***Norfolk, Sarn***

***Sera***

“And you are really sure that you can\'t do anything to save this world?” I pull at my father\'s hand while he watches a three dimensional representation of our world.

The projection is floating above the table of our kitchen. It shows veins of crystal reaching down into the planet. They spread out like roots and encase the planet\'s core like a parasite.

Ascathon sighs. “The process is already beyond control. But it sounds worse than it is.”

Celestial, Jazira and Lidith give Ascathon a scornful look. They are visibly unhappy with the situation. Then they speak in unison.

“What\'s worse...” “... than an entire planet...” “... turning into crystal?”

A few pearls of sweat form on father\'s forehead. “It\'s a slow process! According to these figures, it\'ll take more than a hundred thousand years.” He points at some columns of numbers at the side of his projection.

He crosses his arms and nods while he smiles. “The available environment to live in will slowly decrease. That results in a slow decrease of the overall population of this world. We can simply evacuate the people when the situation becomes too bad to bear with it. There won\'t be too many at that point.”

They are still looking unhappily at him.

He waves his hands, trying to calm them down. “And who knows what the future will bring? A hundred thousand years is a long time. Maybe they\'ll build some space ships and find a better planet. The multiverse is big.”

Lidith scowls at him. “You mean that you\'ll teach them how to build a space ship?”

Ascathon nods eagerly. “Sure. Sure, that\'s no problem! In fact, I have already plans for the time after they are gone!” A stack of papers appears in his hands.

He hands them around. “You see. I am a little unsatisfied with the way we gods treat each other. There is no institution which enforces law and order. So I thought about creating a government for gods.”

Jazira raises an eyebrow and flips through the pages. “How\'s that related to the planet?”

Ascathon smiles. “Ha! You see, a government needs a society! And a society of gods needs a place to live in! We\'ll build a huuuge city out of crystal, which makes all gods look at it in awe! And what better place would there be than a world made out of crystal!”

He produces another set of pages. “Then we move this entire planet to a strategically important point. Something like a cross-junction between the pathways! I have to do some research on that.”

“Actually I think we should call the city Asheim! The home of the Ascended. What do you think of that?” He continues to talk to himself.

Jazira scratches her head. “Actually I have some important things to do. I should spend a little more time with my empire while it still exists. Aaah... a hundred thousand years seem extremely short from the perspective of a god.” She vanishes.

“Hey guys... I am not done yet!” Ascathon gasps.

Lidith nods. “She is right. Now that we have taken care of the idiot trio I think I\'ll take a vacation... a long one.” Lidith fades away.

Ascathon grasps his stack of papers tighter. “How rude!” His eyes turn towards Celestial who knits her eyebrows together.

Then she stands up and walks away while she yawns. “Actually I think I\'ll take a nap first. A hundred thousand years is a long time. There is no need to be overly hasty.” The door closes behind her.

I watch the door for several moments until I feel a pair of eyes resting on me and I turn towards my father.

He grasps my hand. “Sera! You are my cute little daughter whom I taught so much! You\'ll help me to realize my dreams won\'t you? I know that it\'ll take a long time and a lot of diplomatic persuasion. You are up for the task aren\'t you?”

“Do... Don\'t look at me like that! I am just a demigod!” It\'s not like Lidith managed to teach me how to use pathways. Not at all. I want to explore the multiverse before I waste my time with such a heavy task. I have to make sure that he  doesn\'t find out!

So I pull my hand away. “~Actually.~” I purse my lips and think for a moment. “I promised Arran to play some games with him. So let\'s talk about that when I am an adult and have some kids of my own.”

Ascathon blinks.

I turn and run out of the room, slamming the door shut behind me.

.