The last time we met in the Eternal City of Oribos, although Gristia had gone through some disguises, her high-spirited attitude could be seen from her full energy.
It had only been more than two months since Oribos parted ways, and the vigorous momentum he had seen in Gristia had disappeared.
Although she was still sitting upright on her consul's throne, Gristia's eyes were not focused at all, and she stared blankly at the blue sky in the distance of the Ascension Fortress, as if she had no interest in everything happening around her.
Adrestis called several times in succession before Gristia, who was in a state of disbelief, came back to her senses and looked back at the four Saryans who were standing in front of them.
"Ah~ it's you."
Gristia's original sonorous tone also became weak, sounding like a lazy and lazy person.
"I'm sorry for letting you see the unseemly side of the Ascension Fortress. I... am really too incompetent. I really don't deserve the trust of the Firstborn."
Sarlayan frowned and questioned: "Didn't you just make some mistakes? It's not irreversible, why should you be so decadent?"
"People can not escape from doing wrong?"
"Isn't it enough to correct mistakes? Use this as a warning to remind yourself not to make the same stupid mistakes again in the future. Isn't this how people grow up step by step in the process of trial and error and correction?"
"person?"
Gristia was silent for a moment before sighing softly: "Maybe, as a high-ranking Eternal One and Archon all the year round, I actually forgot that I am still a human being."
The so-called person here is not a human being, but a broader concept.
To use a more precise word to describe it, perhaps it should be said...intelligent life.
Ever since he obtained many secrets of the Azeroth universe through barrage, Sarlayan no longer believed in the so-called gods.
In his view, gods are just higher-level intelligent creatures that mortals cannot understand. Strictly speaking, they still have to be classified as "human".
As it is with the Titans, so it is with the Eternals.
Even the original beings who created the entire physical universe cannot escape this framework, but they have many powerful powers in their hands that ordinary people cannot understand.
Precisely because they are human beings and not the omniscient and omnipotent gods in human imagination, the Firstborn left many loopholes in the creation of the world, which led to Zoval's extreme attempt to destroy the world and reshape the universe.
Among the five major kingdoms of the Shadow Realm, except for the second-generation arbiters who can only handle work mechanically, Sarlayan believes that the soldier master who encourages his subordinates to challenge himself is the Eternal who is closest to the concept of "human".
To put it simply, the Soldier Master is the most down-to-earth of the five Eternals.
The Winter Queen, Gristia, and Denathrius all have varying degrees of humor, and they themselves are not aware of this problem.
It is precisely because they have been aloof for so long that they are separated from the masses and think that their will can represent the entire country.
The Winter Queen, who has always been a Buddhist, was awakened by the rebellion in Ardenweald. Under the guidance of Sharlayan, she finally learned from the pain and regained power. With the full assistance of the Charming Night Court, she personally took care of government affairs.
Gristia's forcing Amway's own will will cause even greater chaos, but it is not impossible to end.
Denathrius's own way of powerful rule has also aroused resentment among many people. Prince Renathor and the Stonesmith, who are busy preparing for the revolutionary cause, are clear examples.
For Gryen who was promoted to the fortress, Gristia's countless years of accumulated prestige always weighed on them. Even if they knew that Gristia had done something wrong, most people did not dare to stand up and openly ask her.
...And even if he puts it forward, there is a high probability that the stubborn Gristia will not accept it.
As a passer-by from outside the Shadow Realm, Sarlayan can stand on the sidelines and look at things more calmly.
Anyway, he is still alive and will not be under the jurisdiction of the Eternals for a long time. If he finds any problems, he will raise them without any secret.
It was this kind of bystander attitude that made both the Winter Queen and Gristia value his advice.
For them, this is a rare, objective opinion that defies authority.
As the saying goes, a true message can be transmitted in one sentence, but a false message can be transmitted in thousands of books.
The concept of growth that Sarlayan put forward about "people" making mistakes and correcting made Gristia realize something.
If you think about it carefully, this is indeed the case.
No one can guarantee that he will not make mistakes throughout his life. If the scale of this life is extended to infinite, the problem will be even more serious.
What Sarlayan wants to express is actually very simple. Making mistakes is not terrible. What is terrible is that you refuse to repent after making a mistake, and you always put on airs and are unwilling to bow your head and admit your mistakes.
Although this merciless evaluation made Gristia feel a little embarrassed, the real example was right in front of her, which finally made her realize her own problem and the origin of the problems faced by the Ascension Fortress.
"Hey~"
Once she realized this, the decadence in Gristia's body was obviously reduced, and she once again cast her sights on the blue sky.
Different from before, this time Gristia's eyes were no longer dull, but looked a little tangled.
"I found the problem, but how do I solve it?"
Sarlayan smiled and shrugged: "This is an internal problem within the Fortress. It should be decided by the officials of the Fortress to fully listen to public opinions and then find a solution. I, an outsider, will not do it for me."
"Hmm..." Gristia touched her chin thoughtfully: "It makes sense. Only local people know local things best... Adrestis."
"My subordinate is here."
Adrestis, who had been standing by with his eyes and nose and nose and heart, bowed and responded: "Consul, please give me your instructions."
Gristia stood up from the throne with a spear in hand: "Lead the way, I want to go to the negotiation site in person to see the situation."
"this……"
Adrestis bluntly advised: "With all due respect, if you suddenly arrive... it may cause some unnecessary chaos and interfere with the negotiation process."
Gristia said nonchalantly: "I didn't say that I wanted to intervene in the negotiations blatantly. I just wanted to hide aside and listen to the voices of the people and understand the truest demands of the Forsworn."
Adrestis breathed a sigh of relief: "I see, then... please come with me. I know a good place to watch the negotiations up close."
…
In order to prevent Gristia, whose governing ability was worrying, from coming up with some weird ideas, the worried Sarlayan and his entourage followed her and Adrestis to the negotiation location.
After discussions between the two parties, the Forsworn and Kyrian's negotiation location was selected in a small square between the Heroes' Rest and the Bliss Castle.
This place was originally the centurion's barracks, a promotion fortress structure, but it was temporarily transformed into a negotiation site.
Adrestis led a group of people to the top of a hill not far east of the negotiation site. From here, they could just see the negotiation process of the four saints on both sides of the negotiation table.
In order to prevent anyone from denying the results of the negotiations, there are record-keeping officers from both parties on site who can record the negotiations between the two parties in real time.
Adrestis used the authority of Archon Auxiliary to remotely connect to the recording system of one of the record officers.
A translucent scene of the negotiation was presented in front of Gristia, Saryan and others, and they could even hear the slightly distorted sound of the scene.
DeVos first unabashedly elaborated on the fact that the Loyal Hand came to Sonya to betray the Ascension Fortress and join the Warden.
However, she did not throw all the blame on the already distraught Lysonia, but openly admitted that she had been induced by Lysonia to make many absurd decisions, and then even detonated the accusation against Gristia. The dissatisfaction that has been accumulated for many years has fallen into the sky.
Vesiphone's words are similar, and Sonia's soul-bound object Erydia played an important catalytic role in her fall to heaven.
But in the final analysis, Fallen to Heaven is ultimately driven by the personal will of Visifurne and Devos.
If they had no doubts about the existing laws of Gristia and the Ascension Fortress, even with Sonia's instigation, the Fall would not happen so easily.
"Visifirne, Devos..."
Gristia sighed silently: "I'm afraid it's not just the two of them, right? Sandria, Senius and Kairos are also dissatisfied with the iron law that has not changed for tens of thousands of years."
As Gristia's political assistant, Adrestis is a tough guy who always speaks his mind.
"As you said, it is recorded in my government affairs records that the five saints have successively put forward suggestions for reforming the law, but you have not adopted them even once."
Gristia looked a little embarrassed: "Uh~ Is that so?"
The selfless Adrestis nodded without hesitation: "At least according to my records, this is indeed the case."
Gristia: "...Okay, let's read it patiently, and then I will give them a positive reply."
