"You're serious?" His voice cracked with disbelief. "Are you saying... I can be an Elda Knight?"
Sephiss' expression was unreadable, calm yet razor sharp.
"Yes," he said smoothly. "At this moment, we only have two Elda Knights. The war against the Els escalates by the day, and we cannot afford weakness. We need another knight—someone to protect the royal family, and to shield the citizens of the kingdom. Treasonous whispers grow louder in the streets. We must ensure loyalty, structure, and obedience... or all will collapse."
Venku's chest swelled, his fist tightening around his badge.
"My lord Cephiss... I would be honored. It has always been my dream to serve beside the King and the Royal Branch."
Sephiss smirked faintly, then gestured toward a woman at the booth.
"See to it that our young Master is prepped immediately. He is to be entered into the database, given clearance to every military floor, and eventually... to classified documents. His future is bright."
The woman bowed deeply. "Yes, my Lord." She hurried off, heels echoing against the polished floor.
Sephiss turned back, his gaze falling heavy on Venku.
"Follow me, son."
They walked together through a long white corridor, walls seamless and sterile. Venku's heart hammered in his chest. Me? A Gamma Knight? Since I was a child, I dreamed of this... Even the silence of the hallway felt sacred to him.
Without warning, Sephis pressed his palm against the wall. A glowing door shimmered into existence. But before Venku could step through, Sephis stopped him with a raised hand.
"Venku," he said. His voice carried the weight of judgment.
"From this point forward, your will belongs to the King. Every command you receive is to be obeyed without hesitation. Do you understand?"
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"Yes, sir," Venku answered instantly. "I understand."
Sephiss' gaze sharpened.
"Loyalty is what holds this island aloft. Do you know why other floating kingdoms have fallen? Because their people lost faith in hierarchy. When structure fails, civilization fails."
Venku swallowed, nodding silently.
"There are enemies who seek to erode that structure," Sephiss continued. "The first are the Els. Everything they touch becomes corrupted. They already hold too much land, and if they are not destroyed, they will consume Deer Point entirely."
Venku clenched his jaw, registering every word.
"The next threat is the animals. Lesser than the Els, but still dangerous. Their lands are rich with crops and authentic food, unlike the processed filth of the royal and zoner districts. It is a wonder the Els have not seized their land already. That alone tells me, our enemies are patient. Waiting."
Venku nodded again, his pulse quickening.
"But the greatest threat..." Sephiss' voice darkened, "...are the Artists."
Venku's head snapped up. "Artists?"
"They possess a gift not from God, but from sin. A virus that infects everything it touches. They are destroyers of order, dismantlers of foundations. If you are to be an Elder Knight, you must be prepared to kill them at all costs. Even if..." Sephiss' eyes narrowed, "...it were your own girlfriend."
Venku froze, his breath caught. He said to himself "I have never seen artists in person, are they really that pwoerful."
Sephiss words cut through his inner thoughts "Fail to uphold this duty, and you will share their fate. As Elder of the Gamma Branch, I oversee all punishments personally. And I assure you, failure is a punishment you will not survive."
Venku's throat was dry, but he forced his words out.
"I... I will do anything to protect this kingdom. It has always been my dream to stand beside the King. You can count on me, Lord Sephiss."
At last, Sephiss smiled. "Good." He pressed his palm again, and the door opened.
The room beyond blazed with light. Venku gasped.
For the first time in his life, he saw the legendary Mech Fighters of the Gamma Branch—the titans piloted by France and Dakota themselves. Their metallic forms towered over him, divine in scale, impossible to comprehend.
"These," Sephiss said reverently, "are the gods of this world."
Venku's heart pounded so hard it hurt.
Sephiss placed a hand on his shoulder and guided him forward.
"And now... I will show you your god."
Before them stood a giant shape cloaked in heavy cloth. With a wave of Sephiss' hand, the covering fell away.
The floor shook as the reveal came into view.
A monstrous Mech, towering over all others, its form jagged and brutal, radiating menace as though alive.
Sephiss' voice echoed through the chamber.
"Say hello to your new god... Frodeon the Tormentor."