(Meanwhile, Veyr's POV)
While Leo poured his efforts into relocating Cult members to the Time-Stilled World, Veyr chose a different path.
He knew how quickly fear could consume the masses, how panic could spread like wildfire after the fall of Juxta, and how despair, if left unchecked, could inflict more ruin than the Righteous fleets ever could.
So rather than running, he instead chose to stay back and stand as a beacon of stability—ensuring that hope endured, and order was preserved until the evacuation phases were completed.
"Lord Dragon, you will be live in five seconds."
The broadcast director's voice cut through the studio, as Veyr straightened, cleared his throat, and fixed his gaze on the camera, waiting for the red glow to appear.
*Glow*
"People of the Cult. This is your Dragon, Aegon Veyr, speaking from Planet Tithia. If you can hear me, I ask that you stop whatever you are doing, just for a few minutes, and listen carefully to my words."
He began, as across the Cult's scattered worlds, billions of heads lifted.
In crowded markets, in military camps, in the dim homes of commoners, all eyes turned to the image of the young Dragon, and all ears tuned to the voice that cut cleanly through the static.
"You have all heard Commander Charles's address earlier today. And in case the news has not reached you yet, it is true. Juxta has fallen."
He let the silence breathe, refusing to veil the truth in comfort or disguise.
"The cowards of the Righteous Faction bombed not only our military strongholds, but also our cities. They annihilated every last district, civilians, artisans, children, none were spared. And in direct violation of the universal Code of War, they shattered the planet itself, reducing it to rubble without giving a single civilian a chance to escape, as they murdered billions of our brothers and sisters in cold blood."
His voice shook, anger trembling through it, as his fists curled briefly on the desk before he steadied himself again.
"And now, we must expect the same fate to await every Cult world once their fleets arrive. Which is why, together with the Shadow Dragon, I have prepared a plan. It is not glorious. It is not what any of us wish for. But it is necessary."
He took a breath, his jaw set as he delivered the words.
"Until Lord Søron returns, we must survive. And survival means leaving behind our homeworlds. I will not lie to you. It pains me to speak of this. But without Lord Søron to protect us, we cannot stand against the Righteous Armies alone. For even if we try, we will lose everything: our people, our future, our identity."
His eyes burned into the camera, his tone unwavering.
"So for now, we must swallow the bitter pill. We must flee, in order to live. And in doing so, we will preserve the Cult. Not as cowards, but as survivors, until the day comes when we can reclaim what is ours."
He leaned closer, his words sharp and clear.
"As per our plan, some of you will be evacuated by Lord Shadow Dragon, taken to a hidden realm where the Righteous Faction cannot reach us. But that world is small. Its resources are limited and not all of us can go there. So the rest of us must disperse to neutral planets, where I have already secured agreements with five administrators to take our people in."
His voice lowered, steady, grave.
"Mercenary and civilian ships from those planets are already en route to multiple Cult worlds as we speak, but they are not coming out of kindness. They come for profit.... And the cost of safe passage is ten thousand MP, or goods of equal value."
He shared, as he grit his teeth in anger.
"For those who can pay, I urge you, pay and leave. But if you have more than enough, then pay it forward. Buy a seat for someone who cannot. Do not abandon your fellow men to die because of something as worthless as money."
"For those who cannot pay, do not despair. Do not turn to looting or violence, for chaos will only hasten our fall. I ask you to stay calm. Stay orderly. Help one another wherever you can. If you see a child crying because their parents are gone, then take them by the hand. If you see a family stranded, then make space, even if it means a tighter seat. We survive not by standing alone, but by standing together. The Righteous Faction would love nothing more than to see us tearing ourselves apart from within. But I have faith in us that it will not happen. This is the Cult Of Ascension. Here, everyone is family."
Veyr paused, letting his words sink in, the faint tremor of emotion clear in his voice as his hand tightened on the edge of the desk.
"I will tell you this plainly. I will not take a ship to the Shadow Dragon's hidden world. That world is not meant for me. It is meant for you, the chosen few who will carry the future of the Cult. As for me, I will walk the same path as the rest of us. I will live among you on neutral planets. I will share your struggles. I will stand with you until the day Søron returns. I do not want you to look at me as a savior above you. I want you to look at me as your shield, as your brother, as the man who refuses to leave you behind."
He leaned forward, his black eyes fierce under the glare of the studio lights, his words deliberate and heavy.
"I will not leave Tithia until the very last Cult member has been evacuated. Not one of you will be abandoned. Not one will be left behind to the fire. When the last ship leaves, when the last mother and child and soldier have found a place aboard, only then will I take my leave. Not before that. Never before that."
His voice softened then, though the steel never left it.
"We will endure this storm together. We will survive it together. And one day, when Søron returns and the scum of the Righteous Faction falter, we will rise together. So hold fast. Hold strong. Look not to despair, but to each other. For you are not alone in this struggle. I the Dragon am with you. Always."
The red light above the camera dimmed. The broadcast ended, but his words echoed across every Cult world, carried into every home and heart like a promise carved in stone.
The Dragon was with them.....
(More chapters in Buyers club for TMT)