At the heart of the celebration— the Grand Aurium Castle, forces had begun to make their move.
Footsteps echoed in the great halls of the Golden Castle with the rhythmic sound of Generational wealth and power.
A figure whose shadow cast a long, eerie figure on the pristine walls.
The walls themselves were white. Regal in all forms, and within it, were visible patterns which glowed with a golden hue. The patterns ran like coiled serpents, forming a vessel network throughout its construct.
With each turn and step, the network came alive.
Humming with such brilliance that it felt surreal.
To those who lived within this castle, this was the norm.
A grandiose poise, much larger than the common people could ever comprehend.
No one really knew how vast the wealth of the Royal Household was, not even the Regional Governors.
And these walls were merely living reminders of that. A warning to those who walked down these paths.
The powers of Royalty weren't just vast, it was absolute.
That wasn't to sully the names of those who did in fact, walk down these paths.
Reaching here wasn't a mere achievement, it was everything.
To the public. The Noble Households and even the Higher-ups in power.
It was to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with the great Leaders of the World. Powerful individuals who didn't just shape their lives but also the future generations as well.
And today, on such a prestigious celebration, Valendor Von Ardenthal was summoned.
Well, typically, the King sends out invitations to all Noble Houses, but this was different.
Not only had he received an invitation, but a summons as well. And if he had gotten one, he had no doubt that the others did.
The others– the members of the High Council.
And this meeting was bound to be different from the last.
Valendor could feel it just by breathing.
After all, had it not been nearly a decade since the last summons of the High Council?
The King was known for his ostentatious spending, but today was more than just extravagant.
In fact, Valendor would agree that it was absurd.
'Marking today as a public holiday and even summoning all of the people to the Castle's square.'
It had even been made mandatory.
'Hmm, what is the Emperor up to now?'
Valendor was an elder of the Ardenthal Household. One of the few known Archetype-based Households that have fostered Knights for generations.
He was someone with impeccable consistency in strength and military might. Strategies and critical thinking were two of his best suits.
But at the hands of the current Emperor, Emperor Calyx Von Aurelith, he was at his mercy.
Valendor's complexion dimmed at the thought.
'There must be a reason for such a meeting.'
In that moment, the large and broad figure of the red-haired man stepped out of the Castle's Hallway into a spacious room of darkness tinted by the moonlight that spilt through a large oculus. It centred the room, breathing life into the sleeping tides of the umbral.
Valendor stood in the presence of it. His heavy gaze revealed scarlet eyes that seemed to pierce through the very fabric of the room.
But he was merely counting.
In the middle of the Oculus, taking the general portion of the moonlight was a round table.
Its smooth surface was made entirely of a see-through holographic material that flickered vibrantly with the moonlight.
It cast a cascade of iridescent rays to the pristine floors– creamy white in colour.
Unlike the Hallways which seemed to beat new life into the Castle, this portion of it– the Meeting room seemed to do the opposite– Absorb life.
The sight was both captivating and humbling as seated across the chairs that seemed to be forged from golden pillars were the strongest forces in the Ostaria Federation.
"Hah, I see Duke Valendor has decided to grant us his presence."
A sheepish male voice broke the still silence as the four figures present settled in the room.
Ravien Corvane.
Valendor sighed. His throat hummed with the vibration of his voice.
"I see the Ministers, but where are the Governors?"
The man's voice seemed to make the darkness unravel on itself. As a voice so deep left his lips in soft breaths.
He had only spoken with as little effort as anyone would, but the walls which couldn't be seen seemed to have reverberated.
The figures flinched instinctively. A woman, in particular, smirked at the corners.
"What has it been, ten years?" She spoke with amusement. "Ten long years since I heard that voice of the gods."
Valendor shook his head as he took a seat.
"That was not a response to my question, Lady Velisse."
Velisse Meridia, Matriarch of the Meridia Household and a woman whose looks fooled the eyes compared to her age, merely laughed.
"When did I say it was?"
Her silky silver hair danced down her back. Reaching her waist and spilling over the chair she sat. Her whitish silver eyes shimmered like they were diamonds and her lips, the colour of cherries, widened in a grin.
"It's only natural to assume that only the Ministers were summoned for this meeting."
The first person spoke again.
A man who, when compared to the rest, seemed far younger to be seated amongst such giants.
Valendor turned to him with intrigue.
"Then I suppose the Emperor's reason for the summons is of great importance."
He sighed heavily. His greatest fear had come true.
"Or it might involve income earning. This buoyant display of a celebration will cost the Federation too much!"
The last figure present spoke with unhurried prestige as if he had not just spoken badly about the Emperor Regent behind his back.
Caelric Van Dareth.
The others, though, would rather not indulge.
"We will wait and find out," Valendor said simply. "Though, I have things to do. People I need to see. I hope the Emperor arrives early for once."
"People to see?" Velisse asked with a brow arched. "Would that perhaps be, youngThalia? Your last grandchild."
"Oh?" Caelric's voice rose by a pitch. "I heard she succeeded in the Null Trance, congratulations Count. You must be proud."
Valendor merely nodded. "It is only right that the Ardenthal succeeds."
Velisse chuckled at his words.
"I heard of her Synchronization. Thirty per cent is hard to come by. She might just be a prodigy, perhaps one of our greatest."
Everyone knows the importance of synchronisation. They represented how deeply attuned one was with their Archetypes.
The higher one was, the more power and abilities that could be drawn… the lesser, well, the opposite effect will occur.
This was even more important than Manifestation, as manifestation was something one could grow over time.
Synchronisation, on the other hand, could only be increased through fruitful encounters, epiphanies and extremely rare treasures.
So for an Egoist who just started their journey, thirty per cent opened up a lot of opportunities and quick growth in strength for them.
"Hm. Words really do spread far." Valendor folded his arms.
"Well, now that it's out there, there won't be any use denying it."
He looked up to the Oculus with a solemn expression. "I only wish for her to grow at her own pace, and strengthen what is already there."
The room was filled with silence afterwards.
The four ministers seemingly stepped back into their own worlds– if not momentarily.
It had been a while since they had seen each other like this.
Elders and Household Heads were usually stuck with duties and the development of their own households.
Concerning themselves with old friends or a friendly visit was hardly something they bothered with.
So, perhaps, because of that, the room couldn't be kept silent for long.
"I'm sure most of you are already aware… but the number of Trancers this year has been staggering."
Valendor turned to his left, where he met the suspiciously eager face of Velisse. A frown formed on his face.
"So I noticed. Must have been a coincidence."
Caelric scoffed, Ravien shook his head and Velisse smirked from ear to ear.
"Or a premonition. The Temple of Aephilia did have a vision years ago."
The cold room began to turn even colder.
"A prophecy that was sung for aeons, not years. It had been one hundred and fifty years since their bold proclamation… and nothing of such has occurred since then." Valendor corrected.
"The signs align. Not only are we getting more Egoists, but the Abyss has been stirred. Our settlements are reporting an increase in Null Creatures and Raids. Even the other races of the cosmos have begun to reveal themselves more openly."
Ravien sighed heavily.
"I can testify to that. We lost a Bastion on one part of the settlements. Apparently, a 3rd Stage Devourer Ironwraith was the leader of the attack.
It was a massacre."
Valendor tilted his head at his words.
"A Devourer?" he clicked his tongue. "Those are rare."
"Indeed, they are," Velisse said. "But they bring with them fresh opportunities for the younglings.
I can see a time when we will finally have the upper hand against the nature of the Abyss.
Our world may not be consumed."
Silence stretched on for seconds within the room.
The Ministers sat around with conflicted thoughts while the topic held its weight like a heavy load in the air.
It was a sensitive topic. Especially now that they've met in so long.
There was a lurking prophecy stuck in the mouths of the Higher-ups– The rise of a new god.
And this had been the bane of their back.
After all, it was what first made many realize that gods were once Mortal.
So the fact that one would arise during their time, and a human no less, raised unrest.
Nothing was spoken or revealed of this person.
They could be an enemy to humanity. A grumpy child who had nothing to eat. A spoiled brat from a Royal Household. Or perhaps a perfect child of the Federation.
Its ambiguity made it a liability, and for years, it had become a bad joke.
But with the number of Trancers exceeding what they had been when compared to the sum of the past ten years, one had to wonder.
Seconds passed when Valendor suddenly slammed the desk, causing a subtle wave of air to blast all around. His gaze held firmly as the others turned to him.
"It doesn't matter. We will handle it as we always have. With discipline and absolute control."
He looked at them carefully.
"The gods don't just grow from trees, Ministers. They are unfathomable beings– we can not judge for ourselves when one decides to reveal itself."
The others quietly watched with silent agreement sparkling in their eyes.
Valendor slowly rested his back on his seat, easing his tension as he did so.
"Besides– if there should be anyone who rises to the throne of the gods, it would be our King."
"Oh, is that so?" A voice boomed in the Meeting room and the four Ministers immediately grew tense.
Their flesh knitted tightly against their bones as gazes flared to the door.
A second passed by before all four figures. In spite of their strength and position, they stood to their feet. Heads bowed as footsteps echoed.
A pristine aura rushed into the Room, diffusing all around as a man's presence blossomed life into the darkness.
Golden tendrils traced the very air he walked.
Emperor Regent Calyx Von Aurelith had arrived.
"Golden Iron moulds thy feet. We welcome the Emperor Regent."
The four chorused.
And the Emperor, now standing before the table. Hands gently placed on one of the chairs with a buoyant smile that contrasted with the atmosphere nodded in response.
"Seat."