Chapter 18: The Suspicions
Dian stood outside the hall, feeling a mix of curiosity and unease. He had hoped that by explaining his situation, he would clear any suspicions surrounding him and his presence in this world. However, he found himself excluded from the ongoing discussion as the elders deliberated his peculiar existence and the revelation about Nina being the child of Aravati. It puzzled Dian why they had specifically asked Sura and Nina to remain inside while he was left outside.
Eager to glean any information, Dian strained his ears, attempting to eavesdrop on the heated discussion taking place behind the closed door. But despite his efforts, the muffled voices remained elusive, shrouded within the confines of the chamber.
The only thing he could do in the end was wait outside as the discussion got heated in the Elder's hall.
A tense atmosphere settled over the room as the Elders engaged in a heated debate. Their voices clashed with accusations and doubts, questioning the validity of Dian's claims. Skepticism hung heavy in the air, and the weight of uncertainty pressed upon their shoulders.
The Elder's eyes narrowed, their expressions hardened with suspicion. "How can we believe anything he says?" one of them demanded, his voice laced with skepticism. The doubt continued to linger, as another Elder chimed in, questioning the possibility of Dian possessing a skill that could bypass Talfen's oracle.
Talfen, visibly frustrated, shook his head in response. "If he possessed such a skill, my oracle spell would have simply disregarded his existence, rendering him inconsequential. But that was not the case. I can confirm that he does not possess any resistance to my spell. He could either be exceptionally cunning or speaking the truth."
The room erupted with conflicting opinions, a cacophony of voices clashing against each other. Amidst the chaos, one Elder's anger surged, his accusatory tone directed at Talfen. He questioned the veracity of the situation, suggesting that Talfen might be deceiving them due to the personal connection between Dian and his daughter.
Talfen's gaze sharpened with a mix of defiance and resentment. His voice carried a hint of hostility as he defended himself against the accusations. "I may be the youngest Elder in our clan, but do not doubt my loyalty when it comes to my duty. My love for my daughter does not overshadow my commitment to our clan. I would willingly lay down my life before forsaking my responsibilities as an Elder."
The room grew silent as the Grand Elder took control of the situation, his authoritative presence commanding the attention of all present. With a subtle motion of his hand, he silenced the escalating arguments among the Elders, restoring a semblance of order. He then have a nod towards Talfen and he stood ready, his oracle spell poised to detect any falsehood in her words. The weight of their decision hung in the balance.
Turning his attention to Sura, the Grand Elder sought her perspective on the matter at hand. His eyes locked onto hers, conveying a sense of importance and expectation. "Sura," he began, his voice steady and firm, "what is your impression of this man, Dian?"
Sura took a moment to collect her thoughts, her gaze shifting between the Elders and the Grand Elder. She weighed her words carefully, aware of the significance her response held. "Dian is... dependable," she began, her voice tinged with a hint of hesitation. "But I don't believe he is entirely selfless. While he did come to our aid, it was clear that he had ulterior motives. He openly admitted that he helped us in exchange for information. He prioritized obtaining knowledge over rescuing my pupil, Nina, until he received the answers he sought."
Curiosity piqued, the Grand Elder pressed further, seeking clarification. "And what was this information that he desired so urgently?" he inquired, his eyes fixed upon Sura, waiting for her response.
"He wanted to know our location, the geographical features of the land, and whether there were any settlements or communities nearby," Sura answered, her voice unwavering. She conveyed Dian's intent without embellishment, allowing the Elders to grasp the true nature of his motivations.
The room fell into a contemplative silence as the Grand Elder processed the information shared by Sura. His brows furrowed, reflecting the weight of his thoughts. Slowly, he posed another question, seeking a deeper understanding of the situation. "When you provided him with the information he sought, how did he react?"
Sura took a breath, her voice steady as she recounted the events. "He took a moment to consider his options, weighing the decision of whether to help us or not. Eventually, he realized that a search and rescue party would be sent for both me and Nina if we did not return promptly. It was at that point that he chose to assist us."
The Grand Elder's expression tightened, his features revealing a mixture of concern and contemplation. "So, he was motivated by self-interest rather than pure benevolence," he murmured, his words carrying a tinge of curiosity. The attentive audience absorbed his every word, aware of the significance of his analysis.
The Grand Elder paused, allowing his thoughts to settle before continuing. "It seems that our initial perception of him as a kind-hearted individual may have been misguided," he declared, his voice resonating with a tone of realization. "If he was merely a Level One or Two when he dispatched the creatures without experiencing any emotional recoil, it suggests that he has likely taken lives before. Our own members, even those at Level 5 and beyond, struggle with the burden of ending another's life. It takes time and repeated exposure to such acts to desensitize oneself to that weight."
The weight of the Grand Elder's words lingered in the air, causing the entire hall to descend into a hushed silence before he continued. "Which means that no matter what he did, He shouldn't be a level 1 or a level 2 when he was teleported here, What do you think Sura?" All eyes turned expectantly towards Sura, awaiting her response to the Grand Elder's question. Sura felt a surge of uncertainty within her, knowing that her answer held great significance. She took a moment to gather her thoughts, realizing that honesty was her only option, regardless of the potential consequences.
"I... I thought exactly the same, Grand Elder," Sura admitted, her words filled with honesty. "Considering his abilities and the way he handled himself, he shouldn't be a mere Level 1 or Level 2. If anything, he should be closer to a Level 10."
The silence in the hall deepened, the tension becoming almost tangible. Every eye was fixed on Sura and Talfen, waiting for any sign of deceit or confirmation of the truth. Talfen, feeling the weight of the gazes upon him, spoke up swiftly, seeking to alleviate any doubt.
"She speaks the truth," Talfen declared, his voice firm and unwavering. He could feel the scrutiny of the room, but he remained resolute in his support of Sura's statement. He understood the importance of honesty in such critical matters.
"I see," the grand elder mused, transitioning seamlessly into his next line of inquiry. "Then that leads me into the next question of the day, Sura, you gave him one of our Botanist Skill Orbs. I understand your motive was survival, and I will grant you leniency for parting with the skill orb. However, are you certain it was a mere basic Botanist skill orb?"
Sura, catching her breath, responded affirmatively, while Talfen, a prominent figure, nodded in silent confirmation. The grand elder, intrigued by this revelation, allowed his thoughts to marinate before interjecting with a touch of perplexity.
"Then his mysteriousness grows," the grand elder confessed, his words shrouded in a hint of bewilderment. This unexpected twist caught Sura and Nina off guard, their faces etched with confusion and curiosity.
"Pardon my interruption," Sura interjected, her eagerness to unravel the enigma palpable. "But what exactly do you mean by that?"
The grand elder, momentarily disoriented, took a moment to regain his composure. He offered a sympathetic smile as he found clarity in his own train of thought.
"Ah," he sighed, as if a puzzle piece had finally fallen into place. "Well, I assume you do not possess the skills of a botanist yourself."
Sura shook her head, confirming the grand elder's assumption.
"That's why," the grand elder explained, his smile tinged with a sense of helplessness. "Listen carefully, my dear, for even an individual of level 5 prowess would find it near impossible to acquire as many as three Golden Karyda fruits with a mere level 1, Basic Botanist skill."
Sura's shock reverberated through her being as the grand elder continued his revelation, each word landing with an impact that rippled through the silent hall. "Yet," the grand elder's voice carried a mixture of astonishment and intrigue, "he, a mere level 2 possessing a basic level 1 Botanist skill, managed to discover not just one or two, but an astounding five Golden Karyda fruits."
The weight of this revelation settled upon the gathering of Elders, their expressions a canvas of contemplation as they grappled with the implications of this extraordinary feat. The air in the hall grew heavy with anticipation, pregnant with unanswered questions that hung in the silence.
Breaking the stillness, the grand elder summoned Talfen once again, seeking confirmation or refutation of Dian's claims. The elder's voice resonated with authority as he addressed Talfen directly, hoping for a shred of clarity amidst the enigma. "No, grand elder," Talfen responded with unwavering certainty, his voice carrying the weight of truth. "I had my oracle activated throughout his entire testimony. He was speaking the truth when he stated that he possessed only two skills and one Demon Armament—a Basic level 1 Carving and Botanist skill, along with the Bone blade armament on his arm, specifically obtained from the sub-species of Demon hares known as Bladed Demon Hares."
The grand elder reclined in his chair, his mind grappling with the pieces of this intricate puzzle. His voice, laced with a mixture of confusion and realization, muttered almost to himself, "He didn't mention anything about slaying a sub-species of demon hares..."
Straightening his posture, the grand elder refocused his attention on the assembled Elders, "Here's my verdict." The grand Elder said as there was a small commotion between the other Elders.
A sudden interruption shattered the grand elder's momentum, as one of the Elders bravely interjected, demanding their voices be heard. "Wait, Grand Elder, you haven't asked for our opinions!" the Elder asserted, seeking to reclaim a sense of democratic deliberation.
However, the grand elder's response was swift and dismissive, brushing aside the Elder's objection with a wave of his hand. His tone carried an undercurrent of condescension as he belittled their opinions, deeming them unworthy of attention in comparison to the intriguing enigma presented by the young boy they had just encountered. "Oh, shush now," he retorted, his words dripping with disdain. "Your opinions are not as interesting as that of the boy we have just met."
Undeterred by dissenting voices, the grand elder proceeded to deliver his verdict, his words echoing through the hall. "We shall accept him into our academy," he declared with a decisive tone. "Considering he is a level 2 who has slain a sub-species variant of the Demon hare, I propose his admission into the Master's level system of our esteemed academy. He shall be granted full access to our library and bestowed with all the ranks and privileges afforded to members of our esteemed Hunters guild."
The silence that followed was not one of agreement or affirmation, but rather a hesitant acquiescence. The Elders, aware of the doubts and reservations lingering in their minds, chose to remain silent. It was not a show of unanimous consent, but rather a collective decision to preserve their own reputations and avoid challenging the grand elder's authority.
A sudden objection shattered the prevailing silence, commanding the attention of everyone in the hall. All eyes turned towards the source, and to their surprise, it was Sura who had spoken up. She knelt down on one knee in the center of the grand assembly, a symbol of her dissent.
The grand elder, initially taken aback by the objection, couldn't help but respond with a touch of sarcasm. "Oh, and here I thought nobody would have the audacity to reject my completely insane verdict," he remarked, his disappointment palpable as he glanced between the other elders before focusing his attention on Sura, his expression tinged with a sense of curiosity. "Tell me, child, what do you believe is wrong with my verdict?"
Sura, unwavering in her conviction, respectfully presented her counterproposal while remaining in her kneeling position. "I suggest admitting him to the expert level system of the academy instead of the Master level system," she began, her voice carrying a note of caution. "Furthermore, I propose limiting his access to only the basic level of the library. However, I have no objections to his designation within the Hunter Guild."
The grand elder, intrigued by Sura's perspective, sought further clarification. "And why do you propose such adjustments, child?" he inquired, his curiosity mingled with a hint of amusement.
Sura's response revealed a keen insight into the grand elder's intentions. "Because we cannot place complete trust in him," she explained, her words measured yet resolute. "And since we can't trust him, we can't trust him admitted to being a weak individual." Sura had seen through the scheme of the Grand Elder, he was going to monitor all of Dian actions and make judgements or punishments from that, worst case scenario, he would be turned as a lab rat for the Grand Elder to do whatever he wants. Sura couldn't help but tell herself that she was even with him for saving her life with this favor.
"Sounds interesting, Let's do that." The grand Elder said as he clapped his hand before continuing, "Now then, let's talk about Nina and her being the child of Aravati…"
As the discussion unfolded, the focus gradually shifted towards determining the appropriate treatment for Nina. The Elders deliberated on the matter, recognizing the significance of her lineage as the possible child of Aravati. It became clear that extra attention and resources should be allocated to her once her parentage was definitively established. The Elders acknowledged that they could not afford to overlook someone as special as Nina and, therefore, needed to exercise utmost caution and thoroughness in their investigation.
After the intense exchange within the Elder's hall, Sura and Nina were eventually granted permission to depart. As they stepped outside, they were met by the figure of Dian, awaiting their presence.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
FreiPixelz
FreiPixelz Hello everyone! Sorry about the late update, sadly I have exams in about a week so I won't be able to update more occasionally for now till approx the next month, Don't worry though as my previous schedule will return when my exams are finished.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone