Chapter 244: The All-Father’s Verdict

Jorus stood from his seat as he prepared to answer Adam’s question.

“I called this council meeting to discuss a certain concern,” he said.

Adam’s golden eyes narrowed slightly. “You’re not answering the question. I asked why there is a meeting starting without my prior knowledge.”

Jorus subtly clenched his fists from being spoken to in a tone he found disrespectful, however he inclined his head in deference.

“Forgive me, Father. I felt this was a matter of such seriousness that everyone should be made aware immediately.”

In truth, he had not brought the request to the All Father earlier, knowing Adam would dismiss it as he had so many previous times to convene a council.

Adam stared at him for a moment before letting out a sigh and leaning back in his seat.

“Go on,” he said.

Jorus adjusted his posture, then began. “The dragons are killing gods, and two gods are already dead because of them.”

Adam’s expression didn’t change, though internally he noted the claim. He knew that Vethis and Solren were dead. But he also knew they had not been killed by dragons.

Still, he said nothing, allowing Jorus to continue.

“A high goddess has fallen,” Jorus continued. “Lucina is dead.”

At that, Thera let out a scoff that bordered on laughter.

Jorus’s head turned toward her, with a furious glare. “Something amusing to you, Thera?”

Thera raised one hand in mock apology, though the smirk on her face had exactly fade.

She turned toward Adam instead.

“Forgive me, Father,” she said, inclining her head respectfully. “I mean no discourtesy. But let’s be honest, the only reason Jorus is so eager to champion this meeting is because his favorite mistress is the one in question.”

Vyntis let out a long sigh from across the table, shaking his head as if he’d seen this coming.

A few of the other gods shifted in their seats, some exchanging knowing glances, others looking uncomfortable.

It was common knowledge among the pantheon how promiscuous Jorus was. He never tended to the goddess he was married to, preferring instead the company of his many mistresses.

And Lucina, had been his favorite.

Adam said nothing to this revelation, his eyes simply remained on Jorus without judgment or comment.

Myria, the God of Duality, spoke up then. “Regardless of Jorus’s… choice of living,” she said delicately, “a god is still dead at the hands of a dragon. That much cannot be ignored.”

Jorus seized on her words immediately. “Perhaps it’s because I spoke of Lucina first, but she is not the only one. Herxes, the Messenger, is dead as well.”

That declaration landed differently.

Some of the gods reacted visibly this time, with their eyes widening slightly and a few murmurs following through.

It made sense now. For some time, many of them had called out to Herxes for various duties, messages to be delivered, communications to be relayed, and none of those calls had been answered.

They had assumed he was simply occupied elsewhere. But now…

“How have you come to know all of this?” Adam asked. “And do you know what they may have done to provoke a dragon into killing them?”

Jorus quickly replied. “Mocles came to me with the news of their passing. And when I looked further into it, I discovered it was the new vessel of the Black Dragon who killed them.”

There was this ripple of tension thaf moved through the room at the calling of the black dragon.

Although the situations were different, but this wasn’t the first time a god had died, due to actions of the Black Dragon.

Mocles on the other handc was the High God of Records. A figure well-known throughout Eden despite not being an Archon himself. Much like Herxes, his role made him indispensable and widely recognized.

Mocles kept records of everything. His temple was practically a library, filled with vast tomes documenting events, lineages, histories… and life and death records of gods themselves.

For a millennia, he hadn’t needed to open the particular book of life and death. But recently, he had.

Adam’s expression remained impassive, though inwardly he recalled Mocles visiting him not long ago with troubling news; that his Vassals, Vethis and Solren, had also died.

The All-Father however already knew of that, and also made sure with Mocles that information regarding their deaths was not to be made publicly known.

“Again, I ask, what did they both do to the Dragon that got them killed?” Adam repeated.

Jorus shifted slightly. “I am unsure of the specifics, Father,” he admitted. “But these two gods haven’t been the only ones affected by the vessel of the dragon.”

He paused, gathering his words. “I also came to find out that the Black Dragon went into Yul’thera and forcefully took with him a woman betrothed to Va, which led to a battle between them.”

Celion leaned forward, with an irritated expression on her face. “This council meeting is a waste of time,” she said bluntly. She turned toward Jorus. “What exactly do you expect of us? This is a dragon we’re talking about here. Vessel or not, they are beings who predate even us and are considerably more powerful.”

Jorus replied immediately. “Well, not this one. Not right now, at least.”

He turned toward Adam. “Father, my point is simple. This vessel is immature and still underdeveloped as a dragon, yet look at what he has already done. What’s to say that when he reaches his full power, as the Black Dragon who carries the combined strength of some others, he won’t grow conceited enough to enter Eden and do with us as he sees fit?”

He paused for a moment. “And need I remind you all that it was also a vessel of the Black Dragon from the past who gave a High God a Boon, one that nearly put all of Eden in jeopardy?”

Then there was another pause before he added, “Father, should that ever happen… even you alone would not be able to stop him.”

Adam’s golden eyes narrowed dangerously as he glared at Jorus for a moment.

Thera broke the silence then. “What are you suggesting we do, Jorus? Because as Celion said, that is a dragon. And even if he is still growing into the full thing, he was still strong enough to kill a high god, which puts him either at our level as Archons or close enough.”

Jorus seized on her words. “Exactly why we must act now,” he said firmly. “We summon this vessel here and explain to him that there is an order to how things work.”

Thera raised an eyebrow. “And if all of that falls on deaf ears? What is to say he would even honor the summons?”

Jorus’s gaze shifted toward Myria across the table. “Good thing we have Myria here,” he said. “No one can hide their true nature from her. With her ability, we’ll know what sort of Black Dragon he wants to be.”

He paused deliberately before adding: “If it’s only going to remain to our detriment… then we must all come to the conclusion that someone like that must be eliminated.”

Thera let out a sharp laugh, shaking her head in disbelief.

Celion’s voice cut through sharply: “Have you gone mad, Jorus?”

“On the contrary, no,” Jorus replied. “But we have the power to do such a thing right now. And I would rather take that chance and do it now than have him reach levels where we can do almost nothing about it.”

Thera’s expression hardened as she leaned back in her seat. “Oh, you really have gone crazy, Jorus. We all know dragons never truly die. So what? We’re risking maybe a few hundred years, a thousand at best, until Thyrak reincarnates and comes for us all? That’s not even accounting for whether his siblings decide to do it first.”

Jorus doubled down on his argument. “Then it’s a good thing Father possesses the Grail. With that, we might just be able to fight right back.”

“Enough, both of you.” Adam’s voice rang out with such authority that both gods fell silent immediately.

Jorus bowed his head quickly. “Father.”

Adam gestured toward Jorus’s seat with one hand. “You may sit now, Jorus.”

Jorus obeyed without hesitation.

Adam let out a sigh before speaking again. “Thera is right,” he said plainly. “It is incredibly shortsighted for you to even suggest trying to kill the dragon.”

His golden eyes swept across the table as he added firmly: “Such an option will never be taken in this place.”

He paused before continuing: “But I do agree, however, that the dragon vessel may be too inexperienced and has been acting on that inexperience alone.”

He inclined his head slightly toward Jorus in acknowledgment. “And so I do agree to him being summoned.”

“This summoning must be a polite invitation, and he is to be our guest here but nothing more. If the dragon vessel doesn’t agree to come… then so be it.”

“The gods will only have to take precautions to avoid any sort of conflict with the Black Dragon.”

Then he turned directly toward Jorus again: “And if your fears prove true, that one day the Black Dragon becomes conceited enough to come challenge Eden, then and only then will the use of the Grail be resorted to.”

At that point, Adam rose from his seat.

“Jorus, see to this invitation yourself.”

He turned toward Umgadi next: “I leave whatever communication is required with the dragon to you and Thera.”

Then Adam’s gaze returned once more to Jorus. “But I must warn you, Jorus, this will be the last time you shall dictate to me or this council how the Grail ever be used.”

He paused deliberately before asking: “Have I made myself clear?”

Jorus bowed deeply without hesitation: “Yes, Father.”

Adam nodded once before declaring: “This council meeting is over.”

With that, Adam turned and strode toward the door. Gaia stood immediately and followed right behind him without a word.

————

In a quiet corridor just between them, Gaia finally spoke up:

“I didn’t think you’d let Jorus goad you enough to actually invite the dragon here,” she said carefully.

“Dragons have never bothered Eden, they don’t even care enough—and it won’t start all of a sudden just because Jorus suggests so.”

“He’s only trying somehow to get back at the vessel for killing his mistress.”

Adam let out a faint scoff and said, “Of course, I know Jorus’s words are mostly those of a rambling fool.”

He paused briefly before adding: “Sometimes I question how he’s even on that council.”

“But however… I see all of this as a necessary distraction.”

Gaia tilted her head slightly in curiosity but said nothing yet.

“Let the council be distracted with this whole dragon vessel thing,” Adam said.

“until I find Lilith, wherever that woman is hiding.”

Gaia frowned slightly before responding: “There’s also one person we haven’t accounted for yet.”

Adam glanced at her briefly, “Who?”

Gaia’s voice lowered, “The one who shall not be named.”

Adam’s jaw tightened visibly at those words, “He is precisely why we have to get to his mother first.”​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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