What had happened in Cephiro since I left? Lantis's mind spun with questions, and he noticed the noise of commotion echoing from afar. Why were so many people gathering in the dead of night?
Lantis pushed himself forward, ignoring the pain that still throbbed through his body, as he raced to the Autozam quarters where Eagle usually worked on his machines. The place was eerily quiet when he arrived. "Eagle!" he called, clutching his pendant tightly.
"Lantis! You're back?!" a familiar voice rang out.
"Zazu?" Lantis's eyes darted to the figure emerging from a foreign-looking warship parked in an improvised hangar. "Where's Eagle?"
"I think he's dealing with some pressing matters. But I can't believe you've returned! Eagle will be so thrilled!" Before Zazu could finish, Lantis had already disappeared into the shadows, leaving Zazu staring after him, dumbfounded.
"Where is he?!"
"He's in the main assembly hall. Everyone is gathered there for..." Zazu's explanation trailed off as Lantis dashed away, leaving Zazu's words unfinished. His mind focused solely on the pendant and the harrowing thought it provoked—that the magic swordsman it belonged to might have died. The dread that gripped him whispered that if it were true, his path to Hikaru would be irrevocably closed.
The grand hall was steeped in tension as dawn began to break. Ferio was caught off guard by the news that the people of Cephiro were flocking to the castle, demanding an audience. Pressed into convening a major assembly, he listened as one of the representatives stepped forward with a fervent plea for an end to the wars and the release of prisoners as a gesture of new beginnings.
"The people are determined to rebuild Cephiro, to forge better ties with all nations in the world, and to let go of the past. Therefore, end the conflict and the hatred among us! Peace is what we all desire!"
The hall was filled with leaders from across the lands: Albatross from Runes, Eagle Vision of Autozam, the twin princesses of Chizeta, Princess Aska of Fahren, Umi and Fuu, LaFarga, Ascot, Caldina, and the generals—all echoing the same call. Master Clef stood by Nova's side while Ryuuki and Dyna stayed silent yet resolute, withholding that they had initiated the late-night disturbance.
Ferio hadn't anticipated such a turn of events. Anger flared within him as he felt undermined, with decisions being made around him as if he were the antagonist here. Seated in his chair, his expression darkened despite Fuu's attempt to soothe him. His gaze shifted to LaFarga and Caldina, who met it with steady resolve. It became clear to Ferio that they were behind the midnight commotion.
Eagle stepped forward to declare firmly, "I have heard the outcome of the previous meeting. I hope you do not make a rash decision. You must not kill anyone, especially that young man."
"What did you say? Who are you to dictate to me?" Ferio snapped, dismayed that Eagle, who had been absent all day, was now challenging him instead of showing support.
"There is something you need to know first..."
The commotion inside the room gnawed at Lantis as he stood just outside, his hands clenched, resisting the urge to intervene while silently observing. He feared stirring up more chaos by reappearing soon after he departed from Cephiro. Leaning against the cold stone wall, arms folded, he tried to piece together what was unfolding.
Suddenly, footsteps approached, and Lantis turned to see Kotori. Behind her, a hooded person walked slowly with his head down. Meanwhile, his hands and feet were chained. The chain made a sad, jingling sound as his steps shuffled.
Kotori flashed him an enigmatic smile, dipping her head before proceeding inside. Lantis straightened, straining to catch a glimpse of the person following her, but they had already disappeared into the hall.
"I brought the young man here," Eagle's voice rang out.
At that declaration, Kotori entered with her companion, and silence swept the room. Lowering the hood, she revealed the young man's clean-cut face and neatly trimmed hair. An air of familiarity swept over the gathering, though no one could quite place why he seemed so known. The young man's gaze stayed fixed on the floor, disinterest masking his discomfort at being the center of attention.
Kotori slipped back into the lineup, standing beside Ryuuki, who immediately hissed, "Where have you been?!"
"With Uncle Eagle and that young man," Kotori replied cheerfully.
"What?!"
"Shh!"
"He is Shinre," Eagle introduced, his voice steady as he named the young man.
Lantis's head shot up at that name. Shinre? The sound of it awakened something buried in his memory, stirring a nostalgia that sent a shiver down his spine. Have I misheard? He stepped closer, peering through the transparent door that separated the hall from the outside. His eyes scanned the crowd within, recognizing some faces and passing over others—until they fell on one. Nova! The Magic Guru from Runes. Lantis's eyes widened in disbelief. What is happening here? Why is she here?!
"This criminal…" Ferio muttered loud enough to draw disapproving looks from Umi and Fuu and many others in the room. "You bring him here without my permission!"
"What is wrong with you?" Umi asked, irritation lacing her voice. Ferio turned away, his expression hardening. "Don't invite trouble here…" she hissed.
Despite Shinre's drastic change in appearance, Alba and Nova were finally assured he was alive. They looked at him with profound relief, silently willing him to lift his head and see how overjoyed they were to find him.
Shinre raised his head, meeting Ferio's gaze with eyes that blazed like fire. Those eyes were sharp, unapologetically expressing his disdain.
"You're Shinre… How old are you?" Ferio asked in an offhand manner, studying the young face before him.
"Sixteen," Shinre replied coldly.
"And you managed to destroy half my kingdom? That is impressive but not surprising. Aren't you all destroyers?"
"To bring you and Cephiro down, I would do anything!" Shinre shouted, his anger flaring.
The entire room fell into a tense silence as the confrontation between the elder ruler and the youth unfolded. Everyone hoped Ferio would not provoke the boy further. Meanwhile, Eagle stepped in, attempting to mediate.
"I refuse to meet with these people!" Shinre protested to Eagle.
"Shinre!" Eagle warned. "Calm yourself! You need to be here…"
"You're asking me not to kill him?" Ferio scoffed at Eagle. "A brat who cannot be controlled… Look at how they've manipulated his mind."
"Father, he…" Kotori tried to speak up. Ryuuki glanced at her, astonished by her boldness.
"Kotori, it's okay," Eagle interjected firmly. "Ferio, control yourself. He is just angry," he said, trying to soothe the king. Turning to Shinre, he whispered, "Come on. Stop this manner. Your mother would be heartbroken if you got hurt over this."
Ferio's glare hardened. "You, you little demon. Speaking so insolently to me—did your mother not teach you any manners… how to show respect to your elders? Kneel before me!"
In an instant, a wave of fire erupted from Shinre's body, wild and fierce, heating the room to an almost unbearable degree. Cries of shock and panic filled the hall as the flames surged toward Ferio. The king's face tensed as he realized just how real the threat was, the fire threatening to consume him…
"No!" Umi shouted. She summoned a torrent of water, crashing it against Shinre with such force that he was thrown back several meters from where he stood.
"Don't attack him!" Eagle shouted, trying to stop her.
"He's dangerous."
"You know nothing about my mother! You have no right to speak of her!" Shinre shouted at Ferio, struggling to rise with difficulty due to the chains binding his hands and feet. The heat radiating from his body turned the water around him into steam, intensifying the oppressive heat.
Once more, the blast of water sent Shinre tumbling further, rolling across the floor.
"Enough, Aunt Umi! He's still hurt..." Kotori suddenly stepped forward, spreading her arms in front of Shinre. "You'll understand if you know why—"
"Shinre!" Eagle called out, trying to urge him to calm down, but Shinre wouldn't listen.
"Father, you need to understand something—"
"I need no protection or forgiveness from anyone! Get out of my way!" Shinre's fierce command startled Kotori. But before he could rise and unleash his flames again, someone, driven to the breaking point by his behavior, slammed him back down and planted a heavy boot on his neck, as though daring to break it.
"Stay down, you little demon."
The voice pierced through him like a blade.
Everyone froze in shock. "Lantis!" Umi restrained herself from dousing Shinre for the third time.
Hearing that name, Shinre felt as if lightning had struck him. The voice resonated in his ears. It was the first time he heard his father speak. Instinctively, he tried to lift his head to see clearly, but Lantis pushed him back to the ground, making him taste the cold, unforgiving stone once more.