CHAPTER 31: ATHANASIA P7
~31.7~
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“We’re all safe now.”
“That’s right,” Kye said, indicating that it was time to get on topic. She explained what happened in the past that caused them to stay behind.
Atalante was visibly shaken and extremely upset. “Y-you-you’re saying... it was not a natural disaster?”
“No. Terra was targeted by Phantom. His lackey meant to kill everyone on the planet.” Kye paused a moment. “It would seem that my trip to the past was always meant to be. Had I not gone, Terra would have been reduced to rubble and the expansion to Alcanus, Drachenheim, and Nippon Sekai would have never happened. None of our families would have existed.” She clenched her fist, the very thought of her current life being in jeopardy angered her. “Phantom is a threat that I now declare to be the number one most wanted in Elysium.”
Alethea knew what Kye meant. “What is our first move?”
“The rest of you are to get back into shape.” Kye snapped her fingers and moved everyone from the core space back to the meeting room where the others were waiting. Only a few of their own party went with them to the core space. She called the governors back to the meeting room and began explaining.
“One hundred years?” Nephele said. “For what was a couple hours to us was a hundred years to you?”
“Yes.” Kye flared her aether to show them just how much more she could wield with the hundred years of training. Even Allison and Luma were taken aback.
“Even considering who you are...” she said. “How in the world did you advance so far in only a hundred years?”
Kye smirked. “Athy is quite powerful as well.”
Both had ascended to the range of the elder royals in only a hundred years.
“We had very little in the way of entertainment. We trained nearly constantly the whole time, and we had each other to spar with, and-”
“We ran into my past self,” Sanae said. “Alfia Athas trained all of us for the entire one hundred years. So not only did we have each other to spar with, we had the old me to train us.”
Kye nodded her head. “Anyway, we succeeded. They are here now, and the five of you agreed and asked that I reconsider the destruction of the satellites. Let’s talk.”
Silence washed over the room for a moment, all five looking at the female king with wide eyes and mouths agape.
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“If I may,” Athanasia said, stepping up to the table. Kye snapped her finger, and a seat appeared for her to sit in. “Oh. Thank you, Eli.”
The nickname she used caught the governors off guard, as well as every other immortal in the room. Katriel, Kadmiel, Elias, and Eliana were mumbling amongst each other about it.
“During our hundred years together, I have learned much about... well, everything. Eli and Maya taught me all about Elysium and the five satellites, and that Atlantis was meant to become the sixth and even recognized as such now. She explained her side of things to me, and over time used her power to peer through history and learn your sides. We both have a much greater understanding of everything, even the very cause of the rebellion.” She looked at Orion, Noah, and Adaal. “What the three of you did was egregious. However, we know why you did it. We now know that in the eons leading up to the rebellion, mana from the foundations of the satellites was being siphoned away.”
“How could you have possibly discovered that?” Adaal asked, his eyes squarely on Kye.
“The more time passed, the more my body recovered. I am physically in peak condition and my mana faculties have recovered immensely. I began to use my power as King of the World to observe. Nephele, you suggested that I save Athanasia not only as a reward to Atalante, but also because you believed she had the potential to be a great boon to Elysium as a whole. You were correct.” She glanced at Athanasia, who nodded and continued.
Mana was being siphoned out of the five satellites for eons, and it never stopped. Even at the present day, it continued. But they hadn’t yet discovered where it was being delivered. The state of the satellites wasn’t the best. They had just enough mana to get by day by day, but they could do nothing to improve. And Athanasia had a huge problem with that. She was a big advocate of “always improve” and had the drive to put herself in the middle of things to make it happen.
“First, we must discover how the siphoning is being done and where that mana has been delivered. Second, we cut off the siphon and mount an offensive against the enemy.”
“And third,” Kye said as she stood up and held her hand out over the table. A katana appeared in her hand. “I execute Phantom for terrorism against Elysium, or rather... against Alexandria.”
Athanasia nodded. “As much as I dislike the idea of executing someone, such a person cannot be allowed to remain at large. And if even Eden cannot be relied upon to house him... that leaves but one path.”
“Adaal.” He looked at Kye, as did each as she spoke their name. “Orion. Noah. Iris. Nephele.” She bowed. “I failed you.”
“““My King!””” Each stood up and began to protest, but Kye silenced them.
“I failed to see. I had no idea mana was being siphoned from your cores. I did not know that mana became such a rare resource in your domains that some of you felt no other choice than to come for more in Elysium, and went as far as staging an invasion when I denied you. Perhaps if I had more time, then I would have...” She shook her head. “No, there’s no use pondering a what if. Phantom is a threat to all that must be stopped.”
She sat back down and glanced around at everyone at the table.
“Let’s first discuss what emergency measures are necessary to ease the burden on the people of the satellites.”
“You mean to...” Noah muttered.
“Now that we know the truth, we must put the past misgivings behind us and move forward for the betterment of our people.”
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Revision: 2024-10-1