Though Herabergen was one of the eight King of Angels who once followed the Ancient Sun God, his relationship with his former lord was less intimate compared to the others.
Unlike Aucuses, Leodero, and Ouroboros, who followed The Ancient Sun God from their weaker days, or Medici, who, despite joining as an angelic mythical creature, was still a fledgling when The Ancient Sun God took him under his wing, battling through much of the Second Epoch together, Herabergen lacked such deep ties. Nor did he share the intrinsic connection of Sasrir, Adam, or Amon, who were inseparable from The Ancient Sun God by their very nature.
As the last King of Angel to join, aside from the two divine sons, Herabergen had quietly aligned himself with The Ancient Sun God during the Second Epoch, even before his former master, the Dragon of Imagination, fell. Yet, compared to those with special roles or long histories at The Ancient Sun God's side, Herabergen's relationship with him carried a certain professional distance, more like that of a superior and subordinate.
Herabergen saw no issue with this. Too much closeness between individuals... or between gods and angels... could make disentangling oneself difficult when crises arose.
Herabergen was a rational being. He chose to follow The Ancient Sun God for two reasons: his immense power, unmatched in his prime, and his decent character. Compared to ancient gods who casually killed subordinates or even their own kin, The Ancient Sun God stood out, not just in his time but among the gods of today, as a paragon of integrity.
Such a boss ranked highly in Herabergen's estimation. His time serving The Ancient Sun God was, in truth, a pleasant chapter of his life. Back then, he didn't worry about his boss losing control or about Outer Deity invasions. He handled his duties and could leisurely explore the ocean of knowledge. Occasional conflicts with colleagues posed minor issues, but they were manageable.
Even now, as a true Sequence 0, Herabergen sometimes missed those Third Epoch days... those carefree times. He wondered what might have been if no tragedy had occurred, if The Ancient Sun God hadn't fallen. Would life have been difficult? Perhaps he'd still be an King of Angel, but he wouldn't need to guard the Astral World's rifts day after day, with barely time to explore the unknown, nor worry about an apocalypse looming in a decade. Someone else would have shouldered the world, and he'd only need to follow orders, awaiting the day to march into battle.
Now, sensing the all-too-familiar presence outside his divine kingdom, Herabergen felt a rare pang of tension and hesitation.
He didn't know how The Ancient Sun God viewed his past betrayal. Though his choice to consume the potion and ascend to godhood after Aucuses's rebellion was driven by self-preservation, and he knew The Ancient Sun God hadn't blamed Aucuses for his actions, Herabergen still felt uneasy.
Aucuses's betrayal stemmed from the Primordial One's control, an act of compulsion. Herabergen's, even if for survival, was undeniable.
Rationally, Herabergen knew The Ancient Sun God wouldn't hold it against him. Emotionally, he couldn't convince himself... not that The Ancient Sun God wouldn't forgive him, but that he could so easily justify his own betrayal.
"Too much closeness really does complicate things…" Herabergen gave a wry smile, his form flickering as he appeared at the edge of his divine kingdom.
As the gates opened, he saw the two figures outside. His gaze settled on Alaric first, and he offered a polished smile. "First meeting, Your Excellency Lucifer! You may know my name... I'm Herabergen, sometimes called the God of Knowledge and Wisdom. You can address me by name or as you prefer. My apologies; I should have visited you myself, but certain matters delayed me until now…"
Having done his homework, witnessed the God of Steam and Machinery's divine kingdom being stormed, and observed Eternal Blazing Sun Aucuses's shifting attitude toward Alaric, Herabergen treated Alaric as an Great Old One-level existence. His posture was respectful yet not servile.
Alaric listened quietly, then blinked. "If you're really sorry, how about lending me two thousand assistants?"
Straight to the point, no pretense.
Herabergen froze, caught off guard by Alaric's blunt style, which clashed with the intelligence he'd gathered. Didn't Roselle say Lucifer was a serious figure? This didn't feel like the mature, steady type!
Fortunately, Herabergen, a dragon who'd weathered multiple epochs, was well-versed in handling all sorts. He'd even managed the erratic Dragon of Imagination. Adjusting quickly, he responded, "What kind of assistants do you need? As Roselle once said, every craft has its specialty. While the Church of Knowledge has many versatile talents, their areas of expertise vary…"
"Let me think…" Alaric rubbed his chin for a few seconds, then rattled off his needs like a menu. Professionals were never in short supply, and his revolutionary efforts required top-tier intellectuals. They couldn't be expected to write textbooks for every stage of compulsory education themselves, could they?
Herabergen listened patiently, raising no objections. He asked precise, detailed questions about Alaric's requests, even offering professional suggestions.
By the end of their discussion, Alaric's view of Herabergen had shifted. If he'd initially seen him as a mere "team-stander," now he regarded him with a hint of awe, as one might a true scholar. Herabergen lived up to his title as the God of Knowledge and Wisdom. Their conversation spanned everything from civic issues to governance, areas Alaric wasn't even proficient in, yet Herabergen demonstrated mastery.
For someone like Alaric, who'd clawed his way through the sea of knowledge in his own time, such genuine expertise earned his respect.
***
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