The war council was together once more.
The knight Banneret, Paladin Solace, and her knight bachelors. The Paladins light armour looked like pristine jade. Marble made into steel. One looked at it and felt the rapture come. It had minimalistic pattern carvings; they were deep though. The visor made way to a chilling pair of eyes, too dark to see well. Her sword was just as pristine.
The genderless voice spoke. "Let us begin the meeting."
On one side stood Karen, Igal, Dorus and Derell. Karen has deep black hair, dark skin, and maroon eyes, and grey-white armour. Her figure was athletic and striking. Her armour is heavy with patterns, the most intricate ones, even making her armour look like an ancient scripture. It was fitting, she was the local pattern smith for the Solace legion. She used an inky black sword, with grey glowing patterns.
Her course voice sounded, she had suffered a heavy blow to her chest in the past. "My brigade has only suffered from a single loss, it was a commander, so the squadron has been given a temporary commander from amongst my other squadrons."
Igal has a flush cut of black hair and black eyes, and strong tan contrast on his armour. He has a massive sword and arm fixed shield. He is built like a siege ram, massive shoulders and strong legs. His armour is the normal silver, but the pauldrons are thicker and heavier. The armouring on the legs is lighter; most is focused on the breastplate.
His voice was confident and steady, "My Brigade had not suffered any losses, but they were heavily wounded, but because of the surplus time over the past days, they are all recovered, their armour still needs time to be restored though."
Dorus has long white, braided hair. His eyes are grey, not blind, its frozen terror. His white hair and pale skin makes him look like a lost forest folk. The edgy dark and deep green armour he wears even looks like the lower side of the fern leaves. The armour looks like a barbwire trap, the amount of spiking it has. His silver sword was just as jagged.
The voice was very low and rough, but everyone had gotten used to it, "My brigade lost three knights. Their bodies were not recovered. The rest are still in top shape."
Derell was an old man, with black bags under his eyes. A thin frame built for assassin work and speed. He had a full head of deep black hair, bordered by heavy wrinkles. He wore an indigo armour like knight Banneret Holi – who was sent to defend Pyre City. The similarities in their armour were incredible, one could draw a parallel between the two, he is her father after all. He had this blood infused sword.
The voice sounded lazy, old, a little too weak, and somehow blissful, "The young ins only suffered from losing the guards since we had incorporated them. Only a little over hundreds of them remain. Most have been armoured and assessed for stress and injuries."
Solace shifted her head to look on the right. There stood Poli, Fetching, Zoldi, and the Knight.
Poli wore light armour, she barely needed it because of her barrier skill. The amour though was as pink as her eyes. A curious colour, it was just a result of her soul – a mystery for later. Her skin was light, almost milky white. Her amour was mostly curved and looked soft to the eyes. It possessed black patterns on it. Her spear was pink as well. But on her other side was a hilt without a blade, just sheathed in. her hair was tied in a bun, and it was just brown.
"As of yesterday, I have completely healed all present knights and guards, except the Knight, he still refuses. The armour restorations are going slower; we might need assistance from Karen's brigade."
Karen replied. "Already on it, my best knights are already making the rounds."
The most beautiful one in the room, Fetching, had this blue armour, that changed its contrast with her mood. It reminded the Knight of Vice. She is tall and imposing, in an amazonian way. But she had no tan, her skin radiant as her calm smile. She was seducingly pretty; one almost missed the insignias carved into the armour. Her sword was the same as that of Solace, just blue silver.
Her voice was calming, putting those who hear it at peace, "I have lost a single knight, for the most part, my brigade had fewest recorded injuries."
Zoldi was loud, the loudest. She was tanned and old. She is the rumoured oldest, but no-one says it of course. She is always having fun really, laughing. Sometimes she even looks like a battle hungry savage. The Knight was sure she had the battle monger skill from their battle before. Her shinning silver hair had some strands that had lost colour and became a dull grey. Her sword was curved and thin, but it really moved fast, it also had a strange ancient swordsman hilt.
Her rambunctious and exited voice was more controlled, but her smile still remained. "My brigade has been doing just fine. Even they are too relaxed, when the darkness comes back, consider sending us deeper, they are getting too soft."
Adriel replied for the Banneret, "You should stop abusing them so. I really don't know why they love battle as you do, at least we know you've gone numb."
"Hey!"
Everyone laughed a little, then the reporting continued with the Knight who had been briefed by the knight Commanders in its brigade earlier. The Knight spotted an armour that seems to be stuck crumbling. That looked like it was about to shatter. The only strange part was that, only Zoldi, Fetching, Adriel, and Solace had armour stronger that the Knights in this camp. And sadly, it still had not its sword.
"My brigade has lost four knights due to my absence. Won't happen again."
All fell silent, at the Knights empty attempt to apologise, it's not like they could tell it lacked emotion. The Knight might have lost its humanity and the habits it had, but it could still mimic them, for one it was still doing normal chest breathing motions.
"Well, at least you managed to draw back the darkness, and after all, knights can die, but they will never lose – don't waste time on such sentiments."
The paladin Solace had turned to face paladin Adriel, and so did everyone. She was the second most pleasing to look at, next to Fetching. Her tone sounded like the voice of the Banneret, as a right hand should. She is the only one the Knight had not faced in battle, in terms of Solace's knight Bachelors. Her short hair was now the length of three stacked beans, and as brown as the dried ones in colour. She has a carefree attitude.
Her armour is a very light silver, bordering on the same white as the Banneret's armour. The armour had only one pattern carved into it, with the same dull grey glow as on Poli. Maybe it has to do with mastering a power that leads to a better control of being a Paladin. Poli was almost a paladin, but Adriel already was one. Her sword was a translucent material, only bordered by the colourless patters on it. The glassy sheen hid most of the details.
Her voice is calm and smooth, but every word carries with it authority. "My brigade only lost a single knight. Shelly was just trying to keep the arrogant guards safe – I hope they won't be causing any more issues."
As she said this Derell nodded. He may be on the calmer side, but even he had flared in anger when she heard a fletching knight was killed trying to protect the guards.
Now that all had given their reports, their attention went back to the knight Banneret. She herself redirected that attention towards the Knight.
"Now, can you give us a formal report as to how you managed to fend off… no halt the darkness altogether. If I have it correctly, this is also the first time you have faced the darkness as an official knight. I heard you encountered one in Maroon city, but that battle did not even begin because of the daylight and the spirit.
As said by the Seneschal, you need not divulge the details of your power, we merely need the explanation of how it happened. And if you do not mind, I would like to hear about any encounters with the destroyers you have had before becoming a knight. Lastly, care to elaborate further on your slumber and size issue, as this will help in future escapades."
'I wonder just how much I can say…'
The Knight knew not to lie since they possessed tools to confirm this. Even twisting the truth did not work, as the Knight had seen in the guild in the void. Its slaughter points have been suffering from the new skill analysis, but the Knight really needed suggestions from Whisper of Darkness.
'… Consume them.' It said reluctantly.
With pleasure. 20 slaughter points consumed. This means answer will have a limited scope.
'At least you're trying to save me some, but no consume at least 50.'
As you wish. 30 more slaughter points consumed. The tool detected in here is wave control. It creates waves that can only be interrupted by any and all forms of deceit and trickery. Deceiving it is not in your best interest. There is no need to deceive. As prompted – there is no need to divulge details concerning the power.
This includes its origins. The best way to give the answer is to phrase it in the bounds of the question. The goal should be to give an answer that leaves no room for any more quarrying. The follow up questions are the only questions of which giving an answer might be problematic. One may not answer a question with a statement that needs questioning.
This means you will have to find intermediatory questions to the answers then use these to give a statement that gives answers to probable questions that might be asked of the main answer statement. This prediction system will be set up to anticipate the questions that could be asked, by whom and why.
Beginning predicatory system and analysis of present individuals… System has been set up. Going through range of answers. Most suitable answering algorithm has been created. Answer optimised. The simulation has been created… answer probabilities have been confirmed. Answer sufficiently true.
Any further changes require more slaughter points. Wish to continue?
'No.'
Answer received. The answer is…
This had taken a fraction of a second, due to the speeds at which the Knight and the Whisper are operating at, even Mugaw had missed some of the conversation. The whisper was still on a slightly higher plane of thought than the Knight though. It was created for the sole purpose of information after all.
The Knight looked at the paladin, answering as if it had not been in an incredibly super charged conversation.
"What you witnessed was nothingness, as a result of the skill I possess that allows me to touch the core of beings' existence. I had not previously possessed this skill.
The power I have increases my size and power, which is usually a boon in battle. Due to the nature of the power, I am not yet fully synced with it, so it forces me to discharge it upon release. The slumber is as long as I keep it active. The way I am is also a reason I never need sleep.
The reason I have not dismissed it, is because the darkness might come back. The darkness is not coming back because I managed to present them with a skill I possess. This I cannot disclose. I had encountered them before becoming a knight, but never in battle."
Everyone was silent, they had no questions. Any other people would have had some. But this answer was tailored to leave the conversation closed for all those present. The Knight did not mind disclosing everything, just avoiding topics that connect it to the void as Avarice had warned against.
Dorus spoke first, "The core of a being's existence. That sure is one powerful skill."
Others also began making their observations, but none, even the two paladins asked further questions.
'Thank you, even if you took my points.'
You are welcome. It is my pleasure.
Then Zoldi walked to face the Knight and will a huge childish grin, she looked him in the eye and shouted. "Fight me‼! You can't tell me all that and not expect a duel."
"What?!"
Shouted the others as they tried to talk her out of it. She had already bowed her head and began begging. The mood had lightened, as they ended the meeting with a few more details expanded on.