Quiet. Deathly quiet. Nobody was making noise. Not even the one that had been making noise left and right. There was this type of stillness over the entire meadow. Seemingly becoming solid, the lack of noise seemed to solidify. Pressing down, making sure that this change was a permanent one. Possibly because of the sheer level of the group gathered. Once impressive, sharply turning sour, only eluded a terror inducing pressure that started to weigh on her shoulders.
Jessica just couldn’t understand the nature of this silence. While there were many nuances in their relationship. Between Elizabeth and Izic were a number of difficulties. One was a well known figure, albeit, originally unwilling. Other was simply a legend, said to have possibly existed. Many didn’t even believe he did exist. While many questioned the true reality of what the Will of the World represented, most were willing to believe in the existence itself.
Mad and insane. A being solely or just partially responsible for blood and sorrow. Best known for tragedy after tragedy. Belief often being different than reality. The small conversation between Jessica and Leo was in fact unbelievably on the nose. There in fact is a reason nobody above a required level entered said places. What is held in laboratories was a manifestation that neither of the two could understand.
Universe gave all while taking all. This included beings like the Will of the World, along with Izic. Beings on their level could do many things. For thousands to tens of thousands of years, the Will of the World had existed in the hearts of many. Long before Izic ever came up with a spontaneous idea to create a mythical figure, the two had existed. Time gave them insights into many things. Only not even they could understand exactly what was inside those weapons. While having a deeper level of understanding, possibly only the man known as Neil would be able to explain what they were.
Reasons understood by anyone, Elizabeth sealed off those laboratories when Izic failed. At those moments, even Izic himself was ushered out by force. Still, with time he was able to come and go, he never tried to establish another connection with so-called finished products after their inception. For these reasons, she never stopped him or taken action further.
In similar fashion as one will randomly find an ant in their home, no matter how or what they do. Nature has a way of foiling all desires. As if karmic retribution to these desires, one’s intent and desires, regardless of planning or preparing. Given enough time, nature will find a way to sideline all defenses and ensure your least desired outcome comes to bear fruit or full fruition. Rarely does something work as intended without any undesirable effects when looked at with hindsight.
Not sealing everything. Sooner or later, an entrance here, or there would be found. Izic himself was not involved, as she had originally thought. When Elizabeth was going to seal those places, out came the darkest of thoughts and desires. Starting with a bit of hesitation, watching leaders and saints smile from behind as they stabbed friend and family in the back. What was once hesitation, turned into a showcase she watched in relish.
Not believe herself to be above, the sayings and worship she was offered didn’t dull her mind one bit. Being the Will of the World didn’t diminish her self, while forgetting from time to time the reality, remembering what type of person she was. It was a very important thing, she wasn’t done with living. Losing herself in this world would mean accepting this tomb given to them.
However, in the same manner, Everblood stood up, as if sensing her reaching her limit. Unknowingly, Izic had advised Everblood to take custody. Even setting up a way to seal them. Going so far as to allow Neil’s people to study his original work. While he had taken over, never did he ever consider it his own work. At most, all he did was ten percent at most. Luck was the strongest contributing factor when Leo’s existence was concerned.
Feeling like yesterday, Izic brought her along to see this little child that he claimed was the fated one. While time was elusive, at most a year later, the two now stood in front of her. Worse, now this existence was about to come, one of her children. He was a being closer to them than those around them. Most importantly, allowing this would mean accepting his existence. Denying him meant denying that man’s work.
Those around them only understood a few nuances, enough to know the Will of the World didn’t approve of Izic’s works. While Leo was different, he was also one and the same. Her silence caused a heavy air to shift down on them. Feeling like the sky had fallen without notice, as if they, the Evers, were going to be crushed without resistance.
By this point, Izic had moved away from her chair, only turning in her direction after she was staring daggers into his back. Quickly waving his hands to claim his innocence. Unfortunately, this was believable. If Elizabeth was untouchable in terms of presences and power. Izic was a child with the same power. Constantly showing up here or there, with his own ideas and plans. Constantly running around, a thin veil between him and reality. While that thin veil was her, it didn’t change the fact the two of them were all powerful next to them.
Seen as an undesirable encounter, since he had a few screws loose, nobody enjoyed his company. Treated like a ticking time bomb, hoping they never encountered him. Everwood was a quiet man. A long time had passed since his younger days. Now he was quiet and kept to himself, he was someone that seemed to be content with the status quo since Jessica entered his life. He had a miserable fate that changed him completely, for one reason or another he had a deeper hate for Izic than others. Therefore, for the two, to now be standing on the same side, felt a bit revolting.
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Finally, after what felt like hours, Jessica heard someone break that silence, “Vote.”
While there was a great amount of power in that one word. The silent pressure that had been so heavily pressing down on her had gone. With one vote already cast, there was a second silence before another person spoke first.
Having the intelligence to read the mood, while extremely upset and angry, not saying a word, the first to speak was the man next to him. Not knowing if Everwood was senile or had lost it, he gave the man another once over before speaking, “I, Daniel Everhope, disapprove.”
Lifting the floodgates a second vote came shortly after, “I, Lawrence Evercraft…” A short silence followed. Glancing at Everwood he smiled politely before shaking his head. Giving off the appearance of an apology, “Disapprove.”
Jessica didn’t understand what it meant, she only knew that for one reason or another. She desperately wanted this vote to go well. This short and frustrating relationship only begun just recently and rocky to say the least. Now she found it hard to imagine her days before it. Memories of now when compared to than were crooked. With an appearance of two different worlds. She was a bit pale being in this place once she realized the scale, now with two against, she had a bloodless looking face.
Everwood didn’t seem to have any expression. Good or bad, this appeared to have nothing to do with him. Almost like he simply said it, in the moment. Without any change in opinion from first two or next two votes.
“I, Loki Everwar, approve.” He shot Jessica a smile before his smile became appalling, even Jessica wanted to hit it as he shot a slight provoking smile at both Everhope and Evercraft. Seeing Ken open his mouth, he glanced over.
Looking as if he struggled slightly, he looked a bit disgusted as he looked at the elf, not sparing Everwood a glance, he looked at Jessica for a slight moment. Without an expression on his face, he spoke, “I, Ken Everwind, disapprove.”
While being upset, Jessica wasn’t upset with Ken. They didn’t have a relationship. She could only feel good about Loki, even though they only shared a slight connection. From what she understood, concluding one of her original opinions. Leo’s existence wasn’t simply at all. Nor was Izic.
At this point, everyone looked at Everblood. Jessica looked hopeful, because of this she didn’t notice the strange looks the other people gave him. All of them were questionable. He was a person that didn’t involve himself in politics. Everyone else on the continent knew better than to involve in their schemes. Every time he did appear at a vote, he always voted as he did before. Never had any of them seen or heard him cast a vote for or against.
He was a rare Ever. They all held titles of their race, he had his own title. Own that he earned himself, he didn’t vote because he like always did what he wanted with his own hands. He was the Ever of slaughter. Not changing his ways, he spoke what every one of them expected, “I, Mercury Everblood, abstain.”
Everyone had casted their votes. Jessica was saddened greatly. And yet, there was another silence. Finally, the one to break this silence was Everwind, seemingly annoyed at his grandeur he didn’t wait for the silence to set in, “Spit it out Everblood, why are you here?”
“Haha, hold on, I am an old man. Takes me longer to do things. I hold a proxy vote.” When his words ended, Loki seemed to somehow pale and took a step back, while Everhope had an abysmally horrid expression on his face as he too paled.
Only person that could get Everblood to carry their proxy was his student, Zelna Everwater. A legendary figure, so legendary she pushed her teacher to the limelight. Only becoming known as the ruler and leader of Murcery City and Adventurer’s Guild because she let it slip. There was only one truly famous Ever on the continent. That was Zelna Everwater, a figure that put fear into both Everhope and Everwar.
Jessica could only space out and let her mind wonder, when Everblood showed up everyone gave him a wide berth. While they feared him, they didn’t visible show it. Now with this familiar name popping into her head, she saw straight out fear on both of their faces. It filled it with wonder that only grew stronger with what was said next.
Turning in her direction, “I, proxy of Zelna Everwater, give this vote to Jessica. Now Jessica Everwood.”
Thinking she heard incorrectly, turning to look at the old man he was giving her a similar look. She wasn’t the only ones. Not being disrespectful, nobody stared up to notice that even the Will of the World was giving Izic a questioning gaze, only he too could only shrug. He had been following Jessica since she entered Tyr’s Forest. He couldn’t connect how she indirectly crossed paths with Everwater.
Not caring about the questionable looks, he did softly explain it to Jessica when she gave him the same look. He didn’t outright say it, but everyone could connect the dots through his words, “That little one, Erika gives you her regards. Zelna and I both thank you for what you did.”
Her mind started to spin, soon she focused on a small child with auburn colored eyes with white hair. Looking far more mature than her age normally dictated, only there was still panic unable to be hidden in her eyes. She had a sweet smile, and was a good kid that had proven she would kill even her own father to protect her mother. While understanding, Jessica couldn’t even fathom what she experienced to reach that point.
Now everyone shifted their attention. Getting a pat on the back, did she register what the stares meant. With a little hesitation, her voice almost cracked as she was being stared at by these people. “I ah, I, Jessica Everwood, a-approve.”
Her cheeks blushed a little as she was embarrassed by her stuttering, Loki gave her a funny smile that caused her to calm down a little. The hand on her back, supporting her, was also intensely warm. Only now did she realize this was problematic. That was three votes for, while three votes against. Following everyone's else gazes up, she hesitated slightly before looking up to see the fuzzy screen of the throne and woman sitting on it.
At some point a man was standing to the side as he waved at Jessica causing both Everwoods to frown uncontrollably.