This game definitely does exist

I was greatly disappointed that I hadn't presented myself to the players as some sort of demon. With that guise, I could have 'lost' my temper and just finished off all the players who had asked me for power. There are even already an ironclad excuse like 'what did you expect, trying to beg for power from a powerful demon?!'

But my past decision led me to my current situation, I was an angel – or something similar. And the player had just asked me for help, my protection. I couldn't just send the players away without further explanation.

In no way could I give them any special powers, simply for the reason that I hadn't yet developed any special powers, but I couldn't simply refuse either... At least I needed a reason.

You know what, Jabberwocky? Score one, you bastard!

***

A system message popped up in front of Jabberwocky's eyes, a brief glance at what informed him that he'd got the 'Unbearable Burden' achievement.

After a moment more, a new message informed him that he had obtained the quest, 'Thought of Thought', recommended level... Jabberwocky nearly choked on air when he saw in addition to the new line, recommended level, the value in that one.

'The recommended level is three hundred?!' Jabberwocky felt his eyes seek to leave his eye sockets, popping out of his skull.

"I fear it is not in my power to bestow help upon you," The soaring angel replied, "I am but a shadow of a shadow of my past self, a mere remnant of one who once created this garden. My true self could bestow this power upon you with only a movement of hand – but now all I can bestow is advice and words. Knowledge and no more..." As if to punctuate this point, the angel slowly lost its luster, turning slightly grayer at every moment.

"Yes, my powers are growing weak, and I'm afraid I won't be able to answer your questions before you summon me again... But know that I appreciate your help to me – and I will help you in return... But do not try to find in my garden anything like me again," The angel added again after a moment of thoughtfulness.

"Everything that floats in the sky is part of my garden, and sadly this vestige of power is exhausted... The shadows of our shadows, and the thoughts of our thoughts, will only appear when the way further is revealed to you..."

After a moment, more of the angel's body began to slowly turn more and more gray as if turning back to stone, clearly letting the observers know that there was only time for one last question.

"But what do we do now?" Jabberwocky asked the first of the important questions that came to his mind.

"Clear my garden... " The angel replied in a fading voice, as it fully turned to stone, "When they come... you will be stronger..."

After another moment, the angel completely froze, the last vestige of light disappearing, only this time no longer injured and far more detailed than the statue of the angel that was there before.

Jabberwocky, who had been speaking all along from the perspective of an official negotiator, finally rose from his knees and wiped the sweat that had come to his face with the back of his palm. Glancing at the system message hanging before him about his new assignment, he could only gulp nervously.

'Awaken the Lord of the Celestial Gardens', the task descriptions read calmly, without much detail.

Jabberwocky, in turn, looked around, then glanced at his own status... The character page was still inactive - though... I guess that was fair - since he never got any information about who exactly he was communicating with - except from the task description about the 'Lord of the Celestial Gardens'... Heck, he didn't even see the NPC's name!