Chapter 39: Noting stays the same
The room was thick with tension, each individual processing the events differently. Some couldn't believe what they were seeing, others were calculating how this new alliance would impact their own ambitions. Grave's mind raced, his instincts honed from years of conflict, but even he couldn't deny the shift that was happening before him.
Vault leaned in closer, his voice low but laced with amusement. "You're thinking too hard about it, old man. What's done is done. You can either adapt, or become irrelevant."
Grave didn't respond immediately, instead focusing on the way Aiden and Olga stood together. Despite their previous enmity, they now seemed almost... comfortable in each other's presence. The Dark Queen's smirk had softened, a rare sight that suggested she wasn't just playing a game. And Aiden, though still young, exuded an aura of authority that made even the most hardened soldiers like Grave hesitate.
Celestine, sensing the growing unrest in the crowd, raised her hand, silencing the murmurs that were building. "The agreement has been made," she declared. "Our enemies have been defeated, and our futures are intertwined. The path to peace may be fraught with challenges, but we have taken the first step."
Aiden's eyes swept across the room, locking with several key figures who seemed to question his legitimacy. Some were veterans of countless battles, others nobles who had seen power shift and change over the years. His gaze was calm, almost serene, but there was an undeniable sharpness to it. "I'm not here to play games with you all," Aiden said, his voice carrying across the hall. "This peace isn't just for Olga or Celestine. It's for everyone. It's for those who want something different. Something better."
His words struck a chord with a few in the room, particularly those who had grown weary of the endless cycles of war. But there were others—more traditional, more wary—who continued to eye him with suspicion.
Grave remained silent, but his eyes narrowed as he studied Aiden, noticing how the young ruler didn't flinch under the weight of their gazes. He couldn't help but wonder what it meant to have someone so young, so seemingly inexperienced, in a position of power.
Olga, sensing the shift in the room, couldn't help but laugh softly, her voice dripping with both admiration and a hint of mockery. "They'll come around eventually, Aiden. They have to. After all, who else is going to challenge us?"
Aiden turned his attention to her, his expression still neutral. "No one needs to challenge us. We're not looking to rule through fear. I've seen too much of that. What we're building is different."
Olga raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his conviction. "Well, aren't you idealistic," she mused, but there was a flicker of something deeper in her eyes—a grudging respect.
Celestine stepped forward, her voice cutting through the tension once more. "Enough. We've made our point. The agreements are in place, and it's time for everyone here to decide where they stand. The war is over. The question now is: who among you is ready to build something new?"
The crowd, while still in shock, began to stir, whispers rippling through the air as the nobles and warriors weighed their options. Some of the old guard, those who had fought on the frontlines, were hesitant to accept the new order, but others seemed more willing to consider the possibilities.
Grave, still reflecting on the implications, finally spoke up. "And what about the rest of us? What does this mean for those who have fought all these years, whose loyalty lies with other powers?"
Celestine's gaze shifted to him, her expression unreadable. "Those who wish to fight for peace have a place. But the days of endless war are over. We all have to find a way to move forward, or we will be left behind."
Grave grunted, clearly unconvinced, but he knew better than to outright dismiss Celestine's words. She had always been a calculating figure, and her alliances were never to be underestimated.
Vault, however, seemed more intrigued than anything. "You know, Grave," he said with a chuckle, "maybe it's time to stop looking over our shoulders. This new world might not be so bad, after all."
Grave shot him a sharp look. "Keep talking like that, and you'll find yourself on the wrong side of it."
The tension in the room seemed to hang in the air, but Aiden's next words cut through it with surprising ease.
"If you want to fight, fight for a future worth having," he said firmly. "We're not here to destroy what's left of this world. We're here to rebuild it, with strength, with unity, and with purpose. The choice is yours."
As his words echoed in the hall, a strange stillness seemed to settle over the crowd. The battle had been won, but the true test had only just begun. Would they rally behind the new vision, or would the shadows of the past continue to dictate their actions?
Grave, ever the skeptic, gave Aiden one last look. His instincts told him that this young ruler—this lightning god—wasn't someone to be taken lightly. He wasn't sure what the future held, but he was certain of one thing: the world had changed, and it was now up to everyone in that room to decide whether they would accept it or fight against it.
As then Aiden passed by Grave and when he did Grave felt a chill down his spine he looked to see but Aiden just was not there as he looked around wondering where he went.
Meanwhile Aiden was just there seating, as someone was shocked to see him as she blushe almost falling as Aiden catches ehe
Aiden looked at her. "Suprise to see me Prim".
Prim looked at him, as her pink hair moved in the wind. "I um... Didn't see you coming here"
Aiden looked at her dress. "Nice outfit".
Prim blushed even deeper at Aiden's comment, her hands nervously adjusting the fabric of her dress. "Th-thank you," she stammered, clearly flustered by the sudden attention. "I didn't expect... well, I didn't expect you to be here, either."
Aiden, with his usual nonchalant expression, smirked a little. "I guess I have that effect on people." He tilted his head, still observing her. "You've been a little distant lately. How's everything going?"
Prim blinked, caught off guard by his casual tone and the ease with which he navigated the conversation. "Things have been... fine," she said, her voice losing some of its initial nervousness. "Busy, mostly. With everything going on lately, it's been hard to focus."
Aiden raised an eyebrow, noting the slight tension in her voice. "Is that so? I'm sure the peace talks aren't making it any easier."
Prim sighed, nodding. "Yeah. There's a lot happening, and it feels like everything is shifting too fast. I'm not sure where I stand in all of this."
Aiden leaned back slightly, studying her, as though trying to gauge her true feelings. "You don't have to figure it all out right now. Sometimes it's better to just let things fall into place."
Prim looked at him, a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. "I... I don't know if that's the right way. Not with all the changes happening. Not with everything at stake."
Aiden's gaze softened, and for the first time, there was a genuine warmth in his tone. "Sometimes, you don't have to have all the answers right away, Prim. Sometimes, the only thing you need to do is take the first step. The rest comes after."
Prim stood there, a little dumbfounded, unsure of how to respond to such an unexpectedly wise and calm statement. For a moment, the air around them felt less tense, more grounded in the simplicity of their exchange.
Aiden broke the silence, giving her a small smile. "But I won't keep you too long. I'm sure you've got your own things to handle."
Prim blinked, as if waking from a daze. "Oh! Right, yes. I need to... go check on some things." She quickly gathered herself, brushing off the lingering feeling of nervousness. "Thanks for catching me, Aiden."
"No problem," Aiden replied, giving a slight nod. "Take care, Prim."
As she walked away, still flustered but now with a subtle smile on her face, Aiden watched her go, his expression returning to its usual stoic demeanor. There was a moment of quiet reflection as he considered the impact of his words, wondering if they would help Prim find her footing in the chaotic landscape that had suddenly unfolded around them.
And just as quickly, the thoughts were gone, replaced with the ever-present focus on the future ahead.
"Just the slime I wanted too see".
Aiden already recognise her voice, as he saw her. "Hi Luu Luu".
Luu Luu looked, as she smirked she was trying to give up am cocy grin but she tail wagging left and right didn't helpt her.
Aiden chuckled at that. "So how can help the Buildoholic".
Luu Luu blinked looked at him. "Hey your..... Not wrong".
Aiden leanded next to her, do to how his Human from look he was more close to her hight then that of Prim or Maia or Claudia or Kaguya.
Aiden then thought to him self. "Now that I think about she is probably not here".
Aiden's thoughts were interrupted as Kaguya came to a halt beside him, her graceful movements surprising even him, considering how quickly she had closed the distance. The energy around her radiated a certain mischievousness, the same that he'd witnessed before, but now it seemed more intense than ever. She was definitely not shy about her... interest in him.
Kaguya gave Aiden a playful smile, her eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. "Well, well, looks like I'm not the only one with a lot of attention tonight," she teased, her voice smooth as silk, and her gaze lingering just a little too long.
Aiden raised an eyebrow, clearly amused, but there was something else in his expression—a quiet curiosity. "You've got some speed, I'll give you that," he remarked, glancing at her with a playful smirk. "But if you're here for what I think you're here for, I'm gonna need a little more than just that speed to keep up."
Kaguya's smile widened, clearly enjoying the banter. "Oh, Aiden," she said, leaning in just a little closer. "I've never needed more than what I've got."
Aiden chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "You do realize, you're kind of a walking mystery, right?"
"Am I?" she replied, feigning innocence, though the gleam in her eyes suggested otherwise. "Maybe I'm just here for a little... chat."
"Sure," Aiden said, stepping back slightly, though he was still close enough that she could easily close the distance again if she wished. "But we both know you're not here just for a chat, Kaguya."
She raised a finger to her lips in mock contemplation. "Hmm, well, I'll admit... I do enjoy a good conversation. But maybe I've been thinking about something else for a while now." Her voice dropped to a quieter, more intimate tone. "Something... involving a certain slime."
Aiden smirked. "Figures. Honestly, I'm starting to think I'm everyone's favorite mystery here." He crossed his arms, sizing her up with a mixture of amusement and intrigue. "But I'm not that easy, Kaguya."
She leaned in closer, her playful grin widening as she whispered in his ear, just loud enough for him to hear, "Who said anything about easy? I like a challenge."
Aiden's eyes met hers with a certain edge, though he couldn't help but feel a bit of amusement at her audacity. "You're really something, Kaguya," he said, his tone shifting slightly, a mix of admiration and disbelief. "But I've got bigger things to focus on."
Her grin faltered slightly, but only for a moment, before her usual teasing demeanor returned. "I'm sure you do," she said, stepping back just enough to give him space. "But remember, Aiden... I'm not going anywhere. And neither is my interest in you."
Aiden chuckled again, shaking his head. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're making it hard to get any peace around here."
"Good," Kaguya said, with a wink. "I wouldn't want it any other way."
As she turned to walk away, Aiden watched her leave, a small smile tugging at his lips. He couldn't deny that there was something magnetic about Kaguya—a combination of mystery, mischief, and just enough unpredictability to keep him on his toes. But for now, he had other things to deal with.
Still, he couldn't help but wonder just how much he would have to navigate around Kaguya's... interest before this night was over.
Luu Luu then looked at Aiden. "So um, I just ignored by you".
Aiden then looked at her. "Not really Luu Luu, just supirse by yury fellow princess knight".
Luu Luu just looked at Kaguya. "I thought she was all about worship her Insect God and being it's priest".
Aiden just sighed. "Yeah, and sorry for ignoring you there I was busy"
Luu Luu finsihed Aiden sentence for him. "Flirting".
Aiden just looked at her. "More like the other way around".
Luu Luu crossed her arms, her tail flicking to the side as she gave Aiden a playful smirk. "Right, because you're the one getting flirted with. I mean, sure, you're the charming one here," she teased, raising an eyebrow.
Aiden chuckled, rolling his eyes at the playful jab. "I didn't say I wasn't charming," he replied smoothly. "But I know when I'm being targeted. And trust me, Kaguya is definitely the one doing all the work there."
Luu Luu glanced back at Kaguya, who was still a distance away, her eyes glimmering with amusement. "I guess you've got a point," Luu Luu admitted, but there was a certain glint in her eyes that suggested she wasn't backing down. "But don't think I'm not paying attention either, Aiden."
Aiden raised an eyebrow, his smile never fading. "Oh? And what exactly are you paying attention to, Luu Luu?"
She leaned in slightly, her grin widening mischievously. "Let's just say, I've got an eye for things," she said cryptically, her gaze flickering between Aiden and the other members of the gathering. "Like how you seem to get under everyone's skin, without even trying."
Aiden shrugged casually. "I'm just being myself. Not like I've got anything to hide."
"Sure," Luu Luu said, her voice laced with a hint of challenge. "But being yourself doesn't stop people from getting curious about you. And people definitely seem curious about you."
Aiden glanced around at the crowd, noticing how some of the conversations seemed to quiet when he and Luu Luu were talking. "I guess that's true," he admitted with a shrug. "But I'd prefer not to make a scene. Things are complicated enough as it is."
Luu Luu's grin softened slightly. "You do know you're kind of a walking mystery, right? Everyone's got their eyes on you, Aiden. Whether you like it or not."
He sighed dramatically, leaning back slightly. "I guess I'll have to get used to it. Can't really avoid the attention, can I?"
"Not when you're this interesting," Luu Luu said, her tone teasing but with a hint of something more sincere beneath it. "But hey, at least you're not as bad as Kaguya."
Aiden shot her a curious look. "Oh? How's that?"
Luu Luu smirked. "At least you don't make everyone feel like they need to be worshipped just to get a conversation out of you." Her eyes twinkled with mischief. "Kaguya's got that covered."
Aiden chuckled, shaking his head. "Fair enough. But you might want to be careful with that, Luu Luu. I'm not the only one who gets people curious around here." He paused, giving her a pointed look. "You're not exactly invisible either."
Luu Luu's tail flicked again, but this time, there was a slightly more thoughtful expression on her face. "I guess we're both walking mysteries, then."
Aiden smiled. "Seems like it."
With that, the playful tension between them seemed to ease, though the unspoken challenge still lingered in the air. Neither of them had given in entirely, but there was a mutual understanding that both of them knew exactly how to keep the other on their toes.
To be continued
Sorry for no new Ch yesterday, had a dentist appointment hope people like this Ch and give me power stones