Yuan spent the rest of the day, touring the parts of the grand kingdom he could, visiting the vast training district, the opulent stronghold vault and the seemingly endless dormitory district.
It was evening by the time Yuan sat down and took a short break from the sensory experience he had touring and the smell of dinner wafted from all corners.
Tiger and Snake had left to manage their roles and obligations while Rhino and Bull went off to meet up with lovers. It was only Shui Ren now.
"So brother… Do you like it here? I'm sorry about what happened yesterday. We really didn't want to drug you like that but if you ran off or got lost, we would be in real trouble".
"Oh, ha ha. I forgot about that actually. I really did. Don't worry. Sometimes you just gotta do what you have to. Thank you, actually, for getting me out of that place. I hated it there. You would understand."
"Brother, I am curious about the traditions of your land. The dynasty territory isn't where we usually go. How is it there everyday?"
Shui Ren, you would never want to be there yourself. Everyday, we wake up and put on a mask and we go around, messing each other up. We hurt each other thinking that each time we do, we gain something. The people are all so shallow now. The only time we talk, we talk harmfully."
"That happens quite a lot here too, but the fact that we share that we were all cheated by the dynasty is what unites us-"
"You see, that is what would make us better. We all know that the dynasty is playing us. We are but a mass of pawns on their table yet they still brought us stabilization. No one will fight them and we forget our true enemies the second we enter the public."
"Did you enjoy anything there? Yuan, come on, you hadn't given up when we found you like many others did."
"Shui, the most uncomfortable thing in life is to taste the beauty but feel a dull pain in your heart because you know you will feel guilty for it in the end. At the end of the day, no matter how many 'friends' I made there, I was still going to be disliked by my peers. 'All the pleasantries and all the drama are just illusions on the surface' This is what I hate most - that hypocritical shallowness.
It's not that I haven't thought about how all this happened. I even have some theories. But in the final analysis, no matter what the reason is, it is the damn shallowness that pervades the world and lingers. You talk about happy couples in the world. I have seen a lot, but it is hard for me to believe that their laughter comes from the heart. Everything is just a show for others to watch.*You know what I mean?
Therefore, those who are beautiful can only be beautiful, but those who think have no refuge. Because if you choose people based on their thoughts rather than their appearance, then in the short term, only the thinkers will benefit first. Ridiculous, right? What the world pursues is just short-term illusion, not lasting profundity."
The connection between the two was broken when Tiger returned, urging the two to follow.
Ascending a large staircase and entering a dimly-lit, yet crowded stadium, Yuan began to understand what the big deal was. In the center of all the attention was, as far as Yuan could make out, a large stone. Almost shaped like the peak of a mountain, yet it was too rough on some edges and quite rounded on the others. The main source of light were two large bioluminescent fungi-like stick insects who were sitting attentively as if they were eager for some sort of outcome.
"Tonight, the Seer has a message to intercept. We are all here. If something is alarming, we will all have to collaborate and respond immediately. Just watch." whispered Tiger solemnly.
The chatters slowly faded and a graceful yet ominous figure limped out into the center, until it was only inches from the large rock. It slowly raised its palm towards the rock and at the moment, the air became dead silent.
Suddenly, pulsations in reality itself became visible to Yuan, the stadium began twisting until Yuan wasn't sure what was up and down. He became confused but in the distance, he could hear a calm voice speaking unintelligibly. It was soothing but he couldn't decipher its meaning. Then all of a sudden, the stadium unraveled itself back to its original shape. Visible breaths of relaxation surrounded the air.
"Ugh, this is the kind of thing that one never gets used to." The bull grumbled in a low voice, a look of shock still lingering on his face.
The mysterious figure then straightened up:
"Moon reports that our interdimensional forces have been thwarted in their attempts to guide this timeline through the 'Selection' and are currently at an impasse. We must seek assistance from the Transcendence Division. In addition, they have detected a disturbing growth in the void. Though small in scale at this time, its danger cannot be ignored. Shu, what have we intercepted so far?"
A low murmur rang out around the room, and people looked to the man known as "Shu".
He hastily responded:
"Elder Seer, our convoy ... never returned. We have been trying to keep the signal stable, but so far we have not received any reply."
For a moment, the air seemed to freeze, and the surrounding crowd sucked in a breath of cold air, collectively falling into a deep sense of unease.
The Elder Seer spoke again:
"Shu, I will arrange for you to meet with the senior commanders; we must resolve this matter as soon as possible. If any member of the Exploration Brigade can offer a viable solution, please submit it to the command hierarchy.
In the meantime, we must strengthen the garrison at Colony Fourteen. It has been reported that the opposing colonists there have begun to introduce heavier weapons. If the Amulet Cave expedition territory is overrun, we will suffer a potentially huge loss of resources. In addition, a major anomaly has been reported at Station Fourteen. Moon is investigating, but it appears some force has obscured the source. Logistics Brigade, this task falls to you, and you must give it your all for the next few months. Now, we are deep in the middle of the action. Also - let us welcome our newest member, Yuan."
The crowd turned to Yuan in unison, and he waved his hand awkwardly, but inside he was filled with a deep shock.
This operation was far more massive than he had imagined.
Not only were there colonies searching for amulets, but there were even space stations throughout the universe on similar missions. He had to stop and think - how on earth had he fallen into this situation?
Just then, Snake broke into his thoughts.
"Yuan, you know what? The amulet is but a fragment of a once greater celestial body. We have set foot on the borders of the known universe in search of these lost shards. The more massive the amulet, the more amazing the power it contains.
Once upon a time, there was a crystal world where the entire planet was made of amulet prime. However, the Void devoured it to fill its twisted hunger. What remains today is divided among the warring powers.
The dynasty you served, us, and countless other hidden forces are all fighting over the last amulets.
But you have to be glad that we have not yet become one of the great powers, and the dynasty has not yet realized our existence ...
Because that stone is precisely the tip of the Amulet Summit."