Days turned into weeks, and Amara found herself trapped in a cycle of monotony. The restrictions on her movements began to wear on her nerves, making her long for the days when she could take on missions freely and immerse herself in her work. The constant presence of the Imperial doctors, while meant to show care, felt more like chains binding her. Each visit was a reminder that she was still under scrutiny, her every move monitored.
One evening, as she sat in her favourite corner of the house, trying to find peace through meditation, an unexpected summons from the King arrived. The timing was surprising, and she hesitated, uncertain of what this sudden communication could mean. Her mind raced with possibilities. Was it about her supposed "illness" that had mysteriously vanished? Or perhaps there was a new task awaiting her, something she wasn't yet aware of. None of her theories fit, leaving her with a sense of unease.
Reluctantly, she decided to accept the invitation, hoping to gain some clarity. She requested a list of the other invitees, and, to her surprise, received an almost immediate response. Scanning the names, she recognized some, while others were unfamiliar. Her eyes stopped on one name that sent a chill down her spine: Aire. The very sight of the name brought a flood of memories and a deep-seated animosity. She could already predict how their interaction would unfold—tense and filled with barely concealed hostility.
Determined to face whatever awaited her, Amara chose to join the call early. She figured it was better to be prepared and settled rather than rushed and flustered. With nothing else to occupy her time, she had no reason to delay. The minutes ticked by slowly as she awaited the call, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. The anticipation was almost unbearable, but she steeled herself, ready to confront whatever the Emperor had in store.
When the call finally connected, she realized many others had joined as well. Everyone seemed engaged in lighthearted conversations, laughter echoing around the virtual room. Amara felt like the odd one out, but she didn't let it bother her. She planned to sit far from the Imperial table, blending into the background as much as possible.
That was her intention until she locked eyes with Nolan. He approached her with a concerned smile.
"Are you feeling any better?" he asked, his worry evident.
"I've already recovered," she replied coldly. "You can stop sending the doctors."
His presence unsettled her. She didn't want to draw attention, especially not now.
"Please, sit beside me at our family table," Nolan insisted.
Amara shook her head. The thought of sitting there made her nauseous, but she knew he wouldn't relent. "Isn't there someone else who would like to take my place?" she suggested, glancing around for an escape.
But somehow, she found herself already seated beside him. A rush of anger surged through her, followed by regret. She cursed herself for accepting the call in the first place. Nolan chuckled at her visible irritation, making her even more uncomfortable. She turned away, ignoring his attempts at small talk.
Their parents hadn't arrived yet, but she could already feel the judgmental stares from all sides. It wasn't like she had asked to be part of this family system—it was all a facade. Being associated with the person who had caused her downfall made her blood boil. She had kept her head high through the years, but almost everyone here judged her without knowing her story.
Nolan kept trying to engage her, but she barely responded, making it clear she wasn't interested. His efforts made her stomach churn; she felt like she might vomit. Before she could say anything, the Celestial couple entered the room to start the meeting. Everyone stood up, except Nolan and Amara. They simply stared at the newcomers with impassive expressions, both eager for the meeting to be over so they could leave.
"Bow," Ethan commanded as he took his seat beside Nolan and Serena.
Silence fell over the room. No one dared to move or speak until the King permitted it. Seconds stretched into what felt like minutes as they bowed, the tension palpable. 'The first one to move will be beheaded,' was likely the thought in everyone's mind. Stress and discomfort painted their faces as they glanced around, hoping for the siblings to intervene.
Perhaps it was a punishment for those who had humiliated Amara at the ball, or maybe the King was playing one of his cruel games. No one dared to make a sound. The silence grew unbearable until Amara finally spoke up.
"Isn't this enough torture for these poor souls? Let them sit, Father."
Ethan looked at her, then allowed everyone to sit down, apologising for the delay. Everyone quickly brushed it off, some joking that old age might be catching up with him. Nolan tried to ignore their remarks, focusing instead on the meeting ahead. But Amara knew this was just the beginning. She steeled herself, ready to endure whatever came next.
Ethan stood up and displayed two videos on the table. One of the moments was of Kyan dancing with Amara and the other moment of Kayden in the forest burning down the trees. Amara couldn't help but be surprised at seeing Kayden there and being the cause of the fire, Nolan noticed her expression and got suspicious of her.
Ethan's voice turned grave as he addressed the room. "The Vexthorns are active again. Not once, but twice, they've made their presence known, and we can't ignore the implications of their actions."
He gestured to the videos displayed on the table. "The first shows a powerful figure dancing with Amara—a reminder of what's at stake. The second video? A figure in the forest, setting fire to our resources. This isn't just reckless; it's a declaration of war."
Amara's heart sank at the mention of the Vexthorns. "Who are they?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, feeling the weight of their actions pressing down on her.
Ethan exchanged a glance with Nolan. "They're a powerful faction known for their ruthless tactics. They've been a thorn in our side for years, using deception and manipulation to achieve their goals. Their recent activities suggest they're becoming bolder. They consist of 4 members but they keep making it seem like they have 5 people running everything. We have tried to recruit Scribe Ammit and Mar Ocsuro but they declined our offer, they instead fought with some Celestial Gods."
"It was as if they both had planned the fight before ascending towards Celestia; many had died after a single slash from their weapons." Nolan added with a hint of annoyance in his voice. "The other two were banned from here."
"Why were the other two banned?" Amara asked with curiosity, the moment she had asked that question silence took over across the room.
Alijah decided to speak up. "For abnormal experiments and behaviour, they saw Celestial beings as Gods to animals as tools. They created many disappointments and casted them down onto earth, creating chaos and ruckus in places where it was supposed to be safe."
"However, Scribe Ammit is even worse. Amara he comes from the same place you are from, he has chosen his name to be like that. It was not our idea to call him that." Ethan said to reassure her but she didn't even care about that part, she is just shocked about all this.
Nolan crossed his arms tightly, frustration evident. "What do we know about their current strength? Are they capable of another direct attack?"
Ethan shook his head, worry in his eyes. "That's the problem. They've been gathering forces, drawing in those disillusioned with us. We need to consider our options carefully. An attack could provoke them further and ignite a conflict we're not prepared for."
"But if we don't act, they'll only gain confidence," Amara murmured, feeling a sense of dread. She wasn't eager to confront them; the thought of it filled her with unease. But she couldn't shake the need to understand what was happening.
A murmur spread through the room, members exchanging worried glances. The air was thick with tension and uncertainty.
"What if we send a small team to gather intelligence first?" Alijah suggested, brow furrowed in thought. "We could learn more about their plans without provoking an outright confrontation. A strategic approach could give us the upper hand."
Nolan nodded. "That could work, but we need to choose the right people. We can't afford to lose anyone on a reconnaissance mission, especially now."
Amara felt a surge of anxiety. "I want to go," she said, the words escaping her before she could reconsider. "I need to find out more about them—and about the one they call Lord Ammit. If he's involved, I have to understand."
Ethan regarded her with concern. "It's dangerous. If they recognize you—"
"I won't let them," she insisted, her voice shaking slightly. "I need to know what they're planning, but I don't want to engage in a fight."
Alijah chimed in, "If Amara is going, we need a solid plan. Here's what I suggest: We set up a diversion to draw the Vexthorns' attention away from our true objective. I can create a distraction near the borders where they've been active."
Nolan raised an eyebrow. "And what about backup? If things go south, we need to know we can regroup quickly."
"I'll have a signal ready," Alijah replied confidently. "If Amara or anyone else feels threatened, we can retreat without exposing ourselves."
Amara listened, but her mind was already racing with her own thoughts. She didn't want to participate in a plan that involved confrontation. Instead, she envisioned slipping away from the group, seeking out the Lord Ammit personally. She would sabotage Alijah's plan from within, ensuring that any moves against the Vexthorns were thwarted.
As the meeting continued, she focused on keeping her expression neutral, hiding her true intentions. She couldn't let them know that she didn't intend to fight the Vexthorns; she wanted to learn about them, to understand why Kyan and Kayden were involved, and what their motives truly were.
With the meeting adjourned, Amara lingered for a moment, lost in thought. She felt an overwhelming sense of purpose, but it wasn't one driven by excitement or a desire for battle. Instead, it was a quiet determination to navigate this dangerous web carefully, to find her path without drawing attention to herself.
She would meet the Vexthorns, but on her terms. And in doing so, she hoped to uncover the truth behind the chaos that threatened everything she held dear. But something did not feel right, why didn't Aire say anything in the meeting until now?