Aenon stayed in the Void Realm for a few more hours before being sent back to his office. Like the Nurse claimed, no one had realized his absence. In fact barely any time had passed at all; even the soul signatures had had barely shifted. His Sovereign's Aura had gotten much stronger after the trip to the mysterious realm. He suspected that his Class evolution also played a role in the upgrade. The range was still eight kilometers, but it was much clearer and more sensitive. He needed to test out his new Class abilities soon. But first…

A sharp knock broke the silence. Several people were waiting outside his office, with varying emotions that he could pick out with ease. This was the closest he had gotten to actually reading minds.

"Come in," Aenon said loudly. He straightened his posture and expression before the others entered.

The twins were in the lead, followed by everyone in his inner circle, which included Henry and Borin. Bane and Venge simply walked to a corner of the room and sat down on their haunches. Henry conjured up the larger table as everyone filed in. Once Aenon took his seat, the others followed.

"How's the clean up going?" he asked Henry.

"It will take some time for things to be back in order," Henry reported formally.

"The crafters gained several levels and Skill upgrades owing to the battle," Borin reported next. "It will take time to consolidate everything but expect a massive influx of raw talent sometime in the future. Especially after this bloody war is over."

Borin's voice was as gruff and direct as ever. Aenon nodded before turning to Ignar.

"What about the Adventurer's Guild?"

"Only eight of my former colleagues stayed," Ignar said. "With my party, Thalindra, and Jenny, that makes fourteen adventurers. It is not enough to run a Guild, but we can fill the ranks with new recruits. They are still green, but the battle knocked some naivety out of them. We'll need a strict training regimen to whip them into shape. A lot of promising young blood. Especially that spear wielding lass, what's her name?" He turned to face Jenny.

"On-Ji," Jenny replied with barely contained pride. "She was certainly something. Of all my recruits, she's got the most zeal."

"Is that why you made her your banner-woman?" Aenon asked with a smile.

"She was the first to step forward," Jenny replied with a shrug. "The one thing I learned from all of you is the importance of a strong will. Strength is secondary."

Thalindra, Ignar, and even Venge nodded while smiling broadly. It was endearing to watch the red head act like a commander. Their gazes made her blush in embarrassment.

"Re-establishing the Guild is not an issue," Thalindra brought them back on topic. "We have enough new blood amongst the surviving population from Earth. Most of them have re-rolled combat Classes to face the horde. And honestly, I'd rather have them join than allow someone who would turn tail and run when the going gets tough."

"I agree," Aenon replied. "We need to establish our city's core with those who took part in the battle. This includes the Guild, the crafters, and even the future nobility. Their courage needs to be rewarded." Aenon shifted himself before continuing. "However, we can't cut ourselves from the rest of the world. Living in isolation can lead to significant problems by itself. Take it from someone who prefers living alone in the forest."

Everyone exchanged looks at his candid admission. But Aenon wasn't the type of person to deny a flaw when the truth was right there.

"This doesn't mean that I am somehow turning over a new leaf," Aenon corrected them before they misunderstood. "I still prefer solitude and will in fact work tirelessly for it. But a city cannot run the way I live my life. There will come a day when I leave this city, and perhaps even this planet. I just want to make sure the bastion I leave behind is self-sufficient."

Realization struck everyone at his words, piecing together Aenon's vision. From the start, Aenon had no intention of tying himself down to the city. But he didn't want to abandon those in need either. Which was why he had gone for the middle ground: Forge a safe haven for those who needed it. And a self-sufficient population was a key requirement if he was to eventually let loose to pursue his own freedom.

"I am not an emperor," Aenon continued. "Even though many may see this as a seed for a future empire, I care very little about such titles and benefits. I'd rather explore the unknown than settle in the comfort of what I know."

Silence filled the room as everyone regarded him with complicated expressions. One of the twins was the first to break the calm.

"A true adventurer at heart," the dwarf said with a boisterous laugh.

"But one with a heart," his twin added succinctly.

There were smiles all around as everyone understood Aenon's plan. It was an understanding born between people who had fought and bled together. Aenon had not deviated from his Path. He was still the Unfettered Soul he always claimed to be.

"Then we'd better hurry to make our Patriarch's dream come true quicker," Thalindra added with a smile. "So, he can run free while others hold down the fort."

"Patriarch?" Aenon asked with a raised eyebrow.

"The Patriarch of House Fenrast," Thalindra added with a respectful bow.

Everyone present joined in, including Jenny who was a bit lost. An emotion that Aenon shared, as he looked around the room in confusion.

"There are several formats for a leadership structure that the Multiverse follows," Henry explained. "One of them is the Patriarchal system. The founder of a noble house is the patriarch or matriarch. Succession can happen either through hereditary lineage, or through passing over the reins to a chosen heir. In which case they get elevated to the position of ancestor. Right below the patriarch are the elders. These can be from the same lineage, or affiliated families. Although these positions are usually hereditary, I assume you'd prefer a more merit-based approach?"

"Yes, I do," Aenon replied. "But more importantly, I am still thirteen. How can I be a Patriarch?"

"Age has nothing to do with the position," Henry clarified. "It is not uncommon for very young heirs to be thrust in the role due to untimely deaths. You, at least have earned the right."

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"Bah, all ya need is a good time dilating dungeon," Borin added. "I am sure ya can find one if ya tried to look hard enough. Besides, once ya get your evolution sorted out, your looks will change anyway. I've seen old hags appearing like wee little lassies and vice versa. For combat Classers, age is just a number. Most folks don't even bother showing it on their interface."

Aenon mulled the thought over in his head. The idea of setting up a hierarchy and walking off into the sunset sounded nice. But he needed all the details before committing to it.

"Isn't this like setting up a noble house?"

"Aye, it be exactly that, laddie," Borin replied. "This is how most nobility starts. But they soon forget their humble beginnings."

"Which means this could devolve into that one day," Aenon said with a frown. He didn't like the idea of his family name being used in such a way, no matter how far into the future it may be.

"It might," Thalindra responded honestly. "But that is the risk you'll need to take to establish a faction of your own. It won't happen overnight, but give it a few centuries and even the haven you leave behind cannot survive the ravages of time. Nothing can escape death and decay. But for the duration it exists, your name can be a beacon of hope for countless souls."

Aenon became silent while considering the pros and cons of the decision. On the one hand, setting up a hierarchy with him at the top would rid him of unwanted responsibility. But having others wield his name without oversight seemed risky. That is how most power structures tended to crumble. Corruption and greed were unavoidable traits of sapient life forms.

He recalled the scene of the Admin sitting in an empty castle, with only the Nurse for company. Even the draugr was a recent addition by the looks of it. Although he had been forbidden from seeing what was outside the place, Aenon doubted it had many visitors.

Unfortunately, he couldn't reveal his impromptu visit to the Void Realm yet. The scale of that confrontation was just too difficult to explain. They had to focus on the here and now. Aenon pulled up the last quest notification he had gotten, sharing it with everyone in the room.

Everyone's eyes widened in shock at the revelation as they stared dumbfounded at the unassuming screen.

Quest

Birth of a Sovereign

You have earned the loyalty of others. Not based on strength alone, but through your compassion and empathy. It's time to announce it to the world.

Objective: Assign a hierarchical structure for your budding kingdom (0/1) | Put on the crown, a symbol of the burden you bear (0/1)

"When did you get this?" Thalindra asked before standing up suddenly.

"Right after you mentioned something about a coronation," Aenon replied, eyeing everyone in confusion. There were various degrees of excitement among the non-Earthlings.

"And you didn't bother telling us this?" Thalindra was almost exasperated.

"This—," Henry spoke in almost imperceptible whisper. "This changes everything. We were thinking too small."

Only Jenny and Aenon seemed lost, while Bane and Venge seemed indifferent to the news.

"Bloody hell," Borin suddenly interjected. "All my work on your damned project. And now I gotta start over."

The brash dwarf suddenly ran out of the room without a single word of explanation. Even Henry rushed out after apologizing profusely. Something about stopping the upcoming ceremony.

Aenon was dumbfounded. He was not expecting such a reaction to a seemingly mundane quest. He was expecting a swift quest completion notification once he finalized the hierarchical structure, and maybe put on a piece of jewelry to fulfil the requirements.

Thalindra literally started handing out orders so fast that Aenon was having a tough time understanding her words. In less than a minute, it was just the two of them sitting in the room.

"Is there any other quest like this one?" she asked seriously.

"Umm, no. Apart from my Domain quest, that is."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am sure Thalindra," Aenon replied in frustration. "What in the world is going on?"

Thalindra took several deep breaths to calm herself. Even so, Aenon could feel the mix of fear and excitement in her soul.

"That is no ordinary quest, Lord Fenrast." Her tone was too formal even by her standards. "We were initially just planning for you to claim ownership of a small Domain. Maybe set up a minor noble house with you as the head. But a System quest to establish a Sovereign—"

Her voice trailed off as she tried her best to contain her excitement. Aenon frowned at the offending screen, no doubt the Admin's doing.

"Nobility has a several ranks," Thalindra finally began explaining. "Right now, you are a Mayor since you own a city. As you progressively gain control of more land, the rank rises with it. It also allows you to assign ranks less than your own. For instance, you could grant the position of Village Head to someone under you before granting them a portion of land."

"Okay? But I still don't see why—"

"I am getting to that," Thalindra interrupted him. "This is the progression for nobility ranks—Village Head, Mayor, Baron, Viscount, Earl, Duke, Archduke, King, Emperor, Monarch, Overseer, and finally Sovereign."

"Wait, this means I have a quest that basically makes me jump all the middle levels, and directly to the top?" Aenon asked in confusion. If true, then the system made absolutely no sense in terms of progression.

Thalindra shook her head. "Not quite. The ranks have strict requirements. Both in terms of objectives, and scale. An Emperor for example needs to claim ownership of at least one planet and have several dozen Kings swear fealty to them. Same goes for every level, the area of control grows exponentially with each rank. But there is more to it than just that. It requires the System's approval."

Aenon was certain of the meddling by this point. Even the Nurse, who he detected in his outer soul, was casually ignoring him.

"Again, how can I jump all the way to Sovereign?" Aenon asked with folded arms.

"You are not," Thalindra clarified. "The quest opens a pathway to it, but you will start at the bottom like anyone else. You will have to rise in the ranks much like your Class levels."

"Then why is everyone running around like the house is on fire?" Aenon waved his hand at the door.

"Because the System only gives a nobility quest twice," Thalindra finally got to the core of the issue. "The first one is a kind of test to see if you can accomplish it. Based on performance, you will get one more chance to elevate your rank. Most people get a quest to set up a barony, and then maybe upgrade that to a Kingdom or Empire. For you to have received a quest to setup a Sovereignty is unheard of."

"But—," Aenon blanked out. Once again the scale of things he was thrust into was outside his expectations. "But this quest isn't challenging. It simply requires me to do something trivial. I mean, anyone can devise a ruling structure and put on a stupid crown."

Thalindra smiled. "It's not that simple, Lord Fenrast. A worthless drunk could assign someone to rule in his stead and put a bowl on his head claiming it was a crown. But the act requires a bit more than that."

Aenon looked at the smiling woman, unsure of where she was going with this. He read the quest text multiple times, but came up empty.

"Loyalty and respect, Lord Fenrast," Thalindra finally explained. "A coronation ceremony requires your subjects to feel that pull towards you. A crown isn't just a piece of jewelry you put on. It carries the weight of everyone's expectations. Without it, the quest condition will not be satisfied. Same goes for assigning a hierarchy. You need people who believe in you; who will follow you without question. That is how one completes a nobility quest."

The realization of what Aenon had stumbled across hit him like a truck. He was still reeling from the shock when the Nurse finally decided to join in. Thalindra gave a deep bow when the draugr appeared.

"And to clarify something," the Nurse said sternly. "She didn't interfere with the process. The System itself acknowledged that you have met the conditions. And based on your ridiculous performance, a Sovereignty is the bare minimum that is expected of you."

"But isn't that the topmost rank?" Aenon asked.

"Is it?" the Nurse asked with a wink.

Aenon remembered their earlier conversation about the integration process. More than likely, there were higher levels outside the universe they were in. A sudden thought hit him, making him dread the question he was about to ask.

"How much area does a Sovereign control?" he asked in a low voice.

The Nurse's smile kept rising till it was practically horrifying. Her next words were sweet, but the implications were anything but.

"The entire universe, of course."

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