Once the two say their farewells to the Human and step back through her front door into the solemn land of Chassa, Alain teases, “Didn’t want to console her yourself?”

“Quiet, you,” Cas hushes her. “Your jealousy is unbearable right now.” He takes the lead now, a sly half-smirk appearing. He senses no jealousy within the Elf, though her kind are commonly so self-conscious anyways that she ends up lying to her own heart. As she contemplates her own feelings, he leads them away down the main road towards the central construct in the small world. Chassa’s Council is staged within, where hundreds of minds convene as one to decide what must be done in each world to keep balance.

“You lost attention quite easily,” the quickly recovered Alain chimes.

“She was just a frightened woman. I’ve dealt with many before.”

“Yes, but this one was different. You can feel it, can’t you?”

“What is it you are not telling me, ‘manager’ of mine?” Suspicion creeps in his voice, indicating that Alain knows much more than she lets on.

“Well... this case is complicated. Very complicated. Did you know that mortals can be offered Godship? So, a regular human- the one she told us about- was offered Godship before perishing at the hands of an Archgod- the Archgod. However, they didn’t die. Instead, that Goddess she spoke of, the one of Love, used her powers to force that Godship contract, so the being, then made a deity and therefore not able to be killed by conventional means, was banished.”

“Banished to where, then?”

Alain gives a deep sigh, keeping pace with him. “I don’t know, but I certainly bet the Council can figure out from this.” She holds up the gold coin, sparkling under the azure sun. “All I was asked to do was take you to Ascentia and bring you back to Chassa.”

A few more minutes of travel go by and the two make their way up to the massive doors of Chassa’s central building. They are allowed in by two sentinel knights in the front, a pair of hulking, monsters of metal that are resistant to nearly every attack imaginable. Sentinel knights can be found quite a bit within Chassa, but they are almost never used for their true destructive purpose. The residents of Chassa know better, for sentinel knights aren’t quite the worst of their fears should they disobey- the worst would be the members of the Below.

The central building, named Chassan Headquarters, holds over a few hundred thousand minds within it. Almost every one of them, none possessing a physical body, are joined to form the one being known as the Council. This Council is all that can be found within the Chassan HQ, and it stands in a case that pumps nonstop energy into the being. So many consciences require quite a bit of power to function properly.

Among the Council, there are secretaries and assistants that handle most of the work. One greets Alain, stepping to the side with her so she may give her report. Caspian watches for a moment before taking his place in front of a separate assistant to the Council. He sits, drops his elbows to the armrests of the chair, and simply watches the red-eyed demon in front of him. “Speak your name, occupation, and reason for convening with the Council.”

Cas eyes this assistant. A demon- black skin, tough cheekbones, small horns protruding from his forehead. No matter the race, no matter the size, no matter the gender, Chassa allows anyone with the aptitude to do any work they wish. It has a way of conditioning natives in the land, anyways. “Agent Caspian Hayalci, Head Reaver of Chassa. I am here responding to a mission tasking and require guidance from the Council.”

At the end of his last sentence, the assistant moves a hand to a small button on the desk between the two. This button is depressed, freezing Hayalci in place completely. As if time has been lost to him, the man is frozen and unresponsive while the assistant does a routine check of his body and mind. This is all done through means known only by Chassa, a magic exclusive to the land. It is bestowed upon distinct individuals by members of the Below to expedite processes and make life easier for those living in the land.

Time goes on for the people within the HQ, and on the other side of the main room, Alain has just spoken her name, occupation, and reason for her presence to the assistant across from her. Instead of the secretary’s button freezing just the Aether Elf, it places both of them in their own frozen stasis. Within it, however, the two have conjoined minds and speak freely through the mental connection. Alain gives her report, providing the best option to fulfil the request provided by Amelia Liston, and adds insight when needed.

“Do you firmly suggest we utilize Agent Hayalci for this assignment?” the secretary asks.

Without hesitation, she responds effortlessly, saying he is the best for the job. This is a conclusory statement, finishing the reporting between the two. Now finished, they are placed back within the main reality mere moments from when they felt they left it. The same goes for Caspian, who now looks over to meet Alain’s eyes. She nods to him just before standing once more to make her exit from the HQ building.

On his own now, the man leaves the table with the secretary and is led to stand in front of the case where the Council is held. It is a humanoid being, yes, but much larger than the average human, towering at a fine fifteen feet tall. It’s arms are crossed over its chest and its head, instead of holding eyes, ears, or nose, is flat and wide. It almost has the appearance of a hammerhead shark, like there wasn’t enough space in the cranium for all the minds it contains. Thin lips make the only distinction of a face, though they are unused for communication with those the Council convenes with. Its fingers are long and boney, resembling appendages more like claws than anything.

The assistant that spoke to Alain was already at the Council’s case. He places a hand against the case for but a few seconds before removing it once more. The second assistant, the one that spoke to Caspian, does the same, needing just a few seconds to convene with the thousands of minds combined as one.

Finally, it is Hayalci’s turn. He has convened with the Council many times, this time being fairly indifferent from any other day. With a raised arm, Cas moves a hand to press against the metal-like casing. It feels frozen, sending chills through the man’s spine as this being enacts a stasis effect on the two of them. Time stops around the beings, making everything around them grind to a quick halt. His head rises to look up at the encased being, now listening to the words it floods into his mind.

“Report, Agent.” The voice sounds like an altered human’s, like the creature’s blood is mixed with hundreds of different combinations of races. There is no way any listener could pinpoint one single voice within the masses.

With a slow nod of his head, Caspian is able to respond telepathically in the same way. “Mission ready, Council.”

“Understood. Prepare for convening.” Seconds after these words are out, the two of them engage in a full link between each other, sharing information freely. Data flowing from the Council to Caspian is significantly limited, as trying to comprehend the thoughts of thousands would be suicidal. What Cas transmits is everything pertaining to his well being, physical condition, and any and all thoughts in his mind. In return, the Council provides all information on the tasks set before the man. “Your mind lies unfocused.”

“I am unsure of what it is I am being sent to do, Council,” Cas responds, attempting to excuse his own inability to keep straight thoughts.

“Your mission will reap new, previously unknown information for Chassa. Do everything in your power to perform the task at hand, and keep data collection as a second priority.” While mostly strict and extremely professional, the Council has mercy and a solid conscience. It understands mortal limitations and priorities, whereas other collections of personalities in the past have failed to do so. Most, if not all, people from outside of Chassa are not aware of the Council’s existence other than the name. If it was fully known, especially by those of Ascentia or Descentia, there would surely be those attempting to steal the Council’s knowledge for themselves.

“Data collection, Council?”

“The item retrieved from the subject resonates in a way that a portal between worlds does. Upon closer analysis, the item at hand is likely to be able to transfer you to this new, undiscovered world. Your mission is to locate the cause of the world and report back so Chassa may decide the world’s fate. Your secondary mission is to collect as much data is possible on the cause of creation.”

“Yes, Council. I will not fail Chassa.”

“Report to the Hexkeeper and receive your modification before returning to your administrator for this mission.” Without needing a positive response, the Council releases him from the stasis, returning time to normal for the two. Like no seconds had passed at all, convening with the Council is finished.