Parallel Memory

Chapter 714: The Assembly of Three Powers

The meeting began beneath a sky covered in gray clouds.

It was almost as if the weather itself understood the mood of the Human Domain.

The Grand Assembly Hall stood at the center of the capital.

It had been built to host the most important decisions in human history.

Wars had been declared there.

Treaties had been signed there.

Kings had surrendered their authority there.

But never before had the hall contained a question as dangerous as the one waiting inside it.

Peace.

Or war.

The large doors opened.

The representatives of the Holy Church entered first.

Their white robes moved across the polished floor as they walked toward their seats.

At the center of their group sat the highest-ranking bishop present.

His expression was calm.

But his eyes were cold.

Behind him stood several high-ranking priests and representatives of the Church’s military branch.

They carried no weapons.

They did not need to.

The Church had never relied solely on swords.

Their power came from something deeper.

Faith.

Influence.

And the belief that humanity needed them to survive.

A few minutes later, the representatives of the Authority entered.

Unlike the Church, they wore formal military uniforms.

Their movements were precise.

Their expressions were controlled.

They carried documents instead of holy symbols.

Reports instead of prayer books.

At the center of their group sat the highest official of the Human Authority.

He looked toward the Church representatives.

The bishop returned his gaze.

Neither smiled.

The War Council entered last.

That was deliberate.

They had not wanted to appear aligned with either side.

Commander Rurik walked at the front.

Behind him were several senior commanders.

They looked tired.

Not physically.

Politically.

The War Council had spent the last several days trying to avoid becoming involved in the conflict between the Church and the Authority.

That had been impossible.

The moment they refused to support either side, both sides had begun trying to convince them.

The Church claimed the War Council represented the soldiers who had died.

The Authority claimed the War Council represented the future security of the Human Domain.

Both were partially correct.

And that was what made the situation so dangerous.

Commander Rurik took his seat.

He looked around the hall.

The three powers of the Human Domain now sat facing one another.

The Church.

The Authority.

The War Council.

And in front of them lay a single document.

The peace proposal from Lilith.

The first hour was spent on procedure.

The second lasted less than ten minutes.

The moment the official discussion began, the tension exploded.

"The Church formally rejects this proposal."

The senior bishop spoke first.

His voice was calm.

But the words were absolute.

The Authority representative leaned back.

"On what grounds?"

The bishop placed both hands on the table.

"On the grounds that peace with the Devil Kingdom threatens the existence of humanity."

A murmur passed through the hall.

The Authority representative raised an eyebrow.

"That is a serious claim."

"It is a truthful one."

"Then explain it."

The bishop looked toward him.

"The devils are not simply another nation."

His voice echoed through the chamber.

"They are creatures whose nature is fundamentally opposed to the will of God."

The Church representatives behind him nodded.

"Their existence is connected to negative mana."

"Hatred."

"Fear."

"Destruction."

The bishop’s voice grew stronger.

"Throughout history, every great disaster involving the Devil Kingdom has proven the same truth."

The Authority representative folded his hands.

"And yet the Devil Kingdom existed for centuries without launching a full-scale invasion of the Human Domain."

The bishop’s expression tightened.

"That does not make them harmless."

"No."

The Authority official nodded.

"But it does make your argument incomplete."

The bishop’s eyes narrowed.

"Do not mistake restraint for innocence."

"And do not mistake fear for proof."

The room became silent.

Commander Rurik closed his eyes briefly.

The meeting had barely begun.

Already, the two sides were attacking each other.

The bishop leaned forward.

"The Devil King before Aamon may have desired peace."

He spoke the words with clear reluctance.

"Perhaps."

"But that does not change the nature of their kind."

The Authority official replied.

"The proposal is not from Aamon."

"No."

"It is from Lilith."

"A devil."

The Authority representative stared at him.

"She is also the ruler who has already honored the agreement made with our representatives."

The bishop’s expression became colder.

"She has not yet proven herself."

"Then the treaty gives us a chance to observe her."

The bishop shook his head.

"Or gives her a chance to observe us."

The Authority official smiled faintly.

"That is what diplomacy is."

The bishop’s expression hardened.

"This is not a game."

"No."

The official’s smile disappeared.

"It is not."

Commander Rurik raised his hand.

"Before this turns into an argument—"

"It already is one," someone muttered.

Rurik ignored him.

"We need to focus on the proposal."

The bishop turned toward him.

"Commander, surely the War Council understands the danger of allowing devils into our territory."

Rurik’s expression did not change.

"The War Council understands many dangers."

"And you still support the treaty?"

"We have not said that."

The Authority official immediately looked toward him.

"And you do not oppose it either."

Rurik’s jaw tightened.

This was exactly what he had wanted to avoid.

The War Council had tried to remain neutral.

But neutrality was becoming impossible.

The Church wanted their military authority.

The Authority wanted their political support.

Both sides were trying to use them as proof that their position was correct.

Rurik looked across the table.

"The War Council is not here to support either faction."

The bishop’s expression darkened.

"Faction?"

The Authority official’s eyes narrowed.

Rurik immediately realized his mistake.

But it was too late.

"The Church is not a faction."

"Neither is the Authority."

The two representatives spoke almost simultaneously.

Rurik stared at them.

Then slowly leaned back.

"That is precisely the problem."

The hall went quiet.

The commander continued.

"Everyone in this room claims to be speaking for humanity."

His eyes moved from the Church to the Authority.

"But no one seems willing to listen to humanity."

Neither side answered.

"The people are divided."

Rurik’s voice became heavier.

"Soldiers are divided."

"Families are divided."

"Guilds are divided."

"Even the military is divided."

He placed both hands on the table.

"And while all of you are fighting over who gets to decide the future, the Human Domain is slowly splitting apart."

The bishop responded immediately.

"Because the Authority is attempting to use this treaty to expand its control."

The Authority representative turned toward him.

"And the Church is attempting to maintain its influence by keeping the devils as an eternal enemy."

The hall fell silent.

The accusation hung in the air.

No one denied it.

The bishop’s expression changed.

"You are insulting the Church."

"No."

The official looked directly at him.

"I am describing your position."

A few War Council members exchanged uncomfortable glances.

Commander Rurik rubbed his forehead.

This was no longer a debate about Lilith.

It had become a struggle for power.

The treaty was merely the battlefield.

The bishop stood.

"Very well."

His voice carried across the hall.

"Let us speak plainly."

He turned toward the Authority.

"You want the treaty because it gives you control over the passage between humanity and the Devil Kingdom."

The Authority official did not answer.

The bishop continued.

"You want to appoint the diplomats."

"Control the trade."

"Control access."

"Control information."

"You want the people to believe that only the Authority can maintain peace."

The hall became tense.

The Authority representative slowly stood.

"And you want the treaty rejected because peace threatens the foundation of your influence."

The bishop’s eyes hardened.

"Careful."

"Why?"

The official’s voice grew louder.

"Because everyone here understands the Church’s position."

He pointed toward the document.

"For centuries, you have taught humanity that the devils are the ultimate enemy."

"Your holy soldiers were trained to fight them."

"Your barriers were built to stop them."

"Your influence grew because humanity needed protection from them."

He looked around the hall.

"If peace is established, the Church loses its greatest justification for controlling military and political decisions."

Several priests stood immediately.

"You dare—"

The War Council erupted.

"Sit down!"

"Everyone calm down!"

"Lower your voices!"

The sound of chairs moving across the floor filled the hall.

Commander Rurik slammed his fist against the table.

"Enough!"

The hall fell silent.

His face was no longer calm.

He had spent days attempting to keep the situation under control.

But he was beginning to realize that neither side actually wanted mediation.

They wanted victory.

The Church wanted to preserve its influence.

The Authority wanted to expand its own.

And the War Council stood between them.

Rurik looked at both sides.

"Do you understand what happens if this continues?"

Nobody answered.

"Do you understand what happens if the Human Domain officially divides over this?"

The silence became heavier.

Rurik continued.

"The Church has its own military forces."

The bishop’s eyes narrowed.

"The Authority controls the central government."

The official’s expression hardened.

"The War Council controls the army."

Rurik looked around the hall.

"Do you understand what happens if the soldiers begin choosing sides?"

No one spoke.

"Do you understand what happens if the Church refuses to follow the Authority’s decision?"

Still nothing.

"What happens if the Authority attempts to force the Church to comply?"

Rurik’s voice grew quieter.

"What happens if the military is ordered to suppress one of the most powerful institutions in the Human Domain?"

The answer did not need to be spoken.

Civil war.

The possibility hung in the room.

It was still distant.

Still unlikely.

But no longer impossible.

And everyone knew it.

The bishop slowly sat down.

The Authority representative returned to his seat.

For several seconds, the only sound in the hall was the movement of the rain outside.

Commander Rurik exhaled.

"That is what we should be discussing."

He pointed toward the peace proposal.

"Not who gains more power."

"Not who controls the future."

"Not which institution gets to claim moral authority."

His gaze hardened.

"We should be asking whether this treaty is good for humanity."

The bishop looked toward the document.

"The devils cannot be trusted."

The Authority representative replied.

"Perhaps."

The bishop turned toward him.

"Then why support the treaty?"

The official answered without hesitation.

"Because trust is not required for peace."

Several people stared at him.

He continued.

"Peace does not require us to love the devils."

"It does not require us to forgive them."

"It does not require us to forget the dead."

He placed one finger on the document.

"It requires both sides to decide that continuing the war is more costly than stopping it."

The bishop shook his head.

"And if the devils betray us?"

"Then we respond."

"That is naive."

"No."

The Authority representative looked toward the Church.

"That is preparation."

The bishop remained silent.

Commander Rurik looked between them.

For the first time that day, he felt the smallest amount of hope.

Perhaps they could still reach an agreement.

Perhaps.

Then the doors of the chamber suddenly opened.

Everyone turned.

A messenger stood there.

His face was pale.

Commander Rurik immediately stood.

"What happened?"

The messenger swallowed.

"The situation outside is getting worse."

"What do you mean?"

"The protests."

Rurik’s expression changed.

"How many?"

"Several thousand."

The messenger hesitated.

"And there are two groups."

The room went silent.

"Two?"

The messenger nodded.

"One group is demanding that the treaty be accepted."

"And the other?"

The messenger’s face became even paler.

"They are demanding that the Devil Kingdom be destroyed."

Rurik closed his eyes.

The meeting had not yet reached a decision.

But the Human Domain had already begun choosing sides.

Outside the assembly hall, two crowds faced one another.

One carried banners calling for peace.

The other carried weapons and symbols of war.

The distance between them was only a few streets.

But it felt like the distance between two worlds.

Commander Rurik looked toward the Church and the Authority.

"Do not make the mistake of thinking this is only a political disagreement."

Neither side responded.

Rurik continued.

"If we fail to resolve this..."

He looked toward the doors.

"...the next war may not be against the devils."

The room became completely silent.

Because for the first time, everyone understood the true danger.

Humanity had survived the Devil War.

But now, after victory, the Human Domain itself was beginning to fracture.

And the most terrifying enemy was not standing outside the borders.

It was standing inside them.