"First of all, have you tried to foretell any new prophecy after that girl appeared and altered your initial prediction?" Aeolus asked Loren, his tone now more composed, though still stern.
"I have tried, sir," Loren responded, his voice cautious. "But I don't understand why. It seems there's something obstructing my ability every time I attempt to foretell her fate and actions. It's always blurry, like trying to see through fog."
"You are so damn worthless," Aeolus erupted once again. Loren had resigned himself to absorbing Aeolus's wrath, even though it weighed heavily on him.
"However, sir, I can offer one piece of information regarding that girl," Loren interjected, hoping to appease Aeolus.
Aeolus leaned forward, his interest piqued. "What is it?"
"Since I cannot clearly foretell her actions and fate, it's a similar case to our master, who originates from another world," Loren revealed. Aeolus's curiosity was now thoroughly piqued.
"Interesting... It seems another being has arrived in this world once again," Aeolus mused, a smile forming on his face, his excitement palpable.
"By the way, sir, what shall we do from this point forward, given that Count Gable and all his subordinates have perished?" Loren inquired, seeking clarity on their future course of action.
"Since our master is still in isolation for training," Aeolus explained, "the First Order suggests that we maintain our current stance. They must be cautious, and we cannot afford to act recklessly." Aeolus's words conveyed the guidance he had received from the First Order.
In the Elder Council, the first three ranks held the authority to make decisions on behalf of the master, particularly the First Order, which occupied the highest rank among the elders.
Aeolus, as the third-ranking elder, could attend their executive meetings. However, his primary role was that of a wanderer, traveling extensively across the continent to gather information, communicate with other elders, and relay direct orders to lower-ranked members. His position allowed him to serve as a bridge between the higher and lower echelons of the Chaos Order.
"However, we already have some plans for the future," Aeolus continued. "I recall your past prophecy about Damian Ornstein attending the Imperial Academy, correct?"
"That is correct, sir," Loren affirmed. "I attempted to foretell it again, and it seems Damian will indeed attend the Imperial Academy during the same timeframe."
"Given that Damian will be at the academy, I am quite certain that the girl will follow him as well," Aeolus deduced.
"Therefore, we will proceed with our plan to infiltrate the academy with some students and spies. However, our primary focus will shift from Damian to the girl," Aeolus explained further.
"We have already made preparations for this plan, and my son will also be enrolling in the academy during the same year, sir," Loren responded, confirming their readiness to execute this strategy.
"Good, and keep in mind that you must not intervene in the empire before the Imperial Academy session begins. We will await our master's completion of his isolation training before discussing further issues,"
Aeolus warned Loren, emphasizing the need for caution in light of the recent incident involving Count Gable at the Hunting Ceremony.
"I fully understand, Sir Aeolus," Loren acknowledged, bowing his head to signify his compliance.
"If you discover anything unusual or encounter an emergency, inform me immediately. Do you understand? The First Order will hold me accountable if another incident occurs," Aeolus reiterated with a stern tone.
"Yes, Sir Aeolus." Loren responded with utmost respect.
With their conversation concluded, Aeolus made his way to the sofa and retrieved his soaked cloak. Before donning it, he deftly flicked his garment with a burst of wind magic, causing the dark cloak to rapidly dry. He then put it on and pulled up the hood.
Before departing, Aeolus cast a final glance at the lifeless maid's body. Her eyes remained open in an expression of terror.
"What an unlucky girl," Aeolus murmured to himself, lamenting her fate. With that, he swiftly exited through the window.
Loren, left alone in the room, approached the window and carefully closed it. He then turned his attention to the maid's lifeless form, now resting in a pool of blood. Kneeling down, he gently closed her eyelids as a gesture of respect.
"I'm sorry I couldn't do anything to help you" Loren whispered softly, his voice heavy with remorse.
After taking a moment to pay his respects to the deceased maid, Loren returned to his working table. He picked up a red magic orb, which served as a communication device capable of transmitting voice over great distances.
Loren used it to summon his assistants to the room to swiftly and discreetly remove the maid's body. His assistants were dressed in black uniforms, similar to those of Count Gable's subordinates.
Following that, Loren activated another magic orb, this one colored blue. It was a means of communication with a person close to him, and soon, his own son entered the room. The teenager, who appeared to be about the same age as Damian, had a slender frame, distinctive light silver hair, and striking blue eyes.
"Father, is there something I can assist you with?" the boy inquired.
Loren addressed his son with a stern voice, "Starting tomorrow, we will commence intensive training to prepare for the plan. Do you understand?"
The boy questioned his father's sudden urgency, asking, "Father, don't we still have a year left?"
Loren's patience wore thin, and his voice became even more serious as he replied, "Just do as I have instructed! We can't afford any failures from now on."
With a somber tone, the boy yielded, "I understand, Father. I apologize for questioning you."
As the boy responded with fear and nervousness, Loren began to realize that he had unfairly vented his own emotions onto his son. A sense of guilt welled up within him as he questioned his own behavior.
"I'm sorry," Loren admitted, regret filling his voice. "It's my fault for venting on you like that. I shouldn't have."
Approaching his son, Loren gently patted the boy's shoulder, who looked up at his father, concerned about the sudden change in his emotions.
"Father, are you alright?" the boy asked with genuine concern for his father's well-being.
"I'm fine," Loren reassured him with a smile, attempting to regain control over his emotions. "It's just that I'm feeling a bit stressed."
Loren then pulled his son into a warm embrace, whispering something into the boy's ear. His tone turned serious as he conveyed the importance of their mission.
"We will have an important mission in the future, so work hard, my son," Loren said, affirming their shared goals.
"Yes, Father," the boy replied with determination, returning his father's embrace.
With this heartfelt exchange, the Chaos Order solidified their plans for the upcoming events. Although their true intentions remained shrouded in mystery, one thing was certain – their schemes boded ill for Seraphine and those she held dear.