Astrea introduced herself just like Moriganne did even though she was the Saint of Neva which anyone knew already. She introduced the man who sat beside her, and the only person who could sit beside a Saint was someone as powerful as her.
"Beside me is Archduke Thalior Ardentis, the 7th Swordmaster," Astrea respectfully pointed her hand at the man in black armor with a red cape on his back.
Thalior Ardentis was one of the figures who reunited Southern Neva and made it a prosperous continent. His status in the South was similar to that of an emperor, but he decided to devote himself to the people instead. As for his title, he was one of the nine Swordmasters in Neva, excluding the North.
"The man sitting beside His Excellency is Lord Archelaus Vayne, the Eyes," Astrea pointed at the man with long golden hair in a black robe with gold engravings that matched his hair.
Archelaus Vayne known as the Eyes, was a well-known man who had prevented countless disasters. His instincts were said to be inhuman because of his keen eyes about his surroundings. He was also the best archer in Neva because he never missed and could kill a rabbit from another mountain.
"And I believe the men beside Lord Archelaus are well-known to everyone, especially to the Sancticus," Astrea pointed at the two blonde men in shiny milk-white armor with blue capes on their backs. "The 8th Swordmaster, Esper Frostspire, and 9th Swordmaster, Ulric Ironhart," she introduced.
Esper Frostspire and Ulric Ironhart belonged to the Angelis Templar army. They were the only two templars who revealed their identities. It was because they were the descendants of the families that had been guarding the Angelis family for hundreds of years. They were called Guardian Angels and were blessed with extreme talents and a divine power.
"The next ones are the Great Sage Lenin Sliver and Novia Sliver," Astrea smiled and bowed her head toward Lenin.
Novia looked at her surroundings and she felt like she was the only one who didn't have any achievement to offer to the world. She was surrounded by great people and it made her feel small.
"Lastly, Sir Callisto Bladebane, the 6th Swordmaster, the Blade Prince of the East," Astrea pointed at the man with brown hair in black leather armor with gold pauldrons wrapped in a blue cape on his shoulders.
Callisto Bladebane had his background hidden by the Sultans because he was like the embodiment of the Eastern Neva itself. His life was so valuable for many reasons that nobody knew. Other than that, he was skilled in countless martial arts and a master in all weapons.
Although everyone had different backgrounds and could be stronger than the others, they stared at each other with the utmost respect. Those people who were gathered around the table were someone who saw the world through blood and sacrifice. In the eye of danger, their lives and status didn't matter.
"Sanya..." The Orthias woman said as she stared at the door with her cold gaze. "You all may call me by that name," she stared back at the gazes that were pointed at her.
Everyone wondered if it was her real name or if it was just a made-up name. They also wondered what kind of power Sanya had.
"Your Holiness, can you tell us what's going on here that you have to summon all of us here in the North?" Lenin asked.
"I'll explain everything to all of you," Sanya interrupted as she stared at Lenin.
Sanya began to tell the truth to everyone in the hall about the current situation and the danger they were going to face. First, she explained the prophecies that both the Sancticus and Angelis families had. The prophecies were about the end of time in which something had happened countless times before but was prevented by Sanya's ancestors.
Sanya revealed the purpose of the Orthias in Neva that they were the protectors of Neva. They were blessed with the abilities and strength to eradicate evil, and that was their only purpose. She then reminded them of the rotten truth about humans who tried to erase the Orthias from the face of Neva because Orthias were worshiped as Demi-Gods which was against religious beliefs.
"It was thanks to these two families that we, Orthias despise humans especially these two," Sanya stared coldly at Astrea and Moriganne. "But I can't despise their descendants because they did nothing," she suddenly changed her coldness to warmth when she smiled at them.
Everyone already knew the dark truth that had been hidden from the public. They all felt ashamed for what their ancestors did to the Orthias.
"At least that's what I do, but not the people of my kind," Sanya said calmly. "Let's not dwell on it and focus on our current situation," she pointed out.
Sanya unveiled the third Saint as the false prophet that would turn the world upside down making evil righteousness and the good into blasphemy. The shocking part was the fact the third Saint might have been born into this world and it was a sign that a powerful being had descended into Neva.
"These were the reports," Moriganne said as a few templars gave each person the copy of the reports. "You can read it thoroughly," she suggested.
The missing villagers who turned out to be deceased in gruesome deaths and the missing woman who was suspected to be the embodiment of the third Saint were written on the reports. Not only that but the disappearance of the demonic beasts in a single night in a territory where it was the most dangerous place in Neva was unnerving as well.
"Your Holinesses brought all of us here to go on an expedition to find and perhaps kill the woman?" Thalior looked at Astrea and Moriganne.
"If we can, yes, but our mission is to check a specific area..." Astrea paused to take a deep breath. "We are going to go beyond the Blackcliffs," she revealed.
The Blackcliffs was an area that wasn't drawn on the world map, an area specifically in the far east of the North where it was the territory of powerful demonic creatures and rumored to be where demons lived. People call that place the Origin of Evil because of the stories that had been passed down for centuries, stories that were enough to make adults couldn't sleep at night.
Everyone leaned back and looked away at the same time as they took a deep breath. They didn't expect to go beyond the Blackcliffs and thought they would only go somewhere less life-threatening than that.
"The Blackcliffs is abundant in demonic energy, and I don't want to admit that we are too dependent on Mana which is almost non-existent in there. That place is impossible to go to for us where our powers depend on it," Novia looked disturbed and had to utter her thoughts.
"That's why we brought you two here," Astrea responded as she stared at Lenin and Novia. "We need your expertise in magic and magic tools and provide us with an immense amount supply of Mana for us to survive," she explained with a serious expression.
Lenin already knew her purpose the moment Astrea revealed her plan to go beyond the Blackcliffs. As a mage, she had no chance against demonic beasts because demonic beasts were immune to Mana to some extent which made magic ineffective against them.
"That's not a problem. We both can provide what everyone needs," Lenin said with confidence. "But the question is when are we going, Sanya?" Lenin stared at Sanya with a serious expression.
"How long it would take for you to prepare the supply for them?" Sanya asked back.
"Give us a week and it will be ready," Lenin answered with confidence.
"Three days, that's the time you have," Sanya responded immediately as she stared at the doors again with a cold gaze.
"Three days?! That's impossible!" Novia was baffled by the unreasonable answer.
"Why in three days?" Archelaus furrowed his brows with his hand raised, staring at Sanya.
"There's something that I haven't told you. As we speak, my two sisters should have entered the Blackcliffs by now. Although they're the strongest warriors, a week there on their own would be impossible," Sanya revealed as she crossed her arms. "Three days are enough because my sisters should have cleared the path for us to take," she assured.
Everyone was in disbelief that there were more Orthias out there that they might meet. The fact that Sanya's sisters were out there on their own proved that the sisters were strong enough to survive in that kind of place.
"Is there anything that you want to ask?" Sanya looked at everyone at the table. "If there isn't, I suggest that all of you prepare yourself and rest well. The sooner the better."