Hao Ren planned to just return home. The Sacred Relic of Origins that they got from the alternate dimension tingled his curiosity. What Bethanos said played at the back of his mind too, and he wanted to further investigate the matter as soon as he got back. However, Hessiana had invited them to stay back a little longer for a meal, and Hao Ren found it hard to reject.
Well, it was more like Vivian being the only person who got the invitation and Hessiana finding it hard to reject the rest so, she decided to let them stay...
The city was in ruin, and much work was needed to restore it. Not discounting the fact that there were still a whole bunch of dead and wounded, who needed to be tended to. This was not a celebratory luncheon rather, a somber, post-mortem meeting. Hessiana and Zeon had concluded their family matters and arranged for more stringent security detail as well as repair works for the city. Now, they had some time to ponder on the future. The three big families had been reduced to two, and the smaller families literally had no say on the matter. Hence, Hessiana and Zeon were the de facto leaders of the sanctuary. They personally went around the city to invite the Ancients, who participated in the defence of the city. With Vivian's fame backing their invitation, it was almost a full attendance.
The only Ancient missing was the Great Guardian Tree, Grandalr. It was understandable given his size and mobility but, he sent a familiar of sorts to attend the meeting. The familiar was now in front of Hessiana, a pot with a stalk of leek.
Hao Ren had to pay extra attention to Lil Pea, who was bouncing around in front of him. He had to stop her from biting the stalk of leek... While the little rascal did not eat vegetables, she had the habit of biting anything that looked weird to her just to grind her teeth!
That said, Hessiana's main hall was now the place of congregation for the most capable and famed group of people. They were split between two factions on the future of the sanctuary.
Some felt that the sanctuary was no longer safe, and theu wanted to abandon the place to wander or go to another sanctuary for help. Another group thought that things were not as bad as they were made out to be. They wanted to stay and rebuild the place.
Both factions had their logic and sound arguments. With the current situation, neither being in nor outside the sanctuary was safe. The sanctuary was attacked mainly because the Shadowy Divide was sabotaged, and once they repaired the Divide, the demon hunters would have no way to act against the place. The demon hunters knew that the sanctuary had been around for a few thousand years already. And, they very well knew that a huge congregation of supernaturals lived here as they knew about other sanctuaries throughout the world. Exposure of the location was not a problem on its own. The problem lay in the defence.
Once the defence was restored and rebuilt, things would return to the original status quo.
The Shadowy Divide was indeed created by the shadelings but, vampires and other creatures of darkness were also capable of such techniques. Furthermore, the Divide itself was technically not damaged and rebuilding the defence would not have been too difficult. In fact, the Divide had already been reactivated. It was just that all who present were worried if the shadelings left any nasty booby traps in it. Therefore, they needed to recalibrate this defence mechanism. Of course, that was if the sanctuary would not be abandoned.
Hao Ren knew he was just an outsider however, he could not help but care about the city's fate. He looked at Hessiana, who was standing beside him. "What do you think?"
"Me? Most of the current inhabitants will stay." Hessiana did not treat it like a major matter. "Actually, this place has been attacked by demon hunters a few times in the past. The latest was during the raging witch hunts across Europe. An army of demon hunters broke through and the battle was even bigger than the one we fought today. We prevailed in the end and we did the same thing as today. A few will leave, most will stay. The demon hunters also did not recommence their attacks for some reason, and it'll probably be the same today. There have been many wars during the Mythological Era, and it has continued long after the era ended. Both supernaturals and demon hunters are equally depleted. No one has the power or force to destroy a city on a whim."
Hessiana sighed after she finished. "It's not safe anywhere anyway. This discussion will never have an end. It's really choosing between the lesser of two evils. The demon hunters will not be attempting another attack any time soon. They have a need to take into account their own loses and how pushing us to the brink may cause Athens to be destroyed with them. So...it's better not to overthink things."
There was truth in Hessiana's argument.
At the end of the meeting, it was decided that the sanctuary remained. After mending the Divide, they would return to their status quo against the demon hunters. This sort of crisis was not new to them and the inhabitants of the sanctuary were used to it. Of course, a small minority opted to leave but, even more stayed on to rebuild the place. The Ancients also decided on how to rebuild and redevelop the sanctuary. Hessiana and Zeon Lucas went along with the Ancients' plans.
With the meeting concluded, the congregation started socializing. Hessiana sheepishly went towards Vivian and tugged at her sleeves. "Lady Vivian, Lady Vivian can I..."
Vivian subconsciously shook her head. "No."
"But, I haven't said anything..." Hessiana protested.
"Oh. Sorry, it's habitual," Vivian said as she massaged her forehead. "Go on then."
Hessiana put on another pitiful look. "Lady Vivian, can I move to your place?"
Before Vivian could respond, Hao Ren's ears sprang into attention but, it was Lily who responded first. "No way! No way! There's already a vampire at home. We don't need a second one?!"
Hessiana gave Lily a sideways glance. "And how does this involve you? You can see for yourself that the city is in chaos. It's obvious that it's not safe to stay here for a while. I heard that Lady Vivian's place is a safe haven so, let me stay there for a day or two."
Hesperides was passing by as she heard the conversation and she gave Hessiana a weird look. "What are you? A tumbleweed? Going where there's safety? Don't forget that both you and Zeon are the leaders of this sanctuary. We Ancients are not involved.
Hessiana puffed her chest. "How am I a mere tumbleweed. I'm literally a dandelion. I don't even need wind to bring me flying towards Lady Vivian. Right, Lady Vivian? Hehehe..."
As Hessiana said that, she tried to snuggle into Vivian's bosom with the latter recoiling. She had goosebumps all over her. "Oh no, you don't... How many times do I have to tell you? Have some decency!"
Vivian then looked at Hessiana sternly. "No, not today. The people here need you. You can't just leave at such a key moment. Once you're done however, you are free to come and look for me..."
Hessiana had a look of disbelief on her face. "Really?!"
Vivian glanced at Hao Ren. Upon getting his approval, she turned back and broke into a smile. "Our place is a safe haven for supernaturals, and you are welcomed there. Truth be told, the reason I left you behind was because of circumstances. I really couldn't afford to feed you..."
Hessiana was almost touched before Vivian continued, "But of course, the more pressing issue was that you were simply too annoying."
Hao Ren coughed lightly to draw Hessiana's attention. "Besides, you staying here could help us a lot... I mean, help Vivian out."
This tactic worked surprisingly well with Hessiana and she nodded like a vibrating controller.
"Dig whatever you can out of Bethanos," Hao Ren said in a low voice. "We don't have any right to interrogate him and I don't have the experience either. But, you have. So, anything that he divulges, please it tell it to me... Or better still, tell Vivian?"
Hessiana looked at Vivian and nodded.
"Another thing is regarding the Sacred Relic of Origins." Hao Ren looked icily at Zeon Lucas, who was standing some distance away. "Bethanos may let him in on that. The shadeling's stronghold may also have records of the relic so, Zeon will find out that we have taken the device sooner or later. But frankly speaking... it is important that I keep it as it is really dangerous and I can't just let anyone tinker with it. So...for my sake...or rather...Vivian's sake, keep it suppressed.
Hessiana agreed as well and Hao Ren finally sighed with relief. "It's tiring talking to you. I have to bring Vivian up every time... It's not like you don't know that helping me's like helping Vivian."
Hessiana pouted as she swept her sight between Hao Ren and Vivian before she made a face at Hao Ren as she blurted, "Over my dead body if I had to call you Dad!"
Hao Ren, "Huh?!"
The petite vampire ran off like the wind, leaving Hao Ren and Vivian to look at each other in shock. The two shared another glance before they went, "Ah, just a silly girl's rant. Ignore her!"
This caused Hesperides to raise an eyebrow. "The synchronicity is just a little too high, ain't it?"
Hao Ren shifted awkwardly as he caughed. He immediately remembered something as he saw Hesperides. "Oh, right! About you... Do you want to fix the hole in that brain of yours?"