__________ POV Narration__________
"Ok, I should start this by mentioning that I am technically a native of the Dark Continent." Ashton decided to start things off with that, just in case, some people at the table didn't know about it.
Like the princes. This was the first time most of them heard about such a thing.
"So you're a native of this place?" Asked Camilla with a bit of curiosity in her voice.
"Well, another thing, this isn't the actual dark continent. Just an island somewhere near it. We are technically still in Lake Mobius." Ashton's words came as a surprise for all of the princes.
Cheadle looked at her table a bit and sighed.
"It was a move by the V5, they didn't want such a large loss of life to occur. Actual colonization of the Dark Continent is simply impossible." Some of the princes seemed to accept that quite readily.
But Sevanti, Momoze's mother, wasn't quite as pleased as the rest.
"So the V5 fooled the Kakin Empire to avoid an actual expedition from happening?" Some could basically feel the anger in her voice.
It was almost as if she thought that the V5 was trying to hold back the development of the Kakin Empire.
Cheadle was the one to clear that up for her.
"The V5's purpose was to avoid a great loss of life. Bringing this many people to the actual Dark Continent would lead to all of them dying." Cheadle tried her best to explain things to the somewhat irritated queen.
"There's no way for us to know the results of that... Maybe we would've succeeded." Still, she clung to her pride and refused to admit that the Kakin Empire was really in over its head.
"Oh, there is a way for us to know." This time, Ashton decided to respond to her. He wasn't actually mad at her though, he had somewhat grown over getting mad at people for useless things.
"Even I, a person that has enough strength to erase a mountain in seconds, can only run around and retreat while in the Dark Continent. The beings there are simply on another level. Their numbers are also much greater." He was the one to finally dissuade the queen and calm her down.
He obviously left a few things unsaid. Like the fact that every beast in the Dark Continent wanted him dead and would constantly chase him.
If he wasn't pursued constantly by countless hordes, there wouldn't have been many difficulties in his journey.
"I see..." Sevanti finally remained silent and went back to listening to Ashton's story, like the other princes.
She had just voiced out most of their complaints after all. And the explanation they received was satisfactory enough.
"Well, where should I start? Questions at the end, by the way, ~" So, Ashton started recounting the events of his research, everyone listened silently as they heard of the old scientist's discoveries.
The emotions flaring in the hearts of the people at that meeting ranged from Shock, surprise, fascination... And finally, fear.
Ashton told them about the existence of a race that was once worshipped by humanity. And, after being angered by humanity, that same race sought to destroy humanity, and almost successfully did so.
The old scientist told them of the strength that humans possessed in the past, of the cities that were built.
At this meeting, the people present managed to learn a lot about human history. Things that hadn't even been theorized before.
Ashton finished his tale by talking about the Calamities.
"After all of that, I have concluded what Calamities actually are," Ashton said as he looked around the table. The people were all paying attention to him.
Even Kanzai, had a serious face as he listened to that tale.
"They are either monsters controlled by these 'Gods' or beings that have some type of relation to said gods. Either guarding something for them or trying to off humanity for them." That last definition somewhat riled up Cheadle, she had looked into Calamities extensively after all.
"Well, that's about it really. I welcome any questions now, we have plenty of time." Ashton looked at the people sitting around the table and pondered on their strange reactions.
"S-so everything is connected to these 'gods'? Why exactly are they even target the human race?! For a quarrel that happened in ancient times?!" Momoze was quite angry in her speech.
Ashton just sighed.
"I didn't really mention this, but Nen is basically something they fear. Nen gives humans the capabilities to surpass these 'Gods', they are basically scared of us." Ashton's answer did little to quell Momoze's frustrations.
Ashton hadn't really mentioned a few things to them. He hadn't told them much about the relics he found for that sacrifice. He didn't plan on doing it, but he didn't want anyone to suspect him of trying to do so.
"So... In your journey to explore the Calamities, you ended up uncovering an enemy of humankind that has always existed and we've known nothing about?" One of the members of the Zodiacs spoke up this time, Pyon, the rabbit, was quite confused by what she had heard.
"Indeed!" Ashton didn't mention that he was also seeking information on them. He did tell them about the 'Abyss' incident.
"So... You went through so many dangers... After claiming you'd be fine?" Cheadle said with a grim smirk.
"Well, the Dark Continent isn't really as simple as that. I didn't think that the Calamities would prove to be as difficult as they actually were. Especially, Brion, he was by far the strongest." Ashton answered eloquently to Cheadle's jab.
A few more people decided to ask questions, the meeting continued with Ashton answering as many as possible.
Some of the princes were interested in artefacts in general, asking about them and their similarities to the former national treasure that was used for the Succession War.
Some were just interested in the wildlife of the Dark Continent. Momoze wanted to know more about Ashton's homeland.
The questions themselves lasted more than the story. Something that gave Ashton the feeling that he wasn't the greatest of storytellers.
But the meeting was eventually done. Well, Almost done.
There was only one more question to go.
"What do we do from now on?" The one asking that was a concerned Halkenburg.
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