The hall was gargantuan and undeniably Thilku. Clean air blew from its huge, open gate. Red tal covered the floor, walls, and tall ceiling, and its many black pillars had scarlet symbols shining on their surface, illuminating the area with their radiance.
Except for one spot, the hall had no furniture whatsoever. It was vast and empty as if nothing unworthy could taint that sacred place. Every surface also was unbelievably resilient, managing to cut off Khan's senses, and the reason probably sat at its bottom.
The hall's bottom featured a series of steps, creating a small stage. A scarlet, spartan tal throne stood at its center, and a sense of imnse intensity attacked Khan as soon as he tried to study the figure sitting on it.
That intensity was in good company. Three different but similarly strong auras encircled the throne, occupying various spots. One sat on the steps, another stood at the seat's right side, while the last was leaning on the wall at the stage's bottom.
The Lord Envoy retracted his hand and calmly walked toward the throne. He occasionally checked his palm, experiencing a mix of surprise and confusion. Khan noticed that reaction, but studying the stage took priority.
The Thilku sitting on the steps had long white hair growing from his nape, and a strip of cloth encircled his head, covering his eyes. A calm grin filled his face, and a big, red scabbard rested in his left palm. A sword with no guard was inside, and one of his thumbs pressed on its handle, seemingly ready to unsheathe it at any mont.
The Thilku at the throne's side looked unassuming and average, but his aura was oddly rigid. His existence felt unflexible, and even the air blowing from the open gate started to follow a precise rhythm when it entered its range. His red eyes were also strangely lifeless and cold as if they belonged to a machine rather than a living being.
The Thilku leaning on the wall was far more eye-catching. Those aliens didn't exactly co in different sizes, but that soldier broke the rules, towering at almost four ters of height. His muscular fra also put the Scalqa to sha, which was open for everyone to see due to the absence of the upper military uniform.
All those Thilku were evolved warriors, but the figure on the throne was grander than the sum of their auras. That Thilku sat perfectly still with his huge arms on the spacious armrests. A golden ring rested on his forehead, and his unblinking red eyes were fixed on Khan. His breathing was unnoticeable, almost making him look like a statue, but the power he exuded could only belong to a fearso monster.
Khan had seen his fair share of evolved warriors by now, and the current scene increased his collection. However, the crowned Thilku was a different specin. His aura easily covered the big hall, and its intensity threatened to suppress anything it didn't approve of. Khan could only describe him as imnse, instantly accepting he had never t anyone so strong.
The inspection only lasted a few silent seconds, which seed too much for the huge Thilku. The alien snorted, approaching the throne to rest an arm on its back while leaning in Khan's direction as if wanting to size him up from a better point of view.
Khan had seen his fair share of evolved warriors by now, and the current scene increased his collection. However, the crowned Thilku was a different specin. His aura easily covered the big hall, and its intensity threatened to suppress anything it didn't approve of. Khan could only describe him as imnse, instantly accepting he had never t anyone so strong.
The inspection only lasted a few silent seconds, which seed too much for the huge Thilku. The alien snorted, approaching the throne to rest an arm on its back while leaning in Khan's direction as if wanting to size him up from a better point of view.
"[Is that him]?" The huge Thilku asked, his voice loud and rude. "[He is smaller than I thought]."
"[Everyone is small compared to you]," The probably-blind Thilku comnted.
"[But he is truly tiny]," The huge Thilku insisted.
"[Your eyes are more useless than my empty sockets]," The definitely-blind Thilku scolded. "[He could give you a good fight]."
"[Him]?" The huge Thilku asked, placing a hand on his wrinkled forehead as if to improve his vision. "[Shall I test that out]?"
"[The Emperor invited the Blue Shaman]," The machine-like Thilku said in a fitting, emotionless voice. "[There will be no fighting unless the Emperor wishes otherwise]."
"[Old Envoy also tested him already]," The blind Thilku added. "[Isn't that right]?"
The huge Thilku looked at the Lord Envoy, who had almost reached the throne by then. The latter was still inspecting his hand, and his eyes remained on it while he addressed the question.
"[The mana consumption for the teleport confirms he is an evolved warrior]," The Lord Envoy announced.
"[What's an evolved warrior]?" The huge Thilku asked.
"[Soldiers like us]," The blind Thilku sighed. "[Didn't you reread the accepted power classification two days ago]?"
"[Ah]!" The huge Thilku cried. "[I would never do sothing as boring as reading]."
"[You are the dumbest Royal Guard in the Empire's history]," The blind Thilku helplessly said.
"[I'm also the strongest]," The huge Thilku grinned, showing his sharp canines.
"[Lord Blind Sword and Lord Idiot Muscles are equally matched]," The machine-like Thilku comnted.
"[Why do you never use my real title]?" The huge Thilku questioned.
"[Because your title is dumber than you]," The blind Thilku explained. "[Even Lord Enforcer refuses to use it]."
"[Only the mighty Lord Mighty could make Lord Enforcer break the rules]," The huge Thilku laughed proudly.
"[It's helplessness rather than might]," The blind Thilku exclaid.
"[What]?" The huge Thilku cried. "[Even the Emperor likes it]."
"[Don't speak for the Emperor]," The three Thilku said simultaneously.
"[Sorry, sorry]," The huge Thilku exclaid, knocking on his head a few tis to scold himself. "[But what's with this one? Wasn't he a fourth-level warrior]?"
"[So, you did read the accepted power classification]," The blind Thilku stated.
"[Shamans have always been known to wield mysterious abilities]," The machine-like Thilku explained. "[Lord Envoy and Lord Blind Sword's testimonies confirm the Blue Shaman's evolved status]."
"[Old Envoy is old]," The huge Thilku snorted, "[And Blind Sword is blind]."
"[Lord Enforcer]," The blind Thilku called. "[Who has the best perception among the Thilku]?"
"[The Emperor]," The machine-like Thilku imdiately responded, and the huge Thilku pointed a derisive grin at the blind Thilku.
"[Among the Royal Guards]?" The blind Thilku asked again, pretending his previous mistake didn't happen.
"[Lord Blind Sword has the best perception among the four Royal Guards]," The machine-like Thilku replied.
The interaction and various powerful auras had left Khan speechless, but the last comnt finally brought a change to his cold expression. His surprise was almost unnoticeable, but the blind Thilku "saw" right through him.
"[Yes, Blue Shaman]," The blind Thilku announced. "[You are currently standing before the entirety of the Royal Court]."
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