The five council members gathered in the tower of Caelumreach, reviewing the program’s progress over the past three months.

  They had all agreed to the proposal that the Elementalist faction would serve as future security for the stabilized cloning initiative. Now they waited only for Amaterasu’s return. Her reappearance, alongside her brother, was expected to coincide with the arrival of the cloning machinery in All Realm, providing a public narrative to obscure the program itself.

  With their return, Leroy would relinquish his position as council chairman in stages—implicitly within two weeks, then formally resigning by the fourth.

  Leroy reported that the Extraterrestrial faction’s trials had produced promising results, though the number of compliant subjects remained below half. The subjects had begun performing tasks without questioning, but before he could continue, Starmist interrupted while scanning her document.

  “Cygnus, you requested additional subjects. Are the previous ones all dead?” she asked, bewildered.

  “I warned you that the Sorcerer methods would be tough,” Cygnus replied.

  “What method are you using?” Bjorn asked, discarding his finished cigar.

  “If I explained it here, you would need to study sorcery from the ground up to the level of my elite,” Cygnus said calmly, stirring his tea.

  “Then give us the short version,” Leroy pressed.

  Cygnus explained that the Sorcerers tested mental resilience first—whether the subjects could withstand psychological shock—before advancing to demonstrations of power. Yet even the first stage had proven too much for most of them.

  “I don’t care about your methods,” Bjorn muttered. “But could you at least be less cruel? This is wasting resources.”

  “The promised machinery has yet to arrive. No need to rush.” Cygnus replied.

  “So what kind of prisoners do you need? Our numbers are thinning,” Leroy asked, his posture growing restless.

  The Sorcerer Supreme met their gazes in turn. “The same as before.”

  Leroy leaned back in his chair. “I will need to speak with King Darkon…”

  Bjorn cut him off, lighting another cigar. “No need. I’ll handle that. You focus on preparing your succession.”

  “It seems you are already ready to become chairman,” Elysius remarked from the far end of the table, laughing softly.

  Bjorn exhaled smoke from his mouth, staring sharply at the boy, as did Cygnus.

  The Sorcerer Supreme rotated his chair fully toward him and asked with cold firmness,

  “Elysius, any news from the Celestial?”

  “Boy, after all this time, tell us what is truly happening with your faction,” Bjorn added, slamming his metal gauntlet onto the table, startling Starmist who sat across from him.

  Cygnus pointed at Elysius, and the smile on the boy’s face vanished instantly.

  “Final warning, Child of Light. If the machine arrives and there is still no word from your faction, your position as the council’s will be reconsidered.”

  Starmist and Leroy exchanged glances, watching Elysius stand frozen under the confrontation from the two members.

  Starmist moved closer to the boy and spoke gently, easing the tension for a moment.

  “I will try writing a letter to the Sky King and then we can all sign it.”

  Bjorn sighed. “And if there is no reply, Starmist?”

  “Will their faction receive special consideration too? Just like the Elementalist?” he added.

  “Tell the Sky King that I, as his colleague from the first council, demand his presence,” Cygnus continued. “Inform him that your position is at risk.”

  “Cygnus, Bjorn, let him speak first,” Leroy said, his tone carrying the weight of a command that silenced the two.

  Elysius answered quietly, “They are… complicated.”

  “We know that, but there has been too much tolerance already. This is no longer an excuse,” Bjorn muttered.

  Unwilling to let the meeting grow more heated, Leroy agreed to Starmist’s proposal for the letter. The fate of the Celestial faction would be determined within five months—around the time the machine was expected to reach All Realm. For now, an official response from the faction was the priority; further steps would follow accordingly.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  The meeting ended swiftly. Cygnus opened a portal back to Morsalem, while Bjorn walked out immediately, studying the report in his hands without farewell or further questions.

  Elysius stood and approached Leroy and Starmist, his voice weak, eyes fixed downward.

  “Thank you, Leroy… Starmist, for defending me.”

  Starmist replied with her usual smile,

  “Bjorn is under pressure to become the council leader. You don’t need to take it seriously.”

  The Child of Light nodded and quickly left the room.

  “Elysius,” Starmist called, but the boy did not turn back.

  Only the couple remained in the council chamber, discussing future reports and preparing news for Amaterasu.

  “He must grow up soon, Starmist,” Leroy said.

  But Starmist gestured for Leroy to chase after him. Without asking further, he stood and followed, while Starmist began thinking of words for her letter to the Flame Goddess.

  The door behind opened. Elysius, who had already reached the end of the stairs, stopped when Leroy called out and walked toward him.

  “Elysius, whatever confusion you’re facing, I will try to help, but be honest.”

  The Child of Light nodded quickly.

  “I’ll try to deliver the letter first. If I can’t… then I’ll tell everything.”

  As the boy hurried to leave, the Green Wraith held his shoulder and looked into his burdened face.

  “Even though I protect many people—not just those from my faction—you are the one I consider my younger brother.”

  He tapped the boy’s chest lightly, making him cough.

  “Thank you. I’m glad to hear that.”

  Leroy laughed as he walked back toward the meeting room.

  “I owe you. Without you, I might have lost hope with Starmist.”

  Elysius stood silently on the stairs, deep in thought. He glanced back once more at the closed council door.

  I will remember this kindness. I will never disappoint him.

  Leroy returned inside.

  “Problem solved,” he said, giving a thumbs-up.

  Starmist, still writing, replied,

  “I agree he needs to grow up, but what matters is that he never feels alone.”

  “He works hard, too. Thinking about it now, in every organization he’s willing to learn and understand,” she added.

  “Agreed,” Leroy said as he pulled a chair beside her, watching his fiancée’s handwriting.

  He looked out the window—blue skies and faint echoes of the bustling District One below—then turned back to Starmist.

  “Darling, for our wedding, I’ve ensured the schedules will run smoothly.”

  “If there are obstacles, I’ve told Bjorn to conduct phased evaluations. It won’t become another reason to delay.”

  Starmist set down her pen and looked at him.

  “What if something unexpected happens?”

  Leroy stood behind her and gently held her shoulders.

  “You don’t need to worry. Amaterasu and Bjorn will be here.”

  Then he whispered,

  “And I’ve already made you wait too long. Not anymore—no matter the obstacles.”

  Starmist smiled, her cheeks turning blue again, and lightly tapped Leroy’s fingers resting on her shoulder.

  “Where did you learn words that beautiful?”

  “Well, you’re lucky your future husband learns new things quickly,” Leroy laughed.

  Near the gardens of Stargate, Starslayer, the one overseeing the cloning program, sat with Njall and Sicilia.

  “Njall, can you examine some relics that might be useful for the program?” the heir of House Star said while flipping through several sheets of paper.

  “I haven’t thought of any yet, young lord,” the apprentice scientist replied. “But I will test some possibilities in the Cogworks.”

  “Gather every piece of evidence,” Starslayer answered. “I will grant you permission to return to the Cogworks.”

  Njall pointed toward the unfinished structure nearby.

  “But your father said I must stay here to supervise…”

  “My father is busy with other matters right now,” Starslayer replied, taking a sip of his cold drink. “So I am the one assigning you to this program.”

  “I should ask for permission first. Once I return to the Cogworks, I will come back within—”

  The heir of the Star cut him off again. He folded his arms and looked at Njall with a cold gaze. Starslayer was still older than the young scientist.

  “There is no need. I speak with my father’s authority.”

  Njall nodded quietly and studied the scattered design papers before him, covered in sketches and notes about different relics.

  “And what about that machine?” Sicilia asked. “Has it arrived yet?”

  “It is still being searched for,” Starslayer replied. “Bringing it here will not be simple.”

  Then he added calmly,

  “We still have plenty of time.”

  The three of them lifted their glasses and took a drink. Starslayer looked toward the half-demon sorcerer and gave a faint smile.

  “Sicilia, about what my father said a few days ago.”

  “Spying on those three nobles?” Sicilia replied.

  “If they are discovered to threaten the position of this program or House Star,” Starslayer said calmly, “you must kill them.”

  Njall turned pale and looked at Sicilia. The Master of Shapeshifters remained expressionless upon hearing it, though Njall nearly choked on his drink.

  “Why are you so eager to kill members of your own faction?” Sicilia asked.

  “Anyone who threatens this program for personal gain is dangerous,” Starslayer replied. “Isn’t that what the Sorcerers teach? Balance.”

  Sicilia raised an eyebrow and asked again,

  “And how far do you think you truly understand balance?”

  Starslayer avoided the question. He turned his gaze away and rose from his seat.

  “The Council has appointed House Star as the leader of this faction. Our alliances remain strong, and together we must ensure this program continues without interference.”

  He looked back at Sicilia.

  "High position sorcerer like you must understand why I am doing this.”

  Sicilia smiled faintly and rested his chin on his hand.

  “I’m sure Lord Star will be surprised to see the courage of his new heir.”

  Starslayer nodded and walked back toward the main mansion.

  “Lord Star has truly lost control now,” Sicilia murmured. “During the wartime, nothing escaped his sight.”

  “You’re not serious, are you?” Njall asked nervously.

  Sicilia glanced at the young scientist sitting beside him.

  “You’re not actually going to do what he asked?”

  “Come now, Njall,” Sicilia replied. “This family is under a great deal of pressure right now. But I understand their position well enough.”

  “He really has taken over his father’s authority,” Njall said.

  Sicilia let out a long breath, stood up, and began walking away.

  “Perhaps I should discuss this with the Sorcerer Supreme. He will surely have a solution that still aligns with the teachings of our faction.”

  Njall stood as well, gathering the scattered papers.

  “Should Lord Star really be informed about this?”

  Without turning around, Sicilia waved his hand casually as he walked back toward his chamber.

  “There is no need. He said himself that he speaks with his father’s authority. For now, we will trust that.”