"…It's been a while…Old friends"
A brief silence followed his words, but it was nothing like the silence before.
This one wasn't bound by hierarchy.
It was shared.
Then
A soft chuckle broke through it.
"Well… when you put it like that, it almost sounds like you missed us."
The voice came from one of the Marquis seated to the left. Marquis Xavier Whitmore leaned back in his chair, posture relaxed to the point of disrespect, one arm draped lazily over the armrest. His ash-grey hair fell loosely around his face, and his pale blue eyes gleamed with quiet amusement.
He was a good looking man and he wore a blue three piece suit of the same hue as his eyes.
The Emperor's gaze shifted to him.
"I tolerate you," he replied evenly.
Xavier grinned. "Ah, there it is. I was starting to get worried."
A low scoff came from across the chamber.
"You talk too much."
A voice cut through the air like a blade. He sat forward, elbow resting on his armrest, his massive frame barely contained by the seat. His crimson eyes were fixed on Xavier, a bored look in his eyes.
He was dressed in an all black suit and a coat with gold embroidery forming the Bane sigil on his chest and back. He was Augustus Orion Bane.
"And you don't talk enough," Xavier shot back without hesitation. "Balance, Augustus. Learn it."
Augustus exhaled sharply through his nose. "I don't need balance."
"Spoken like a man who solves everything by hitting it."
"That works."
"It really does," another voice added calmly. Duke Lysander Valemont. Duke of Heliodor
He sat upright, composed as ever. His pristine white robe flowing freely. His white hair was neatly tied back, gold eyes warm and clear.
He carried himself with effortless refinement and grace, his presence neither overwhelming nor casual, but controlled.
"Though I'd prefer if we didn't reduce strategy to brute force," he continued, glancing briefly at the Duke of Bloodhaven. A teasing smile on his face.
Augustus didn't respond, but the faint twitch of his brow suggested he heard him.
From the far end, a quieter voice drifted in.
"You're all exhausting." The third Duke added casually.
He possessed long black hair and pale skin. He could be classified as devilishly good looking and his looks were further amplified by his crimson eyes. He was the Duke of Nyxara, Duke Sirius Nox Valthorne.
" yet you're still here Sirius," Xavier said.
"Unfortunately." He replied with a sigh.
A soft laugh followed, lighter than the rest.
"Now this feels more familiar." A lovely voice echoed.
Marquis Charlotte B. Wisteria leaned back slightly, her emerald green eyes moving across the group with quiet amusement. Her Blonde hair caught the light faintly as she tilted her head.
"I was beginning to think we'd have to sit through another hour of formality."
"You would have survived," Augustus added dryly.
He adjusted his cuffs slightly, his expression unreadable as always. "Barely, but survived."
"Why thank you dear Augustus," Charlotte replied. "But I value my sanity."
"Debatable," Xavier muttered under his breath.
Charlotte's eyes flicked toward him. "Care to repeat that?"
"Not particularly."
A faint smirk tugged at her lips.
At that moment, Marquis Akasha Rivera finally spoke again, his tone calm as ever as he rested his chin lightly against his hand.
"You're all remarkably unchanged."
His deep blue eyes moved across them, analytical, observant.
"Which is either reassuring… or concerning."
"Reassuring," Marquis Viola Lucenti replied gently.
She sat with composed elegance, crystal pink hair resting neatly over her shoulders and soft purple eyes focused. Her gaze calm but attentive. "It means we're still grounded."
"Or stagnant,"The third Duke added from where he sat.
He possessed wild red hair and black eyes with slit pupils. He was dressed in a black and body suit.
He sat upright, posture rigid, arms folded in front of his chest, his expression cold. He was the Duke of Drakhar. Azeron Von Artreus.
"We adapt or we fall behind."
"Must you make everything sound like a battlefield?" Elizabeth Solstice asked, her glacial blue eyes narrowing slightly.
She leaned forward just a bit, her braided white hair shifting over the shoulder of her sleeveless black dress. "Not everything is war, Azeron."
"It will be…soon enough," he replied simply.
"I agree. Can we wrap this up old snake, I need to head back before my son sets my Dukedom ablaze" Augustus said calmly. But the people around him having known him forever knew he wasn't joking.
"Same" Duke Azeron added.
"Oh your second son is back?" Marquis Xavier enquired.
"No, the first one."
"Hmm, makes sense. The kid really is that unpredictable." Xavier replied almost feeling sorry for him.
"Speaking of which, you do know your Heir has been living in my territory for a while now right?" the Duke of Heliodor, Lysander Valemont asked casually.
"Yes. He needed….Space"
"Sure he did" the Lysander said as his smile widened.
And the room erupted in another round of laughter. Even the stoic Azeron let out a smile.
Then the room settled into a brief silence.
Then
The Emperor exhaled lightly, a faint smile touching his lips.
"And that," he said, "is exactly why I kept you all behind."
His gaze moved between them, slower now, more deliberate.
"Different perspectives. Same conclusion."
Xavier tilted his head slightly. "Which is?"
"That we're running out of time."
The mood shifted.
Not sharply.
But enough.
Lysander's expression sharpened just slightly. "You're certain it will escalate that quickly?"
"Yes." Emperor Regaleon added
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Azeron's eyes opened a fraction more. "Then this 'academy' of yours…"
"It won't just be for growth," Charlotte finished quietly.
The Emperor nodded once.
"It will be our next line of preparation. Admission would begin in a year and the students would be separated into three years."
Azeron cracked his neck slightly. "Then we should start selecting prospects early."
"We will," Akasha added smoothly. "I've already begun compiling potential profiles."
"Of course you have," Xavier muttered.
Akasha ignored him completely.
Viola folded her hands lightly. "And the zones?"
"Handled," Xavier said immediately.
"Managed," Lysander corrected.
"Contained," Azeron added.
"Monitored," Elizabeth said.
"…annoying," Augustus finished.
A faint chuckle passed through the group.
Then
The Emperor spoke again.
"Whatever you choose to call it…"
His violet eyes gleamed faintly.
"Make sure it's done. Before our unwanted guests start arriving"
Silence followed.
They all understood.
Then Xavier leaned back again, stretching slightly.
"Well," he said lightly, "looks like things are about to get interesting again."
Azeron smirked faintly. "They never stopped."
Sirius sighed. "How unfortunate."
Charlotte smiled slightly. "I disagree."
Augustus gaze sharpened.
"…It's about time."
And at the center of it all, The Emperor simply watched. Smiling.