World Walker Park [Magical Amusement Park Base-Building]

Vale stomped into the Grand Theater annoyed. Why was she forced to be here for this? She didn't care! Not one bit! She had her gate, and that was fine by her! She didn't care what happened to the villagers or inside the park! Not at all! No sir! Not one bit!

She found a seat in the front row.

It was crowded, but that was what happened with eight separate realities stacked on top of each other. Every seat had eight butts in it; every seat had a phantom from the layers. Vale frowned at the seven others sitting in her seat. Most were adults, animatedly discussing with their neighbors. Some were kids, playing games with their neighbors.

Vale glanced at her neighbors and frowned. Nope. It wasn't happening.

Unless Kevin was sitting beside her, or someone like Luka, Franky, or Annie, nope! She wasn't going to socialize. The thought of Kevin did make her look around for the man. She didn't know why. Kevin wasn't part of the village, nor someone who would consider her a friend like the others. No, Kevin was just an early park arriver, someone to spend the mornings with.

Although… Vale wouldn't mind spending an afternoon or two with Kevin.

Why?

She couldn't be certain.

Perhaps Kevin had cast a spell on her. Perhaps he smelled nice. Perhaps she just wanted to run her fingers through his black hair— Vale froze, her heart rate spiking. What was happening to her? Why was she panicking? She forced herself to be calm, the seven phantoms in her seat watching her, worried. She waved them off with a huff.

She was fine. Kevin came back to mind… but she quickly squashed the thought of him in favor of rekindling her annoyance for this event.

Why was she here again? Luka just told her to be here. No further details.

Luckily, she didn't have to wait long. The light dimmed, and the master of ceremonies stepped out on stage. It was Goddess Tippy—of course it was. Vale rolled her eyes when the eight crowds cheered, and she rolled them harder when Tippy waved like a touring princess through a foreign nation.

Tippy was in her divine body, a lithe woman's body three meters tall and made of sunlight and flowers. Her hair moved like it was alive, forming hands and waving to the faithful. She strolled casually, a great smile on her face.

"Welcome to the Grand Theater!"

Her voice boomed, shaking the walls and seats. The crowd roared in retaliation, clapping and howling like dumb little apes. At least Vale thought so. She sighed idly, longing to return to her gate, to her job as Park Greeter. She was good at that, so why was she here exactly?

"Recently," Tippy continued after a moment, "I decided upon a title. Goddess of Entertainment!"

Vale gagged when the crowds cheered again! If they cheered after everything Tippy said, they were going to be here all day! Vale sank lower into her seat.

"Thank you, thank you. But I couldn't have done it without a special certain someone: the World Walker who created this lovely park we stand in today!"

The crowd cheered. Vale gave a blank stare. They were sitting, actually. So Tippy's point was invalid.

Luka Prime through Eight walked out on stage, each holding a microphone stick to their lips. They were wearing that ridiculous purple suit of theirs, the one with the spinning gear broach and flagrant top hat and cane combo. They waved as they took their places beside Tippy, planting their feet and thumping their canes against the floor.

"Hi!" all the Lukas said, voices echoing across eight realities.

Vale shifted her attention to a singular reality—listening to eight people talk at once was bothersome.

"We have a special event planned for you all today. But that's for Tippy to introduce. In the meantime, I want to bring out some people who, well, are newly reborn in this world."

Every reincarnated villager strolled out onto the stage, awkward and wide-eyed. Ha! Vale thought. They didn't want to be here just like she didn't! They had to, sadly, if not, things would get strange for the park. People would take notice and well—the gates wouldn't be safe any longer.

The crowd idly watched, eager to hear the goddess' words about the people. Tippy said, "These people were dead a few days ago. Yet here they are."

Silence.

"Emberwood Village struggled after the loss of their friends and families. Then World Walker Luka came to town and fell in love. Together with the remnants of Emberwood Village, he sought to create something special for the people living on—specifically the children."

Little Ren stepped on stage, walking near the center where he joined hands with his now-alive mother.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Tippy continued, "Luka didn't do it for monetary value at first. No, he did it for the kids who would grow up as orphans. He built them things, entertainment, and gave them something to look forward to at the end of the day."

Tippy quietly added, "We gods noticed."

"Reincarnation is not a magic we use often," Tippy continued, "but in some extreme cases, we do. Emberwood Village has been reborn!"

The crowd cheered.

Vale eyed Luka surreptitiously. The World Walker was trying, and failing, not to make a face at Tippy's words. While the story she was painting was mostly correct, it left out many, many details. Not to mention, the story was a little exploitative. Tippy was using these reincarnated families to build renown and love from the faithful, disregarding the families' struggles and trauma.

The families departed the stage just as awkwardly as they entered.

Luka took a calming breath and made a halfhearted speech—Vale tuned out after the third word. Instead of listening, she studied her friend.

Vale knew Luka rather well. He was a good man—absolutely abysmal at cards, but a good man, nonetheless. So, why would he go through with this awkward torture? There had to be a reason, and the Vale of old would've just looked back in time to figure it out. But no, here she was, sitting in a seat with seven other butts in it, magicless and without someone like Kevin to entertain her.

She looked around. Well, she was in the Grand Theater of Entertainment. She could make her own entertainment. Puzzles were fun, right? Yeah, she decided. Puzzles were fun.

So: Luka was doing something he obviously didn't want to do, nor something he would allow to happen. Why?

Clue number one: Previous conversations about people coming to the park demanding potions of reincarnation. The secret had to remain hidden.

Clue number two: The divine holiday excuse to tell the world about Emberwood Village's reincarnation. The gods wanted renown for some reason. They were gods. Why would they want more?

Clue number three: The trickster god, maybe? Did that creature have something to do with it?

Vale slumped in her seat, half listening to Luka's speech. Apparently, Bestial Grove was opening today, right after this event. That was neat. She should tell Kevin. Well—maybe not, actually. She didn't want to come off as annoying to him. She'd just see him tomorrow at the gate.

Back to the puzzle… Was there a deal hiding in plain sight? Were the gods doing something for Luka and the park they normally wouldn't do? Perhaps. Or perhaps the gods ignored him and presented the reincarnated anyway. If so, Luka would have to go along with the plan to show unity. No one wanted the local World Walker to be a blasphemer, after all.

"You're close, but oh-so wrong."

Vale turned, finding the divine leader of this realm, God Neb, sitting in a ninth reality in the seat beside her. She pursed her lips at the man, annoyed. Neb was the one who sealed her magic—magicthat if she had now, would allow her to solve her puzzle instantly.

Never had she ever wanted her magic back more than at this moment.

The puzzle proved too much, and she hated leaving things unsolved.

Neb chuckled. "I can tell you the answer."

Vale considered if she should accept. On the one hand, it was the answer. On the other, it would mean owing God Neb a favor… Unless?

"No favor needed," Neb muttered, reading her mind.

Success! Her plan to avoid a favor worked swimmingly.

"I would like to know," she then said.

"You were close with some of your guesses," Neb said, "But we didn't cheat Luka or Emberwood Village, nor did we do this for simple renown. This was always theplan—to 'show the reincarnated off' before a large group of faithful."

"Why?"

"We looked at the future. In most timelines, people came to World Walker Park once they figured the secret out. They kidnapped, extorted, or even killed in some cases to get the potion recipe."

That… didn't make sense. They were gods who could read the future! Why wouldn't they just find a future where everything worked out exactly as everyone wanted. Vale, pre-sealed magic, couldn't have done it, and the gods of this world were so dull to be unable to do the same.

"Thanks for the… kind words," Neb muttered darkly.

She shrugged. "Don't read my mind if you don't want to hear my monologue."

"I suppose so. To answer your question, we chose this path to the future because of the other thing you considered: the trickster. We don't know where it is going to pop up, nor what its plans are. Whatever the case, we had to do something drastic and fast to circumvent the potion issue with its tricks."

Vale nodded slowly. That would make sense… and now that the solution was out there, it was kinda obvious. Huh. She frowned. Why couldn't she figure it out? She should've been able to figure it out.

"You didn't solve the puzzle because you kept thinking of that mortal, Kevin."

Vale went stark still, then, with the irritation of a former eldritch-galaxy-ultra-mass-murderer-god-creature-thing, she stared daggers at Neb. "Stay out of my head, old man."

Neb chuckled and said, "Might want to wipe that look off your face. You're about to win an award." He gestured at the stage.

"What—"

Neb disappeared and Luka's words filled the air. Vale focused on him.

"Before I turn things back over to Tippy, I have one last announcement. Today I am happy to announce the first recipient of World Walker Park's Employee of the Month Award!"

The crowd leaned forward in their seats, listening with anticipation. Vale found herself doing the same.

Luka smiled brightly, locking eyes with her. "I, as World Walker, humbly recognize this employee as the park's hardest worker. She not only has built lasting relationships with countless park guests, but she also does it with a smile so great, she lights the darkest parts of reality. So, without further ado, Vale, get up here and take a bow!"

Vale was frozen in her seat, wide eyed and in awe. Luka, that devious dog! No wonder he wanted her to be here for this event! She practically glided up the stairs onto the stage, smiling and bouncing.

Luka held a plaque—when had he made that? Vale didn't know and was too stunned to ask. She took it firmly, knowing exactly where she was going to install it so Kevin would see!

Speaking of Kevin, Vale spotted him near the back. He was standing and clapping, along with all the other members of the Early Walkers.

Vale hoisted the plaque over her head like a trophy. The crowd cheered louder.

This was the greatest day of her life.