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"That carpet was their protection."
"You got me good back there, Ayla."
The voice from earlier echoed into the hall as Errai made his way in.
"Why did Fang call him Cepheus when his name is Errai?"
I just learned about all these things so anything off demands an answer.
"If a Constell Overlord is of high status and power in their Domain, they often use their Constellation name instead of their real name."
He answered, his white attire visible from here.
Eventually, he arrived at the centre. He looked just like an Angel, with white hair, a white dress and all.
His eyes were crimson and personally, I don't think that's a fit colour for an Angel. He gives off the impression of a child, a playfully yet lazy child.
"Lady Elara."
He bowed.
"Errai of Cepheus Constellation. As stated earlier, he's ranked first in the Superworld for generations."
"Generations, Class?"
"Yes. This kid is old, he's hailing from the Age of Gods."
"A..A Class?"
It's surprising but now it makes sense how he takes the lead without even trying.
"He's one of the oldest and first-generation Supergods. He's ranked first in Elyvra and he's also ranked first in the Pond."
"The Apex of Supergods. Errai, there must be something about you that makes you ahead of others. You said it's not strength, speed, IQ, transcendence and certainly not Class. What is it?"
He chuckles.
"Not everyone dares to question me like that, you know."
His smile grew broad.
"It's obviously my Class. Stars from older Classes will always be at the top no matter how strong the current Class is or how the future Class gets. That's just the trend."
"Come on, we all know you're hiding something. It can't be 'just you'."
"It's obviously 'just me'. No tricks, no games."
"Ok, how about this. Give me details on your 100%. You know, the transcendence, dimensionality and all."
"Lady Elara, where did you find this cute one? I'm starting to like him."
"Answer his question first."
"Alright."
He raised both hands in resignation.
"I can tweak and remove the Laws and some of my words need not Structural Concepts."
"Y.. you ' re tampering with Structural Concepts, is that even possible?"
"It is and the worlds aren't 'tempering' with them, they're surpassing them. Meaning they can function without them. That's transcendence."
"Hmm, yeah that's weird."
"Keep this a secret between us. I can also interact with the Major Concepts."
He whispered. But if I can hear him, then so can Ayla and Ela.
"O..ok..What's Major Concepts though?"
He flinched at my question.
"No way?"
He asked, his eyes catching Ela's.
"OK.. I'll keep it short. Unlike Minor Concepts which are limited to one reality alone, Major Concept encompasses all realities within their space. There you have the briefest and basic difference between the two."
"Hmm... I see. What about the Laws you talked about?"
They had another eye-to-eye conversation.
"Laws are the fundamental script behind their existence. They are the rules that define what exists and shouldn't in their limited space. Major and Minor Concepts are part of the script."
He snapped his fingers, pointing at me.
"Forms. That's also part of the Major Concept so... that's it I guess. A 'brief' explanation."
He shrugged.
"Forms?"
"Yeah. This is a circle."
He drew a perfect circle right next to him..
"This is what we see in the Physical Plane but that's not its absolute and pure form. They are pure, perfect and superior to all that exists because all that exists is merely an imperfect form of what they really are. A tree for example."
With a 'poof' sound, a tree appeared at the centre of the hall right next to him.
"This is its physical form, its real and pure form is abstract and conceptual. Given the fact that Conceptual Planes are the blueprint for Physical and Spiritual Planes to manifest!"
Ok, he's acting weird now that he's talking fast.
"Every time, every space, even planet, every flower, every shape, every world in all worlds is ultimately an imperfect shadow of the Major Concept of time, space, planet, worlds...!"
Each time he gave an example, the concrete version of that thing appeared in the hall.
"Silence."
With one word, he became mute.
"There're more to Major Concepts. You've taken in a lot already."
"I'm fine, I understand. So each Nest has a Major Concept, the force holding all realities. Each Superworld in the Nest has its unique Minor Concepts. These Major Concepts also include perfect forms of all Major and Minor Concepts in whole right?"
She paused, perhaps not expecting me to understand them this quickly.
"I see. You're right. Other species call these perfect forms, Platonic Forms, Ideas, Ideals, Universals. Here, we call them Archetypes. Feel free to use anyone because they all mean the same thing."
"Ok."
I nodded. After Errai calmed down, she released him.
"Those are traits of a Hypergod and he's strong enough to possess them. However, he's a wasted potential. He could've been Elyvra's first Hypergod but he's too lazy to work it out. That's the Sloth King Cepheus for you."
He bowed and spread his arms wide.
"That's me, My Lady."
"Enough about me, now..."
He disappeared, appearing behind my throne.
"What can you tell me about yourself?"
"You insolent Supergod."
Ayla conjured a golden chain, ready to strike, but Ela gave a faint shake of her head. Instantly, Ayla relented, the chain fading from her hand as if it had never been.
"I'm just a 70-year-old Dwarf, nothing is interesting about me."
I replied without turning to look at him. I didn't need to. I have to keep my composure as a King.
"That in itself is something interesting. A White Dwarf ought to bow and lick the floor before a Star like me. You're too abnormal and calm for a Dwarf."
"Heh, that's who I am. I don't care about your status because it is possible for something you ought to lick my feet for."
"Oh, interesting. And what's that?"
"I'm a King."
"I'm the Slothful King."
"I'm the Last King..."
"I'm the First King..."
"Of Scorpios."
I cut off his words.
"Oh..."
He backed off.
"So you're a descendant of those Stars. That explains your self-willed nature. I wonder what is going to happen, an old Constellation appearing in such a weak Class. I can't wait to see what's going to happen."
He teleported back to his previous position.
"He's still young, I would like to volunteer to be his tutor, My Lady."
He requested.
"No way in heaven will I let you corrupt Anta chan. I have someone whom I can count on."
"Zhou of Seperns?"
She nodded.
"How about this? I'll challenge him one-on-one. The winner gets to be Anta's tutor?"
"Hmm, the logic 'Stars from older Class will always be at the top no matter how strong the current Class is nor how the future Class gets' doesn't work with Ton."
"I know he's close to something unattainable but, I'd win."
"I'm not having this conversation. Even if you win, which will never be the case, I've already chosen him."
"Ok. I respect your decision but I'll try."
"Hmm, stubborn brat. Go get yourself killed."
"Cepheus, I'm Antares."
Out of the blue, I introduced myself.
"Are you serious, Anta chan? You're choosing Cepheus as your friend?"
"Yes. We're both King's so there is a connection."
I replied with a smile.
"Call me by my real name, Errai."
He replied.
"It'll be a while before I can come up here again. I need good news before then."
"Don't worry. If Ela permits..."
"Nope. I won't."
She finalised.
"Ok. One day I'll escape and come visit you."
I whispered and he nodded.
"I know you can. So good luck. I'll be waiting for you."
He whispered back. Just like kids.
"Errai of Cepheus Constellation..."
Ayla interpreted, now holding a hammer twice her size.
"Your presence is no longer needed in this hall!"
She caught him off guard, the hammer slamming into Errai's small frame.
The strike redirected him clean across the hall, mid-flight, he let out a loud, exaggerated wail, the kind of drawn-out cry a child makes when scolded. His body sailed across the hall, right toward the translucent gates.
As if in on the joke, they opened just in time to let him through, then slammed shut the moment he was ejected.
"He's funny. I like him."
"It's weird for a Star to possess feelings especially towards another Star."
"I don't mean a romantic relationship."
I waved dismissively.
"I know. Lucky for you, you're raised in Elyvra and I'm the person I'm the one spoiling you. It won't be a problem for now."
(Yeah, it's not impossible for Stars in Elyvra to develop emotions.)
"..."
"You did good back there. I thought you'd stay put and let me do the talking but I was wrong."
"I'm understanding it better than ever. And luckily, they are no headaches."
(Better than ever...)
It was a joke so we laughed at it.
"Since there are no Hypergods, they are no Hyperworlds right?"
"Yes. Most Nests are just floating around. However, I created a few Hyperworlds and Cepheus ended up claiming them all."
"He's strong and funny. A strange combo."
"A strange combo indeed."
"There's more to his strength, the Laws and Major Concepts altering right?"
"Is that your intuition?"
"Yes."
"Hmm. Let's head back. We'll talk on our way back."
"Ok."
I jumped off my throne, holding her hands.
"...one day I'll be able to learn all about Existence, right?"
"No, one day you may be the reason behind Existence."
(Pin.)
"Heh?"
"Sorry. I was just thinking about something else. Go get some rest. Tomorrow you can meet Aya on your own."
"Why?"
"It's the first step of growth. Getting to know about the Palace. You can roam around all you want."
"Ok. It's just a meeting so why do I feel so fatigued?"
I stretched my arms.
"It's been 27 years since we left."
"Heh?! That's absurd."
"It's not. Normally, this part of the Palace is free from Order and Laws. I had to adjust some elements so you can live here. The same applies to the hall, time was fractured there."
Her body glowed and a new set of clothes replaced the old ones.
"Are you going somewhere?"
"Yes, to Solaria. If you want you can go meet Aya for the time being. I'll be back in no time."
"Ok. I'll be waiting."
"You don't have to. Take your time and explore the Palace. Don't think that because you're three years short you can learn something. You have to wait for that hundred. Who knows if it'll tick before I come back."
"Ok. I'm eager to learn but I'll wait for your permission."
"Good Star."
She vanished leaving me alone.
To be continued...