Council with the elders

"Jonan," Elder Shurae spoke, her voice low but carrying the weight of authority that only years of wisdom could bestow. "What brings you here at this hour?"

Jonan straightened himself, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves. "Elder Shurae, I seek your guidance," he began, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. "I need to know what has happened to my friends. I've asked the guards, but their answers are always the same. I need to know if they are alive, or if they are in danger." His voice faltered for a moment, but he pressed on, refusing to let the fear show.

The elder's face hardened at his words. Her eyes narrowed, and the room fell into an oppressive silence, as if the weight of her gaze was slowly peeling away Jonan's resolve. The other elders, seated around the grand chamber, exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. The silence stretched out like an unspoken judgment, and Jonan could feel their piercing stares digging deep into his soul.

Finally, Elder Shurae broke the silence, her tone cold and indifferent. "Jonan," she said, her voice sharp as a blade, "you are not to concern yourself with these matters. While we recognize your determination in searching for them, you cannot help us, or anyone, in any meaningful way. Whether or not we find any clues to their disappearance is of no consequence to you."

A mocking chuckle came from one of the elders seated beside Shurae. Elder Slyvok, his eyes gleaming with contempt, leaned forward with a sneer. "Boy, you should first learn your place. You, who have no talents beyond your bloodline, dare to stand here before us and ask for answers? If not for your birthright as the patriarch's son, you wouldn't even be allowed to speak in this chamber. Even commoners with exceptional abilities understand the limits of their station. But you are ignorant, arrogant and entitled to think you can demand answers from us?"

The elder slammed his fist on the wooden table with a force that made the entire room tremble. The sound echoed through the chamber like a thunderclap. Jonan felt a wave of pressure hit him, as if the elder's aura presence alone was crushing him under its weight. He staggered slightly, struggling to stand firm before the elder's collective aura.

Jonan clenched his fists, his knuckles white with the strain, his expression twisted with frustration and fury. The words of Elder Slyvok stung, the truth of them sinking deep into his pride. But even as his anger boiled, he knew that this was not the time for defiance.

From the other elder's expression of not helping or speaking up for him was clear evidence, that while they didn't speak out the same, they sure felt similar and were displeased with his actions.

"I understand my place," Jonan said, his voice low but firm. The room seemed to quiet as he spoke, the tension rising like a storm cloud. "But I will not stand idly by while my friends suffer, who knows where. If you have no answers for me, then I will seek them elsewhere."

Elder Slyvok scoffed, his lips curling into a cruel smile. "And where do you think that will get you, boy? You may walk away from here with your pride intact, but you will accomplish nothing." His eyes narrowed dangerously. "Remember this, boy, no matter how much you struggle, you will never amount to anything, and in the end, you will learn that there are forces far beyond your control."

"ENOUGH," roared Elder Shurae with irritation, she spoke "We all have important matters to discuss, Jonan you can take your leave, and don't waste anyone's time by seeking help from Aurelia, those from outside cannot interfere with the Family's inner workings."

Gritting his teeth in frustration, Jonan nodded, and met Slyvok's gaze, his resolve hardening like steel. He would not be broken, not by these elders, not by anyone. "We shall see," he replied quietly, turning to leave.

As he exited the chamber, the weight of their words hung over him, and he knew there was only one reason for such outright rejection for him. Contempt, Jonan knew that most of his family members hold him in contempt, but for his friends, he had to move forward and find any possible way to find them.

While Elder Slyvok's words stung him, but he wasn't entirely wrong, only strength was respected in this world, and if he had strength, none such thing would happen, and everything would go his way, unfortunately reality was cruel.

He also had a thought of letting the elders know of his findings, and letting them know that it's possible for him to go forward on the path to power, but he stopped himself midway, realizing it wouldn't be helpful in any way, after all he hasn't yet formed his nucleus.

What if everything mentioned in the black book was bogus, or what if he himself fails midway, after all while he has made multiple plans for breaking his attribute limits, but there has been no precedence of anyone breaking more than three attribute limit according to his knowledge.

He felt that sharing such secret knowledge would have disastrous consequences of it's own, which he wasn't aware of, so he felt it best to trust his instincts.

Meanwhile in the elder's hall, where the elders were still seated, and after noticing Jonan leaving, Elder Shurae spoke up squinting, "Do you really had to say it so harshly, Brother Slyvok, regardless, it is a fact that he is one of father's direct son, and if he was so useless, you know better than anyone, that father would have discarded him long ago."

Elder Slyvok harrumphed in irritation, a chilling memory surfacing as Elder Shurae spoke. He muttered under his breath, 'It must be because of that affinity of his. Just what is so special about that crystal affinity that Father would keep him so close?'"

Elder Shurae retorted, "Either way, you were way out of line, and it's not like we could tell the boy, even those from the Branch Descendants are perplexed by this missing case of those kids, worst of all, except for the fact that they were less talented, all of them were from major backgrounds."

With an express of distress, Elder Shurae sighed, "many might think we are not looking hard enough, but the truth is everyone's looking for those kids, due to various reasons, but for not getting even a single clue, this is a first, while I don't want to admit it, but we are also helpless for lack of any hint to where they might have been kidnapped."

"Humph! Who are you all trying to fool?" replied Elder Slyvok, his voice laced with disdain. "It's not as if HE wouldn't know. I'm sure He's aware of their whereabouts. He must have some purpose for them that we are unaware of, just like the boy who arrived earlier."SLYKOV!!!!, shouted all the elders. Elder Shurae interjected sharply, "Mind your tongue, Slykov! No one has the authority to question Father's intentions. And dare not utter words of distrust that could sow confusion among the family.""Ha! Such nonsense," Slykov muttered under his breath, a sneer twisting his lips. "Alright, alright, calm down. I was merely jesting, you know. No need for such aggression. In any case, our work is far from finished. There's been an unusual unrest near the borders recently. We must investigate the cause."Finally, the elders fell silent, the air thick with tension.

One of the elders, a woman with silver hair and piercing blue eyes, spoke up, her voice carrying a weight of authority. "You speak of danger, Slykov. But how do we know this unrest is not a fabrication? Perhaps someone is stirring fear intentionally."

Slykov met her gaze evenly. "I've seen the signs myself. It's not just hearsay. We must trust in the evidence, not just our doubts."

Elder Shurae nodded, with a lethargic expression, and said, "Perhaps it is time to investigate. But we must proceed with caution." 

Slykov's impatience flickered in his eyes, but he kept his composure. "I won't rush recklessly, but I will take the first step. We need to know the truth, and I will find it, whether you move with me or not."

The other elders nodded, and mentioned for him to check further and let him know if anything else is needed.

Meanwhile, Jonan, who was making his way back to his quarters, was upset with the elder's response. His mind raced with frustration as he pondered what else he could do to help his friends.

Unfortunately, Jonan had to accept a bitter truth, that no matter how much he wished for things to move faster, or how deeply he wanted to help his friends, there was only one thing he could truly control, and that was his own strength.

Jonan's face steeled with determination, that from now on, he would completely throw himself in training and raise his strength, to get the answers he needed.