The starry night cast a serene glow over the land of the Solara Empire, with a crystal-clear sky and a radiant moonlight bathing the imperial palace. In stark contrast, just beyond the empire's borders in the neighboring Kingdom of Avalonia, the weather raged with relentless rain and an orchestra of thunderstorms.
Far from the empire, nestled in a remote and mysterious land, a grand mansion stood proudly against the darkness of the night and the fury of the storm.
Within this opulent estate, a middle-aged man sat at his imposing desk, surrounded by a multitude of documents and scrolls. Yet, what drew the most attention was a collection of mysterious magic orbs that emitted an ominous, pulsating light.
The man's face wore an expression of profound stress and discontent. He clutched his head in frustration, deeply immersed in his thoughts.
"Damn it... How could you be so reckless, Gable..." he muttered, his voice laden with frustration. The man was deeply dissatisfied with the recent actions of Count Gable, a trusted associate.
Despite being the one who had given numerous prophecies and maintained frequent contact with Count Gable, he had been taken aback by the recklessness of Gable's recent actions. It seemed as if Gable had come perilously close to revealing sensitive information about the Chaos Order, a secretive and malevolent organization.
However, amidst his contemplation, the room was suddenly invaded. The window flung open with an abruptness that startled the man, and a mysterious figure shrouded in a dark, soaking-wet cloak slipped into the room. With each step, water dripped from the intruder's form, saturating the luxurious carpet beneath.
"Hey, who the hell are you!" the man exclaimed, rising from his desk and pointing an accusatory finger at the intruder. But as their eyes locked, recognition dawned upon him, and his expression shifted from anger to a mixture of surprise and understanding.
The figure before him was no stranger.
"Sir Aeolus, it has been a long time…" The man's tone immediately shifted to one of politeness and respect upon recognizing the mysterious figure. He seemed to change his demeanor like a chameleon adapting to new surroundings.
"We haven't seen each other for a long time, and you've already forgotten about me?" Aeolus retorted with a mocking tone. He casually removed his soaking cloak and tossed it onto a luxurious sofa as if he cared little for the man's property.
"No, sir. It's just that I'm surprised you've come at this time." Despite observing Aeolus's apparent disregard for his cherished furniture, the man maintained his composure and kept a calm demeanor.
"Never mind that. I came here to deliver some news and orders from the First Order." Aeolus announced his purpose and took a seat in a chair opposite the man, crossing his legs without a hint of respect.
Leaning back in the chair, Aeolus fixed his gaze upon the man. With his fine figure and striking violet eyes, he appeared almost ageless, although his true age remained a mystery.
"Loren, what kind of prophecy did you give to that idiot?" Aeolus's tone turned serious as he mentioned "that idiot," referring to Count Gable, the central figure in this matter.
"Sir, I only said that Damian Ornstein would be a perfect vessel for the Demonic Heart two years ago. Everything else was just ordinary conversation," Loren replied with a trembling voice, fully aware of Aeolus's reputation for cruelty and severity.
"So, all of Gable's reckless actions were based on his own judgment?" Aeolus continued, his expression growing angrier.
"Sir, I also didn't expect him to act like this. Many factors contributed to the change in the prophecy" Loren quickly offered an excuse, attempting to divert blame.
In response, Aeolus stood up abruptly, delivering a powerful kick to the chair that sent it crashing against the wall with a resounding noise.
"Your primary duty is only for prophecy and research. How did you let this happen? You even hold a higher rank than him!" Aeolus bellowed, his anger palpable, and Loren could only bow his head in submission to the harsh reprimand.
The loud noise emanating from the room drew the attention of a maid who had been passing by in the hallway.
"Master, is there something wrong?"
the maid had asked anxiously before entering the room, concern etched into her voice as she approached the door.
She pushed open the door and stepped inside to investigate the commotion. Her eyes widened in shock at the sight of the disheveled room and the irate figure of Aeolus.
Before she could even gasp in surprise, Aeolus reacted with the swiftness of a seasoned warrior. In an instant, he summoned a sharp and deadly wind blade into existence, a manifestation of his formidable powers.
With a single, merciless stroke, he decapitated the maid on the spot, silencing her before she could utter a single word.
The room fell into a chilling silence once more, the only sounds being the rain beating against the windows and the faint hum of the ominous magic orbs that still pulsated with their foreboding light.
"Sir…you don't have to do that!" Loren yelled out, unable to tolerate Aeolus's actions any longer. But his protest was quickly silenced as Aeolus extended his hand, seizing Loren by the throat and lifting him above the floor.
"Shut your damn mouth...do you think I care about your subordinates?" Aeolus sneered, his grip on Loren's throat tightening. Then, with a dismissive flick of his wrist, he tossed Loren back onto the floor. While it wasn't a full-force throw, it was still painful for Loren, a middle-aged man who hadn't undergone physical training like Count Gable.
"Both you and Gable are truly disappointments. I'm starting to question why the master even accepted you into the Elder Council," Aeolus continued his verbal assault, leaving Loren gasping for breath after the choking.
As Aeolus spoke, the blood from the decapitated maid began to pool on the floor, slowly creeping towards his feet. Aeolus instinctively recoiled, moving his feet away with a disgusted expression.
"I had initially considered requesting the First Order to eliminate you, considering you're one of the culprits in this incident as well. But it seems he still sees potential in you, regardless."
From the outset, both Loren and Gable had been the only humans to sit on the Elder Council, despite their low ranks and their sole duty of overseeing the Demonic Heart—a task Loren was given a prophecy about.
In the context of the novel, the Demonic Heart was a key objective for the Chaos Order's goal to resurrect the Heavenly Demon.
However, in this altered timeline, the Demonic Heart appeared to be just one piece of a larger puzzle, as the organization had grown significantly and was now under the enigmatic guidance of a figure known as the master.