CHAPTER 75: WE ARE THE BATTLEFIELD!

Silence reigned for the minute he read the report.

The Preceptor stood where he was, unmoving, but with a somber expression on his face.

After reading the content of the report, the Emissary slowly raised his head and stared ahead into nothing for a few seconds, before nodding at the aide and shutting the door lightly. He stood by the door for a second, then turned to look at the Preceptor, who met his gaze without any inflections whatsoever.

"Preceptor. A very disturbing, yet somewhat interesting report just arrived from Feraxia. I would like to read it to you."

The Preceptor said nothing.

What’s going on now? Finn could feel a tension in the air as the two powerful figures seemed to pass silent messages with their eyes.

The Emissary raised the parchment and cleared his throat.

"Official Continental Alert: Red Priority Level

Issued by: The Feraxian Beast Council Emergency Response Division. As reported by the Aethelosian Intelligence.

Date: 27th Day of the Harvest Month, Year 1647

Time of Initial Event: 3:47 AM, Continental Standard Time

Classification: World-Scale Cataclysmic Event"

Finn’s brows furrowed sharply in shock. Even through the haze of his rising Ferropteryx debts, the significance of those words were still crystal clear to him.

A World-Scale Cataclysmic Event! He couldn’t even fathom what kind of disaster could warrant such a classification.

The Emissary continued:

"Location: Central Feraxia, approximately 340 kilometers northeast of the Beast Council’s primary seat in Griffonage. The affected zone encompasses what was formerly the state of Mistveil and its surrounding territories — an area equivalent to approximately 5,200 square kilometers."

"Event Description: At precisely 3:47 AM, close-by monitoring stations across central Feraxia registered a catastrophic event. Eyewitness accounts from settlements on the periphery describe the sky ’tearing open’ above Mistveil, followed by an expanding wave of what survivors describe as a ’black void’ or ’absolute darkness’ that consumed everything in its path.

The destruction ceased after approximately four minutes, leaving behind a perfect spherical ’deleted’ zone, confirmed afterwards by aerial reconnaissance over the affected area. This deletion extends approximately 200 meters into the bedrock."

He paused and looked up to see the look on their faces. At this point, the chamber had gone deathly silent. Even the Preceptor’s expression had taken on a hard edge. Finn and Althea simply listened with wide eyes. They could all see where this was headed.

The Emissary continued:

"Currently the deletion zone has since rapidly transformed into what appears to be a chaos breach on a scale never seen before. A different term has been given to describe the anomaly: A World Tear.

Most importantly, unlike any previously recorded chaos breach, this particular breach allows visual observation of the space beyond. On-site observers state that it resembles ’a massive translucent veil,’ as if ’looking through frosted glass.’

More sources confirm the presence of large-scale architectural structures visible through the veil. Their descriptions include sightings of:

Massive temple-like complexes.

What appears to be an entire cityscape of ancient construction.

And depending on where observed from, some had even seen expansive forests with scales of fauna that defy logic. The landscape seen beyond seems to differ from the point of observation."

The Emissary stopped here and looked at the Preceptor pointedly.

"Doesn’t this seem uncannily familiar, Preceptor?"

Finn and Althea couldn’t help but look at the Preceptor too. He kept silent, his expression was somber, but he didn’t seem at all surprised by the report so far. Just like he hadn’t been surprised by the anomaly in Aethelos.

The Emissary could evidently see that, and he nodded. "I guess you must know what follows next then," he chuckled without any humor whatsoever and continued to read, but now with a tone that was tinged with accusation and demand:

"The Ossuary deployed their forces and arrived on-site within two hours of the initial event. Current deployment includes an estimated 200+ Ossuarists of varying ranks, including at least three confirmed Preceptor-rank Ossuarists.

However, to the surprise of all, the Ossuary forces have refused all requests to stabilize the breach for entry. Despite possessing more than sufficient personnel to create stable access points, Preceptor-rank commanders on-site have explicitly prohibited any stabilization attempts by all Ossuarists.

This unprecedented deviation from standard protocol prompted several Feraxian noble houses and states to deploy their privately raised Ossuarists. These forces successfully stabilized multiple entry points along the barrier’s perimeter.

Result: Complete entry rejection. All attempts to cross the stabilized barrier have failed. The breach appears to actively reject entry by any individual, regardless of whether they are Arcanist or Ossuarist. No exceptions have been recorded thus far."

The Emissary’s tone steadily became harder. He was no longer hiding it. Now he was blatantly accusing the Preceptor with a tone demanding an explanation.

"The Ossuary’s calculated timing and coordinated action suggest prior knowledge or preparation for this exact scenario. Yet no official explanation has been provided by the Ossuary.

Current Situation: The breach remains guarded and impassable as of this report’s dispatch at 9:30 AM. The Ossuary has established a complete military lockdown around the affected zone, prohibiting civilian approach within 50 kilometers. All major continental powers have dispatched diplomatic envoys and observation teams.

The Beast Council has issued a formal threat of immediate retaliation to the Ossuary if they do not promptly vacate control over the breach. This threat has been officially endorsed by the Mechanus Federation Council, who have issued their own statement condemning the Ossuary’s blatant disregard of Feraxian sovereignty and authority.

The Federation has deployed a joint military observation force to the Feraxian border and demands Aethelos issue an official position on the matter within 24 hours.

Multiple Feraxian states have begun mobilizing Master-rank Arcanists in droves. The Feraxian Archon has also been stirred. There have been rumors that he has moved from the capital.

The situation is escalating rapidly. Military conflict between continental powers and the Ossuary is now considered probable within 48-72 hours unless immediate diplomatic resolution is achieved.

End of Report."

The Emissary lowered the parchment slowly, and his blue eyes bore into the Preceptor with a scorching intensity.

"So, Preceptor Elias," Cassius said without any trace of his scholarly demeanor. "Now that the whole world is watching. Now that Feraxia is ready to go to war. Now that Mechanus is mobilizing. Now that my Queen will be forced to choose a side..."

He took a step forward.

"What is that space beyond the barrier? Why has the Ossuary been hiding this knowledge? And how did you know that this would happen?" He asked with unflinching fierceness.

The tension in the chamber rose to suffocating levels. Both the Emissary and the Preceptor had released their auras to roil wantonly.

Finn’s wings twitched involuntarily, his Ferropteryx instincts had come to the fore, no longer under his control. It reared its defiant ego at the oppressive tension, making him snarl like a beast.

Beside him, Althea had gone perfectly still, and she watched with a wary but decisive look in her eyes. Finn could tell she was ready to let whatever it was that controlled the Order magic within her to take over at a moment’s notice.

But it seemed that wasn’t going to be necessary.

Because in the face of the Emissary’s roaring accusations, the Preceptor laughed. A low, dangerous laugh that made the feather-like fur on Finn’s neck stand on end.

"Emissary Cassius," the Preceptor said softly. "You’re a clever young man. Accomplished. Talented beyond your years. The Queen chose well when she made you Third Seat."

He took a single step forward, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop.

"But you’re also very, very young. And that youth makes you think that because you’ve connected some dots, because you’ve figured out there’s a bigger picture, that you’re entitled to see it."

Another step.

"Let me educate you on something your Queen already understands, something every ruler who’s dealt with the Ossuary for the past thousand years has learned."

The Preceptor’s aura flared with an absolute authority that made even Cassius take an involuntary step back.

"The Ossuary does not answer to anyone. Not to Beast Councils. Not to Federation Parliaments. Not to Queens or Kings or Emperors. Forget the fact that we make concessions just to keep the peace. We exist outside your political structures, beyond your authority, above your laws."

His eyes had gone totally cold and dangerous.

"Feraxia wants to mobilize their Masters and their Archon? Let them. Mechanus wants to rattle their petty artifacts and demand statements? Let them. Your Queen wants to choose a side? She’s welcome to try."

"But here’s what will actually happen, boy. The Ossuary will maintain that perimeter. We will hold that breach. And if any fool tries to force their way past us, they will learn why Preceptor-rank Ossuarists don’t fight on battlefields."

He stopped directly in front of Cassius, and despite the young emissary’s own considerable presence, he looked like a child before the old man’s domineering presence.

"Because we don’t need battlefields. We are the battlefield."