Like a prism of living light, the capital city of Solara's council hall glistened. In a flawless mirage, columns of energy spiraled toward a ceiling reflecting the entire metropolis below. Karl é Yang waited in the center on an obsidian dais, the Absurdium Core humming softly under his collarbone.
[NOTE ON THE ENVIRONMENT]
The density of aether is 118%.
Four sovereigns, eight envoys, and 1,000 witnesses were found to be in power hierarchies.
Compressed Ki trumpets made a single sound. Light trailed from the robes of the four Burning-Sky realm sovereigns as they entered. The Sovereign of Flame was the first to speak.
Karl was silent as he watched. In his eyes, the case's light flickered, yet there was no sign of greed. He just took note of the gesture's reasoning.
[INTERPRETATION OF THE CORE]
Motives: 20% fear, 38% political leverage, and 42% appreciation.
"Very good math," he whispered.
Another sovereign remarked in a wary tone. We also provide you with guards, scholars, and attendants. A retinue commensurate with your new rank is required. Make your own decision.
Karl glanced at the group of people waiting at the edge of the hall; they were all skilled in different fields, such as data-crystal administration, logistics, translation, and warfare. Everyone was bowing, their eyes a mix of wonder and fear. Their hesitancy was as obvious to him as the Ki surrounding them.
"This is Lyra," declared the Sovereign. "Third Vault Archivist." She has been deciphering Aether flow for years. She is going to be your assistant.
Karl bowed his head. "Then a decision is made."
Later, Karl studied the stack of gifts—golden data cores, energy conduits, and scrolls of political treaties—in his designated quarters, where the walls were humming with containment runes. Lyra waited for orders while standing silently by the door.
"You realize that these aren't rewards," he remarked without raising his head. They are tools.
She gave a nod. "They worry that you will depart from the realm without a tether."
He gave a small smile. "Wise of them."
A schematic of the empire's energy network was projected when Lyra turned on her tablet. Additionally, they hope that you will steady the streams in the higher aether. In ten years, the system will fall apart without you.
Karl looked at the information, then at her. "What made you agree to this position?"
She gave a straightforward response. "To understand the meaning of power when it is not used to gain control."
[96% TRUTH ANALYSIS]
He pointed at the console. After that, assist me in cataloging each offer they have made. We will determine which is consistent with our findings.
She worked rapidly, and holographic lists of construction rights, research grants, and commercial agreements were everywhere. Karl flicked them away, erasing half.
He said that these bind him to their councils. refused. Keep the labs and archives; knowledge is infinitely valuable.
The Sovereign of Flame paid a special visit that evening, his robes glowing a muted orange.
With a courteous but strained tone, he questioned, "Why reject our generosity?" "Dominance is something you earned."
Karl gestured for him to sit while pouring two glasses of the bitter tea of the empire. He stated, "Because dominion is a debt." "And my loyalty is already due somewhere else."
The Sovereign whispered, "To the woman of the red hair."
Karl's brows narrowed, not out of rage but more because he realized that his loyalty was already a myth in this place. Indeed. To Sophia. I wander while she builds. I want every empire I touch to keep that in mind.
Lyra spoke from the corner as the doors closed. "Without defiance, you disobeyed them."
Karl gave a nod. Making their offer become an experiment is the trick. Let them observe. The observed is altered by observation.
He went out onto the terrace. The capital spread out below like a bright circuit board. Airships floated over red vistas in the distance.
[PRIMARY STATUS]
12% quicker stabilization for Aether networks.
Influence in politics: muted.
Entities that observe: active.
"Sophia, even here, every variable points back to you," he said.
Lyra came over with a sealed message cylinder in her hand. She said, "From the Archives." "A proposal to investigate the Core itself."
Karl accepted it, grinned, and scanned the encryption. "The actual negotiation then starts."
[ADDED NEW OBJECTIVE]
Examine the purpose of the Archive query.
Level of potential threat: unknown.
He turned again toward the hall. The air was heavy with the smell of aspiration as the thrones of silver and incense waited in stillness.