Chapter 463: Unexpected Truce
(The Day After the Fight, The Elders’ Council Meeting, Planet Tithia)
The atmosphere inside the Council Chamber was thick with tension, the kind that clung to every breath and made even the most seasoned elders shift uncomfortably in their seats.
On one hand, neither side truly wished to speak to the other, still overflowing from the bitterness of their political clash.
But on the other hand, there was a shared, unspoken desire to put the past behind them and start fresh, now that the crowning of the next Dragon was complete.
All that remained was for someone, anyone, to take the high road and break the silence.
Because once the first stone of reconciliation was cast, the rest were already prepared to follow, having stewed long enough in guilt and regret.
The outcome of the public bout had caught everyone by surprise.
Though Aegon Veyr had been crowned Dragon, Leo Skyshard’s performance had left just as deep an impression.
And as a result, neither the Fourth Elder nor the First Elder could claim a clear political victory.
The prestige of controlling the next Dragon had been offset by the Cult’s unofficial recognition of Leo as an equal force, leaving both camps in a strange balance, one that served as an unexpected check on their ambitions..... which was probably what Soron was aiming for in the first place.
"Since no one else is willing to go first, allow me." The seventh elder began, as he slowly rose from his seat, his voice steady as he lowered his head in apology.
"First Elder... I am deeply sorry for how I conducted myself during the last Council meeting. I allowed personal ambition to cloud my judgment. I made a decision not for the betterment of the Cult, but to secure my own political gain, and that is something I deeply regret. It’s a mistake that I vow to not repeat again."
He paused, letting the silence settle.
"From this day onward, I withdraw from block politics entirely. I will act only in the interest of the people I govern, and nothing more."
His words rang with sincerity, and it was enough to break the dam.
"I share his shame, First Elder," said the Second Elder, standing next. "I too was wrong to disregard Leo Skyshard’s qualifications. He deserved fair consideration, and I failed to offer it. I also withdraw from any future political alignment. Whether it be with your faction or anyone else’s, I will not make the same mistake again."
The First Elder gave a slow nod, acknowledging both apologies without bitterness, as the tension that had gripped the chamber finally began to loosen its hold.
Even he, for all his pride, let out a long sigh and leaned back in his chair, finally softening.
"I acknowledge that Aegon Veyr was not a poor choice. My first impression of him was that he was a snotty and arrogant brat, and while he is certainly both of those things, he is not only those things."
There was a faint chuckle, dry and knowing.
"There is strength in him, discipline, resolve. Qualities I was too blind to notice. Perhaps if I had taken the time to truly understand the boy, to see past his surface, I would not have passed such a biased judgment."
He looked around, his tone shifting to something firmer.
"That said, my frustration has not vanished. I am still angry at how casually some among us chose to break protocol. The Cult has its rules for a reason. Without them, we are nothing. This council’s division led to an unnecessary spectacle, one that aired our internal power struggles to the entire universe. Now, our enemies have seen the extent of our top talents, and they will begin planning accordingly."
A heavier silence followed, broken only by the sound of his voice continuing with restrained fury.
"Lord Soron had to intervene personally to end this mess. And for the first time in history, he named a substitute Dragon. Something he has never done before, not once. That alone should make every single one of us reflect on how far we’ve strayed from our duty."
He looked toward the chamber doors, then back to the table.
"Let this be a turning point. The Cult now has its spiritual symbol. It is time the Council becomes worthy of standing behind him. We must fulfill our role with unity, or we will only see more chaos ahead."
The chamber remained still for a moment longer, as heads slowly nodded in solemn agreement.
All except one.
The Fourth Elder remained motionless, his head lowered, hands tightly clasped in his lap, as shame weighed down on him heavier than any words could.
For now, that alone was punishment enough.
He understood better than anyone that he had only survived the political reckoning because Leo, for reasons still unclear to him, had chosen to surrender.
Had Leo continued the fight, had he claimed the title outright, then half the elders seated around this table, including himself, would have lost everything.
Their influence, their status, their seats.
And so, the Fourth Elder kept his eyes down throughout the meeting, not once daring to look up or speak.
"As per tradition, their training will begin next week," the First Elder declared, breaking the silence. "We shall send them to Planet Vorthas first, where they will study under the Twelfth Elder. From there, they will move across the other training worlds as they continue to master their skills."
He paused briefly, allowing the others to digest the schedule.
"If everything proceeds without interruption, both candidates should be able to achieve at least basic mastery in all twelve core techniques of the Cult within the next three years."
The other elders nodded one after another, their expressions now more focused, the earlier tension finally dissolving into structure and duty.
"Meanwhile, once this meeting concludes, I expect each of you to submit a written recommendation outlining what our new Dragon’s first ceremonial mission should be."
The First Elder’s tone remained calm, but purposeful.
"He needs a proper debut within the Cult. A visible operation. A chance to begin assembling his own army and laying the groundwork for his leadership."
He folded his hands, eyes sweeping across the table.
"Logistics must be handled, his base must be set up, and the infrastructure around his command must be established. Let’s finalize these administrative details today so that our Dragon may begin gathering his bannermen without delay."
Chairs shifted as the elders straightened up, pulling out their notepads and pens, their minds turning at once toward structure, planning, and execution. The political storm had passed, and now the machine of the Cult returned to motion.