When Adrian's divine consciousness descended into the mortal world, he awoke in a modest stone chamber lit by soft candlelight. The body he now inhabited was lean, youthful, and familiar—Athenos, a seventeen-year-old scholar and mage in the kingdom of Arcantor. The transition had been seamless. His thoughts, instincts, and divine awareness merged with the vessel's memories, giving him full control.
Athenos was respected but quiet, known for his intellect and magical aptitude. He lived alone in a small house near the edge of the capital, surrounded by scrolls, ink, and half-finished magical diagrams. His reputation was that of a recluse, but one with potential. That made him the perfect emissary.
Adrian spent the first day observing everything. He walked the streets of Arcantor, visited the market, and listened to the people. The kingdom was peaceful, but stagnant. Communication was slow. Knowledge was fragmented. Magic was powerful, but isolated. There were temples, yes—but no dominant god. Only minor deities with limited influence, each clinging to a handful of believers.
That was the opportunity.
Adrian returned to Athenos' study and sat at the desk, staring at the blank parchment before him. He didn't need temples. He didn't need sermons. What this world needed wasn't just divine guidance—it was connection.
He began to sketch.
Not a holy symbol. Not a spell.
A system.
A divine interface that could reach every corner of the kingdom. A network that could carry knowledge, communication, and power. Something that could grow, adapt, and evolve.
He called it the Internet.
It would be his divine domain, his signature creation. A floating blue screen that mortals could summon through prayer, allowing them to access knowledge, send messages, and interact with divine applications. It would be elegant, efficient, and scalable.
But first, he needed believers.
He spent the next few days preparing the foundation. He crafted the first version of the Internet interface—a translucent blue screen that hovered in front of the user, responsive to touch and thought. He designed the first two apps: [Carrier Pigeon], a messaging system that allowed instant communication across towns and kingdoms; and [Library], a searchable archive of books, spells, and manuals.
He uploaded everything he could find from Athenos' personal collection, then used his divine creativity to replicate and digitize texts from the royal archives. The AI he built began categorizing and recommending content based on user behavior, learning and adapting with each interaction.
To access the Internet, mortals would need to pray to the God of the Internet. Each prayer would generate Divine Power. Each user would become a node in Adrian's growing network.
He tested the system with a few scholars in Arcantor's academy, offering them access to rare texts in exchange for a simple prayer. The results were immediate. They were amazed by the speed, the clarity, and the depth of the [Library] app. Word spread quickly.
Merchants followed next. [Carrier Pigeon] allowed them to coordinate trade routes, negotiate deals, and track shipments in real time. No more waiting for couriers. No more relying on magical scrolls. Just a tap, and the message was sent.
Then came the commoners. Farmers used the Internet to learn new planting techniques. Healers found remedies. Students discovered literacy.
Adrian watched the numbers climb. Dozens of believers became hundreds. Hundreds became thousands.
Each prayer strengthened him. Each user expanded his reach.
He wasn't just a god.
He was a system.
And Arcantor was only the beginning.