The deities of the Union looked on in surprise and confusion. They had heard stories of the deities of mankind. Gods of war that lead nations to conquer most of their world. Gods of nature that farmers revered to have a bountiful harvest. Even gods of many facets that serve any number of purposes. And yet, the being before them was one of unease among them.
A deity of the Ahsirdarin stepped forward from the banquet table, having earned the title of Elder Deity among them long ago.
“Greetings, I am Vishidor, god of creation among the Ahsirdarin. I must admit, I find myself confused. I thought humanity had a number of gods. Yet only you are here?”
“I am what you might refer to as a representative. The other deities have appointed myself to the position of Elder, as I always was. Apologies, I should introduce myself. I am Death.”
The room fell silent for a few moments before the figure looked around.
“Shall we continue the feast?” Death walked towards the table and took a seat by a nature deity of the Din’thark. The table began lively again with conversation, the newest arrival chiming in with bits of laughter and answering the occasional bit of small talk. Eventually, one of the war gods of the Coran stood.
“Tell me, human god, why are you the only one here from Earth? Surely the other human deities have time enough to meet with us!”
“Perhaps. Odin would certain enjoy himself here, I’ll admit. Although the other deities of humanity and I have a shared agreement. You see, humanity is very fluid in their beliefs. Some gods of Earth have been erased and forgotten, and the ones still remaining understand my role in it.”
“You have waged war on your divine brethren?” Vishidor spoke up, and the others looked to death, as this was something of a taboo among the gods.
“No, no. But surely you all must know. The Fading.” Death looked around, only to see faces confused. “When enough believers stop offering faith, a god becomes withered and empty. The power of a god is tied to the number of those who offer prayer and worship to it. When enough of them are gone, a god simply fades away. Some may return with a portion of their believers after a few centuries or so, some may fuse with aspects of others, but the Fading happens to all of them. Maybe not completely, but all of them feel it.”
“And you said you had a role in this?”
“The humans often waged war with one another, killing many believers of certain gods. This was when they were less civilized, of course. But some believers simply didn’t have their worship methods passed on to the next generation. Some humans simply don’t believe in any god. But normally faith is diminished by a human merely passing on from this life. That is my role, to guide them to the next life.”
“You say the fading happens to all gods. So, have you felt it?”
“Never. That is why I am here. To humanity, I am not a being of belief, I am a fact of existence. I am the final and ultimate truth, the inescapable destination, the last part of life. I am the end. Of all things, whether gods, humans, plants, animals or the universe itself. I am what awaits. I am no god. I am an absolute in existence. The one thing humanity will always believe in, will never doubt, and will expect to see every day is death. They don’t worship me, but I am the only god that will ever matter to them. The other pantheons will fade into forgotten memory or cease when humanity does, but I will exist after everything else has been destroyed. When the last star fades into the darkness of space, when the last atom is wiped away in the end of the universe, I will still be here. For THAT is what I am, that is my purpose. To guide all living things to the next life, to aid the gods in their final moments, to be the end of all things.”
The deities looked at Death, all sitting quietly, none daring to make a sound. A wave of nervousness was flowing over the room, until Vishidor spoke up.
“So, eventually... you will be the end of us? You will... see us... fade away?” The rest of the gathered gods simply looked at Death, who stood still for a moment. The hollow eye sockets of Death looked around the table, taking in the faces of the other gods.
“... Yes. Eventually.”
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