IRON VEIL
Chapter Nineteen: The Secrets of the Seven Horsemen
THE HORSEMEN MEETING
Iron Veil Headquarters — Black Chamber
The battle against Azrael had left the Seven Horsemen with more questions than answers.
Whyte, Don Frec, Rath London, and Indra gathered in the Black Chamber to examine the battle recordings.
"Azrael was holding back," Indra said. "He wanted to test our strength."
Don frowned. "You're saying that demon could have done even more damage?"
"Yes."
Rath displayed the recording of Azrael releasing his blood-red energy.
"His energy absorption and manipulation make him extremely dangerous. Conventional weapons alone won't be enough to stop him."
Whyte crossed his arms. "Then we need to understand how he escaped Prison Vault Axiom."
Everyone turned towards Indra.
Centuries ago, Indra had played a decisive role in Azrael's capture.
"I remember the battle," Indra said quietly. "But there are parts of that operation I haven't discussed in years."
"Why?" Don asked.
"Because some things are better left buried."
Rath brought up the original capture report. Several sections were missing, and the identities of certain personnel had been erased.
"Someone deliberately restricted these records," he explained.
Whyte narrowed his eyes. "Then we investigate. If the truth can help us defeat Azrael, we need to find it."
Indra looked at the image of his former friend.
"Be careful what you uncover. The past is rarely as simple as the official reports suggest."
Iron Veil Academy
Aiden, Adolf, and Fushiguro watched the available recordings of the battle against Azrael.
Aiden was particularly interested in the Horsemen's abilities.
Whyte could create swords from blue psychic energy and release powerful energy attacks. Don manipulated gravity, while Rath could interface with advanced technology in ways ordinary humans could not.
Indra, meanwhile, wielded lightning through his spear, Silversteed, with extraordinary precision.
"These abilities can't be explained by their equipment alone," Aiden observed.
Adolf shrugged. "They're the Seven Horsemen. They're supposed to be extraordinary."
"But how did they become this way?"
Before Fushiguro could answer, the screen went black.
UNAUTHORISED ACCESS DETECTED.
Moments later, Director Helena Voss summoned the three trainees.
"You were watching classified recordings," she said sternly. "Don't do it again."
Aiden apologised but explained his observations.
Voss studied him.
"Your questions aren't foolish. However, understanding the Horsemen requires more than watching battle footage."
"What should I study, Director?"
"The history of Iron Veil."
She paused.
"And remember this: not every historical record contains the whole truth."
Abandoned Iron Veil Facility
Zenn searched a damaged computer terminal while Emmu watched.
Eventually, he uncovered fragments of Azrael's original capture report.
One entry caught his attention:
SUBJECT AZRAEL: CONTAINMENT ACHIEVED FOLLOWING INTERVENTION OF INDRA AND ASSOCIATED PERSONNEL.
Zenn continued searching until another record appeared.
INDRA — STATUS: ACTIVE.
He smiled.
"So the ancient Horseman is still alive."
Emmu tilted its enormous eye.
"Why is that important?"
"Because someone has been monitoring him for centuries."
The surviving records contained references to physiological examinations and long-term observations, but the details had been erased.
Zenn could not determine what the humans had been investigating.
Nevertheless, one thing was clear: Indra's connection to Azrael's imprisonment involved more than an ordinary battle.
Perhaps the humans had hidden something about the Horsemen themselves.
Abandoned Power Station
Azrael stood inside the ruined power station, practising his energy manipulation.
Blood-red energy gathered around his hand, forming a blade before dissolving into sparks.
Zenn approached him.
"I discovered something about your imprisonment. Indra was involved, but the records suggest there was more to the operation than the official account reveals."
Azrael's expression hardened.
"Those records are incomplete."
"What really happened?"
"Indra and I were friends once. That is all you need to know."
Zenn frowned. "You expect me to accept that?"
"No. I expect you to understand that my gratitude for freeing me does not give you ownership over my past."
Azrael turned away.
"There are things about my capture that I still don't understand. Perhaps Indra knows the answers. Perhaps he doesn't."
He looked towards the distant city.
"But I will speak to him again."
Zenn watched him carefully. For the first time, he wondered whether Azrael's imprisonment had concealed a secret beyond the demon's terrifying power.
Iron Veil Headquarters
That night, Director Voss accessed a restricted archive containing records of Azrael's original capture.
Most of the documents had been classified or erased.
One surviving entry caught her attention:
RELATED SUBJECT: INDRA. STATUS: ACTIVE.
Another line referred to long-term physiological observations, but the details were inaccessible.
Voss stared at the screen.
Indra had lived for centuries, fought alongside generations of Slayers, and participated in one of the most important battles in Iron Veil's history.
Yet the organisation had never fully explained his unusual longevity.
She attempted to open the supplementary files.
ACCESS DENIED.
Voss closed the archive, increasingly concerned.
Someone had deliberately hidden information about Indra and the original capture operation.
And with Azrael free again, those secrets might soon become dangerous.