Kei was in the bathroom of his apartment, adjusting his formal clothes in front of the mirror.
"Hey, Kei, are you ready? Arata's waiting for you," Kael said, walking in without even knocking, as usual.
"Yeah, almost…" Kei ran a hand over his face, making sure everything was in place.
Cassiel might come back...I have to stay alert.
He tightened his tie slightly, more out of nerves than habit, and took a deep breath. Every reflection in the mirror reminded him that this meeting wouldn't be like any other.
"Kael and I will keep watch here, so don't worry. Maybe we'll join you when you return," Yuto said, entering the apartment the same way Kael had.
Kei nodded and left the apartment. Outside, he found Arata preparing a transport vehicle, adjusting the Ether fuses and calibrating the Nexo's pressure.
"All set, Kei. Hop in," Arata said, sliding into the driver's seat, slightly tired from the preparations.
Kei climbed quickly into the back, nerves showing on his face, and watched the road.
"Remember, Kei," Arata warned, his voice serious, "don't let anyone in without asking the leader first."
Kei didn't answer but understood the warning perfectly.
An hour later, they arrived at the building: large, imposing, no alarms in sight. Kei's task was simple: make sure no one entered without permission.
Inside the meeting room, nine people sat at the long table, each with their own mark:
Akira, arms crossed, frowning.
Lucian, reclining, dominating gaze on everyone.
Kaito, fists clenched under the table, breathing with restrained tension.
Itsuki, elbow on the table, calculating smile.
Sora, side-eye glance, twirling a pen.
Eveline, whispering figures and analyses, evaluating silently.
Haru, focused on recording everything, missing no detail.
Shion, barely moving, letting out a sigh when something annoyed him.
Mitsuki, leaning slightly, comments loaded with emotional intensity.
Caelum, eyes downcast, sunk in intermittent memories.
"Alright, then… let's begin," Akira said, sitting with authority.
"And what do you think about Cassiel Rhoam's death?" Mitsuki asked, resting his head on his hand.
Kaito lightly tapped the table, tension restrained.
Lucian frowned, his voice sharp: "Cassiel was an idiot. I'm surprised he died against four useless people, considering his level."
Sora whispered, a hint of sarcasm in his voice:
"Maybe the world's no longer made for him."
Eveline muttered possible scenario statistics. Mitsuki raised an eyebrow, observing how each comment affected the group dynamics.
Caelum lowered his gaze, letting tension grow around him, while Shion sighed and Haru noted everything mentally.
Kei stood at the door, still supervising, lost in thought.
I wishI were in thatmeeting right now...
Shion waited a few seconds before responding, letting the silence weigh on everyone.
"It was an unnecessary fight," he finally said, each word heavy with laziness and disdain, as if speaking to the world were a burden.
Haru didn't lift his eyes from his documents, focused on every figure.
"The death of Cassiel Rhoam, the council's supervisor, generated a debt equivalent to four percent of the GDP," he said calmly. "A margin that, for now, can be ignored."
He continued writing, each stroke ritualistic; for him, the details others overlooked were the ones that truly mattered.
Itsuki tensed slightly, barely perceptible, but enough to show that such a margin was unacceptable for his greed.
"I'll try to lower it to two percent," he murmured, calculating mentally how many negotiations it would take. "We can't allow this to grow."
Sora frowned, playing with a pen while noting how Itsuki's gestures revealed his priorities.
Eveline whispered complementary figures, mixing probability and emotion, measuring the effect each move would have on the group.
Kaito leaned on the table, containing the anger burning beneath the surface, as if the incompetence around him scorched his skin.
Caelum kept his gaze down, lost in memories, letting the emotional weight of the moment envelop him.
Mitsuki tilted his head, evaluating how each comment could provoke desire or manipulation, smiling slightly inside.
Lucian frowned, noticing the micro-tensions in everyone, reaffirming his silent authority.
Akira crossed his arms, controlling the room, ensuring every detail, every gesture, remained under control.
Kei, at the door, absorbed everything, trying to process every emotion, every calculation, every tension.
What are they doing in there...
Finally, Eveline broke the silence with a slow sigh, leaning back in her chair.
"I guess I'll cover Cassiel's work," she said, tone mixing resignation and slight disapproval toward Cassiel, as if leaving her double the workload were a personal insult.
Shion closed his eyes briefly, took a deep breath, and then looked at Eveline.
"That would be best," he murmured heavily. "I couldn't even imagine doing double work…" Each word seemed physically exhausting, as if speaking alone drained his energy.
Caelum, lost in thought until now, blinked twice and finally returned to the present. His gaze focused on the others but still seemed distant.
"Hey… what am I doing here if I'm not part of the council?" he asked, a hint of confusion and vulnerability in his voice. His words were honest but carried that sadness isolating him from everyone.
Sora barely turned his head, a sarcastic smile playing on his lips, twirling a pen:
"At least you have the excuse of no responsibilities… for now." His cutting comment seemed innocent but carried a sting of envy.
Mitsuki tilted his head toward Caelum, eyes glinting cunningly:
"You could learn something from this… if you want to survive more meetings like this." Persuasive, almost tempting, not entirely innocent.
Lucian frowned, observing the micro-tensions, nodding slightly:
"Those who do not contribute fall behind." Firm, asserting his silent authority.
Akira crossed his arms, looking at Caelum for a few seconds, gauging if he truly understood the gravity of the place, then shifted his gaze to Eveline and Itsuki, controlling the group's tension.
Haru noted every gesture, every word, without lifting his eyes from his documents, as if recording everything for the future.
Kaito lightly tapped the table with his fingers, containing his anger at the incompetence around him.
Shion let out a more audible sigh, clearly exhausted from listening to everyone's dynamics, while Eveline rolled her eyes and Sora played with his pen.
No one's coming... well, i guess that's for the best, Kei thought as he paced back and forth. He checked his chronograph and frowned slightly.
11:30… almost done. Good, I was getting bored anyway…
He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, letting each minute crawl by like an eternity, still alert to anyone attempting to enter.
Kei moved back and forth, each step measured, every tiny sound captured by his senses.
Still empty... no one's trying to get in. Everything's under control, he thought, leaning his back against the wall.
A flock of pigeons took off from the nearby sidewalk, and Kei frowned slightly, out of habit. No danger, but every movement reminded him that vigilance must be constant.
Ugh… if this keeps up, I'm going to start talking to myself, he muttered with a sigh mixed with boredom.
While scanning the area again, his fingers drummed lightly on his jacket. Each minute was slow, but his position outside was crucial: any intrusion attempt would be detected before anyone inside noticed.
Even if he couldn't see them, Kei imagined the council members inside, discussing, calculating, maneuvering.
For now... they think they have everything under control. I make sure it staysthat way.
He leaned against the wall again, arms crossed, breathing deeply. The afternoon air cooled the sidewalk, and every shadow seemed to move slower than the minutes passing.
Everything's calm... too calm, he thought, frowning slightly. His fingers drummed on his jacket, a reminder that any lapse could be fatal.
He leaned forward slightly, observing the entrance and the small courtyard separating it from the street. Every sound—the rustle of leaves, a distant car, a creaking pot—was recorded and analyzed in milliseconds.
Ugh… this is getting boring, he muttered with a touch of humor. Although I guess I'd rather be bored than… no, he corrected himself, crossing his arms again.
His eyes scanned back and forth, mentally reviewing every possible scenario: who might approach, how those inside would react, what measures could be taken. Everything was under control, but the constant vigilance kept him tense, alive.
A few seconds later, Kei let out a soft exhale and straightened up.
Well… as long as no one tries to enter, I guess I can allow myself a few minutes of calm.
Minutes later, Kei tensed instantly at a sound. The main door opened, and a slightly tired man emerged, hunched, with a faintly apathetic expression, almost sad.
"Kid, you can leave… It's twelve, I'll take your place," Caelum said monotonously, exhaling a heavy sigh that seemed to drain the air.
Kei studied him, analyzing every gesture, trying to figure out if he was trustworthy or an intruder. Just as he was about to decide, a familiar shout interrupted him: Arata, accompanied by Yuto and Kael, arrived with the vehicle ready.
A sigh of relief escaped Kei.
"Well… I'm leaving then," he muttered, taking the first steps toward Arata, Yuto, and Kael, finally able to relax—if only a little.
Kei climbed into the vehicle, and Arata started immediately, driving toward home. As they moved, Yuto felt a slight chill and looked at Kael.
"Hey… don't you think someone—or something—might come?" he asked, concerned.
Suddenly, the ground trembled, shaking the vehicle slightly. Another tremor followed, as if something enormous approached.
Arata squinted toward the source, trying to discern what it was. He tensed, breathing rapidly.
"Guys… when you see it, stay calm…" he said, stopping the vehicle as the Nexo slowly destabilized. "This… is not something to take lightly."
Yuto and Kael exchanged glances, hearts racing.
"What's happening, Arata?" Kael asked, trying to stay calm, though his voice trembled slightly.
"I don't know exactly…" Arata said, gripping the wheel. "But this isn't a normal tremor. Something big… very big is coming."
The air around the vehicle seemed to vibrate with dark energy, as if every molecule charged with tension. Kei, sitting in the back, narrowed his eyes, hands on his knees. His instincts screamed this wasn't a natural accident.
Seconds later, the ground ahead rose slightly, and from the mist in the distance emerged three enormous silhouettes.
First, a colossal rock giant, absorbing the surrounding light.
Second, a feline beast of impossible proportions, moving with unsettling speed.
Third, humanoid, walking with calculated steps; behind it, a small yet imposing figure manipulated corrupted Nexo threads.
The vehicle fell silent for a moment, except for Arata's rapid, tense breathing.
"Guys… this… This isn't going to be easy," he muttered.
Kei clenched his fists, mind focused. The real test of his training had finally begun.