In the grand hall of the Acantha estate, Zayan Acantha sat at the head of a long table, his sharp purple eyes fixed on the commanders and officials gathered before him. The room was filled with tension, each individual recounting the strange events in Zania Forest. Zayan's calm demeanor stood in stark contrast to the rising anxiety in the room. Beside him sat Yuto Sasaki, his closest confidant, who watched the proceedings with a mixture of interest and amusement.
"The hooded figure killed two high-ranking beasts on their own," an older official reported, his voice steady but incredulous. "That's no small feat, even for the top families. And yet, there was no trace left behind, save for the charred remains of the creatures."
"Impossible," another official countered. "Even our most skilled warriors can barely take down one high-ranking beast without a full team. For a single person to do this… it defies reason."
"They used fire magic," another chimed in, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "And while fire is common enough, the level of precision and power described is anything but ordinary."
"Fire magic," someone murmured. "The Astorias are known for fire, aren't they?"
The room buzzed with speculation. Some argued that the hooded figure must be a rogue fire user with extraordinary skill. Others dismissed the idea, claiming such a person would have already made themselves known.
"If we could recruit this person," a younger commander suggested, his voice filled with eagerness, "our forces would be unparalleled. Imagine the power they could bring to our side."
Zayan raised a hand, silencing the room instantly. The authority in his gesture was enough to quell the rising chatter. He spoke with deliberate calm, his deep voice cutting through the tension. "We cannot act on rumors and conjecture. Gather more information. Until then, this hooded figure remains a mystery. Dismissed."
The officials and commanders bowed and left the hall, their whispered conversations fading as they exited.
When the doors finally closed, Yuto stretched in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. "The hooded figure has everyone on edge. Even you seem intrigued."
Zayan leaned back, his expression unreadable. "Intrigued, yes. But the story doesn't add up. If this person is as powerful as they claim, they could either be an asset or a threat. Either way, they bear watching."
Yuto nodded, tapping his fingers on the table. "Speaking of intrigue, have you heard about the Astoria's?"
Zayan glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "The Astorias? What about them? Weren't they on the verge of bankruptcy?"
"They were," Yuto replied. "But recently, they've been making a surprising comeback. My grandmother won't stop talking about their floral dress line. She's practically living in them."
Zayan allowed himself a faint chuckle. "Your grandmother has always had impeccable taste. What about you?"
Yuto grinned, his tone light. "Their cheesecake is to die for. I might be single-handedly funding their revival at this point."
Zayan's lips twitched into a rare smile. "And do you know who's behind their sudden success?"
Yuto shook his head. "No one does. The head of the Astoria family has stayed completely in the shadows. But whoever it is, they've done an impressive job. If they hadn't, the family would've collapsed by now."
Zayan's gaze grew distant, his mind turning over the new information. "It takes a sharp mind to save a sinking ship. I wonder if this person is as skilled as they seem, or if luck simply favors them for now."
Yuto leaned back, crossing his arms. "Well, whoever it is, they're doing something right. The Astoria's were nearly out of the game, but now they're making waves. It's worth keeping an eye on them."
Silence fell between them as they considered the implications. The hooded fire user in Zania Forest and the resurgence of the Astoria families seemed unrelated, yet both events carried a sense of mystery.
Zayan's eyes narrowed slightly. "The winds are changing," he murmured. "Let's see where they take us."
Yuto nodded, his grin fading into a thoughtful expression. Though they didn't voice it, both men understood the importance of uncovering these secrets. In their world, knowledge was power—and power was everything.