The room felt alive with unspoken tension, the kind that crawled under the skin and made every sound sharper, every breath heavier. The nine Radiant-rankers sat in a semicircle, each a titan in their own right, their combined presence an oppressive force. At the center of it all, I stood, their gazes fixed on me as though they could peel away my very essence.
Valen Ashbluff's black eyes scrutinized me from his seat, his presence heavy as the mountains his family ruled. Leopold Astoria sat with his hands folded, his expression unreadable, but the calculated gleam in his eyes betrayed his thoughts. Selene Kagu's shadowed gaze rested on me, quiet and contemplative, while Marcus Viserion's stormy aura flickered faintly, reflecting his unease. Arden Windward leaned back, his icy demeanor colder than usual.
But not all of them looked at me with suspicion. Alastor Creighton's expression was sharp and unwavering, his sapphire eyes almost daring anyone to cross me. Mo Zenith, ever radiant and serene, exuded quiet confidence, his support palpable without a word needing to be spoken. Quinn Slatemark tapped his fingers against the arm of his chair, his scarlet eyes thoughtful but not accusing. And then there was Charlotte, her gaze steady, a flicker of mischief in her emerald eyes as though she found the situation more amusing than dire.
"Arthur Nightingale," Leopold began, his smooth, commanding voice cutting through the heavy silence. "You have been summoned here to address your connection to Alyssara Velcroix, the Cult Leader of the Red Chalice. Her actions concerning you—particularly the delivery of Eva Lopez's body and the gift of the Legendary-grade artifact Nyxthar—raise troubling questions."
His words lingered in the air like the toll of a bell, deliberate and foreboding.
I took a deep breath. "I understand why you've summoned me," I said evenly. "But I must be clear: I have no alliance with Alyssara Velcroix, nor do I condone her actions. Her interest in me is unsolicited and unwelcome."
"And yet," Selene interjected, her voice soft but sharp as a blade, "her fixation on you cannot be ignored. A Radiant-ranker delivered to you as a corpse. Nyxthar handed over as though you were her protégé. What explanation do you have?"
"None," I admitted, turning to meet her gaze without flinching. "If I knew her reasons, I would share them. But Alyssara's motives are her own, and I have no control over them."
"Do you truly expect us to believe that?" Valen asked, his dark eyes narrowing. "Her actions paint you as central to her plans. Whether or not you wish it, you are entangled with her."
Before I could respond, Alastor's voice cut through the rising tension, firm and unyielding. "And what exactly has Arthur done to earn this scrutiny, other than survive her games?" His silver eyes swept over the room. "Arthur has fought for humanity time and again. He is no ally of Alyssara Velcroix. To suggest otherwise, without evidence, is not only reckless but divisive."
Mo Zenith nodded, his radiant aura soothing the charged atmosphere. "Arthur's record speaks for itself. He has done nothing but protect this world, often at great personal cost. We would do well to remember that Alyssara thrives on chaos. Casting doubt on our own plays directly into her hands."
Quinn leaned forward, his fingers pausing their tapping. "I agree. Alyssara's games are meant to divide us. Arthur has done more than enough to earn our trust. Let us not turn him into a scapegoat because we fear what we do not understand."
"And yet," Selene countered, her voice as calm as it was cutting, "we cannot ignore the implications of her actions. If Arthur truly has no connection to her, why him?"
Charlotte chuckled softly, breaking the mounting tension. "Maybe she likes him," she said, her tone light but her words pointed. "After all, who wouldn't? He's infuriatingly competent, and that tends to draw attention."
A few of the Radiant-rankers glanced at her, their expressions ranging from bemusement to mild annoyance, but her words had defused some of the tension.
"Enough," Valen rumbled, his voice like rolling thunder. "Arthur will remain under observation. If Alyssara's interest in him is a threat, we will address it. But until then, we will not act rashly."
Leopold inclined his head, a gesture of agreement, though his eyes remained calculating. Selene said nothing, her gaze still fixed on me as though trying to see something beyond the surface. Marcus's stormy aura flickered faintly but subsided, and Arden's icy expression betrayed no hint of his thoughts.
__________________________________________________________________________________
The room was a tempest of tension, with words sharp as blades clashing in the confined space. Alastor Creighton stood with arms crossed, his sapphire blue eyes narrowed into thin slits as he stared down the other Radiant-rankers. The air around him seemed charged, his displeasure palpable.
"I still don't think we needed this gathering to discuss just Arthur," he said, his voice cutting through the din with a commanding clarity.
Mo Zenith, ever serene but no less formidable, inclined his head in agreement. "Nor do I. The boy has proven himself time and time again. He is not on her side."
Valen Ashbluff scoffed, his golden hair catching the light as he leaned forward. "You've gone soft, Creighton. Both of you. Are you so dazzled by his talent? Or is this simply because your daughters have fallen for him?"
Quinn Slatemark's scarlet eyes darkened, his tone cold as winter frost. "Mind your words, Valen."
But Valen was unrepentant, his voice a low growl. "I freely admit it: Arthur is a talent that can dominate this world. Even I was impressed by his potential. But that's precisely why we cannot let our guard down. Alyssara gave him Magnus's sword—Nyxthar, of all things. If you cannot see the danger in that, you're blinded by sentimentality."
"I agree," Arden Windward said, his tone measured yet firm. "While I don't believe Arthur is actively working with her, the situation demands scrutiny. To ignore the implications would be reckless."
Selene Kagu, her shadowed gaze cutting through the room, nodded. "They're right, and you know it. Don't let your personal ties cloud your judgment. Alyssara's actions don't make sense unless she's using him for something."
The air stilled, the weight of her words lingering. Alastor's expression darkened, but before he could respond, the room itself seemed to shift. A ripple in space, almost imperceptible, heralded the arrival of a new presence.
And then, with a whisper of power, he stepped into view.
Tiamat.
The Radiant Dragon.
His long, fiery red hair cascaded down his back like molten magma, and his presence was a quiet roar of restrained might. His every movement spoke of ancient power, tightly coiled and barely held in check. The Radiant-rankers bowed their heads slightly, acknowledging the dragon's supremacy even as their pride bristled at it.
"Tiamat," they greeted in unison, their voices tinged with respect. But Valen's eyes narrowed, his expression betraying a simmering frustration. Even now, standing on the edge of mid Radiant-rank, he could not truly perceive Tiamat's strength.
Tiamat's emerald gaze swept across the room, his voice calm but carrying the weight of ages. "I cannot explain everything, but Arthur is not on Alyssara's side. Of that, you can be certain."
Marcus Viserion straightened, his usually confident tone faltering slightly. "And Alyssara herself? What do we make of her? What game is she playing?"
Tiamat's expression darkened, his usual calm giving way to something more bitter. "She is... truly a problem."
Quinn's sharp voice cut through the room like a whip. "Then why don't you deal with her yourself? You claim to be the Guardian of the South. Are you going to hide behind excuses about not being able to use your full power, again?"
Marcus bristled, glaring at Quinn for his insolence, but Tiamat raised a hand, silencing any retort. He met Quinn's challenging gaze with his own, unflinching.
"I cannot," he said, his voice heavy with finality.
Selene leaned forward, her expression hard. "Then send us. Your mastery of space magic far surpasses ours. If we coordinate—"
"You won't kill her," Tiamat interrupted, his voice as cold and unyielding as iron. "Not all of you together."
A stunned silence followed his words. Alastor broke it, his tone sharp and incredulous. "What are you saying, Tiamat?"
The Radiant Dragon's emerald eyes bore into them, unflinching. "The level Alyssara Velcroix has reached..." He paused, his gaze dropping momentarily as if reluctant to speak. "Even if I were to regain my full power, I would not be confident in defeating her."
The weight of his admission struck the room like a thunderclap. For a moment, even the prideful Valen was silenced, his dark eyes widening.
Mo, always the voice of reason, finally spoke, his tone steady. "Then what do we do?"
Tiamat looked up, his gaze fierce and unyielding. "You do what you can. You grow stronger. Because the games Alyssara is playing… they aren't just about Arthur, or even us. They're about the future of this entire world."
The room fell into a heavy silence, each Radiant-ranker retreating into their own thoughts. And for the first time in centuries, the strongest in the world felt the cold grip of fear.