Primordial Expanse: I have the Strongest Talent!

And grasp the opportunity she did.

…The sound of the slap echoed through the chamber like a thunderclap from the heavens.

Everyone froze, even the mischievous beast behind the whole ordeal, Brontes, flinched from the comfort of the Taming space.

The Grand Cartographer blinked. Once. Twice. Then, without a word spoken from anyone, she closed her eyes, and slipped into a deep, meditative trance.

Even though the Grand Cartographer was stunned into silence, without a single thought crossing her mind during that short period, her instincts were on point, and she didn't even need to think to activate her ability, erasing her memories of Brontes before she could come back to clarity.

For the first time since coming to visit her, Alex saw her truly vulnerable.

Seconds passed. Then a minute. Then another.

'Seems the process of erasing her own memories really is just that much more complex and tedious than doing it to others.' Alex commented internally.

Reluun looked between Alex and the Grand Cartographer, looking utterly bewildered.

"Okay… what the hell just happened?"

"She needed an empty mind," Alex spoke plainly. "So I gave her one."

Reluun looked between the Grand Cartographer and Alex again, opened his mouth, thought better of it, and just gave a baffled thumbs up.

A soft hum filled the air as the Grand Cartographer's body gently regained consciousness.

'Strange, nothing this fancy or ethereal took place when she erased the minds of Reluun and the others. Perhaps it has something to do with her being a higher life form?'

When her eyes were opened again, they were calm. Empty.

She slowly looked around, meeting her gaze with Alex's as if nothing had just happened.

"Is… everything good now?" Alex asked tentatively. He had no idea if it was a success or not since he didn't know how her abilities worked exactly, but the fact that she was conscious was one good sign, at least…

"It's good." She replied.

She was aware that she had just erased some parts of her own memories, but she had left little nuggets of information behind which told her that doing so was necessary to save her life.

However, since the memory of erasing the other's memories was still fresh on her mind, she opted not to mention anything about erasing memories or such while still in their presence.

Instead, she simply gave Alex a knowing nod.

As if to say, 'I remember enough.'

A few moments of silence passed, then she turned her attention to Reluun and the two gatekeepers. "Is everything in order?"

Reluun and the two gatekeepers suspected nothing and responded as if it was natural to do so.

"All good. Just talking logistics, nothing to report." A little hint of suspicion crossed Alex's eyes at Reluun's last words, 'Nothing to report.'

But he let it slide for the time being.

She gave a slight nod and turned away, back to Alex, with her expression no longer blank and instead cool and composed, just as she was exactly before the entire previous situation happened.

"You are free to remain here for now, Alex. The Conclave will probably agree to our meeting after they learn of you and your background, so all you have to do is sit tight for the time being."

And with that, she walked toward one of the exits followed by the two gatekeepers, leaving Reluun and Alex alone in the chamber together.

Reluun waited until the door sealed shut behind her, then turned to Alex, wide eyed.

"Something feels fishy here, but I just can't quite put my finger on it…" He spoke casually.

Alex just waved him off as he started walking toward the exit himself.

He distinctly remembered the Grand Cartographer asking the two gatekeepers to lead him to wherever he would be staying, and searching through the Solari race's records on anything to do with Mikhail, but he wasn't going to create a ruckus about them suddenly leaving him in awkwardness.

To his best guess, the specific memories related to that were probably wiped away alongside whatever was there about Brontes.

Reluun rubbed his face as he followed Alex. "This is shaping up to be the most interesting week of my life."

Alex turned to him with a grin and fake shock. "It wasn't already!?"

***

After being led to where he'd be staying, having had to awkwardly remind Reluun that he hadn't been informed yet, Alex relaxed for a few hours before he received a knock at his door, finding one of the same two gatekeepers standing, waiting for him when he opened it.

"The Grand Cartographer ordered me to escort you." She only spoke short, simple sentences as if having to do any more than the bare minimum for her job was already demanding too much.

He followed the gatekeeper through a series of winding corridors carved from the smooth crystal. The walk was silent, as one might expect when being escorted by someone who didn't even want to be there…

After several minutes, the gatekeeper stopped in front of a large, ornate doorway with light slightly shining through the gaps.

She didn't say a word – just motioned with a brief tilt of her head, then turned and walked away without another glance.

'Alright then. Showtime.'

Alex stepped forward, parting the door soundlessly with ease.

The chamber beyond was as grand as he remembered; only he entered through the main, official entrance this time.

Only it was much more occupied this time.

Projected around the circular room in elevated positions were translucent figures, all Solari, each cloaked in distinct robes bearing unique patterns of what Alex guessed to be Solari family insignias across their chests and shoulders.

No two looked alike, all clearly coming from different lineages, or perhaps even a different branch of the Solari race entirely…

They were not there in body, but their presence filled the room as if they were. It was quite clear to Alex that every one of them was probably a higher being, all much stronger than himself, most likely being S tiers of some regard.