Chapter 72: High Council
I took a closer look at the archway, noticing a faint shimmer along the border. It wasn’t an actual open door to the vacuum of space, nor was it a simple telescope. It was a massive, god-tier spatial projection matrix. The Golden Ziggurat possessed the authority to monitor and observe any point on the entire planet in real time, right from this very room.
’Okay, that is ridiculously overpowered,’
I thought with a dry smirk, taking one last look at the glowing blue planet before hurrying after Alistair.
We reached the end of the long corridor.
Blocking our path was a pair of towering double gates made of polished silver and obsidian. Engraved across both doors in brilliant, glowing lapis lazuli was a breathtaking relief of a magnificent, sweeping azure dragon.
CHRRRRR...
The silver gates groaned and slid open smoothly, revealing a vast, open-air circular sanctuary that looked like it sat at the very pinnacle of the world.
My eyes instantly locked onto the center of the chamber.
Protruding from the floor was a massive stone pillar extending upward from a deep, bottomless pit that plunged into pitch-black darkness below. Resting atop that central pillar was a single, striking golden throne, simple in design, yet radiating an aura of unyielding majesty that made the entire room feel heavy.
Behind the golden throne stood a colossal statue of King Gilgamesh. The statue’s face was strangely blurred, obscured by shifting golden light, its massive stone back facing the earth while dozens of carved, shadowy entities surrounded its base, facing the King in eternal confrontation.
Circling the colossal statue and the golden throne were seven distinct, blinding ribbons of colored light, red, blue, green, violet, gold, silver, and a serene, pristine azure-flashing continuously in a silent, cosmic orbit.
Alistair stopped at the edge of the pit and turned to face me. A proud, warm, deeply solemn smile spread across his face as he gestured toward the golden throne and the orbiting ribbons of light.
"Welcome, Seth..." Alistair declared, his voice echoing with profound authority through the vast chamber. "...to the High Council of Seven Seats."
He locked eyes with me, his smile broadening.
"And I welcome you, my heir... as the Seat of Harmony."
I stared at Grandfather in complete silence.
I didn’t actually know what the "Seven Seats" meant in the broader scope of the supernatural world, but even a kid could guess that whatever this council was, it sat at the absolute apex of human power. And right now, my grandfather was claiming that he held one of those legendary positions, the Seat of Harmony, and that I was somehow expected to take his place.
"Wait, Grandfather, what do you mean-" I began, opening my mouth to demand a proper explanation.
Before I could finish my sentence, Alistair’s body suddenly dissolved into a swirling storm of glossy black ravens. The birds let out sharp, echoing cries as they swept upward toward the high stone walls of the sanctuary.
At the exact same time, the seven blinding ribbons of colored light that had been orbiting the colossal statue of Gilgamesh suddenly scattered outward like shooting stars. They slammed into seven arched alcoves built high along the perimeter walls, exploding into soft, ambient illumination that revealed seven balconies protruding into the vast chamber.
In each of those seven balconies sat a figure, cloaked in an aura of crushing presence that made the air in the vast sanctuary hum with weight.
Grandfather’s ravens converged on the balcony bathed in pristine azure light, reforming smoothly into Alistair as he took his seat at the center. I couldn’t recognize the other six figures sitting in their respective balconies, but even standing far below on the central platform, I could feel it, every single person sitting up there was a monster of power and influence.
Alistair looked down at me from his azure balcony, offering a calm, reassuring smile before turning his gaze toward the other six figures.
"I have brought my grandson, Seth, just as I promised," Alistair announced, his voice echoing with quiet authority through the vast sanctuary.
The moment his words fell, six pairs of intense, terrifying eyes locked onto me.
I could feel them examining me, scanning my soul, my spiritual structure, and the subtle reality manipulation field I kept passively resting around my skin.
It felt like being placed under a high-powered cosmic microscope, a deeply uncomfortable sensation that made my jaw clench slightly, though I kept my posture relaxed and composed, refusing to show any weakness.
[Oho?!] Paige’s voice chimed softly inside my mind, buzzing with intrigued energy. [Look at these legendary ancient heavyweights lining up to judge my Host! Should I flash a strobe light in their faces to disrupt their dramatic aura, Seth? How dare they aura farm while I’m here!]
’Stay quiet, Paige,’ I replied dryly in my mind. ’Let’s hear what they have to say first.’
Alistair turned his dark eyes back toward me, his expression softening into a fond, grandfatherly warmth. "Seth... I imagine you are exceptionally confused right now."
"That would be a massive understatement, Grandfather," I admitted, resting my hands in my pockets as I looked up at the balconies.
"Allow me to clarify," Alistair explained smoothly. "The High Council of Seven Seats is the highest governing authority of mankind. Established in the age of antiquity, this council works tirelessly for the survival, progression, and well-being of humanity. We are mankind’s ultimate representatives. Everything concerning the supernatural realm of Earth, from dimensional politics and military defense to magical research and territorial management, falls under the supreme jurisdiction of these Seven Seats."
Grandfather raised his hand, gesturing toward himself first.
"The First Seat... is the Seat of Harmony, which I currently hold," Alistair declared. "This seat oversees all diplomatic relations between humanity and external supernatural powers. We handle treaties, alliances, and delicate negotiations with foreign gods, pantheons, demon lords, and ancient races. In short, it is my duty to ensure the mortal world does not descend into apocalyptic chaos through external interference."
That was cool, but also seemed tiring. It was very important, that I could see.