As those in attendance came back to their senses and began to regroup, Hanokii prepared to finish his demonstration. He walked over and placed his hand on the shoulder of his first knight. His first.. Successful project. Kazar was not the perfect model he had intended to create and there were, unique circumstances in which his power had been constructed. Still, without him the basis for his claims and ideas may have never been realized as he effectively became the prototype for those who would follow and as such he deserved what little Hanokii could give him at the moment for his sacrifice. 

‘Well done, Kazar. Well done’. Kazar turned his head to face his new sensei, 

‘Yea. Don’t mention it’ he said with a slight smirk as he tilted his head to crack his neck. Hanokii then turned to face the crowd and continued into his flaking climax. His performance would be a success.

‘With that belief solid in my heart, I ask you what if we could control technology and harness the powers of our thoughts and emotions like never before? What if we could master the realms of cyberspace and ethereal plane? What I propose is not just an end to a potential contagion, but the opportunity to evolve. One that will give us the ability to both transcend and grow in record time! We will no longer remain ignorant of who we really are and our true potential. We will have no reason to fear what is already in us and of us. Imagine being able to harness extra energy from the ethers for any task, to be able to turn it into tangible matter, fate changing powers and the command of the spirits of energy manifest? Imagine being able to summon any piece of technology known from anywhere in the galaxy or further instantly and have it at your fingertips? The possibilities are as many as there are rays of light during the summer solstice. Now the risks may be dangerous, but what true scientific discovery and development doesn’t come with a little danger? Some will indeed die, their bodies unable to cope with the alteration of their DNA in real time, and yes we will have to bear the burden of knowing they may have died because of us… But for all those who survive and come after..’ 

The crowd looked on as interested as they ever had been, paying close attention to every word and motion. 

Hanokii proceeded,

‘For all those who are strong enough and chosen by destiny to lead us into a new era, they will have everything we never had and more. They will fix imperfections in us that we could not even begin to understand if we discovered them now and propel us into the future as the ultimate species. I ask you now not for your belief in me, no not even for your belief in council. I ask you now to bank on us and our development. On the blessings we’ve been so graciously gifted to build upon. On our resolve as chambers and as Ephangians who want our people and Lord Thiesz to thrive and rule forever!’

A moment passed before the crowd erupted in support for the presentation, the ideas presented having piqued the interests of both sides and created an overwhelming energy of victory as if the job had already been done. Hanokii’s heart soared, his elegant movements and selective words having moved the chambers into his corner. The moment was happening so fast and so slow all at once and so he simply did his best to embrace it in the here and now. He knew it was only the beginning and his work had only truly just begun but he had come so far and had even further to go. Still, he allowed himself to embrace the joy that was presently coasting through his veins as his spirit entered the ecstasy of acceptance. 

As he proceeded past his peers accepting cheers and pats of approval by those he passed by to address his grandmaster Da Kairaga and that of the echo Da Psymo, they both smiled widely. Usually at odds due to competition and personal grievances, Hanokii had assured them both that they would want to hear what he had to say. That they would both benefit more than anyone else and like sweet nectar from the suckle vines they ate it up, their selfish and arrogant natures an easy read for the young chip from Fungoo. It was always wise to know your audience, but wiser still to know oneself.

As Zakanashi quieted the crowd once more, he gave way for the grandmaster sorcerer to speak.

‘I must say *ydam (young man) you are quite the speaker and looker and your passion for Ephangi reminds me of the lava that flows from the great skykanos of Napaal. I am greatly moved by your work and demonstration and I believe it most safe to say you have my full support and that of my chamber’, as she finished her followers immediately bellowed their support before quieting back down so Da Kairaga could speak. 

‘Thank you, my Psymo. Your words are too kind’, Hanokii responded with a bow before shifting to face his master.

‘Corarrius. Corrarius. Corrarius. I must say you seem to have outdone yourself today. I am truly impressed as I must admit, you did not seem like much the day we met being the lowly Vaszian you were at the time.’ 

“Lowly Vaszian”? Hanokii thought as he held the frown from his face as he listened, continuing to smile.

‘Ah, yes, but how could I forget the high vibe himself saw in you what even I could not. I dare to say I am proud of you, pup’.

“I am proud of you…” The words instantly wrung back through Hanokii’s mind. Part of him did not want to believe Zakanashi would ever say that to him. He had always had this look in his eye when he saw Hanokii. A look of pure superiority just like the mine overlords had for him, never showing true respect or love and giving minimal acknowledgment at that. Still this felt good and again he allowed himself to embrace the emotion and feel it fully, the anger mixing and dissipating into the pride and sense of fulfillment. Either way now he would continue regardless at any cost. As he thanked and bowed to his chamber leader two nampia met eyes with him and smiled, one even blowing him a kiss before the flock left with the grandmaster. Never flustered in the moment he returned their farewell with a smooth smile and nod, his eyes different colors than they were before.

The meeting was adjourned until further notice when specific assignments would be handed out and the passing of the next greater conference of the world had happened. Hanokii, pleased with himself, decided he would head to the lab and get to work on his studies knowing his responsibility would only grow from here. As he walked to exit the monastery he was approached by Loos, his slender frame appearing from the shadows seemingly out of thin air. His royal red bandage cloth-like attire wrapping around his entire frame from head to toe only revealing his jade green eyes. 

‘You did well today. I must say I am impressed by your ability considering your status. Surely that will be changing in the near future for you though. I’ll be watching your growth.’ He spoke with a voice a little deeper than expected for his seemingly slender frame, though he was fairly tall. His tone was solid and cold like ice, but had a playful tone to it.

‘You really want to make a better galaxy for your people don’t you? Ha, I think I really had you all wrong ahahaha’, Loos continued as he scratched the back of his head, his voice suddenly cheerful and lighter in both pitch and tone. Hanokii, somewhat caught off by the interaction in general, more so by the strangeness of Loos’s behavior mixed with the overall emotional charge of the moment, responded considering this was his first time actually interacting with the obscure high lord.

‘No big deal, it’s all part of the plan’ Suddenly, Hanokii realized how informal he sounded and reeled himself back in, cursing himself in his mind before continuing. ‘I mean, Nothwae my-

‘You can call me Loos..’ The perplexing man quickly cutting him off, his voice still cheerful and friendly ‘and don’t sweat it. It’s as your people say, uhhh, what was it “Some soar off the words of others as if they’re rare, but real sentiment is..” uhh? Damn this is the best part’

‘Real sentiment.. is shared like air…’ Hanokii finished the line, a chill running down his spine as Loos turned to look at him, gently slapping him on the shoulder. 

‘Yea, that’s right isn’t it?’ His voice was still chill in pitch, but all the friendliness was replaced with a feeling of unexplainable wickedness. He then took a step back and looked up into the air for a moment as if to think, Khromeo jogging around the corner attempting to catch up with his mate as he did so. Loos continued,

‘Yea, yea that is it! You really are somthin haha! Well I gotta run, but it was a pleasure no doubt my nam. See ya when I see ya, yea? peace!’ And just like that he turned and walked away from Hanokii as he sung a song that until that point only the scientist knew. Hanokii put the thought into the back if his mind for later observation as Khromeo approached in excitement,

‘Yo yo code! You absolutely slayed that jawn nam foreal. The bars nam, the delivery!? That shit was crazy code, great work!.. Yo you aite? That dude say somthi-’

Hanokii snapped back to reality, 

‘Yea. Yea I’m good code thanks’ he responded. 

‘Ok well, bet! And ayyy code I met this shawty and I know after that a couple of her friends gon be feelin us fosho so come on nam, let’s celebrate!’ Khromeo said as he put his arm around his friend and ushered him away, the lyrics of the song still in the back of Corarrius' mind.