267.1 Interlude – Gathering of The Domain Holders

267.1 Interlude – Gathering of The Domain Holders

Lumoof assembled the group that now forms the inner circle of Aeon. In a place not far from Freshka. Lumoof looked around the quiet room in one of many secret Valthorn fortresses around the Central Continent. Edna was the first of them, and Lumoof the second. Then came Stella, Roon and Johann. Alka. Now Ezar and Kafa.

Eight of them, lifted from mere mortals, and now transformed into demigods.

Alka was still asleep, waiting for his revival. So, the seven gathered.

The air in the room was thick with power, that anyone else would feel as if their air was suffocating. But each of them felt nothing. Their domains protected them.

There was a sense of comradeship that they shared in the great struggle of their kind. Aeons words. Revelations, really, of what the greater system was, only amplified the urgency and importance of their cause. The demons could essentially unravel the entire system, once they conquered enough worlds. The gods, elevated to a different system, are resisting, but have handicapped themselves.

Should Aria or Lillies avatar be here? Roon asked.

No. They would not understand. Edna said. Our power was gained through war. Through Aeons assistance. Theirs from a longer period, from things outside war. How do you two feel?

Kafa glanced at Ezar, both peers. Incredible, and yet, overwhelmed.

Roon just gave the two a pat on the shoulder.

No words were said, but theyve all been there.

I will not spare you the niceties. At this point, theres really no point. The scale of this war is far, far larger than even what we first expected. Each time Aeon pushes a little further, weve only see this wars scope expand. Edna said. When Aeon first spoke of his goal, he only sought to end the demons invasion of Treehome.

Lumoof nodded. And yet, it only set us on a path of even more invasions. We are still not safe.

The two new domainholders gulped.

Stella nodded, and then she spoke up. I asked Lumoof to gather us here for a few reasons. Aeon believes we have time. Stella said.

The new domainholders looked at each other.

But my sense now, it is a risky gamble. We dont know how much time we have, and what is the current balance of power between the demons and the gods. My models suggest that the demons already control around one fifth of the known realms, and they continue to expand. We need to start invading demon worlds, and free them from their demon mothers.

Kafa and Ezar looked at each other. This wasnt too bad. So we need to start retaking demon worlds.

Theyve seen the demon mothers. Theyve fought simulations in Aeons [Dream Academy]. They could do it.

Edna looked at Stella, and then at Lumoof. "Is Aeon listening?"

Lumoof paused. "At the moment, no."

"Good. Thats just the battle part. There's something Stella isn't saying."

The domain holders present gulped. Lumoof looked at Edna, and sighed. Edna, let me handle this.

Edna just smiled. Sure.

"Aeon relies on us, to ensure he doesn't stray." Lumoof answered. More specifically, he needs our presence to tell him where he has gone wrong. As someone who has shared minds with Aeon- it is an overwhelming sensation. To see time as if its just weeks, to see all the worlds at once, to feel all the things altogether. Its absolutely overwhelming. Even with all my expanded and borrowed mental abilities, it is still too much to take in.

Roon and Johann looked at each other. So did Ezar and Kafa.

Alka mainly wins by taking the heroes down with him.

"If we can do so, it would allow us to fully move away from the fading gods and the need to support heroes, because we can do so ourselves. It will also give Aeon better options, and we can then steer Aeon towards better decisions."

Ezar asked. "How far are we from that?"

"For you two, at least 50 more levels. Edna answered. For me- Im not that far. Lumoof and Stella too. If each of us can reach level 200, my current knowledge indicates that is the point when we are on par with the heroes. In a straight fight, we can hold our ground, and depending on what powers we receive, even produce the damage and destruction we need.

Oh Aeons. Roon looked at Edna. So whens the next demon king? I didnt need a pep talk, but now that I got it, I want to go kill some demon kings.

The one on Mountainworld.

Yes. But thats not all. We will go and free up more worlds, take on the demon king, and collect a loose alliance of allies. Aeon needs new worlds, and he takes too darned long to decide. Edna explained. Stella-

Yes, yes. Aeon already wants more void domainholders. Were getting there. Stella said. Void mages dont grow on trees.

I wish they did. Edna laughed. I really wish they did.

Edna smirked. No matter. The issue of the other worlds is important to us. Us domainholders will be Aeons emissaries to the new world. Aeon- I sense a growing resolve to handle things more decisively, but I fear for those worlds.

Kafa sat, and sipped his thick tea uncomfortably.

These other worlds, worlds that do not have domainholders, or have weak ones, their fate is an eventual doom. The gods will fade, and they will fend for themselves. Ultimately, our decision on how and what to do with these worlds, determines the lives and fate of those who live on them. If we ignore them, they may live on, but some day, they will be destroyed. If we establish relations and decide to maintain a position, we can support their defense, and hopefully, train some of them up into future domainholders.

Edna stopped just to drink her cup of water.

I know Aeon believes that each world deserves a choice on what they want to do, and if they want to fend for themselves, they should be allowed to do so. But thats Aeons thoughts. If you are asked to choose to establish a presence on a world, deal with all the troubles that come with it, for that remote chance of saving them in the future, would you do it?

Roon looked at Edna like she was an alien. Shit Edna, I didnt think its that-

Its just the harsh truth. Aeons presence is like giving an orphan child an opportunity to train to be a Valthorn. Most of it turns out to be average. But some of us are here today.

-man- If only-

Aeon doesnt have clone seeds for all the worlds. Even with the node trees, there are more worlds out there than we can count. We will be visiting more worlds with Stellas powers, and that is the weight of our choice. If we feel strongly about something, we must speak to Aeon, because those are lives that will fade away unnoticed. Edna explained.

Lumoof glanced at everyone, and chuckled. With Aeons Level 250 choice, he would only be assaulted with more information, more decisions, more worlds. I hope there are more of us here, eventually. Because this duty weighs heavily, and Ill need all of you to help scout the path ahead. I dont mean just Ezar and Kafa. I mean all of us. Because we need all of us to act as a stabilizing force for Aeon. Combined, Aeon will definitely listen.

Stella nodded. This meeting wasnt meant to put you two on the spot. I generally echo Edna and Lumoofs thoughts. Only together, we can balance this ship. Because theres nothing else.

Kafa tapped his chest. -I may not know whether I am up for it, but I will try.

Ezar nodded along.

Roon and Johann looked at each other. You three should really tell us more about all that shit that goes on in your heads. You cant just unload this on us suddenly.

Lumoof smiled. I apologize. But after tapping into Aeons avatar mode a little too often, I realize I cannot be trusted to be objective. I need all of you.

Roon and Johann gulped. Well, Ill tell you for sure if you fucked up.

Please do. Worlds get fucked if we fuck up. Lumoof said, mimicking their language. Its a burden too heavy for me to bear.