The Council

|Gary|

As Xyrus Academy shrank in the distance, my gaze remained fixed upon it. Though the physical place held little significance to me, my time within its walls as a student mage had been filled with both ordinary experiences and extraordinary feats. After all, for the most powerful mage and the greatest genius of Dicathen, even the notion of being ordinary was a relative concept.

With the confirmation of Jezebeth's presence in this world, my plans were bound to undergo drastic changes. The stakes had been raised, and I knew that more extreme measures would be required to ensure the strength and victory of Dicathen against the rival continent.

Engaging in small talk with the three Lances and my fellow Paladins, we exchanged curious inquiries about each other's abilities. While I participated in the conversation, my mind was already consumed by the formulation of future strategies and plans.

A notable transformation had taken hold of Arthur since Claire's demise. Though I hadn't initially considered her significance to him, it became evident through his cold demeanor after her death that she held a special place in his heart.

However, rather than merely shedding his emotions, it seemed as if Arthur had awakened a truer version of himself, one unburdened by sentimentality. Surprisingly, he appeared surprisingly comfortable with this newfound aspect.

Inwardly, I recognized the potential value of such a transformed Arthur. He would undoubtedly prove to be a valuable tool in my arsenal, a pawn I could deftly maneuver to serve my future plans.

With determination in my eyes, I continued to contemplate the unfolding events, steadfast in my commitment to forge a path that would secure the triumph of Dicathen and shape the destiny of our world.

My inward musings were abruptly interrupted when Varay abruptly halted her flight, her attention shifting to a communication scroll she retrieved from her pocket. Her eyes scanned the surroundings with a keen sense of alertness.

"We have arrived," she declared.

I surveyed the sky around us, seemingly devoid of anything beyond the occasional oblivious birds that dared to approach our airspace. To the untrained eye, it appeared as though there was nothing to see. Yet, with my intimate connection to aether, I could perceive a subtle manipulation of aether, a concealment deliberately cast to obscure something from the sight of ordinary observers. Alistair and Arthur, attuned in their own ways, seemed to share my awareness, their gaze lingering on the enigmatic structure with heightened curiosity.

Raising her hand, Varay seemed to engage in a peculiar interaction with the very air itself. In response, a soft click resonated through the atmosphere, and to our astonishment, the sky parted to unveil a magnificent metal staircase, extending into the heavens.

"Welcome," Varay announced with a touch of reverence, "to the Council's floating castle."

We proceeded along the corridor in solemn silence, the rhythmic sound of our footsteps reverberating through the metallic passage. To either side, an array of doors presented themselves, each distinct in color and material, standing in stark contrast to the uniformity of the corridor. Though the path seemed to stretch endlessly, we were fortunate that Varay eventually halted our advance, choosing a seemingly arbitrary door on the left. With a purposeful knock, the door swung open, revealing a formidable figure—a towering man armored like a bear.

My gaze lingered upon him, taking in his imposing presence.

"My Lords," the guard immediately knelt, head bowed in deference.

"Rise," Varay's response was measured and composed. As the guard straightened, his eyes avoided direct contact with the three Lances.

"Inform the Council of our arrival," Bairon's impatience was evident as he waved the guard away. With a swift bow, the armored sentinel vanished through a concealed black door that seamlessly blended into the wall.

After a brief interval, the guard reemerged, the door opened wide, granting us entry. "Lance Zero, Lance Thunderlord, and Lance Aureate, along with Paladins Gary Whiteborn, Lancelot Orbel, Prince Alistair Eralith, Princess Tessia Eralith, Princess Kathyln Glayder, and Arthur Leywin, have been granted permission to meet with the Council," he announced, his voice carrying an air of formality and authority.

Passing through the vigilant guard and stepping beyond the concealed door, a distinct shift in the atmosphere enveloped me. The expanse before us unfolded into a grand circular chamber, its lofty ceiling composed entirely of gleaming glass. The room boasted a simple elegance, its sole adornment a long, rectangular table positioned at the far end. Four individuals occupied the chairs, their faces turned expectantly in our direction.

However, a profound undercurrent of fear was etched upon their countenances. It was unmistakable, and the absence of the dwarven representatives in their designated seats only heightened the sense of unease. Something was amiss. Sensing the gravity of the situation, I instinctively released a pulse of aether, scanning my surroundings for concealed presences. My gaze darted around the room, discovering the presence of two formidable beings cleverly camouflaged amidst their surroundings.

While not reaching the same level of power as the enigmatic entity that granted me some powers, it was evident that these individuals belonged to the realm of SS rank, exuding an aura of authority and strength.

Suddenly, a figure materialized before us, a pale man with lustrous blonde hair. His very presence seemed to transcend mortal limitations, as if he had traversed realms to stand among us. The depths of his eyes held the mysteries of the universe itself. Another being, sharing a similar ethereal presence, possessed three eyes, yet only two were open. His long white hair was neatly bound at the back.

In unison, everyone in the room, save for Alistair, bowed in deference. "O' Great Ones, we humbly greet you in all your divine grace."

"Rise," the pale blonde man commanded, his gaze sweeping over the room. It became evident that the two divine beings paid little heed to Alistair's lack of deference towards them. This observation found confirmation as they both bowed respectfully to him, acknowledging his presence.

"Lord Alistair, it brings us great joy to see you in good health," they addressed him in unison, their voices carrying an air of reverence.

Confusion etched itself upon the faces of everyone present, except for Arthur, as they gradually realized the significance of Alistair's special identity.

"For those unfamiliar with my name," the second being, Aldir, spoke, his piercing purple eye focused directly on me, "I am Aldir."

"Windsom and I have been dispatched to offer you lesser beings a chance at survival in the impending war against the Vritra," the asura continued without pause.

A hushed realization swept through the room, finding voice in Alduin's words, "So, our fears were justified. There truly will be a war..."

"My current role is to oversee the remnants of what you refer to as 'the Council' and guide you in the necessary preparations to combat the Continent of Alacrya," Aldir declared.

"Your Majesty, if I may speak," Blaine interjected, addressing Aldir, "Your demonstrated capabilities surpass our own to such an extent that I question why you would require our assistance. Could you not simply travel to the Continent of Alacrya and vanquish the Vritra?"

"In response to your query, King Glayder," Aldir began, his voice measured, "Indeed, it would be within our power to assemble the Asuras and engage the Vritra directly. However, the Vritra Clan, along with the three other clans under their command, were all once Asuras who violated our laws. We can no longer gauge the true extent of their augmented strength. Moreover, such a battle of titanic proportions would invariably devastate the world. And that is an understatement," he continued, directing his attention towards the visibly perturbed king.

King Glayder stood in stunned silence as we collectively grappled with the implications of a conflict capable of toppling continents. Aldir pressed on, his voice steady, "The Asuras and the Vritra Clan have forged a treaty that forbids direct attacks or interference by higher beings. Instead, envision me as a commander in this forthcoming war. It is in the Asuras' best interest to defend this continent. Now, Windsom, do you and the Paladins have tasks to attend to? I will handle the remaining affairs here. Countless preparations must be undertaken before we can mount a proper defence."

"What about the Asura who assaulted us?" I interjected, my voice laced with urgency, "Jezebeth, a pure-blooded Asura, targeted Xyrus City. He was not like Uto, a half-ling."

Aldir and Windsom exchanged a meaningful glance before Aldir responded, his tone measured, "Rest assured, we will seek an explanation from the Vritra Clan concerning Jezebeth's actions."

Once the Council meeting concluded, Windsom took charge of escorting the Paladins to their next destination. Utilizing his mastery over spatium, he swiftly teleported us, his piercing gaze surveying our group.

"I shall be guiding Arthur and Lord Alistair in their training, as they possess Asuran powers," Windsom stated, his voice carrying an air of authority. "Unfortunately, Epheotus will not be taking in all your lessers. However, I will request Aldir's assistance to support you during your training. It is essential that you all strive to grow and strengthen yourselves before the onset of war, for the sake of protecting your loved ones. Additionally, I shall enlighten you about Epheotus and the Asuras."