Chapter 2 : The Grand Hall

Levi was roughly dragged into the grand hall, flanked by two towering figures—a demon on his left and an angel on his right. His small, frail form seemed almost swallowed by the enormous, echoing space. As they entered, Levi's eyes widened at the sight before him. Thousands of gods and demons filled the vast chamber, their seats ascending like steps in a colossal amphitheater. Their eyes bore down on him, a human child, insignificant in the presence of such power.

The demon and angel brought him to the center of the hall and roughly shoved him to his knees. Chains clinked and rattled as they secured him in place, their cold metal biting into his wrists and ankles. Above him, the quarrel began—a cacophony of voices, each one louder and more contemptuous than the last.

"Why are we wasting our time on this human?" a voice boomed, dripping with disdain. 

"An insignificant race," another chimed in, followed by murmurs of agreement.

Amidst the chaos, six figures stood out, seated in silence. They radiated an aura of strength, mightier than the others. Their expressions were unreadable as they watched the proceedings, their gaze occasionally drifting to Levi, who trembled under their scrutiny.

Levi couldn't understand their words, but their tone and the way they looked at him made his stomach twist in knots. Tears welled up in his eyes, blurring his vision as the memory of his parents' deaths replayed in his mind—over and over, like a nightmare he couldn't escape. 

A god with a twisted smile and eyes like burning coals leaned forward. His voice was like gravel grinding against stone as he spoke, using psychic energy to force understanding into Levi's mind. Suddenly, the alien sounds of their speech turned into words he could comprehend, but with comprehension came horror. The weight of their disdain, their mockery, pressed down on him like a physical force.

"So weak," one sneered. "What hope could such a creature have?"

"Why bother with this farce?" another spat. "Let us end him and be done with it."

A cold shiver ran down Levi's spine as he realized they were talking about him—debating his life, his worth, as if he were nothing more than an insect underfoot. He couldn't stop the tears from flowing, nor could he suppress the sobs that wracked his body. But as he cried, his grief was slowly turning into something else—anger, deep and burning.

"Aria," a god called out. His voice cut through the din, commanding and unyielding. The crowd fell silent as all eyes turned to the goddess of fate. Aria, a figure draped in flowing robes of silver and blue, with eyes like twin moons, stepped forward. 

She closed her eyes, raising her hands, and a soft glow surrounded her as she delved into Levi's fate. Seconds passed, and then she gasped, her eyes snapping open in shock. "I… I cannot see anything," she whispered, her voice trembling. "There is just… d-darkness. This child… he seems to be defying fate itself."

The hall fell into a stunned silence. Even the gods and demons who had been jeering moments before were left speechless.

Then, a god with a mischievous glint in his eye broke the silence, a grin spreading across his face. "Well, if fate can't see him, I say we toss him to the wolves. Or better yet, give him to me!" He let out a laugh, but it was more unsettling than comforting.

"Enough of your games," a demon growled. His voice was low, like the rumble of distant thunder. "This is no trivial matter. The Book of Kaleostus spoke, and it rarely does. If it said to save this child, then there must be a reason."

Arguments erupted once more, the gods and demons splitting into factions—some arguing for Levi's execution, others questioning the authenticity of the ancient text. The noise swelled, rising to a fever pitch, until it was abruptly cut off by a voice that radiated authority.

"SILENCE!" The word rang out like a bell, reverberating through the hall. A god stepped forward, his presence commanding. He radiated light, his eyes blazing like twin suns, and a sword, gleaming with celestial fire, hung at his side. "The boy will not be executed," he declared. "The Book of Kaleostus is absolute, and it commanded us to save him. To defy the book would be to defy the will of the cosmos itself. And shall I remind you what happened the last time we dared to do so?"

A tense silence followed, the memory of past transgressions hanging heavy in the air.

A demon clad in black armor, his presence as dark as a moonless night, spoke up. "Then imprison the child. We will ask the book again, and until it gives us a clear answer, he shall remain in chains."

As if noticing Levi's tears for the first time, a demon with cruel eyes peered into the boy's mind, dredging up the memory of his parents' deaths. A twisted smile spread across his face. "Pathetic," he taunted. "You weep for the dead? They were weak, and so are you."

Levi's sobs ceased, his grief boiling over into fury. Through tear-streaked eyes, he glared at the demon, his gaze seething with an intensity that made the demon pause. The chains around his wrists clinked as he clenched his fists, anger and sorrow battling within him.

"Enough," the higher god said, his tone leaving no room for argument. He turned to Levi, his expression unreadable. "What is your name, human child?"

Levi's voice, though choked with emotion, held a fierce defiance as he answered, "Levi." The name echoed in the hall, and for a moment, it seemed to carry a weight all its own.

The god nodded slowly. "I see. Then, Levi, you will be imprisoned until the Book of Kaleostus tells us what is to be done with you. Until then, manage to keep yourself alive."

With a gesture, he commanded an angel knight and a demon knight to unchain the boy and lead him away. They did so without a word, lifting Levi to his feet. He did not resist, his body numb, his mind overwhelmed with grief and hopelessness.

As they led him out of the grand hall, Levi looked back one last time at the sea of gods and demons. Their eyes followed him, filled with curiosity, disdain, or indifference. But amidst them, the six silent figures remained unmoved, their gaze fixed on him, as if seeing something the others could not.

Levi turned away, the heavy doors closing behind him with a resounding thud. The echoes of the grand hall faded, leaving him alone with his sorrow and a growing, simmering rage.