Chapter 1224: Stars
“Dreaming Sea.” Quiet Flame turned towards the only one he believed could be a voice of reason.
The Star of Vaelthrys.
Dreaming Sea.
Dreaming Sea appeared as a translucent woman floating upside down in a sea of stars. The aura she radiated was calm.
“Surely you see the ludicrous in this,” Quiet Flame said.
Dreaming Sea turned toward the sad man. Her stars seemed to twinkle.
“Quiet Flame… it’s good to see you.”
“The middle planers are not to be trusted, Dreaming Sea. They’ll only bring ruin to the lower planes!” Quiet Flame pressed on, as though their reunion wasn’t as important as his words.
“Hm. You may be right,” she said, causing Quiet Flame’s hope to rise. Her next words shattered that hope.
“But I don’t really care.” Dreaming Sea said, the sea parting in an upward flow, as though she grinned. “Ruin is exactly what I want. My collection of soldiers has gotten stale for a while now. This should help change that.”
Quiet Flame gritted his teeth and sent a glance towards the last figure, Iron Crown.
He appeared as a being of metal and light, a sword floating behind him like rays.
The star hadn’t even spared him a glance since he entered.
’Useless.’ Quiet Flame didn’t bother with him. Iron Crown had been searching for a chance to take the lead from him for millennia. Now that he had it, there was no way he would listen to his words.
“Now that we’re all gathered,” Iron Crown finally spoke, breaking the silence. His voice echoed like law.
“I would like to introduce our guests.” He completely ignored Quiet Flame and gestured toward the group seated below.
“As you all know, they’re from the factions of the middle planes,” he explained. “They’re here to scout out the ascending world and offer support to the other worlds deemed worthy. In respect of this, they will be allowed to watch the Virelenna.”
“As if you haven’t already sold out the lower planes to their whims!” Quiet Flame spat.
Iron Crown finally turned towards him. “So?” His gaze was heavy. The kind that dared another to move.
Quiet Flame tensed.
“You have a hole through your chest. Through your segment. You have no power. The only major system you have just barely achieved godhood.”
His voice became colder.
“The only reason you’re here amongst us is because of the old rules. Don’t mistake that for being of any importance.”
Quiet Flame reeled in his rising anger. Then smiled.
“Well, that’s about to change,” he said. “When my sole god wins the Virelenna, the first thing I’ll do is put your proud ass in your place.”
Quiet Flame’s absurd words elicited different emotions from the stars.
Iron Crown frowned. Dreaming Sea looked at the sad man with a gaze full of pity.
And Crimson Hollow… burst into laughter.
“I had no idea a star could have delusions!” His laughter caused the room to rumble. “That hole must’ve messed with ya brains. It’s no wonder you’re always so sad. The star’s lost it!”
Quiet Flame remained silent despite the insults. He walked toward his throne and lowered himself onto the seat.
“I shall let actions speak for themselves,” he said, before falling silent, ignoring Crimson Hollow entirely.
Throughout the exchange, Iron Crown had been silent. But though subtle, his expression had hardened, fists clenched.
He sent a glance to the one he’d dedicated his life to surpassing… and couldn’t help the fury that surged through his body.
He had imagined this whole situation going differently.
Iron Crown had lived in Quiet Flame’s shadow for centuries. He had tried, again and again, to create a god capable of winning the Virelenna.
But each time, the victor had always emerged from Aelrion. Each time one of its gods won, the ascension process boosted their powers exponentially.
And each time Aelrion won, the gap between them only widened.
It had burned Iron Crown’s heart, to live in another’s shadow. From birth, he had seen himself as above all. It was ingrained into his being.
He was Iron Crown. He led all with an iron fist.
When the incident occurred and Quiet Flame fell, Iron Crown had immediately seized control over the affairs of the lower planes.
His rule had met resistance from Dreaming Sea and Crimson Hollow, but he had silenced them, ruthlessly, with his iron crown.
He was Iron Crown. And now, he was finally on top, just as he had always believed he should be.
A long time had passed since then. He hadn’t seen Quiet Flame in all that time.
With no god, Quiet Flame hadn’t participated in any Virelenna, nor shown himself to them.
When Iron Crown heard that the man had finally produced a god and would be participating in this Virelenna, he had felt conflicted.
It was something his pride would never admit, but he had been wary.
Was Quiet Flame coming after his old crown?
No. That crown was his now. No one would take it from him.
In this meeting, he had wanted to prove to Quiet Flame just how far he’d fallen. He had expected outrage at seeing the middle planers. He had expected him to try and assert himself… only to be easily crushed like the worthless star he’d become.
But Quiet Flame hadn’t done that. He had held himself back and spoken words that made Iron Crown’s eyes narrow.
His god… win the Virelenna?
In all his millennia of life, Iron Crown had never heard more absurd words.
Right now, he should’ve been laughing, mocking the insane man, just like Crimson Hollow.
Yet, he just couldn’t bring himself to do it.
’Why?’
Why did those words make his heart race? Why did they make him cautious?
“Empty words,” Iron Crown said, turning his gaze away from Quiet Flame.
“We will start the Virelenna now.”
…
A flash of blue engulfed Atticus’ vision for a moment. After a second, as it cleared up, Atticus instantly took in his surroundings.
’A hall.’
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