Celestians [5]

The Celestian doctor's expression was grave as she addressed the somber and stressed crowd, the four elders in addition to Ellie and Aisam, outside Seraphine's bedroom.

With a heavy heart, she revealed, "Elder Seraphine is in a vegetative state. She has used her powers to the very limits, and for now, she won't awaken for an indefinite period." Her voice wavered slightly, and she shook her head sadly before leaving and walking away.

Ellie looked shocked and couldn't believe what she was hearing. She stammered, "H-how c-can that b-be?!" Her voice shook and she made a muffled sound, putting her hand on her chest as if trying to control her emotions. The news was too much for her to handle, and she staggered back, almost falling over, before collapsing against the wall.

Such a declaration struck the four elders and Ellie like a bolt of lightning, sending shivers down their spines and threatening to buckle their knees. The words hit them like a wave, leaving them gasping for air and feeling the ground slip away beneath their feet.

Aisam, on the other hand, remained stoic. Unmoved by the chaos unfolding before him, he stood with an air of indifference, his gaze fixed to the side with icy, emotionless eyes. His stance rigid and his expression unreadable, he seemed like a statue amidst a storm of emotions.

His eyes darting around as he mumbled to himself, "So, what now? Do I have to wait for their mourning and shock to settle?" He paused as he sighed heavily.

"But from what I can see, it's not going to be anytime soon." Lost in thought, he rubbed his temples, uncertain about what was going to happen to him and what he should do or say next.

Looking at Ellie, who was leaning against a wall and breathing heavily, an idea popped into Aisam's mind. He thought, "Should I ask her to send me back to 'my' world since I still have my weekly quest?" Slowly, he walked over to her.

Aisam gently reached out to Ellie and softly said her name, "Ellie."

Ellie looked surprised and quickly turned to him, her body tensing up. "A-a-aisam!" she stuttered, her voice shaking. She then took a step back and knelt on the floor, bowing her head.

The four elders saw Aisam and were filled with fear, silently gasping as their eyes widened. They trembled and imitated Ellie, bowing deeply with trembling hands, aiming to show utmost respect in their gestures.

"PLEASE, SPARE US!" They all pleaded together, their voices shaking in fear and their bodies trembling.

Aisam wondered silently, "What did I do? Why are they afraid of me?" Perplexed, he stayed quiet, looking down coldly at them.

"What are you doing? Get up," Aisam said firmly, looking at them with a cold, intense expression.

His sharp question made them feel scared. They quickly stood up and nervously blurted out, "YES, THE SUPREME MAJESTY!" Their voices trembled as they tried to regain their composure, standing frozen in fear with clenched hands at their sides.

The four Elders shared a look, signaling Ellie to start the conversation. Ellie, sensing their hint, felt a lump in her throat and gulped nervously. She looked at Aisam, her voice wavering as she stammered, "What did you want to ask?" Her eyes darted around, hesitant to hold his gaze, her body tense with apprehension.

Aisam stayed calm while staring at Ellie, "Why are you all scared of me? Did I mess up?" he asked gently, his eyes fixed on her.

Ellie's response was frantic and scattered, "You, uh, know, she, like, when..." as she struggled to explain. Aisam, losing patience, clenched his fists and furrowed his brow in frustration.

"Spit it out already! I'm not here all day," Aisam snapped, his voice getting louder to show his frustration, as he gestured with an exasperated sweep of his hand.

Ellie, her voice firm but her eyes revealing a touch of doubt, took a deep breath and stood up straight.

"Please, Listen up," she began, taking a moment to clear her throat. "Let me break it down for you. Seraphine has always been the top one among our Celestians, leading us and ruling over us all."

With a sporadic gaze on Aisam, Ellie paused briefly before going on. "But when you pushed Seraphine to her limits by making her tap into her full power to read your mind—a task only a primordial or major god could pull off—you unknowingly showed that you possess the strength of a primordial god. With that kind of power, you could wipe out our entire race in the blink of an eye."

Ellie noticed the Elders nodding in approval before continuing, "As per our tradition, defeating an Elder grants you the opportunity to take their place—a task usually considered impossible."

Pausing briefly, Ellie gathered her emotions before continuing, "You have brought our strongest Elder to this point, so the decision now rests with you. If you wish, we will have to replace you as her successor."

Ellie finished, her hands trembling slightly, showing how hard it was to hide her emotions and shaky body in front of Aisam.

Aisam stayed quiet, looking at Ellie and then at the elders who avoided his gaze. "I didn't do anything, She did it herself or maybe they know something I don't." He thought unaware of the fact when Seraphine tried to delve into his mind too much, she accidentally awakened the 'Incarnation of The Fantasy Terror System' which guards him against outside influence.

Moreover, When Seraphine used that spell, it made her vulnerable to the terrifyingly powerful creature as she was limited on what she could do there in his mind, and because she detected a great danger, decided to leave but couldn't do it in time.

When the Incarnation of his currently locked system awakens, it also causes his control to go into the incarnation as it will deal with any potential danger around, and also making its power simulate in Aisam's body.

As a result, when it awakened for a second, it caused his body to exude an insurmountable powerful energy which made the elders and Ellie fall to their knees and go out of breath just in that short amount of time, making them extremely terrified of him.

The idea of ruling over a kingdom didn't resonate with Aisam. Leadership was not in his nature, and the thought of drowning in paperwork was a daunting prospect, far worse than a typical 9-5 job.

As he surveyed his opulent and technologically advanced surroundings, a flicker of opportunity sparked in his mind.

"I can leverage this situation to negotiate on my terms," Aisam considered, his resolve solidifying. "If they refuse, it's their problem. I can simply ask them to release me, and I'll move on as though they were never a part of my life.'

With his plan set, Aisam took a deep breath, preparing to confront the elders and assert his conditions.

Aisam looked up from his thoughts and locked eyes with Ellie and the elders. "Before I give my thoughts, I have a question," he said nonchalantly. "What happens if I refuse?" His question hung in the air, prompting quick glances between Ellie and the elders.

After a moment, they exchanged subtle nods and refocused on Aisam, anticipating Ellie's response to the situation.

Ellie spoke urgently, warning of dire consequences: "If you refuse, chaos will follow the vacant elder seat. Powerful Celestians may try to seize power, rumors will sow unease, our reputation will suffer, and I don't doubt one bit She herself would punish us if we disoveyed this rule. "

She paused, tense, hands wringing. "And if Seraphine's defeat and the tradition not being fulfilled is revealed, a massive Celestian uprising could occur."

Her eyes widened, emphasizing the looming threat. "We can't handle this without Seraphine. It would take weeks to address all the issues. I don't doubt one bit She herself would punish us if we didn't obey this rule.

" Her voice become more serious with each word, her body trembling, revealing her deep concerns about the situation.

Aisam paused before speaking, staring down. "I get it all, but I don't wanna keep solving your problems. I'd rather be in my own world, doing what I like... which isn't much," he thought. Then a thought hit him as he glanced at the elder celestian female who had been annoying him since he arrived. "Hey, Lilithra!" he said loudly, startling her as she looked up.

"Have you been reading my thoughts or not until now?" he asked with narrowed eyes and a hint of suspicion in his gaze.

"If yes," he warned, his voice becoming more assertive, "we're going to have a problem here."

Pointing at her with a subtle gesture, he continued, his expression stoic, "And from what I've seen... you're not the type to admit the truth openly."

Lilithra's voice quivered as she stuttered, "I-I-I- NO! H-how could I dare to do that?" Her face drained of color, sweat beads forming on her forehead, the lie glaringly obvious. She fidgeted nervously, avoiding his gaze.

Aisam sighed deeply in frustration at Lilithra's response. Remaining calm, he said, "Let's talk about this later in a suitable setting. You all are not able to communicate properly at the moment." He waved his hand and added nonchalantly, "Lead me to an empty room so I can rest before we meet in the discussion room.".

"Chambermaid!" yelled the male elder, whose appearance had a striking resemblance to Ellie.

His voice echoed down the hallway as a maid in a black and white uniform quickly appeared and knelt before him. "Chambermaid, Sara is at your service," she declared with confidence.

"Lead Master Aisam to the best bedroom in the building, and make sure he has everything he needs," the elder said firmly, looking at the maid. She quickly nodded and said, "Understood."

The maid signaled for Aisam to follow her gracefully through the fancy halls, pointing out details of the decor. When they arrived at the luxurious bedroom door, she paused and motioned for Aisam to enter, nodding with respect and warmth.