The grand chamber of the Yamato Elders was silent, save for the flickering torches that cast long shadows on the walls. The air was thick with tension. The six clan elders sat in a semicircle, their faces veiled in contemplation. Jun stood among them, his hands in the pockets of his suit, his gray messy hair slightly disheveled. Across from him, Escarion leaned back against a pillar, his arms crossed, an amused smirk playing on his lips.
At the center of the room, a cloaked messenger knelt, his breathing heavy as if he had traveled great distances in haste. The weight of his message pressed upon him, but he steadied himself and spoke.
"Quinn… Issey… Mizuki." The messenger paused. "Mizuki is Quinn's mother. Issey is Quinn's sister. And we now know… she is the one trying to revive the Samodiva clan."
A murmur spread across the chamber. The elders exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable.
Jun straightened, his brow furrowing. He had anticipated Quinn's name, but Mizuki and Issey's involvement made the situation far more complex.
Then, a deep chuckle broke through the tension.
Escarion tilted his head, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement. "That's all?" he said, his voice dripping with arrogance.
The words hung in the air like a knife's edge. The messenger hesitated, his body trembling under Escarion's gaze.
"That's all?" Jun echoed, his voice calm but firm. He turned his sharp eyes toward Escarion. "You think this is nothing? The Samodiva clan was annihilated for a reason. If they rise again—"
"Then we'll cut them down again," Escarion interrupted, his smirk widening. His confidence was unwavering.
One of the elders, an aged man from the Seiran Clan, cleared his throat. "Escarion, do not underestimate this. If Issey is leading this effort, it means they've found a way to regain power. We must act carefully."
The elder of the Hikari Clan, the oldest among them, spoke in a grave tone. "This is not just about revenge or revival. If Quinn is involved, it means there's something deeper at play."
At the mention of Quinn's name, Jun's expression darkened. He knew Quinn wasn't strong—at least not yet—but the fact that he was caught in this web made things more complicated.
The messenger swallowed hard before speaking again. "I have reason to believe… Quinn does not know the full truth about his family's past."
Jun clenched his jaw. That made things worse.
Escarion laughed again, stepping forward from his place against the pillar. "So what you're telling me is that a naive boy and his deranged sister are trying to undo what Yamato sealed away generations ago?" His voice was filled with mockery.
The messenger lowered his head. "We… do not yet know their full intentions, Lord Escarion."
Escarion smirked, walking past the kneeling figure without sparing him a glance. "I don't need to know their intentions. If they step out of line, I'll erase them myself."
Jun exhaled sharply. "You're too reckless."
Escarion turned back to him, his smirk never fading. "And you're too cautious, Jun."
The tension between them crackled in the air.
One of the elders finally raised his hand. "We will send scouts to confirm the movement of Mizuki and Issey. If they are indeed planning to revive the Samodiva clan, we will decide our course of action then."
Jun nodded, though unease still lingered in his mind.
Escarion, however, looked bored. "Fine. But if you waste too much time, I won't wait for a decision. I'll take matters into my own hands."
With that, he turned and left the chamber, leaving the elders and Jun in contemplation.
As the heavy doors closed behind him, Jun's eyes narrowed. He knew one thing for certain—this was just the beginning.