"How far is the capital?" I ask after we've been walking for almost an hour. No matter how much distance we cover, the tall buildings we spotted before seem to be just as far away, their shapes marring the horizon.

She purses her lips.

"I'm not sure. We just have to reach there. This is likely just a peripheral town."

"It's very busy for a peripheral town," I note. "Are these people deities too?"

"Oh no." She shakes her head. "Ninety percent of the living inhabitants of Aperion do not possess any powers. They're called s’Aperiotes. I should have warned you." She sighs.

"Why?" I frown.

"There is a hierarchy in Aperion, like in any other world. S’Aperiotes are at the bottom, and because of that, they're often treated as such. Aperion is a meritocracy, but that merit is based on power. The hierarchy is based solely on who has the most power. The Supremes are at the top, followed by the monarchs of each Royal House, then the nobility, the military, and the minor deities. These are the classes that have abilities. S’Aperiotes are last, even though they make up the majority of the population. No one really knows why they lack abilities. Some say it's because of migration patterns eons ago. Others say it's because they've been bred out to be powerless since the other classes mate strictly with each other. The law specifies that it is illegal for someone with abilities to mate with someone without. For that reason, the five classes have to get approval from the House of Moirai if they want to mate with someone. S’Aperiotes do not need this."

"I didn't realize your society was that strict," I note.

"You haven't heard half of it." She rolls her eyes. "To a degree, I understand why, but it doesn't make it any less constricting. Deities might be immortal, but most are not impervious. That means if one dies, another has to be ready to take that place so that the universe is in balance. Because of that, the fates check all potential futures and decide on which mate would be most suitable to produce offspring that could benefit the society—and the entire universe."

"If you don't like it that much, why don't you go somewhere else? You clearly have no trouble traveling between worlds, and compared to Ze and Cer, you're much more social."

A sad smile pulls at her lips.

"Alas, that is yet another law. Some classes are forbidden from ever leaving Aperion. You must always notify the military legal office of your departure and return plans. Otherwise, the Trackers would come for you." She sighs. "Because how could Aperion waste its precious resources?" She rolls her eyes at that.

"I see," I mumble. It seems utterly insane that deities would have so many rules. But I guess it's the whole with great power comes great responsibility spiel.