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  > System Event War Council.

  > Location: Town of New Beginnings.

  > Portal Sponsor: Varrax the Unyielding.

  Time until event: 1h 42m 14s…

  ——————————

  The golden skinned celestial sat listening to the panicked voices of the gathered crowd. They had all come to the town hall with questions and fear.

  The celestial turned his head slightly as he tuned his hearing between each conversation. He sat on his simple wood chair at the front of the hall.

  He hadn’t asked for the position, but the people of New Beginnings had given it anyway. It was a burden he, the king known as Aurelo, did not shoulder lightly.

  So now, with the latest event notices looming over the town, the residents all turned to him.

  Of course, they had all gathered and immediately started talking. Voices competed with each other as worries and questions were thrown back and forth. Ideas of what they should do. Questions about what the plan was.

  The celestial took it all in, his mind calm. He would speak soon. He would address their concerns and try to calm their worried minds.

  And they had the right to be worried.

  The crowd was composed of adults… and children.

  This town was unique, as far as the celestial could deduce. Everyone here was a parent of a young child. Be it a boy, girl, toddler or babe. They were gathered here.

  Aurelo did not think it was all of the world's children and parents. But there were thousands here.

  So it was understandable the worry that plagued the town.

  A worry built on desires to shield their young. To protect those who were not yet ready for a new world such as this.

  “Father.”

  Aurelo’s emerald eyes turned down and to his right. He stared into the matching set of his youngest daughter.

  “Do you…” The young girl hesitated, her eyes thoughtful but worried. “Does this have anything to do with the infiltrator? The one you executed? Are the gods punishing us for our actions?”

  “No. No, my child.” Her father replied, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “It is not that simple. If it is connected with that disgusting man then these plans were laid long ago.” He smiled gently. “That man was connected to this more than we know. I stand by my choice, heavy as it was. He was most likely planning on sabotaging our defenses.”

  “But why?” His daughter asked. “ Why here? This is a town of children and parents. What military gain could they possibly hope to achieve?"

  The broad-shouldered Aurelo glowed dimmer. He gave his daughter’s should a firm squeeze. “Ah, but you see that is where you don’t understand. Where there is someone’s child, there is an opportunity. If you can capture and threaten the child, their parents will do anything to protect them. They will bend the knee and do unspeakable acts to ensure their child's safety.”

  His brow furled as disgust filled his face. “At least that is a theory. I hope I am mistaken. Perhaps this is merely one of countless towns, and this is not a targeted move.” He shook his head. “But I cannot believe it to be anything but that god’s goal. In times like these, daughter, you should not doubt your hunches.” The celestial looked out across the crowd. “Nor should you remain silent while those you have vowed to protect descend into despair.”

  He stood, then glanced back and gave his daughter a stern smile. “Salentia Seraphar, I would request your aid.”

  Salentia straightened, her face hopeful as she nodded. “What is it father?”

  Aurelo’s face firmed. “I will need my swords, please retrieve them for me.”

  His heart broke as a glimpse of fear shimmered across her face. That feeling changed to pride as he saw her school her expression, her face serious.

  “Yes, sir. I will return shortly.”

  She pivoted and quickly moved away from him.

  Aurelo clenched his fists as he watched his youngest leave on her task.

  Be it man, beast, or god. He would not allow any harm to come to his children.

  His gaze turned to the crowd.

  That included those not of blood, but of duty.

  Worried whispers hissed, loud conversations and worry dominated. These poor people.

  A multitude of voices tried to wrestle control of the room as each could not restrain themselves.

  “Good people of New Beginnings.” Aurelo’s voice spread from the front. They were calm, deep, and commanding.

  As if a blanket of snow had descended, the town hall fell silent.

  “Thank you.” Aurelo looked out, his gaze slowly moving through the room. He met each worried look and returned a calm smile to each. The tension of the room unwound by just a notch.

  “We have all seen the notice. It seems there are forces in this new world that wish to do us and our loved ones harm. I would like to discuss how we are to address this threat.”

  “You’re the one who caused this!” A terrified voice rang out. “You… you… You murdered that man! What if this is our punishment?!”

  Aurelo’s regal statute did not change. He did not cut back a reply. Aurelo merely gave a sad smile.

  “Corvus, you need not be afraid. Come forward and speak your mind.” Aurelo searched the sea of faces. His eyes stopped as he found the man, who slunk in the back. The toned celsistal beckoned the man forward.

  The tall, wiry man gulped. He looked down at his side, bending down to whisper to the wide-eyed boy who still had his fingers intertwined with Corvus.

  After a few seconds of whispers, the boy gave a tight nod and then released his father's hand. He immediately moved around him and wrapped his hand into his mother's. Corvus and his wife exchanged glances, then the man’s face firmed, and he turned to face Aurelo.

  Corvus stepped forward, locking eyes with the celestial royal.

  “You heard me,” Corvus spoke. “The man you slew. The one you called an infiltrator. What if… what if this is the result of that murder? He swore that his god would have revenge.” Corvus’s voice grew hard. “And now a god threatens to invade our town? It cannot be a coincidence!”

  The crowd murmured, and whispers grew.

  The man spoke of his fear. Of his family and how he had begun to hope of a world without the constant war of his world. Dreams and hopes shattered by simple lines of text.

  Aurelo let him speak, only listening intently. The man’s words were his own, but were also the thoughts of the town.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  But he had been the only one brave enough to speak his mind.

  Corvus took a breath, pausing between words.

  “I hear your concerns.” Aurelo cut off the rest of Corvus’s speech.”But, I will tell you now, that man had nothing but evil in his heart. In my many years as a ruler, I have met the type before. They want nothing but harm to befall those around them so they may rise to new heights.”

  Aurelo’s eyes searched the faces of the gathered townsfolk. “Left to his plots, he would have caused enormous harm to our community. His story of how his child died before he came to town was already suspicious.”

  He turned his gaze back to Corvus. The wiry man looked unsure, afraid.

  “I stand by my choice to execute him. In his execution, we saw his true colors, the filth of his soul.”

  Corvus opened his mouth to say something, but Aurelo held up his hand. “Allow me to finish.”

  The man closed his mouth, giving a curt nod.

  “Thank you.” Aurelo smiled at him, his emerald eyes gleaming. The golden light from him grew in brightness. “I cannot deny your words. My actions may very well be the reason this disaster has fallen on our doorstep.”

  His emerald eyes caught movement in the crowd. The people parted as his youngest daughter walked swiftly forward. The two bundles in her arms strained her arms as she struggled forward.

  “Sir,” she bowed before him.

  “Salentia.” He replied in acknowledgement.

  She rose and held the bundles towards him. Aurelo took them gracefully. “Thank you.”

  His daughter bowed her head, then moved to his side.

  Aurelo looked back to Corvus, who had watched the entire exchange with wide eyes.

  “As I said. I cannot deny your words, but I do not believe this would have been stopped had I spared that man.” Aurelo said as he opened the bundles. With practiced motions, his hands blurred as the belts seemed to jump onto him.

  The two long emerald and gold sword sheaths gleamed in the light of the town hall.

  “But, I will not deny my hand in this matter. For that reason, I will bear this burden until its end.” His gaze quickly moved, taking in all the dumbfounded gazes. “We do not have the time to discuss this further. In fact, we have very little time to mount a defense.”

  With a flourish, a gleaming gold rapier flashed out from his waist. He stabbed it into the ground and gripped it tightly with one hand. “Therefore. I will buy the time you will all need to prepare the town for defence.” He bowed his head solemnly. “I will give my seat to my daughter. She is young, but has been taught from birth in matters such as these.”

  He brought his free hand to his chest.

  “I have but one request for you, brave people. If I should fall in this fight, please look after her.”

  Not waiting for a response, he raised his head and removed his blade from the ground. In a flash, it was back in its scabbard, and his gaze was now on his daughter.

  “Salentia Seraphar.” He intoned.

  “Sir.”

  “The duty to watch the light now falls to you. May you never let it fade, and may its light always grow.”

  Salentia blinked and bit her lip. After a brief pause, she gave her response with grim determination.

  “I will watch the light and keep it safe from the shadows. May it ever grow so its glow will guide you safely home.”

  Aurelo nodded.

  With firm eyes, he turned and strode from the room, leaving shell-shocked gazes in his wake.

  “What.. What?” Corvus stammered, the first to recover.

  “Everyone!” a small voice echoed from the front of the room. The residents turned to see Salentia sitting in the simple wooden chair. “While my father goes, we must prepare. Our defenses must be reinforced and all ways in and out of town barred.”

  Her small face scanned the crowd. “I am young, but I have been taught many things on how to defend a stronghold. I would ask anyone who has ideas to please come forward.”

  “But…” Corvus spoke again. “Are you not going to stop your father? What… if he..”

  “If he dies?” Salentia cocked her head, sadness cracking through her mask for just a moment. “Well, that’s simple.” Her smile was filled with resolve. “I will take up the fight in his stead.”

  Stunned silence from the room.

  She searched the faces of the crowd, her small brow scrunched in confusion.

  “But you are so young,” Corvus stated the obvious.

  “I am,” Salentia replied. “But I am royalty. It is the solemn duty of royalty to protect those who have honored them. That is what my father has taught me.”

  She waved her hand. “We cannot afford to waste a minute.” Her eyes locked onto the wiry man. “Corvus, do you have any ideas how we can further protect our home? We must use every second that my father gives us to make it as secure as possible.”

  The grim reality sunk into the members of the crowd. Yet so did hope.

  If this small girl could carry such a burden, why couldn’t they find their own to carry?

  They would protect their town. They would use every moment the Celestial king, known as Aurelo, would give them. The man who would protect a town of people he barely knew.

  As if everyone in it were his child.

  It was because of this story that people in town began to refer to Aurelo by a new name.

  “The Father.”

  —— ? ——

  > System Event War Council.

  > Location: Rockfall Stronghold

  > Portal Sponsor: Varrax the Unyielding.

  Time until event: 1h 22m 14s…

  ——————————

  “Ah…” the word hissed across the warm slope. “I seeee’ preparations go well.”

  The group of beings turned to the speaker, their eyes shifting in strange patterns.

  “Oulirah, you came to inspect our work?” one of the group called back.

  “I did.” The speaker moved closer. Their movement across the stone would have caused the average human to shudder. They didn’t step as much as glide, their legs and feet shifting at unnatural angles.

  But none of the people present reacted.

  For this was the way the Uncanny walked when only their kind was present.

  “Precept of war, hmmm? We had all hoped this new world would bring peace for us.” Oulirah lamented. “But it makes sensesss’. While we have waited for the outsider’s friends to seek retribution, we never could have imagined this would be the result.” The tall, pale-skinned humanoid paused. Their hands stroked their chin reflexively, their fingers moving in an unnatural rhythm. “What about you, Baljoran? Was this anywhere close to your guesses?”

  Baljoran laughed. “Noo…” the vowel elongated as he spoke, deep with a slight hiss. “Noo, my guesses of the outcome did not come close to this reality.”

  The uncanny sighed. “Perhaps we should have gotten more out of that outsider.”

  “Perhaps.”

  A tight, reedy voice piped up from the side. “Some of us might have been too eager to be free of the other races.” The speaker, Yurila, rolled their eyes. They spun in a perfect circle before returning to normal. “But, I will say, the look on the outsider's face when we all revealed ourselves was one I will cherish.”

  Their face contorted and shifted to that of a human. The human face was wide with horror as it looked at the other two, uncanny.

  They all laughed at the memory.

  It had truly been unfortunate for the poor human.

  The only human in a town filled with shape shifters.

  Ones that could distinguish races by smell.

  Truely.

  Unfortunate.

  Oulirah recovered from their laughter, their face contorting back to a serious expression.

  “I will leave you to your plans. The others are trapping the road leading to here.” They smiled at the other members of their kind.

  “We wouldn’t want our guests to feel unwelcome, now would we?”

  The group of uncanny all smiled. The slits of their mouths expanded and split their faces ear to ear.

  “Of course not.” Baljoran nodded. “Are you ready to play your part, Oulirah?”

  The elder uncanny just grinned as their body rippled.

  After moments, a human female appeared. Her face was a replica of the one that had been on Yurila’s body.

  The human woman closed her eyes, took a breath, then snapped them open.

  Her expression was wide as she looked at the people around her.

  She stumbled back.

  “What?! Who are you people?!” The perfect copy of the outsider yelled in fright. “Oh, Varrax, save me!”

  She ran away, screaming. Her feet slid on loose stones, her footing lost. With a grunt she slammed into the ground. Her head snapped back as she watched the others in horror while her hands frantically pulled her away. The human scrambled to unsteady feet then sprinted away.

  Baljoran watched, his gaze following every movement. He drank in the performance, committing it to memory.

  “Oulirah’s shifts are so convincing,” Yurila whined. “I just don’t know how they do it.”

  “Practice, practice, practice.” Baljoran intoned. “Enough studying, we must prepare for our guests. Our trap must be perfect.”

  The unsettling members of the group all nodded as one and moved back to the portal.

  Company was meant to be welcomed.

  Welcomed with long, elongated arms.

  —— ? ——

  News of the latest system event had swept across divine channels like wildfire. Gods were popping between realms at an unprecedented rate.

  Dozens left their strongholds in the Spine and met with their closest friends, mortal advisors, and used every informational skill they had at their disposal.

  A meeting was called. A gathering of the gods.

  Every divine that had a stake in the newest nameless span would attend.

  But no one, mortal or divine, could have predicted the outcome of that fateful day.

  —— ? ——

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