In the garden of the Hale Mansion, Dawn, Tracey, and Gray wrestle with Imperial's sudden disappearance. Though they defend his character, doubt creeps in—especially as Dawn recalls the mysterious notebook he refused to share. Their reflection is interrupted when a richly dressed boy arrives, revealing himself as Ari's brother, only to shock them further by celebrating their parents' deaths. Furious, Ari nearly attacks him, but with Dawn's intervention, she restrains herself and leaves.
On the road, the group encounters Ezren, who brings them to the CA HQ. There, he reveals the dark truth: Lord Gayle silenced everyone who knew about the incident, imprisoning witnesses along with their families. Ezren's knowledge stems from his brother—the very guard who rescued Ari that fateful night. Tragically, his brother was assassinated shortly after.
Ari learns that her brother Aden is now the leader of the BladeHex, wielding the title Blade of Wind, while Lord Gayle has vanished, planning something in the shadows. Ezren reveals that Gayle may not have been the true mastermind—the real orchestrator remains unknown.
Tracey and Dawn theorize that this hidden figure could have framed Imperial, using his fearsome power and reputation as a convenient scapegoat. Ezren then hints at a gathering that night at Hale Mansion, where Lord Gayle might appear.
Ari proposes a plan—not to fight, but to investigate. She turns to Gray, a master infiltrator, to extract the truth from within. Without hesitation, Gray sets off on his mission.
Ari then asks Ezren about the rest of the BladeHex, now determined to uncover the identities of those tied to her family's tragedy… and bring the true mastermind to light.
Ezren: "There are two BladeHex members from families aligned with you. Sasha—the Blade of Earth—and Mich—the Blade of Water. They were with you in the junior academy, right?"
Ari: "Yes, they were."
Ezren: "The remaining three belong to the Everly faction.
Kaito—the Blade of Fire.
Sana—the Blade of Lightning.
Rosa—the Blade of Light.
All of them are highly skilled."
He paused, his expression darkening.
Ezren: "But the real problem isn't who they are—it's how they're operating."
Ari: "What do you mean? Is there something wrong with their conduct?"
Ezren: "You see, the BladeHex wasn't just created to carry on the legacy of the Six Blades. Their purpose is to protect the people and uphold justice across the empire. But the current BladeHex members... they're straying far from that path."
He leaned forward, voice lower now.
Ezren: "They're prioritizing money. Acting as private guards for the nobles, showcasing their strength in front of commoners, and even inciting chaos. There are rumors—no, incidents—of them killing those who couldn't meet noble demands. It's like the empire is slipping back to how things were under your grandfather's rule. Only now… the fear is quieter, but deeper. The people are terrified—not of war, but of being crushed under the weight of the powerful."
Ezren's eyes narrowed with frustration.
Ezren: "You remember the disappearances of male as reason for job, right? The ones which you guys and CA under commander silver investigated? That wasn't just an isolated case. Many citizens from our empire vanished. And when desperate families turned to the BladeHex for help—
They ask money for helping them.
And when the people offering everything they had, savings from farming, running small shops, doing hard labor—they were lied to. The BladeHex took the money… and did nothing. They betrayed the people."
He clenched his fist.
Ezren: "I know it's not my place to say this. But the truth is, the Hale faction—the part of the empire you belong to—is in dangerous hands right now. I'm sorry for saying this, Lady Ari."
Ari (firmly): "Don't be sorry, Ezren. It is your right. You are a citizen of this empire. And I want to know the truth—whether it's painful or not."
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Scene Shift: Aetheris Empire — Coastal Town "Virelyn"
The town of Virelyn lay on the edge of the Aetheris Empire, hugging the jagged coastline. The once-vibrant seaside village was now cloaked in ominous gray clouds. The sky churned with an unnatural darkness that swallowed the sun, casting long shadows across empty homes and shuttered markets.
Royal soldiers moved through the streets in formation, some carrying villagers on stretchers, others guiding the weak and disoriented by the arm. A few residents were unharmed, but most were either unconscious or visibly drained of strength.
Massive royal army carts lined the town's square, their insides padded for transport. High-ranking captains stood watch, overseeing the evacuation of Virelyn—a necessary retreat to protect the civilians from an unspecified threat that lingered like a curse over the sea.
Nearby inland towns, untouched by the coastal gloom, remained calm. The army had already begun relocating survivors there for medical aid and magical assessment.
Within a few hours, Virelyn was emptied. Silence took its place.
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Seen shift to an place where two people are sitting on a stone .
A cloaked figure stepped into view, holding a small package.
"Here," the figure said, handing it to Imperial, who stood overlooking the sea with arms crossed.
Imperial opened it—a smooth white mask, its surface untouched, expressionless. Two narrow eye slits were carved for vision.
Without a word, he unsheathed his blade and slowly dragged its edge across the mask—cutting a deep scar over the right eye.
He lifted the mask and placed it on his face. His voice, now slightly muffled behind the porcelain, was low but commanding.
Imperial: "Let's move. We're done here."
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Scene Transition – Unknown Room, Location Confidential
A long, obsidian table sat at the center of a dimly lit chamber. Six individuals—hooded, powerful, silent—sat three on each side. At the far end of the table, a seventh person sat alone, facing them all with an air of authority.
He placed a weathered paper clipping on the table: a headline from the 11 Supreme Families Summit Incident. The image of Imperial Alden, face partially shadowed, was circled in red ink.
Leader: "We need him on our side—no matter the cost. I'm assigning this mission to you two."
The names echoed across the chamber.
"Renji. Vera."
Two individuals stood from the table in unison.
Renji & Vera (in sync): "Yes, my lord."
They bowed and exited swiftly.
The leader's gaze shifted to the remaining two seated figures.
Leader: "Isla. Seth. What's the status of Jack, the teleporter?"
Seth replied immediately, his voice calm but calculated.
Seth: "He's currently within his empire. But intelligence confirms he's traveling with Silver and the others to Aetheris. They're visiting the nearby towns to assist with relocation efforts alongside the Common Association branch here."
Isla nodded.
Isla: "We'll make our move when the opportunity is perfect. He won't slip away."
The leader's voice lowered ominously.
Leader: "Good. He's the final piece needed to fill that crystal. Once that's done… the Octagram will be complete."
Isla & Seth (together): "Yes, my lord."