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New Awakeners:
1. Ales (Gard Of Nature)
2. Tab Galaxy
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"Alright, let''s hold another vote," Aether declared. "I say we explore the Mines Kingdom. It seems the most autocratic, which means influencing this world would be easier. If we can get the rulers on our side, we could establish control quickly."
NileNa cut in. "I don’t think so. We should explore the world first instead of jumping straight into politics."
Tab Galaxy nodded. "Yeah, he’s right. We should observe—"
"She," NileNa corrected sharply.
Tab Galaxy hesitated before quickly apologizing. "Right. My mistake. It’s just… difficult without physical forms anymore."
"Apology accepted," NileNa said. Tab Galaxy continued, "Anyway, I believe we should start with observation—especially the forest. Understanding its ecosystem might give us deeper insight into how this world functions. Rushing into power struggles without knowing the rules is reckless."
Before the argument could settle, Nova stepped forward. "I side with Aether. We have no idea how this world works, and that’s exactly why we need influence now. We don’t know what might pose a threat to the collective."
He leaned in closer to Aether, voice lowering. "We should test how much control we actually have over the collective."
Aether''s gaze remained steady. "Our causality is weak right now. We need to be patient."
Nova exhaled through his nose, dissatisfied. "I don’t know much about causality," he admitted. "But I know it’s one of our greatest weapons."
Aether nodded. "And that’s exactly why we have to be careful."
Ales and the others joined the debate, taking sides and then switching, each trying to sway the others. The discussion quickly devolved into a chaotic exchange of arguments, persuasion, and shifting loyalties—until Aether cut through the noise.
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"Enough," he said firmly, reasserting control. "We’re voting now."
The collective cast their decisions in silence, the results forming within their shared awareness.
Mines Kingdom: 1
Root Village: 6
Aether had been overruled.
Mindless Scholar had successfully swayed Nova, arguing that Root Village held greater significance than it appeared. It was the size of a kingdom, yet it stood alone. Why? Why did it exist in isolation, outside the typical hierarchy of power? That mystery alone made it a more valuable first step.
Aether mentally glanced at Nova, a flicker of disappointment passing between them. But Nova merely relayed the same reasoning Mindless Scholar had given him. "The village is more important."
With the decision made, NileNa took the lead, steering their collective awareness toward the village.
"How close should we get?" she asked. "Should we walk among them or observe from afar?"
Mindless Scholar answered without hesitation. "Let’s observe from a distance for now. We can decide who to investigate later."
The collective shifted forward, their presence slipping into the unseen. With a mere thought, they surged toward Root Village, floating silently above its streets.
Ales lingered at the edge of the collective’s awareness, his gaze drifting toward the vast forest behind them. He wanted to explore it—its depths called to him—but he kept his thoughts to himself. He had only awakened minutes ago and was still adjusting, still learning how the collective functioned.
Even so, he remained fascinated by nature, his attention flickering between the trees in search of movement. Were there animals here? Monsters? Creatures like those on Earth, or something entirely new? These questions burned in his mind, but he didn’t voice them. Instead, he quietly observed, listening to the others, trying to understand their roles within the group.
Aether seemed to take the position of leader—though there was something different about him, something Ales couldn’t quite place. It was NileNa who intrigued him the most. In some ways, she felt similar to him. But he lacked the courage to approach her, to share his curiosity about the forest.
For now, he refocused on the village below.
It was vast. Houses and buildings spread across the landscape, a valley running through the center where a river provided water to the settlement. On either side of the water, farms stretched out, smaller homes dotting the land around them.
Further in, the village became denser—rows of tightly packed houses, narrow streets bustling with people. Markets lined the roads, merchants calling out as they sold their goods. Children ran through the streets, playing games, their laughter mixing with the murmur of the crowd. It was a scene of warmth, of life.
Mindless Scholar was the first to speak. "They seem… happy. Almost too happy. Is this world really so peaceful?"
A brief silence settled over the collective.
"So," she finally asked, "what now?"
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