wasn't this perfect? Eve Prime wouldn't ever act on the feelings.

Eve Three could then disappear if things went badly. Eve Prime would likely disavow Eve Three's feelings and push for Luka to forget about such an event. Yes. This was optimal. Either something good happened, or Eve Three was fodder for the original to escape embarrassment.

"Hey Luka?" she timidly asked.

Luka smiled at her softly. "Hmm?"

"Would you, uh, want to eat dinner sometime together? Alone."

He raised an eyebrow, his face growing red. "Alone?"

"Alone." Eve's eyes refused to meet his.

"Like… romantically?"

Eve, in any other context, would make a snappy and snide comment. Here, she just nodded.

Luka looked petrified. "I uh…"

"You don't have to!" What was she doing? Why was she trying to stop him? This wasn't right. She gnawed at her lip. "But I want you to…"

"I'm, uh, much, much older than you. Even if I don't look it…" And he didn't. Luka was in his twenty-year-old body. In reality, he was closer to sixty-five.

Eve, in all her wisdom, muttered, "Oh, gods, help me."

She meant it as a simple saying. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, every single god heard. They all appeared beside her, giving her just enough strength to not run away in embarrassment.

"Say 'yes' Luka," Neb said with a huff. "Don't do this to the poor girl."

Tippy nodded sagely. "Very right. And don't worry about the age difference. Until recently, you were very emotionally stunted. You might be rather wise, but boy are you socially and romantically dumb. There's a reason you're in that body and not an older one. The spell chooses the body you most match, so you and Eve are practically the same age."

Luka recoiled at that.

Eve stared at the ground.

She looked up.

He was staring at her.

She looked down.

"Alright."

Her eyes widened and she looked up. Luka was gently smiling. She smiled as well. "Cool," she said.

Smooth.

Behind her, the gods passed around items and material wealth while the God of Gambling did a funny little dance.

"Did you all bet on us… what? Agreeing to a date?" Luka asked.

Tippy sighed and said, "And when you two are going to marry and when your first child is going to be born and second."

"Can't you see the future?"

"That would just ruin the spirit of the game."

Luka stared incredulously. Eve too—until she remembered something!

"Eve Prime! I got us a date!"

On the other end of the backstage, Eve Prime hid behind a wall of Frankies, utterly embarrassed. She was smiling, however.