"What are you talking about?" Kaelen glared at the Elder who had dared to suggest such a thing... Taking them all?
Everyone around the chamber frowned at him.
The Elder cleared his throat, an old sound that quivered with age, but his eyes remained sharp and reverent as he turned to Kaelen. With a respectful dip of his head, he spoke, "May I openly address them, Your Majesty? With your blessing, I believe so truths must be laid bare before all."
Kaelen’s jaw tightened in hesitation, but he offered a silent nod. The Elder, ever cautious, shifted his gaze toward the Archpriestess and Sandra, his tone softening, "If you both have no objections as well? May I speak freely before everyone?"
Both won frowned at the gravity of the mont, yet after a heartbeat’s pause, nodded their assent.
Sandra added in a low, "Any ideas are welco here"
The Elder’s lips curled into a weathered smile, his skin wrinkling like parchnt. He regarded Aether, who had halted mid-step, caught off guard by the Elder’s words, a flicker of astonishnt passing through his face. "Lord Aether... Please, co and take a seat among us. There is much to discuss, and your presence is vital."
Aether turned, frowning slightly, "I don’t want—" he began, but...
"We accept your decision, Lord Aether," the Elder interjected, his voice steady, "but for now, please sit. Hear out. You have every right to choose, but I ask that you grant this audience. Is that agreeable to you, Lord Aether?"
Aether’s shoulders rose and fell with a heavy breath. After a mont of silent struggle, he relented, walking back to the grand table and settling into a seat.
"And Saintess... Please, you as well," the Elder added gently, turning to the young woman still kneeling beside Aether’s chair.
The Saintess flinched, eyes shimring with unshed tears, but found her resolve and nodded. Wordlessly, she rose and walked back to her seat... since Aether gave an answer, right?
The High Priests and followers reached out, offering her soft words of comfort.
The Elder took it all in and nodded,
"Now... I understand where every heart in this room stands. It is clear, is it not? We are drawn here, above all, by Lord Aether—his powers, his mysterious gifts, his unmatched technological skill. Whether we hide our intentions or not, we all must admit, this is what compels us. Is that not so?"
Sandra humd in agreent.
Though the Aurora Group stiffened.
"No! We didn’t co for that!" a follower snapped, her face twisted in passionate anger. "We ca for him—and him alone! None of these ambitions matters more than the man himself."
The Elder accepted her outburst with patience, "Yes, for you it is so, but none can deny that he alone holds the key to your salvation. Whatever bonds you share, whatever cause brought you here, only Lord Aether can stand against it. Is that not a truth we must all face?"
The group turned silent.
The Elder regarded Aether, "Lord Aether... do you truly grasp your place in this place, in this very mont?"
Aether blinked, "Pardon?"
The Elder nodded and began to explain,
"None of us know the land you grew up in, or the harsh trials you have endured. We cannot fathom the shadow and pain you have walked through with just re words. But of one thing, I am certain... The fact that you have reached this chamber, seated at this table among us, is no small feat."
Aether managed a small, humble smile, the old pain in his eyes reflecting the truth of those words.
The Elder pressed on,
"For you, perhaps, it is difficult to accept. The mantle you wear is not easy, nor is the path laid before you simple to discern. Yet, you, Lord Aether—a man who can bear the Virtues, a man with the strength to protect Empires from unseen threats—you must realize this: in this chamber, in this hour, there is no one whose presence matters more than yours.
You are the fulcrum upon which all our fates now balance."
So in the chamber slightly gasped, as if they hadn’t expected the Elder’s statent to cut so deeply through the air. Others only nodded.
The truth could not be ignored... Aether was an important figure, perhaps the most crucial among them.
Unlike anyone else present, he alone carried knowledge of distant technologies and the promise of a new Empire rising from the unknown.
In these tis of uncertainty, this man was irreplaceable. There was no substitute for what he brought; no one could step into his role, not now.
Aether nodded calmly, "I understand that... but what are you trying to say now?"
The Elder’s smile was gentle and knowing as he nodded his head. "Since he was born on this land, it is only natural—his duty is to protect the Empire that first bore him."
Sandra nodded, her gaze thoughtful. Aether nodded too!
Then, the Elder turned to Kaelen, "And since he grew up among us, in our land, and found love for our Princess, it is only natural his heart would want to protect our Empire too. The ties of affection cannot be easily unravelled."
Kaelen nodded as well. Aether gave a small, understanding nod in return.
The Elder’s gaze swept to the Archpriestess next, "Since he was given a title in your land and granted the trust and love that co with it, he bears a natural duty to fulfill the affection he received from your people.
He wants to protect you as well."
The Archpriestess nodded in silent agreent. Aether nodded too.
A subtle smile tugged at the Elder’s lips as he opened his arms, his gesture taking in the entire gathering.
"And we... all of us, we need his help. Let speak with absolute frankness—everyone here, in so way, wants to claim him for themselves, do they not? Each of us is trying to pull him from different directions, clinging to him from our own corner. But if we continue like this, it will only break him inside."
At this, the rulers’ eyes averted, so ashad, others unwilling to et Aether’s gaze.
The Elder then fixed his attention on Aether, "And you, Lord Aether... you cannot simply abandon one side for another, can you? I see it in you. You have a gentle, naïve—"
"PFF—" Soone in the group could barely contain their laughter, the unexpected sound breaking the tension for a heartbeat.
The Elder shot a disapproving glance at the group... Soone seed to be stifling laughter, but why now, at such a mont? He shook his head, dismissing the distraction, and returned his focus to Aether.
"You have a gentle and naïve heart, Lord Aether. You didn’t understand what we were all trying to do, so, rather than risk hurting anyone, you simply left the question unanswered. In so ways, I consider that an act of cowardice—"
"OI! How dare you say that!" A furious follower erupted, unable to contain his outrage. But at once, a single soft glance from Aether silenced him.
The man lowered his head, mumbling into his sleeve and pouting.
The Elder, unperturbed, continued, "Please do not mistake my frankness for rudeness. If my words wound you, I beg you to forgive—"
"Please don’t!" Aether interrupted, a gentle smile gracing his lips. "You are soone older than , wiser than . I hope you will always be this frank, Elder. It is a kindness to hear the truth."
[ 1000 AP]
The Elder smiled softly, nodding his head, "See... not everyone would have the heart to accept my words as you do, Lord Aether.
If the Dragon Emperor were here in this hall tonight... I can already imagine the sort of disaster that would follow us. The flas of his wrath are never far behind his pride."
Aether managed a weak smile, shaking his head slightly. "He’s a good man—just a little quick-tempered, that’s all."
The Elder let out a low, knowing chuckle. "Haha... well, perhaps you are right as his friend. In any case, since you cannot decide which of us you want to support most deeply—and even if you left this place, I think we all understand that you would still try to protect us from the shadows.
Which, if we are honest with ourselves, feels almost like we are taking advantage of your nature."
He paused, voice growing softer with respect. "We could offer you riches—treasures enough to fill a hundred vaults—but seeing you as you are now, I know you are not the kind of man to bend your will for a few piles of worthless coins. Your loyalty cannot be bought."
"Pffftt—"
The Elder flinched, blinking in surprise as more laughter rippled through the chamber. His wrinkled gaze landed on several rulers who were struggling to hide their amusent, their hands covering their mouths as if to stifle their laughter.
Were they belittling him? Or simply startled by the bluntness of his words?
The Elder shook his head and pressed on, "So, in a way to respect and truly acknowledge your presence within our Empires... I propose sothing different. Perhaps it would be best if you were to marry into each of our royal lines, uniting us all through you."
He lifted his fingers, silencing the growing uproar before anyone could protest.
"Let finish...
We need your help, and you are not just another wanderer. You are the friend of the Dragon Emperor himself.
If you had wanted to, you could have left us behind and made your life in the Pyra Empire, basking in your friend’s protection as his honoured subject.
But you didn’t. That alone proves—"
He glanced toward the others, his tone firm,
"Lord Aether and the Dragon Emperor are not the sa, despite their friendship.
Their core personality were different.
If we tried to change that, we’d only destroy what makes them strong. The only way to honour who you truly are, Lord Aether, is to give you status in each Empire, so you belong to us all.
And the only path to that, I believe... is marriage."
He turned to Sandra with gentle curiosity, "If you don’t mind, Lady Sandra... I ask you to answer honestly. Why did you choose Aether over the Dragon Emperor?
Surely, he matches your personality better? And please—don’t say it’s only because of your daughter’s love.
Even if that were true, surely you had second thoughts, yes?"
Sandra’s eyes lingered on Aether before she answered, her words coming slow and thoughtful,
"Victor is fire—he blazes too brightly already. To add his fla to ours would bring more ruin than gain.
Aether, on the other hand... he is water. For my daughter, he brings balance—he cools her reckless heart, soothes her when she strays too far. I don’t want my daughter to follow the sa path as I did. I want soone who will protect her, guide her, and watch over her people, even when she cannot. In that, I believe Aether is far more suited than Victor."
The Elder nodded, a smile blooming with genuine satisfaction. "You see, that’s the answer I hoped for. We have all co together not only for Aether’s skills and powers, but for his good heart and steady soul.
So I urge the rulers to consider this: we have been separated for far too long, since the ancient days.
But the world is changing, the Empires are shifting, the very land beneath our feet is reshaping and getting closer... why not we? Now is the ti for us to co together, to unite against the unknown dangers that draw ever closer."
He exhaled, "That is what I wished to say." With that, he eased himself down into his chair, calm and dignified.
Around the table, the rulers glanced at each other, their eyes deep with thought.
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