SSS Talent: From Trash to Tyrant Chapter 577: The Sealed Decree

Gold, glass, and pale marble formed the floating palace, its elegant bridges suspended over an endless expanse of mist, while lamps crafted from crystal shone like captive stars. A breathtaking spectacle from afar, it remained inaccessible from below, and today, its defenses were heightened like a fortress under siege.

Beyond a colossal set of obsidian double doors lay the Sages' Council Chamber.

This chamber was designed not for the common use of the Eight Great Families, but specifically for the Ten Elders themselves. Ten seats, each meticulously carved from dark stone and adorned with delicate silver lines, formed an immaculate circle around an open central space. This central area was designated for visitors, those seeking audience, individuals accused of crimes, witnesses, and anyone summoned before the Council for judgment or to present their case.

At this precise moment, eleven individuals occupied the chamber.

Ten were seated around the chamber's perimeter, clad in black robes trimmed with silver runes. Their very presence exerted a palpable pressure on the senses of anyone who dared to gaze upon them for an extended period. Though the robes concealed much, they could not entirely mask the profound weight each occupant carried.

Standing in the center was a man who appeared to be in his fifties. He possessed a tall, lean physique, his dark gray hair streaked with white, complemented by gray eyes and a short, meticulously maintained beard. His attire resembled reinforced mage robes, chosen for practicality over ostentation, with the subtle outlines of arcane implements concealed beneath the fabric.

This man was Eldric au Veyr.

He was designated as the future commander of the Council of Sages' neutral contingent. Within the Concordant Wardens of the Council, he held the highest importance, being the chosen leader for The First Concord.

Arranged around him were the Ten Elders.

Elowen au Veyrath occupied the prime seat. She presented as a tall, graceful elf with a visage that defied her age, characterized by silver hair and pale green eyes. As the Elder Leader, she presided over the sessions, appeared in all formal Council gatherings, and held the most significant position among them.

To her right sat Armand du Morgain, a human of advanced years with graying hair and eyes to match. His posture was severe, imbuing his age with an air of unwavering strength rather than frailty. He was unique among the Elders as the sole bearer of a surname belonging to one of the Eight Great Families. The public explanation was straightforward: he never disavowed his name, nor did he ever seek to alter it.

To Elowen's left was Seraphiel au Lareth.

He too was human, once affiliated with House Vaelion but officially disowned by that lineage. His hair was blond, and his eyes were crimson. Despite the absence of the Vaelion name, he bore an uncanny resemblance to that esteemed family of human mages, renowned as the most potent human bloodline alongside the Morgains. A coin moved with silent grace across his knuckles as he awaited the commencement of the meeting.

Further along the circle sat Thargrim du Bronzhald. He was a stoutly built, broad dwarf, his white beard intricately braided with strands of black metal. His nose was broken, and his hands, disproportionately large, seemed almost at odds with the delicate runes adorning his robes. He wore the Council robes more as an imposition upon a form built for the intensity of the forge.

Vaelra di Kharzun sat with her hands demurely folded in her lap. She was a demonkin with skin of pale gray, small, polished black horns, hair gathered neatly at the nape of her neck, and eyes the color of dark red. Thin markings, resembling inscribed script, traced the contours of her cheekbones.

Orselyn di Vharos possessed a youthful countenance that belied the ancient wisdom in her eyes. A vampire with straight white hair, her skin was almost devoid of color, her lips dark, and her fangs were barely perceptible when she spoke.

Mairon di Aurelmar rested his long fingers on the armrests of his seat. He was an aquatic humanoid, tall and slender, with blue-gray skin, subtle gills along his neck, dark green hair pulled back, and eyes reminiscent of the deep ocean. A faint aroma of salt and damp stone seemed to emanate from him, persisting even in this elevated chamber.

Raukan von Harrak presented more like a warrior compelled to occupy a judge's position than a seasoned Elder. He was a tiger-blooded beastkin, distinguished by striped ears, a prominent tail, amber eyes, and scars visible on his neck and hands despite the concealing robes.

Selyra au Mournveil remained quiet, her eyes concealed behind an elegant ceremonial veil. She was a spirit-touched human with ash-blond hair, and a small, translucent familiar hovered near her shoulder, resembling a moth fashioned from pale light.

Vhaldris von Kaerun completed the circle. A human with draconic blood, his skin was bronzed, adorned with small dark scales near his temples and hands. His golden eyes featured thin, vertical pupils, and two short crests were almost entirely hidden beneath his hood.

The chamber contained them all in profound silence.

Elowen au Veyrath gracefully rose from her seat.

Her pale green eyes swept across the circle, ensuring each Elder was prepared, each recording crystal was active, and every seal within the chamber had acknowledged the commencement of formal proceedings.

This marked the three hundred eighty-ninth session of the Council of Sages.

The assembly, known as the Council of Sages, convened with a frequency far eclipsing that of the eight great family councils. The reason for this was quite straightforward: the Sages’ decisions possessed a far more extensive reach. They didn’t merely document the intentions of affluent lineages; rather, they meticulously addressed statutes, eventualities, demilitarized zones, calamities, and the residual conflicts arising when these influential powers reshaped the world.

Elowen’s voice resonated throughout the grand hall, requiring no elevated posture.

"The three hundred and eighty-ninth session of the Council of Sages commences now."

Her gaze briefly settled upon Eldric au Veyr, positioned at the chamber's heart.

"Our agenda for today concerns the formation of our independent peacekeeping contingent: The Concordant Wardens of the Council."

One by one, the assembled Elders offered subtle inclinations of their heads.

The proceedings commenced without fanfare, devoid of any ceremony beyond the spoken words, and with impeccable efficiency.

Nevertheless, every individual within that hall grasped the profound significance of the moment.

The establishment of a force answerable to no single familial faction was no trivial undertaking. Even with its inherent limitations codified within the laws, and its objectives meticulously defined for calamity mitigation and impartial safeguarding, every attendee comprehended the true underlying shift.

The Council was, in essence, forging its own instruments of action.

Up to this point, its role had been to adjudicate, record, negotiate, impose penalties, and uphold established norms. It possessed the authority to summon, to exert pressure, to accuse, and to condemn. However, any execution of action had invariably relied upon external entities. These included forces dispatched from various cities, assistance procured from lesser lords, or the explicit consent of those familial powers whose might made outright refusal a perilous endeavor.

The advent of the Concordant Wardens would irrevocably alter this dynamic.

Eldric au Veyr remained stationary in the room's center, yet inevitably, all eyes gravitated back towards him.

The official decree had yet to be ratified.

However, its impending influence already permeated the very atmosphere of the chamber.