" Wow..." These were the only words Eloise could utter when entering the meeting hall. A hall not less in grandeur, beauty and size when compared to its gate outside. The hall was divided into two wells, one upper and one lower. She walked into the lower one. The room was beautifully lit with light from stars drawn at the ceilings that shined their lights on the floor below which had a lifelike map of the world drawn on it with all three continents. Terralea at the centre with its land that goes all the way to the northern hemisphere with the iconic hexagonal division of territories using waterways that marked the areas of human control. A continent in the south, which was almost as big as the first one but seemed to be divided between two colours of Yellow and Green. And at last, another continent to their west, the unexplored continent which was fully covered in green. It was about half the size of Terralea with a big boiling volcano in the middle, called New Dawn, surrounded by different Island Chains.
As she stepped on the blue ocean, it created small waves even though the ground felt very solid. She stepped some more, a little more forcefully than before and the waves crashed on the distant shores of the continent. She wanted to step more but seeing others walking ahead she decided to not do that. Following Marcus, Isabella, and Fay, she was soon able to find their seat. It was ahead but still within the map, which was stretched till the end of a semi-well-shaped hall. Their seats happened to be above the blue ocean. Isabella and Marcus decided to offer pleasantries to people sitting adjacent to them. The hall was already filled with small chatters and the back and forth of maids and butlers serving wines and snacks.
She found the layouts of the seats very interesting, with the main platform having a big table at the front facing towards them. Behind them, the walls had five different flags that dropped down from the top and took up special focus from the start light as if to highlight them. The flags bear their respective family crests and were in mainly five colours. Amber Red with the mark of claws, Silver metal with a broken shield, Neon Blue with an old dried wand, Deep Purple with a wand and a sword that made a cross symbol and Khaki with a figure of a human at the centre. The last one looked more dirty and also worn out in front of her eyes. The colour pattern followed onwards and was visible on the seats of all that sat in front. Further behind her, an even bigger circle of seats was formed with thousands of unrecognised family representatives, but this time there was no colour at their table and each chair was in the monolithic colour of black, indisputable from each other if not for the people sitting on them.
Eloise then looked at her surroundings and noticed an anomaly that she missed before. More than half of the seats were empty. Not fully, as the head butlers and maids were all there, but the representatives from the recognised families like Isabella or Marcus were not there beside them. From the Seventy-two recognised families, only Thirty-six were filled in full. Even more strange were the extra seats that were adorned with khaki colour on the left side. All nine of them were fully empty, with no maid or butler and covered with a thick layer of dust. It felt as if no one had even gone near them for all these years as the dust also covered their surroundings. She looked at Sterling's Silver Metal Colour chair and then at the main table. That’s where the four Ancient family members sat beside an empty chair at the far right. A clear boundary seemed to be formed, with unrecognised families at the upper hall in the back, recognised houses in the lower hall, and the ancient house at the main table at the front.
" Look at the right corner, they are represented by the Illusionary Alliance." Isabella suddenly said and Eloise found an odd five people sitting there.
Two of them have very pale skin which sparkled as the light hit them with sharp red eyes. Beside two short, rough-looking people with three red raindrops marking with a small tail near the sides of both of their eyes. And to their left, was a person with fair skin wearing lousy silk clothes, pointy ears and long blonde hair. An expression of indifference was formed as he sat on his chair.
‘ Vampire, Dwarfs and Elf.’ Eloise was easily able to tell their races with one look. “ Are they also here as guests?" Eloise asked. Since the bill primarily affected their races, she felt it was natural they wanted to witness such progress with their own eyes.
“That’s a good question.” Isabella said as her eyes narrowed at Fay but the latter just smiled and remained silent.
“ Elves and vampires together at the same place? You don’t see that every day.” Seeing no answer, Isabella doesn’t plan to dwell more on it. " Vampires most likely don't want them to steal their limelight which they seemed to be trying for a while. For Dwarfs, it's interesting. They not only have no interest in a power struggle between vampires and elves, but also have an excellent relationship with most races including humans and thus were acting as non-threatening mediators between both alliances."
" They are just merchants selling their metals to anyone who comes asking. So everyone smiles in front of them. But it's good for them to be here, otherwise, likely, those Vampires might not want to be at the same table with some arrogant Elves." Fay finally said at last. She then brought a small badge from her pockets and handed it over to Eloise and said. “ Please keep this. You might need it later.”
Eloise looked at the badge and found it to be made of some metal with a silver coating over the body. It had a smaller wooden shield-like symbol drawn on it with four stars that overlapped on top of the shield. Her eyes changed to confusion. She could tell that it was a magic shield artefact with four stars representing the maximum strength of attack and a small wooden shield representing the user’s strength. It was made so that even someone who’s not even one star could remain safe in case of attack equal to four-star strength. But that’s what made her question, why would she need this here, in Celestial Palace.
"You should heed her advice and keep it.” Marcus suddenly said to her, in an unusually soft voice. She looked at her mother who also said nothing. ‘I wonder if there’s more for today’s show.’ Marcus turned back seeing her taking the artefact, a little lost about the show that was about to begin. Once again he had a watch happening in front of him. He didn't want to come here, for their presence was meaningless. But again, they don’t have a choice here.
Soon, everyone had exchanged their greetings, perhaps drinking a glass or two of their wines. And then, the small chatter of the hall started to dry down as a pin-drop silence descended in the room. Eloise found no one, whether in the bottom hall with recognised families, or the upper hall with thousands of unrecognised families made any sound. Almost like a spell that was cast upon them. The silence was so oppressive that only the sounds of breathing could be heard and Eloise started to sweat as she felt some force kept pressing her chest. She looked around but no one was talking and her mother motioned with her eyes, ‘Don’t make noise.’
“Stand.” Then a voice was heard as someone called out. Like being practised thousands of times in a careful motion, everyone stood up in a parade-like discipline.
Eloise had a difficult time wrapping her head around the unusual atmosphere that took such a drastic change, but Marcus was no stranger to it. He knew this feeling all too well, for it had been the same for the past few decades. What was a powerful Vampire or the prideful Elf? They all have difficulty breathing in the silence of the room. Soon, new sounds broke through the oppressive silence but the force that kept the silence only increased ever so. The sound of people walking.
The main gate opened with unusually creaky sounds despite his hinges being flooded with oils. A total of four people appeared. Each step of them left stronger waves on the map that swallowed the shores of the continent, and their sound echoed like the thumping of hearts that hit the chest of everyone. Whenever they pass by, all people lower their heads and put their right hand on their chest. The four soon took their seats at the main table. Time passed for about ten minutes but others stayed still until a voice sounded throughout the hall. " At ease."
‘Like the puppets and the puppeteer' Marcus suddenly remembered some words he read in a book. Attached from the strings above, the puppets moved with the will of its puppeteer. They see what he wants them to, and listen to what he demands them to, that’s it. For otherwise they are silent lifeless beings. The present hall was no different, a show of puppets being run here, and they are the puppets, with their puppeteers in the front.
Followed by that chair, was the Deep purple where a middle-aged lady with carefully combed green hairs and eyes. She sat with a stern face atop her purple coat with a golden chain across. Viva Valor Wolfblade, from the house of blade dancers, scanned the hall. For it was a house which combined the techniques of both the knights as well as mages into a set of moves which looked similar to an elaborate dance. But even more than that, it was their unnatural control over the Alliance’s Justice department that kept people on their toes. Those who refused to come to this assembly were prosecuted by them with iron-fisted laws.
Right next to her was a tall, muscular man in a black shirt covered in a silver suit. With short black hair and blue eyes that seemed to be looking at the surroundings with an unquestionable air of superiority. He sat on the Silver Metal coloured Chair, Victor Griffinguard Honour was written on his nameplate. The ancient family ran everything from the administrative as well as the current show of Celestia. Wolfblade might have made everyone at the toe, but it was this house that took away their voice.
He was followed by a Neon blue seat, where a guy, a little shorter than him, sat. His face was completely covered by his robes and only the long white hairs were visible to others. Even his hands were covered in gloves. Named Cyrus Radiance Sorcerous. Their control over knights and mages was such that not only did city lords require their permission to deploy them, but they would also be sent to arrest those who refused to come to this show. In an almost perverted sense, their ranks would be stripped before being handed over to the Wolfblade to carry out public sentences.
And lastly was the most eye-catching one, with his long fierce red hair and pitch black tight battle dress with red claw marks across. His eyes were big and red. And his haughty laugh reached even to the end of the hall as he talked with the person next to him. Roselt Drakon Flame, the only family among the Alliance to have the blood of not only humans but also another race, Dragons. With their ever-so-greedy eyes looking for gold, they used their control of Alliance’s anti-corruption bureau to shallow anyone who came into their crosshairs. The four confidants of the Alliance run the show as they like. To go against them, was the sin that deserves no mercy.
" Ladies and Gentlemen," It was Victor's voice that sounded with the cheerful orienter presenting his show to the audience. " My heart is filled with joy seeing everyone who came here today and hope that you had a wonderful journey when travelling here for the 1884th session of Starry Sky Alliance. Today I, Victor Griffinguard Honor, will be your host. I also hope that I will not be the reason for your disappointment today." Despite his earlier looks, Victor's words carried a light-hearted tone and a warm smile which contradicted his earlier self. " I know for sure that everyone present here has a bubbling question in their hearts, about the reason for the presence of representatives from Illusionary Alliance in this session. And surely many might already know the reason but allow me to officially say it here once again."
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Victor was talking towards everyone, but Eloise felt, and Marcus knew that his main audience was not the recognised as well unrecognised families at the back. But the head butlers as well as the maids, who showed no surprise at his words. After all, Houses like Sterling only knew about the bill passing as the reason when they received the invitation. But from the look of it, they seemed to have been called here without any other prior information. Isabella had her mind running, and probably others too. But Marcus was calm, without many questions towards things. For does it even matter? These four people would give some great speeches about something, and probably will also joke a little. And then, would pass the law whether these recognised houses agree or not. If they asked for their opinion at all, it would be an improvement for this show.
" But if I say it myself, I think the joy of today’s session would be lost. So, to find out the truth without losing the joy, please allow me to call on our valuable friend from the Illusionary Alliance, Lord Augustus Darkwood."
Seeing his name called out, a person, a vampire, arrived at the front of the main table, facing the high platform of the main four chairs. His back turned facing towards them. Eloise couldn’t see what expression he was making. Augustus performed a general salute towards the four.
" Esteemed lords of the humans, I am Augustus Darkwood, the current chairman of the Illusionary Alliance." He seemed to be addressing all but never turned his face towards Eloise even once and continued with a deep voice. Almost as if she and others don’t exist in his eyes.“ This is an honour for me to be here in front of you all today. Especially more so for today is the day when we discuss the upcoming future. One that involves every one of us present here."
“Tch!” To his words, a sound came from the back. Eloise turned to see who was so courageous or foolish to do that in the silent hall. It was the elf that came with Augustus. With his chest held high as his face looked down at the surroundings. He was covering his nose with a handkerchief. “ Do humans not clean themselves? This place reeks of bad odour.”
His words were provocative, or they should have been. That’s what Eloise thought. Many eyes from the upper well turned towards him. Almost like digging a hole in him. For when it was time for another race to talk this high in front of them. But the lower hall was a different world. Only a few looked at him, and that too with disdain no less than his before turning their head away. Eloise wanted to observe better by turning more but her eyes caught the moving lips of her mother. ‘See that? That’s what we call a blinded fool.’ The meaning behind the voiceless words shocked Eloise a little. But looking at no one from her family turning in for a response, she too didn’t bother much.
The lack of response and the utter silence of the hall infuriated the elf for being treated like a fool. A sigh of relief came from the dwarfs as well as the vampires when the elf just shut up and didn’t talk anymore. ‘Motherfucker can’t read the room. Does he want to go back in a body bag?’ Augustus thought as he struggled to not shout at the idiot and cleared his throat, to take the attention away from the elf, to himself. He decided to cut his speech short, for the eyes of four people in front of him were turning a little playful the more they looked at them. “ Chairperson Victor, today I am here to propose a non-aggression pact with the Starry Sky Alliance. Let us no longer work against the interest of each other. For the prosperity of the world, we shall live in a lasting peace.”
“Of course, for the prosperity,” Victor said, though there were small murmurs from the upper well. They became silent when he gave a glance at them. When Eloise looked around, she was in a two-man show. A scripted show, not an assembly of lawmakers.
Victor turned back to Augustus, and nevertheless, looked not as cheerful as before. “ But, if I remember it right, the Illusionary Alliance doesn’t have a mechanism for a common treaty, no? So, If I might ask, how many races are actually on board with the idea.”
“ Most are on board, but it might take some time to make others sign.” When Augustus finished his words. The maids and butlers around the assembly placed a sealed envelope in front of all recognised as well as unrecognised families. Isabella opened it and found it to be the terms and conditions of the non-aggression pact. It was not short, about three hundred pages long. She couldn’t finish reading it here even if she wanted to. But some parts were highlighted. Notably, once the treaty was signed, no one of either alliance could attack each other. Trade routes were among other things that were mentioned. But eyes got drawn into two lines which made her click her tongue. For it mentioned two things don't match up. First was the proposer of the treaty, the Elves and not the Vampires. This was surprising enough, but even more shocking was the races that were already on board with the treaty. Notably, it has Vampires but not Elves.
These words evoked surprised glances from most. Ignoring the fact that the Elvish race, who couldn’t seem to acknowledge the reality of humans as de facto rulers of this world could ever advocate for a non-aggression treaty. But would not join it before being presented. And then there were humans and vampires. There might have been a time when humans needed to sign a peace treaty with others, but not anymore. Only the old Ancestor of Vampire was able to reach the Five Stars' strength. What could humans gain from this was not highlighted in the treaty. Even at face value, the ancestor of vampires was only one person, and this hall already had four people of that strength. But that’s not even the final number. The very reason the Illusionary Alliance, the loose alliance of all races not human, even came to be was because they couldn’t rival the Starry Sky Alliance at all.
“ Let me put light on the need for such an alliance.” Victor was able to guess the words from their hearts. “ We have confirmed that Thar had broken our absolute taboos five decades ago. They have overplayed their hands and have touched the secrets of souls.” The alliance had few taboos it wanted no one to ever touch. It caused the forever-ending war with the Demon world in Astral Battlefield and busted the thoughts of ever unifying the human Alliance with what was now known as the subhuman world. These taboos had always caused bloodbaths whenever they were mentioned, and it was felt keenly by everyone in the hall. Victor put strength behind his voice, to overshadow the fearful faces of those in front of him. They had all reason to be fearful of if the Alliance wanted to do something to Thar for this taboo, this very idea shook all. Many have witnessed the Divine War themselves, and Marcus was one of them. His hands gripped the table and dug his fingers into the wood. “ We are not just ancient houses. No, we are the stars who always stood out to guide humanity towards their greatness. That’s why, whenever any humans made a mess, we never hesitated to clear their mess. Today is no different.”
He slammed his hand on the table, with a force that was felt even by the last person at the back, forcefully bringing them back from the stupefied bodies. “ You know how much of a mess is when someone plays with souls. It is no longer an option for us to just sit. We have to clear this mess that Thar left behind. Otherwise, humanity's future would be at stake. That’s why we, the four stars, have decided that today is the time to make up for past mistakes.”
Under the shocked eyes of people, Roselt laughed with his wide mouth as he raised his hands, the temperature rose to a sweltering hot that Eloise felt her eyebrows on the verge of burning. At the same time, the defence artefact given to her by Fay activated on his own and a small blue layer was formed surrounding her. It allowed her breathing room and from the ever-shaking shield, she could see a small dragon, made entirely of blue flames appeared in the hall. Just his existence was enough to make the four-star artefact tremble all over. She wiped her sweat which also covered all her back and looked at Isabella who was the same as her, sweating profusely but not as much. Most hit were the unrecognised houses, for they even dared to cast a defence spell in front of the dragon. The butlers and maids had it easy, there was no sweat from their side like the heat was not there for them.
With a roar that reverted across the celestial palace. It carried a shock wave with it that hit everyone except butlers and maids. The water of the ocean looked like anything, the trees on the continent flattened and a dust storm appeared in the desert. Eloise suddenly wanted to back off but her chair’s back was up against another table from behind which prevented her. The shield dimmed as she felt it gonna break soon, but suddenly it became stable as another purple layer appeared outside it. She looked at the front and found that the spell came from Viva Valor who just lowered her hand. But it was that, for the dragon leapt, took a deep breath and sprew the flame in front, towards the khaki-adorned chairs. It was not a match of equals as everything vapourised the moment it touched the flames. In an instant, all nine chairs were gone, even the dust was not to be.
The vision shocked her to the core, this was considered the most sacred place in her mind. Never in her dreams did she think of seeing such a display of power. But even more so for what was behind her. Filled with groans of pain, she found all the people from recognised families lying on the ground, covering their ears. Her mother was beside her with a pale face, with an almost shaky body. The elf seemed to be hit the hardest, he was unconscious and blood leaked from his orifices. The dragon humphed at the onlookers before disappearing. He left behind a hall, like a training ground, filled with cries of pain and nothing else. Even the last chair on the main table as well as the platform was no longer there.
“We will now officially accept the letter of Thar’s for their breakaway.” Victor continued with the same valour like he couldn’t see the people in front of him. “ I will put forth the treaty of Peace in front of the main council, does anyone have an objection?”
“ House Wolfblade Absent from voting.”
“ House Radiance Sorcerous vote in favour.”
“ House Drakon Flames also in favour.”
“ Since the votes are in favour with no veto, I, Victor Griffinguard Honour, will present the treaty for general voting.”
Fay, as well as all other head butlers and maids, pulled out a seal of their houses. In the same motion, they all raised it towards the ceiling and a green light was shot into the ever-dark ceiling.
“ With Seventy-two in favour, and Zero against or absent. I deemed this bill to be passed.” Victor looked at Augustus, who had already recovered his face back to normal. “ I hope that all other member races of Illusionary Alliance get on board with this treaty as soon as possible.”
“ Please be assured, Chairman Victor. I will make sure of it.” Seeing Augustus’ solemn words, Victor nodded and at last looked at the sorry state of people around. “ I would like to say some more about some other bills for today, but it looks like it is not possible for now. The assembly is dismissed.” With his words, he as well as others stood up and left without another word. The Illusionary Alliance also picked the unconscious elf and followed soon after. Their departure brought much relief to people as they hastily started to cast healing spells on themselves. They glanced at the now-gone chairs but didn’t dare to linger for more. No one said anything about what happened in the hall. Afraid to repeat what happened to those who did so decades ago. Many smelled blood in the air.
“Let’s go,” Isabella said with a little unsteady breath. Eloise wanted to ask about something, but she didn't feel the time was right. She moved in with Isabella and Fay. But Marcus didn't move from his chair and no one bothered him otherwise. When almost everyone was gone, he was still staring at the ceiling, blankly as scenes from earlier played in his eyes and also from decades ago. In an almost inaudible voice, he murmured to himself. “ For all your show, you still didn’t dare to touch that, did you? There’s no way you can. For you guys know her better than anyone.” He raised his body, but some blood still leaked from his nose which he didn’t bother to clean. Behind him, on the ceiling, were the five stars, shining ever so bright. Eternal as the time itself.
***