“Hmm… This is the first time I have seen everyone gathered together at the same time,” Aqualina muttered as she settled into her chair at a long round table.
The table was vast, filled with numerous chairs, each occupied by people of great importance.
She sat beside her mother, Marisandra, the Empress. On her other side was Kai of the Naiadae Empire, followed closely by Leon.
Next to Leon was an empty seat, a stark reminder of someone missing, and beside it sat Raven of the Pyra Empire.
Further, Helena sat next to the Archpriestess, Finnian of the Aurora Empire.
Another empty seat followed before Mary, who was positioned beside Nyx of the Void Empire.
The arrangement was carefully planned.
Aria sat beside Liora, another empty seat beside them, and finally, Kaelen of the Zephyra Empire.
The room itself was grand, built to host powerful rulers, and now it was the designated meeting hall where crucial matters would be discussed.
As soon as Dora had announced that most of them had arrived near the academy, Aria made the decision. Rather than speaking out in the open on a broken road, she deemed it far more appropriate to conduct the discussion within the palace walls.
A meeting of this magnitude demanded a setting befitting its importance.
The air inside the room carried the sweet, natural fragrance of blooming flowers. The nearby garden, a creation of Aria’s own making, exuded a beautiful scent that spread through the halls, creating an illusion of peace. Yet, despite the calming aroma, the tension in the air was undeniable, thick enough to make some uneasy.
Dora stood at the head of the table, her sharp gaze sweeping over the gathered individuals. After ensuring that everyone was present, she nodded in satisfaction. “Good,” she said in a firm tone. However, as her gaze fell upon the empty seat near Aria, her expression darkened.
Dora frowned, her voice firm. “Where is your mother?”
Aria let out a weak, knowing smile, her voice carrying a faint hint of hesitation. “She couldn’t come. She’s… having some difficulty dealing with people at the moment.”
Dora’s frown deepened for a brief second before she exhaled, nodding slowly as if she had expected that answer after all there was a mess in their place too, “Make sure she hears everything that is discussed today. No matter what, she must be informed of the truth,” she said before straightening. “Now, shall we begin?”
Just as the air settled, Kai raised his hand, his expression cautious. “What about Jack? Shouldn’t we wait for him? He should be here too, right?”
Dora sighed, “Unfortunately… Jack is no more.”
The Chosen Ones exchanged shocked glances, their expressions filled with disbelief.
“W-Wait… no more? What do you mean by that?” Kai’s voice wavered slightly as he spoke, his mind struggling to grasp the implications.
“Do we really need to explain everything, Mr. Chosen One?” A voice, smooth yet laced with something sharp, cut through the air. Victor stepped forward from behind Dora.
Kai and Leon immediately tensed, their eyes narrowing as they turned toward Victor. The discomfort in Leon’s expression was unmistakable. He muttered under his breath, “I thought only Chosen Ones and rulers were supposed to be here. Why is he—”
Victor arched an eyebrow, an amused smirk playing at his lips. “And who exactly do you think I am?” He paused, his voice carrying a teasing edge. “I am the ruler of Pyra—”
“NO! YOU ARE NOT!!” Leon’s furious voice erupted, slamming against the walls of the chamber. His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white as he glared at Victor with nothing but pure hatred. “You’re a thief! You stole my rightful throne!! Fucker!” His voice dripped with venom as he spat the words out, unable to contain his rage.
“Shall we begin the meeting now?” Nyx Shadowfall finally interjected, “I don’t have the time nor the patience to listen to grown men cursing each other.”
Leon gritted his teeth, his entire body seething with anger, but with a deep breath, he forced himself to calm down. His eyes burned with even more hatred as he glared at Victor.
This wasn’t over.
Victor, however, appeared completely indifferent to Leon’s fury. He remained unfazed, not sparing him a second glance. Instead, his sharp gaze shifted toward the empty seat of the Zephyra Empire.
He reached out to Aria telepathically.
/Where is your mother?/
Aria inwardly sighed before responding, her mental voice carrying slight exhaustion. /She’s locked herself in her room. I’ve called her multiple times, but she refuses to come out./
Victor’s frown deepened at the response. Without delay, he reached out again, this time to Maelona herself.
/Mother-in-law… where are you now?/
/…/
There was no answer.
/Maelona?/
/…/
Again no answer!
Victor’s expression darkened as a sense of unease crept over him. Maelona had never ignored his telepathic messages before. Even when she was busy, she always acknowledged him. But now… something was wrong. Something didn’t add up.
“Anyway,” Dora finally spoke, reclaiming everyone’s attention. “Shall we begin the meeting?” She sat down with poised elegance, her gaze sharp as she addressed the room.
“Our academy was attacked today. The damage could have been catastrophic, possibly beyond repair, if not for the brave Chosen Ones who intervened. Thanks to them, we were able to put an end to the madness before it completely consumed everything.” She exhaled, her voice laced with genuine gratitude. “I, as Sovereign, extend my deepest gratitude. You stepped forward when we needed you the most, and for that, I am truly thankful.”
The Chosen Ones nodded, their expressions filled with pride. Among them, Kai and Leon looked particularly satisfied, their chests puffed up ever so slightly at the praise.
Dora took a deep breath, her tone shifting into something more serious. “The one who led the attack… was none other than our own Vice Principal. He betrayed us. He allied himself with the Organization and attempted to eliminate us all.”
There was a collective silence, then a ripple of raised eyebrows and subtle shifts in posture.
“And,” Dora continued, “Aqualina was kidnapped by him. However, through her own determination and strength, she managed to escape. Not only that, but she also rescued the children who were being used as test subjects.” She turned her gaze toward Aqualina, her expression filled with approval. “Aqualina, you have my deepest thanks for your bravery. You saved countless innocent lives.” Dora began to softly clap, and soon, others followed in suit.
Aqualina gave a small smile, her voice steady as she responded. “I did what needed to be done.” But as she spoke, her gaze briefly flickered toward Victor from the corner of her eye.
“What is the name of this organization?” Leon asked, his curiosity piqued.
“Arcane Hunters,” Dora answered.
Leon immediately flinched at the name, his expression shifting.
Dora hesitated for a brief second before exhaling, her voice quieter, heavier with meaning. “The head of the Arcane Hunters… is none other than Master Snape. The ex-Sovereign.”
A wave of shock rippled through the Chosen Ones as they sat in stunned silence.
“W-What do you mean?” Finnian asked, his voice filled with shock and disbelief.
Dora hesitated, her fingers lightly tapping the table as she struggled to find the right words. “Well… It’s… complicated…” she muttered, her usual confidence faltering slightly.
Before Dora could continue, the Archpriestess spoke up, her voice calm yet firm. “I believe I have the right to reveal the truth. After all… He was our Empire’s responsibility.” Her piercing gaze settled on Dora, making it clear that she would not let this truth remain hidden any longer.
Dora hesitated for a moment before nodding reluctantly. With that silent permission, the Archpriestess began explaining everything—the truth about Snape, what had happened to him, how he had died, and more disturbingly, how they had captured him and killed him again.
A heavy silence filled the room.
Everyone was left in stunned disbelief.
It felt unreal as if they were listening to some fantasy rather than cold, hard reality. But the one who looked the most shaken was Nyx Shadowfall. Her expression twisted in shock, unable to comprehend the impossible—someone had returned from the dead.
Meanwhile, Mary frowned slightly, her sharp gaze flickering over the room.
She couldn’t help but notice that no one had mentioned Aether. More than that, the Archpriestess had deliberately avoided including him in the explanation. ‘Hmm… Interesting…’ Mary thought with amusement, her eyes briefly studying Dora, Sandra, and the Archpriestess.
Aqualina, breaking the tense silence, asked the most important question. “How is he alive after all this time?” Her voice was laced with curiosity and a hint of dread, as if she already suspected that the answer would be unsettling.
Dora, the Archpriestess, and Sandra exchanged uneasy glances before shaking their heads in unison. “We don’t know…” Dora admitted, her voice carrying the weight of uncertainty.
“You don’t know?” Nyx Shadowfall jerked upright, her chair scraping loudly against the floor as she stared at them in disbelief. “I cannot believe you guys are saying that… He came back from the de—”
Before she could finish her sentence, Mary lifted a hand, silencing her instantly. The room fell into an uneasy hush as Mary spoke, her voice cold and indifferent,
“We killed him. That’s all you need to know.” Her crimson eyes glowed faintly as she continued, her words carrying an unmistakable warning. “And if you’re that curious, I don’t mind sending you to his place to find out for yourself.”
A tense shiver ran through the room. The Chosen Ones lowered their heads slightly, a flicker of unease in their expressions.
Dora sighed, knowing full well that the group wanted more answers… But there were things that couldn’t be explained so easily. “The only reason we’re telling you this now is because—”
“In case he comes back again in the future, right?” Aqualina interrupted, her tone serious as she pieced it together.
The rulers sighed softly.
She was right.
That was the true reason behind their revelation.
They had no way of knowing how he had returned before… and if he could do it once, what was stopping him from doing it again?
Victor shared the same concerns. Something felt off to him as well. If Snape had truly been dead, then he could have got his soul essence and yet… Victor hadn’t sensed anything, which made him wary.
“For now, all we need to do is remain aware of the situation,” Dora muttered before motioning toward Victor. Her expression shifted into something more serious,
“Now, let’s move on to the real reason for this meeting. My disciple, please begin.”
Victor nodded, pushing aside his own lingering thoughts. He looked at the gathered rulers and Chosen Ones before finally speaking. “We have gathered information about ‘The Beginning’…” His voice was steady as he handed out documents to each person present. “Everything about its origins, its purpose, and how it will affect our world has been compiled here. Pay close attention.”
For the next half an hour, Victor explained the findings in detail. His voice carried unwavering confidence as he outlined the situation, how it was unfolding, and what it meant for them all. By the time he finished, the room was engulfed in heavy silence.
With a slight smile, Victor added, “And all of this… is thanks to the Sovereign, who painstakingly collected this information for us.”
Dora blinked in mild surprise at the unexpected credit. She hadn’t expected Victor to phrase it that way, but she didn’t react outwardly. Instead, she merely glanced at him, noting the subtle smile on his lips.
Of course, Victor had done this intentionally. If he had taken credit for the information himself, it would have immediately raised suspicion. People would have asked, How do you know all this? And that was a question he wasn’t ready to answer.
By attributing the knowledge to the Sovereign, he had successfully avoided unnecessary scrutiny.
As everyone flipped through the documents, their faces gradually changed—shock, disbelief, and finally, fear.
Kai looked particularly disturbed. His fingers trembled slightly as he reread a specific passage. “S-So… ‘The Beginning’ is just… returning to the Ancient Era? Is that even possible?” His voice carried a mixture of astonishment and dread.
Dora sighed, setting her document down. She, too, had been trying to wrap her mind around it. “I…” she looked at other rulers, “Well, we originally thought this was just a battle for the throne for the new Empire but this…”
“This isn’t just the start of a new era,” Aqualina muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. She felt an eerie chill creeping up her spine. “It’s about bringing back the Ancient Era itself… that’s what ‘The Beginning’ truly means.”
“So the reason we’re fighting… is to determine who is capable of handling this outcome?” Finnian asked, still trying to process it all.
Dora shook her head. “It’s not just about handling it… This is beyond anyone’s control. This affects every single one of us. Not even the oldest records in existence mention anything like this happening before, not in millions of years.”
A dreadful silence followed. The realization that they were dealing with something entirely unknown was enough to unnerve even the strongest among them.
Victor finally spoke again, breaking the stillness, “The documents mention a stone—the Ebon Stone. It seems to be the key force connecting all of our Empires. From what we’ve gathered, our lands were once united as one, but for some reason, they were separated. Now… they’re being drawn back together. And the Ebon Stones are responsible for it.”
Nyx’s eyes narrowed in curiosity. “Ebon Stone… huh. That’s an odd name,” she muttered.
Victor continued, his gaze scanning the room. “So far, we have found three of them. They’ve already been activated.” He gestured toward the marked locations on the map—Pyra, Naiadae, and Void.
“What about the other two?”
“They’re still being searched for,” Victor answered, his gaze subtly shifting toward the Archpriestess. He noted how she immediately looked away, avoiding eye contact.
Leon frowned, deep in thought, before crossing his arms. “If these things are causing the problem, why not just destroy them?”
“It’s impossible,” Victor stated bluntly.
Leon scoffed, smirking. “Impossible, you say? Hah! Maybe it’s impossible for you because you’re not a Chosen One.”
Kai let out a laugh, shaking his head in amusement. “Of course! Hahaha! Who does he think he is? Acting like he knows everything!”
The two of them chuckled, clearly enjoying themselves. However, the rest of the room remained silent, their expressions unreadable.
Dora sighed inwardly. The fools didn’t realize it… but they were making themselves look like complete idiots.
… Aether had nothing to do with these idiots becoming more idiots!
Believe him~
“Anyway… As you know, the Ancient Era coming back… that means… Mother’s energy, Clarion Energy coming back too!!!” Victor said with a serious tone.
“!!!!!!”
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[Author’s note: Please read important message it’s in comment section as well as Author’s thought]