Kapitel 31: Meeting The Grand Elders
Vael paused at the door, his gaze fixed on the guards. "What do the Grand Elders want with me?" he inquired, his tone laced with curiosity and caution.
One of the guards responded respectfully, "We are not privy to the details, sir. Our orders were simply to escort you."
Vael sighed, weighing his options. "Alright, I'll come, but on one condition," he said firmly, glancing back at Lyria and Elrik. "One of you must stay here and guard the entrance. Ensure that no one enters."
The guards exchanged a quick look before one of them, the smaller one, stepped forward. "I'll stay and guard the door," he volunteered.
"Excellent," Vael acknowledged. Before leaving, he grabbed a hoodie and noticed his dagger on the dresser. Deciding it was prudent to take it along, he tucked it securely by his side.
The journey to the Grand Elders' tower took about ten minutes. The tower itself was an imposing structure, towering over Duskmire, visible from virtually any part of the city. Upon entering, Vael was guided through a series of corridors, finally arriving at a door that led to the meeting room.
Stepping inside, he found himself in a room reminiscent of a courthouse, with five Elysian elders seated in chairs arranged in a semi-circle. Their presence exuded authority and wisdom, and their focused gazes settled on Vael as he entered.
"Hello, Vael. We are glad to see that you are finally awake," said the elder seated in the middle, his voice resonating with a blend of authority and warmth. "My name is Arion. First and foremost, we wish to express our deepest gratitude for your actions. You have saved the Elysian people and freed us from slavery." Vael maintained a steady gaze as he looked at the elders, absorbing their words.
Vael, maintaining his composure, listened intently as Elder Arion spoke. "During your confrontation with Zephyrian, we observed you utilizing the same element as the Sable Serpents. For an Elysian, that's currently impossible. So, we must ask, have you acquired the Prisma element?"
Vael had anticipated this line of questioning. With no intention of deceiving the elders, he confirmed, "Yes, I possess the Prisma element."
"That is remarkable," Elder Arion responded with a nod of approval. "We also observed that your companions, Elrik and Lyria, have access to it. Can you grant others the Prisma element?"
Vael hesitated. He knew that revealing his ability to grant the Prisma element could complicate matters. Deciding to withhold this information for now, he replied, "No, I did not grant them the power. We all acquired it at the same time during the ritual."
"Hmm, interesting," murmured Elder Arion. "Could you elaborate on the ritual?"
"My memory of the event is still hazy," Vael excused himself.
After a brief silence, Arion concluded the meeting. "Thank you, Vael, for your cooperation. You may return home now."
As Vael left the room, the conversation among the elders continued. Cace spoke up, "Arion, you're aware he was not telling us the whole truth?"
Arion took a sip of his drink, replying calmly, "That's fine. In time, his power will be within ours. For now, we'll monitor him and encourage his development."
Another elder, Ivy, suggested, "To expedite his growth, we should consider sending him to the Athenaeum of Shadows library."
Cace, visibly concerned, interjected, "Do you really intend to send the boy to the Athenaeum of Shadows? That place is perilous, not to mention its proximity to the Void territory. It could be a death sentence for him."
Arion, unshaken by the concern, responded thoughtfully, "That risk might be worth taking. If Vael can survive and uncover deeper knowledge about the Prisma element, it could be immensely beneficial to us. We have awaited an opportunity like this for a long time. We must seize it."
"But what if he dies in the process?" Cace pressed, his worry evident.
Arion's expression remained impassive. "If that happens, we still have his friends as alternatives," he stated matter-of-factly. "They, too, possess the Prisma element."
The room fell silent for a moment, weighing the gravity of Arion's words. Finally, Arion made his decision. "It is settled. Ivy, I entrust you with the task of sending Vael to the Athenaeum."
"Thank you, Elder Arion," Ivy replied, a hint of determination in her voice. "I will ensure the boy is convinced to undertake this journey."
Upon returning to his house, Vael noticed the guard still dutifully standing by the door. "Thank you for watching over my home. You can leave now," Vael said. The guard, however, didn't respond and seemed unresponsive, as if lost in a trance. With a nudge from Vael, the guard suddenly shook his head, as though waking from a deep sleep, despite having his eyes open the entire time. A sense of unease crept over Vael.
"Oh, you're back already?" the guard said, regaining his composure. "Well, I guess I'll be on my way then." He departed, leaving Vael with a lingering sense of unease.
Inside, Lyria and Elrik were still unconscious on the sofa, deep in their trial. Vael called out for Moxy, but there was no answer. Concerned, he rushed to his room and found Moxy sleeping on the bed. When he gently touched her, she suddenly woke up, baring her fangs defensively.
"Woah, are you okay, Moxy?" Vael asked, startled.
"Oh, Vael, it's you," Moxy replied, calming down. "I thought a man broke in after you left. But I guess it was just a dream."
Vael's unease deepened. "You didn't hear me calling you?" he questioned.
"No, I don't even remember falling asleep," Moxy admitted, puzzled.
Vael felt something was amiss but couldn't pinpoint what.
Earlier, when Vael departed with the guard, a figure cloaked in a hood approached Vael's house. As he neared the entrance, the guard stationed at the door attempted to intervene. "I'm sorry, no one is allowed in the house," he asserted.
Without a word, the hooded figure extended a finger, gently touching the guard's forehead. The guard's eyes instantly widened, and his voice faltered into silence. He stood frozen, his gaze vacant and unseeing.
The mysterious man entered the house unchallenged. Inside, Moxy, sensing Vael's return, flew towards the door but halted abruptly, realizing the intruder was not Vael. "You're not Vael," she exclaimed, but before she could react further, the man swiftly captured her, placing his finger upon her head. Moxy immediately fell into the same trance-like state as the guard.
The hooded figure then turned his attention to Lyria and Elrik, who were still unconscious on the sofa. Unlike the others, he placed his hand over their chests. A dark, thick and sticky liquid seeped out from his hand, slowly merging into their skin. After completing his task, the man exited the house, leaving behind a haunting stillness.
Geschenke
-- Geschenk
erhalten Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein