When Noah opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was white.

The intensity of the light was so intense that he had to bring his hand up to shield his vision, eyes squinting to get a better grip of the area. After a few seconds, the scene that was revealed before his eyes was nonetheless breathtaking.

Even after all these years, the sight was still nothing short of heavenly.

The Capitol was a city built on top of the continent’s tallest mountain, with no regular means of reaching it. Even if a regular human were to somehow climb the rigorous mountainside, there was a barrier that guarded against non-spiritual beings, making the whole place invisible to their eyes.

Before them was a large, marble arch with two pillars supporting the sides. In the middle of it was an empty space where the supposed ‘gates’ were supposed to be.

This was the famed Gates of Ádeia, charmed with spiritual energy that makes it so that only Governors and selected individuals can enter.

Caelun looked up, startled. “It sent us all the way out here?”

Noah turns to him first, and then promptly notices the prince missing from their group.

“Did you set it to the Court House?” Noah asked.

Caelun nods grimly as he looks at his Waystone. “Yes, it’s never done this before. Should we try again?”

If Noah had a guess, Theon was probably already way ahead of them. He says, “Well, if it didn’t work the first time, it won’t suddenly work after. There’s something blocking it.”

That, or Noah’s luck was clearly interfering with the damn traveling device.

“Alright,” Caelun agrees before putting his hand to his temple. “Let me just inform His Highness that we’re at the entrance before he starts yelling in my ear.”

Once that was done, Noah and Caelun finally entered the gate and made their way to the main building.

The Capitol was a beautiful place of white and gold, with the sun rays reflecting on the bright surfaces of buildings and roads. All the buildings resembled that of Greek architecture, with large acropolises and pillars seen at every corner, and beautiful flowers and bushes lining the streets.

In the middle of the city was an elevated temple that towered down the entire Capitol–the Court House.

While other buildings around them have been changed and reconstructed, the Court House was the one thing that withstood the adversary of time. Even from four hundred years ago, it still looks identical to how Noah remembers it to be.

While walking, Noah glances at the other Governors making their way to the Court House. He comments, “It seems we’re not the only ones being summoned.”

From the massive crowd before them, it wasn’t any sort of ordinary meeting, either. The Governors all had anxious expressions, some whispering quietly amongst themselves as they walked down the street.

Caelun raised his fingers to his forehead before nodding. “His Highness just told me his situation. The entire court was summoned, but no one knows what’s happening.”

Noah hummed in understanding. He couldn’t possibly guess the reason for this. Usually, these Full House meetings were only done through extreme situations. Even during the War, only two were used. This was because of convenience. If every Governor was pulled from their duties all at the same time, it could cause some serious issues not only in the Capitol, but also amongst the human realm.

To order a Full House at such a mundane time–and so suddenly–would mean there was something deeper than what the eyes could see.

“Have there been disturbances in the Abyss?” Noah asked as he went down the list of possible reasons.

To his disappointment, Caelun only shook his head. “If there was, His Highness would’ve been informed. He got elected as a General, afterall.”

When Governors are elected, they are either sorted into General or Ministers. Generals were ones who were recognized for their combat and fighting prowess, making up the physical power of the Court. On the other hand, Ministers were the brains that dealt with more political and social issues, their jobs being the string that ties everything together.

“Caelun!”

A female voice yelled from behind, and they both turned to see the newcomer.

It was an average sized woman with two toned hair–white in the front, and black in the back–and fair skin. She wore a black dress that hugged her features beautifully, with silver pieces decorating the lower part of her neck and chest. Many heads were looking in her direction as she made her way down the street toward them.

As she got closer, Noah sees the blood red eyes that formed crescents when she smiled.

“Caelun!” She grins as she raises her hand in a wave. “Long time no see!”

Caelun stammers before bowing his head deeply instead of waving back. “My Lady, Visalisa Vivante!”

Upon hearing the name uttered, whispers from other Governors surrounding them instantly.

“Visalisa?”

“It’s the [ Killer Whale ]!”

“That violent General?!”

The person in question only pouts. “I thought I told you to just call me Lisa! Your Governor and I are good friends, afterall!”

Noah wants to snort. Good friends with that guy? It sounded so absurd.

By the time Caelun raised his head, another guy had situated himself next to the female Governor.

This person was quite tall in stature, towering over Noah by just a few inches. He had matching dark hair and eyes that framed his face just perfectly that would make any ladies fall to their knees. His outfit resembled that of Caelun’s, with his colors matching that of the person next to him.

This person nods toward Caelun. “Caelun Ren.”

“Lucian Sila,” Caelun returns the greeting in a similar manner.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Before long, Lisa’s gaze focuses on Noah, and there’s a curious glint as she tilts her head. “You didn’t introduce us to your friend yet, Caelun!”

Well. Friend was quite reaching.

“Hello,” Noah offers his own smile as he politely offers a handshake while tilting his head forward. “My name is Noah.”

“Hahaha, you have the same name as that guy!” Lisa comments as she grasps his hands. “Here I thought you were the one Theon was obsessing over. I almost had a heart attack there. Nice to meet you!”

Noah continues to smile, “I have a rather infamous reputation, I suppose.”

“What was that?”

“My Lady, that is him,” Caelun whispers with a pained expression.

The two had their hands locked in greeting for a few more seconds, silence passing between them.

Red eyes blinked at him.

“...You’re Noah?”

Noah nods. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Lisa instantly stumbles back as if she’s been burned. There was a look of panic in her face. She stutters out, “W-w-what? Are you serious? If this is a joke, it’s really not funny! Please tell me this is a joke…”

Did she want this to be a joke or not?

Caelun sighs as he scratches the back of his head. “No, my Governor was serious about his proposition.”

“And you guys aren’t hurt!” It was more of a statement than a question.

But really, these guys were acting like he had been the one they should be wary of, even though he was the one that got attacked in the first place! His reputation wasn’t even so bad many years ago for others to assume he had done something in the first place! This new generation really can’t find it in themselves to at least respect their elders.

“Fortunately, not,” Caelun tilts his head. “But, my Lady–”

The woman sent a sharp glare.

“–Lisa,” Caelun corrected this time, to which the girl nodded in approval. “Do you possibly know why the Head is ordering a Full House? Your network is better than my Governor, afterall.”

Visalia Vivante was a famed name throughout not only the Court, but also amongst the three realms. Even having been elected two hundred years ago, she had already made a name for herself that caused a lot of her peers to be envious. Even though Noah hadn’t personally known her birth name, he had heard of her title:

The [ Killer Whale ].

She had gained her reputation through one infamous sea battle in the human realm, where she led her fleet to a crushing victory using her brilliant mind and aggressive nature. This was the event that triggered her inauguration to become a Governor.

Upon hearing his question, Lisa perks up. “Oh!”

The three of them focus their attention on her, leaning in when she brings a hand to cover her mouth.

“There’s been rumors going around recently,” she whispers to them. “Of a certain prophecy that was read by Gabriel.”

Noah frowns, remember who this Gabriel person was. When it comes to prophecies and readings of the sort, there is only one person in the Court that handles them, and that was the [ Harbinger ] Gabriel.

“What kind of prophecy was it?” Caelun questions.

A serious expression passes on Lisa’s face.

“It foresaw the return of No-Name.”

There was a sharp inhale amongst them, followed by stunned silence.

No-Name was a prominent figure during the Cataclysm that almost cost the destruction of the entire Court, and while this entity was not Abyssal-born, it was a presence that coincidentally presented itself during the war four hundred years ago.

But even before the War, this figure’s name was already infamous and widespread for one particular reason.

The being responsible for the collapse of the First Court.

“...But didn’t he die during the War?” Caelun grimly asks. “The Head killed him!”

“But there wasn’t a body.”

Caelun halts at that.

Lisa continues. “I’ve heard many stories about the war even before I was elected. About how the current Head defeated No-Name and rebuilt the ruins of the Court. It’s all the same story every time I hear it, but sometimes I feel that maybe that’s not really how everything unfolded…”

Lucian puts a hand to his Governor’s shoulder. “That’s enough.”

Realizing her thought process that bordered the line of conspiracy, she immediately stops and coughs sheepishly. “Sorry, sorry! But as I was saying, the prophecy really is true! My mentor told me himself!”

“She just happened to pass by when they were talking about it and basically harassed Governor Emrys to tell her,” Lucian clarified for them.

“That’s not what happened!”

Governor Emrys was one of the eldest Governors, as well as part of the Higher Circle of Court, making him an influential figure when it comes to Court decisions. Bearing the title [ Lightning Emperor ], he was the Cardinal General of the South that fought alongside Noah during the Cataclysm.

Even knowing that person, Noah couldn’t have predicted that he would take in someone so… spirited.

“If it’s from your mentor, then it really has to be true,” Caelun nods as he concludes, to which Lisa balks.

“What’s that supposed to mean?!”

During their conversation, they had already made their way to the Court House along with many other Governors. While there was a large crowd at the entrance, the figure of the young prince was unmistakable, with many of his admirers gazing at his beauty from a considerable distance.

Caelun hurries over to his Governor upon seeing him. “Your Highness!”

“Theon, long time no see!” Lisa follows quickly with a bright smile on her face, her cabinet member hot on her tail like a parent guarding a toddler.

Naturally, the crowd immediately parted for the newcomers, with a few even doing a double take at the fresh faces that approached. Noah couldn’t fault them from staring, really. Even from his perspective, it was like four celebrities suddenly came and gathered in front of the public.

They stood out like sore thumbs.

Of course, when he tried to join them, the crowd surged back immediately, as if promptly dismissing him.

Noah showed a face of quiet disbelief.

Although he might not compare much, he was still decent looking by normal standards! He really felt like an abandoned old man after all his kids moved out of his home. This new generation really was something else entirely!

After squeezing himself through–handing out apologies to Governors he accidentally tripped and tragically stumbled into along the way–he finally makes it to the front of the crowd and rejoins the group of troublemakers.

He was immediately met with the sharp gaze of the prince, blue eyes piercing deeply into his figure.

… This kid really was bound to send him into an early death in the future!

“How’s the situation?” he asks instead, promptly ignoring the pointed look Theon sent his way. “What’s with the crowd?”

Usually, whenever meetings were held, the Court House was freely open to enter whenever as long as it was before the designated time. It was odd to see everyone standing outside.

“My mentor is telling me there’s something being set up,” Lisa informs him, her hand placed on her temple. “But rest assured, it will be done any moment now!”

Just as she finished her sentence, a loud sound that resembled that of hitting a bell echoed throughout the crowd. While occurrences like these were uncommon, many Governors were still startled by the sudden noise. Some even fell on their bottoms, much to their embarrassments as Governors.

“It really was a loud sound!” Their red expressions seemed to say.

Soon enough, a figure of white and gold emerged from within the grand temple, with hands poised behind his back, and an elegant gait that screamed nothing short of regality. Upon seeing this man, many Governors immediately straightened in both fear and reverence, actively avoiding his gaze as much as they can.

Only Noah kept his lax posture, his own black eyes meeting this person’s light brown ones.

The [ Executioner ] Michael gives him a knowing smile that would send chills down anyone’s body.

Even from before, Noah was never really fond of this person.

The poised Governor stands in front of them and scans the crowd, all sorts of conversations prompt dying at this person’s presence. He opens his mouth and announces:

“The Head Governor greatly anticipates your attendance.”