The Council

|Jude|

As the Lances arrived on the scene, I focused my attention on replenishing my core to its fullest capacity and familiarizing myself with the newfound power I had discovered.

This power seemed to be intricately linked to the rune etched on my back, acting as a guide for the purplish particles that manifested. Unlike mana, these particles couldn't be directly manipulated; instead, they could only be guided through the power of intent.

It was a phenomenon distinct from mana, yet undeniably potent. Even a thin veneer of this destructive aether had the ability to pierce through Cadell's formidable wall of soulfire—a feat that my sword, fueled by all the mana I could muster from my white core, had failed to accomplish.

However, controlling this power proved to be a formidable challenge, as it exacted a toll on my physical being. Fortunately, my body boasted exceptional resilience due to the Nine Heavens Nine Doors technique, which had honed every fiber of my being with the infusion of mana throughout my growth.

Nevertheless, the true hurdle lay in the insidious nature of the destructive thoughts that accompanied this power. If I allowed them to run rampant and erode my psyche, even my mind could fall prey to their influence. It was imperative for me to exercise caution and remain vigilant, guarding against the corrosive effects of these thoughts.

I pondered, 'Why was I only able to sense the aether this time? Could it be because this is the first instance of me utilizing all the elements together since advancing to the white stage?'

Perhaps that was the case.

The three Lances—Varay, Olfred, and Alea—swiftly approached the survivors, seeking accounts of the incident and meticulously documenting every detail.

Curiously, I couldn't spot Lucas anywhere. He was a formidable opponent, second only to Arthur. But since Arthur had been defeated by Cadell as soon as he arrived at the scene, I wondered where Lucas had disappeared to. Nevertheless, that wasn't my primary concern at the moment.

"Ah, it's been quite some time, Lances," I greeted them warmly, a friendly smile adorning my face, with no intention of concealing the radiance of my white core.

"Jude, you truly are extraordinary," Varay remarked, her typically impassive expression momentarily contorted with astonishment upon sensing the magnitude of my core. Olfred appeared utterly dumbfounded, while Alea seemed almost expectant, as if my ascent to the white stage at a tender age was nothing short of inevitable.

I approached Kathyln, offering her comfort as I assessed her injuries, while Arthur stood nearby with a mournful expression, watching over Tessia as she received healing.

"She'll be fine," I reassured my brother, placing a supportive hand on his shoulder. His fist clenched tightly in response, a clear reflection of his inner turmoil.

Arthur had grown stronger, already reaching the initial silver stage. With the utilization of Integrate, he could pose a challenge to an average Lance like Bairon.

"JUDE, ARTHUR!"

The familiar voice called out, and I swiftly turned my head to locate its source. After a brief scan of the surroundings, I spotted my family standing behind the gates. Even from a distance, the worry etched on their faces was palpable. My father attempted to leap over the gate in his eagerness, only to be restrained by one of the guards.

Tears streaked my sister's face, her grip tight on our mother's sleeve. Uncle Vincent and Aunt Tabitha stood beside them, their gazes filled with concern as they searched for their daughter.

"Hello, Mom. Hello, Dad. Hi, Ellie," I greeted them, attempting a smile that seemed to deepen their worry further.

"Jude, Arthur, my babies, are you alright?" My mother's arm stretched through the fence, and I clasped her hand firmly.

"Son, what happened in there?" My father's voice carried a mix of concern and confusion, evident in the furrows on his forehead.

"I'm okay, Mom. I've had better days, but I just need some rest. As for everything that happened... even I don't have all the answers yet, Dad." I shook my head, tightening my grip on my mother's hand to provide reassurance.

Turning my attention to Ellie, I could see her expression oscillating between anger, sadness, and relief—a whirlwind of emotions that she hadn't fully resolved yet.

"Jude Leywin," the female Lance addressed me, her voice resonating from an open scroll, "son of Reynolds and Alice Leywin. The Council has summoned you for an immediate explanation of the events that transpired here."

My parents' faces visibly paled at the news, their concern evident. I nodded calmly, acknowledging the summons. It was necessary for me to inform the Council about the formidable adversaries we would face in the future.

With a subtle turn, I shifted my gaze toward a seemingly vacant space, shooting a knowing wink to the hidden figure.

I am aware of your presence.

My intention wasn't to intimidate the individual. Whoever they were, their power far surpassed my current abilities. They likely played a role in driving Cadell away as well.

I merely wished to convey my strength and ensure they didn't underestimate me.

As we prepared to depart, Arthur approached us and expressed his desire to accompany us. Initially, I was inclined to decline his offer, knowing that he usually stayed with our family. However, it dawned on me that Arthur had a deeper motive for joining us. There was a significant reason behind his decision. With a nod of understanding, I accepted his presence, and the Lances did not object.

With our arrangements settled, we embarked on our journey towards the Council's location.

The Lances effortlessly traversed the skies without the need for spells, relying on their own abilities. As for me, I soared through the air, propelled by the power of my white core. Arthur accompanied us astride Sylvie, her true form already revealed when he barged into the Academy. Together, we soared over the majestic Grand Mountains, which acted as a natural divide in the vast expanse of the Continent of Dicathen. The exact distance we covered was indiscernible, but eventually, we descended upon a secluded clearing at the edge of the Grand Mountains, overlooking the enigmatic Beast Glades. It was here that we decided to make camp and rest for the night.

Varay extended her hand, her gaze scanning the air in search of something unseen. Suddenly, the heavens cracked open, revealing a sturdy metal staircase descending from above. A blinding light pierced through the fissure, momentarily obscuring my vision. As my eyes adjusted, the scene before me gradually took shape. Stretching out before us was a brightly illuminated corridor, its arched ceiling adorned with intricate designs etched into every visible surface. The walls, covered in enigmatic carvings and runes, imbued the passageway with an air of solemnity, reminiscent of a memorial honoring the departed. Occasional chandeliers hung at regular intervals, casting their cold, emotionless glow upon the polished floor. The corridor evoked a sterile ambiance, akin to the clinical atmosphere of hospitals in my former world.

Breaking the silence, Varay's voice carried an unusual chill as she spoke. "Now that we have entered the castle, it would be best to refrain from conversation, be it with us or any of the other Lances," she whispered, her words tinged with caution. With that, we passed through the somewhat rudimentary door that granted us entry.

Silently, we traversed the corridor, our footsteps echoing through the space. Doors of varying colors and materials lined the metallic passage, each exuding its own unique essence. Although the corridor appeared to stretch indefinitely, Varay halted us at a seemingly arbitrary door to our left. She rapped on the door with purpose, the sound reverberating through the stillness until the portal swung open, revealing a towering, armored figure, akin to a bear in stature.

Intrigued, I studied the guard more closely.

"My Lords," the armored sentinel immediately dropped to his knees, head bowed in deference.

"Rise," Varay responded, her tone cool and composed. The guard stood upright but avoided direct eye contact with either of the three Lances. Instead, his gaze fixated upon Arthur I, a mixture of curiosity and caution evident in his scrutinizing gaze.

"Inform the Council of our arrival," Olfred dismissed the guard with a dismissive wave. The armored man executed a swift bow before disappearing through an inconspicuous black door, seamlessly blending with the wall's facade.

After a brief wait, the guard reemerged, swinging the door wide open to grant us entry. "Lance Zero, Lance Balrog, and Lance Aureate, along with the guests Jude Leywin and Arthur Leywin, have been granted permission to meet the Council," he announced, stepping aside to allow us passage.

Stepping past the guard and through the concealed doorway, I immediately sensed a shift in the atmosphere. We found ourselves in a grand circular chamber, its towering ceiling entirely composed of transparent glass. The room boasted a minimalist aesthetic, with the sole adornment being a long, rectangular table positioned at the far end. Six chairs, each occupied by a member of the Council, faced us, their gazes fixed upon me with varied expressions.

"Your Majesties," Olfred and Varay both bowed respectfully toward the Council as the former kings and queens rose from their seats.

In a deep, resonant voice, a commanding figure spoke, "Ignorant! Do you believe yourselves above the Lances? At the very least, you should kneel as a sign of respect." I raised my eyes to behold the former dwarf king, Dawsid Greysunders, his bushy brown beard cascading down his chest, nearly obscuring his upper torso. He wore a leather armor embellished with ornaments that appeared to restrain rather than protect his muscles. Yet, the delicate, uncalloused hand twirling the golden wine flute made me question the true strength behind his ostentatious display.

I rolled my eyes before retorting, "Isn't it about time you made your entrance?"

A tall figure materialized, emanating an aura of power and authority.

Suddenly, a pale man with blond hair manifested within the room. His presence seemed to transcend mortal boundaries, as if he had stepped out from another realm altogether. His eyes contained the cosmos within their depths.

With a hint of amusement in his voice, the man spoke, "To think a lesser would notice me." Glancing at Arthur, I could tell he recognised the individual. Was he the reason Arthur came here?

The man introduced himself as Windsom, one of the Asuras who had bestowed powerful artifacts upon our ancestors many years ago. "Though you refer to us as deities," he said, "we prefer to be called Asuras."

As Windsom spoke, I sensed the arrival of another Asura. This one possessed three eyes, though only two were open. His white hair was neatly tied at the back. Just then, Director Goodsky and Master Galahad entered the chamber. Director Goodsky appeared worn and battered, as if she had endured imprisonment. Both of them recognized the Asuras and bowed reverently in their presence.

The room fell into an apprehensive silence as another Asura made his entrance, commanding attention with his mere presence.

"For those unaware of my identity," he declared, his penetrating purple eye fixed upon me, "I am Aldir."

"Windsom and I have been dispatched to grant you lesser beings a chance of survival in the impending war against the Vritra," the Asura continued without hesitation.

"So, our fears have been confirmed. A war is truly upon us," Alduin spoke aloud, voicing the thoughts that echoed within the room.

"In my current capacity, I shall oversee what remains of your so-called 'Council' and provide you with instructions on the necessary preparations to combat the Continent of Alacrya. To begin, I shall purge the corrupted," he declared, directing his gaze towards the Dwarven Royalty, and with a few seconds' delay, their lives were extinguished.

Both Blaine and Priscilla Glayder stood frozen, their complexions turning pallid.

"Your Majesty, if I may," Blaine finally spoke, his tone conveying a sense of submission. Something must have transpired to render the once proud king so meek. "You have demonstrated your formidable capabilities, to the extent that I am uncertain why you would require our assistance. Could you not simply venture to the Continent of Alacrya and vanquish the Vritra?"

"In response to your query, King Glayder, indeed, it would be within our power to gather the Asuras and engage the Vritra directly. However, the Vritra Clan, along with the three other clans under their command, consists of former Asuras who have violated our laws. Their true strength has grown beyond our calculations. Furthermore, engaging in a battle of such magnitude would inevitably devastate the world. And I am erring on the side of caution," Aldir explained, his gaze unyielding as he confronted the terrified king.

King Glayder remained speechless, his mind grappling with the implications of a battle that could shatter continents. Aldir, undeterred, pressed on with his explanation.

"We Asuras and the Vritra Clan have forged a treaty that prohibits direct attacks or interference between higher beings, as well as any intervention with lesser beings. However—" Aldir's words were interrupted by Arthur's interjection.

"Wait a moment. Doesn't your act of killing two 'lesser beings' contradict your own words?" Arthur's inquiry pierced the tension in the room.

The asura's piercing, purple gaze bore into Arthur before shifting to me. After a brief moment, a smirk tugged at Aldir's lips.

"While it's true that Dicathen has not received direct assistance from us Asuras, it now faces a population under the direct rule of Agrona from the Vritra. Even with my actions, Agrona would not dare violate the treaty simply to level the playing field," Windsom interjected on behalf of Aldir.

"But what about the black-horned demons that have plagued our lands for years? I personally witnessed one about to strike down a Lance before I intervened," I countered, conjuring a horn from my spatial ring.

"Ah, boy, it seems Windsom wasn't exaggerating when he spoke of your exceptional nature. The entity responsible for the Lance's assault, as well as the infiltrators within this continent, are not Asuras. They are former lesser beings like yourself who have undergone countless experiments," Aldir responded, his voice dripping with disgust.

"Consider me your general in this upcoming war. It is in the best interest of the Asuras to ensure the defense of this continent. Now, Windsom, isn't there a task that you and the two boys need to undertake?" Aldir's commanding voice filled the room. "I will handle the preparations here. Countless arrangements must be made before we can stand a chance at defending ourselves."

Windsom gestured for Arthur and me to follow him, and I noticed a flicker of concern in Master Galahad's gaze. I reassured him with a nod, silently conveying that I would be fine.

As we were escorted out of the room, Arthur couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. He bombarded Windsom with questions. "What task do we have to undertake, Windsom? Isn't it important for us to be present in the discussions? Shouldn't we remain in the room?"

"That is not your battle," Windsom replied firmly, his gaze fixed ahead. "Aldir knows what he is doing and will make the necessary preparations for you lesser beings in the face of the impending war. When the time comes, if you do not wish to be rendered useless, you must become stronger."

Arthur nodded, seeming to understand. "I see. So, what is it that we are supposed to do?"

"Our first stop is to visit your family. You will need to bid them farewell," Windsom stated matter-of-factly, his back still turned to me, making it impossible to discern whether he was joking or not.

"Farewell? What do you mean? Where are we going?" Arthur grasped Windsom's arm, seeking clarification.

"I will be taking both of you, along with Lady Sylvie, to the homeland of the Asuras. Your training will commence in Epheotus."

Epheotus? I gasped in shock.

|Arthur|

"Am I allowed to know all of this?" I questioned, removing a sharp branch out of my hair.

We were currently hiking through a familiar part of Elshire Forest after Windsom had teleported us nearby. It took me only a few moments upon arrival to realize that I had been to this part of the forest before with the Eralith family; we were headed towards Elder Rinia's hideout.

"You have been given permission to stay in Epheotus so you will figure it out sooner or later. While memorizing the information that I've told you isn't necessary, it is always beneficial for one to know the culture, mannerisms and politics involved when in unfamiliar territory. Especially if you have to interact with the important figures of said place." Windsom advised, not bothering to turn around as he continued pushing branches and vines out of his way. "But I have a feeling that you already know the importance of that."

I went on as I recited what we learned. "Okay, so there are sev... no, eight races of asuras in Epheotus. Each race consists of multiple clans, but only one clan within their respective race are titled as one of the High Eight?"

"The Great Eight," the Asura corrected immediately.

"What race was the Vritra Clan?" I tried to imagine multiple times in the past what sort of creature the Vritra Clan might be, with their horns and grey complexion, but nothing came to mind.

"The true form of the Vritra Clan is that of a fearsome serpentine asura called the Basilisk. It will be good for you to take note of the races and clan names of the Great Eight."

"What became of the Basilisk race after the Vritra Clan and other Basilisk clans' betrayal? I pressed on, swatting a particularly annoying insect that had probably thought my ear would make a good resting spot.

"Excluding the fact that the Vritra Clan was replaced by a lesser clan as part of the Great Eight, some of the more radical races pushed to annihilate whatever remained of the Basilisk race. Fortunately, the ties between each race reach far back in history; friends of the remaining Basilisk clans stood up for them. In the end, measures as drastic as genocide were never taken; it would be foolish for a whole race to bear the crimes of a few, after all."

I couldn't discern what Windsom was thinking as he told me all of this. The inflexion and tone of his voice didn't match what he was saying, his words sounding almost sardonic.

"I see..." I continued walking, looking at my dirty boots crunching on fallen leaves and broken branches. "How were the Great Eight selected anyway?"

"The clans of the Great Eight have almost never changed. For example, even though the Dragon race has the fewest number of clans, the Indrath Clan, the clan of my master and Lady Sylvia, has been a part of the Great Eight since the beginning of our history. However, even to this day, the strength of the Great Clans are grades above the rest of the others. This is about the closest thing to an answer I can give you."

We continued to rally back and forth as we made our way towards Elder Rinia's hidden shelter, Windsom mostly quizzing me on the names I needed to know. I was able to process most of the information fairly quickly, but my sleep-deprived and starved state took a toll on my ability to retain information.

We had just gone through the waterfall that hid the entrance to Elder Rinia's home when Jude spoke. "So let me get this straight. Agrona, current head of the Vritra Clan, led his race out of Epheotus to Alacrya, where he had been experimenting on the lesser races, and declared himself Eternal Ruler?"

"A rather tasteless title to give to oneself but, in essence, yes," the asura confirmed.

"Then this treaty that you guys talked about earlier; if the Vritra Clan, along with the other clans of the Basilisk race, are asuras, shouldn't they be forbidden to directly act in this upcoming war?" Jude asked again, as I tried to keep track of how many turns we took in this maze of a tunnel.

"Yes, but that was never the problem"—Windsom stopped walking and turned back towards me—"Arthur, Jude, didn't you ever once wonder why the Asura races didn't just kill the Vritra Clan and the clans following them? There are seven other races after all."

"Of course I have, but didn't you say something about the consequences that would affect the lesser races that were living in Alacrya?"

"I did, but what I had not informed you of was that the treaty was not our first course of action. After Agrona and his follower's escape, the Great Clans, excluding the Basilisk race, came together for the first time, regardless of factions, and formed an assembly of the leaders of each Great Clan. The leaders decided to send a small division with our elite asuras to quickly dispose of Agrona and his followers." Windsom paused for a moment, and even with his stoic expression, it was obvious that he was deliberating on whether to express what was on his mind.

The asura eventually let out a small sigh and conjured a small barrier around us. "You both must know that what I'm about to disclose to you must stay with you; this information is known only by a few members of the Indrath Clan."

I nodded, locking eyes with Windsom as I waited for him to continue.

"Everyone in Epheotus believes that Lady Sylvia was somehow captured and held prisoner somewhere, but it was actually Lady Sylvia who voluntarily went with the elite division tasked with killing Agrona Vritra and the clans that followed him."

"What?" I exclaimed, my voice coming out a lot louder than I had meant it to. "How does that make sense? She went on a mission into enemy territory without knowing what to expect? That mission was basically suicidal. No way your master, Sylvia's father, would've let her go."

"Of course, Lord Indrath didn't allow her to go," Windsom growled. "What I'm saying is Lady Sylvia concealed herself and followed after the elite division. By the time they were aware of Lady Sylvia's presence, it was already too late to back out."

There was a long pause before either of us spoke again.

"So what ended up happening to the asuras sent by the leaders of Epheotus?"

"What none of the leaders had expected"— Windsom's face contorted in disgust as his hands formed a fist— "Agrona, that cunning snake, was waiting with an even larger army of Basilisks and lesser races that had the same innate magical abilities as them."

It took only a moment for me to realize what his words implied. "The Vritra Clan was interbreeding with the lesser races of Alacrya," I whispered.

The asura only nodded in return, before continuing. "Apparently, Agrona and his followers had been interbreeding for quite some time, seeing that there were well over tens of thousands of the mutts waiting for our battalion."

"So the band of elite asuras you guys sent were outnumbered..."

"Tremendously outnumbered," he stressed. "And the element of surprise that we thought our warriors would have had was rendered moot."

"What befell them in the end?" I murmured, more so wondering myself than expecting an answer.

The asura shook his head in response. "Communication was lost soon after the battle started. While we are certain that their side took a considerable loss in numbers, we can only speculate that the brigade of our elite asuras, the pride of their respective clans and races, were either killed or captured."

I was silent as thoughts on how Sylvia managed to escape filled my mind.

Windsom's next words snapped me out of my daze. "Lord Indrath was furious after being told by Agrona himself that his only daughter had been killed in battle. If it had been up to him, my master would surely have waged war, ignoring the consequences. However, the rest of the Great Clans were against it and pushed for a treaty." Windsom turned around and resumed walking again.

"The treaty was eventually formed between the two sides, forbidding the asuras to act directly because of the collateral damage it would cause if a full-scale war were to occur between the seven asura races of Epheotus and the Vritra Clan's army of basilisks and lesser, half-breed mutts." There was obvious spite in his voice, but his expression had turned back to normal.

As I began thinking again, I realized how much of a disadvantage Dicathen was in. This treaty had been in place since generations ago, and even though it prohibited asuras and the half-breeds from directly participating in the battles, who knows how many of the so-called 'lesser races' of Alacrya had the blood of asuras mixed in with theirs.

I wanted to ask why the other asura races didn't do the same and interbreed with the lesser-races, but if it took centuries for the mad genius Agrona to come up with a way to interbreed an asura with a lesser race, then the other races probably haven't found a way how. I doubt that, even if they could, most would be against breeding with the lower races because of their own morals and pride.

"Wait. So the ancient six artefacts that you guys gave to the people of Dicathen..."

"Yes. It was our way of giving the people of this continent a sword and a shield. We knew that the powers and knowledge contained within those artefacts would ignite a revolution for your people. We were right, but we only found out through recent events that it hadn't been nearly enough. It is Lord Indrath and the other Great Clans leaders' wish that, with our direct intervention, we can equip the mages of this continent with enough strength to defend this continent from Agrona. We fear that if Agrona gets access to the inhabitants of this continent, the Vritra Clan will gain enough fighting power to overthrow Epheotus."

"And this is where I come in. A stronger chess piece that the Great Clans can utilize to gain the upper hand in the upcoming war," Jude sneered as he crossed his hands.

"Well, I would think of it more as, us training you to defend your family and homeland," Windsom countered, his lips curling upward ever-so-slightly.

"Meh, I prefer the mutual benefit over questionable acts of altruism anyhow," Jude shrugged.

"I guess you still don't trust us completely," Windsom said, studying me with a curious eye before asking, "On a side note, how do you plan on informing your family of our... plans?"

"Don't worry, Windsom. I thought a lot about how I should break it to my parents while I was in jail," I winked as I interrupted Jude, walking past the asura and toward the flickering firelight coming from the end of the tunnel.

As we approached the end of the tunnel, I could see the shadows of a few people surrounding a fire. I couldn't help but smile at the sight of my large warrior of a father scrubbing dishes near the underground stream as Elder Rinia, my sister and my mother were concentrated on a simmering pot over the fire.