"A new… Elder?"
With the lights dimmed and the people's curiosity slightly averted somewhere else, Aerith finally escaped the dreaded conversations that repeated themselves over and over again. Queen Vania seemed to want to talk to her, but she just nodded; almost as if gesturing to her that she received her request to want to talk from Vera.
And before anyone else could talk to her about nonsensical things, she made her way to Riley,
"I suppose that's why there's a gathering like this. It seems I am not the only one they wanted to brag," Aerith could really only sigh as she stood beside Riley; this time, tightly grabbing him by the arm so he wouldn't be able to escape,
"I came here to advocate the themarians, and yet you're the one being approached by the important people," Aerith shook her head and sighed, "The one you talked to was Elder Skeem, right?"
"You know Elder Skeem, Aerith?" Riley said; his eyes, completely focused on the individual covered in a pink robe at the very center of the dome.
"I recognize the Uxaz anywhere. They're a short-lived race…but they give birth to a hundred offspring at once," Aerith nodded, "They rival the Norinlad in intelligence and could calculate anything instinctively, but they are hindered by their average lifespan of only 10 years."
"You seem to know a lot about them, Aerith."
"They have a similar situation to themarians," Aerith once again let out a small sigh, "They are trapped on their planet. Anyway, what did you talk about?"
"He threatened me, Aerith. Queen Vania also threatened me," Riley smiled and nodded in satisfaction, "It is good that we visited this place—I can learn what order I should kill everyone."
"Stick around, you'll learn that you can't actually do what you're setting out to do," Aerith rolled her eyes, "There are too many variables, Riley. Just live out your life and enjoy it without harming anyone, explore the Universe—you have the kind of privilege that 99.99999% of them do not."
"I will think about it if you join me in exploring the Universe, Aerith," Riley looked Aerith in the eyes.
"Will you, really?" Aerith returned Riley's gaze; her mind, going back to the dream she had. The first part of it was, in a word, a life that Aerith did not really mind—but in the end, that life will turn into a nightmare.
"..." Riley just breathed out for a few seconds, before looking away and not answering Aerith's question.
"..." Aerith remained looking at Riley, however; her mind, once again thinking about the kind of potential Riley could give to the Universe if he isn't the way he is. But after a few moments, she shook her head.
The man in her arms right now. She was sure of it. Someday… they will send each other to their eternal deaths.
And very soon, Riley and Aerith's thoughts were drowned by the whispers and murmurs that were slowly filling up the air; their eyes, all centered on the individual in the center of the dome.
[As all of you may know, due to unforeseen events, one of our Elders in the Common Council, Elder Zora, met his demise, and ultimately, his untimely death.]
And with those words circling around the dome, a handful of people turned their heads toward Riley; the ones that definitely knew who he was. Riley, however, was still focused on the cloaked individual. It didn't seem to be the one talking, however, as the voice circling around the dome sounded more similar to Anna, an AI.
[And after that, due to grief and a failure to do her duty as a friend, Elder Tedi left the Common Council.]
Several gasps of shock echoed through the dome as they heard the AI's words; their whispers, growing even louder.
[But when the Common Council was in distress with this sudden lack of manpower, we discovered a race that has been alive for more than 500,000 years in the Known Universe unbeknownst to us. No, perhaps it would be more proper to say that they discovered us.]
"..."
[The person you see before you is Elder Olseyir, from the planet Tahire! Elder Olseyir, please introduce yourself to the Known Universe!]
"Do you not need to be part of the Higher Race to be an Elder, Aerith?" Riley slightly squinted his eyes as he looked at Olseyir.
"No, your civilization's technological advancement just has to meet the criteria. Higher Races are beings that are powerful enough even without the need of technology—evaniels, themarians, etc… and in the future, the humans."
"Hm…"
[h.e.l.lo, h.e.l.lo? Is this working? Can everyone hear me now?]
[We can hear you, Elder Olseyir.]
[...Oh.]
A burst of collective laughter echoed through the entire dome as Olseyir almost started panicking where he—she stood. Riley could not really judge whether or not someone was female anymore from the dozens of species he had seen. But so far, female humanoids tend to have feminine voices.
But this time for a reason only he knows, however, Riley was truly not sure.
[h.e.l.lo everyone, my name is Olseyir. I don't really want to waste all of your time, so I will make this brief,] Olseyir stretched her arm to the side; her loose and oversized cloak, however, made it hard to see how many limbs she has,
[I am from a race—a species called Biolan. We have actually been exploring the Known Universe for more than a thousand years, and we have met other species. The only reason we are not registered in the so-called Codex of Ahor Zai is that our technology can not be detected by anything…
…that is all. I hope my species can contribute well to the betterment of the Known, and Unknown Universe.]
Olseyir then started bowing toward the people, before just making her way back into the crowd; the people, all approaching her to ask a million questions.
"A technology that can't be detected by anything?" Aerith slightly squinted her eyes, "No wonder the Common Council wanted to get her, that's… sort of dangerous."
"Is it…?" Riley was still staring at Olseyir.
"Imagine an undetectable ship carrying an undetectable bomb that could destroy an entire planet. Now imagine that a thousand times—completely undetected to everyone and everything until right at the very moment they go boom," Aerith squinted her eyes as she too, looked at Olseyir, "Even now as I try to focus my hearing on her, I can't even hear her steps."
"Interesting."
"Anyway, Ahor Zai isn't what I imagined it to be…I've heard it has been lax for hundreds of years now, but to think it would be to this—"
And before Aerith could finish her words, the spot of light that was at the very center of the dome disappeared, leaving everything in almost complete darkness.
"W—"
And once again, before Aerith could even say anything, the light reappeared… on her.
[For a million years, the themarians have always been aloof and hidden in their own world. But today, as our guest of honor—a themarian royalty will speak to us.]
"Speak? What!?" Aerith's eyes widened in shock as she whispered loudly; almost breaking Riley's arm, "I… I only wanted to talk to the Elders…
…in private!"