* Date: September 29, 2173

* Time: 6:15 AM

* Location: Gian Pantheon Church

''I have been waiting for you, my Master.''

This stunned the Ghost to a halt. Never did he think that an object could possess sentients. Worst of all, if the Queen and the Saintess were kneeling to the sword. That could only mean that this weapon is their supposed mother. How the fuck did that make any sense.

[What the hell!]

Vee exclaimed out loud; first, it was their method of teleportation, and now it was a talking sword. It made the cerebellar matrix of the A.I. comprehend how a blade constructed from an unknown material could somehow talk.

''Pardon?''

[That's not possible! How can you talk? And why are the Queen and the others kneeling!]

''Because I am their mother...''

''...Or at least I used to be when I still possessed my flesh.''

The blade responded to the perplexed artificial intelligence. Not wanting Vee to be overwhelmed, Tale confronted the sword face to face.

''Why did you call me your master?''

''Because you are the Hero. The one destined to save Eldrant from its demise.''

''And how does that prove I am your master?''

''Because I have seen your future, master Tale.''

''Elaborate.''

The floating sword then shattered into a million pieces of sand. Right before forming an elven lady, she wore a bright golden dress. Dawning a golden wreath crown over her shining blonde hair, she stood facing Tale.

''Two hundred years ago. Our kind fought against the Kaynians. They arrived at their ten-kilometer-long fortress and brought with them. The song of death and despair. Armies of each kingdom fell in a matter of seconds. The defenses that protected our capitols fell within minutes. And the entire world burned within a matter of hours...''

''...But not all was lost. In the fate of defeat, hope lingered. The surviving kingdoms banded together under one goal. The reclamation of what was once ours. Our homes, our people, and our world. Together, we drove back the Kaynians, and the sacrifices of brave men and women will never be forgotten. Two hundred years ago, I led all of Eldrant in pushing away the Kaynians off our world...''

''...But I sensed that this was only the beginning. Utilizing forbidden magic, I foresaw the future. A future where Eldrant burned, kingdoms desecrated, elves butchered, and my children deceased. Fear drove me mad, seeing how my daughters could meet such a fate. But then, I saw you. At first, I thought of your kind as nothing but irrelevant. It wasn't until I saw your kind face, the Kaynians with ferocity and might which surpass us elves. Which drove my curiosity, and watch as your kind eventually defeated the Kaynians and reclaimed the world you call Mars.''

The revelation about Mars raises questions about how the elve could know its name, as it should be impossible for her to possess that knowledge. Let alone the confrontation between the U.G.E. and its military and intelligence branches against the Kaynians. But for some reason, this elve knew, and Tale could tell she was truthful.

''I see...''

''...Will you assist us in our war against the Kaynians?''

The former Queen kneeled to the Ghost, showing her sincere willingness not only to save her planet. But also aid the U.G.E. against the Kaynian menace.

''From this day onward. I shall become your eternal servant, your weapon against the darkness, and I am yours to command my master.''

''Your name, we will need it to communicate fluidly.''

''Of course, my master. I am Sarroth, former Queen of Elvenia.''

The Ghost accepted the blade spirit to be his servant. Vee appeared over his head-up-displayed with an irritated look. Tale assumed she was not pleased, having someone other than her become his partner.

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[Okay, so you're replacing me now!]

''She is not replacing you.''

[Oh? And why is that, huh, wise guy!]

''Sarroth is vital in any future confrontation with the Kaynian Lord...''

''...Yesterday, we had our ass kicked by him. But with Sarroth, we can compete with him on equal footing.''

A light bulb appeared on Vee's holographic avatar. A sign that she figured out why Tale agreed to Sarroth's request. Tale hoped that Vee caught his hint if he was to bring Sarroth to Earth. I.C.E. could research her magical property and create something against Kaynians.

[You want to compete in a sword contest with the Knight?]

It seems that Vee did not apprehend Tale's hint at all. But it's better than nothing. At least no suspicion would be set on him and his plan for Sarroth.

''In a way, yes...''

''...During our confrontation with the Kaynians. The A.F.E. struggled against our adversary's melee capabilities. Much like the situation we are in. Sarroth provides a strategic deterrence against the Knight.''

[You know. For a made A.I. such as myself. I'm dumb at times~.]

''Yes, yes you are.''

Setting aside everything that they had talked about. Tale and Vee then looked at the other elves present at the Gazebo. Feeling embarrassed for herself, Vee smiled shyly at her outburst.

''Now that you have agreed with our mother's request...''

''...Shall we proceed with our meeting?''

[Of course, your Majesty.]

''Very well, allow me to summon the necessities for our meeting then.''

Materializing out of nowhere was a massive circular table and a set of chairs surrounding the table.

''Please take your seats. Hero, I assume you are comfortable with standing?''

''Affirmative, you Majesty.''

The pivotal meeting begins as each member, including the Queen, Saintess, General, Champion, and Hero, takes their respective seats. The gathering marks a significant moment in their collaboration.

''Now we shall plan our attack against the invader here on Eldrant...''

''...As you all know, the invader was last spotted on Quake Town. The Hero and my Champion battled the invader and drove him away from the town.''

[Yes, we were there. But I have a question, Your Majesty?]

''What is it, Lady Vee?''

[Where is the Kaynian device that your elves took back on Quake Town?]

''I believe General Eugene could shine some light on the invader's device.''

The general then utilized her magic to project a three-dimensional image of the Gate. Elven researchers could be seen tampering with its workings. But so far, nothing seems to trigger the device.

''The device is currently in Fae, our military headquarters in Ivershine City...''

''...The device is in good hands, Lady Vee. I can assure you that. Our top researchers are doing their best to decipher its properties.''

''What have you discovered so far? General?''

''Nothing as of yet, Saintess. The device is intelligent as far as we could tell...''

''...But we can tell you that the device harbors energies foreign to our own.''

The projection then showed the radiation readings of the device. Thankfully, the elves that researched the Gate wore hazmat suits, protecting them from the deadly radiation of the Gate.

[Well, I don't want to crush anyone's hopes and dreams about discovering the purpose of the Gate, but I already know of its function.]

''May I ask of its true function then, lady Vee?''

[Certainly General. I was about to inform Tale about it, but I think everyone should be on the same page as us...]

[...The Gate is a faster-than-light travel device. Utilized to open wormholes anywhere in the galaxy. This allows Kaynian vessels to travel anywhere without using their own FTL engines. This device wouldn't cause any problems for us, but the Gate is currently opening.]

Vee then projected a holographic image. A simplified animation of the Gate could be seen. On the top corner of the hologram was a stage meter.

[Currently, the Gate is in stage one. This means that the Gate is pin-pointing the Entrance and Exit of the wormhole. It will acquire the ability to transport entire fleets of warships from Kaynian worlds to Eldrant. Indeed, that's what the progression of the Gate's stages will ultimately achieve.]

This shocked everyone, including Tale. Then that meant the Fleet Admiral knew about the Gate's purpose or at least a hint of what it was. If that was true, then the mission given to S.N.S was to deny Kaynian reinforcements on Mars.

[Tale, our mission before we arrived here on Eldrant was to stop the Kaynian reinforcements from reaching Mars. That was our mission, and we accomplished it. But we also doomed Eldrant in return...]

[...Also, the quote on quote, fleet. That attacked Pluto on September 10, 2173, was a reconnaissance flotilla Tale. Pardon my language, but it was a fucking flotilla! Not even a battlegroup or a strike group but a fucking flotilla! We do not know the full strength of the entire Kaynian race, Tale...]

[...They almost got Earth and her people in just three weeks. Two hundred years ago, a ten-kilometer-long Kaynian warship almost burned Eldrant. Now imagine what lies behind that Gate when it opens. Even if we were prepared, we wouldn't stand against them. In truth, not only are we outnumbered, but we're also outgunned by the Kaynians.]

Vee exclaimed about their current situation and how dire the Kaynian threat was. Tale was processing the information given to him with certainty and calm. The elves were having a meltdown: knowing how the Hero's kin was struggling against the Kaynian's equivalent of a flotilla was mind-boggling.

''A flotilla? Am I not hearing this wrong, lady Vee?''

[I'm afraid not, you Majesty.]

''By the Pantheons...''

''...But there has to be a way for us to stop the Gate from opening. Deny the invader's Entrance toward our world?''

[Yes, that's the good news, the only good news we currently have and will ever have. The Gate could be shut down or, better yet, set to self-destruct. This means we could deny the Kaynians the chance of coming to Eldrant before anything else.]

The elves present gave out a collective sigh. At least their world wouldn't be invaded just yet. But that didn't mean that they were out of trouble. After all, there is a chance that the Kaynian Lord may retrieve the Gate. They straighten themselves and calm their postures.

''I suppose our only objective is to guard the device until we can find a way of destroying it?''

[General, to be frank with you. That would be the case. But during our confrontation with the Kaynian Lord on Quake Town. The Kaynian triggered its second stage.]

''And what is this second stage?''

[It implies that the Gate would teleport until it positions itself above Eldrant's atmosphere.]

''Oh, I assume that the Gate would try its best to escape the confines of Fae?''

[Yes. That would be the case.]

A moment of silence echoed throughout the meeting. The information bombshell that had just been dropped had just exhausted each participant's capacity to comprehend the reality they were in. But not all hope is lost; they can still protect Eldrant.

''Then this could mean we wouldn't be able to return to Mars?''

[I'm afraid not. This is the only way, Tale. I'm sorry. We either destroy or deactivate the Gate for Eldrant's people. Believe me. I tried to find a solution, but there was none.]

Everyone in the meeting felt the pain of the Hero. And unable to return home because of the predicament they were in. The Ghost stood quietly and clenched his fist before letting go.

''Very well...''

''...It was our fault that the Kaynian Lord and the Gate are currently here. So it should be our responsibility to help this planet and its people.''

Tale understood that accepting this reality was difficult, but he recognized that the likelihood of returning home was nearly nonexistent. Tale never gave up, but now that wasn't the case. He needed to give up on returning to Earth. The U.G.E. can hold its own pretty well without him: he hopes his brothers can change the tides of war against the Kaynians.

''General Eugene. I order you to put our military on standby and prepared to mobilize. Sister, I want your priestess to locate the invader's location. Adelard, Hero. Both of you need to ready yourselves for facing the invader once again. The fate of Eldrant is at stake, and we will not take any chances!''

Gabriella commanded because time was of the essence now. They needed to locate the invader quickly before the Gate could teleport out of Fae. In the best-case scenario, the Gate wouldn't teleport. In the worst-case scenario, the Gate could teleport itself toward the invader.

To Be Continued.