Black seed was a secluded area not belonging to any region. It was like a black market for braves of all kinds.
Relics, information, maps to hidden crypts were all traded here.
But today, Black seed was going to serve as a meeting venue...
Shuntal walked into a dark and shaggy building, the inside looked much like a cafe and there were six other figures in the cafe.
"Well well well, if it isn't the pacifist geezer himself." A man wearing a black hat and a blazer mocked at the appearance of Shuntal.
"Huhuhu." Shuntal caresses his beard. "It's good to see you again, Dark Saint."
"Shuntaaaaaaaal." A teenage girl ran up to the old man and hugged him, her eyes shone brightly as she increased her grip around the old saint.
"Ahh, careful Lela, I'm not as sturdy as I used to be."
He chuckles as she lets go of the grip and they all made their way to a round table with seven chairs.
A man dressed as a waiter came over from the bartender's bar and served them each a cup of tea and some biscuits.
"So good for all of you to make it on such short notice."
"Yeah, yeah, get it over with."
The Dark Saint interrupted sounding annoyed at something.
"Having us make a long trip to the Playground, this better be good."
"Why of course Dark Saint, I would not dare dream to waste any of your time." He bowed his head and continued.
"As you may have noticed, one chair is vacant here."
The Saints all turned their attention towards the empty chair.
The man then took out a paper with a picture of a man and some writings on it.
"Beast Saint Vex defeated by Barbaros." was the content written on the paper. it depicted the image of a large and muscular man in his forties.
"Barbaros... that bastard!"
The Dark Saint slammed his fist on the desk.
"Calm down my friend, let Adacus continue."
The one who spoke up was the Sword Saint, he nods to Adacus to continue with his report.
Adacus, the bartender nods back as he placed two other papers on the desk.
"The whereabouts of Vex is still unknown to me as of yet, although there is a high possibility that he is being held captive by Barbaros."
He points to the paper that depicts the image of a Castle that had a giant black skull on it.
"Black skull island..."
The saints all had grim expressions on their faces. Even Shuntal who was normally calm and collected couldn't help but feel uneasy about this reveal.
"Vex...lose...one...on...one...impossible....ambush."
The saint who spoke this time was the Sloth Saint.
"Yeah mate, I recon ol' Vexy here was ganged up. He wouldn't lose to a Don so easily unless they use an underhanded method."
The Sniper Saint spoke up this time around as he polishes his sniper rifle.
Vex, the Beast Saint was one of the strongest amongst the Seven Saints.
Adacus nods at the previous statement made by the Sniper Saint as he once again, brings out another paper and slams it on the desk.
"I believe it gets worse than that, the Ten Dons are not known to work together unlike us saints as each of them tends to want to overtake the other."
He points at the papers that depict the images of the figures. The saints immediately recognized all three of them. They were all members of the Ten Dons.
The Ten Dons were recognized as the leaders of the underworld, Ten leaders of several criminal factions each one of the Ten Don is as powerful as a Saint.
One of the figures was Barbaros, the other was a masked figure, and the third.....
"Stark Shadows..."
Shuntal said in a deep grim voice seeing the face of his former student.
The Dark Saint jumped on the table, not paying attention to the papers that he pushed aside and grabbed Shuntal by the collar.
"My best friend is in trouble because of you!"
Shuntal averted his gaze and simply sat firmly, not even attempting to justify himself.
Nineteen years ago, when Stark was but a young man, he sought refuge from the "Strongest Saint" to serve under him and learn from him.
Shuntal felt pity towards the feeble-looking Stark. and for the first time, he decided to take on a student.
Stark learned and mastered all of Shuntal's teachings like a dry sponge on a see bed.
Eventually...
"You have served your purpose, old man. now I shall have my revenge on the very people that took everything away from me."
Stark showed his true colors and attacked his master only to be utterly defeated.
"It pains me to know that I have the power to heal the most fatal of wounds but not the scar on your heart."
In the end, he spared Stark and told him to never show his face again.
"If you had ended that little son of a bitch then, Vex would be here right now!"
"And just what do you think you're doing?"
The Dark Saint turned his head back only to be met with the unwavering gaze of the Sword Saint as he placed his hand on the sheath of his sword.
The atmosphere of the room changed completely, the other saints merely sat and watched as the events unfold.
"The Dark Saint vs the Sword Saint, now that's eyecatching." The saint who spoke for the first time since the beginning of the meeting was the young girl that hugged Shuntal, Lela, the Dragon Saint. "Wish I brought some popcorn."
"Enough!"
Shuntal's eye color turned red and his aura emerged, taking the form of a bird.
"I know the current predicament we are facing is my fault." He said as he the two saints retreated to their sits.
"Tsk."
"This is not the time to fight between us, don't you see?" The Sword Saint added.
"Harold is right, the ten dons have declared war against us, we must come together despite our differences and put an end to things."
The other saints faced each other in silence and nodded before turning their gaze back at Shuntal.
"We...are...liste...ning...Plumage Saint, Shuntal."