The two teenagers continued walking through the dark alleyways of the slums.
— Atela.
She raised her head toward the one who spoke. Noa kept walking without turning around.
— How does your innate technique work?
Atela thought to herself that he didn't waste any time. His question was direct, but she knew he expected an answer.
— Well… from what I've managed to understand, my innate technique is called Maëlle, and it allows me to create other techniques without any real connection between them.
Noa touched his chin.
— Interes—… wait, what? So you can create any technique out of nothing?
Atela clarified:
— I don't really know. I'm able to do it instinctively. For me, creating techniques is as natural as running a marathon… and they always depend on my own power. They evolve as I evolve.
— I see…
Noa thought for a moment about what he had just learned.
— An innate technique that allows you to create other techniques, all of which depend on the user's growth to evolve… So no matter the technique, it has enormous potential, but it depends entirely on you… That's the first time I've ever heard of an ability like that. How many techniques have you created so far?
Atela added, as if remembering something important:
— Oh right… there's also the voice in my head.
— What voice are you talking about?
Noa slowed down.
— I think I created it… but I'm not sure. It's a voice in my head that analyzes everything happening around me, like another consciousness inside my mind.
He nodded slightly before replying:
— Then you're a real anomaly.
— Hey! What do you mean, an anomaly? What about you, what's your technique?
— I don't have one. But I can copy other people's techniques… only if I meet certain conditions.
— Well… I guess I'm still the anomaly…
A man stepped out of the alley in front of them. He walked very slowly, dragging his feet.
— We found him. I'll explain later, but for now…
Noa said calmly.
The man stared at them with wide eyes. His gaze first settled on Noa, then stopped on Atela. A wide, unsettling smile spread across his face.
Maëlle issued a warning:
— I detect extremely strong hostility directed at you from this individual.
— What? But I didn't do anything to him!
The man's eyes began to glow with a silvery light, almost completely white. The same energy started gathering and emanating from his feet.
Atela stepped back, before Noa placed his hand on her head.
— She's with me.
At those words, the man's silver aura faded, and the light gradually disappeared. But his wide smile remained unchanged, and his eyes, still wide open, barely blinked.
— Good evening.
His deep, calm voice created a disturbing contrast with his expression. Atela found him terrifying. Noa thought she was right.
— Atela, let me introduce you to Fou, the one who rules over this slum district. Oh, and… he's also crazy.
Atela wondered what she had gotten herself into. Maëlle's voice echoed:
— All the hostility he was directing at you completely disappeared as soon as Noa started speaking.
Noa stepped closer to him.
— By any chance… would you happen to know where the subway entrance is?
Fou's pupils dilated like a camera lens zooming out.
— Why are bananas yellow and not blue?
Noa covered his face with his hand.
— I forgot he always answers questions with other completely unrelated questions… We're far from being out of trouble.
Meanwhile, in the capital.
The atmosphere in the room where the family meeting is taking place only grows heavier minute after minute. Old André speaks.
— Alright, first of all, you must know that the kingdom of Zhaorin has been completely destroyed.
Everyone present, except Diane and David, is shocked. For them, it's simply inconceivable that such a great nation could fall.
Dante steps forward with a serious expression.
— Let me guess… Sélestia is involved in all of this, right?
Diane, sitting nearby with a glass of wine in her hand, wonders.
— Sélestia? I thought that organization had been destroyed.
— A new organization bearing the same name appeared a few weeks ago.
A young boy from the lower branch of the family approaches with documents, which he hands to Dante.
— According to what we found, this organization, although it has the same name, has nothing to do with the original. The first organization was mainly composed of simple terrorists, with minimal firepower and very little combat experience. On top of that, they all had criminal records.
He continues in an even more serious tone.
— But for this second organization, it's a completely different story. There is no information on the members of this recent organization. They have firepower capable of destroying a nation as large as Zhaorin in just 3 days, and their members are incredibly powerful.
David sits down in his chair.
— Initially, if I called this family meeting, it was to send all the young heirs to the kingdom of Garion.
All those concerned are surprised, but he hasn't finished speaking.
— Currently, the world order is very unstable, and we are getting closer and closer to a world war… and in the worst case, a new holy war. Even more so since I confirmed my suspicions that there may be a traitor among the 20 generals, someone providing them with confidential information that could endanger the world order.
Shock once again appears on every face.
Sitting on a chair near the patriarch's table, Lise Hyperion, 11 years old, 7th daughter of David and younger sister of our protagonist, speaks as if nothing were wrong despite her young age.
— The fact that there is a traitor among the 20 generals completely shifts the balance of power. At this point, we can no longer consider Sélestia as a simple criminal organization, but as a global threat.
She holds in her hands a black chess piece representing the queen, which she gently taps on the table.
— As far as I know, small kingdoms have already started going to war, and civil wars have broken out across many major nations. Given the timing, I'm willing to bet that Sélestia still has a role to play in all of this.
Lara, at the nearby table, speaks up.
— Presented like that, it would mean Sélestia also has political control over events.
Yuna intervenes.
— It goes without saying. If they truly have a general on their side, it's very likely that this person is helping them by weakening the defenses of other kingdoms or creating diversions large enough to allow them to operate in the shadows.
Johan lets out a yawn before adding a few words.
— We're lucky they haven't attacked the Eastern Empire yet… and I think I know why.
Oliver adds:
— It seems obvious to me. If they don't dare attack the Eastern Empire, it's because of the presence of Patriarch David, former Patriarch André, as well as the other adults in the family.
The murmurs in the room become less and less discreet. Iris speaks in turn.
— I agree with the young masters Johan and Oliver. The patriarch and his father both have a general-level power, and could even have been in the top 5 if they hadn't refused.
Apeche adds:
— That doesn't mean we should lower our guard. Let's not forget that the king of the kingdom of Zhaorin also had a general-level power… and yet his kingdom was destroyed in barely 3 days. That proves the enemy must not be underestimated.
Lara begins to realize the seriousness of the situation.
Vega Hyperion, third son of former patriarch André and younger brother of David and Diane, a brown-haired man with a massive build, sits in his seat, clearly under the influence of alcohol but without losing his lucidity.
— That's all well and good… but should I remind you that the kingdom's borders are still open, while those of all the other kingdoms are closed?
Apeche pats him on the back.
— We managed to close the borders of our territory, but not those of the slums. The inhabitants harbor a deep hatred toward the Hyperions and will not obediently follow us, even if it's for their own good.
Charl, in his seat, simply closes his eyes and lets out a light sigh.
— From what David told me, the leader of one of the major slum territories is an old acquaintance of Noa. I'm sure he'll manage to convince him to close his borders. And as for the second one, Ragna has already gone to take care of it, so it shouldn't be a major issue anymore.
— In that case…
The patriarch stands up from his seat with a straight posture that immediately commands respect.
— I address all the young heirs present here: you will depart tomorrow for the kingdom of Garion. I task you with training, becoming stronger, and gaining experience… but also with trying to find who the traitor among the 20 generals might be, in order to permanently cut off Sélestia's source.
— I didn't know we were so popular here.
Snap.
A snap of fingers. In just 0.3 seconds, a thick layer of ice blocks all the exits of the room, completely isolating them.
Despite that, no one is truly surprised.
David slowly turns his head toward the back of the room.
In a corner, a robust man dressed in black, wearing a hood that completely covers his face except for his eyes, sits on a chair, hands clasped and legs crossed.
Psimôn has just made his entrance.
Next to him, a woman with long black and white hair stands, her hands behind her back.
— It is an honor to meet you, Patriarch… David Hyperion.
Next chapter: That's not fair