Chapter 257: ESE

"Please, make yourself comfortable. President Ishaq will be with all of you shortly."

"Are all of this necessary? We're just here to check on something and we will go, Salim."

"I am afraid things are not quite the same since you were last here, Charlotte."

"We--"

A snapping sound tingled through Charlotte's ears as Salim suddenly shut the door on her, leaving her, Van, and their new companion, Artemis, in a small room with a big mirror on the wall. Charlotte slightly rolled her fist, wanting to break the door down and just get this over with. Fortunately, her reason won and she just sat at the table where Van and Artemis were already seated.

"I see the technology of this world is almost the same as mine before it was destroyed by the war," Artemis's eyes have been wandering ever since they landed in Egypt.

"It would have been more if it weren't for the appearance of the monsters," Charlotte muttered, "I heard the stories my grandparents heard from their grandparents and so forth. The technology that the other countries have, except for the Circled ones, is a sliver of what it used to be. Although some things were retained, I don't think it has returned to what it once was."

"..." Artemis could not help but look to the side as she heard Charlotte's words. "I do not yet know the full story of your world, but perhaps you are right."

"Hm?"

"Even if this is a Rogue universe, a world without a god to guide it, its Earth and the Humans in it developed in a way that is sufficient, perhaps even effective," Artemis said as she stood up, looking at the only mirror that's plastered on one of the walls, "And yet as soon as a god showed itself, your world was almost destroyed in a day."

"Don't flatter yourself too much, lady god," Charlotte scoffed, "I heard somewhere before that the humans before the Portal Calamity were already at the brink of war before the monsters came."

"Hm. I suppose war is innate in any intellectual life, gods are no stranger in it… perhaps one could say we even started it."

"..." Van could only look back and forth between Charlotte and Artemis as they continued to talk about extraordinary things. He didn't know a lot about the history of the world, and it did not help that the little things he knew were lies taught to them by the Circle. He was supposed to be the defender of this world, and yet he was probably one of the few people on this planet that knew almost nothing about it. What was he even supposed to protect?

...Was it even worth protecting?

The conversation of Charlotte and Artemis continued, with Van just listening in on the two. He had so many things to learn, and he needed to learn them as they went. Finally, though, after a few more minutes, a knock came from the door before it opened.

"I am really sorry the three of you had to wait because of my mother's will."

The man that entered did not really have any astonishing features that separated him from the rest of the people that Van had seen coming to this room. Like with the Africans, Van had a hard time differentiating them from the others.

There was a woman behind him as well, repeating every word the man says, albeit a little differently. Van was confused at first as to why, but then he realized that the woman was talking in English, translating the words of the man.

"...Your father?" Charlotte slightly furrowed her eyebrows.

"Ah, where are my manners, I apologize," the man saluted towards Charlotte, "I am Ishaq Said, General Salim's son."

The President of Egypt was Salim's son? Considering he was also a general as well as a Platinum-rank explorer, couldn't it be considered that he was actually the one ruling this country? Charlotte could not help but slightly scoff at the thought. It did seem like something that fox would do, Charlotte thought.

"I am Charlotte Gates, and these are my companions, Van and Artemis."

"Ah! No introductions needed, I am well aware of your feats, madame Charlotte. Please, please, you can stay in this country as long as you want," President Ishaq waved his hand a couple of times as his translator repeated his words, afterwards, he then pointed towards the female translator.

As soon as he did so, the translator bowed her head towards Charlotte and the others, "My name is Nadeen Said, the President is my brother."

The woman who called herself Nadeen had abnormally long hair, even longer than the departed Reed's as her hair was almost panning on the floor. Her face, seemingly filled with make-up almost making her look like she was always blushing.

"I see your father did not understate when he said that he had hundreds of children now," Charlotte slightly blinked a couple of times, "Is he still adopting more children?"

"Yes," Nadeen once again bowed her head, "Mother helps a lot of children in need."

"You seem to really know a lot about mother?" President Ishaq interjected.

"We were… dating once," Charlotte chuckled awkwardly.

"...But you're a woman."

Both the President and Nadeen put on faces of shock as they looked at Charlotte.

"Your father wasn't always… like that," Charlotte once again chuckled.

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"I… I see, perhaps a story better told in a feast," President Ishaq said as he gestured to Charlotte and the others to follow him out, "I would also like an introduction towards the fiance of the Princess of Africa."

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"There's really not much to introduce," Van said.

"You know our language!?"

Nadeen could not help but raise her voice as soon as she heard Van speak. "That's amazing! How old are you to know something like that? You must have learned when you were still just a toddler," Nadeen then slightly kneeled down and patted Van's hair.

Seeing this, President Ishaq quickly cleared his throat before pulling Nadeen away and whispering into her ear. After a few seconds, the smile on Nadeen's face slowly turned into shock as her face slightly turned red.

"I… I am deeply sorry, I didn't know we were the same age!" Nadeen quickly bowed her head several times.

"Come come, let's all just talk later while we're munching on some food," President Ishaq chuckled awkwardly as he once again started to walk.

Charlotte didn't really have any comment to say as she proceeded to follow the President. Van being treated as a kid has been the norm and she was already used to it.

The person in question, however, was not. Van purposely slowed down his steps, walking side by side with Artemis, "...Since you can turn into a giant, can I do something like that as well?"

"I do not know the extent of the powers you've absorbed from me, Evans," Artemis answered, "I only feel that my control with the elements… as well as my aim have slightly dwindled. I could probably still hit the insect over there with my hair, but I will not be able to hit that bird flying up in the sky on the first try."

...What insect? What bird? Van thought as he squinted his eyes… but alas no matter how much he focused his eyes, he could not see the insect nor the bird. Perhaps it had something to do with them actually being indoors.

"Are you worried about your height, Evans?" Artemis then asked.

"What? No, pft," Van quickly shook his head, "Why would I?"

"You do not have to worry, Evans. I feel you are fine the way you are now. Not many gods can boast that they killed the God of Strength while being more than half his size."

"..."

"Your short stature also makes you a harder target to hit-- partner that with your unlimited speed, then even my arrows will not hit you. I was only able to hit Hermes once, I figure I will not be able to hit you even if I try a trillion times."

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"..."

"There is also the fact you will be able to hide in even the smallest spaces…"

Artemis continued to list the benefits of being short in stature. If it wasn't for them reaching their destination, she probably would not have stopped just yet. Artemis and Charlotte were led into a room, while Van was escorted to a separate one.

"Please, we have prepared some clothes for you so you and the others could freshen up," Nadeen said to Van, "...I am sorry again for mistaking you as a--"

"It's alright…" Van said before quickly entering the room and shutting it closed.

Wait 'til he grows taller, he will show these people that he is not one to mess with, Van thought as he sluggishly walked deeper into the room. There seemed to be a shower in it, with a mirror plastered on its wall. There was also a formal suit with its edges adorned in gold prepared for him.

People seem to like gold in this place, Van thought as he proceeded to clean himself up, finally removing the already slightly sweaty Explorer suit provided by the Africans. Van let out a long and deep breath as the cold water showered on his body. It felt like it has been a very long time since he was able to take a good look at himself, he… had definitely grown, hasn't he?

Looking at the mirror, the muscles that were as if sculpted on his body almost overwhelmed the scars that were given to him by the Relic Graveyard. He also could not help but notice the feather tattoos on his back. There was only one last time he was able to check, but now there were three.

The first feather was from the Arachnaea, giving him the power to talk to other creatures not human. Then the other two… were perhaps from the God Souls? Even now, even with all the revelations, Van still had no idea what was going on with him and his body.

However, he knew one thing. He had come a very long way from the frail skinny boy he once was… and perhaps that was enough.

"Hm?"

Van's thoughts were then disrupted as a small clanging sound whispered into his ear, he then looked to his feet, only to see the earring that was given to him by Princess Adia.

"..." Van stared at it for a while, before deciding to wear it back. He then finished washing up, wearing the white and golden suit provided by the Egyptians. Before heading out the door, Van took one final look at himself.

"...There are benefits in being small," Van nodded to himself before heading out. But before his hand could reach the knob of the door, several iron rods came out, completely barring the door.

Van's eyes quickly started to emit streaks of lightning, but before he could do anything, a monotonous voice surrounded the room.

"Please stay in your room and hide…

...We are currently under attack by the ESE."

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