"Azul.Though you probably knew that."
"Everyone knows who you are, Khatun.The theology section is this way.The former head scholar who organised this place was a devout man, so at least he kept the gods in one place."
The theology section was, mercifully, coherent.
Scrolls and codices filled three full walls, organised by deity, then by topic, then by era.Enoch moved through them with familiarity, pulling texts and handing them to Azul without hesitation.
"The Divine Right of Kings," he said, settling onto a bench and indicating she should do the same."It's not a simple concept.Most people misunderstand it entirely."
"How so?"
He leaned back, warming to his subject."The common view is that a Divine King is chosen by the gods.They are blessed and elevated above other men.And that's true, as far as it goes.But it's not the whole truth."He paused, choosing his words."The gods don't choose kings because they like them.They choose kings because they need them."
Azul frowned."Need them?For what?"
"The gods are powerful, but they're not omnipresent nor omniscient.They can't be everywhere at once and can't act directly in the world except through great effort.So they need agents who can carry their will and embody their power on earth.As you know, a god’s power only goes as far as their followers."Enoch's eyes were bright."A king is such an agent.When he acts with divine authority, he's not just representing the god—he's channelling them.For a moment, he becomes the god's hands in the world."
"Channelling them," she repeated."You mean—literally?"
"I mean, the god's power flows through him.Not constantly, not without limit, but when he acts in accordance with their will?Yes.Literally."Enoch leaned forward."That's what makes a king different from any other ruler.A chieftain has authority because men follow him.A warlord has power because he's strong.But a king has divine authority.When he speaks, it's not just his voice men hear—it's the god's."
Azul was quiet for a long moment, processing.
"That's why people want to be kings," she said slowly."Not for the title.For the power."
"Exactly.Anyone can call themselves a king.There are dozens of self-proclaimed kings across the continent, ruling little more than a village and a hill.But a true king—one recognised by a god, one who can channel that god's power—" He shook his head."That's something else entirely."
“Is this like invocation?”
Enoch frowned and shook his head.Azul felt a flush rise up her cheeks; being a new student was truly hard.
“Invocation is different; anyone with a large enough spiritual gift can do it.As you know, everyone, every family has a chi.Be it small or great.The more followers a chi has, the more notorious it becomes, the greater a god it is recognised as.”
Azul nodded.Kamsi talked about it often.Their family’s chi was Ikenga, god of strength and victory.
“Spiritual gifts come in all shapes and sizes.For one, Djinn are born with natural gifts since they are the spawn of our chi.Shamans are humans born with the blessing of one god.And then there are normal people like you and me.When one wants to invoke a god, one needs two things.A good enough gift and a big enough sacrifice.”He lifted two fingers in demonstration.“To invoke the name of one's chi, a sacrifice is necessary.”
Those words sparked a memory in Azul’s mind, and she found herself looking down at her youngest sister, sapphire eyes glowing, her expression dark as she sat in the centre of a ritualistic circle, the air around them vibrating.Her lips moved, but Azul couldn't hear a word.Her ears were ringing, so she brought her hands to cover them, feeling something warm.She looked down at her hands; they were covered in blood.She looked up, and Kamsi was gone.She looked around, then back to the ritual circle.The chalk had been deserted, the kola nuts shattered, and the palm wine spilt.
Host.
The lizard they had killed remained in the centre, its blood staining the wooden floors.
Host!A voice called her, pulling her back.
Something dripped to the floor, so Azul looked up; her sister remained levitating, her lips moving too fast to comprehend.Azul called out to her, hoping to ground her, to stop the invocation.And then, to her horror, her sister’s body snapped backwards.Spine bending with a sharp crunch.
Host!
"Methuselah was different."Enoch’s voice snapped her out of her memories.
Azul’s eyes flickered up; she was panting, her back coated in cold sweat.
She looked around her.
She was warm.
This place was real.
