"An ego clash is a battle with no winner, where the strongest are those who dare to set aside their pride."
I sat on a chair that felt too large for my small and frail body. This meeting room felt more like a courtroom, with all eyes fixed on me as if I held the answers to all their problems.
Tobias Klutz, Duke of Velorith—one of the territories in the Solaraine Kingdom inhabited by the Human race—stood up, his expression tense.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince! The trade region is currently occupied by one of the 13 Oaths of Ruin! If we continue to stand idly by, Velorith will be completely destroyed!" he declared, his voice trembling slightly, whether from anger or fear. His tightly curled hair, which had been neatly arranged, now appeared dishevelled, further emphasizing his frustration.
Before I could respond, a deep voice interrupted.
"The region hasn't completely fallen yet, Duke," said Thalgar Wildfang, Duke of Feralis. The large wolf-like ears atop his head twitched restlessly while his grey tail swayed behind his muscular frame. "However, several areas in Savaranth have already been completely wiped out. If we do not act soon, those cursed creatures will reach the capital of Feralis, and all of Savaranth will fall!"
After the four of us followed the guard who had summoned us earlier, we were led to the meeting chamber. Inside, several nobles were already waiting—representatives of their respective races, along with Tavon. As the Emperor's right-hand man, Tavon was never absent from any meeting.
Midgaria was already on the brink of collapse, and the leaders of the threatened regions had repeatedly sent requests for reinforcements to the Empire. Normally, Grandpa and I would prioritize territories that played a crucial role in this war, and the nobles would accept it with grace—or rather, they had no choice but to accept Grandpa's decisions.
But now, with Grandpa in a coma along with Uncle Arca, they were clearly taking advantage of the situation to pressure a weak and indecisive Crown Prince like me into prioritizing their territories. The recent arrival of a new Astral Voyager only fueled their determination to push me into a corner.
Aarav, seated beside me, leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed, his boredom obvious. "So, in short, all of you are in deep trouble?"
Finnian kicked Aarav's leg under the table, making the young man hissed in pain. "At least pretend to care."
Duke Thalgar let out an irritated growl. "Is that how little the lives of Savaranth's people mean to you, Your Highness? Just because you're human doesn't mean you'll allow us Beasts to be completely wiped out, right?"
I straightened my back, meeting Duke Thalgar's gaze with determination. "I do not consider a single life insignificant, Duke," I replied firmly. "That is precisely why I cannot make reckless decisions."
Finnian folded his arms across his chest, his expression sharp. "This expedition has been planned from the beginning. There is no reason to delay it just because you all suddenly demand priority."
Duke Thalgar slammed his fist onto the table, his eyes blazing with anger. "Savaranth is not just in danger—we are on the verge of annihilation! If reinforcements do not arrive soon, our lands will be completely destroyed within days!"
The tension in the room thickened. The nobles began raising their voices, exchanging heated arguments. Tobias Klutz looked increasingly frustrated while Thalgar Wildfang fixed his sharp gaze on us, demanding an answer.
Finnian, who had remained composed, now furrowed his brows.
"We already decided in the previous meeting that the expedition to Borelis would be our priority!" Finnian's voice was sharp, filled with barely restrained anger. "And now you want to delay it just because your territories are suddenly in danger?"
"Our lands are not 'suddenly' in danger, Prince Finnian," Tobias retorted with equal sharpness. "If we do not act now, all of Velorith will fall under the control of the Abyssal forces! Do you know what that means? Our central trade hub will be destroyed, supply lines to the capital will be severed, and famine will spread throughout the entire Empire!"
Finnian scoffed, crossing his arms. "So you're saying we should abandon the expedition we've spent so long preparing just to save a few territories that, let's be honest, are already beyond salvation?"
Some of the nobles gasped at his blunt words. Tobias clenched his fists on the table.
"You speak as if the lives of our people mean nothing!" Tobias snapped.
Finnian narrowed his eyes, leaning forward slightly, his voice dripping with mockery. "That's not what I'm saying. I'm merely stating reality. Do you want to save your land? Fine. But what happens when another noble comes tomorrow and says the same thing? Should we keep postponing the expedition every time another territory falls? Should we continue like this until we run out of time?"
The room once again filled with heated debates. Some nobles sided with Tobias, while others hesitated.
Finnian then smirked. "You all want a quick solution, don't you?" he said in an icy tone. "Why don't we just let the temple perform another Astral Voyager summoning ritual? That way, you can wait for a new saviour—one who might be more willing to obey your demands."
The room fell into a sudden silence. Tobias looked momentarily stunned before his face turned even redder with rage.
"Finnian," I warned him in a low voice, but he didn't care.
"You think we have that much time to wait?" Tobias countered, his voice trembling. "Summoning rituals aren't something we can just perform at will! And do you know how much Mana is required? Our Mana Stones are nearly depleted—there's no guarantee we can summon another Astral Voyager anytime soon!"
Duke Thalgar growled, slamming his fist against the table so hard that the glasses in front of him rattled. "We don't have time to wait for another summoning! Do you think the ritual can be performed just like that? The temple is still busy cleaning up the mess made by this Astral Voyager!" He pointed straight at Aarav, who seemed utterly unfazed.
Aarav, who had been lounging casually, merely shrugged. "Hey, it wasn't entirely my fault. I just reacted normally after suddenly being kidnapped into another world," he said, showing not the slightest hint of remorse.
Finnian scoffed. "Normal reaction, you say? You destroyed half the temple and incapacitated dozens of guards with alchemy that even you don't fully understand."
Aarav leaned back in his chair, folding his hands behind his head. "Yeah, well, look on the bright side. I'm still here, not running away, right?"
Finnian gave him a flat stare. "That's because you don't know how."
Aarav merely let out a dry chuckle while several nobles exchanged horrified glances as if they were just now realizing the true danger of the being sitting so casually before them.
The council room turned into a battleground of heated arguments. Tobias insisted that Valoria should be the top priority, given its role as the empire's trade centre. Meanwhile, a stout, bearded dwarf whose long facial hair nearly covered half of his face—Mordrik Ironvein, an elder of the dwarven clan—voiced his disagreement in a deep, gruff tone, reminding everyone that without weapons from Magmora, any resistance against the Abyss would be nothing more than a futile dream.
On the other side of the room, a woman with shimmering blue skin, long hair that rippled like ocean waves under the moonlight, and silver eyes as deep as the sea—Nymbrasia, a representative of the Hydranis Council—spoke up. Her flowing teal robes moved like water as she reminded everyone of the looming threat to Thalassia. If the coastal city fell, Midgaria's entire supply chain would collapse.
Tobias leaned forward, his gaze sharp as he fixed his eyes on me. "Your Highness, Solaraine must be the top priority! Especially Velorith! If the trade capital falls, the empire's economy will crumble!"
Mordrik Ironvein let out a harsh scoff, crossing his muscular arms over his chest. "Tch, humans always have gold clouding their judgment," he grumbled in his gravelly voice. "What use is trade if you have no weapons to defend your lands? Magmora must come first. We forge the very weapons you all rely on—without us, you won't last long."
Thalgar slammed his furred fist onto the table, his jaw tightening. "I've already said it—Savaranth is on the verge of destruction! If our land falls, there will be no natural barrier left to keep the Abyss from advancing further!"
As the argument grew more intense, only one figure remained composed. With the long, pointed ears characteristic of the elven race and golden blonde hair neatly braided over his left shoulder, Isilme Arandiel sat with poised elegance, his fingers interlocked atop the table. Yet his gaze spoke volumes—more than the words he had yet to utter. When his eyes met mine, I sensed a different kind of tension—not just about territorial priorities, but something far graver, something the others had yet to realize.
"You're all too focused on your own lands, but there's another threat you're ignoring," Isilme finally said. His voice carried a weight that made the entire room fall silent as all eyes turned to him. "We, the Elves, have received reports that the Abyss have started moving differently. They are no longer just launching direct assaults—they're infiltrating our lands, spreading chaos from within. If we let this continue, it won't be just one or two territories that fall, but the entire empire."
Some nobles exchanged glances, some still stubbornly clinging to their own interests. In contrast, others began to realize just how dire the situation had become. I, too, pondered in silence, trying to piece together the best strategy amidst our current limitations.
Aarav, who had been looking bored the entire time, let out a long sigh. "So, it's not just war, but spies too?" he muttered. "Honestly, this world gets more annoying by the day."
"Shut up, Aarav. Your annoying comments are making my ears burn," Finnian grumbled, plugging his ears with both index fingers.
I leaned forward, forcing myself to suppress the nervousness creeping up my spine. "Could you elaborate, Elder Arandiel? If the Abyss has truly infiltrated our lands, how have they managed to do so without being detected earlier?"
Isilme exhaled softly, his gaze sharp yet composed. "We Elves share a deep bond with nature, Your Highness. The land always whispers to us, warning of disturbances. But lately, the forests have fallen silent. The wind, which once carried messages, now speaks only of emptiness. As if something is obstructing the natural flow of energy."
A cold shiver ran down my spine. "Are you saying the Abyss might have found a way to conceal their presence?"
Isilme nodded. "More than that. Several sacred sites—once strongholds of natural energy—are weakening as if being drained by an unknown force. If this continues, it won't just be the Abyssian army we have to worry about, but also a disruption in nature's balance that could lead to an even greater catastrophe."
The room fell silent once more, each person digesting the information with tense expressions.
Aarav scoffed, leaning back with his arms crossed. "So we're fighting monsters, spies, and now nature itself? Seriously, this world doesn't even give us time to breathe."
Finnian shot him a sideways glance before scoffing. "Enough, Aarav, before I lose my patience and throw you out the window."
Tobias let out a long sigh and crossed his arms. "With all due respect, Elder Arandiel, superstition is hardly enough reason to shift Solaraine from being our top priority. The empire's economy depends on our trade centre, and if Velorith falls, we'll all feel the consequences."
Mordrik Ironvein scoffed harshly, drumming his thick fingers impatiently against the table. "Bah! Humans always think with their purses! No matter how much gold you hoard, it will be useless if Magmora falls and there are no weapons left for war!"
Thalgar immediately followed, his tone laced with a low growl. "You two talk as if we have time to debate! Savaranth is on the verge of collapse! If you refuse to act, then we will fight alone!"
Nymbrasia lifted her chin, her voice calm yet unwavering. "You're all selfish. Thalassia is not just a trade route—it's a defensive stronghold. If the city falls, there will be no safe passage for reinforcements or commerce."
The debate reignited, voices rising as each faction pushed its own agenda. I could only sigh inwardly. The Abyss was closing in, yet within this very chamber, another battle raged—one driven by personal interests.
Then, suddenly—Tavon, who had remained silent throughout the meeting, swung his arm and slammed his fist against the table. The resounding impact echoed through the room, making everyone flinch and fall into stunned silence.
"Enough!" His voice rang with authority. "Have you all forgotten who we are facing? His Highness, the Crown Prince, is sitting here, listening to each and every one of your arguments. At the very least, show him the respect he deserves and let the crown prince decide!"
The room fell silent once more. The nobles and elders exchanged glances, some still holding back their emotions, but none dared to challenge Tavon. Now, all eyes were on me, waiting for my decision.
I bit my lip, forcing myself to think. On one hand, Aarav still couldn't control his power—sending him to face one of the 13 Oaths of Ruin directly would be too dangerous. But at the same time, I couldn't ignore the territories teetering on the brink of destruction.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to steady my thoughts beneath the crushing weight of expectation. Keeping my voice as level as possible, I turned to Tavon.
"Tavon, I want to see the latest reports from the imperial informants," I said. "I need a clearer picture of the situation in each region before making a decision."
Tavon nodded without hesitation. "I will have them delivered immediately, Your Highness." He gestured to one of his aides, who promptly left the room to retrieve the requested documents.
Meanwhile, I could still feel the sharp gazes of the nobles and elders waiting impatiently. Some of them looked restless, but after Tavon's earlier intervention, none dared to voice their frustrations aloud.
I clasped my hands together atop the table, trying to calm myself. I had to make the right decision—not only to save the endangered regions but also to ensure that Aarav wasn't sacrificed in a battle beyond his control.
We needed Aarav.
No, I needed Aarav.
His ancient Alchemy, the same power as the first emperor, might be crucial for both me and Midgaria. That was why I had to avoid the risk of losing him on the battlefield.