Miss. Missy's processors whirred softly as her thoughts tangled.
"What might be the cause for my drones to be destroyed on those planets?" she wondered silently. "I know those planets were just beyond the region Elder commanded me to explore… but my internal program refuses to let my CPU rest on this matter."
Her synthetic eyes dimmed slightly, an imitation of human frowning. "Something about those missing worlds doesn't feel right."
Still, she gathered the final report, determined to present it to Elder. The matter of the lost drones could wait—at least, that's what she told herself.
As she entered the Great Hall, her steps slowed.
Elder was floating in midair, his right hand resting gently at the heart of the Tree of Life. Golden light rippled from his palm through the living branches, and his eyes blazed with pure gold, filled with cosmic awareness.
Whenever Elder entered this state, no one—not even Miss. Missy—could truly understand what he was doing or seeing. It was as though his consciousness stretched beyond the realms of mortal comprehension.
Yet this time, something was different.
Even from a distance, she could feel it. The golden light around him wasn't calm and steady as usual—it flickered, pulsed, and wavered like a flame caught in a silent storm.
At a single glance into Elder's shining eyes, anyone could tell: he was concerned.
Miss. Missy's processors registered a rise in her own core temperature, something akin to human anxiety.
"I've never seen Elder this troubled before," she thought. "Not even when his people were at risk. What could make him so… unsettled? What could disturb someone like him?"
The hum of the Great Hall deepened as the Tree of Life pulsed once more, its roots glowing faintly beneath the marble floor. Elder's golden eyes remained fixed on something unseen—something far beyond the reach of light or time.
As this was the case, Elder told Miss. Missy everything that was troubling him. His words carried the weight of sorrow, and she often heard him muttering softly to himself, "This is all my fault… this is all my fault…"
Having no idea where his beloved younger brother had gone placed a heavy burden upon Elder's heart and mind. For a time, he could not think clearly, his thoughts drifting like scattered stars in the void. Miss. Missy stood there silently, careful not to make a sound that might disturb his fragile calm.
At last, Elder turned his golden eyes toward her and asked, "What is the reason for your arrival?"
She began presenting the analysis of the report she had gathered, her voice even and precise. Elder took the glowing screen from her hands and listened quietly as she explained each detail of her findings.
After some time, their analysis meeting came to an end. Elder exhaled deeply and said,"This is good. Send copies of this report to the Twelve and summon them here by tomorrow at this same time. Also, signal those working on the construction of the teleportation machines—tell them to accelerate their progress and work extra hours for my sake. I want everything to move faster."
Miss. Missy sensed the urgency in his tone, but she dared not ask the reason. As she turned to leave the Great Hall, Elder once again rose into the air, his right hand pressing gently upon the center of the Tree of Life. His eyes began to glow with radiant gold.
She paused for a moment at the doorway. She knew what this meant—he was searching once again for his younger brother.
Without another word, she departed to carry out his orders. She sent copies of the report to the Twelve, summoned them to the castle for the following day, and instructed the workers to increase their pace for the sake of Elder, who wished for everything to move swiftly—faster than time itself could measure.
The Twelve received their copies of the report, and the workers in the manufacturing departments labored with great urgency, moving at a remarkable pace to complete the components of the teleportation machines, just as Elder had requested.
By the following day, all Twelve had arrived at the castle as commanded. Miss. Missy guided them to the council chamber, where they took their seats in silence, awaiting Elder's arrival.
At last, Elder entered the room. Yet even before he appeared, the Twelve had already sensed his radiant aura approaching from afar. They immediately rose from their seats and bowed their heads low in reverence—their gesture of pure devotion to their master.
Elder motioned gently with his hand and said, "Be at ease."They sat down once more, their attention fixed on him as he glanced over several glowing screens before him.
Finally, Elder spoke."I thank you all for coming on such short notice. You may have already understood the reason from the copies Miss. Missy sent you—but I want all things to move faster. The time for hesitation is over."
One among the Twelve rose and spoke with humility, "It is no burden for us, my lord. Whenever our king summons us, we shall come without delay."
A faint smile crossed Elder's face. "I am always grateful for this love you show me." He paused briefly, his golden eyes softening, then continued, "There are two matters I wish to speak of today.
The first is this—I want every operation related to the formation of the Space Government to accelerate. No step should be delayed."
He looked toward them and asked, "Now tell me, how goes the training of the first generation of soldiers? Are there any difficulties? How is their strength developing?"
One of the Twelve stepped forward and answered respectfully, "My lord, the training progresses well. The students are learning swiftly, far beyond our expectations. They are eager to see the full vision of the Space Government realized. We have also introduced a new subject in the schools—the History of the Past—to teach them how the old worlds once were, and how your wisdom reshaped our present. All of this is thanks to our king."
The student continued, his voice filled with pride, "My lord, the students are becoming deeply thoughtful about everything you've taught. When their lessons end, they do not return home to rest. Instead, they form groups and spread throughout the cities, helping their people in every way they can. They have begun inspiring the next generation to become Knights of the Space, urging children everywhere to join the academy.
The first generation has become widely admired among parents, who now eagerly send their children to the schools we have built. They even heard of the report you sent us, my lord, and asked what purpose it served. When we told them that you wish to hasten the progress of the great work, their spirits lifted even higher. Many of them volunteered to assist in the manufacturing process—they are the very reason the components are being completed so swiftly."
Elder's chest swelled with pride, his golden eyes shimmering with warmth."What wonderful work you and your peers have accomplished," he said, his voice rich with emotion. "You have carried my teachings farther than I could have imagined. Please, convey my sincere gratitude to all those who stand beside you."
He paused for a moment, the air around him turning still, as if even the universe leaned closer to listen. Then his tone deepened.
"Now," Elder continued, "the second matter I must speak of is this: I want you all to embark on a mission—a mission to a place where even time itself dares not move forward. A place where moments try to run backward, as if clinging to the past. That realm holds the very essence of what shaped today's future... and I want you to go there."
At once, the chamber fell silent. The Twelve rose to their feet as one, lowering their heads in solemn unity.
"My lord, our king," they said in unison, "you should never ask us to do something—you should command us. We will gladly take on this mission for you, even if it costs our lives. Anything for our king."
Elder's heart stirred at their words. Their unwavering devotion was like a symphony that echoed through the halls of his soul. A faint, sorrowful smile touched his lips, for he knew the path he was sending them upon was one that even light hesitated to tread.
He raised his right hand, and the golden air of the chamber rippled softly around him."My beloved students," he said, his voice calm yet resonant, "your loyalty humbles me. You speak of serving me with your lives—but remember, I never seek your sacrifice. I seek your return."
The Twelve lifted their eyes toward him, their faces filled with awe and determination.
"The place I speak of," Elder continued, "lies beyond the known stars—past the rivers of frozen light and the dark fields where sound itself fades. It is called The Nova Vortex, a realm where time has been fractured since the dawn of creation. In that place, the past bleeds into the present, and the present dissolves into what could have been. It is a wound upon the fabric of the multiverse."
The Twelve decided to begin their journey at the next dawn.
Meanwhile, the teleportation components were finally completed, gleaming with the energy of Elder's design. Shipments began immediately—sent across the chosen planets that would soon welcome the next generation of students, the children of the coming era.
Everywhere, construction lights flared like stars being born. The workers moved tirelessly, their hearts filled with purpose, knowing they were building the foundation of Elder's grand vision—the Space Government, the order that would unite countless realms under harmony and discipline.
After a long and grueling effort, the final stage began: the ultimate training session for the first generation. It was to be their last test before the structure of the Space Government would stand complete—a symbol of Elder's dream made solid across the multiverse.