Dalric sat speechless. The fact that there were four more Enlighteneds amongst the tigers contributed to that, but it was mostly the fact he foolishly let himself fall asleep. Right in front of their village and on a makeshift throne, he slept. He could blame his body for the blunder, it had felt entirely spent, but his mind should have been sharper than that. Much sharp—

  Dalric blinked. His first one since awaking.

  This is...

  His throne was no longer makeshift.

  It was golden. Thicker, wider, and taller than before, it held enough space for two more Dalrics to sit by his side. It was large to the point of excess, Dalric himself surely looked small in his seat. For the entire frame to be gold as well, even if they didn't understand the symbolism of it, the gaudiness was beyond blatant.

  It didn't end there either.

  Nine columns circled the golden throne. Each taller than the previous, they formed a sort of impractical staircase. Statues in Dalric’s likeness adorned all, but one. On the tallest column, the highest seat, a golden sun radiated.

  Dalric didn’t just sit on a lavish throne, he sat upon a replica of what once was the greatest seat of power in the world.

  There was arrogance, arrogance, and then there was this. He didn’t understand.

  The spell took one’s internal ahjer, contrasted it against the surrounding ahjer, be it ambient or from other beings, and built a suitable throne for the caster. Even if it only considered the purity gap alone, it still would not qualify for such an extravagant seat. The sitter was not just a powerful lord, they were a walking God.

  Dalric would know, killing them had been what sent him down his dark path.

  Before he spoke a word, he stood. His ahjer burst from within him and broke down every last remnant of his conjured Golden Sun. The action spooked the tigers, likely making the coming discussion more difficult, but it was a necessity all the same. The sun may have set on their empire, but there were still plenty of goldbloods running around. They would certainly see this as a slight if they heard of it and in his current state one of them could very easily turn him into one of those golden statues.

  As it was his own creation, it only took a handful of blinks for the throne to disappear. He used that brief window of time to take in all the visual information he’d been lacking.

  Tigers. Blue tigers. He’d seen tigers in a host of different pigments before, but never dark blue. Their stripes weren’t white either, but an inky black instead. Color aside, they were much larger than any he’d known too. The one that nudged him, the only male of the four new arrivals, looked him in his eye as he did so. Dalric towered over him when he stood, but his seated height was almost six feet tall. The females were a bit shorter, but combined with their lengths of over double that figure they were all still massive by feline standards.

  Obviously, all of them ranked in the top four for strongest beings he’d encountered so far. The male stood out even among his.. peers though. Dalric assumed that would be the ‘father’ he’d be speaking to.

  Once the gilded throne was gone and they were merely five beings standing at the edge of a grassy hill, he spoke to them, “Hello, my name is Dalric. I hear one of you lead this village?”

  He didn’t get the reaction he expected.

  “Eighth spoke true!”

  “The angel speaks the tongue!”

  Angel?

  His nightmare briefly drifted out of the corner of his mind that he’d shoved it in, but he hastily dragged it back.

  As he did so, one of the females, the one that hadn’t reacted to him speaking the All-tongue, responded in the male’s stead, “Dalric, a peculiar name. What are you, ‘Dalric’?”

  The All-tongue was spoken through ahjer, not vocal cords, so what one’s voice sounded like was malleable. Not easily, the words were expressions from their soul, but with effort there was room for adjustments in how one conveyed themself.

  The voice of the female that spoke felt much more mature than Eighth’s. There was a mystique to it, a bit of insidiousness as well. They seemed to see themselves as something of a schemer.

  Dalric wasn’t fond of those types, “I believed I asked my question first. I also introduced myself before doing so.”

  She stepped forward, “I am Arch Sofia Menos. I speak for the Archon. Now, what are you?”

  Huh. Not only a proper name, a surname as well. On top of that, they have a titled hierarchy… and it’s all in Hellgurian.

  “Alright, Arch Menos. Though I once had wings, I am no angel. I am human.”

  That garnered another strong reaction.

  “I knew it! He is human!”

  “Aegeus’ descendant has arrived!”

  The male spoke for the first time, “Be silent or leave.” His voice had much more steel than all the others. It commanded respect, sounding both aged and stern. The voice you’d expect of a leader.

  “Our promised ruler appears and you ask for silence?”

  “You would betray Aegeus to keep your position, Seventh?”

  Promised ruler?

  Dalric didn’t think their conversation was something he was meant to hear, but he’d gained some valuable information from it. For one, Eighth’s father’s name was truly Seventh. More importantly, there was a leadership position even above the ‘Archon’. A position once held by an ‘Aegeus’.

  Was that the ‘A’ he was looking for?

  As Dalric noted that Aegeus was a Hellgurian name, a barrier formed around Seventh and the two tigers he’d been speaking to. He clearly wanted to continue their conversation in private and the tongue was not a ’language’ to be whispered.

  Sofia was not included in their exclusive talk.

  “Why have you come Dalric? You claimed to be a traveler?”

  Dalric thought through his options. There were several things he wanted to find out, more than several in truth, but he had to be careful in how he handled the conversation. He didn’t want to break his legs looking for his boots.

  “I did not seek you out.” He first established a boundary. Whatever was going on here, he had no interest in talks of ‘promised rulers’, “I stumbled upon your village while travelling and came to ask questions.” He simply wanted to receive some information then leave.

  “You attacked us.”

  “I was attacked first. I allowed multiple assaults on my person while I stated my intent.” He raised his still charred arm, “And I sustained far greater damage than any else.”

  The fact that said damage was self-inflicted and a result of him almost destroying their home did not need to be noted.

  There was a brief lull as she mulled over his words. The barrier fell in that time. Almost immediately as it did, the two other female tigers turned away. Dalric didn’t know the first thing about reading any of a tiger’s physical expressions, but he could still tell there was some tension between the three. The moment the two took their steps a new barrier formed around Seventh and Sofia.

  A secretive one.

  Dalric didn’t mind too much though. His curiosity still burned bright and it gave him some time to look around. The first thing he did was follow the duo's path behind him. It led to the village’s gate. He sensed it was open and he wanted to see what was beyond it with his eyes.

  Hm… Which came first?

  At the top of the ten foot gate, there was a sign that read ‘Menos’. Whether that was the name of the village and Sofia was named after it or her… family lineage were the Menos and they owned the village, he’d have to ascertain. The former would be, while still far from normal, not completely outlandish. The latter…

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  At some point he’d have to stop being shocked.

  Past the stone sign, which he noted was dark blue, as were the bricks in the wall, his eyes fell on the houses at the edge. They were not dark blue, but rather the dirty grey most stone homes were. Now, more clear headed, he noted than the chunks the rhinos had delivered were the dark blue kind. They had a higher concentration of ahjer within them.

  In both color and ahjer, the houses featured a much duller stone. They were a lot cruder than his sense had detected as well, lacking the fine craftsmanship of even ancient civilizations. Their blocks were poorly cut and even more poorly placed. That didn’t make them any less impressive as the product of tigers though. Add the fact that their roads were paved, they had light fixtures, a well, and the center of the village had a blue castle and Dalric could do little more than shake his head.

  Aegeus… a beastmaster? I don’t believe there are any that can tame an Enlightened. And I know there aren’t any that can teach a beast the tongue. Did they develop their society after he passed? But they said ‘ruler’. Why would he promise a bunch of plain beasts a ‘ruler’? He wouldn’t. So then?

  The second barrier dropped as he pondered. He didn’t wait for them to speak.

  He turned to Seventh, “So when will the Archon introduce themself?”

  To his credit, he responded confidently, “I am Alexander, the Seventh. Archon of the Menos.”

  Ahh, I see. ‘The’ Seventh. That’s a long line… were they all Enlightened?

  That would be a massive and unlikely coincidence. Animals rarely became Enlightened and when they did it occurred over or after long stretches of time. At least that was what he knew.

  Alexander continued, “What are your questions, Dalric?”

  Dalric had quite a few, but he decided to start off light, “Did you see the moons?”

  “The moons?”

  “Earlier tonight, when ahjer overflowed. What did you see?”

  Alexander turned to Sofia before quickly turning back, “We did not see ‘the moons’ you speak of. Should we have?”

  Dalric couldn’t tell what signal Sofia gave him, but he got the answer to his first question anyway. The Enlighteneds weren’t strong enough to witness the Dance. He’d expected that. They were quite a bit below the relative threshold so it would have been spectacular if they had, but the line between spectacular and mundane seemed all but nonexistent at the moment.

  “I suppose not. Not every sight is meant for every eye.” He kept, or tried to keep, an air of mystique about himself as he continued with his setup questions, “I’ll presume you are also referred to as Alexander Menos?”

  “No. We are all of the Menos, but only the First would be referred to as such. I am simply Alexander, the Seventh.”

  Simply.

  “Okay Alexander, the Seventh, why did your people see fit to attack me?”

  “I was not present, but I heard you appeared above with neither warning nor introduction. We have plenty of young that must be protected and as I was away, they took the highest precaution.”

  Obviously, they were entirely within their right and didn’t need to explain why they defended themselves against a possible threat, but the question subtly hinted that they weren’t. The power balance of the conversation tilted in his direction and he wanted to solidify it before he got to his more intimate questions.

  “It was not just you that was away… curious. Were you all out collecting moonfire, by chance?”

  “... No? We have fields to harvest from.”

  Agriculture.

  In hindsight, he should have expected that. Tigers farming aside, the fact Alexander felt inclined to not only respond but also elaborate with further detail was a good sign. That he deflected where they all were and what they were doing was a mixed one.

  Dalric didn’t care for that information, but it was an avenue to strengthen his dominant position, “So what could call the Archon’s attention so deep into the night?”

  “The responsibilities of an Archon are vast. There is no time where I am not called, where I am not fulfilling my duties.”

  “I’m sure.”

  Another deflection. A particularly defensive one from what Dalric could tell. That marked that line of questioning as sensitive and thus a dead end. He switched to another angle. The conversation tiled far enough in his direction that he could begin asking more useful questions.

  There was one that had become paramount, “Who is Aegeus to you, Alexander?”

  There was a brief pause, “Why do you ask?”

  It seemed the last question was more sensitive than he realized. Dalric couldn’t back down now though, so strided forward, “Because I want to know. Who is he to you?”

  “Who is he to you?”

  “Aegeus is ‘who is he to you’ to you?”

  Alexander growled at that, but he just stared. Even as the blue tiger grew more defensive, he refused to relinquish control of the conversation. The pace was still his to set.

  Their staring match didn’t last long before Sofia spoke up, “Aegeus is a dear figure to us. We do not take, or share, our relationship with him lightly.”

  Speaking as if he’s alive. Misdirection?

  “That so? ‘Dear figure’ is quite vague. His descendant is meant to rule you.”

  Alexander spoke this time, “That is none of your concern.”

  “Oh?”

  “You know not of our ways. You are not his descendant.”

  Dalric thought about claiming that he was, but he didn’t know what he had said to tip Alexander off. There was still uncertainty in his statement, but the only thing Dalric knew about their prophecy was the position of power and if they tested him more bluntly, no amount of mystique could help him maneour. On the opposite side, confirming he wasn’t could calm their sensitivity. He was the stronger party in either case, but information came best from relaxed jaws.

  He nodded, “I am not.”

  Then he paused

  He’d awoken at a graveyard in the middle of the jungle, no nearby civilization. Or as he’d come to find out, only Enlightened civilization. The tombs were human-sized and their occupants were powerful enough to spawn Remnants. Aegeus could be buried there.

  That potential brought a question to Dalric’s mind that he was astounded hadn’t appeared before.

  This new body… does it have parents?

  “Good.”

  Dalric barely noted Alexander’s response to his statement. He suddenly wasn’t sure if it was true or not. Backtracking, he could see that the moment he’d identified his ahjer quantity as a product of being a fresh reborn, his mind had completely discounted the idea of sires. He’d been so caught up in the emotions and larger implications of his reincarnation that he didn’t consider the basics.

  In his defence, it was completely possible that his body didn’t have parents. Not in the conception sense. Humans were one of the only three valin descendants that were a product of careful creation rather than incessant lust. The ability to create souls was lost, but there were several lesser spells that allowed one to mimic human forms.

  If the Gods could reincarnate his soul, a feat of notable impossibility, creating a human body to house it was a meager task in comparison.

  Another realization dawned on him.

  Can I hurt myself because this is not the body defined in the contract?

  That was a question. It had many far-reaching implications, but Dalric didn’t dare delve too far down that line of thought. He needed not double the pain of crushed hopes. He only just weathered the storm of his current anguish.

  Before said anguish could breach his protections, Alexander spoke again, “What do you glare for?”

  Dalric quickly relaxed his face, “What do I glare for?” Then he came up with a different plan. He wanted answers now and the slow, methodical approach wasn’t going to cut it. It wasn’t his strong suit anyway. A clenched jaw would have to do, “The way you said ‘good’ leads me to believe you would have been hostile if I said I was.”

  “It is clear you are not who was promised.”

  “Is that something you know, or what you would like to believe to keep your seat?”

  Dalric still didn’t care for the prophesied position, especially now that it was possible it was actually meant for him. His true goal was to put pressure on Alexander, to instigate. There was clearly some truth to the notion that he didn’t want to relinquish his position and if Dalric posed himself as a credible threat to it, he’d be incentivized to get rid of him. Lacking the strength to overpower him, he’d have no recourse. Aside from the one Dalric would then provide him.

  There was a quiet aggression to the Archon’s voice now, “You even said so yourself.”

  “A test. Here’s another, who teaches your people the tongue?”

  The aggression was stoked with a bit more anger, “What are you testing?”

  “Your worthiness.”

  There was a small flame now, “I refuse to participate! Who are you to question my worth?”

  Small streaks of lightning started forming across Dalric’s body, “Refuse? Who said you were allowed to?”

  A burning fire, “I did!”

  He stepped forward as they rapidly grew and began bouncing around, “And who gave you that power?”

  Alexander’s fire flickered, “I.. I don’t need another’s power to speak for myself.”

  Dalric took another step, “You do not speak for yourself, you speak against me. So tell me, who gave you that power?”

  The lightning was a party trick, it held no offensive capability. Few who sensed it would think that, though. To all but the most discerning, they’d seem no less destructive than the purple streaks of Lightning Rain. By the silence he heard, neither Alexander nor Sofia saw through it.

  Perfect.

  Preparations complete, he reached a hand out and sent his ahjer into the earth below their paws. To both of their credit, they realized the spell was being cast and both attempted to flee. Dalric was just faster. In a blink, the Archon found three of his legs deep in the dirt.

  Sofia escaped, but that was part of the plan. Once she’d step further than a fathom away, Dalric cast a second spell.

  ~No siege can conquer my walls~

  He completed most of the spell with his own ahjer so before Sofia could cast any spells of her own, a ten foot by ten foot wall of reinforced marble separated them. It swiftly turned into two walls, then four, then a completely covered cube. As it covered the ground beneath his feet, it further locked Alexander in place.

  It was the tiger’s turn to glare at him. At least Dalric interpreted the facial expression for a glare.

  “There are two ways this goes, Seventh.” He bent down, “Either you pass my test.” He paused and flashed an ominous smile, “Or I go see if Eighth is worthy of ‘Archon’.”

  The glare seemed to intensify.

  The fire definitely did not, “What… happens if I pass?”

  Dalric smiled, genuinely this time.

  Next chapter, though shorter, is information-dense. I think I like the way I've done it though.

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  Thanks for reading and see you in the next chapter!