SL Chapter 9 Exotic


    When the fifth person arrived, the door lit up and a voice, one Eric was certain was from an AI, asked them to present their invitations, which were scanned promptly.


    A glimmer appeared within his eyes when he caught sight of the old woman''s invitation. His speculations from before had been wrong all along. She was the same as them. Of course, he didn''t rule out the possibility of a connection with the big shot, but now, he was certain that that chance was slim.


    That realization also caused a few more questions to spring out into his mind. Why would an old woman want to join this dangerous looking activity when she had such a beautiful grand kid, coupled with her very own kids? That and many others were at the forefront of his mind, but were buried when the doors started sliding away from each other, causing the inner atmosphere to leak out, almost rooting him to the spot.


    There was murderous intent within the leaking atmosphere! And it was potent enough that he felt as if the edge of a blade was lingering close to his neck. Though, what made him feel a little bit better was the fact that he hadn''t been the only one who had been ensnared by the atmosphere. The bespectacled woman was even trembling, with a look of utter horror etched onto her features.


    A chuckle from the old woman dispelled everything, like the Sun melting away the snow, yet, Eric still couldn''t get that existential fear out of his head.


    The bespectacled woman fled the instant the old woman had chuckled. Eric wondered whether he too, would have fled if this opportunity didn''t hold his desire for vengeance.


    "It''s not good to scare away people like that." chastised the old woman.


    "People with such weak wills don''t deserve this chance. Though, I wonder, oldy? How is it that you managed to withstand such potent murderous intent, even dispersing it with a mere chuckle?" asked one of those gathered within the huge room. It was a man dressed in a stripped suit, which alternated between yellow and black vertical stripes. He was holding a wine glass filled with red liquid, while casually leaning against one of the chairs. Though, Eric noted that he was one of the dangerous ones in the room, someone whose gaze elicited goosebumps across his skin.


    "Lad... I have lived for a long time! Such minor parlor tricks are things I have come across more than once in my lengthy life." Answered the old woman with a scoff.


    "Oh! It seems that you aren''t a simple granny. I really do hope that we are chosen together. I want to see what an old coot like yourself can bring to the table." with that statement, the man turned towards another person beside him, ignoring Eric and the other two beside the old woman. It was infuriating that he had been ignored, but ultimately, the blame rested entirely upon no one''s shoulders. He was simply that weak, not by choice, but by circumstance.


    The other two went their separate ways, while Eric made the decision to stick with the granny. She was the only person he knew among everyone here after all. They both sat down, with the relief that flooded him, allowing him to finally take stock of the large room they were all being accommodated within.


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    The room had cream colored walls, a dark marble-like floor, and a white ceiling, fixed with the most glamorous of chandeliers, numbering three, which served to illuminate the entire place with a soft light, akin to the light of a day, when there were sparse clouds in the sky blocking most of the Sun''s wrath.


    A number of chairs, a hundred to be precise, were arranged neatly in rows and columns, facing one direction, where the floor became raised by a factor of a meter. And on that raised floor, stood a woman in a business suit, with a purple blouse with ruffles on its neckline. On her lower torso, a pair of pants matching the dark suit hugged her slender legs, and her feet were securely covered within a pair of dark heels. She had dark hair, and an oval face. Though, her eyes were a bit too glaring for Eric''s taste. It was as if she didn''t trust every single person here, gazing at them with such scrutiny that some poor fellows were scared enough to hide behind others.


    (Would you like a beverage?)


    A holographic message was projected out of his wrist band. He didn''t become alarmed as he knew that it must have been the AI of the building, or room. Whichever it was, he didn''t care. He refused it, but apparently, the granny had other thoughts, because a beverage was delivered to her by a humanoid not, one that was gleaming silver. Eric had thought that it would have had human-like skin and features.


    "Old woman, I have a question." started Eric.


    "''Old woman'' isn''t an appellation that makes me happy. Call me by my name, Selena." She said.


    "Okay... Madam Selena, why are you trying to become a Spirit Lord through this method?"


    "Hmmm... Just for the thrill of it. Pregnancy during my younger days dashed my dreams. I have spent over 120 years looking after those brats. Now, now I want to pick up from where I left off. Besides, now, there is this power of Spirit Lords. I have always been curious about it. Don''t look at me like that brat. Even if I was to die right now I wouldn''t have any regrets. To me, it''s better I die doing what I love instead of passing away peacefully of old age."


    "For real? Wouldn''t you miss anyone? Wouldn''t you wish that you had done more for any of your descendants?" Eric asked, genuinely curious.


    "You feel that I would be disappointing them only because you haven''t lived long enough to see your grandchildren. If you do, you will understand that some things have to be left to others." She sighed. It was heavy, as if there was something deeper.


    The doors, which were located on one side of the room, which was the left from where Eric was seated, once again slid to the side, letting in another five, who were also exposed to the same aura. Though, this time a whole three of them turned tail and ran, making Eric feel something akin to smugness bud within his heart.


    "I believe the time has come. Sirella, don''t let anyone else in." ordered a voice that reached every corner of the room. The woman who had had been standing upon the raised floor, glaring at everyone, had finally deigned to speak.


    "Let''s welcome my lady, your boss, into the room." Those words were the trigger that had every single pair of eyes falling upon the side door upon the raised stage, which slid open an instant later.


    A purple crystal Peep toe heel was the first thing that entered Eric''s eyes, with the nails painted in a dazzling shade of hues that all at once formed a magnificent art piece. The foot that was entrenched within those heels was almost as white as snow, with a purple hem entering his eyes just below the knee. It was a hem with multiple vertical foldings, which originated all the way from the waist of the strapped gown the lady was wearing. Her purple long hair cascaded down her back, having been woven into many small braids that served to add something ethereal to the woman, coupled with her unnatural pupils, which were composed of a purple five petalled etching within the black core.


    Eric had his breath taken away. Never in his life had he laid eyes on such an exotic creature! Comparing this woman to the old lady''s granddaughter was like comparing a goddess to a mortal!


    His heart sped up as he beheld her. She was simply that stunning!


    "Lad! Your jaw is about to hit the floor."


    Madam Selena''s words caused embarrassment to bloom within him. Though, he still stole glances at the woman, without appearing to be blatantly glaring at her.


    She turned to the gathered crowd after reaching the middle of the raised floor, right next to the other woman. She didn''t start off with speaking, instead using her eyes to take in each and every single person gathered in the room.


    "Are you prepared to lay down your lives for me?"


    The question quieted the room. Even those that had been taken in by her beauty awakened, puzzled as to why she would ask such a question.


    "You came here for the flimsy chance at awakening, right? Everything in this world comes at a price. Something must be given, in order for another to be earned. So, tell me, are you prepared to die, in order to protect me?"


    "Miss... What do you mean?" Someone asked a dumb question.


    "It is as you heard. My enemies won''t spare you just because you''re merely temporary guards. Or, were you hoping to simply coast along, thinking that this was going to be easy?"