The General was trembling all over, his body matted in cold sweat as he felt the threat of death far closer than it had ever been in his entire life. Not even the cruel and gruesome battlefield had made him feel such despair. This small smile on the young man's face seemed to him a silent confidence in his power, capable of obliterating this entire space station before anyone could even touch him. The General dared not make any moves, remaining glued to his seat as he waited for the Graven Lord to reveal what his intentions were. Uriah turned to gaze at the wall again.
"Do you recognise that name? Efrein?"
"Y-yes, my lord! Efrein w-was one of the founding kings of the Rima Empire! He was the blood-sworn brother of the founding emperor! The House of Efrein became the Guardian Royals of the West, staunchly loyal to the Imperial House of Rima!"
"Guardian Royal? House of Efrein? That fool became a King in an Empire?"
Uriah turned to the General in shock. He was in disbelief as he recalled the ferocious look in that warmonger's eyes whenever he would call all soldiers and able-bodied men to join him in conquest. That fool left the governance of his territory to his retainers while he went out with his army to explore the lands.
In Uriah's opinion, that man could not have possibly become a king, much less a vassal to an emperor. And Uriah was not the only one to think so as in those days, many of Efrein's people were in discontent. They were only appeased by the skillful management and governance of his retainers which was one of the reasons why Uriah wanted to become a civil servant. He could not let his family suffer in the hands of that incompetent man-child.
"How long ago was this? Is this Empire the reason why the world is called Rima?"
"Yes, my lord! The Rima Empire had unified the entire world with the help of the five kings. And from then on, the world was called Rima. That was about six hundred thousand years ago, give or take. And about three hundred thousand years ago, the Rima Empire was splintered by rebellions led by three of the royal houses, and they were further split into many independent states later on. It was only about fifty thousand years ago that the world was once again unified under the Rima Federation due to external threats."
The more he spoke, the more depressed the General became. The history of Rima was not anything glorious. If not for the external threats that introduced the world to the Pinnacle War, they might not have even been able to unify again. And even now, there were still conflicts in the surface, generations' worth of enmities that cannot be completely forgotten. It was a tough pill to swallow for someone like him who only wanted to protect his home from enemies. He marches to the frontline while worrying whether his family would be safe within their own home.
The General looked back to Uriah and found him in a daze. From the moment he heard the numbers, his mind seemed to freeze. Six hundred thousand years, no wonder the world has changed beyond recognition. He came here looking for answers, hoping for something good, but he was already expecting the worst, especially after seeing the former site of his family's home. And yet, it still hit him hard. No amount of mental preparation could cushion this blow.
A chuckle escaped his lips. It grated coarsely at his throat as he fought hard to contain the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes. It stung. But as he breathed in, he calmed his heart and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they seemed just a little dimmer than before.
The General realised that they might have been wrong in their assumption. This man was not here to cause chaos. The emotions he saw on the young man's face were genuine, even resembling the soldiers who came home to dead family or families being told news of a soldier's death. It was grief and helplessness. Such a thing cannot be faked. Considering this, the General regained his calm. It seems there was room for conversation after all.
"Apologies for that embarrassing display. My name is Uriah. What is yours?"
"I am General La'ar Miars, my lord."
"General Miars, thank you for telling me this. You're a good man, pure of heart, pure of mind."
Uriah nodded as he looked at the General. The man felt inexplicably vulnerable at this moment. It was as though everything about him was being peered through by those silvery eyes. He felt unsafe despite already having deduced that this particular Graven Lord was not an enemy. A calamity was still a calamity. And being gazed at by one who seemed to read him like an open book was deeply unsettling.
And indeed, Uriah was gazing deep into the General's being. In his Eyes of Reverie, General La'ar Miars was a pure man, almost completely untainted. It was not just a matter of his character and deeds, but also his mind. This man was among the very few he had seen on Rima and in the space station that was unbound by the fetters of paths despite being drawn into the Pinnacle War.
"Have you ever thought of treading a path for yourself, General?"
"No, my lord. It is against military regulations and is not in the best interests of Rima for any of its soldiers to meddle in the Pinnacle War. Our only purpose is to keep the Pinnacle War away from Rima. Which is why we have been fending off the invasion of enemies who first dragged us into the Pinnacle War."
The General's tone was utterly grave. This did not only concern his own personal strengths and future, but that of the entirety of Rima. If Rima were to welcome in the warring paths of the Pinnacle War, they would not only be inevitably drawn to the core of the Pinnacle War with no room to escape, they would also be fractured from the inside. The paths promised too much power. Rima was incapable of bearing the burdens that came with such powers. And so he firmly believed that Rima can never be allowed to tread on any path.
"Your dedication and resolve is admirable. You are a true hero of this world. Unfortunately, it is already too late. Whereas you struggle on the battlefield with the measly strength afforded to you by the Crucible for joining the Pinnacle War, your compatriots..."
The General's face looked grim, his heart beating wildly as a certain thought appeared in his mind. At first, he thought that the Graven Lord was trying to convince him to tread on the Path of Dreams. He was even prepared to die knowing that rejecting a Graven Lord, the ceremonial leader of the Path of Dreams, would bring great consequences.
But he knew very well that Rima would not survive if it was truly dragged into the core strife of the Pinnacle War. He could not let his family suffer in this war that was way beyond them all. But then Uriah turned his gaze to the wall where the door to the room could be found. His smile seemed equal parts amused and cold.
"It seems they did not share the same resolve or ideals."
"What do you mean by this, my lord?"
"I meant exactly what I said. Out of everyone in this space station and in the world, very few remain pure like you. Many have already chosen a side. They have chosen to tread on a path."
The General clenched his fists, his body trembling in barely suppressed fury. His eyes were bloodshot as he focused on staring only at Uriah. He did not want to look toward the wall or he might not be able to keep himself calm. If what Uriah said was true, then Rima was in danger.
There were countless traitors all around, all of whom could not understand the consequences of what they had done. Their choice could potentially doom the whole of Rima. It could doom his family. Uriah turned to look at the General once more. Seeing the man's agitation, he stretched forward his right hand. And from his palm, an unknowable glow of light appeared.
"I understand your dedication. I will not force you nor will I convince you to reconsider. The Pinnacle War is brutal and merciless. It would be better not to be involved in it at all. But if you ever find that it is already too late for Rima to turn back, if you find that there is no other recourse but to tread upon a path, then take this into yourself and seize control of your Fate."
The General was dazed as he stared at the strange glow before him. There was nothing there other than a glow. He did not even know where the light was or what was emitting it. It was mystical, enchanting even. But it did not emanate any kind of temptation. It did not urge him to take it.
Despite its indubitable and unconcealed majesty and power, it remained self-contained as though satisfied with its mere existence. The General held it carefully in his hands, feeling its calming aura soothe his furious heart. He then looked at Uriah who nodded to him one last time before his body disappeared into tiny motes of light. His voice was the only thing that remained.
"No one else can see it other than you. Take it as a token of my gratitude. If you find yourself still unwilling to take on any path, then just blow on it like you would a candlelight. Good luck."