WEAPON IN THE HEAVENS

"Lloyd has developed a weapon," Adriana began, her voice crisp and clear, "a device he calls the Solar Crystal. It's an artifact carved from solid light affinity Mystium, intricately enchanted to absorb solar energy and channel it into a concentrated blast. Think of it as a localized, amplified version of Kojo's Solar Extinction, though we don't know the full force of Kojo's spell, so this is based purely off what he's shown."

A ripple of unease spread through the room. The name "Solar Extinction" alone was enough to make anyone's stomach churn, as it was a spell that Kojo had used to demarcate the border between two nations. It was a spell that effectively gave him the power to alter landscapes or turn entire cities to dust. The fact that such a fearful ability, even if just an imitation, could be copied into a weapon was... something else. Some among the gathering began to wonder how smart Lloyd was to be able to pull it off.

"He proposes launching it into orbit, but he needs clearance. This is a matter of the Moonshadow, so talking it over with Father would be pointless. That's why I'm bringing it up." Adriana continued, her gaze sweeping over the faces before her. "Imagine the strategic advantage. A weapon of such power, capable of striking anywhere on the planet with pinpoint accuracy. It could be our ultimate deterrent, our decisive edge in dealing with particularly powerful opponents. And its application isn't just limited to being a weapon," she added, her voice gaining a persuasive edge. "The Solar Crystal could also function as a powerful communication array, capable of projecting messages across vast distances. It could enhance our sensor capabilities, providing real-time data on enemy movements. Lloyd even theorized that it can be used for teleportation between points via controlled disintegration and reconstruction."

She finished, and the gathering began to whisper among themselves, their opinions obviously varying on the issue.

Sharone raised a hand, cutting through the rising murmur. "Alright, thank you, Adriana. Now, thoughts?" she asked generally.

Koniko, her brow furrowed, spoke first. "The sheer power of such a weapon is… unsettling. What if it malfunctions? The potential for catastrophic damage is immense."

"And the energy signature," Ovid added, his voice low and cautious. "It would be unmistakable. Any sufficiently advanced magic sense would be able to feel it. Given the revelation that the littered-haired girl who was here a while back was a deity, we can assume that there are others who are operating from high places. Wouldn't such beings be able to detect it with ease and then turn their attention to us? We'd be broadcasting our capabilities to the entire cosmos."

"That's precisely why we need it," Heinz countered, his eyes flashing. "We need a weapon that can deter any threat, no matter how powerful. We need to project strength, to make them think twice before challenging us. What you've said so far are tangible reasons for reluctance, but it's not anything beyond the power of repair. It can be fine-tuned such that it won't malfunction, and with enough spells and enchantments, concealing it will not be too hard."

"But at what cost?" Rose asked, her voice soft but firm. "What will people think if they discover we have a weapon of mass destruction orbiting above them? Fear, distrust, panic – these are not the foundations of a stable society."

"Morality?" Eduar scoffed, her tone laced with disdain. "You're talking about morality? We're fighting for survival. The things we'll be encountering from now on will not care about our values. Morality is a luxury we can't afford. The battle with the goblins and the aftermath is testament to that."

Sasha, her expression unreadable, interjected. "No one here is concerned with morality in the traditional sense, Eduar. We're all committed to supporting Kojo, whatever it takes. But we also understand the importance of discretion. We can't afford to be seen as aggressors. We can't give our enemies any reason to unite against us."

"I have to agree with Lady Sasha. This may even serve as a catalyst to bind our foes together to fight a common enemy. That being us. We are motivated enough to deal with that, but that will make things overly complicated to deal with," Altair said, with Gwen, Euna, and Kalori nodding in support.

Koniko also nodded in agreement. "If word of this weapon gets out, even our own people will be uneasy. It'll breed paranoia and dissent."

"And," Jack added, his voice grave, "with the involvement of other powerful mages around the world, there's always the risk of it being hijacked, turned against us. We'd be handing them the means of our own destruction."

"Then we keep it a secret," Proxima insisted, her voice tight. "We launch it, we control it, and we use it only when absolutely necessary."

The group continued to bicker, obviously divided on the next course of action.

Sharone sighed. "That's enough," she said, causing the room to instantly fall silent. She looked around the room, her gaze lingering on each face. "The concerns are valid, and the potential benefits are undeniable, but the risks are too high. We can't afford to be reckless."

"So, what's the decision?" Adriana asked, her voice sharp. "Are we going to launch it or not?"

Sharone thought for a moment, then took a deep breath. "We'll put it on hold for now. We'll continue to refine the technology, to explore its potential, but we won't launch it until we have a clearer understanding of the consequences and whether or not those consequences are worth the risk."

Adriana sighed, a sound of frustrated resignation. "I knew this would happen," she muttered.

Lin rose abruptly, her expression troubled. "Excuse me," she said, her voice strained. "There's a bit of a commotion outside. I need to see what's happening."

Without waiting for a response, she turned and left the chamber, leaving behind the lingering echo of Adriana's frustrated sigh and the heavy, unspoken questions that hung in the air.

Kojo flew towards Eldrida, his wings beating steadily. He didn't actually know where the city was, but he had made an educated guess. Since Eldrida was the capital of Ezkanur, and the government had gone to great lengths to control people's movement inwards via gateway, he figured that the city should be in the middle of the continent.

(Your logic is too simple. There's more to it than that. Well, at least it's better than just saying you're moving towards the 'feel' of Lin. You weird ass pervert.)

"Shut up."

(What are you going to do if the capital city isn't at the center?)

"Easy. If that happens, I'll just keep flying till I find it."

(You're talking like the name of the city is displayed in neon lettering.)

"Don't be so pessimistic."

Sysia sighed. (It must be nice being so simple-minded.)

As he flew closer to his destination, he spotted a city with a Holy Field around it. He smiled. "Bingo. I told you so," he said, but Sysia just scoffed.

As he drew closer, Kojo saw that a shockwave of energy was traveling through the barrier, gathering at the point he was flying towards.

(It's a mechanism that enforces the barrier by concentrating energy at a point of breach.) Sysia explained.

"How is the point determined?"

(It's the same way the barrier sees you as an 'enemy'. Some kind of artifact with magic senses and homing.)

Kojo folded his arms and rubbed his chin. "I could try to dismantle the spell to create an opening I could pass through, but it's too much of a hassle." Instead, he simply vibrated his body using Resonance Amplification and phased through the barrier. "Piece of cake."

(The visible reinforcement of energy probably prompted security though.)

Kojo smirked, "Then let's just prepare for a warm reception."

He flew towards a large temple that sat at the side of a large mountain overlooking Eldrida. He landed in the courtyard, beating his wings one last time and resting them on his back. Instantly, he was surrounded by knights who pointed spears at him.

Kojo rolled his eyes. "This again."

Kojo attempted to speak, but a guard charged at him. He sidestepped, causing the knight to fall to the ground with a loud clang. More knights tried to jump him, but he evaded them all and simply rose into the air and hovered above them, out of their reach. That didn't stop the knights from aiming their spears and using him as target practice.

Just then, two women appeared and told the knights to stand down. Kojo observed as the armored guards stood down, then landed, and his wings vanished. Kojo looked them over.

The two nuns, who introduced themselves as Mera and Vera, were twins with inverse combinations of pink, white, and black hair, respectively. They were dressed in very tight-fitting clothes that complemented their curves and breasts.

(Concentrate.)

Kojo coughed and cleared his throat. "Right."

Mera and Vera explained that they had been tasked with catering to Master Kojo. They offered to take care of his needs, but before they could finish talking, a wave of murderous intent washed over the courtyard, causing Kojo to shudder.

"L-L-Lin. Hi. I'm finally -"

He took a step back as Lin walked towards him and grabbed him by the ear, pulling him along. The two women stopped Lin.

"We were assigned to look after Kojo."

Lin glared at them, and they smiled and stepped aside while she dragged Kojo inside.

"We'll be waiting for you, Master Kojo." Mera called out as both twins bowed.

"Help me," he pleaded as Lin had switched her grip to his collar and was choking him. Kojo's face turned bright red as Lin pulled him away, his feet dragging on the ground.