Meanwhile at the upper city government building, Aiden was sitting at a large table in the part of the building with the dome that acted as the roof. The table was a U-shaped, dark-colored wooden table with eight chairs, with four sitting at the curve of the table and two on each side of the rest of the table. For the six tables sat six people, all representatives of the eight nations of Sorim.

Sitting at the table was Aiden for Oriana, An olive-skinned man wearing a tan and gold- colored robe and turban, representing for A’Kumen; representing Mossa was a pale-skinned woman wearing a blue robe-like dress, representing Jericosa was an old, dark-skinned man wearing a white robe made with cotton materials for Jericosa’s warm and humid weather.

Representing Hymal was a mixed dark and light-skinned man covered in a bright colored angarkha (a type of robe). The representative of Taril was a fair-skinned, human woman wearing an open belly dress made from animal skins. Representing Eitra was a man with long white hair and a red and blue suit with a red cape hanging from his shoulders. Finally, the representative for Xain was a woman with black hair, wearing a bright red, gold, and blue kimono-like dress with a necklace of red-colored beads.

Hanging over the heads of each representative was a banner for each nation. For Oriana, a red and white banner with a wyvrn spreading its wings behind a gear, For A’Kumen, a tan and white banner with a dragon that had the head of a lion holding a curved sword in its right hand, and above the dragon was a golden sun. For Taril, a dark green banner with a dragon-like cat creature under a large tree. For Mossa, a bright blue banner with a two-headed dragon; for Hymal, a black banner with a wolf-like dragon howling at the moon. Jericosa had a white and grey banner with a red wyvrn snaking itself around an iron cross, and the last nation, Xain had an orange, asymmetrical banner with a golden star in the center.

“Councilmen.” said Aiden. “Now that this council is in order, The founder and CEO of Stone Tech Industries, Alistair Stone has made a proposition to the countries of Sorim that I will show you now.” he continued as a worker at the council building handed out sheets of paper to each of the council members.

“this is preposterous!” said the Eitrin councilman. “Alistair Stone wants to be a member of the council? He is a businessman, not a politician.”

“I agree, Mr. Stone is not fit to be a member of the council. Besides, you, Mr. Mherr are already a councilman for Oriana and your term is far from over, you were just brought into the council a few months ago.” said the councilman for Mossa.

“I understand your concerns.” Aiden said. “But I am a close friend to Alistair Stone, and he is well versed in the world of politics. He’s passed all of the requirements to be on the high council. He is a brilliant man, without him Oreana would not be the technological achievement it is today.”

As the council members were debating, a short, dwarf-like man with a long grey beard walked in the council room, “What is the meaning of this?” asked one of the councilmen.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I have important news from one of my spies in the south.” the dwarf said.

“What news have you brought to us?” Aiden asked.

The dwarf got in the middle of the room where the table almost surrounded him. He then took a light breath and said, “My spy has revealed that members of the Zarosian family are still alive, and they are on a ship bound for al-Halamun.”

Hearing this, the council erupted into gasps and loud muttering, “That’s impossible,” one councilman said. “What makes you sure the spy saw surviving menbers of the Zarosian family?”

“He reported….two females….both with golden hair.” the dwarf continued.

The council members except for Aiden had faces filled with shock and disbelief, “Golden hair? That can’t be. That can’t be—The Zarosians were killed when the Ferdinands took the Orianan throne.” said the Tarilian councilman.

“I agree with the representative for the demi-humans, if they really are the daughters of Herodus Zarosian, then they should already be dead.” said the Jericosan councilman.

"I wish it were a mistake, but my spies never lie.” the dwarf assured.

“We could send a Xainish assassin to eliminate them.” the Xainish councilman said.

The Eitren councilman scoffed and said, “An assassin from Xain? The Xainish don’t even know how to end their own civil war let alone kill a threat to Sorim.”

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“Councilman, please.” Aiden said. “The Zarosian girls haven’t done anything yet. We shouldn’t kill them.” Aiden turned to the dwarf and said, “High Councilman Kolbal, tell your spy to continue to spy on the two Zarosian girls, find out what they are planning.”

“Yes Sir. I will tell him immediately.” said Kolbal.

Kolbal then exited the room. Aiden looked at the A’Kumenian councilman and said, “You seem oddly quiet considering that the two daughters of the last king of the old empire are heading to your country, councilman Nasir.”

The Nasir turned to Aiden and said in a defensive manner, “If you think that I’m helping those girls, your wrong, Mherr. I want those girls dead just as much as anyone else in this room. I have no idea what she is doing and never have. I’m loyal to God and my Sultan, no one else. Not the human’s goddess, not to the wooden carvings of the demi-humans, and definitely not to you or the Ferdinands.”

Aiden was impressed with what he was told hand said, “Finally, a man with devotion. I like it when I meet someone with a devoted heart.”

The council then went back to what they were debating about. They then put it to a vote.

“Alright, all those who want Alistair to be a member of the council, raise your hand.” Aiden said. Aiden and the representatives for Taril and Jericosa raised their hands. “It’s settled then.” Aiden said. “This council is now adjourned.”

The council members left the room, leaving Aiden sitting in his chair, his head resting on his hand. As Aiden was sitting, a tall man in his mid-forties, wearing a red suit and black tie, he had brown eyes and short, well-kept, dark brown hair. He also had a large burn scar on his left eye. His posture was straight and firm like Aiden’s and his gaze gave off an intimidating and calm demeanor, the sounds of his leather shoes echoed through the room.

“I hear I won’t be a member of the council.” the man said, walking over to the chair nearest to Aiden, his hands folded until he got to the chair and rested his left hand on the chair.

“No.” Aiden replied. “it’s good to see you again, Alistair.”

“Likewise.” Alistair said before sitting down. “I expected that. But that doesn’t matter, that was mostly to get the council’s attention.”

“Why must you get the attention of the high council?”

“Just to let them know I’m here.”

Alistair pulled a folder from his suit jacket and gave it to Aiden, “What’s this?” Aiden asked.

“What I’m really after.”

Aiden read through what was in the folder, “You want to technologically advance the eight nations?”

“Exactly, I want to share my technology with the rest of the world. While Oriana is using cars, computers, and guns; the other nations are stuck years behind us, using swords, horses, and outdated tools and machinery. Sure, we shared a little bit of our technological achievements, but if I was to share all of our technology, all of Sorim would prosper.”

“It’s an ambitious idea but I’m not sure if the more religious nations will approve of this. Eitra seems like the country most likely to jump at the chance to advance their society while Xain and A’Kumen would not.”

“Whatever country accepts, I will be happy with the result.”

“I’ll give it to the members in the next high council meeting.” Aiden said, standing up and heading out of the room.

“Aiden,” Alistair said, getting up from his seat and walking along side Aiden. “Would it be possible to take my proposal to the king’s council?”

“It wouldn’t be impossible, but I could do that.”

“Thank you, my friend.” Alistair said, putting his hand on Aiden’s shoulder.

The two men walked down a hallway, passing a few people that worked in building. “Is your father still in the united fleet?” Alistair asked.

“Yes, he is stationed onboard the flagship Valerie. He was also promoted to grand admiral last month.”

“I’m sure the fleet will hold strong under his command.”

“That it will.”

“I see that you still work at that academy founded by the church.”

“Yes. You should visit the church someday.”

Alistair scoffed and said, “No, I’m not a follower of the Church of Xenith. Besides, believing in gods is just a distraction. I’m more of a forward-moving man who doesn’t need religion to slow him down. I there’s anyone in this world that need the goddess, it’s Thomas Ferdinand, as sick and old as he is.”

“Still as stubborn as ever when it comes to the goddess. Indeed, the king doesn't seem like he has a lot of time left. Shame, he was a good ruler and wasn’t even king for that long. I hope his son Hamish will be a good ruler.”

“I hear Ece and her husband Griffiyn Xander are to expect a new child.”

“Is that so? I had no idea.”

“You’ve been a trusted friend of the commander’s wife since you were children. You two are like siblings and you mean to tell me that you didn’t hear that they are expecting?”

“I was busy with a lot of things. Do you remember that young man from the lower city?”

“Yes, it’s curious why you wanted me to help you get him out of going to prison.”

“Well, I wanted to give him an offer that would change his life for the better.”

“And did he accept it?”

“He did.”

“Good. But what was so intriguing about him?”

“I just sensed something in him that I see in all of the students of the protectors academy. That’s all.”

The two men reached the front door of the building, Alistair shook Aiden’s hand and said, “I best be going, I have meetings to attend, deadlines to make. All that business stuff. And my partner James Saryce has a new idea he’s been pestering me about, so I’m going to see what he’s come up with.”

“It was good to see you again, my friend.”

“And I you, take care.”

Alistair and Aiden left the building. The two men got to the sidewalk where a black car with Stone Tech written on the side of it was waiting for Alistair.

“What will you be doing?” Alistair asked.

“I’m going back to the academy and check on things there. What about you?”

Alistair got in a black car and drove off. Aiden watched Alistair’s car drive off and once it left his sight, Aiden entered a red vehicle and drove off to the academy.