The rhythmic, echoing acoustics generated by the royal boots upon the marble steps gradually advanced toward the upper tier.
Sustaining a steady and calm velocity, the man traversed the staircase, arriving directly at the boundary of the upper level.
Where the staircase terminated, an expansive, ethereal corridor originated. Arriving at that coordinate, he re-aligned his trajectory toward a specific pathway within the hallway without a fraction of hesitation.
After covering a set distance along that corridor, his footsteps paused momentarily.
His gaze locked onto another winding staircase positioned ahead. Operating with absolute certainty—as though every vector of the colossal palace was pre-mapped within his cognition—he resumed advancing his boots upon those steps.
Following the vertical ascent, he entered a straight corridor situated upon an even higher tier.
His footsteps proceeded in an absolute straight alignment. Sustaining his pace, he passed several grand, intricately carved chambers and massive portals along the way. Moments later, arriving at a junction where the hallway divided into three distinct vectors, he selected the rightmost pathway and translated his steps forward.
After bypassing a few more chambers, the acoustic rhythm of his boots halted abruptly directly in front of a wide, fully open portal.
Adjusting the angle of his frame, the man locked his pupils strictly onto the internal atmosphere of that chamber.
Within the epicenter of the chamber, four young women and the youth with crimson pupils (Eric) were seated upon the sofa. The newcomer's tranquil pupils registered the presence of all entities occupying the interior space.
Placing a single boot across the threshold of the chamber, he projected an exceptionally calm, grave, and authoritative query directly toward the four young women:
"Regardless... what finds all of you gathered together in this coordinate?"
The absolute microsecond that grave vocal frequency resonated across the chamber, the pupils of all four young women shifted alignment, locking strictly onto him.
Eric similarly rotated the angle of his neck fractionally, directing his sharp, crimson pupils toward the portal.
Encased within pristine white and golden attire, the man translated his footsteps forward with steady precision, entering the interior of the chamber.
Throughout the preceding events, while the man's royal attire, colossal wings, and grand arrival had materialized into view, the true contours of his facial structure had remained shrouded behind a veil of mystery.
At this exact microsecond, as he stepped directly into the ambient light of the chamber, his complete countenance was revealed with absolute clarity for the very first time.
The radiant golden hair cascading across his forehead, his luminous golden pupils, and the intricate star-shaped markings etched along the outer perimeters of his eyes—every single facial feature vibrated with majestic and immense presence.
The microsecond Eric's crimson pupils anchored strictly onto the man's fully revealed face, Eric's entire consciousness froze momentarily. Within the internal canvas of his mind, the memory and vivid image of 'Len' flashed instantly like a sharp wave of illumination.
The man standing before him appeared to be a near-exact replica of Len—possessing the same golden aura, the same pupils, and the identical star markings. The sole divergence resided in maturity:
Len was merely a fifteen-year-old youth, whereas this man projected the imposing, grave presence of a fully grown adult.
Eric's cognition became entangled within the depth of that uncanny resemblance. His searching, sharp crimson eyes locked rigidly onto every facial contour of the man, staring relentlessly without blinking for even a microsecond.
Within his thoughts, he was actively analyzing the mathematical impossibility of this identical structure.
The newcomer translated his footsteps forward, coming to a complete halt directly in front of Eric. Locking his golden pupils strictly into Eric's crimson eyes while registering Eric's persistent, sharp gaze, he projected a low yet astonished query:
"Why... are you scrutinizing me in such a persistent fashion? Ever since I materialized within your field of vision, your gaze has remained strictly locked onto me... what drives this?"
The impact of those grave tokens snapped Eric back into active focus. He registered the absolute reality that he had indeed been staring relentlessly at the man.
Eric instantly redirected the vector of his pupils away from the man's face, neutralizing the intensity of his searching gaze. Thereupon, in his natural, sharp, and pragmatic voice, he projected a direct query:
"Who are you?"
The absolute microsecond Eric's direct and sharp query resonated, the gravity across the newcomer's countenance dissolved gradually. A subtle, mysterious, and warm smile materialized across the contours of his lips.
Sustaining the alignment of his luminous golden pupils strictly upon Eric's crimson eyes, he projected a response infused with exceptional grace and melody:
"My name is... Celestian."
The resonant vibration of that name hovered within the tranquil draft of the chamber for a suspended moment.
Eric disengaged his frame from the sofa, rising to a fully upright posture to extend his formal introduction:
"My name is—"
Prior to the completion of Eric's statement, Celestian raised his palm fractionally into the atmosphere, halting the continuation of his words mid-sentence. That reassuring smile remained anchored upon his lips as he projected with absolute ease:
"Your name is Eric... I am well aware."
Registering his own name articulated so effortlessly through the lips of this formidable and majestic entity, Eric's boots froze in place. His crimson pupils widened momentarily under a sharp wave of astonishment.
Neutralizing his inner unrest and mounting curiosity, Eric locked a gaze charged with disbelief and wonder strictly onto Celestian's features, projecting a sharp query:
"How... are you aware of my name?"
Celestian was on the verge of parting his lips to respond to Eric's sharp query when an unsatisfied, low acoustics vibrated from the direction of the sofa situated at the corner of the chamber:
"Brother... a considerable duration has indeed elapsed for you!"
The absolute microsecond that vocal frequency registered, Celestian's golden pupils disengaged from Eric, anchoring strictly onto the quiet entity seated upon the sofa. A subtle trace of apology materialized across his features as he projected with absolute ease:
"Forgive me... for overlooking your presence in this fashion. I momentarily disremembered that you were occupying this coordinate as well.".
The microsecond those tokens escaped her brother's lips, a surge of resentment ignited within Lucy's pupils. The tranquility across her features vanished completely, and she projected in a sharp, indignant tone:
"Are you... not feigning a bit too much ignorance? Why am I restricted from stepping outside this bounded domain for such an extended period? I require immediate exit from this coordinate!"
The remaining three young women occupying the chamber maintained absolute silence and immobility throughout this exchange. Neutralizing any overt reaction, their calm, steady gazes remained strictly anchored upon the sharp confrontation unfolding between the siblings.
Eric remained standing in an absolute motionless posture, observing the sudden verbal clash between the two through his sharp, crimson pupils. The unexpected dynamic unfolding within the atmosphere introduced a layer of confusion into his cognition.
Within the internal canvas of his mind, a sharp and direct thought flashed—What precisely is transpiring in this coordinate?