After about an hour, everyone in the conference room finishes their meals. The clinking of cutlery gradually fades, replaced by a soft murmur as conversations wind down. Crimson takes a deep breath, pushes back his chair, and rises to his feet. His expression shifts from relaxed to serious, drawing the attention of the room.
"Alright, everyone," he says, his tone firm but calm. "It's time we move on to the main reason we're all here. Let's have a serious talk."
A hush settles over the room as the weight of his words hangs in the air, setting the stage for the conversation ahead.
As the group settled into their seats, Crimson Aegis leaned forward, his sharp eyes scanning the faces around him. He let out a deep breath before speaking, his tone steady but serious.
"Before we dive into the heavy topics, I believe it's important for all of us to truly know each other. We don't know how long we'll remain in this world, whether our presence here is permanent or just a temporary twist of fate. If we're going to stand together as we once did, we need trust, and that trust starts with understanding who we really are."
His words hung in the air for a moment, the gravity of the situation settling over them. Xiao Li Jing leaned back in her chair, her golden eyes watching him with a mixture of curiosity and nostalgia.
Sir Pendragon folded his arms over his chest, a small smirk on his lips. "You always did like to make grand speeches, Crimson."
Irina, her crimson hair falling over her shoulders, gave a firm nod. "He's right, though. We can't move forward if we're just clinging to our old titles."
Erondil, standing behind his seat at the horizontal table, straightened, his sharp elven features reflecting his deep respect. "As you command, Master. Let us rebuild the bonds that made us unbreakable."
The atmosphere in the room shifted, the echoes of their past battles and countless victories lingering in the shadows of the grand hall.
Sir Pendragon slowly rose from his seat, his sharp, business-like demeanor taking over. He adjusted his cuffs, the faint clinking of his rings the only sound in the room for a moment.
"Before we move any further, I believe it's time we laid the truth bare," he began, his British accent cutting clearly through the grand hall. "We are not like the rest of you. We come from a different world – a world far more advanced in technology than this one."
The current high elders and their aides exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of his words settling in.
"You see," he continued, "this world, to us, was once just a game – a virtual reality where we entered through powerful machines designed to simulate this reality down to the finest detail. We thought it was a creation of human hands, a playground for our strategies and adventures."
He paused, his green eyes reflecting a hint of nostalgia. "But it seems we were mistaken. What we once believed to be mere pixels and code now stands before us, living and breathing, with its own history, cultures, and people."
He straightened, his gaze moving across the room, meeting the eyes of each person present. "The so-called 'immortal adventurers' you've known – those who cannot truly die and return even after the harshest battles – are players from our world. Like us."
The silence that followed was profound, the truth settling heavily in the grand hall.
Xiao Li Jing leaned forward, her usual playful demeanor replaced with a rare seriousness. She brushed a loose strand of golden hair behind her ear, her sharp, golden eyes sweeping over the gathered high elders and their aides.
"I know this might be a lot to take in," she began, her tone steady and clear. "But there's more to this story."
She clasped her hands together, fingers interlaced as if holding onto a fragile truth. "The reason we disappeared so suddenly – all of us, every player – was because of something called an update maintenance. It's a process where the creators of our world, the ones who designed this game, make changes to the world itself. During this time, we couldn't enter it, couldn't even reach you."
She glanced at her fellow high elders, their faces reflecting a mix of surprise and understanding.
"For us, that maintenance lasted only five days," she continued, her voice firm, "but in this world, fifty years have passed. The flow of time between our world and this one... it's different. We had no idea that our absence would stretch across decades for you."
A heavy silence followed, the full weight of her words settling into the grand hall. The reality of their situation – of the lives left behind and the legacy they unknowingly created – hung between them, like the echoes of a song long forgotten.
This time, it was SalahAdDīn who spoke next. "Even though we always wanted to be here and fight alongside you, we couldn't enter this world before the update is completed," he said, his tone steady but reflective. "When the update finally completed, we returned, only to find ourselves truly inside this world, not just playing a game."
He leaned back slightly, his fingers lightly tapping the table. "Before the update, we had access to a magical system, a kind of divine interface that governed our abilities and status. Now, that system is gone, and we have no idea what has changed or what will change in the future."
SalahAdDīn's gaze swept over the others before he added, "Though, from the earlier report we received, it seems that some aspects remain the same, like the fact that players can still be resurrected."
The next to speak was Moonlight Fury. He hesitated for a moment, clearly uncomfortable in the spotlight. Despite his reserved nature, he leaned forward, his expression serious.
"I'm not one for long speeches," he began, his deep voice cutting through the quiet room, "but we need to understand what our return means for this world. We don't know what's changed during our absence or how the people here will react to us."
He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as if weighing his words carefully. "We need information – a clear picture of what this world has become and what our place in it will be."
The last to speak was Crimson. He took a deep breath, his eyes sweeping over the gathered crowd.
"That's the general situation we find ourselves in," he began, his voice steady but with a hint of gratitude. "To all of you who have protected the values and beliefs of this nation we built – I am truly grateful. No words can fully express my appreciation."
He straightened, his gaze firm. "You upheld what we started, even in our absence, and for that, I thank you."
The room fell into a stunned silence, the weight of the revelations settling over everyone present. For a long moment, no one spoke, their minds processing the extraordinary truth they had just heard.
Finally, it was Erondil who broke the silence. He took a step forward, his expression one of deep respect.
"That explains why you vanished fifty years ago," he said, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "And master, your words mean more than you know. It was our duty – no, our honor – as the citizens of this nation to protect the beliefs you created. We merely upheld the legacy you left behind."
Crimson smiled at Erondil, a hint of pride in his eyes. He then shifted his gaze to the gathered officials, his tone turning serious.
"Now that we've returned, I need to understand the current state of the nation," he said, his voice cutting through the lingering tension in the room. "We've heard about the civil war that broke out decades ago, but I want to know the details. How stable is the country now? How are the different cities holding up with the return of the players? Are the people safe, and is the order we once established still intact?"
Christopher, standing beside Erondil, straightened his posture and took a deep breath. "The Heartless Republic is still one of the strongest nations in this world," he began, his voice carrying the confidence of a seasoned leader. "But the civil war left deep scars. Entire regions were destabilized, and some cities fell into chaos. It took decades to restore order, and even now, some places still bear the marks of conflict."
Erondil stepped forward, his expression grim but resolute. "The return of the players has created new challenges. Some of the 'Immortal Adventurers', as our people call them have caused chaos, testing the limits of our laws and order. However, our military has managed to contain most of the disruptions. The Heartless National City Guard is strong, and our citizens are resilient, but the sudden return of thousands of powerful individuals has shaken the peace."
He paused, his eyes meeting Crimson's, as if seeking reassurance. "We've maintained control over the core regions, but the outer territories are still adjusting. Some local lords are worried, and the people are uncertain. However, the news of your return has already spread, and it has given them hope."
Crimson nodded slowly, processing their words. He felt the weight of their struggles, understanding that the world they once ruled had changed dramatically. Yet, despite the challenges, their foundation had endured, a testament to the strength of the nation they had built together.
Erondil continued, his tone becoming more intense as he shared the latest updates. "Since your return, the capital has seen a massive influx of players. Just in the past day, 1,321,980 Immortal Adventurers have entered the city. The western gate, in particular, has been overwhelmed. The National City Guards are stretched thin trying to maintain order, and we've already requested reinforcements from nearby military bases to support them."
He paused, his sharp elven eyes reflecting a mixture of pride and concern. "The sheer volume of returning players has created a tense atmosphere, but the soldiers are holding their ground."
Christopher chimed in next, his deep voice cutting through the room. "While the sudden influx has brought challenges, it has also sparked a significant economic surge. The markets are bustling, and merchants are struggling to keep up with the demand. Just in the past day, supplies in the capital were nearly wiped out. Traders are scrambling to secure goods from other regions, and the local economy is experiencing an unprecedented boom."
He chuckled, his tone lightening for a moment. "It's as if the city has come alive again, but we'll need to stabilize this chaos quickly if we want to keep the peace."
The past high elders exchanged glances, understanding that their return had sparked both opportunity and disorder. The world they had built still held the potential for greatness, but it would require careful guidance to prevent it from unraveling.
Sir Pendragon leaned forward, his sharp eyes glinting with the confidence of a seasoned strategist. "If the financial sector is under strain, I can offer my assistance. I still have significant assets from our early days, and the Pendragon family's influence in trade and finance remains strong. After this meeting, let's discuss how we can stabilize the economy and support the merchants struggling to keep up with demand."
Christopher and Erondil exchanged appreciative nods, understanding the weight of such an offer. The financial strength of the Pendragon line had always been a cornerstone of their nation's prosperity.
After hours of intense discussion, the long conference room felt a little less formal. Plates were being cleared, and the tense atmosphere had eased, giving way to a more relaxed, almost nostalgic mood. The past high elders leaned back in their seats, the echoes of their shared past mixing with the fresh challenges of the present.
Xiao Li Jing, her eyes gleaming with that trademark playful energy, stretched her arms dramatically. "Ah, it feels good to be back," she said, leaning back with a contented sigh. "But it just hit me, we don't have a headquarters anymore, do we?" She shot a mischievous glance at Erondil. "I mean, the Heartless Palace, our Heartless Palace, is now the seat of the current government."
The room fell silent for a moment as her words hung in the air. She leaned forward, propping her chin on her hand with a smirk. "Looks like we've been evicted from our own castle, huh?"
A few of the others chuckled, and even Sir Pendragon cracked a rare, amused smile. Erondil, standing nearby, felt a flicker of nervousness as he met her teasing gaze.
"Don't look at me like that," he said, raising his hands defensively. "It's not like we kicked you out. The palace became the center of the government after the chaos of the civil war, it was necessary to stabilize the nation."
Xiao Li Jing's eyes sparkled with even more mischief. "Necessary, huh? So you're saying we're homeless now?" She feigned a dramatic pout, making even Moonlight Fury, usually stoic, stifle a small smile.
Crimson Aegis leaned back, arms crossed, his gaze thoughtful. "She's right, though. Without a proper base of operations, we're just a bunch of wanderers – powerful wanderers, but wanderers nonetheless."
The room fell into a thoughtful silence as the past high elders realized they had a new problem on their hands, one they hadn't considered in their initial planning.
Gudrik, the sturdy, silver-bearded high dwarf, leaned forward, his deep voice cutting through the lingering chatter. "Actually," he said with a thoughtful nod, "you can still use the Heartless Palace as your base of operations."
The past high elders glanced at him, curious.
"We never removed your personal offices and rooms," Gudrik continued, his thick arms resting on the table. "We preserved them out of respect for your legacy. The upper floors remain untouched, just as you left them. Even the meeting chambers and war rooms you once used are still there."
Erondil, standing nearby, quickly nodded in agreement. "Yes, that's true. The upper floors have remained sacred. We felt it was important to keep those spaces preserved as a symbol of our nation's roots."
Christopher Pendragon, the high human, chimed in, his eyes bright. "We can inform the other high elders who are currently on envoy missions. I'm sure they'll understand the significance of your return."
A wave of nostalgia swept over the past high elders. They exchanged glances, their minds drifting back to the countless battles, meetings, and victories they had once celebrated within those walls.
Xiao Li Jing grinned, her playful energy returning. "Well, that's a relief. I thought we'd have to set up camp in the courtyard or something."
The room erupted in light laughter, the tension of the earlier discussions easing slightly as the prospect of reclaiming a piece of their old home settled in.