Ethan stared at the feather resting in his palm, his thoughts moving faster than he could follow. The faint shimmer along its edges confirmed what he already suspected.
"Those damn bird-people again… Vatican City."
He muttered the words quietly, almost unwilling to hear them spoken aloud.
Before entering the Divine Sea Trial, he had overheard the Temple Master speaking with one of them. The visitor had been unmistakable, a four-winged angel newly promoted, and it had come directly from Vatican City. At the time, Ethan had dismissed the conversation as background noise, but now the memory returned with sharp clarity. Vatican City was not just a base, it was their gathering ground. They supported one another, trained together, and advanced as a collective force.
Sooner or later, he would have to go there himself.
