The central castle of Sila stood as expected, its halls strangely quiet. Jason Hillwind, the city's mayor and once-renowned victor of the 62nd Interacademy Ethereal Combat Tournament, had practically handed over his entire authority to Alexander Levison. Despite his past accolades, Jason's resolve had withered when faced with real-world threats.
"What happened to this place? Even the castle feels deserted…" Joe muttered, shaking his head, visibly disappointed at the dismal state of affairs. Shun, too, was taken aback. It was astonishing that a terrorist group could wield such influence over an entire city.
Lordrixis's rigid class system had its injustices, but it also kept society stable. Ascended and complete ethereal warriors enjoyed privileges, ensuring their loyalty, while the instrument and mortal class remained too weak to rebel. Rebellion from them was neither expected nor feared.
Shun sensed that Alexander Levison held the key to the city's mystery the moment he entered the Prime Advisor's chamber and saw the man's legendary yet unassuming face. Known as the most formidable instrument-class ethereal warrior in Lordrixis, Alexander's appearance was subdued, even ordinary, exuding an air of unsettling gentleness laced with quiet worry.
Before Shun could speak, Silver, ever perceptive, tugged at his sleeve.
"Be cautious. This man is not as he seems," she whispered, her voice tinged with suspicion rather than concern.
In that brief silence, Otto Morphy, always composed, took the lead, his usual coldness absent as he addressed Levison with surprising respect.
"Greetings, Mister Levison," Otto said, his tone unexpectedly warm, "We are soldiers sent by King Eldran to assist in the suppression of the terrorist group The Unfinished. Allow us to introduce ourselves."
Shun cleared his throat loudly, his irritation barely concealed. Still, he restrained himself from starting an argument in front of Alexander, out of a modicum of respect.
Alexander nodded, gesturing for the group to introduce themselves. The introductions were mechanical, and it was clear that no one was interested in pleasantries. Sensing this, Alexander cut to the heart of the matter.
"Three complete ethereal warriors, one of whom ranks in the top ten... Now, that is quite something," he murmured, his voice soft but tinged with both awe and concern. "I didn't expect the king to be so generous with his aid. There might be a chance of victory after all."
Emilia, eager to make her mark, seized the moment to interject, "The problem, however, is that we don't know who is behind The Unfinished or where they are. Isn't that right?"
A bitter smile curled on Alexander's lips as he rose from his seat, hands raised in a dismissive gesture.
"To some extent, yes. Indeed, we don't know who leads this organization, but that's hardly a matter of grave concern. Killing the members will suffice. In the letter I sent to the king, I worded things in such a way that I secured the assistance we need."
Seeing the confusion on their faces, Alexander smiled knowingly. "Come now, don't pretend you haven't been sent to spy on me, to see whether I am the one one behind all of this."
Shun's surprise was palpable. He had expected a man of Alexander's standing to possess some degree of intellect, but now, his perception of the Prime Advisor shifted. It was as if he was playing a grand chess game, certain pieces received moments of glory, yet he alone guided the board's ultimate fate.
The group, especially Shun and Silver, exchanged uneasy glances. But Alexander showed no trace of pride, as if to him, this was all routine—a familiarity born from years of navigating Lordrixis's dangerous political terrain.
"The real issue lies in where they are," Alexander continued, his tone shifting to something more serious. "But, to be honest, I already know where they are."
He paused, expecting the group to ask him to elaborate.
Silver took the role and pressed for more answers. "So, why can't we act on this information? Where are they?"
Alexander's trademark gesture—a subtle wave of his hand—accompanied his answer, delivered dramatically.
"Everywhere."
As the discussion devolved into a heated debate over their next steps, Eden Pyram quietly exited the room, slipping unnoticed into the corridors.
Descending the grand staircase that led to the castle's opulent main hall, he spotted a lone figure standing by the railing, lost in thought. The man, though unremarkable in stature, possessed an air of quiet authority. His tousled hair and piercing eyes gave him an ethereal presence that seemed to transcend ordinary perception. His pupils, marked by a strange symbol at their centres, were unnerving—something even the Prime Advisor had never fully understood.
Known only as "The Watcher," this man's true intentions and identity were shrouded in mystery. The only thing anyone knew for certain was that he hailed from the Eternal Dynasty of An and harboured no ill intentions toward them.
"Hey, Eden," The Watcher spoke, his gaze never shifting from the horizon. It was clear that he didn't need eyes to sense. "What was the name of the boy who just passed by?"
Eden paused, raising an eyebrow. "Which one?"
"The youngest one, with black hair and a cold expression."
"Ah, his name is Shun," Eden replied, his curiosity piqued. There was something about Shun that unsettled him, something beyond the boy's demeanour that suggested he was no ordinary individual.
Upon hearing the name, The Watcher's pupils dilated, and the symbol within them glowed faintly with a scarlet hue. A tremor of excitement coursed through him, though he quickly tried to compose himself.
"Last name?" he asked, his voice now thick with anticipation.
"Xshasi," Eden answered, still unaware of the magnitude of the name.
The Watcher burst into unrestrained laughter, his joy infectious, though completely out of place in the solemn atmosphere. "Shun Xshasi... Shun Xshasi! No way, absolutely no chance!"
"I must be the luckiest bastard alive, aren't I? I must be!" He laughed, heedless of Eden's perplexed stare. Nothing could contain his exuberance.
"Please calm down," Eden sighed, but The Watcher remained undeterred, his laughter ringing through the hall.
"How could it be wrong? That face, the eyes, the complexity of emotion—they're nearly identical! Almost the same!" The Watcher continued laughing, his energy unabated.
There was a certain unspoken truth about The Watcher that everyone knew: Never mess with him. His power surpassed anything mortal men could fathom, a fact that Alexander had made clear.
Eden, recalling this cautionary wisdom, turned and walked away, leaving The Watcher to revel in his discovery.
Eventually, The Watcher got tired and leaned back against the railing, breathless from his laughter, his smile remained wide, his eyes still glinting with uncontainable excitement. His blue eyes almost turned completely red.
"Shun Xshasi... Future of Starflame," he muttered, still in disbelief.
"Nothing to worry about now. We've found our heir, our saviour." His voice dropped, barely a whisper. "Huang, did you see that?"
He grinned, "Tell the Head immediately. That old man hasn't smiled once since he returned from the imperial palace."