Ilse was sending out commands to activate the High Command of her military, they were quickly responding with affirmations about the War-Room being prepared and that they would be gathering immediately. They had, things to discuss.
With a nod she turned, "My boy, please take these." She took out a pair of pants designed for growth, specifically for drastic "Giant" growth. They were a lifeless gray, but it was all she had.
Ymir grabbed the shorts quickly and was smiling, "Thank you, I completely forgot about wearing anything!" He froze for a moment, realizing what he said and then continued as though nothing had happened.
She briefly let a mask of apathy wash over her, then nodded. It seemed she had mistaken something fundamental.....'Perhaps Arthur was right.' Her boy was too different, too strong, it's just so unlikely and she didn't know if she could accept the truth.
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They were walking down a long corridor, paintings and displays littered the place. Ymir could see the different plaques and could actually read them fully, "In remembrance to those that have fallen, We Thank You!" A painting could be seen of a battlefield labeled, "The First Omirian War."
"Wow, that is a lot of blood." He walked closely behind his mother as they went around corners and he felt her demeanor slightly change. She was morphing into a monster.
"Fear not. This is necessary." She looked back for a moment before pushing a set of doors open.
Ymir looked in awe as the doors seemed to be transposed onto reality, if this were a game, he would report this immediately, the clipping was weird, it was...
"Do not stare into the Void Qi, son." He heard a whisper from his side and noticed his father appear next to him.
Ymir turned to see and smiled widely and said, "Thanks dad." Then they slowly strode into the room.
Once they appeared, many people stood in an organized panic.
"My Queen, we await your orders. We are gathering the 1st-15th Regiments. Who are we destroying." The larger man was smirking with rage on his face, he clearly enjoyed this.
Then as the next person to stand began to speak they were interrupted, "There may yet be War. I request all of you to leave this room for the time being. We will speak after my family is prepared."
A few were upset and stopped filling out requisition forms, but they all nodded and swiftly left the room.
Ymir noticed the strange looks he was given, some joyful, some hateful.
'Talent might be important here. I might have to work twice as hard...'
He turned to see his mother sit at the head of the table.
"My son. Please." She gestured at the chair opposing her. This was weird, he knew he wasn't misreading the awkwardness he felt while walking here, this is deliberate, perhaps a test?
He pulled the chair and noticed it was very heavy, he muttered, "The heck is this made of?" and began to sit as he was answered, "That is Orichalcum, one of the strongest metals known to the Civilized Races."
His mother was smirking, "It is pretty heavy! Isn't it!" He chuckled at the sarcasm and his father laughed but was smacked hard by his mother. She...wasn't playing? Then she continued.
"Yes. It IS heavy. That chair weighs 4,000 pounds." He blanched at the number and she squinted, "But you wouldn't understand what that means, right?" He felt the eyes of a predator befall him.
His father sighed, "Love, please just ask it." He was smiling and was a contrast to her.
She huffed and nodded, "Who are you." She sighed and looked pained for a moment before gesturing him to speak.
He looked confused and muttered, "I am Ymir Frostborne?"
The temperature plummeted. Wrong answer.
"No." She sighed, "You are not a child. You clearly are not as good as you think you are at subterfuge, but by the combat proficiency, I would say you are Bjorn Stormblood, Second High King of Giants." She smirked and shrugged, "Just tell us. Who. Are. You."
Ymir began to sweat, "I am not, that idiot." He shook his head, the fool led his forces into battle where he KNEW they had fortifications. It was so stupid. Was beheaded and placed on a pike.
Ilse smirked.
"My name is Amir Haddad, I am from a different world, clearly." He looked around and noticed a huge Dragon's head hanging above him.
She squinted and frowned, "That is the story you are going with?"
He shrugged, "It is true. I don't know why, how, where, what, or who I am. Wait, I know who I am." He smirked and she did not find it funny in the slightest.
He looked at his father who was smiling, "Does this happen often?"
Arthur teetered his hand, "More than you would think, less than someone would expect." He was taking this well.
Ymir could feel the coldness return, "How did you figure it out?" he was leaning forward on his elbows.
She laughed, "It is pretty obvious once the thought enters your mind. You don't act like a giant, not even a little bit. You hardly even punched in the womb. But we thought it was the human side of you making your more tame." She shook her head, "Clearly the incident in the Rite of War shows you to be the opposite, then the intelligence. The intelligence score is remarkable for a Youngling, or would be if you were one. Then the content of the essay was suspected by Nika as being "perfect," She scoffed, "That woman has never said anything was perfect." She squinted, "But what gave it away was you being fearful of me. You felt terror at your own mother...I thought it might be because you figured out the hierarchy with in Giant culture, but no. You were too..knowledgeable and too oblivious to your own blunders, like the pants. " She looked heartbroken, "That was difficult for me to realize. But I am not a fool." The hard glare was on her face, she was very upset.
She sighed and Arthur placed his hand on her shoulder, "We are NOT stupid. You may have been powerful enough to escape the afterlife, but you are not..."
She nearly broke down and slammed the table, "Please. Why are you here? Why are you not our son?"
Tears were falling and her face was becoming red.
"Can I tell you what I had planned on telling you?" He whispered and she nodded once, "My name is Amir, I was an ER Nurse up in Atlanta, Georgia for a short time. I have read about places like this, worlds were magic and qi is real." He sighed, "Usually when the main character tells the people around him he is reincarnated or transmigrated, it goes terribly wrong. So, they hide it. They "play along" and they slowly get power and use their "otherworldly" knowledge to their advantage in some way." he shook his head, "I liked those fantasy stories, but I WILL NOT be like them. They are cold, ruthless, killers. They would do whatever it takes, they should be called the villians, honestly."
The two were watching silently, "But, what I learned coming here, is that I don't ever want to be like them. I would be a weakling with a family any day of the week. They hold onto their secrets and forge alliances within their family to prevent being back-stabbed, it is terrible." He laughed, "It is entertaining, but terrible. Who would want to be judged by the talent they show? Fools in power, corruption, and lack of law. How can anyone live in a world like that? It is terrible. The protagonists use anyone they can, they have to 'defeat the young masters' after all." He laughed, "What a joke." Then placed his head on the table.
The soft mumbles could barely be heard, "I thought I could get ahead of this by just talking to you, but I can understand your anger. I just wish I could have told you first." He felt a tear run down and hang off his cheek.
He dreaded the question, but asked anyways, "Am I going to die now?" He lifted his face to show bloodshot eyes and streams down his face.
Suddenly a rift appeared, Ilse jumped and Brilliant Icicles formed as she yelled, "WHO ARE YOU!" They radiated power in an instant, it was like being inside a frozen volcano.
"Relax, nephew. Niece-in-law, it nice to see you." An older gentleman stepped through, "I have been watching from the Void." He looked at Amir, "And my, my, my. Aren't you special." He smiled widely.
Arthur dropped his guard and waved Ilse down.
The old man stepped lightly, "I can sense your soul. It is not of this plane." He nodded, "You speak the truth, boy." He waved his hand and the energy disappeared, "Please. Control your Qi, it is unsightly and may damage the boy." He glared at Arthur and Ilse.
Then he smiled and broke from the hardass persona, "Come here my boy, how are you!" Arthur dropped the tense face and ran over like a child.
Amir was extremely confused at the interaction between his father and his..great uncle? Ilse was glaring at them and frowning.
Arthur tried to crush the man with all of his cultivation and could barely get the man to exhale, "My boy, you are getting strong!" He smiled widely and smacked Arthur on the back, dropping him instantly.
They laughed at the shenanigans and Arthur offered him a seat.
The man laughed and took in the room.
"Now, grand nephew, please continue your tale." He had a gleam in his eye, he was loving this. The world went dark.