A castle stood afloat in the void, surrounded by an endless abyss. It was as though anything that touched the abyss would fade into nothing, yet the castle remained unshaken, majestic and imposing, standing as a lone fortress against the eternal void.
The Djinn Lord stood by the window, staring deeply into the abyss. This was his usual spot, the one place that calmed his raging mind. It hadn't been easy for him ever since the gods felt the aura of a Game-Breaker yet failed to trace its location. He had no choice but to move with the flow of the Cosmic Stream. To resist it meant facing consequences far too dire.
The massive door creaked open, and Aija entered, bowing in greeting.
"My lord, they are here," Aija said.
"Lead them in," the Djinn Lord replied, his tone deep and steady.
"Yes, my lord."
The door closed with a heavy bang as Aija departed. The Djinn Lord continued gazing at the abyss, silent, waiting.
Moments later, the great door opened again, but this time, it wasn't Aija. A floating figure in a black cloak and hood drifted in. Their face was hidden, and the air around them seemed… unnatural. It wasn't silence but rather the erasure of sound itself. Even the creaking of the great door was absent, as if reality itself had been muted.
The Djinn Lord turned and swung his hand. At the center of the chamber, a tea table materialized, complete with a kettle, cups, and two chairs. He sat down with a calm elegance and gestured.
"Have a seat. Let's share some tea."
"I am no mortal to waste time with such meaningless things," the figure said. Their voice was dry, stripped of essence. Neither masculine nor feminine, just raw, empty sound.
The cloaked being floated closer while the Djinn Lord carefully poured himself tea, savoring it in silence. He took a sip, smacked his lips lightly, and for a moment, seemed relieved of his burdens.
"Even gods, with all their divine power, require moments of solace to soothe their eternal souls," he said softly. "Just as mortals seek comfort in a warm cup of tea, gods too crave respite from the weight of omnipotence. In that shared need for reprieve, we find connection, proof that even the most powerful are not immune to the stresses of existence. Especially our existence."
The being's empty gaze lingered on him.
"We are not gods," they said flatly. "Just administrators fulfilling duty. Your side creates, my side erases. All part of the process. Keep perspective, I am not here for tea. I am here for the Game-Breaker's whereabouts."
The Djinn Lord's relaxed expression hardened, shifting to cold indifference.
"And what makes you think I know where the Game-Breaker is?" he asked, still calmly pouring himself tea.
"Your side has history with them. Especially your predecessors," the being replied without hesitation.
"Well, congratulations," the Djinn Lord said with faint sarcasm. "I don't know where the Game-Breaker is. Their presence vanished into the void before I could react. If not for that, the gods would have had no reason to summon me. Perhaps you and I wouldn't even be speaking."
"Are you walking the same path as your predecessors?" the being asked.
"Whatever path they chose, my predecessors still stand," the Djinn Lord replied smoothly.
"So, you do know where the Game-Breaker is?"
"You are starting to annoy me," he said, though his tone remained calm. "I don't know where the Game-Breaker is. But annoyance has no place when enjoying tea."
He placed his cup down, his voice sharp but measured.
"As an Eraser, it is your duty to eliminate what is deemed unworthy. Fulfill it with diligence, not shortcuts that compromise the integrity of existence."
The tea table and chairs vanished as he rose to his feet.
"You need not concern yourself with my methods," the Eraser said coldly. "I only wished to confirm you are not part of the problem."
The Djinn Lord walked back toward his window. His gaze locked on the abyss once again.
"Is there a problem in the Cosmic Stream I would not already be part of?" he said. "Let us both tend to our duties, that harmony may endure, and the balance of existence remain intact."
The Eraser lingered, then finally turned. He knew this visit would yield no answers, yet the matter of the Game-Breaker demanded it. Their existence heralded only chaos, and instability in the Cosmic Stream could not be ignored.
"Then I will take my leave," the Eraser said, floating backward. The vast doors opened once again without sound. He drifted out, and the doors shut silently behind him.
When the Eraser's presence faded completely, reality returned to normal. Hollow echoes filled the hall once more.
The Djinn Lord's eyes lingered on the abyss.
'Which of them is helping the new Game-Breaker?' he wondered.
He smiled faintly and resumed his silent watch.
The doors opened once again, this time with their usual sound. Aija entered and bowed deeply.
"My lord, Sule has a request," he said respectfully. He did not ask about the Eraser's visit, such matters were known to all divine beings.
"What is it?" the Djinn Lord asked.
Aija produced a golden parchment and handed it over. The Djinn Lord opened it. Strange arcane symbols glowed across the surface, but for him, their meaning was clear.
"Interesting… is this a request from the gods, or just Sule again?"
"It is Sule, my lord," Aija answered.
"Well then, if she agrees, I see no problem. Tell him he may proceed, only if she consents."
"Yes, my lord." Aija bowed and left, the heavy doors closing behind him.
The Djinn Lord turned once more to the abyss, silent and unshaken, as if nothing in existence could ever draw him away from its endless depths.