Chapter 100: Intention To Kill
That statement was met with silence as no one spoke to refute after that.
Sage Maximus didn’t say any more, simply returning to his seat comfortably. The elders weren’t fools. Just like Sage Maximus had said, they were all thinking the same thing. And now that the sage had laid it all out in the open, there was no use trying to hide it under the rug anymore.
"I think we are rushing this decision because of this similarity." Petyr stood up carefully and took over. "I am young. In fact, the youngest here. So I cannot boldly say the conclusion I’ve come to is right... but as the Overseer that you all allowed to be put in office, I believe my words count for something." He said. "I have met the boy personally, and I do not see anything that bears resemblance to how High Exalted Ashworth was depicted in the records. If anything, Zephyr’s eyes are full of curiosity and eagerness to learn. From the reports I receive and from my brief meeting with him, I could sense that he’s just a lost boy that wants to be left alone to his devices." Petyr paced around the empty circle in the middle of the hall. "I saw no wild ambition in his eyes, nor anything of the like. I only saw a boy. A weary and tired boy."
The scrawny old woman rolled her eyes exaggeratedly, muttering to herself, "These young ones— If that is all you’re capable of Petyr, then I’m sorely disappointed. He’s just a boy? You didn’t see any ambition in his eyes? That’s your argument?! And you simply want us to take it like that?" She frowned distastefully.
"Did you think Ashworth had ambition in his eyes from birth? You think he was born with a certain ’look’?" She chuckled. "No! He grew! His magic grew faster and stronger than anyone else around them, he comprehended things that others took years to even scratch the surface of within days, and slowly he began to think to himself: Why do I need to conform to their rules? Why do I need to limit myself to their level? They cannot do anything to me anyway..." she said with venom in her voice. "No one is born a villain, Petyr! Their experiences and environment make them into one!"
"And what are you doing at the moment, you old thing?!" Sage Maximus snapped at her. "You said experiences and environment are what shape a person into a villain. What do you think the boy is experiencing right now?! How do you think he feels in this environment?! Huh?! You’re shaping him into a villain by doing all this!"
"Not if we cut him off from the roots right now." She answered, making Sage Maximus’ look turn cold.
"Well, you’d have to go through me first before you can do that." He said.
"Maximus!" the scrawny old woman seethed. "Do you think you’re untouchable?! While we all know how strong you are, do you think you can stop the whole council?!" She warned.
"If it comes down to it, I’m ready." Sage Maximus replied with a surprising surety to his voice. He knew he was the strongest person seated here aside from the Old One, and he knew the Old One wouldn’t butt into their squabbles, so he could speak as he pleased.
His statement was not well received though. The rest of the elders felt like he was belittling them, to the joy of the scrawny old woman— this seemed to be her goal all along... riling up the other elders. She knew Sage Maximus was not one to think straight whenever he was challenged.
Petyr quickly tried stepping in again, but Sage Maximus shot down his effort. "Why so silent? You scheming old thing. Do you dare to invade my estate?! I’ve been itching to beat up something to my heart’s content for the past few years." He stood up menacingly, with a thick aura that began to build up increasingly.
The scrawny old woman couldn’t help but shift back fearfully in her seat. They were all elders here—including the younger ones seated who were being groomed for the main roles in the future—so most of them were Tier 6s and even 7... but the power gap between every one of them was wildly different.