Darkness.
The darkness within the room was so profound that it seemed as if it was a living entity, cloaking everything within its grasp. It was almost as if it was an intentional effort to maintain the room's secrecy, one that was only granted to the highest echelons of society - the Royals.
The War Table room was undoubtedly the most significant and most private chamber within the Saint Levara, shrouded in mystery and surrounded by myth. As one stepped in, the colossal room loomed large, all-encompassing, and awe-inspiring, with a hushed silence that filled the air, bringing a sense of foreboding to the atmosphere.
A sweet-sounding, cheery voice belonged to none other than the young and enthusiastic Royal recruit, Akane. As she stepped further into the darkness, she could barely make out the shadowy figure of Ghazal, the current captain of the Royals.
"Uhm...Is it supposed to be so dark in here?" she questioned, her voice a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
Ghazal's metallic footsteps echoed throughout the room as he made his way to the center, where the War Table lay dormant. "The War Table hasn't been ignited yet," he explained, placing his hand at the center of the massive steel table. As his hand made contact, the room suddenly burst to life, bathed in an eerie blue light emanating from the table.
The darkness was pervasive, giving way to a single source of illumination - a brilliant holographic map at the center of the room. It displayed the entire kingdom of Setale in such detail that it seemed as if one could reach out and touch each street, alleyway, and building. Every nook and cranny was available for examination, as if the map were a sentient being that could recall every aspect of the kingdom's history.
"Ooh," Akane stated, looking on at the brilliant holographic map of the city. Akane's eyes sparkled with wonder as she gazed at the holographic map. It was as if she held the entire city of Setale in the palm of her hand.
Genichiro watched as she explored the map, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Is this your first time looking at the War Table, Lady Akane?" he asked, his voice low and smooth.
Akane tore her gaze away from the hologram to look up at him, her eyes alight with excitement. "Mhm, it's the first time I've seen anything like this," she replied, her fingers tracing the contours of the map.
For Akane, this was a moment of pure exhilaration. She had spent most of her life trapped in a world where power, money, and fame were out of her reach. But now, standing in this room, with the War Table at her fingertips, she felt a sense of liberation. It was a feeling beyond materialism, a thirst for power more potent than that of water.
She reveled in the feeling of being special.
As she continued to move her hand along the hologram, a rush of adrenaline surged through her veins, the War Table acting as a constant reminder of her position, and her newfound power. She had always felt like an outsider, a nobody, in her previous world. She felt as if her purpose was beyond anything in her last life, but she couldn't reach out and obtain it.
So when she looked down at the War Table, the life she had left behind seemed so far away now. Her family, who had always criticized and belittled her, were nothing but a distant memory. Even Tokita, who had been her closest friend, felt like a distant memory. She had outgrown him, or so she believed.
So, when the opportunity came to abandon all of that, to gain the focus and recognition she so severely craved, she accepted it in a heartbeat.
"So, this is the War Table, huh?" A course said beside Akane, knocking her out of her thoughts.
She turned her gaze to Shu who stood a little ways away from her.
"Correct. This room is accessible only to those deemed worthy enough to stand within the presence of the King." Ghazal stated, stepping to the front of the War Table. "Which is one of the reasons I've brought you and Akane here." He stated, placing his hand on the table as the Hologram shrunk in size significantly, giving them the ability to look at each other clearly.
The lights within the room turned on, turning the room from darkness to a bright, marble-coated room fit for a King.
Ghazal fixed his gaze on the holographic map as he spoke, his voice calm and measured. "I delayed our meeting until both of you had completed your formal introductions, as I have only one thing to say to both of you." He leaned forward slightly, his intense gaze piercing through the dim light. "Our purpose, as the Royals, is different from any other division within the Kingdom of Setale."
Akane furrowed her brows in confusion. "How so?"
Across the table, the woman with silver hair interjected.
"The existence of the divisions, their clear and crucial purpose, is to defend the Kingdom of Setale. Setale is a massive Kingdom, spanning hundreds of miles in every direction, as such, It requires a lot to continue existing. The Knights defend the Kingdom from every and all threats to its people." She stated, her blank stare accompanying the light-blue glint in her eyes.
"Then what makes us different?" Shu asked, placing a hand on his hip and holding his other hand out, expecting an answer.
"They serve the Kingdom, we serve the King." She stated nonchalantly.
"Thank you, Ayenna," Ghazal stated simply.