The Belkarn Clan was under immense pressure following the King's announcement of the truth. Glynn's contradictory explanations during his speech had caused a ripple of doubt among clan members regarding his trustworthiness.
Despite Glynn's attempts to clarify and explain his own ignorance about the situation, most members remained skeptical. After all, his ethereal arm endowed him with the ability to read minds, and many believed that no secrets could escape him. This created an unusually tense atmosphere within the clan.
Glynn stood in his office, looking down at the bustling activity below, and sighed deeply. Years ago, he had uncovered the truth behind ethereal arms, but he had wisely chosen not to disclose this knowledge to anyone else. This discretion might have been the only reason the Belkarn Clan retained the King's favour even after Glynn succeeded his father as the clan leader. However, the King's unexpected decision to publicly share the truth had introduced a new layer of instability that was hard to ignore.
"Seems like things aren't going your way, Glynn, hehahaha," came Dharma Leyndra's lazy drawl as he lounged on a sofa, stretching as if he were in a cozy home rather than an office filled with tension. "I've certainly heard some unfriendly comments on my way here."
"Who invited him?" Kylainn Esmira exclaimed, shaking his head in frustration as he cast a glance at Dharma. Eriq Ranborg, leaning against the wall in silence, raised his hand in reply.
Dharma scoffed, "At least show me a bit of respect, will ya? Everything aside, my father was once the leader among you."
"Karma Leyndra has been dead for years," Kylainn retorted sharply, though there was a flicker of sorrow in his eyes. "Even if he were still alive, the Harbingers are equal in standing."
Glynn turned away from the window, shrugging in resignation. "Calm down, everyone. This isn't the time for bickering."
He walked over and seated himself on the sofa opposite Dharma. "Besides, the Belkarn Clan is destined to be diminished after Antonio's invasion. I'm not concerned about their opinions at all."
Eriq nodded slowly and added, "Ultimately, we must focus on defending Lordrixis. Alfred Eldran made a foolish decision by giving citizens the choice to fight. What was once a slim chance of winning now feels like it's completely vanished."
"We still have our master," Kylainn interjected with a heavy sigh, his brows knitted together. "If we can muster enough people for him to kill and harvest their ethereal arms, Antonio won't seem nearly as threatening."
Glynn waved his hands dismissively. "We don't have time for that. Antonio has already wiped out entire cities. Do you really believe we can find multiple cities worth of people before the attack begins? It's only hours away."
Dharma laughed heartily, filling the room with a dark energy. "I think you're seriously underestimating Antonio Valdis's forces. And let's be clear: our hopes are not minimal; they have never existed. The moment he declared his invasion, Lordrixis was doomed."
"Why do you think that?" Eriq asked, his gentle voice contrasting sharply with the tension in the room as he looked curiously at Dharma.
"Because Antonio is not alone," Dharma replied confidently, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"Shun and Harlan Harkway are our biggest concerns. We don't know if they'll support Antonio, but we're certain they won't be on our side," Kylainn said, clenching his fists and grinding his teeth in desperation. "But we can't simply let Lordrixis fall; it's our duty to maintain 'the balance.'"
"Mister Esmira, do you know who stole the ECLIPSE components from the Cult of Luca Azoria?" Glynn suddenly interrupted, an eager gleam in his eyes as he shifted his gaze to Kylainn.
Kylainn responded with a shake of his head, disappointment etched on his face. "No, the components vanished in the blink of an eye. Not a single person knew where they were stored except for the Prime Bishops. Who could possibly have the power to teleport objects without any restrictions?"
"Hold on, hold on," Dharma interjected, sitting up straighter. "Then how come you know where it is, and how do you know what happened? Don't tell me you're one of the Prime Bishops!"
"Don't you remember my ability?" Kylainn replied, irked by the insinuation. "I killed one of them around forty years ago and took control of his body."
Dharma shook his head in disbelief, leaning back on the sofa. Few were aware of Kylainn Esmira's ethereal ability, and even fewer knew his actual rank. His power allowed him to completely control anyone he killed, transforming them into puppets while retaining their original memories. It was unsettling to think that the Kylainn he knew might not even be the original; he appeared too young for his age.
"If ECLIPSE reassembles and goes into operation, it will mark history with scars that may never heal," Eriq added, a sad undertone creeping into his voice. "Countless people will suffer and die because of it."
"Who would want that weapon besides Lordrixis?" Kylainn shook his head in confusion. "Antonio will never manage to obtain the final part from the Eternal Dynasty; they have the Ice Prince guarding it. The Eternal Dynasty itself has declared that they won't be involved in this war."
"Don't worry too much," Glynn offered quietly, his voice shifting to a deeper, more enigmatic tone.
"How can we not worry?" Eriq laughed wryly, sounding defeated. "Just when everything seems to be falling into place, it all falls apart."
"Don't worry too much," Glynn repeated, holding firm. "Though things may not go our way, our master will eventually get everything he desires. In the end, no one will emerge as champion but him."
"What, can you see the future or something?" Dharma turned to Glynn with an air of suspicion, feeling uncomfortable with his words. Horrifyingly, they sounded more truthful than anything else he had ever said.
Glynn didn't reply.