Thief's Theme: A Love Story
Chapter Seventeen

With the gods no longer in his way, Ji reaches the Creator’s realm nigh instantly. His realm is much the same as the gods’ realms, with the exception of the ground itself being paved in gold and the walls appearing as some kind of cascading diamond or equally sparkling-type of substance. As soon as Ji steps foot in the realm, he is bombarded, surrounded by the Creator’s Heralds who are powerful beings of light, unable to be comprehended by mere mortal minds, just like the gods. Just like the gods, their very presence drives humans insane and overwhelms the limits of the human mind, and like he did against the gods, Ji merely steals the limits of his mind and his perception, and sees them just find.

“So…are you guys my welcoming party then?” He asks in a serious tone, half joking as he looks around at the true form of the Creator’s Heralds. The heralds are…strange in appearance once one is able to perceive them. Some look monstrous such as a wheel made of thousands of glowing eyes, looking everywhere and everywhen at once, or a dragon with three heads and many tails that seems more like an advanced monster one would fight in a fantasy tale or video game. Others were more humanoid, looking like a normal mortal man, albeit with a divine glow. The rest were a combination of the two, humanoid men with features that made them into monsters such as having a stone face or many wings, or multiple heads and arms. Regardless of their appearance, Ji is not shook and speaks again.

“Take me to the Creator.” He commands with authority. The heralds respond in form of attack, sending their light at Ji in an attempt to pulverize his essence from this world. Like the attacks of the gods, Ji has already stolen enough things from himself that the attack does nothing and causes no pain. Ji shrugs at the attempt and addresses them once more. “I’ll let that one go as a mistake. Now take me to him.” He demands once more. This time the heralds reply both in voice and attack, their voice having the divine tinge to it, but also a strange echo or resonating factor that isn’t present in the gods’ voices.

“Never!”

“You shall not pass!”

“Mortal eyes shall not lie upon the Creator!”

Comes the cries of multiple heralds, all staunch in their support for their creator and not letting Ji past. As they cry out, they also attack with their light once more, each with different effects. Some try to snuff him out of existence, others try to rip his very essence apart, a few try to deconstruct him, and several try to warp everything around him to get rid of him. Again, none of the attacks work due to Ji’s self-thievery. Ji stares back at them with a bored look.

“Are you done? You can’t harm me. Just take me to the Creator before I lose patience.” He states in an irritated tone. The heralds don’t listen and attack once more, this time aiming for his mind as they show him the reality of creation, the hidden truths of the universe, the whispers of the Ether, all that will make a human mind go insane with just a threat of contact; but as said before Ji stole the limits to his mind and the ability to go insane, so the mental attacks are rendered useless. Seeing that they won’t listen to him, Ji doesn’t bother with more words and instead reaches out and snatches their light. As a result, the Creators Heralds, a nigh infinite number of beings, are snuffed out just like that. With a sigh and a shake of his head, he moves forward to find his destination, having also stolen the information from the heralds’ minds.

It doesn’t take long for Ji to come before the Creator, meeting him face to face as he sits on a throne of what appears to be some kind of black diamond or gem. The Creator is a god of gods, simultaneously as large as the universe, as all of creation, and yet the size of a mere man as he stands before Ji. His power is easily felt, much greater than even the god of power, and his divine essence encompasses all who Ji met before him. His form too is incomprehensible by the human mind, but unlike others, it has layers to it that also render it incomprehensible to the heralds’ minds, and even the other gods themselves. Ji is the only being in existence to perceive the Creator’s true form, but he is not as moved by it as he should be, due to the suffering of one Sharia Iwuhaki. Ji looks upon the Creator’s form, a dark man with several forms standing before him at once. One has long black locs that act as branches to the tree of life, while the other has a powerful afro that is the very darkness that fills outer space and the rest of the universe. Another is bald with light reflecting off the dome that is the very light that envelops the universe, while another has a high top fade much like Ji himself, that acts as the foundation for all of creation, a pillar of sorts. His facial hair however only has one form: a beard that is long and braided that works as the seams that hold creation together. He foregoes clothing and instead is bathed in pure divine energy, unshaped and raw, that expands over his body. As Ji sees him, the Creator also sees Ji and he is not pleased to see a mortal disturb him.

“Who dares?” Asks the Creator in a voice that resonates throughout all planes of existence, throughout all of reality and back again. Ji is determined however and thus unaffected by the power or the reach of the voice.

“I do. Ohiji Olezuo, Mercury, the Greatest Thief in the Universe.” He exclaims with confidence as he stares down the god of gods in his eyes. “But you know that already.” He says, beginning another statement. “I know that you know a lot of things, the situation and reason I’m here being one of them. What I need is very simple; I need you to help fix it since it’s the gods’ fault in the first place. That is all I want.”

“How do you know, that I know?” Asks the Creator cryptically.

“Because you’re the Creator for one. Also, I stole all knowledge of you from the gods and the heralds you created.” Answers Ji with a shrug.

“And how do you hide this from me?” Questions the Creator God, unable to read Ji’s mind as he can all other things in creation. Ji shrugs once more.

“I stole it.” He answers nonchalantly.

“So if you can steal all of this, can you not steal whatever ails your love?” Points out the god of creation.

“Yes, I can. But I promised her that I would never steal from her without her permission, without asking, and I can’t exactly ask right now. It’s because of that, that I need you. All I need is for someone to heal her enough to at least come to, so I can question her. And I was told that you are the only one who can do this.” Explains Ji.

“That is true, but I refuse.” States the Creation God. “Mortals die for a reason, to my design. While I did not design this…debacle specifically or exactly, it is not something I get involved in.” Ji’s eyes harden at this statement. “Conquering the gods, even defeating my heralds is one show of power, but to conquer yourself is the essence of power. Only then will you be able to heal Sharia without my assistance.”

“I…overstand.” Ji proclaims in understanding. As he makes this statement, Ji reaches out, and steals the Creator’s power. As soon as the omnipotent power touches Ji, he gets a feeling much like when he took the powers of the god of power, but multiplied by infinite. However he reigns in the feeling to immediately heal Sharia before letting go of said power.

“Thank you for your compliance.” He says to the Creator God as he disappears from his sight, leaving the Creator alone at his throne, seemingly powerless. The Creator nods.

Ji and Sharia both return to their special place in the park as Ji places her body down and unsteals time from around her. Being healed, she begins instantly waking up as her eyes flutter and eventually open. Memories flash of her meeting Ji for the first time in over a year, as well as feelings of happiness and love, as they embrace and he says some romantic words, showing her his stealing skills first hand. Then she remembers pain and blacking out, but nothing specific. ‘But how?’ She wonders. ‘We were in a white hole where nothing can enter.’ As she sits up and looks over the area she’s in, she notices that said white hole is gone. She looks up and sees Ji’s worried face that transforms to one of his dumb grins once he looks at her.

“What—What happened?” She questions, trying to get to the bottom of these mystery events. She knows something big must’ve occurred for Ji to look so worried. He’s usually infallible so for him to express something like that…

“Don’t worry about it. I made it right.” He says with a smile as he holds her. This causes Sharia to blush heavily. “Make me a happy man Sharia.” He whispers a she leans in. She’s speechless and can only blush and nod as she too leans. Their lips meet and it seems as if the universe lights up as the two kiss, finally showcasing their love for each other.

Years have passed and now Ji and Sharia are back at their spot in the park. Ji is down on one knee as both of them are seemingly surrounded by nothingness.

“Sharia Iwuhaki, will you marry me?” He asks, holding the very universe itself in his hand. Sharia nods happily as she responds.

“Yes, of course!” She says excitedly as they embrace and kiss. “Wait, if that’s what I think it is, what’re we standing in?” She asks, confused by the situation. Ji shrugs in response.

“Best not to worry about it.” He says with a grin. This causes her to laugh as the two kiss once more.

Another year passes as Ji and Sharia hold their wedding in where else? Their spot in the park. Ji’s friends, J.R., Marshon, and Bruce are there, as well as his parents, his cousins, uncles, aunts, and the rest of his family. On her side, Sharia has a few friends from the Keepers and the Keeper Elites, as well as some high school friends and family of her own. Ji waits as he watches Sharia walk up the aisle in a beautiful dress with her hair in curls. Her father escorts her down, as is tradition, and Ji looks to his best man, J.R., to present the ring. J.R. nods and hands the box to Ji, allowing Ji to extract the ring, or the substitution for the ring and place it on Sharia’s finger. What was the substitution? Reality itself. As she reaches him and sees the ring on her finger, Sharia knows something is up as she is the elite of the Keeper Elite.

“Ji is that?” She begins to question.

“Shhhh! Don’t mention it.” He says with a grin and a finger to his lips. Sharia merely shakes her head and smiles at his antics.

More years pass and now Ji is with his two children, two boys ages seven and nine, as he teaches them about his many tales of thievery and about the wonders of stealing.

“Woah!” Exclaims the oldest son.

“You really stole a black hole?” Questions the second son, earning some ire from his older brother.

“Forget that, you stole form the gods?” Asks the eldest, still in shock.

“The universe?” Inquires the younger brother. Ji for his part, just shrugs as if to say ‘no big deal’. Though he can’t help but to let a small grin adorn his face.

“There’s a reason I’m known as the Greatest Thief in the Universe.” He answers in a sage-like tone. “One day I might even let you to steal something.” The children look confused.

“Daddy why can’t we steal something now? You did it.” Asks the youngest son.

“Because, your mother hates stealing.” Ji replies matter-of-factly.

“So?” Says the eldest, earning a pointed look from his father as well as a light smack on the head.

“Don’t just say ‘so’. You listen to what your mother wants.” Ji scolds his sons, not liking their tone.

“I know that, but why would that make us literally not able to? I mean we can just go out and do something right? You don’t have to let us?” Clarifies the oldest son. Ji shakes his head no.

“Not exactly. You see…for your mother I made a huge sacrifice. The biggest sacrifice of all.” He describes as he moves his hands to show just how big the sacrifice was. “One that is entirely worth it by the way.” He adds on as an afterthought.

“What was it?” Asks the youngest son.

“I stole the ability to steal.” He explains with a grin. This causes Sharia, formerly Iwuhaki and currently Olezuo to smile as she overhears them from the other room.

The End.

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