Suddenly, the room fell silent as every gaze fixed on THEM with unwavering focus.
The change in atmosphere hinted at a certain emotion their Overlord wanted to express.
And it was conveyed to them without words.
"This is an order," THEY commanded, THEIR voice slicing through the quiet like a blade as an oppressive aura seeped into the atmosphere, filling every corner of the chamber.
The weight of THEIR words was palpable; this was no casual decree, but a rare glimpse into THEIR seriousness.
-Swahhhhhhh…
A cold sweat trickled down some faces, while others stood rigid, breathing only shallowly.
Even the First Monarch and the existence closest to an omnipotent, omniscient god, usually lighthearted and carefree, knelt without hesitation, her head bowed in solemn respect.
One by one, others followed, each lowering themselves in quiet submission, awaiting THEIR words with a reverence that bordered on fear.
"Whatever happens," THEY paused right after their first few words, and an earth-shaking pressure descended upon the entire palace.
-Zhaaaaaaaaaa…!
It was overwhelming, powerful enough to obliterate anything in its path—except the throne on which THEY sat.
Impossibly, not a scratch marred the throne's crystalline surface.
This throne symbolised THEIR countless victories, forged from the remains of every formidable being THEY had defeated: kings, emperors, angels, demons, archangels, gods, creatures from the void, and even the primordial creator of all things. To sit upon it was to embody supremacy itself, an authority no other could claim.
They were the supreme, most important existence of that world. And right now, they were showing their seriousness…
-Oooooooooong!
But this level of gravity was still an uncommon sight, and the ones kneeling knew THEIR next words would be the highest of commands. To defy THEM now would be unbelievably dumb.
"I will say it again. Whatever happens…" THEIR voice carried a bone-deep finality, and a faint chorus of gulps broke the silence. When THEY repeated THEMSELF, it elevated the command to the utmost level, a boundary THEY seldom crossed, only ever giving THEIR followers three chances before consequences followed.
"When I return, don't come to me or acknowledge me until I permit it. Until I say otherwise, I am not alive to you."
The pronouncement struck them hard. Very hard…
"My lord…?!"
"How… how can we?!"
They all wanted to shout out those words, but the words that they had stayed stuck in their mouths.
They wanted to speak, but they could not.
The consequences of doing so were just too dire, so they abstained.
They understood they would be bound to this order, and to ignore it would be to court a wrath they dared not imagine.
Even the First Monarch, despite her loyalty, dared not protest. Whatever THEIR reasons for this self-imposed exile after reincarnation, they could only nod in sorrowful acceptance, the weight of their compliance clear on their faces.
This was an absolute order, and the harshness of it wasn't lost on any of them. The thought of being denied THEIR presence, possibly for centuries, was a punishment in itself. They could only wonder how long THEIR absence would stretch. A millennium? A mere thought of such an interval made the ache sharper.
"…"
Sensing their sorrow, THEY allowed THEMSELF a small, playful smile. "Don't worry. I won't be gone that long. Maybe fifty years? Just enough time to have a bit of fun in the academy you all will be building."
It was clear that THEY looked forward to this; THEY wanted to experience a new era among students, away from THEIR title. THEY'd chosen nine centuries for the academy's establishment—a nod to the age of adulthood in this world, eighteen years. Most academies here began when students reached that age, though exceptions were made for prodigies. This academy would uphold that standard, welcoming only those old enough or training the youngest until they were ready.
Age held no meaning for THEM, but THEY would craft THEMSELF the form of an
adolescent boy. For someone of THEIR prowess, the reshaping of a body was trivial, a small part of the many abilities THEY wielded.
They were the master of this world. There were very few things they could not do if they wished for it.
Some of these things were complicated, however some were just too simple and straightforward for someone of their level to not understand.
Yet, that's how things were.
And they accepted their non-perfect nature as more than perfection, they had always strived for excellence…
"Alright then, I'll see you all soon," THEY said with a smile or at least what seemed like one, THEIR gaze settling on them one last time. "Molly, take care of them, ok?" If THEY were their lord and master, Molly was their mother.
In the absence of the father, it was the mother's responsibility to look after the children.
And she understood that, understood THEIR will, and simply nodded with cosmic tears that could not be assessed with any appraisal Skill, or Truth expressing magic.
"Take care of yourself, everyone."
-Oooooooooooooong…
With that, THEIR form dissolved into particles, fading from the throne in a brilliant flash of light that cascaded outward, illuminating the great castles of the city. The light turned an oceanic blue, coalescing into an immense magic circle that spread across the sky and covered the entirety of this realm.
The First Monarch, left in an ethereal kind of sorrow, gazed upward with bittersweet understanding.
If THEIR lord remained bound to THEIR role, eventually THEY might even turn THEIR attention to invading other dimensions, a hunger that could unravel everything they had painstakingly built. So, she accepted THEIR decision, stepping outside to behold the spectacle.
Her understanding of THEIR magic was profound, but even she marvelled at this feat.
"Wow…"
"How long has it been… since then?"
"200 years, if I'm not mistaken…"
THEY were invoking creation magic—magic that bent the TRUTH itself.
This unique magic would bring forth three gates of incredible powers, crafted from more than nine hundred years of THEIR life force and the material of THEIR present body.
The monarchs watched as an enormous magic circle covered the dimension's sky, pulsing with a bright blue light that seemed to slice through space and reality alike.
For a moment, all fifteen realms were visible, flickering briefly before fading.
And then, from the sky above the city, a golden gate descended, hovering above the palace as a testament to THEIR mastery, THEIR power, and THEIR indelible insignia upon the world.