The Innkeeper

"Who are the Seraphines?" Lex asked Mary, once she shared all the news sent by the Rhinocentaurs.

"Yeah, just in case someone asked, the Rhinocentaurs left a small note on the side of the report," she said, fixing the glasses she was wearing. Right now, she was dressed up as the secretary.

"I must say, they've been doing a good job lately. Their reports are very thorough and detailed - a lot better than when they just started. Let's see, it says here that the Seraphines are a large race group with a dominant presence in the universe, similar to the Hellions and the Humanoid alliance. Just as the Hellions are heavily related to the various hells in the universe, the Seraphines are related to the various Heavens."

Lex rubbed his chin while he connected the dots. It seemed too obvious. The bank was seemingly participating heavily in anti-Angel ventures, while their partners, the Artica race, were about to ally with the Seraphines, who are related to Heaven.

Lex did not know much about Eden corp but he could guess that the angels were also closely related to the Heavens. That meant that they were either partners with, or more likely competitors of the Seraphines.

But wasn't such an obvious plot too simple? It was not just Lex, anybody who gained this information could come to the conclusion that the bank might be developing an anti-angel stance.

What did it mean to be anti-angel? If it were a smaller organization, it could remain limited to the two of them. But the bank, as far as Lex could tell, was a behemoth and if they developed too obviously against a specific race group, then it would be a matter of the entire alliance.

But such an obvious play by the bank may mean that this was nothing more than business as usual, and it was mere coincidence that it was going against the angels, rather than them plotting something. After all, weren't plots supposed to be hidden and difficult to detect?

Before Lex could figure things out, the sound of a door bell interrupted his thoughts. It was time for them to leave and attend their first briefing about the Expo.

"Remember, use this opportunity to learn as much as possible about what's going on. If we get separated, try to stay uninvolved with the attacks on the bank, and state clearly that you do not want to know lest you get involved. I can sense a very direct threat related to this matter."

"It's going to be tough not to find out details," Velma said while wearing a wry smile. "Listening in on secrets in my whole thing."

Lex shrugged.

"Well, now is a good time to learn how to control your ability better. Do your best, but if things go wrong do not fret the small stuff. We can take things as they come. Remember, just because we are trying not to attract attention, it does not mean we are helpless."

Lex was suddenly reminded of Pelvailin, and not because the dragon's soul was partially trapped within his ring. Instead, the mighty Heavenly Dragon had died silently and unknowingly to a threat no one understood or could have anticipated. Even now, Lex still did not know how exactly the dragon died.

But he somewhat aspired to the degree of lethality that entity had attained. Silently biding his time, undetected by his target, right until he struck. Even then, no one would know it was him who struck.
Stay connected with empire

Once upon a time, he thought it would be entertaining to have a defense so high that it would drive his enemies to the point of helplessness. Now, he wanted his attack to be so fierce that no one could resist it, or even recognize who had struck.

The three of them ventured out, and found a spaceship equivalent to a bus waiting for them, already filled with other people.

"Do you find it interesting that they're doing things like this?" Lex asked out loud as they walked up. "No doubt they can just teleport everyone to their destination, but they're bringing everyone along on a bus."

"I suppose it adds change," said Gerard. "Even within our Inn, guests can be teleported anywhere they wish. But the act of traveling, in itself, is somewhat meaningful, whether it's to pass the time or see the scenery."

"I suppose," said Lex.

For what it was worth, the bus ship was actually quite spacious, with plenty of room for them to sit and enjoy the scenery outside as they picked up the passengers one by one.

For some odd reason Lex could not explain, he felt that there was something ritualistic about picking up all the participants one by one, though he could not begin to guess what the purpose of it would be.

He just didn't think, with the numerous times they emphasised the shortage of time, that spending time individually picking up countless people was a wise use of their time.

But since he felt no threat, nor did he detect any danger, he just silently observed.

Eventually, the ship flew up into the air, arriving at a satellite large enough to be a moon, where hundreds of other similar ships were arriving as well.

They all slowly shuffled out of their vehicles and towards the stadium, making Lex feel like he was attending a sold out concert. In fact, he was not the only one wondering about the unusual way they were all brought together, some even feeling offended, not that they could do anything about it.

Soon, Lex and the others took a seat in what seemed like a massive stadium, except there was no music to be played here, nor was there any game being played.

Instead, an elemental arrived on stage. Elementals were a strange and unique race, sometimes devastatingly strong and other times pathetically weak. They all consisted solely of a single element, and it was impossible to say which element was weaker or stronger - it all seemed to depend on the elemental itself.

This elemental looked like it was made of warped glass, with a distinct body shape that looked nothing like any living being Lex had ever seen.

"All of you, registered attendants for the Artica Major realms first ever New Age Expo, I bid you a warm welcome. My name is Imex, and I will be instructing you on the history of the Artica Major realm, as well as the Artica race. That will be followed by an explanation of the unique laws of that realm, how to survive them, the appropriate social norms as well as restrictions. If any of you have questions, please wait until the end of the session for a specific question and answer segment to ask them.

"Now then, let's begin. The Artica realm completed its transition into a Major realm only a short 3000 years ago, making it the newest addition to a Major realm in the universe. Prior to its maturity, the realm was entirely inaccessible to the external universe, Dao Lords included, due to a Void vortex in the vicinity of the realm.

"It was only after the realm matured, and exerted its pressure in the surrounding region, that the vortex settled and the new realm was accessible. But whether it was a stroke of luck, or something else, 3000 years was too short a period for others to locate the new Major realm, even if they knew of its existence.

"That allowed the local powers of the Artica major realm to, in a genuinely unique situation, take complete control of the entire realm. For those of you familiar with the history of the universe, you know that it is not just external intervention that usually prevents local forces from taking over an entire realm. Most realms are vast beyond measure, so much so that not even Dao Lords can fully explore them. A Major realm, then, is infinitely larger, so for a single force, in a new realm that only 3000 years ago allowed the birth of proper Dao Lords, to take complete control is absolutely unheard of.

"The fact then, that when contact was finally made with external forces, the universe chose to recognize the legitimacy of the Artica, rather than compete with them for dominance, should automatically display the immensity of the martial prowess of the Artica race.

"There is a very important reason I am sharing this detail with you, and even explaining it to you specifically, in case you cannot gather the hints yourselves. Do not treat the Artica race as inferior or underpowered just because their realm is new. Not only are they a prideful and powerful race, they have monopolized the benefits of an entire Major realm.

"I'm sure in the next myriad Cosmic Ascendance Spectrum list publication, the Artica race will take up a prominent spot. As such, it would be best if you did not offend them needlessly. Please keep in mind that although your attendance has been sponsored by the bank, if you get involved in a conflict with the Artica race, the bank will not protect you."