Chapter 106: The Pillar’s conversation.

The Naming of the City.

It was late in the afternoon when Kai summoned all the Pillars to the Council Room on the First Floor.

The room itself was one of Lyra’s prouder creations, a wide, circular chamber with a polished obsidian table at the center and tall-backed chairs arranged around it.

Blue torchlight danced along the walls, casting long shadows that made the room feel both grand and intimate at the same time.

Kai sat at the head of the table, one leg crossed over the other, his chin resting on his fist in his usual pose.

To his immediate left was Lyra, seated with her back perfectly straight and her hands folded neatly on the table.

To his right was Carlotta, who had been humming a quiet tune since she sat down, clearly in a good mood after her successful trip to the capital.

Sanovere stood at the far end of the room rather than sitting, his arms crossed behind his back like a butler waiting to serve.

Fhera was slouched in her chair with both feet kicked up on the table, her tail swaying lazily behind her. Fanny sat quietly beside Lyra, hugging her purple teddy bear to her chest, her blue eyes blinking slowly as she took in the room.

Azeal was present as well, standing near the wall with his arms folded, his demonic features partially hidden beneath the fine robes Kai had given him. Lucifer stood near the entrance like a sentinel, her dark wings folded neatly against her back, observing everything in silence.

Even Teriam and Hamr had been called. The two Skeleton Generals stood side by side near the far wall, their armored frames towering over most of the room’s occupants.

It was, for all intents and purposes, a full assembly.

Kai let the silence sit for a moment before he spoke.

“I have called you all here for one reason. The city we are building outside this dungeon has no name.”

The statement landed simply, but it carried weight. Every pair of eyes in the room shifted to him.

“A city without a name is nothing more than a pile of stone and dirt. If we intend to be recognized as a sovereign nation, then our capital must carry a name that the world will remember.”

’Honestly, I have been putting this off for way too long. Every time someone refers to it, they just call it the city or the settlement. Even the King of Traona probably calls it that monster camp near the Jaun Land. That is embarrassing beyond belief.’

He looked across the table.

“I want to hear your suggestions.”

The room immediately erupted into murmurs.

Sanovere was the first to step forward, a calm and refined smile on his face as he placed one hand over his chest.

“If I may, my Lord.”

Kai gestured for him to continue.

“I have given this matter considerable thought during my patrols. A name should reflect the nature of the being who rules it, while also carrying the gravitas befitting a nation that will one day stand above all others.”

He paused, letting the anticipation build, because of course he did.

“I propose the name Noctherion Vasara, which in the ancient tongue of the Vampire Lords translates to The Eternal Throne of Shadows That Devours the Light of All Who Oppose It.”

The room went silent.

Fhera’s mouth hung open.

Carlotta blinked three times in a row.

Even Lyra, who was normally composed in all matters, tilted her head slightly as though trying to process the sheer length of the title.

Kai stared at him.

’That is not a full on paragraph. Am I supposed to write that on a flag? We would need a flag the size of a football field.’

“Sanovere.”

“Yes, my Lord?”

“That is far too long.”

“But my Lord, it captures the essence of your eternal dominion over–”

“It is too long.”

Sanovere closed his mouth, and after a brief pause, he bowed his head with a smile that somehow still looked dignified despite the rejection.

“I understand. Forgive my enthusiasm.”

Before Kai could call on anyone else, Fhera’s hand shot into the air like she was answering a question in class.

“Ooh, ooh! Me next, Boss!”

Kai sighed internally but nodded.

Fhera slammed both palms on the table and stood up, her tail wagging behind her with so much energy it nearly knocked over Azeal’s drink.

“I think we should call it Boss City!”

Dead silence.

“Think about it! You are the Boss. It is your city. So, Boss City! Simple, clean, and everyone will know exactly who runs the place.”

Carlotta covered her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. Lyra pinched the bridge of her nose.

Kai’s expression did not change, but behind his eyes, his soul was doing cartwheels.

’Boss City. She actually said Boss City with a straight face. This girl would name a dragon Fluffy and not see anything wrong with it.’

“I appreciate the directness, Fhera. However, I believe we can aim a little higher.”

“Aww.” Fhera slumped back into her chair, pouting. “I thought it was pretty cool.”

Carlotta, who had been waiting for her turn with barely contained excitement, raised her hand next.

“My Lord, if I may?”

“Go ahead.”

She stood up gracefully, placing a hand on her chest and closing her eyes as though she were about to recite a poem.

“I believe the city should be called Kai’s Paradise.”

The silence that followed was different from the others. This one had a distinct flavor of secondhand embarrassment.

“Think about it, my Lord. You are the center of everything. Without you, there would be no city, no nation, no us. So it only makes sense that the city bears your name. Kai’s Paradise. A place where your glory shines brightest.”

She opened her eyes, a dreamy smile on her face.

Lyra turned her head slowly to look at Carlotta, her expression flat.

“You cannot be serious.”

“I am too serious, tsk, you dont know anything.”

“That sounds like the name of a resort, not a nation.”

“And what is wrong with that? My Lord deserves a paradise!”

Kai watched the two of them go back and forth with a blank stare.

’If we go with that name, every foreign diplomat who hears it will think I am a narcissist. Actually, that might not even be the worst part. The worst part is that Carlotta would probably commission a statue of me at the front gate holding a welcome sign.’

“I will take it into consideration,” Kai said, which was his diplomatic way of saying absolutely not.

Carlotta sat back down, beaming as though she had already won. Lyra’s eye twitched.

Fanny raised her hand next, timidly.

“Master, may I suggest something?”

Kai looked at her and nodded gently. “Of course.”

Fanny squeezed her teddy bear a little tighter.

“What about… Cozyhaven?”

Another silence, though this one was significantly warmer.

Even Lyra could not bring herself to criticize the suggestion. It was adorable. Completely unusable for a monster nation that had slaughtered a Duke’s army, but adorable.

Kai felt something in his chest that was dangerously close to paternal warmth.

’She wants to name the monster capital of the world Cozyhaven. Protect this child at all costs.’

“That is a very sweet name, Fanny. I will remember it.”

Fanny smiled softly and hugged her teddy bear even tighter.

Azeal, who had been silent until now, uncrossed his arms.

“My Lord, if I may offer a more practical suggestion.”

“Speak.”

“In the ancient demon tongue, the word Mal’theris means First of Many. It is short, carries weight, and implies that this is merely the beginning of your conquest.”

Kai actually paused at that one.

’That is not bad. A bit on the nose for a demon word, but it has the right tone. Still, something about it does not sit right. It feels too… borrowed.’

“A worthy suggestion, Azeal. I will consider it.”

Lyra cleared her throat, straightening even further in her seat if that were possible.

“My Lord, I have given this extensive thought as well. A name should not merely describe what the city is. It should declare what it will become.”

She folded her hands on the table.

“I propose we name it after you, but not in the way Carlotta suggested.”

Carlotta’s smile vanished instantly.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Lyra ignored her and continued.

“The city should carry a name that echoes your title. Something that the humans, the empire, and every creature on this continent will hear and know exactly who stands behind it. I suggest Abyssal Throne.”

Kai considered it.

’Abyssal Throne. It carries the right weight, but it is a title, not a name. A city named after a title feels like it is trying too hard. Like naming your child Destroyer and then wondering why the other kids are scared of him.’

He remained quiet for a moment, his golden eyes scanning across the room as his Pillars waited.

Teriam, who had not spoken a single word the entire time, suddenly stepped forward.

“Forgive me, my Lord. I am no poet. But may I suggest something simple?”

“Go on.”

“Our city was built from nothing. Every monster here gave their strength, their time, and their loyalty to raise it from the dust. We come from different dungeons, different races, different floors. Yet we serve under one Lord.”

He paused.

“A forge does not name itself after the smith. It names itself after the blade it creates. Perhaps the name should reflect not just you, my Lord, but what you are building.”

The room fell into a contemplative silence.

Kai stared at Teriam for a long moment.

’The skeleton who barely talks just delivered a better speech than all of them combined. I am genuinely impressed.’

He closed his eyes, leaning back in his chair.

The room waited. No one spoke. Even Fhera, who could barely sit still on a good day, had gone completely quiet.

After what felt like an eternity, Kai opened his eyes.

“Valdris.”

…

[A/N]

Start to a new volume.

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