Upon arriving at my destination, I was struck by what seemed to be a fractured world, one that was dimly lit by Magical Energy smothering every inch of it. However, what could be seen was a massive skeleton of some sort of serpentine creature that coiled around the area I was standing and yet despite the scenery the Magical Energy fueling this place was all coming from the skull of the creature that encased this place like a cage.

[Notice: Threat Detected: A Barrier has been analyzed: Celestial being has been Detected: There is currently a significant chance of death... "No"...: All possible defenses have been activated: The Sovereigns Six Face Seal Is Being Unlocked: All Actions Will Be Corrected Under the Esoteric Restrictions Will.]

My Esoteric Restrictions ran through my head and strangely hesitated about something like it refused a particular option. Still, even if it did cause me to wonder my Esoteric Restrictions did follow through with what they were set out to do.

It took a moment for My core to fully manifest within the barrier while every fiber of my being was enhanced beyond what I could normally achieve. "... I see... It seems we're putting some of our new abilities to use," I mused to myself as new and old spells began to manifest around me, I was a bit surprised My Esoteric Restrictions already analyzed the Scholar's peculiar protective layer of Mana Essence and recreated it specifically for me.

Regardless I was left waiting for The Monarch that summoned me here to reveal themselves. It wasn’t hard to distinguish where the opposing Magical Energy was coming from and that just happened to be the jaws of the massive serpentine skeleton. "Once the Great Betrayer created an abomination from the shattered realms of Aterius... A Primordial demon. The very same one that leaves a bad taste on the tongue. I remember Vectus being torn apart by its rage and it siphoned all of my life essence for itself. However, it didn't stop there three other domains fell in the span of years, then there was nothing, but a scar left behind. The unstoppable monster that tore the world asunder... vanished." The voice that resonated within the entire barrier was of a male who commanded attention with his every word like he was alone was the focal point of this space. “I spent many years restoring Vectus to its former self without a single ounce of the power I once had. Even so, I built the guild with the hope of finding the power I once held, and I certainly thought I was closer than ever before. however, that was until I witnessed you. A memory that existed within the mind of Astrid. The spitting image of a primordial demon who found itself in my Domain, at first, I was confused and angered by your presence and even now I should be, after all I just found out my employees are members of The Cursed Clan Kanmori, A mistake on my part but I am unable to maintain more than a few Communions since regaining my strength. Regardless I didn't think I'd come to associate myself with a Xiao, an enemy that I could never forgive and yet you have become a valuable ally to me despite our history. I am Lumiere, the Monarch of Vectus and I’m willing to hear out your plan." The Monarch stated and it didn't take him long to reveal himself from the throne he sat upon within the gaping jaws of the massive creature.

The Monarch could be barely seen from the dimly lit surroundings of this space but a set of uniquely slit turquoise eyes landed upon me with a stare of superiority. The aura he exuded was immense and when he stood from his seat, the cane he held struck the floor and caused the Magical Energy maintaining this space to flare at his command.

The dim surroundings ceased to exist as the space brightened with a color matching his eyes and revealed the Monarch before me in garments of regality, consisting of a white under shirt with ruffled cuffs and a long embellished jacket draped over his shoulders like a cape. All while waist length hair flowed freely behind him. It was hard to miss the two odd vibrant locks of turquoise that flowed with his hair, in a way they could easily be mistaken for some sort of horns.

I found my gaze fixated on him for a long moment with a bit of unexplainable hatred welling in my core. Still, I knew where that feeling was coming from even if I didn't understand it my mouth opened with a worded response that came out naturally without a second thought. "... Ally? I suppose I could consider a Monarch that, your little guilds already proven to be quite useful even if a big part if that is because of Clan Kanmori. Well, I've recently decided that I will be taking the guilds idea and create a Clan for myself, one that your guild will help build in my own image." I remarked with a bit of humor from the slight twitch the Monarch gave.

"Hmm. I had a feeling that was your intent. Although I can't say I'm happy that you have plan to steal my guilds project, but I don't exactly have a choice anymore. however I'm more curious to know how exactly you and Clan Kanmori plan to do that, the trial that is inevitably going to happen will be quite the spectacle and even if you are prepared for what happens at any given point Clan Mugen's Monarch can deem you guilty and it will be all over," He stated seeming to have some trouble holding back a wheezy laugh but it did seem like he was taking all of this seriously.

"I guess that's why I will have a Monarch supporting me. After all this is going to help your guild. If I understood correctly, your influence on that Monarch council will also be considerably increased after you have a supporting clan regardless of who is actually behind that clan, and recently you were made aware of Clan Kanmori, to put it simply we are going to make sure there is absolutely no way any Monarch will be able to label us as the enemy under your Domain… and so far I like the Idea of using this core as evidence of what actually occurred but also to see their faces. After all no one but us few know about the Progenitors Core... but just showing it to a bunch of deities won't get it out into the public, it's worth noting that those disappearances that are posted around Vectus is probably the Kyogen's doing, I wonder how an average Clan who loyally follows their Monarch would react when they find out their Monarchs can't protect them... So Yeah, lets make sure my trial is a spectacle."

The Monarch did listen to me with a focused interest as he considered my words. "You make valid points. However, before we continue, I’d like to discuss the Kyogen and this Core... a strange object even foreign to my knowledge. It has traces of the Astral Realm within its Mana Essence, I first noticed this within Astrid, but the core itself was intertwined in her soul, removing it would have killed her. Regardless I still find it strange the core possesses the very power it does. Afterall, the Astral Realm is a shattered veil that is long forgotten, there isn't a single known being who can access it anymore. I'm curious to know how you managed to slay the being with one of these cores, earlier you brushed through it but didn't explain how this Scholar was slain." he questioned undoubtedly observing my Aura that had been active since I entered this space.

"... I seen it... The second I left his sure hit attack my Magical Energy tore through all of his defenses in a single moment, and when my blade severed the Scholars power from his thoughts, I released a mass of spells into his being frying his insides with Magical Energy, it was the only option I had... the Scholar certainly wasn't weak." I remarked as I recalled what occurred in the moment as the Monarch before me took all the information into account and I could practically see him speculate over every detail of it.

"That is interesting, your new power certainly has caught my eye. However, it wasn't this intense while you were talking with Antoris which means you can control how much is seen. if we are to go down this route you suggested keep your Aura at the level you had it upon arriving. I can use this as an opportunity to announce you as Vectus's SS-Ranked member if we manage to succeed in your trial, and if you want more of an Audience for your trial, I can provide that. Afterall your Trial will undoubtedly take place here in Vectus, I will make it a public trial. I have no doubts many will come and see a Xiao, get persecuted, many have already heard about the rumored events within the Labyrinth so it should be no trouble to get a crowd." The Monarch explained which was what I needed, and he seemed to be on the same page if not already adding to how we would play out this event.

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"... glad you've finally added some ideas into this... Here I thought you planned to trap me in your barrier." I remarked with a bit of a humor at my own words.

"I applaud you for coming, although we are still in Vectus and yes It did cross my mind before I realized my position, but it is best if I don't... however I am putting a lot of trust in you and your Clan Kanmori to help with this situation. I just hope I'm not wrong." He stated while tapping the side of his cane with a finger before he sat back into his throne.

"You won't be," I remarked before asking a few questions on my mind, "... I don't exactly know much about you Monarchs... I seem to have forgotten in recent years... You know how it is… but since we're now actively working together, there is a few things I want to ask you. let's start off with the less important stuff like you said you have seen me before in Astrid's memories, was that In Carith? a few years ago, what's that all about," I said taking a moment to ask some of the things that were at the front of my mind.

The Monarch before me seemed to have known I was going to ask him questions and he didn't seem to mind answering them. It turned out he indeed saw me first in Carith, however upon investigating it seemed the footprint I had left there had completely disappeared which caused me to wonder how that was possible.

Still, the Monarch noted it was possible a Deity may have been responsible for erasing my trace within Carith and that did narrow it down to two Individuals I met back then, both as mysterious as the other, Indrath and the Masked Man I could now call the Founder of the Kyogen. Of course, there wasn't an actual answer for which of them had done it or if it was even them to begin with. Regardless that question was answered, and the next one had to do with The Labyrinth itself, A celestial Artifact as the Scholar referred to it as. It seemed that was the truth, the three Labyrinths that dot Aterius are gateways that manifests resources from an ancient age and among those resources a large mass of Mana Beasts are created from it. In other words, the Labyrinths were artifacts that essentially never ran out of resources. Which is why many Monarchs send expeditions to gain resources and such within the Labyrinths and the Monarch in front of me was no different. The amount of Mana cores he collected had significantly restored his strength since encountering a previous version of myself that had apparently caused his loss of power.

With all that said, he wasn't able to tell me why the celestial artifact was targeted by the Kyogen or what they were trying to achieve with it, but it was possibly related to the Astral realm, and he did acknowledge that I found the group of terrorists he was pursuing.

Lastly, I asked him about the most important questions that had recently come up. "... So? I take it you know a bit about me... you see I don't exactly remember our first meeting. Why not explain what happened back then and whatever else you know about me," I remarked assuming he would have answers to my fragmented memory dilemma.

The Monarch before me looked a bit confused by my request but the momentary pause, he had told me he knew a lot about it. "You have lost your memory, haven't you? I wondered about that from the very moment I met you a second time but now it makes sense. However, that may have been a blessing in disguise," He stated with a sharp intuition expected from a Monarch or rather a being that lived for a very long time. "I can tell you are serious. I can't tell you what your favourite foods were or what you did on sunny days, but I can tell you the things that I do know. You were never meant to exist. You were a mistake the great betrayer made out of far too much ambition. The great Betrayer claimed it was for the safekeeping of his domain. Regardless many Deities considered what he done to be unforgivable, forming a communion with a primordial Demon. That alone was enough to condemn him, and it started a Great War between the Cursed Clans of Mythral against the seven domains of the Sovereigns Council. The Great Betrayer and the Clans under him caused great devastation for years and we did the same, I will commend the Great betrayer for truly sticking to his word about his creations, they remained on Mythral as an unstoppable bastion while the Golden Legion marched forward. It wasn't till the war began to wane that peace talks were in their earliest stages that the entire world felt a wave of energy wash across the land, almost like one loud gut wrenching scream had shaken every single domain in a moment... then for the first time a deranged primordial demon with celestial blood stepped out of Mythral," he began to explain with some anger laced in his words but he remained calm while he recounted the event. "What happened next was not another Great war, but rather a massacre starting within my Domain, you alone decimated this domain. At the time I wondered why? what could have caused that and that was answered when you defeated me... What I saw was a being who lost something and was desperately trying to get it back... After that, I was in a near death state for many years before I eventually awoke... My domain in shambles and in my mortal body, I later found out the Xiao, that killed me was now referred to as the Ghost of the Xiao, Much of Aterius was still recovering and much had already changed like Mythral separation, any clan that opposed the sovereign’s council were now considered cursed clans. I soon learned I had missed a lot while I was unconscious, during your rampage strange phenomena began, massive mana beasts appeared everywhere causing destruction, deities began to turn on each other and disappeared for no apparent reason and yet the most prominent event was when the Astral realm was shattered. When it happened strangely enough the problems Aterius faced deescalated, You and all of Aterius's problems disappeared and we found the world as it once was. However, that left me with one question did that man I saw in front of me find what he was searching for... I suppose you currently can't answer that."

[Notice: Information is being analyzed: relevancy will be determined: The results can be reviewed later: Immediate attention is currently required.]

"... Huh? whatever, I get it." I said to myself tapping at the side of my head after The Monarch finished speaking, while my Esoteric Restrictions attempted to process and reconstruct the history that was explained to me all while advising me to keep my attention on the current conversation. "... That's some history, but it's a lot more than I expected to find out, I guess that will answer some of the questions I had. still... what happens now? I take it you want me to limit my public appearance till this Trial? that would probably be for the best," I remarked while The Monarch before me seemed to take a moment to acknowledge my words.

"Precisely, I'll tell Antoris to set up a place for you to stay within the Guild, this way I'll be able to contact you with information that will prove vital to your Trial. Antoris and I expect you and Clan Kanmori to fulfill your role. I do not wish for my domain to fall once again under the grip of the Cursed clans of Mythral, so this time I will be putting my entire faith in you. I do suppose if this was ever found out, I too, will be considered a betrayer to the Sovereigns Council" Lumiere said with a short wheeze of a laugh before he added one final thing to his statement. "If you succeed in your Trial and promises, I'll make sure your reputation and place within Vectus is secured," He added wrapping up our discussion those last words.

Regardless I knew that I would be more than ready for the mere hurdles ahead of me, with all the help I already had in my pocket I'd be set to show them all a spectacle like no other. "Glad to see we're on the same page, I have to say this trial will be very interesting," I remarked with some flat humor before the sound of the Monarchs Cane struck the ground. Which cued a Teleportation circle to manifest in his barrier giving me the chance to leave this place and return to the Guildhall.

Without further discussion, I left The Monarch behind to begin preparations for the upcoming events and back to my Clan waiting for me.

I knew things were about to get interesting from here on out and there was lots to do.