Chapter 6

"He is a monstrosity," declared a man dressed in white, seated upon an ornate golden throne, his voice reverberating throughout the expansive chamber crafted from smooth white crystals and adorned with gold.

The grand hall featured golden statues positioned at each corner, with the floors embellished with shimmering gold and exquisite crystals.

Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a radiant glow that illuminated every corner of the hall, creating a sight that was nothing short of celestial.

"It is unlawful to integrate him into our ranks; he must be eliminated immediately," stated a woman in white attire, also seated on a throne.

At the far end of the magnificent hall stood five thrones of white and gold. Three men and two women donned in flowing white garments occupied them, arranged alternately by gender, with the central figure holding the highest authority. These individuals were the esteemed elders of Veilwatch.

"Refrain from overreacting, Elyndra; she raises a valid concern," replied Kael Zephyrion, the male elder at the far right.

"Interesting. What do you recommend we do then?" inquired Alaric Draythar, the central elder, maintaining a calm demeanor as he directed his question to the enigmatic figure before them.

"He harbors the monolith within him, indicating that they will pursue him. However, since we currently possess him, we also have control over the monolith, thwarting their plans—at least for now," responded a composed female voice addressing the elders.

"He ingested a demonic artifact, one that could annihilate our kind, let alone a mere human. It's unthinkable," Elyndra shot back.

"So it is confirmed; he has ingested a monolith and survived. That categorizes him as a demon. Are you aware that we exterminate demons?" questioned Serenna Noctis, another female elder.

"Demons are not welcome in Veilwatch," added Serenna as she directed her gaze toward the figure standing before them.

"Not this one," the enigmatic female responded.

"Clarify your statement, child," Alaric urged her.

"You fail to connect the dots; this marks a new chapter for Veilwatch. For the first time in history, it is a human who has consumed a monolith rather than the other way around. There must be a significant reason behind this occurrence," the female explained to the elders.

"Yes, a reason potent enough to bring about our destruction," Elyndra retorted loudly.

"That scenario is unlikely to unfold anytime soon," the female answered, a smile gracing her features.

"Within him lies a powerful demonic artifact, which he has the ability to control. If he can manage to suppress such strength, then…"

The woman began to explain, but was quickly interrupted by an elder.

"He has the capacity to wield this power, and now that we possess him, we can use him as a weapon," declared Thalion Veymar, the male elder seated on his throne, countering the words of the unknown speaker.

"Exactly," the woman affirmed, her voice full of agreement.

"However, he remains a demon," added Serenna, contributing to the discussion.

"Serenna, I believe I've finally grasped what she is trying to convey; she is indicating a larger context," responded Kael Zephyrion, casting a glance at the beaming female.

"And what does that entail?" Serenna inquired of Kael.

"She suggests that his ability to suppress such power signifies a potential greater than we can fathom. Thus, we should study him while simultaneously stalling the plans of the demon kind," Kael elaborated for his peers.

"Additionally, she's implying that we can leverage this human's potential for our benefit," Kael continued.

"Hmm, by exploring why he remains unconsumed, we could perhaps apply our findings to humanity, enabling them to resist demonic influences," Alaric Draythar chimed in, resting his finger on his chin in thought.

This revelation brought a broad smile to the woman's face, as they finally grasped her message.

For a brief moment, silence enveloped the luminous hall as all the elders pondered the implications before Serenna disrupted the quietude.

"I still believe we should eliminate him. Killing him would destroy the monolith, ultimately thwarting Hell's scheme," Serenna voiced her dissent.

"To kill him would mean forfeiting a crucial advantage at Veilwatch. Remember, this is an unprecedented anomaly since the dawn of creation. We cannot simply overlook this opportunity," the woman countered Serenna's argument.

**Tch**

Serenna hissed, realizing the truth in the point presented.

"So you're proposing we bring this human-turned-demon into Veilwatch?" Elyndra stated aloud.

"Yes," the woman in front of them confirmed.

"That means he will continue to be confined in Veilwatch, and you will take complete responsibility for studying him. By studying, I mean we need to comprehend how a human manages to contain such power and how we can harness that power against those who oppress the innocent. We must extract his power by any means necessary if we choose this path," Thalion Veymar remarked.

"I accept full responsibility, but I won't be the one conducting the study," the woman responded.

There was a moment of brief confusion after her statement resonated among those present.

"So who will initiate this?" Thalion inquired.

"The person best suited for the study is the one who discovered him," the woman replied, a smile appearing on her face.

"Hmmm, Nova isn't a poor choice, but I'm concerned she might end his life before the process even begins," Elyndra expressed.

"Don't worry; I've taken care of that concern; everything will be alright," the woman assured them.

Once again, silence enveloped the room before it was disrupted.

"Hmm, then it's agreed. All those in favor of keeping this human, please raise your hand," Alaric instructed the other elders as he stood from his throne, raising his own hand in support.

For a few seconds, no one else complied, leaving only Alaric Draythar with his hand raised.

Then the woman raised her hand as well, signaling her agreement.

"Your vote doesn't count; lower your hand, child," Serenna directed at the young mysterious woman among the elders.

"Give the girl a moment to express herself, Serenna; she has a role in this, let her participate," Thalion interjected loudly, then raised his hand to indicate his agreement.

Elyndra and Kael soon followed suit, leaving Serenna as the sole dissenter.

"Then it's settled. We will commence studying this human after seven suns. You may take your leave," Alaric stated, settling back onto his throne.

"Thank you for your time," the woman replied as she turned away from them to exit the hall.

"Child," Alaric called out, causing the mysterious woman to pause and listen while facing the exit.

"We would not have consented if it were anyone else; do not make us regret this decision," Alaric warned her in a calm voice before she resumed her departure towards the exit.