Chapter 75: Successor Of Seat Of Harmony
I bit my lower lip, burying my face in my hand to keep from bursting into a loud, hysterical laugh right there in the middle of the sacred sanctuary. ’Oh my god... Grandfather actually thought ’man of bats’ was some obscure ancient mystery...’
[PFTTTTHAHAHAHA!] Paige erupted inside my head, rolling around in virtual hysterics. [HOST! YOUR GRANDFATHER GOT ABSOLUTELY DUMPSTERED ON DC COMICS LORE BY CYRUS THE GREAT! I CANNOT BREATHE!]
’You don’t breathe... you’re a fucking system.’
[Small details.]
Before the argument between the two ancient leaders could escalate into an actual spat over superhero trivia, a cold, commanding voice suddenly echoed through the vast sanctuary like a falling blade.
"Are you two going to continue this childish, embarrassing argument forever?"
Empress Wu Zetian hadn’t even shifted her posture on the golden throne, but her sharp, icy words instantly cut through the air, freezing both Alistair and Cyrus in their tracks.
Cyrus immediately threw both hands up in mock surrender, offering a theatrical, subservient bow from his silver balcony. "My apologies, Your Majesty! I shall remain completely silent now that the Empress herself has issued her decree."
Alistair let out a tight cough, clearing his throat to regain his dignified composure as he adjusted his suit jacket. He turned his dark eyes back toward me, leaving the Batman debacle behind.
"Moving past such trivialities..." Alistair spoke smoothly, his voice returning to its usual commanding, grandfatherly tone. "Seth... introducing you to the Seven Seats was merely a secondary objective."
He rested both hands on the silver head of his cane, his eyes locking onto mine with profound seriousness.
"There are two primary reasons why I brought you to the Royal Citadel today."
Standing before the elevated balconies of the High Council, I held my ground beneath the weight of seven immortal presences. While I was interested in hearing why my grandfather had brought me to Uruk, I wasn’t about to be dragged blindly into politics.
Alistair rested both hands on the head of his cane, his dark eyes looking down at me from the azure balcony. "The first reason I brought you here today, Seth, concerns the Seat of Harmony."
He paused, letting his voice echo through the vast sanctuary. "I have formally chosen you as my successor to inherit this seat."
A quiet hum rippled through the hall.
"Your Astral Soul possesses the ultimate authority of Reality Manipulation," Alistair explained smoothly, his tone rich with pride. "It is a conceptual power uniquely suited for maintaining the delicate balance of existence. Furthermore, your grounded temperament, emotional intelligence, and reluctance to abuse absolute power make you the ideal candidate. You have the potential to reinforce the stability of the world beyond breaking point."
I stood on the central stone platform, processing his words. Then I let out a slow, quiet breath, rubbing the back of my neck with a sheepish grin.
"I’m honored, Grandfather... really," I said, shaking my head casually. "But I don’t want the seat."
Silence fell over the sanctuary.
It was so sudden and absolute that even Empress Wu Zetian’s unblinking, imperial eyes widened slightly in genuine surprise. The other council members shifted on their thrones, staring down at me as if I had just spoken an alien language. Nobody, not in the long, uncounted history of Uruk, had ever casually tossed aside a seat on the High Council.
Cyrus leaned over his silver balcony, his jaw practically unhinged as he stared at me. "Wait... hold on a second, Seth! Did you just reject a High Council Seat?! Do you have any idea what people do for this position? People waged war just to sit in these balconies, and you’re turning it down like a bad cup of coffee?"
I gave a casual shrug, keeping my hands in my pockets.
"It sounds like way too much work and responsibility," I answered honestly. "Look, my dream in life isn’t to govern humanity or manage cosmic politics. I just want to relax, enjoy my life, and spend time with the people I care about in peace. If you put me in charge of global harmony, I’m doomed, humanity is doomed, and everyone’s going to have a bad time. I’m definitely not the right guy for the job."
Across the sanctuary, King Hammurabi let out a deep, resonant chuckle from the bronze balcony. He turned his calm, dignified gaze toward Alistair, nodding in approval.
"Now I see why you selected him, Alistair," Hammurabi said, his voice carrying the heavy weight of ancient law. "A man who does not crave authority is often the only one worthy of wielding it."
Alistair offered a fond, knowing smile, completely unbothered by my refusal. "You do not need to make a final decision today, Seth. I intend to remain in the Seat of Harmony for many decades to come. You have all the time in the world to enjoy your life, grow stronger, and experience the world at your own pace. However, as the sole possessor of that Astral Soul, you must still be prepared for what the future holds."
I thought about it for a moment, giving another simple shrug. "Fair enough. Who knows what’s going to happen in a few decades? If my future self changes his mind down the road, cool. But for now, I’m staying off-duty."
Deep down, I knew throwing the decision onto my future self was a classic move, but it was the truth. Decades of living in a world of magic, family, and relationships would change a person anyway. Why stress over it today when I had a concert to enjoy tomorrow?
Alistair nodded in satisfaction. "That is precisely why I brought you here today, so the High Council could witness the future, and so you would know the path that awaits you."
I took a slow step forward, looking up at the azure balcony. "So... what’s the second reason you brought me here, Grandfather?"
Alistair’s expression turned sharp and serious. "The second reason is of immediate importance to your life in the supernatural realm."
I straightened up hearing that. My life was very important to me and anything affecting it was equally important.