The Central Authority
Warden Gideon, tired of waiting in the room without doing anything and without being told anything, started to get angry and curious with each minute that passed:
-What are we gathered in Fort Merit for? Doesn't he know it is really risky to leave all other bases without commanders? This shit will cause a big problem.
Warmaster Shapash, in a blind rage:
-How dare you talk about our holy Sovereign Drallis Ehr like that? Do you think you know more than him? Fucking bastard.
Warden Gideon, seeing Shapash's servile and arrogant behavior got even more furious:
-THEN TELL ME THE REASON BEHIND IT YOU DAMN DOG! IS IT MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE AUTHORITY'S RULERSHIP ACROSS THE LUMEN? AND IF SO WHY THE FUCK IS HE NOT AROUND? WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?!
Warmaster Shapash, annoyed by Gideon's childish actions decided to stop arguing:
-Tsk.
Warden Jericho, his voice steady and loud:
-Your rage is meaningless Gideon. If Drallis Ehr learns the way you act when he is not around, you will get beheaded. So, you better know your place, foolish young.
Warden Gideon, finally calmed down:
-Did he tell you guys anything about the main goal of this gathering?
Warmaster Zarathos, knowingly:
-No, he probably didn't tell anyone.
Warmaster Thalric, his voice strong and confident:
-No.
Warden Balthazar:
-No, if he didn't tell any of us, then it is probably something that should've been kept as a secret from anyone other than the people in this room.
Warden Jericho:
-I know why he gathered us.
Warden Gideon:
-THEN TELL U-
The tension in the room was palpable, with the Warden's and Warmaster's whispered arguments escalating into loud confrontations. The heavy oak door at the end of the hall suddenly swung open with a resounding crash, causing the room to fall into an abrupt silence. The air seemed to grow thicker, as if every molecule recognized the presence that had entered.
Drallis Ehr, the Sovereign of the Central Authority, stepped into the room. His towering figure was cloaked in a dark, regal robe, intricately adorned with symbols of the Celestials. His eyes, cold and piercing, scanned the room with a mixture of disdain and impatience. A quiet murmur of fear rippled through the assembled commanders.
Drallis Ehr, his voice dripping with contempt, addressed the room: -What are you rats arguing about? Did I gather you to squabble in my holy palace? Did you come here to bicker in the home of Celestials?
The room remained silent, the weight of Drallis's power and authority crushing any remaining traces of defiance. Warden Gideon, his earlier bravado evaporating under Drallis's withering gaze, felt a cold sweat bead on his forehead.
Drallis Ehr continued, his voice now laced with a cruel edge:
-Tell me, Gideon, my little rat, how do you have the audacity to mention my name without a word of respect?
Gideon's fear was visible in his eyes, his voice trembling. He fell on his knees in front of Drallis' begging for his forgiveness.
Gideon, trembling, fell to his knees, his voice a barely audible whisper: -I-I'm sorry, our Holy Savior and Sovereign Drallis Ehr. It won't happen again. Please have mercy on my uneducated and foolish soul.
Warden Jericho, stepping forward with a calm yet firm tone, interceded:
-Holy Sovereign, for once, I want you to spare the young and fool. I will take care of him if he dares to speak like that again.
Drallis Ehr regarded Jericho with a cold, calculating look before nodding slightly:
-If you say so, Jericho. But if I catch him doing anything like that again, he won't be the only one who gets beheaded.
Jericho bowed his head in acquiescence, but a flicker of anger flashed in his eyes. Gideon, still on his knees, felt his pride shatter into countless pieces. The only reason he was still alive was thanks to Jericho's intervention.
Drallis Ehr:
-You might be wondering the reason why I gathered you all again after almost ten years.
As he began to speak, Jericho's mind drifted back to their last conversation…
-Let me explain. So, to our knowledge, there will be a battle between Lord Regent and Maestro Evengarde Rest in a few days for the throne and the power to rule the Etrean Kingdom.
This is our only chance to interfere, and get the chance to conquer Etrea by killing the winner right after their battle, weakened.
Warden Balthazar asked curiously:
-If it's going to be like that, then why aren't we just sending one of the wardens or warmasters to do it?
Warden Jericho:
*Your inquisitive personality will cause your death one day, Balthazar. You wouldn't want to know what is actually going on if you had even a tiny bit of knowledge about it. This is nothing but the Fallen Celestial's desire for retribution against the Drowned Gods. They are willing to kill all of us without thinking twice for the sake of gaining their pride back after that day.* thought to himself.
Drallis Ehr:
-Oh? Someone is way too curious… But Balthazar, how dare you ask questions that have no meaning? Do you really think you know more than me?
Warden Balthazar:
-I didn't mean to imply any meaning like that, forgive my foolish actions, please.
Drallis Ehr, growing impatient, continued:
-I'm tired of your rookie mistakes. You two wouldn't be no Warden if we didn't lose against Etrea last time. Balthazar and Gideon, you two are nothing but just some temporary fillers for those positions.
His voice grew darker as he shifted the subject:
-What I also want to talk about is the death of Eylis, and the fall of The Knives of Eylis.
Warmaster Shapash, who had been deeply in love with Eylis, reacted with grief and rage:
-WHAT?! HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? HOW DID SHE DIE?!? WHO DID THAT?
Drallis Ehr's expression softened slightly, acknowledging Shapash's pain:
-I understand your pain, Shapash. So I want something different from you. I want you to take revenge of Eylis and be the new head of The Knives. I want you to kill the Merit Slayer, who slaughtered many of our soldiers and A ROYAL COMMANDER. HOW DARE HE KILL OUR FUTURE HOLY SAVIOR!? IT ALL HAPPENED BECAUSE OF YOU ALLS SLOTHINESS! YOU ARE THE REASON OF ALL OF THESE! ARGHH!
Warden Jericho:
*Just as I thought, he is nothing like before. TSK! HOW DARE THEY TAKE MY BROTHER LIKE THIS?!*
The room was filled with a heavy silence, the weight of Drallis's words sinking in. Shapash, tears streaming down his face, vowed:
-FIRST OUR ROYAL COMMANDER AND NOW MY BELOVED EYLIS! I WILL FUCKING DESTROY HIM! I WILL FUCKING BEHEAD HIS MUTILIATED BODY!
Warden Jericho:
*This isn't really heartwarming. These warmasters are nothing different than Drallis himself too. FUCK IT HOW DID WE COME TO THIS POINT?!*
The sight of Drallis's commanding presence brought back memories of their last conversation as brothers, a time before the weight of the Celestials' influence had twisted Drallis into the man he had become.