Knox realized that attacking the elders was futile. The barrier they had erected was too powerful for him to break without using his abilities, and he knew he couldn't force his way through. Gritting his teeth in frustration, he retreated about ten meters away from them and sat down, crossing his legs in a show of reluctant patience.

"Very well," he growled, his eyes still blazing with anger. "I'll hear you out. But make no mistake, this doesn't change anything."

The elders exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of relief and apprehension. The middle elder lowered her hand, and the shimmering barrier between them softened but remained in place.

The elder on the left spoke first, his voice gentle yet firm. "Knox, you are a powerful being, but your strength alone will not bring you the peace or justice you seek. Your anger stems from deep pain, pain that we understand."

Knox's eyes narrowed. "Spare me the sympathy. What do you want to tell me?"

The middle elder took a step forward, her eyes filled with a mixture of compassion and resolve. "You are the product of a union between a human and an Aetherian. It places you at a crossroads. You can choose to harness your power for destruction or find a path towards understanding and balance."

Knox's voice, laced with defiance, cut through the air. 'Understanding and balance? My life has been a series of betrayals and pain. How can you expect me just to forget that?'

The elder on the right, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "We do not ask you to forget but to see beyond your pain. There is a greater purpose to your existence, one that you can only fulfill if you let go of your rage and seek a different path."

Knox's eyes flickered with a mixture of emotions—anger, confusion, and a hint of curiosity. "A different path? And what would that be?"

The middle elder smiled faintly. "We cannot dictate your path, Knox. Only you can choose it. But know this: the power you possess can either bring about a new era of peace or plunge the world into further chaos. The choice is yours."

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Knox stared at them, his expression calm but his eyes burning with anger. "Can you bring back Sara? Maybe Timmy? My mom or my brother? No, I didn’t think so. You expect me just to forget and forgive, but you're the reason my father did what he did and the reason Sara and Timmy were manipulated."

For a moment, silence hung heavy in the air. Knox looked at the elders, his mind racing. Part of him wanted to dismiss their words, to continue his path of vengeance and destruction. But another part, a small yet persistent voice deep within, urged him to consider their message.

Knox's gaze shifted sharply back to the elders, his eyes narrowing in suspicion and lingering anger. He clenched his fists, fighting the urge to lash out again, knowing it would be futile against their barrier. The middle elder, sensing his turmoil, spoke with a mixture of sadness and determination.

"You are still blinded by rage; your eyes tell us everything," the middle elder sighed, her voice soft yet carrying the weight of centuries of wisdom. "We want you to come to the capital and see how life is there. Maybe it will help you move on from Sara."

Knox's expression darkened, the mention of Sara stirring a deep, aching pain within him. "Move on? Do you think a tour of your precious capital will make me forget what happened to her? What happened to my family?"

The elder on the left stepped forward slightly, his voice calm and soothing. "Not to forget, Knox, but to understand. There is more to our world than the pain and betrayal you have experienced. The capital is a place where humans and Aetherians coexist in harmony. It might show you that there is another way to channel your power and your grief."

Knox's eyes widened in disbelief as he processed the elder's words. "Humans and Aetherians... living together?" he repeated, his voice tinged with disbelief.

The middle elder nodded solemnly. "Yes, Knox. In the capital, humans and Aetherians coexist peacefully. It is a place where differences are embraced, not feared."

Knox shook his head, his mind struggling to reconcile this new information with everything he had been taught. "But that's impossible," he muttered, more to himself than to the elders. "I've spent my whole life believing that humans and Aetherians were enemies, that our very existence threatened each other's survival."

The elder on the left stepped forward, his expression gentle yet firm. "It is true that there has been conflict between our two races in the past. But in the capital, we have chosen a different path. We have learned to see beyond our differences and work together for the greater good."

Knox felt a surge of conflicting emotions wash over him—shock, confusion, and a flicker of something he couldn't quite identify. "And you expect me to believe that?" he asked, his voice laced with skepticism.

The elder on the right met his gaze with unwavering sincerity. "We do not ask for blind faith, Knox. We only ask that you keep an open mind and see for yourself what the capital has to offer. Perhaps it will change your perspective."

For a moment, Knox stood there, his thoughts swirling in turmoil. The idea of humans and Aetherians living together seemed unfathomable, yet a small part of him couldn't help but be intrigued by the possibility. Could it be true? Could there really be a place where his kind and humans coexist in harmony?

With a reluctant nod, Knox finally spoke. "Fine. I'll go to your capital and see for myself. But don't think for a second that I'll be easily convinced."

The elders nodded in understanding, their expressions filled with a mixture of compassion and hope. "That is all we ask, Knox," the middle elder said softly. "Come with us, and perhaps you will find the answers you seek."