(Written while listening to: "Dragon Age: Inquisition - War Table" by Trevor Morris on YouTube)
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Laito entered the Cathedral doors for the second time this day. This time instead of turning left he walked straight, closely following the Gandeon.
Fully covered in official, identical looking fullplate armors, Awakened Knights stationed as guards both in front of the Cathedral and the Prayer Room stood at attention simultaneously and hit their breastplates with their right fists to acknowledge the passing Lord Commander.
Two of them turned and opened the heavy doors to let The White Wizard and Laito inside before closing them after they passed.
It wasn't Laito's first visit into the main Prayer Room of the Incandescent Cathedral, yet its magnificence still kept him in awe.
It reminded him a little bit of the insides of St. Peter Basilica, just…- even bigger and using enchanted flames instead of electricity for lighting.
Like every time Laito's eyes turned to Grand Altar standing in the centre of the Prayer Room. It was around the size of a family house and on top of it stood a huge goblet filled with self-sustaining golden flame sourced from the power of Sun God himself.
Usually the Prayer Room is filled with civilians who either are attending Mass or just praying on their own. But now it was closed off for the usage of the Knights.
Right now below the Altar there were around 30 of them present. All of them dressed in the "official" version of the Incandescent Armour. Almost all of them were of Ascendant Rank. Laito personally got to know only a few of them, like the Ascendant Marigold, or Fang for example, but he also knew that the Masters present were not the entirety of the Ascendant force of the Order.
Outside of the Ascendant rank the only exceptions were: Awakened Gastac, as the one whose unique Aspect made him responsible for maintaining and controlling all the defensive runic arrays carved into the entire city.
And also Tirabeth as she was already a Saint.
With the arrival of Gandeon there were now 4 Transcendents present:
Font of Wisdom, Pure-Gold Justicar and also two "civilian" Saints known as Glade Rootwarden and Crimson Blood Pest.
Although they weren't part of the Order, their personal strength was an invaluable asset in times of crisis and as such they agreed to get "temporary conscripted" based on their long lasting good relations with Font of Wisdom.
And speaking of people who weren't part of the Incandescent Order…
'Who the fuck is this unholy amalgamation of Rumpelstiltskin, Lord Farquaad and an overdressed Christmas Tree?' Laito thought to himself, though he remembered to keep his face muscles in check as to control what "kind" of thoughts or emotions he projected outside during diplomacy meetings, just like he was taught during his lessons.
But indeed, under the Grand Altar stood a throne, though it wasn't really supposed to be there. On it sat a person that looked comically out of place, far too small for the throne he was on, dressed in tacky overpriced Royal garb, large wig and covered in so much jewelry that he could barely be seen from under it.
He was just sitting there completely relaxed, like he is without a care in the world and owned the whole place. When he noticed Gandeon and Laito approaching he said lazily with soy filled voice:
"You are late, Gandy."
At that, Gandeon glanced briefly from the corner of his eye at Laito and winked at him before rolling his eyes at the guy.
"The Wizard is never late, nor does he arrive too early. I am precisely where I need to be at the time when I need to be…-" He squinted his eyes.
"...- and I welcome you to my city, though you decided to show yourself unannounced…- my Emperor."
Everyone present cringed hard at the last word spoken by the Lord Commander.
'Eh? THIS is the Silver Sovereign?!? But…- I can't feel any aura from him at all! Shouldn't he have a domain active around him? I can feel more from any of the Saints present than from him and they haven't really started to form domains of theirs yet. The only exception is Font of Wisdom as he likely has started to form a nascent one of his own.
Is that munchkin really a Supreme? I guess I shouldn't judge only based on appearances after all.'
"
—
The Wizard just gave a short nod, approached the table with the map sprawled over it, which stood in the middle of the gathering. He didn't need to gather anyone's attention as everybody present(with the exception of the Silver Sovereign) was laser focused on him.
For the last time before meeting his eyes wondered on the people present like that of a teacher checking for attendance.
Then, he addressed the Knights.
"Reports." He ordered resolutely and with that the Incandescent War Council has began.
—
[6 Hours later]
"I trust everyone has carefully committed their tasks to memory. The enemy may show themselves any second now, we can only hope our preparations will be enough.
Master Marigold I trust you to deliver all relevant orders to their destined targets."
"At your orders Lord Commander" For once, Master Marigold was serious. He took the letter filled package and…- just disappeared from where he stood. Laito didn't blink his eyes and his fencing teacher was just gone.
"Good. With that the meeting is adjourned. May the Sun God have mercy on all of us.
The Lord Commander concluded the War Council late into the night to the sound of snoring of the "oh so great Supreme".
'Why even this "most obvious rug-pull villain in existence" was even here? He really just slept through all of this? It's so fishy.' Laito thought with dismay.
Most of the people present saluted with respect at the Wizard and briefly left to complete their tasks.
The only ones left in the Prayer Room were: snoring Emperor, Font of Wisdom, Glade Rootwarden who looked like he was meditating, and Laito.
The White Wizard slowly massaged his temple and turned to the man with the youth's body.
"Now all that remains is to wait. Soot…- from now on if you feel some kind of change…- ANY change you must notify us immediately, understood?
"Yes Lord Commander!" Laito simply confirmed.
With that Gandeon returned to contemplating their strategies once more.
—
[4 hours later]
It was less than an hour from the "dawn" when the artificial sun was supposed to start brightening as a sign of the welcoming new day.
At this point the only ones remaining in the Prayer Room were: still sleeping Silver Sovereign, Gandeon and Laito, as Glade Rootwarden suddenly left some time ago.
Laito busied himself with reading the "notes" that he has received from the Font of Wisdom earlier, which he had to hold for the entire time since then. It also made him additionally appreciate how convenient Memories were, with them being summoned and dismissed with a thought. Suddenly, the reincarnator stirred.
Laito looked at the White Wizard.
"Can you hear it…-?"
Gandeon's face turned serious.
"Hear what exactly?" He asked calmly.
"The…- singing?." Laito answered unsurely.
"
"You know what to do now…- Be safe, Sir Soot."
Laito just nodded without saying a word, he left the notes on the table as they would inconvenience him if he took them along.
He paused for a second, briefly glanced at the still sleeping Sovereign, knowing well that the Incandescent were fully abandoned by the Sun Empire.
A small, barely noticeable shadow passed through Laito's face, as he turned his back at the Grand Altar and the throne below it.
"~Ave Caesar morituri te salutant.~" Laito muttered quietly and then…-
He dismissed the [Disciple's Robe].
His eyes slowly turned glossy and empty.
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[4 years left until MHA plot beginning]
[Chapter End] The story is not over yet