Elijah adjusted his tie in the mirror for the fourth time that morning.
It felt ridiculous, getting dressed up for what amounted to an intergalactic PTA meeting, but he figured first impressions mattered.
And besides, it wasn't like he owned anything more formal than his go-to button-up and blazer.
"You're representing Earth," he muttered to himself. "A whole planet. No pressure."
He took a deep breath, glancing at the clock.
The council would be here any minute.
"Alright, System," he said, straightening his posture. "How do I look?"
[Appearance is sufficient for diplomatic proceedings.]
"Sufficient?" he repeated, raising an eyebrow. "You know, a little encouragement wouldn't kill you."
[Encouragement is irrelevant to the task at hand.]
Elijah sighed. "Right. Of course. Let's just get this over with."
The air in the room shifted suddenly, like a vacuum had sucked all the oxygen out.
A faint glow appeared in the corner, growing brighter until it morphed into a swirling portal.
Elijah squinted against the light as three figures stepped through.
The first was a tall man with sharp features and a regal bearing.
His silver armor gleamed in the sunlight, and a crimson sash draped across his chest suggested authority.
The second was a woman in flowing emerald robes, her face calm but calculating.
She carried a large book in one hand, and the air around her seemed to hum with quiet power.
The third was an older man with a stern expression, dressed in simple but elegant black robes.
He carried a staff that glowed faintly at the tip.
"Elijah Kane," the armored man said, his voice deep and commanding. "We are the Village Council, representatives of the Empire of Dawn."
Elijah swallowed hard, stepping forward. "Welcome to Earth. I... I'm honored to meet you."
The man nodded curtly, his gaze sweeping the room. "You are the planet's representative?"
"Uh, yeah," Elijah said, scratching the back of his neck. "It's just me. Small operation, you know."
The woman raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Where is your planet's guardian? Gaia, I believe?"
Elijah hesitated. "She's... not available. I'm here in her place."
The older man frowned. "Unfortunate. But we will proceed."
The council members took their seats at the small table Elijah had hastily set up.
He felt like a kid about to give a book report to his teachers.
The armored man leaned forward, clasping his hands on the table. "Let us begin. Tell us about Earth, its strengths, its weaknesses, and why it deserves consideration within the Empire of Dawn."
Elijah took a deep breath, his mind racing. "Right. So, Earth... Earth is a planet of immense potential. Our resources are vast, our biodiversity unmatched, and our people—"
The woman cut him off. "Spare us the platitudes, Mr. Kane. What can your planet offer the empire that it does not already possess?"
Elijah clenched his fists under the table. "Plenty," he said, forcing himself to stay calm.
"Earth might not have magic or advanced technology, but we have something just as valuable: resilience."
The woman's eyebrow arched. "Resilience?"
"Yes," Elijah said firmly. "Humanity has faced countless challenges wars, disasters, crises and every time, we've found a way to survive. To adapt. That's what makes us unique."
The older man adjusted his glasses, his gaze sharp. "Adaptation is admirable, but it is not unique. Many civilizations within the Endless World have thrived under far harsher conditions. What sets your people apart?"
Elijah leaned forward, his voice steady. "It's not just about surviving. It's about what we do while we're surviving. Humanity doesn't just endure we create. We innovate. We build stories, cultures, and ideas that outlive us."
He gestured to the room around them. "Take this planet, for example. We've built everything you see here from nothing. No magic, no gods guiding us just ingenuity and grit. That's what sets us apart."
The woman scribbled something in her book, her expression unreadable.
The armored man leaned back, crossing his arms. "And yet, your planet is young and inexperienced. How can we trust that your people will contribute to the empire rather than drain its resources?"
Elijah's jaw tightened. "Because we don't give up," he said simply. "You can throw us into the deep end, and we'll figure out how to swim. That's what we've always done."
The older man frowned. "Such arrogance. Do you not understand the scale of what lies ahead? The Endless World is not kind to the weak."
Elijah met his gaze, his voice quiet but firm. "I understand that. But we're not weak. And if you want proof, just look at our history."
He stood, his confidence growing with each word. "Human history is full of impossible odds. We've fought wars we shouldn't have won, survived disasters that should have wiped us out, and overcome challenges that seemed insurmountable.
"We're not perfect far from it. But when it matters, when the stakes are life and death, we rise. We may fall in battle, but we'll take someone down with us. That's the spirit of humanity."
The council members exchanged glances, their expressions thoughtful.
The woman closed her book, fixing Elijah with a piercing stare. "And if the empire deems Earth unworthy? What will you do then?"
Elijah didn't hesitate. "I'll fight for it," he said.
"I'll fight for my planet, for my people, for the chance to prove you wrong. Because that's what humans do. We fight for what we believe in, no matter the odds."
For a moment, there was silence.
Then the armored man stood, his expression unreadable. "You speak boldly, Elijah Kane. Perhaps too boldly."
Elijah held his ground, his heart pounding in his chest. "Maybe. But it's the truth."
The council members conferred quietly for a moment before the woman turned back to Elijah. "Your words will be included in our report. The final decision rests with the empire."
Elijah nodded, his fists clenching at his sides. "Thank you for giving Earth a chance."
The older man gave a curt nod. "May your actions match your words, Mr. Kane."
With that, the council rose, their forms dissolving into light as they stepped back through the portal.
As the portal vanished, Elijah collapsed into his chair, his entire body shaking.
"Holy crap," he muttered. "I can't believe I just did that."
[Quest Complete: First Impressions Matter.]
[Reward: Improved standing with the Empire of Dawn.]
"Yeah, yeah," Elijah said, waving a hand at the notification. "Don't start celebrating yet, System. We're still in the deep end."