The room was filled with silence as all figures now sat in their respective locations. Expressions devoid of the once spectrum they had willingly shown one another.
Now, what they managed to express was a type of demeanour that wasn't just fit for powerhouses, but Rulers as well.
The most noticeable out of the five figures, would of course, be the Emperor Regent, himself.
After all, his presence held quite the weight… and of course, the most important thing that bothered the four.
'How did he get into the Hall without making a sound?'
This was Velisse's reasoning.
Her arms gently rested on her armrest, while her thoughts did the loud work.
She had sat directly facing the entrance to the Hall. If there was anyone who should have noticed him first, it should have been her.
But of course, Valendor had done so. The strongest amongst them felt his presence before the rest of them.
'Has the Emperor Regent… reached an Epiphany?'
She wondered. After all, it was no small feat to fool three Integrators and an Invoker.
Not talking of an Integrator at the third stage.
At this point, she could only wonder. Hoping to find her response through their meeting.
Others, like Valendor though, seemed more wary of other things.
Calyx glanced around once. His eccentric golden gaze, the colour of the sun piercing through the people present.
His smile widened, toughening the tension present in the room and not diffusing it.
They were wary. Clearly.
Finally, after what felt like eternity, Calyx finally broke the silence.
"I see you've finally decided to come greet your King."
Valendor was the first to respond.
He turned quickly to Calyx.
"Emperor Regean" – "just Calyx is fine, Valendor."
The room's tension rose once more.
'What?'
"You– Your Highness…" Valendor stammered. Clearly stumped on what to do.
Calyx simply smiled. His face is a living embodiment of masculine beauty.
His golden hair cascaded down his back in waves, far passing below his waist, and his lips were uncannily pink.
He would have been mistaken for one of them… if he weren't the Emperor Regent.
"We've known each other for quite some time now, Valendor." He turned around. "Velisse, Caelric and especially you, Ravien."
His tone was smooth. Very smooth. It held weight as if each sentence he spoke could be law.
"And it has been such a long time since we've met like this.
It was one of the reasons for calling only the three of you, you know."
He let his voice linger in the silence.
Watching them for responses– any form of it.
"Well, that doesn't matter. We will continue this on a later occasion."
The four sighed in unison.
Seemingly agreeing with the Emperor's sudden change in tone.
"I called for a different reason, though, your conversation just now had caught my attention."
His gaze shifted to Velisse.
The woman shifted in her seat, instinctively. Her gaze shifted downwards in a sorry attempt to avoid him.
"Ye– yes, Your Highn–" "Calyx."
She froze. Then sighed. "Yes, Calyx."
"What are your thoughts on the prophecy and its relation to the current rising numbers of Egoists?".
She breathed slowly. Confidence brewed from within as she met his eyes.
"While I have my doubts as everyone does, I do believe that the sudden spike is not just rare… but also suspicious."
Calyx nodded. "I agree, and such a prophecy points to a power that will be out of our control. Be it from our Federation or one of the other strongholds."
"I want you to note down every Egoist registered since the start of the new year… record them with their prowess and whoever displays quick development will be labelled as a god candidate and will be… recruited."
Their eyes turned sharp at his last word.
They all knew that recruitment was just a farce to mean subjection, but none spoke of it. Not even Valendor.
He turned from her, now focused on all four.
"Now, to the states of business."
He placed his arms on the holography chair. Crossing his leg at the same time.
It was important to note that, while it was see-through, with a colour palette beneath it, their legs, or feet could not actually be seen.
"I'm sure you all have your suspicions about today. After all, I hadn't just made it a public birthday as I always did, but a holiday as well."
Valendor nodded slowly. Fully engrossed in the Emperor's words now.
This was the main reason for him being here.
He had a suspicion… one that he wholly wished not to be true.
But the Emperor Regent's next words broke that.
"We have a spy. An assassin from a neighbouring stronghold."
The four nearly stood to their feet.
"A spy?" Velisse muttered.
"But we all signed the Eight Treaties of Umbra."
Caelric frowned. Clearly, unamused.
"How bothersome." Ravien simply sighed.
"Indeed." Calyx continued. "From what I'm aware of, they've been stalking the Castles' and living with the common people for a while."
He sighed.
"For nearly five hundred years after the treaty was signed, wars between Humans had ceased… and the need for a spy, with it."
Valendor didn't need the Emperor to complete his reasoning for him to land on his own.
'A spy means they want to antagonise us. And if they were an assassin… they clearly intended to start a war… but over what?'
As it seemed, the Emperor had explained the same thing.
"No stronghold would do such a thing without first analysing the repercussions and rewards."
His smile faltered slightly.
"If they had come to the conclusion that war was the best bet… then, it's good to assume that their reward is just that much worth it."
Valendor bowed his head slightly.
His mind churned. Questions flashed through his aged skull as a sigh escaped his lips.
'Just when she finally became an Egoist.'
"Your High– I mean, Ca– Calyx, sir. Have we been able to confirm which Stronghold?"
Caelric asked. Puzzled at his absurd ability to adapt to the King's instructions.
The others peered at him with a glance at him, but nothing antagonistic.
After all, it was the Emperor Regent's requests. Who would be dumb enough not to take it seriously, if not for the first time?
"Well, that has been a bit of a tackle for me."
Calyx admitted. His expression revealed a pained smile.
Eight Strongholds in total had been established years after the Umbral.
It was a unified front.
Past continents, countries and even states joined together in a desperate attempt to quell the chaos that had set the world on fire.
The Ostaria Federation was one of such strongholds, encompassing former Europe and West Asia.
Others included the Congnisphere Commonwealth– encompassing the Arctic, State of Thalassor– encompassing the Pacific, Eshandor Republic– former Africa and Middle East, Thalvenwood United– former America, covering the entirety of it, Kenzora Syndicate– former East, South and North Asia, The Deadbarrows– former Australia and Borealis Hegemony– former Antarctica.
Eight Strongholds, eight powerhouses.
It was not to mention that they all had maintained a minuscule portion of their past over the years. Something that was forced to change due to the passing of time.
At the moment, Calyx's suspicion could only be drawn to their neighbouring Strongholds. Starting with their next-door brethren, the Kenzora Syndicate. The second-largest stronghold.
This, more than the others, was where he would put his bet on. And he was certain the others thought alike.
"I'm guessing we all came to the conclusion of the Kenzora Syndicate?" He asked. More rhetorically than an actual question.
Valendor sighed deeply.
"It's a shame, really. But the Cognishphere Commonwealth are a group of people who keep to themselves most of the time unless it involves treasures of the Abyss."
"And the Eshandor Republic is otherwise known as the most peaceful. Having a history of neutral stances in all past Stronghold conflicts."
The Hall grew silent. Tension brewed amidst the dancing light of the moon that cast shadows over their faces.
Kenzora was large. Too large, and when it came to the number of powerhouses, the Ostaria Federation couldn't entirely compete.
After all, more numbers usually meant more manpower.
It had been an agreement of mutual benefit, but from the words of the Emperor… it was beginning to crack.
"What are your intentions, your Hig– Calyx?" Valendor asked. His tone and expression both revealed his deepest thoughts.
"It's simple really. We send a message." Calyx folded his arms without glancing at him. "They came into our soil hoping to cause problems… and I used this birthday, my son has bait to bring that hungry predator out."
The four figures snapped in realisation.
So that was why he had been so extravagant– So out of proportion. But wouldn't the neighbouring Stronghold suspect this?
"They wouldn't suspect a thing. Our customs are not meant for the eyes of others, other than their own people. And my best bet is that they will act today.
Instigating a war is simple, you kill an important figure… and the rest will follow."
Valendor tightened his fist on his armrest.
His thoughts spun at his Emperor's actions.
Could he have done the same? Use his own blood as bait?
'No… blood runs too deep.'
Nobody had the mind to question his decision, though. After all, while most of the power of governing the Federation landed on the government which consisted of them at the top. The whole power was in fact, in the hands of Emperor Regent Calyx Von Aurelith.
"And if a war starts, we will be prepared." Calyx continued.
As if he weren't talking about an act that could destroy the very ecosystem of the world.
They were still deep in the battle against the nature of the Abyss. Null Spawns, Null Buds and even Null Borns.
These creatures were not in any way meant to be taken lightly.
'Yet… men find a way to fight their own.'
Valendor could only shake his head.
"I had heard they possessed one of them. A Converger."
The air felt like it sank.
Convergers were rare. Extremely so.
Only a handful of Strongholds actually possessed one.
Invokers and Integrators were already powerful beings. With three of the Ministers being at the Integrator which was scarce on its own, and one being at an Invoker.
Convergers were different. They could create false worlds. An extension of their Ego would literally rewrite the preamble of the World laws.
One could say, they were nature's greatest threat.
And for a long time, they had been a myth. Nearly impossible to reach.
Calyx smirked at that word. He slowly turned to Valendor and raised his hands slightly.
Flexing his fingers as he did so.
The four figures seemed confused by his action. Their expressions revealed such until the moonlight began to stretch too thin.
Pulled by an invisible thread into the four corners of the hall which had been nothing but darkness.
The moonlight filled it with its gentle touch. But that touch had begun to warp.
The light terraformed into white tendrils that stretched. It swiped through the air, erratically as if living embodiments of their own.
Velisse gasped, Caelric stood, Ravien gawked and Valendor simply watched.
'This… this is manipulation of the physical form.'
The Emperor had always had an affinity with the moon. His trait had said so… but this, this was different.
The tendrils wrapped around each other. A low slither-like sound ensued as it then began to rattle like lightning.
It stretched forward. Reaching the Emperor's flexed fingers as if it had found home.
And morphed into an orb of pure moonlight.
Darkness fed the entire Hall, and the Oculus was black as night.
The four figures stood once more.
"CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR EPIPHANY!"
Finally! They had one! One of the powerhouses of the world! A being compared to a demigod.
It was not to say– a Converger was in fact, the first step to absolute power.
Calyx simply released the ball of light as everything returned to the way it once was.
He stood to his feet. A smile plastered eerily across his face.
"Today's a joyous day, my friends."
He turned to leave.
"Endeavour to stay to the very end."
_____
Oh boy, creation takes alot.
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