A/N: This happened a few years before Orpheus came back.
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In Far Away Place, in a world on a different scale, three times the size of Orpheus’s current world, this world looks like Heaven itself, with many Islands floating in the air, forming a layer after layer of Big Islands which can be considered as continents, separated by the clouds, there are myriads of mythical beasts flying around. There are three layers, namely:
✓The First Heavens: Where the Apex Races lived, called Paradia, the God’s Realm.
✓The Second Heavens: Where the lost civilization is, the ancient ruins were on this layer, guarded by the Celestials Guardians. It’s called the Lost Realm.
✓Last Heaven: named the Mortal Realm, it’s on this layer that the remaining races are; most of them are mortals.
This big world is called Elysium, also known as the Heaven Realm.
∞∞∞
Somewhere on the first layer, in the God Realm, on the High Human continent, Hestia Empire, the first empire and most powerful of the High Human race, their leader.
In the throne hall of the beautiful and gigantic jade white castle.
Tremendous braziers encircling each of the sixteen ivory columns light up most of the throne hall and bathe it in an orange glow. The gems of the many artworks on the terraced ceiling dance in the flickering light while sculptures look down upon the limestone floor of this lavish hall.
A violet rug runs in a circle around the room, with two paths at the throne and the main entrance, while rounded banners with gilded margins decorate the walls. Between each banner, many of them have been lit and, in turn, illuminate the tapestries of gods and goddesses below them.
Tall, stained glass windows of mesmerizing mosaics are covered by curtains colored the same violet as the banners. The curtains have been adorned with gold leaves and fancy tassels.
A beautiful golden throne sits atop a tall elevated platform and is adjoined by three similar, but less ornate seats for visiting dignitaries.
The throne is covered in simple images, and fixed on each of the broad feet is an elegant tree. The modest pillows are a light violet, and these too have been adorned with gilded tufts.
Sitting on this throne was the ruler of Hestia.
A middle-aged man, with an extremely handsome face, and black hair, he had crystal blue eyes; strangely, looking at his face, you couldn’t help but think about Emea; they look alike. In front of him was a man kneeling. The man on the throne spoke in an icy cold tone
“So Lorien, give me one reason not to sentence you to death? You couldn’t accomplish a simple task of catching seven Little children with your numbers. Speak what happened?”
The man kneeling started shivering, the man on the throne didn’t emit any pressure, but just his voice alone was enough to put pressure on him; he hastily started talking, not hiding anything.
”Your excellency, it’s because he bumped into something beyond our expectation; he was…”
”So, something happened that was out of your expectation enough to force you, someone closer to Level 1, to come back empty-handed.” The man on the throne asked with his voice becoming colder; the temperature inside the throne hall plummeted to an alarming degree.
Lorien started trembling even more; nevertheless, gritting his teeth, he explained
”Your Excellency, we faced a being out of expectation, we didn’t manage to see his face, but we only know that he has crimson eyes, it’s a man from his voice, but how he looks, his age are all unknowns because he was too fast, playing with us like cat and mouses, we couldn’t even retaliate. It was like a game to him.”
He was interrupted by the man on the throne.
”Wait, you’re saying that this being is powerful enough to play with a squad of twelve men constituted of eight peak Level 3, three middle Level 2, and you, who is closer to Level 1? Explain it clearly before I start losing my patience.”
”Yes, he’s comparable to Level 0,” Lorien confirmed; immediately, it was like he dropped a bomb; the man on the throne abruptly got up, he started unconsciously emitting pressure, and Lorien had a hard time breathing.
The black-haired man regained his composure; he started pacing in front of his throne as he asked another question.
”This being is comparable to me; is that what you’re saying?”
”Yes,” Lorien nodded, inwardly thinking,’ Well, It’s not the whole truth; there’s something missing; he said he was injured he can play with us too much because of that. I won’t say that cause I don’t want to lose my life. That monster is probably stronger than the strongest in our Realm, that’s for sure.’
”Interesting, he didn’t say anything else? Where he’s from? Why was he obstructing you? What are his goals?” the black-haired man asked.
“Nothing, he just said that he was passing by; he was bored, it’s why he chose to play with us to kill his boredom. Afterward, he vanished, letting us go.”
Lorien explained but inwardly sneering, ‘Do you want me to get myself killed. You can go ask him these questions yourself.’
”Umu, powerful beings are eccentrics, that’s for sure. Well, he’s not an enemy from what you said; he was just bored. Report what you have found on the seven.”
The black-haired man says while stroking his chin.
“Yes, your excellency, the seven discovered a small world and created life on it. That small world it’s too from here. They are probably stronger than I am. We didn’t manage to find more because that being appeared.” Lorien explained while omitting to say that it was an information he got from that man, one of the seven.
“I see, good progress; you must catch and bring them back, especially my daughter Emealeena and her best friend. Firstly it’s because she must see her fiancé and get married; he is starting to lose his patience; he will be crowned Dragon God soon, and he needs his future wife beside him. If not, because of some matter, he would have to go himself to capture her back; he must prepare for his dragon god inheritance. Secondly, Emealeena will also start her trial to inherit our Goddess of Earth and Life power to become fully Level 1 and what is beyond. Her power is necessary for the incoming war. I heard that it would be the same thing for her best friend. Ah! these children give us parents some headaches; they don’t know what’s incoming is bigger than some exploration, truly child not thinking about the bigger picture.”
The man muttered in a depressed tone. Things would have progressed faster if they had not run away. It had been thousand years already. Long living beings like them, it was not much, but when the fate of an entire realm was at stake, they must stop playing and take the bigger picture into account.