Brandon sat in the dimly lit chamber with his hands resting on his knees.
Before him, a massive holographic screen flickered to life as its edges pulsed with an eerie blue glow.
Looking at the holographic screen, his gaze squinted as there were no faces.
There were only names floating in the air, illuminated with the symbols of their respective factions.
On the opposite side sat representatives from the other major factions... the Lionhearts, the Asphodel Order, the Crimson Aegis, and the Whispering Veil.
Each of them bore a vested interest in the outcome of this discussion.
A sharp, mechanical chime echoed through the room, signaling the beginning of the hearing.
"State your name."
The voice was deep, authoritative, and cold.
Brandon let out a soft sigh, keeping his expression neutral. "Brandon."
"Your full name."
"Brandon Kael."
At this time, he heard another woman's voice, which seemed like an old woman's voice "Let us begin. We are gathered here today to address the anomaly that is Brandon Kael."
"His ability, if the reports are true, is unlike any we have encountered before. A man who can use ether and not only that... with a power that allows him to absorb ether signatures through physical contact is a matter of great concern."
"It disrupts the natural balance of awakened abilities."
Brandon looked at the name of who said that 'Grand Arbiter of Sovereign Circle.... Is she like the head of Sovereign Circle?'
Another voice came and this was from the 'Asphoel Order' "Concern? This is an outright threat. If his ability allows him to steal techniques, what is to stop him from plundering the most valuable ether skills across the world? Such a wildcard cannot be left unchecked."
At this time, a familiar voice echoed and Brandon's head turned to look at the name "Brandon is not a thief, nor is he a threat to be 'checked.' He has done nothing wrong, yet you speak as if he is already guilty of a crime."
He blinked his eyes 'Aunt Elize?'
A woman from the Whispering Veil chuckled softly. "Perhaps he has done nothing yet. But power breeds ambition. And ambition, unchecked, breeds destruction. The real question is not what he has done, but what he could do."
Elize quickly countered "Do we now pass judgment based on what 'could' happen rather than what has?"
Ravène who was in the meeting spoke "You're all acting as if you've never seen an anomaly before. Need I remind you that the Sovereign Circle has always sought to regulate, not eliminate, emerging powers?"
A gruff voice of a woman cut through the discussion "Regulation is one thing. Letting an unknown variable run loose is another."
Ravène let out a quiet sigh before shaking her head. "You're making assumptions based on fear rather than fact. If you had taken the time to examine his ether signature properly, you would have noticed something crucial."
There was a pause before she continued, "His ability to mimic ether signatures is not permanent."
A murmur ran through the chamber.
"He does not 'steal' abilities. The ether he absorbs fades with time, returning to its natural state. At best, he can temporarily wield something he has absorbed, but it is not a lasting power."
There was another moment of silence before one of the voices from the Asphodel Order scoffed.
"And yet, even a temporary ability could be devastating in the wrong hands. If he were to come into contact with a high-level awakened, he cou-"
"And what?" Ravène interrupted.
"Hold the ability for a few hours? A day at most? He is no different from the countless awakened who have been born with strange and unique abilities throughout history."
"The only reason you fear him is because he is the first man to have it."
Then, at last, the Grand Arbiter spoke again.
"Enough..."
The word alone carried finality.
She took a slow breath, as if considering everything that had been said "The Sovereign Circle will deliberate."
The moment the Grand Arbiter attempted to bring the discussion to a halt, another voice rose...
"Deliberate? There is nothing to deliberate," the woman from the Asphodel Order snapped.
"We all know what must be done. He is an anomaly, a deviation from the natural order. The mere fact that he exists is proof of a disruption in the balance. Are we really willing to gamble the future of ether on a single individual?"
Elize's eyes narrowed as she raised her voice "And what would you suggest? That we eliminate him? Have you truly grown so blind to reason?"
The tension in the room thickened.
The Asphodel representative did not hesitate "We cannot afford to be sentimental. If we allow him to exist freely, then what precedent are we setting?"
"Today, it is one anomaly. Tomorrow, it could be another. Before long, we will lose all control over the laws that govern ether."
Ravène scoffed in disgust "So, that's it then? Fear is enough to sentence him?"
"Tell me, then—how many times has this Circle accepted individuals with rare and dangerous abilities into its fold? How many of those abilities were deemed unpredictable or uncontrollable?"
"Yet you seek to strip him of his rights simply because he is the first man to wield ether?"
Another murmur ran through the gathered voices. Some shifted uncomfortably. Others remained firm in their silence.
A voice from the Lionhearts, "And you're absolutely certain his abilities fade?"
Ravène nodded her head "I've run the tests myself. The ether he absorbs does not belong to him. His body is incapable of retaining it indefinitely."
"The signatures he mimics eventually dissipate, reverting to their original forms. He does not 'steal' anything, nor can he permanently claim another's power."
Another scoff echoed "And you expect us to believe this is not a risk?"
Elize interjected before Ravène could respond "Risk is present in every awakened individual."
"The Asphodel Order preaches regulation, yet their own ranks house those whose powers could just as easily tip the scales of balance. The Whispering Veil employs assassins whose abilities allow them to kill before their prey even knows they are being hunted."
"The Crimson Aegis trains warlords who can level cities if left unchecked. And yet, we do not sit here debating their right to live, do we?"
A cold chuckle echoed from the Whispering Veil's side "A fair point."
The discussion is getting heated...