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"Rise," the klevonian commanded. He had reddish-brown skin, short, orange-red hair with blue tips, and wore a dignifying green, beige, robe-like outfit. Being in his hybrid form, he had a pair of brown wings folded to his back, bird-like eyes, and the feathers on his arms were more like tattoos or grafts that rose from his skin instead of actual feathers.
Everyone rose from their seats as the person we'd sensed entered the room. It was a being made entirely of greenish wispy energy. I held my breath as another klevonian and a live griffin, larger than a full-grown lion, followed them, its talons clacking against the hard floor, echoing in the silence. They walked up the side ramp to the side we used earlier.
When the pneumarian approached and sat in their seat in the reserved throne area, the klevonian behind them stood to the throne's left while the griffin lay at their feet.
According to their bio card, the Ryfi Theos had an impressive EQN of 530 million, higher than anyone else's in the room. Everyone except...
It occurred to me that Rabae's EQN of 660 million was significantly higher than the others, including the Ryfi Theos'.
Being Ryfi Theos makes one the ruler of Pneuma City and the leader of its primary protective army, the Pneumarian Forces. This position is always filled by one of the mightiest among the Crest Heads, but not necessarily the mightiest, Viraa inputted before I could ask. Rabae most likely recognized her leadership qualities and refused the throne. Or, similar to long ago, he simply expressed his disinterest in the political position.
Isn't being a Crest Head a political position too?
Sure, but governing over a singular territory and being responsible for an entire nation are two vastly different things, wouldn't you agree?
Huh. I hadn't thought about it that way.
"What is this?" the Ryfi Theos looked down at us.
The pneumarian of light leaned in further, looking directly at me.
"It can't be...a true hybrid form?" Her glowing yellow eyes felt like they were x-raying every part of me.
Others followed up by leaning in, too.
"But that's a myth...a theory never proven," someone said.
"Until now," another responded.
"But is she even a klevonian? I've never seen one like her or those other two..." another stated.
"Yeah, I find those three's appearances quite jarring," someone muttered.
They were talking about me, Avarice, and Michael specifically.
Michael blinked, baffled.
Avarice completely disregarded the comment. Instead, he was taking in the presence of so many pneumarians, loving the attention and most likely devising some plan to add their power to his or force them under his control. With everything going on, I'd have to remember to keep my eye on him.
"That's umm..." I stuttered, looking down at my skin and back at the others awkwardly.
Meanwhile, Za'Fia was beside Tymon, stifling a laugh. Tymon, on the other hand, just stood there glaring up at everyone. He probably hated being so exposed.
Do not feel insulted, Viraa said, amused by everyone's reaction to us. A klevonian's natural skin color is reddish-brown. It is the natural color of cindarians, although pneumarians are not born with material bodies.
"And their transformations...so it's true..." someone commented next.
"Yes, as you can see, though they are exceptionally weak, they are clearly of the Chimera Crest," Rabae announced, standing before us. "Each of them is an offspring of former Ryfi Theos, Viraa, the Scryer."
I nearly gasped in shock. To think, Viraa once ruled over this entire nation. There was so much I wanted to ask her about. For example, why hadn't she mentioned she was a basically queen before coming to Earth? That we were technically royalty.
Whispers were spreading in the audience.
"That's not possible..."
"Five offspring!? And multiple sages at that! It's unheard of!"
Rabae cleared his throat before continuing.
"Though they all could not come, there are more offspring of Viraa's on a distant planet called Earth. There are 8 in total, and all but one are sages."
More gasps followed this revelation.
"Are they all klevonian!?"
"They each have so many cintracies. So many prodigies from one bloodline..."
"No, the stronger one there, with no bestial transformation...she doesn't seem to be a klevonian," someone pointed out.
"Is she a zasshu then!?" someone exclaimed, which was followed by more gasps and shuffling in seats.
"Look closer," the Ryfi Theos spoke. "She's not a zasshu. At least not in the manner we define one. She seems to be an evolved version of a weaker species. Yet she's on the verge of being something more...an anomaly. Remarkable."
"Hold up," a pneumarian made of grey energy called out. "That one with the golden energy. His bio card says he has the Xerox cintracy."
"That makes him a stockpiler!" a pneumarian made of darkness remarked. "Apollos showed us how dangerous they can be. Should we not rid ourselves of him now?"
There were some murmurs of agreement as others contemplated this.
Viraa, help us understand why they're freaking out, Tymon said telepathically, his eyes darting from person to person as he tensed up.
Of course, prodigies are rare klevonians who possess 4 to 5 cintracies like many of you. Stockpilers are even scarcer klevonians who possess 6 cintracies or a cintracy that allows them to copy or mimic others' cintracies. The latter are very dangerous, so most are wary of them.
"That's enough," the Ryfi Theos announced, causing silence in the room. "Seeing as these visitors have not committed any crimes against our nation, there is no need for a council of judgment. Everyone besides them is dismissed. Meeting adjourned."
There was a lot of hushed muttering and looks of disapproval, but everyone followed orders. Honestly, I was surprised no one lashed out anyway. The way some of them looked at us...
"Hhhh," the Ryfi Theos sighed in exasperation as she walked back down the ramp. She transformed into a smaller, more comfortable form. She had lush, lime green hair that flowed like the wind, honey dew-colored skin, wore a royal, green dress, and the entirety of her eyes glowed light green.
This close, her energy felt light and welcoming like a cool breeze on a hot summer day.
"Please, follow me," she instructed as she and her griffin led us through a hidden door in a wall at the base of the ramp. Her guards took up the rear, following behind us.
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