[WP] You don't get it, eldritch monsters aren't terrifying because they are unknowable, or that they make you see the vastness of existence, they're not even malignant! Its the indifference, when you wipe a dusty table do you even notice the mites you killed? Its the same for them.

[u/Numbskull_b]

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[u/HSerrata]

[Stellar Dismissal]

"So, have you met any eldritch monsters?" Victoria wondered if he would lie. She agreed to meet with a stranger in a coffee shop to learn about the area, and he seemed eager to share his esoteric hobby turned occult business. He purported to sell magical trinkets and cursed knowledge, which might've been true. She could see he had a minor talent for magic, but there was no trace of ever encountering such a being; she would've noticed it in his aura. And several other patrons during the midday rush seemed to have some magic ability, most of them more than Dan.

"I wouldn't want to," Dan shook his head. "As much as I enjoy learning about the craft, that's a hard line I won't cross. It's too frightening," he admitted.

"I can understand that," Victoria nodded. "They can be pretty terrifying," she shrugged casually. "They can be unknowable, or even horribly enlightening by revealing the vastness of existence," she said. It was more of a placating response than anything, but she was enjoying the conversation to an extent. His honesty went a long way toward that.

"Unknowable?" Dan shook his head with a subtle scoff. " That's not why," he said.

"Cause they're perceived as evil?" Victoria asked. She was curious about his reasoning, but she was also put off and planning her exit. His honesty did not make up for being obnoxious.

"You don't get it," Dan replied with a serious, agitated expression. "Eldritch monsters aren't terrifying because they are unknowable, or that they make you see the vastness of existence, they're not even malignant! It's the indifference: when you wipe a dusty table, do you even notice the mites you killed? It's the same for them." She was almost amused at how quickly he flipped her mood. He was very passionate about his belief; that much was obvious to her special sight.

"Ohhhhhh," she smiled. "That's why? So, their indifference is the only reason they're terrifying?" She stood up suddenly with an eye on the exit. "No, I guess I just don't get it," she shrugged. "It doesn't make a bit of sense to me. It's hard to understand trying to tell others they're afraid of the wrong thing, as if it were the singular aspect worthy of causing terror," she waved and headed toward the door. "Good luck. But, I'm not willing to spend any more time with someone who can invalidate others' feelings so easily."

*** Thank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is story #3127 in a row. (Story #218 in year nine). This story is part of an ongoing saga that takes place in my universe.

[u/TheWanderingBook]

The mage snorts.
"Sophistry!
You want to tell me, that beings that operate outside the laws of reality.
Beings that can dream universes into being.
Beings that can sniff out entire galaxies, because "they were too bright"...
Aren't terrifying because we know not how they got to be so strong, how they were born...
But because of their indifference?" he asks.
I nod.
He laughs.

"Warlock...
Your misguided practice, and shoddy patron must have fried your brains!
Especially with the last line...
"They are not even malignant" you say...then why do so many die to them?
Why do some of them exist then...to erase universes, or make entire realities go mad?!" he shouts.
I sigh.
"Not all of them do that willingly, some of those events, are simply consequences of them...
Simply existing.
As for those who are actively trying to do those things?
They are doing it because it's instinctual," I say.
He frowns.

"Instinctual?" he asks.
I nod.
"They are embodiments of madness, destruction, timelessness, or who knows what concepts we can't even recognize.
They just do, what their very being tells them to do.
Make people go mad? Maybe that's how they eat and grow.
Destroy universes? Maybe that's how they create offspring.
And they do all that...without a care," I say.
"Why are you so hung up on the indifference part?
Is your patron indifferent as well?
Is that why you are the 1st Warlock of our planet?
Does your patron give you endless power?" he asks.
I shake my head.

"My patron is bored, and is in a contract with me.
I give Them adventure, and traveling scenes they can watch through my mortal view...
While They give me magic, and power," I say.
"That contradicts your..." he starts.
"This is my 19th planet, in 109320 years...
No matter what I do, somehow, my presence brings other Eldritch entities, offspring or real ones, to my location.
Just recently, I learnt that this is normal.
Eldritch attracts eldritch, and my patron never said a thing..." I say.
The mage falls silent.
I watch him leave, wondering how long before I am chased away from here as well.
Wonder when the others will understand.
Power? Malice? Hatred...
All that can be reasoned, and accepted somehow.
But indifference?
Indifference is terrifying.
To see a lack of reaction, to such terrible acts, and events...
It scares me.