S.P.E.C.T.O.R – [A Sci-fi space adventure with fantasy elements]

“Such as Oracle Andromeda?” Tephe asked.

“She’s definitely one of them,” Revi confirmed. “But she won’t speak up without either seeing it in a vision or seeing concrete proof.”

“Can’t she just lie?” Adam asked curiously.

“While theoretically she could, she won’t because of what happened with her predecessor,” Revi explained. “She spent a lot of time and effort rebuilding the oracle's reputation.”

“Ah,” Adam replied while nodding.

“But we all know that’s not why you were so desperate to speak to us, Queen Riniya,” Revi said as she looked at Riniya with a smile.

“Correct, the main purpose of my call is to arrange for Eytelis’ safe return home,” Riniya replied.

“I’m afraid it will have to wait until after my vacation, Riniya,” Eytelis stated happily.

“You're what?” Riniya asked in surprise, a reaction mirrored by Tessa, Keerla and Shalendra.

Liluth and Becky, on the other hand, chuckled with amusement as they watched with interest.

“I believe that after being such a diligent bureau chief and then getting kidnapped, I deserve a vacation,” Eytelis explained. “Luckily, my rescuers just happen to be planning to do just that on Aqua Primus.”

“And you plan to accompany them?” Riniya asked.

“That’s correct,” Eytelis replied happily.

“We’ve searched for you for so long, and after finally finding you, you refuse to come home?” Riniya asked with a frown.

“I’m not refusing to come home; I’m just delaying it,” Eytelis responded. “Besides, it’s not like many know of my kidnapping in the first place, since you and the Environmental Sustainability Bureau covered up my kidnapping.”

“Why did you even need to cover it up in the first place?” Adam suddenly asked.

“It was a request from the Environmental Sustainability Bureau,” Riniya explained. “They determined that it would be detrimental if news of Eytelis' kidnapping were to become public knowledge.”

“Detrimental?” Eytelis scoffed. “Who thought of that? No wait, let me guess, Ophyroe.”

“Who?” Adam asked.

“Ophyroe, the current Environmental Sustainability Bureau Head and a rival of mine,” Eytelis answered while sighing.

“Is she also a Dryad?” Emma asked curiously.

“No, she’s a Naiad,” Eytelis answered and, upon seeing Adam and Emma’s confused expressions, added. “The easiest way to describe them is as a type of water dryad.”

“They say you Dryads are a type of land-based Naiads,” Rimiya said with a smirk.

“So the Environmental Sustainability Bureau isn't just for land-based plantae?” Emma asked.

“Not at all; water plantae and even water itself in lakes, rivers and oceans are of paramount importance to environmental sustainability,” Eytelis explained.

“So why’s this Ophyroe a rival of yours?” Adam asked.

“It’s more accurate to say that she sees me as a rival to her position, even though I have never shown any interest in it,” Eytelis explained. “Because of my position as Solarian Prime bureau chief and also my popularity within the Environmental Sustainability Bureau itself, many of its members have voiced their desire that I replace Ophyroe as the head.”

“It can’t only be because of your popularity and connection to the Solarians, “ Adam remarked. “Do they dislike Ophyroe or something?”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“Dislike is not really right,” Eytelis said thoughtfully. “It’s more that they don’t agree with many of her policies.

The Environmental Sustainability Bureau is rather old-fashioned in its beliefs, while Ophyroe wishes to modernise it.”

“That’s unexpected,” Emma remarked while Adam nodded in agreement.

“Why?” Eytelis asked.

“I was expecting you to say that she was biased towards water-based plantae,” Emma answered.

“Ah,” Eytelis nodded. “I can understand why you think that, but Ophyroe is very fair in that regard."

“It sounds like you admire her,” Stacey noted.

“Instead of admiring, I would say I respect her, even if she wrongly sees me as a rival,” Eytelis answered.

“Have you tried explaining this to her?” Lorelie asked.

“Of course, but I’m sure you can understand how difficult it can be to explain something to someone who sees you as a rival,” Eytelis replied.

“I have indeed experienced something similar in the past,” Emma remarked while nodding.

“Her requesting that the Solarians cover up your kidnapping makes no sense,” Adam remarked.

“You also find it suspicious, huh?” Riniya asked.

“What do you mean?” Tephe asked in confusion.

Instead of answering, Adam asked, “While Ophyroe sees Eytelis as a rival, what does she gain from covering up the kidnapping?”

“Maybe she’s doing it to try and damage her reputation,” Stacey suggested.

“No,” Rowena replied thoughtfully. “People tend to be sympathetic when learning someone's been kidnapped. That’s more likely to boost her reputation than damage it.”

“Maybe she’s covering it up to prevent that from happening then,” Tephe remarked.

“That is more likely,” Rowena said in agreement. “If Ophyroe truly views Eytelis as a rival for her position, then the last thing she would want is for her to gain more popularity.”

“True, but it’s a gamble on her part,” Aphrodite remarked. “If people were to learn that she covered the whole thing up just for that one reason, then it’s likely her own reputation would take a significant hit.”

“That’s my point exactly,” Adam replied. “If this Ophyroe is capable of becoming the head of the Environmental Sustainability Bureau, then there’s no way she’s foolish enough to do this out of pride or jealousy.”

“I agree, which is why I found the whole thing suspicious in the first place,” Riniya stated.

“Did you not try to investigate the matter?” Adam asked.

“Taegen probably forbade her from doing so,” Eytelis remarked.

“You mean Liluth’s father?” Adam asked.

“Correct, the Solarian king and my husband,” Riniya explained. “While I’m the Solarian Queen and hold much authority, Taegen is still the king.

Because he had no wish to upset Ophyroe or the Environmental Sustainability Bureau, he decided it was best to adhere to their request.”

“Does he fear them?” Emma asked.

“That’s difficult to answer,” Riniya replied thoughtfully.

“We don’t fear the Environmental Sustainability Bureau directly; after all, we are far stronger militarily,” Liluth answered. “What Father most likely feared, and thus caused him to adhere to their request, was the great tree’s reprisal should the Environmental Sustainability Bureau request that she take action.”

“Excuse me?” Adam asked in confusion.

“Let me explain,” Liluth said after giggling. “You have to consider the fact that all life in the universe is sentient. However, the level of sentience differs depending on the life in general.

Let us compare us humanoids to trees, for example.

A tree’s level of sentience is far slower than our own, and because of this, they tend to only register large-scale events and the rest of the time they just exist.

Take an insect that’s buzzing around, for example. We humanoids would quickly get annoyed with said insect and try to swat it away; however, a tree wouldn’t even register it’s pressense.

The great tree and other plantae that are connected with a Dryad, like Eytelis or other members of the Environmental Sustainability Bureau, are different, however. Eytelis is capable of sharing her senses with the great tree, thus informing it that an insect is flying around, though admittedly the great tree probably wouldn’t care.”

“Oh, I kind of get that,” Adam replied. “But are you saying that other members of the Environmental Sustainability Bureau can communicate with the great tree even though they are not connected with it?”

“It’s more difficult and takes more time to communicate something, but yes, that is indeed possible,” Eytelis answered.

“So what you're saying is that King Taegen feared a member of the Environmental Sustainability Bureau would request that the great tree cause upheaval on the planet just because he refused their request to cover it up?” Adam asked in disbelief before adding. “I’m sorry, but what?”

“It does seem ridiculous,” Emma said in agreement.

“That’s because neither of you truly comprehends the destructive capability of plantae,” Riniya remarked.

“Rowena explained it to me in the past,” Adam replied. “Something about a massacre taking place on the planet Ailiv.

“What I don’t get is why he would even think the great tree would agree to do such a thing; I mean, it’s connected with Eytelis, right, so it knows what she knows.”

“That actually raises a good point,” Aphrodite suddenly said. “Why didn’t anyone ask the great tree where Eytelis was or what was happening with her?”

“The Environmental Sustainability Bureau tried; however, for some reason, the great tree refused to answer,” Riniya replied while frowning at Eytelis, who just smiled back.

“So you're not even going to explain why the great tree refused to answer?” Riniya asked in annoyance.

Eytelis shrugged before answering, “I will when it's time.”

“When it’s time?” Riniya repeated as her annoyance grew.

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