Elijah was happy. It had been a long time since he had felt excited. He had planned and executed perfectly, which was enough to make him smile, and the levels he had gained helped. His status screen looked much better now.
<table width="245" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="145">
Name
</td>
<td width="92">
Nyarlathotep
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="145">
Titles
</td>
<td width="92">
None
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="145">
Level
</td>
<td width="92">
7 (2843/ 32686)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="145">
Myth Tier
</td>
<td width="92">
1
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="145">
Race
</td>
<td width="92">
Nascent Evil God
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="145">
Divinities
</td>
<td width="92">
Nightmare
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="145">
DP(Divine Power)
</td>
<td width="92">
8
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="145">
DA(Divine Authority)
</td>
<td width="92">
29
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="145">
DT(Divine Territory)
</td>
<td width="92">
Tier 1 (1/10)
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The influence each level required grew much higher than he expected. More like old RPG formulas. From 343 to become level 3, it grew to 1124 to become level 4. The 5<sup>th</sup> and 6<sup>th</sup> level respectively needed 3125 and 7876 influence. For level 8 it was now an astronomical amount to gather. Fortunately, he realized he had misread the situation. Fear was not the only emotion providing influence while it provided more for them. This meant that with their cult now owning three towns each having a population between 1000 to 8000 NPCs they would accumulate influence each day. There was no need to plan extensively for a while.
Another discovery that had them thrilled on the night of initiation was that followers and believers could be shared between them. This matched the idea of the pantheon. Still, that night initiation rite could be described as choosing quality over quantity. They now had more great followers and true believers. They even had some oath-bounds and fanatics but interestingly at that rank most of the NPCs chose to follow one of them rather than the Azathoth pantheon to worship.
He had finally reached Myth Tier 1 at level 5 and had access to a new memory dungeon and history quest. This should give him a massive power boost.
Elijah would be lying if he said that was the reason for his happiness. He remembered Mike saying he was not an outsider but these years he felt like it. Often he felt alone while being surrounded by people. He was someone who valued his alone time but would like a deep connection. He did not tell Mike but he would repay him for the trouble he had gone through.
This incredible emotion and illusive feeling we search our whole lives for, called happiness is fragile sometimes, especially for someone of his disposition. To him, this was the high that made the next bit more difficult to endure. It is the most cruel thing to give light to someone who lived in darkness their whole life and then take it away. His father had left a note on his desk.
His siblings may think he hated his mother but that would be a lie. His mother may be a teacher but was a businesswoman at heart. Her mind worked with numbers and he could understand it even though he would admit having wished for her affection once. He did not like when she involved him but he knew he was being too sensitive. She ultimately loved her children in the way that she wanted to leave a legacy for them.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
The reason for his sensitivity was his father. The doctorate of aerospace with a mediocre space company. At any other time, he would say that the company was respectable but today was not one of those days. Like any other space company, they wanted to go to space, specifically Mars. Dreams of immigrating humans to Mars had begun long ago. Successful companies were doing the very same thing his dad dreamed of but he wanted to have his reach there. He had no problem with his dad being the dreamer he was but it became different when it involved him.
It started simple, some designs, some formulas, and he would bring them with such enthusiasm. At first, he assumed it was not something he could deal with but then he found he could help. That was when things took a turn for the worse. He brought work for him and started to plan a future he did not want. Oxford was his saving grace. It not only served as a veil covering his depression but also was his excuse for the reason he could not leave everything in England and go to his company in Australia. The reason why would he even make a company in Australia was a question in itself, did he dislike staying with them that much? Did he want to stay with his real family? But they were horrible people. He could not stand them, and being around them. He found here to be his home.
Oxford''s saving grace had come to an end it seemed. He had to talk with his father. He was not an emotional person but he was emotional. Usually, he could postpone it by being diplomatic about it but he did not know if it was because he was in a mood, he could not ignore it. Going to his father’s home office, if it could be called that, felt daunting. Too bad he was in such a rush the atmosphere failed to deter him. He even failed to notice Mike was coming up the stairs to get him for dinner. A gesture that otherwise he would appreciate.
“Father I am not going to Australia,” said Elijah regaining his bearings.
“Elijah, Why? It would be a good opportunity for you. Staying with your grandpa and grandma, helping the company. You could help the team a lot. They are stuck these months and we are so close” said Byron in a kind fatherly tone which for some reason grazed on Elijah’s nerves.
“How is that a good opportunity for me, your team needs help. I don’t even like working in the aerospace field.”
“The team needs you. As long as they do their job. Our family could be living on Mars. Do not be selfish. You have already taken a semester off what can one more do”
“In what way does going to Mars help our family? And I took a semester off because of depression, not to go work in my dad’s side hustle”
He knew as soon as the words came out of his mouth that he crossed the line by calling it a side hustle. As expected the conversation took a dark turn.
“Depression, As if I don’t know what exactly happened”
“and what exactly happened?”
“You were tired at Oxford and wanted some change fooled the psychologist. You are eating your meals, solving equations my team has trouble as if they are child’s play and you are playing a game for god’s sake” said Byron shouting the last part.
“Fooled the certified psychologist, for a man so logical as you claim to be, don’t you think you are being completely illogical? Why don’t you tell the real truth? That your company simply lacks the foundation of travel to Marsarss. Your team’s combined effort can not solve simple equations. That you want to spend time with your real family there because the only family in need of relocation to Mars, is yours” said Elijah completely losing it.
“Enough. What is happening here” said Mike entering the room
“Mike this is not the time. Elijah and I are having a personal talk” said Byron
“Personal, it does not seem that personal to me when you use our family to put pressure on him. You were planning on sending him to Australia,” said Mike in barely concealed rage.
This was new to Elijah. Mike was angry on behalf of him. He had been thinking he would not have a choice. He had no real counter except hoping for Dr. Carl''s opinion for Dad’s logical option. His father could simply tell his mom and siblings that a vacation to Australia for a few months was the cure for his depression. Fortunately, his father was being irrational enough that he did not attack his main weakness. Mike though, never really understood why some people wanted older siblings. He thought he was beginning to understand now.
The talk continued for a while. March curious about why it was taking so much time had come to check on them. She had been surprised at Australia''s plan she had thought Byron was in the pro team plan as much as she was. One business endeavor was enough. She valued the children''s education more than anything. Australia would not be good if it meant another hit to Elijah’s studies at Oxford. Byron talked about the impracticality of the plan as if the space company was much better.
Mike in his anger had shown that the three of them did receive an offer from a good company but inadvertently revealed they did not want to be part of the pro team. March surprisingly did not get more angry. She put the condition of the offer being accepted and then took Elijah’s side fully. She had married for a doctorate then love, her son would be a doctor. This was non-negotiable. When the talk was over Elijah stopped Mike for a few more minutes.
“Mike, Thank you for everything you did. I know it is not a pleasant thing to say but I hate my father’s family, they are horrible. You don’t need to use your savings I will pay the editor”
“Sorry, Elijah. , I did not know you were depressed while even Deli had found, I did not know. I already have paid the editor’s money plus we may even be getting money. The editor turned out to be the one we needed anyway, I am starting to understand the feeling you mentioned” said Mike and surprisingly hugged him.
Elijah returned the hug.
“And what is the difference between your savings and mine anyway? I have more anyway” said Mike the last part jokingly.
“I doubt that, Dad made my allowance pretty high, though I guess there won’t be any more bonus,” said Elijah feeling a little airheaded.
“So there was a reason you went on with it”
“There always is”