After a few minutes of walking down the black staircase, he reached the Roundtable Hold.
There were plenty of people, mostly Acolytes of Peace from the Gold Division of the Priestess of Solemnity.
The Priestess of Solemnity, also regarded as 'Selene', was not someone one could speak of openly. She had a mind that no other person could possess, one that rivaled even the Supreme Archon who ruled Equinox.
Hence, she was brought forth another name, bestowed upon her by Infracta itself, 'Unrivaled Under Borealis'.
Not only that, her Division was one closely associated with the Polymath's Council of Resonance.
Her Division's efficiency in preserving Equinox's order was a matter of personal respect for him.
Simultaneously, the people stood in respect for the Polymath, as his presence was not one to ignore.
He pulled his seat, then sat down and put his papers on the stone table. A candle lit brightly in the center, giving the area an odd but familiar feeling.
As he sat down, the rest also followed in order.
An Acolyte of Peace approached, dressed in a white thobe adorned with golden inscriptions that flowed gracefully in the wind. With both hands clasped behind his back, he spoke,
"His Excellency, Ephor of the Council of Resonance, ∎∎∎∎."
'What?' He wondered. The sound was unclear, but he had assumed it was the wind.
The Acolyte continued, "First Contender from the Sentinels of His Excellency Varaxas' Division. You may begin."
The Acolyte moved aside, making way for the Sentinel. The footsteps of the man resounded, carrying an indescribable weight.
His clothes bore a Sentinel insignia, a remnant of the war slaves once bound to Varaxas' Division.
Sentinels were thought to be the guards maintaining Equinox's daily activities and security. While not as vital as the Dawnbringers who belonged to the same division, their role was definitely not completely worthless either.
However, the one thing that had distinguished them the most was their lack of dignity and shame. They were brought to war, enslaved, and killed others, so it was only normal that they perceived the world differently.
The Sentinel looked deeply into the Ephor's eyes, then struck his chest with his right arm, his fist directly over his heart.
"Your Excellency, I came today not to find contradictions in your and Ms. Epsilon's New World Order, but I've come to ask an important matter on behalf of everyone in the Legion."
The Ephor put his elbow on the table, then let his chin rest on his thumb.
"Which is?" He asked.
The Sentinel nodded, "We aren't ones to back down from a battle, or a war. However, recently, the amount of supplies has dramatically decreased. I ask that the Council help us with the battle against the opposers, as they have grown in numbers and power."
The silence lingered, as the tension soared above the skies. A mere Sentinel, asking an Ephor for help? How ridiculous that is.
No one spoke, and no one was brave enough to even breathe.
The Polymath looked at the Sentinel with an unamused face, his eyes carrying zero emotion.
"Execute him."
The eyes of everyone widened, almost simultaneously. At the same time, the Sentinel, a past war slave, his heart dropped.
Two Acolytes grabbed the man, quickly, they brought him down to the floor, capturing him with zero effort.
Truly, it wasn't as if the Sentinel had any right to fight back when in front of him was an Ephor.
Epsilon, who was sitting next to the Polymath, slightly leaned.
"Are you sure of this?" A frown on her face, she whispered.
"Don't get too comfortable and involve yourself in my work, Epsilon."
Her frown only widened, left with no choice but to accept this cruel outcome.
"Next." He ordered.
The Acolyte of Peace dressed in white stepped up once more, announcing the next person.
"A renowned mathematician in the East, the Dominion of the Dragon's Household. Leonhard Geuss."
The Acolyte slowly stepped back, making way once more.
The Polymath's brow raised, interested in the upcoming of the renowned 'Father of Frequency'.
He also served under the Dragon's Household, which meant he was in a closer position to the Polymath, as the Polymath himself is under the Dragon's Household, then Equinox.
Leonhard bowed; his respect for the Polymath spoke volumes just by the way he'd handled his body.
Straightening his back, he adjusted his glasses and put on a serious expression.
"I've been waiting to see you in person — since the First Upbringing, Your Excellency."
The Polymath smiled, "Have you also come to ask for help?"
Leonhard's lips curled up, responding to him with only his expressions.
"No… I would like to stay alive."
Leonhard carefully considered his next choice of words, for it could determine whether he lived or died.
"I would like to ask a question. Putting aside all of Your Excellency's outstanding work, I… was more interested in learning more of your background than the published work—"
The lips of the Polymath dropped, his face shaping to be unpredictable.
"What are you trying to say?" he interrupted.
Leonhard cleared his throat. "It isn't often that anyone can talk to an Ephor… I've always wondered, what is your name?"
The Polymath's eyes widened, hearing something he would've never expected, even with his brilliant mind.
Uncertainty brewing in his mind, he felt the need to look at his hands.
The fancy hat he wore slightly leaned, eventually falling downwards. His body shook like it was one with the wind, and unease erupted around the Roundtable.
"Your Excellency?" Leonhard asked, an unsettling smile on his face.
The Polymath's mind spiraled in endless thoughts, as he felt invisible chains pushing his body backwards, into a tenebrous abyss.
He radiated a presence that could be felt across all of Equinox, perhaps reaching even the far, very far vicinities of Amorium and the Household!
'My… name?'
Members of the Roundtable Hold and others from the Ephors' divisions sprinted back, terrified of the monstrosity that could be unleashed upon them.
Epsilon, the one appointed as the consul to the Polymath, was the only person who remained.
Hurriedly, she held his back, worry on her face.
"What's wrong?! How… You've never failed to answer a question!"
His thoughts continued as countless memories of another being flooded his mind,
As he looked into his shaking, but vanishing hands, he remembered but one thing.
'Aberration…'