Chapter 589
As his eyes scanned its face, Rattan instinctively took a step back. The being’s features weren’t static; they were in constant flux, shifting with every blink of an eye. In one unsettling moment, Rattan even caught a fleeting reflection of his own face among the myriad of changing visages.
He was about to blurt out "Who are you?" but stopped himself. A profound sense of familiarity washed over him, a recognition deep in his soul. "Guardian... is that you?" Rattan asked, his voice barely a whisper. The colossal figure nodded.
Rattan started to drop to his knees, a deferential reflex to such an immense and familiar presence, but found he couldn’t. Instead, he saw Phantom extend a hand, a clear invitation for Rattan to simply sit so they could talk.
Rattan took several deep breaths, trying to calm the frantic beating of his heart. This was the first time he was truly coming face-to-face with his guardian, not just as an unseen presence or a distant voice, but as a giant, ever-shifting entity within the confines of his sanctuary.
Phantom, getting straight to the point, asked, "What do you plan on doing after you survive this war?"
The question hung in the air, heavy and vast. Rattan took his time, trying to formulate a response. But as he opened his mouth, he found he could not find an answer. It truly seemed as though his path had reached its end here. The moment he stepped outside the Abyss and into the Empire’s sight, he would be a dead man, his unique talents as a craftsmith utterly irrelevant in the grand schemes of empires and gods.
Rattan wanted to ask Phantom what he should do, to seek guidance as he always had. But the words wouldn’t form. A glance at Phantom’s ever-changing face was like looking into a mirror that reflected not just his physical self, but his deepest thoughts, his fears, and his unspoken desires.
No longer in a hurry to provide an answer, Rattan instead looked at Phantom, or rather, at this profound, mirroring reflection of himself. He shifted his own internal question, turning it back on his himself: "What is his next step after his battle?"
"He and his people still need time to survive and watch as the Empire collapses on itself, so they can take their rightful place. But that’s hard to do with his lost status and influence in the Empire."
"He came so far because he was living with the enemy, knowing their plans and movements. He was even able to strengthen his people with the Empire’s resources because he was so close to them."