NOVPUBChapter 486: The Silverunics Bond
It was quite the assembly.
Closest to him were the Silverunic students who passed.
A total of about 17 were still standing out of the 24 that formerly entered the realm.
‘Seems like 7 Silverunics were lost to the test…’ he thought silently to himself but diverted his attention from the surrounding students to the others in the room.
There were18 standing.
King Auremis, Queen Eilereth, the Ten Elders, and a total of five of the ancient Elders—including High Scholar Emeris—and then there was a singular lady: Instructor Kiyana, who was their Aether class teacher.
When he looked at the faces of the Elders, he could see signs of sadness, but then beneath that sadness were exhales of relief.
Even the King had his hand clutched to his throne armrest as he laid his gaze on them.
’17 of them survived. That’s a lot compared to the average Coming of Age ceremony. And they included Fillian and Elina too. That’s very good,’ King Auremis silently thought to himself.
Then he rose up from his throne, turning to look at them all still standing.
Suddenly—
SOBS.
The sound of sobbing filled the room as Ryuk turned a bizarre look to the side, only to find most of the students around him in tears—silently sobbing, while some had their hands clenched to fists, blood dripping out from how tight they gripped.
Only a moment later did he understand.
They had lost their classmates.
People with whom they had been in class for close to 6 years of their lives—gone so fast.
They, of course, would be in tears over the loss.
The only one who wasn’t in tears in the room was Ryuk.
He wasn’t so easily moved anymore.
Even the death of kids he had been around for a week couldn’t shake his heart, and he didn’t see much sense in faking it, so he silently remained still among them.
“The death of warriors will not be mourned!” The King’s voice filled with pressure, slammed into every corner of the hall, shaking the students up from their sobs.
“There are two ways to be a Guardian, not one.”
“Partake in the Coming of Age and return alive—that’s the known way to all. But there’s another way. And that is to partake and never return.”
“All those who never return are automatic Guardians and will be recorded as Guardians on their grave monuments, laid to rest where the monument of the other Ancient Guardians are laid.”
“All they have done is try to forge themselves into something better. To grow in order to stand with spine straight at the enemies of us, the Sulebrunis. And they have died with this noble aim just like any other Guardian.”
“They are warriors, whose wills will now be carried by the rest of all Guardians that exist—most especially by those who had survived them…”
“It’s sad, I know. But they will not be mourned!”
“Only remembered—and celebrated,” he said, ending his words. The sobbing reducing a lot.
“For the 17 of you who have managed to return, I say congratulations to you all.”
“You all will be given 3 days to regain your mental balance, and after that, you will be summoned to the Hall of Guardians where the Passing Warriors will be laid to eternal rest, and where you will be crowned with their responsibilities and become full-fledged Guardians.”
“The ceremony is as necessary as the Coming of Age itself. All must be there…” he mused before he stepped down from the throne and made his way to the exit.
But even though he had spoken so fearlessly and grandly, he still couldn’t hide those singular red veins in his eyes that Ryuk knew were from anger and sadness.
The Silverunics were a race that cared deeply about each other. That, he at least knew from what was ongoing right now.
The King was close to tears from some random Silverunic children’s death, and how Filliana and Elina had pointed their weapons at him because he threw down a dangerous SIlverunic into the abyss.
When the King left with the Elders and the Ancient Ones, the Queen, along with Kiyana, left with the remaining students—leaving just two people in the room.
High Scholar Emeris, one of the Ancients who didn’t leave, and Ryuk, who remained standing on his feet.
Their eyes looked into one another’s for a time that felt very long before High Scholar Emeris sat upright from his seat.
“Return it.”
That was his first word, yet Ryuk’s eyes held no ripple at all.
He already knew there was no way an entire Second Floor would disappear and High Scholar Emeris—the Guardian—wouldn’t know about it.
“The disappearance of the Techno Void Ruin is what allowed so many of the students to survive.”
“Many of them would have died to that test, but with you taking it away, there was no longer a second floor. So many of them automatically passed.”
“This… I am grateful for. And therefore will be willing to ignore the fact that you tried at first to steal the Techno Void Ruin.”
“I didn’t steal anything. It was bestowed upon me, rightfully, by trial,” Ryuk said without much debate.
And when High Scholar Emeris looked into his eyes, he couldn’t see the slightest flinch—meaning it was clear Ryuk wouldn’t be giving it up so easily.
“Do you know how long the Techno Void Ruin has been in the Gate of Soulles Ruin, Youngling? Ever since I was a kid. 900 years plus more. It’s been there, owned by us.”
“As the Guardian placed in charge of it, it is only rightful that I make sure no part of the Gate of Soulles Ruin is missing.”
“Don’t make me call you a thief, Ryuk,” he said, his tone more forceful.
But then Ryuk began walking forward toward him, stopping just a meter before him.
“I have a question for you,” he said, perplexing High Scholar Emeris, whose eyes flashed as he asked:
“And what is that?” 𝓃ℴ𝓋𝓹𝓊𝓫.𝒸𝓸𝓂
“Did you try to steal away my Primordial Gate when you operated on me during the infusion with the Annunaki Model?”
