Chapter 13: The Call’s Purpose

"It has been eons since we last met," Lex began, his voice calm yet imbued with unshakable authority. The glowing mist around his face moved subtly as he leaned forward, his gaze sweeping across the gathered primordials.

"You are the first creatures of this universe," he continued, his voice echoing through the hall, "And the first to whom I bestowed authority, granted unlimited access to the very laws of existence."

The weight of his words settled heavily upon the hall, some of the primordials shifting slightly on their seats, their expressions a mixture of awe, fear, respect and emotions too deeply buried to name.

"Some of you may act out of pride, others out of arrogance," he continued, his voice taking on a subtle edge. "But understand this; neither your pride nor your defiance can so much as shake my will, nor touch my dominion over this universe. What I have created, I command."

The air grew heavier, and overwhelming silence filled the hall as the primordials absorbed his words, none daring to interrupt. The authority in Lex's voice was indisputable, and for the first time in eons, they were reminded of who truly was the Creator and the one force that even they could not dare defy.

"You assume I can't see what some of your little thoughts are?" Lex said, his tone sharp as his glowing gaze settled directly on Timorath and Vyrinox.

Timorath stiffened in his humanoid form, his eyes widening. His hands instinctively clenched at his sides, and a faint shimmer of temporal energy flickered around him before dissipating, showing his nervousness. 

He averted his gaze, unable to hold Lex's piercing stare, his lips pressing into a thin line as regret gnawed at him.

Vyrinox's serpentine pupils narrowed sharply, and his scaled hands twitched at his sides. He shifted uneasily, his usually composed demeanor cracking under Lex's scrutiny. 

His black, forked tongue flicked nervously as he managed to barely mutter, "I… meant no insolence."

Both stood frozen, their confidence and pride draining away under Lex's gaze, their humanoid forms showing their discomfort as they were reminded of who truly held authority over the universe.

"Now that you remember your place, I'll grant you forgiveness," Lex said, his tone light, almost amused, as if mercy were a passing whim.

The tension in the hall seemed to ease slightly, though the impact of his words lingered. Timorath and Vyrinox visibly relaxed, their shoulders dropping as they realized they had escaped what felt like the jaws of death. 

Their forms steadied, though the earlier encounter left a lingering unease in their hearts.

The other primordials, who had been intently watching the scene unfold, remained motionless. None dared to speak or even move slightly in their seats, the mood became so tense it felt suffocating. 

Noticing this, Lex waved his hand. A rush of energy swept across the hall, a gentle yet powerful breeze that seemed to carry away their tension. 

Though unaware of its effects, the primordials felt their minds clear and their bodies loosen, an inexplicable calm settling over them. 

Their focus sharpened, and for the first time since they arrived, they felt at ease.

"The main purpose I called you here," Lex began, "Is to request a drop of your origin essence." He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle in their minds. 

"From this essence, I will merge it with other elements and create creatures."

A murmur of silent thoughts stirred among the primordials, though none dared to voice them aloud. 

Seeing their questioning gazes, Lex continued with a faint smile. "You wonder why I seek your essence, though I have the power to create anew. The reason is simple. You are my first creations. Singular. Irreplaceable. And it is precisely that uniqueness which I need."

The primordials exchanged subtle glances, internally questioning what made them so unique. Their thoughts raced. "Unique? How? What could He mean?" Each of them, powerful and prideful in their own right, had never stopped to consider that they were anything more than tools of creation or guardians of the universe. 

The revelation awakened a deep curiosity, and, for some, a cautious pride in their hearts.

"You are more than creations," Lex said evenly. "Each of you carries a fragment of the Origin Law, which I bestowed upon you the moment you were born. These fragments are not merely power source of power as you believe, but the primordial sources from which all laws emerge. And that inheritance is what makes you unique."

His gaze swept over the primordials, his voice still calm. "Some of you may have noticed how your comprehension of these laws is unusually high. For others, mastery of your domain comes effortlessly, as though it is ingrained into your very being. You may think this is natural, but it is not."

He paused, letting the words sink in, the faint hum of Origin Energy around him filling the silence. Then, he continued, his tone sharper, and more deliberate.

"The Laws are not something meant to be accessed so easily. However, because of the essence within you, essence imbued with traits of the Origin Law, you can."

He leaned back slightly, his glowing mist shifting as he finished, "And it is this essence I need. With it, the creatures I create will inherit the potential to comprehend the laws themselves. Not as easily as you do, but with effort, they will have the capability to unlock what was once inaccessible."

He then looked around, and he could see some of the primordials had clear traces of worry across their faces when they heard his explaination, their expressions betraying their unease. 

The thought that the extraction of their essence might hinder their comprehension of the laws gnawed at them. 

With a trace of amusement in his eyes, Lex addressed their fears in a voice as steady as the sea.

"Your fears are unfounded," he said. "If anything, this might deepen your connection to the laws rather than reducing it."

Though he possessed the might to seize what he needed, he refrained. The cost was too uncertain. Would the fragment shatter? Be tainted? That unknown chained his hand, but more than that, it was principle. Lex had no desire to rule by force.

A single drop of their essence was all he required, so there was no need to even think of force.

Hearing this, the primordials visibly relaxed. Some exchanged glances of relief, while others looked away, embarrassed at having their fears so easily laid bare. 

It was Vastoth who finally broke the silence and the embarrassment, his tone cautious and respectful. "What do you mean by deepen our comprehension of the laws?"

Lex leaned back slightly on his throne, the mist swirling softly around him. 

He answered in a purposeful tone, "As I said before, this may be an opportunity or a disaster for some of you."

The primordials leaned forward slightly, their curiosity piqued.

"You will become the progenitors of the races created from your essence," Lex continued. "This would grant you the right and the power to rule them. You will hold authority over them, tied innately to their existence."

He paused, letting his words resonate before delivering the final revelation.

"But of course that is not the only benefit. The true reward lies in this: the more descendants you have, the stronger you will grow. Their progress, their mastery, their very existence will feed into your strength, allowing you to surpass your limits and reach unimaginable heights"

The hall grew still as the primordials processed his words. What he offered was a gift of immense potential, one that came with responsibilities and challenges. 

For the first time in eons of stagnant boredom, many felt a spark of ambition rekindle within. The mention of disaster barely registered. Their minds now fixed on Lex's promise.