Itsuki's Decision

For a settlement full of vampires, they had exorbitant amounts of food at their disposal. 

The table, which could sit about twelve people, was totally covered in dishes. Meats, vegetables, fruits, pastries. It all smelled delightful, and seemed like an authentic banquet

"Everything is real, by the way," Vaelric commented from the head of the table. "While we gain no nutritional benefit from human food, we do still enjoy it. Especially since some of us started as humans in the first place."

Itsuki and Yuna sat on the far end of the table, setting their weapons off to the side. It might've seemed strange to be allowed to bring them, but Itsuki understood why. There were four guards, Alarak included, manning this room with Vaelric. 

Bringing them would, in theory, make Yuna and Itsuki a bit more comfortable. In reality, however, Itsuki knew that it was a formality. Weapons or not, they posed no threat if they became violent. 

"Go ahead and dig in!" Vaelric exclaimed. "I'm sure you haven't had a proper meal like this in some time. I'd rather start with that; then we can fully focus on our conversation."

Vaelric went right to stuffing his face after that. Itsuki also began grabbing some items for his plate. Yuna watched intently, glaring for Itsuki as if to confirm if was edible. 

"It's fine," itsuki chuckled after taking a bite. "Go for it."

"O...okay."

Yuna ate suspiciously at first. expecting blood-flavoring or poison. After about ten minutes, however, she was shoveling down faster than anyone else at the table. 

It made sense. As a slave, who knows when the last time she had a proper meal was. 

"Good, isn't it?" Vaelric smiled, turning to Itsuki. "I do appreciate women with appetites. You've picked yourself a suitable mate, God-marked!"

Itsuki stiffened right up at that comment, and Yuna began to choke on her food. She was able to cough, so she got it sorted out after a few seconds. 

"That's not it at all!" Yuna exclaimed, her red face a stark contrast from her green hair. "We have no relationship like that, and Itsuki doesn't even find me that attractive. Right, Itsuki?"

All eyes were on him. He blushed, suddenly more uncomfortable. He wasn't sure if he'd rather this or having to fight his way out. 

"It is true that we aren't in a relationship..."

Yuna took it and ran with it. She sat upright in her chair, smiling confidently. Vaelric did not miss the implication behind Itsuki leaving out the second part. 

"Life is short for humans," Vaelric stated. "Don't waste it away. Be sure to take chances and explore what comes!"

"I feel like I've taken some chances lately," Itsuki shot back. "After all, I'm sitting in the heart of a vampire settlement..."

Vaelric laughed at the comment. He seemed very genuine, but Itsuki really couldn't tell. 

"I will give you that, God-marked. I've lived quite a long life, but even this is a first for me."

"How long would that be?"

Vaelric pondered for a moment as he played with his cup. 

"Long enough that I've seen more than most," his tone returned to seriousness. "Hence, why we need to have a conversation."

The air grew taut with Vaelric's words. Itsuki and Yuna looked to him with intent. The eating had transpired; it was time for business. 

"You've been in The Fallen Lands for how long now, God-Marked?"

"A little over a week, I believe."

"I see, so you're as uninformed as they come..."

Vaelric leaned back in his chair, playing with his utensils and pondering his words. 

"You know of the Cataclysm, yes?"

"Yuna gave me the gist of it," Itsuki admitted. "Every couple of centuries, the sky opens up and hell breaks loose."

"Once every century?" Vaelric questioned, looking towards Yuna. 

"That's what I was told!" she shot back, defensively.

Vaelric chuckled, "I suppose that makes sense. For any smaller settlements, I wouldn't suspect that it occurs more than once every couple of centuries."

"For smaller settlements?" Itsuki questioned. "Are you saying that the Cataclysm takes place on a 'per-settlement' basis?"

"What I am saying is that viewing the Cataclysm as a single event is incorrect. The Cataclysm is an era. It is an era where civilizations are periodically wiped out and restarted, and it has been going on for three-thousand years."

The weight of his words sat heavy on Itsuki's mind. Three-thousand years of recurring extinction? It was no wonder some settlements had begun to lose their minds. 

"I was but a young adult when the Cataclysm began," Vaelric admitted. "Since then, the sky has never once peeked through the clouds - except to exterminate."

It was a horrifying thought. Itsuki's worry, however, was not about the Cataclysm itself. 

"You're telling me this for some reason," Itsuki thought aloud. "Does that mean I'm somehow tied to this Cataclysm?"

"The Dragon of Wisdom chose well!" Vaelric called out. "The civilizations of The Fallen Lands have summoned heroes, prophets, and all other manner of salvation. Naturally, they all failed. True salvation can only come once a millennia. During the time where the gods themselves summon an arbiter to decide our fate..."

Bahamut's words echoed through Itsuki's mind. Is this what it meant to be a judge? Was this truly why he was called here?

"To free us, or to sentence us to another millennia of this existence. That choice will, ultimately, be yours."

"What about the others?!" Itsuki yelled in a panic. "My brother and friend who were with me the day I was summoned. Am I just imagining that they're here? Is it really just me?"

"I cannot say, God-Marked. Group summons have happened before, and it's entirely reasonable that the others you yearn for are in The Fallen Lands somewhere. If you believe that Evermere will bring you closer to that discovery, then I certainly encourage you to follow through with it."

Vaelric then stood from his seat, brushing small crumbs off of his regal attire. 

"But you are the only judge. There has only ever been one judge at a time. Your friends may be here, and may have roles to fill, but the responsibility ultimately lands on you."

This was a lot for Itsuki to take in. The most 'responsibility' he had ever had was raising his younger brother. Not that doing so was easy, but deciding the fate of an entire world? 

--That dragon has a twisted sense of humor if he thinks I'm the best fit for this...

As if hearing Itsuki's inner thought, things only proceeded to get worse...

"Baron Vaelric!"

Everyone turned towards the door of the dining hall, which swung open and slammed into the wall. Two guards, their expressions horrified, charged in. 

"The clouds have parted!" they yelled in unison. "The Cataclysm has begun!"