As they crossed the threshold into the guildhall, Kaiser felt an abrupt shift, as though reality itself had quietly rewritten the rules around them. He staggered for an instant, catching himself quickly before his dignity was compromised. Every limb felt heavier, every breath slower, and the once easy flow of Sol within his veins slowed to a barely perceptible trickle. The enormous hall stretched grandly before him, vaulted ceilings towering gracefully into shadowed heights. The arches and pillars stood solemnly, as if guarding the serenity within, while beautifully colored windows cast gentle, shifting hues across the polished floors.

At the center of this extraordinary chamber stood a colossal tree, its sprawling branches bearing numerous glowing tablets, each shimmering softly with a soft, blue light, suspended as though by invisible threads. Kaiser couldn't help but stare, wondering what purpose such a structure could possibly serve.

Elsie gasped audibly, immediately stumbling and catching herself against Ivan's arm. "Elsie feels like she's carrying boulders!"

Ivan flexed his hands experimentally, confusion evident. "I can't feel my strength at all."

Aria looked mildly panicked, staring at her hands, the sensation clearly foreign and uncomfortable to her. "What's happening? I feel... soft?"

Only Celestine appeared unsurprised, calmly folding her hands before herself. Her voice was steady, poised, and quietly reassuring. "Don't worry. What you're feeling is normal, and entirely intentional."

Kaiser narrowed his eyes at her, subtly adjusting to the draining sensation. "Explain."

Celestine met his gaze evenly, gesturing toward the glowing tree. "This guildhall, like every major guildhall in each Liberatorium, has embedded within it an Elder-Core."

She paused, letting the weight of that revelation settle among the group. When none of them responded with recognition, she continued . "Only one hundred Elder-Cores exist in the entire world. Each is immensely powerful, capable of neutralizing Sol within its radius. The moment you enter, your power is suppressed almost completely—down to perhaps one percent of your original capabilities."

Aria swallowed nervously, her eyes wide. "So we're helpless here?"

Celestine shook her head gently. "On the contrary, this makes the guildhall one of the safest places imaginable. Violence, combat, even basic Sol manipulation—everything is strictly prohibited. It ensures that no matter how powerful or volatile a Liberator might be, peace is always maintained."

Kaiser slowly nodded in understanding, carefully hiding his discomfort at feeling so vulnerable. "And the tree?"

"The Elder-Core's power is channeled through it," Celestine explained. "Each glowing tablet is the highest ranking Tale, suspended to ensure they remain visible and accessible. It's the heart of this guildhall."

Elsie tilted her head. "Where are all the people from before?"

Celestine smiled slightly, enjoying the opportunity to teach. "Because we were teleported. There are too many Liberators who visit the guildhall daily. To prevent overcrowding, the Liberatorium constructed over three hundred floors, most of them underground. Liberators are dispersed evenly across these floors upon entering, ensuring space and comfort."

Ivan let out a low whistle, impressed. "Three hundred floors? Just how massive is this place?"

"Massive enough that Liberators rarely see more than a handful of their fellows in one area," Celestine replied smoothly. "But, as royalty, I have a floor permanently reserved."

Kaiser stepped forward slowly, further into the spacious hall. His gaze drifted upward to the tall stained glass windows, their soft, multicolored glow washing gently over the polished surfaces beneath. He breathed deeply, feeling oddly at ease despite his powerlessness. Perhaps, he mused, because this place enforced order, a concept he valued above most.

Celestine stepped to his side, speaking quietly as she admired the tree beside him. "It's strange, isn't it? A place where even nobles must walk as equals."

Kaiser glanced at her, eyes sharp with contemplation. "Equality is a comfortable lie. We're equal here only because something far superior enforces it."

She smiled faintly, her voice calm and thoughtful. "Perhaps. But even you must admit there's value in moments like this, when power must yield to peace."

He studied her for a silent moment before turning back toward the glowing tree. "For now, Princess. Only for now."

Celestine nodded gently, accepting his perspective without challenge. "Very well. Let's proceed."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

As Celestine's words faded into the hush of the hall, their small party drifted closer to the ancient tree at the guildhall's heart. The air here felt different—soaked with quiet power, as if the tree itself measured and recorded the ambitions of all who walked beneath its boughs.

Kaiser's gaze swept the chamber with habitual caution, every sense sharpened despite the suppression of his Sol. It wasn't just the Elder-Core making his skin prickle. As they moved, a shape came into focus at the base of the tree—a woman standing as if she were as rooted as the trunk itself, perfectly still, yet impossible to overlook.

She was arresting, even by the standards of this new world Long silver hair framed her pale, composed face, one golden eye shining bright and keen, the other was icy blue, calm and analytical, as if it measured everything it saw. Her attire was elegant but severe, a tailored black dress with gold filigree patterns across the sleeves, echoing the gravity of her bearing. She held herself not like royalty, but like a banker in a cathedral, calm and unhurried.

Even here, where power should be nothing but an afterthought, Kaiser saw it, something about the air around her glimmered. He realized it wasn't just confidence: the faintest shimmer of yellow light clung to her, the color of a refined Sol Core, barely visible even in the Elder-Core's shadow. For a brief, silent heartbeat, Kaiser's mind catalogued her as dangerous.

The woman's gaze met his, and her lips curled in what might have passed for a smile. She addressed Celestine first, but even that felt like a transaction.

"Princess Celestine," she said, her tone soft but utterly precise, each syllable clipped as if tallied. "Your punctuality is consistent, as always. I see your new retinue is in tow." Her eyes flicked over each of them, lingering on Kaiser with clinical curiosity. "Their potential registers… promising."

Celestine greeted her warmly, relief flickering in her eyes. "Mistress Botanica, thank you for meeting us so early. I trust your journey was pleasant?"

Botanica nodded, tilting her head in a gesture that was both courteous and faintly impersonal. "Efficient enough. I considered several routes—this one minimized delay and ensured prompt arrival. The Elder-Core's presence is, of course, a calculated inconvenience, but tolerable for business."

Botanica's gaze turned to Kaiser, eyes narrowing slightly as if noting a line of credit. "You must be Kaiser Dios. I have… heard accounts." Her tone made it sound as though she was referencing an entry in a book. "Princess Celestine has submitted paperwork for your party. It's my role, as both her friend and the official witness, to oversee your induction into the ranks of Liberators."

She turned to the group, her demeanor never shifting from composed efficiency. "If you'll follow me to the registrar, we can proceed. Formalities serve as the root of order, and order is… a rare flower in this garden."

Aria blinked, still a little dazzled by the grandeur of the place. "Are you a Liberator too?"

Botanica offered a slight nod, her gold-and-blue eyes flickering to Aria. "Everyone here is something, child." Her tone was soft, but the words hung in the air like an axiom—matter-of-fact, impossible to dispute. She turned gracefully and drifted toward the great tree's central desk, her movements as precise as the ticking of a well-kept clock.

As soon as Botanica was just out of easy earshot, Ivan leaned in, voice pitched low but not quite low enough. "She's really weird, isn't she? Like, is she even a Liberator, or just… the world's fanciest receptionist?" His tone was half awe, half suspicion, as if expecting some hidden punchline in the way she carried herself.

He got his answer sooner than expected. Botanica's steps faltered just a fraction. He opened his mouth as if to stammer an apology, but before he could muster a word, Celestine's laughter spilled out, filling the vast hall with a bit of warmth.

"Don't worry, Ivan," Celestine said. "Botanica is used to far worse. She was one of my father's advisors long before she became my friend. And while she has some special privileges, make no mistake, she's a full fledged Liberator. More than that, she's one of the South's most valuable assets." She gestured for them to follow, her tone almost teasing. "Try not to offend her, though. I wouldn't want to lose anyone so early on."

Ivan's mouth snapped shut, cheeks coloring in embarrassment, but he managed a sheepish grin. "She doesn't look like she'd even notice if someone was rude. Like, she'd just write it down in a book and forget about you. Is she even human?"

Aria, still wide-eyed from the grandeur of the guildhall, piped up, "She reminds me of one of those old stories about the Watchers, those weird old people who just look at everything and never blink." She tucked herself closer to Kaiser, as if reassured by his silent presence.

Kaiser, for his part, remained quiet, but he was watching Botanica closely, reading every minute shift in her posture. That momentary pause had told him more than a thousand words: she was not immune to being observed, nor to the opinions of others. But she was adept at burying her reactions, if only somewhat. He wondered what kind of debts and credits a person like her would tally, and what sort of payment she expected in return.

Celestine leaned closer to Kaiser as they approached Botanica again, her voice dropping to a confidential whisper. "She's not so cold as she seems, you know. Botanica sees the world in terms of use and value, yes—but she's also the first to stand between danger and anyone under her protection. She has saved my life more times than I can count. Just… don't play games with her. She's better at them than anyone I know."

Kaiser's lips curled in the faintest of smiles, a sign of respect as much as amusement. "Noted. I prefer games with clear rules anyway."

Celestine grinned, her mood lighter than it had been all morning. She motioned for Ivan, Aria, and Elsie to step forward as Botanica finished preparing their documents. Ivan, still a little nervous, hovered behind Aria, who seemed determined to meet Botanica's measuring gaze without flinching.

Botanica regarded each of them in turn, her expression never quite shifting into friendliness, but there was a sense of acknowledgment in her nod. "Potential must be recorded before it can be realized," she remarked, as though speaking to herself as much as to them. "Today, you are names on a page. Tomorrow, perhaps you'll be the ones who fill these halls with Tales worth sharing for a thousand years."

Ivan gave her a tentative smile. "Thanks, I think?"

Botanica's lips quirked, the briefest ghost of a smirk. "You're welcome. Now, shall we begin?"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.