Charmed [✔]

22.4 ▌Ink Plume

ARICSON WHO thought he would leave alone had two more guests in his carriage. He was planning to have a good chat with the Third Prince but when he bid his goodbye to Elise earlier, Jhad volunteered to come along with him.

The latter had always been approachable but when he had a brother like Brennan, he could roughly guess that he was a wolf in sheep's clothing.

"I wonder why there is a summit today?" Jhad opened up.

"The Association matters always stay in Citadel's walls," he reminded.

Jhad's mouth was curved. "My bad. His Highness Yosiah exuded the mien of a Paladin that I assumed I am surrounded by great leaders."

"You jest," the other replied.

The conversation died in an instant. He was not interested to talk and so did the Third Prince. Fortunately, Jhad could read the room and they journeyed in silence.

It was a brief ride and they arrived after several minutes. He and Jhad proceeded to the Summit Hall while Yosiah was sent back by the coachman.

He took his seat when someone approached him. Three men towered over him with ranges of bright-colored hairs.

"Really, boy, who had you pissed again? I never once expected you will be the troublemaker," Ivannov commented.

"You are indeed Aciel's children. I remember having countless summit meetings during his reign with all the cases he had," Merlin, the King of Blackwood, seconded.

"Ah, that was certainly Master Aciel's golden time," Hernan said.

The elders continued saying their piece as Aricson simply gave them a perfunctory response. It took half an hour before the summit officially began.

Aricson opened up the discussion and the event that happened in Ember Isle. It could be affirmed that the Abyss Faction could be the instigator of this all. With all the physical evidence gathered from the bodies of those men who attacked their home, the rest of the members had no choice but to believe and vigilance should be raised.

Then again, not everything was said. Specifically, the growing suspicions in him. The woman who attacked Elise was no doubt a shifter, the most complex among races.

They could not summon spirits but they were given an innate gift that defied the components of magic. No one could change their appearance at will naturally regardless of the abundance of talent in magic and there was only one creature to do so.

Feline irises, animal ears sprouting on her head, and tails on her back. They were the characteristics of the person he fought. That same appearance aligned with the current Ninth Mystic Beast but what could a Godly Beast be doing siding with Abyss Faction?

It was a question he could not come up with a solution to. All races were at war but if they had a common enemy, it was the Abyss Faction who made the Ravids that tormented Elith from time immemorial.

Furthermore, this involved all races and his only way out now was his grandmother. He only hoped she could not tell what he was hiding for the Harbinger was something the ruler of the fairies was never fond of.

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U n S c e n e s

Q: Are you considered engaged with the Ink Plume?

Aricson: Yes.

Elise: No.