The atmosphere inside the apartment was dense enough to crush anyone who dared interrupt. The evening light filtered through the curtains, bathing the walls in a beautiful white glow.
Kael stood still in the middle of the living room, his gaze fixed on a single point. In front of him, Aurora Caelis watched him with the tense serenity of someone who carried centuries of secrets. Beside her, Seraphine remained silent, her hands clasped tightly over her lap, holding her breath under the overwhelming tension that filled the room.
"You should never have hidden the boy's power," Aurora broke the silence, her voice firm and low.
"That decision put you in trouble with the Council… and worst of all, you knew it, and still chose not to act."
Kael frowned.
"I don't take orders from those above," he replied calmly, though restrained anger flickered in his eyes. "I'm no longer one of you."
Aurora's expression hardened. She took a step toward him without breaking eye contact.
"You still are, Kael. Whether you deny it or not, whether you decided to 'hang up' your wings, to them you are still a living legend. One of the strongest archangels to ever exist. Do you have any idea what they felt when they discovered you were protecting a boy whose power even we cannot comprehend?"
Kael stared at her in silence, his golden eyes faintly glowing beneath the light.
"What are you saying, Aurora?" he asked in a deep voice. "What they feel is none of my concern. I can understand why Elior frightens them—I'm still trying to uncover the source of his strength myself—but that doesn't give them the right to interfere." He turned his gaze away, teeth clenched.
"Kael, you still don't understand how serious this is. Things are in absolute chaos up there. The boy's power is immeasurable, and worst of all, he's only human. None of it makes sense. The fear is so great that they don't know whether they should—"
"Whether they should what?" Kael asked, clenching his fists as his eyes flared intensely.
Aurora hesitated. For a moment, she doubted whether she should continue… but the words already burned in her throat.
"They're going to decide whether to eliminate him… or seal him."
The air seemed to shatter between them.
Kael stepped forward, disbelief etched across his face.
"Eliminate him? Seal a child? Since when does Heaven decide who deserves to live or die? He's still just a kid, Aurora!" he shouted, as the apartment lights began to flicker and bulbs exploded one after another.
Aurora looked away, angry at herself.
She shouldn't have said it. But the damage was already done.
Kael took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
"Enough," he said. "I've already been patient enough with you sending this young girl to spy on him," he added, pointing at Seraphine.
Seraphine lifted her head abruptly, startled, her heart racing as her breath caught in her chest.
Aurora frowned.
"She is my daughter, Kael. I sent her because she was the only one who would follow my orders without questioning them. If I had sent anyone else, Elior would have discovered them within seconds."
Kael turned toward the window, trying to steady himself.
"That she's your daughter explains absolutely nothing. What exactly did she come here to do, Aurora?"
"She came only to observe," Aurora replied without hesitation. "I needed to understand the magnitude of the boy's power before those above lose control. I don't want him hurt, Kael… I'm not like that. But if we don't find answers, they'll send someone else."
Kael remained silent for a long moment, staring out the window as rain began to fall.
"I'm sorry for raising my voice," he finally said. "But I'm not willing to lose him. Not him… and not my other children either."
Aurora smiled faintly, touched by nostalgia.
"You've always been like this, Kael. Stubborn… and far too kindhearted."
Then she turned to her daughter.
"Seraphine, come here. Step closer."
The young woman stood up, her heart pounding, took a few timid steps forward, her gaze lowered.
"I suppose this is the first time we're speaking somewhat normally, Sir Kael," she said softly.
Kael nodded, his expression easing slightly.
"I suppose it is. At least now I know where you come from. I trust your mother… so I can trust you. But remember this… it would be best for you to distance yourself from Elior before he discovers who you truly are."
The words weighed heavily on Seraphine. She lowered her head, clenching her fists.
She knew that if she were discovered, she would have to leave. But… she didn't want to.
Not after everything she had lived through with Hina and Elior.
Aurora sighed.
"Kael, there's something else I need to tell you," she said more seriously. "It's about my daughter."
Kael looked at her attentively.
"What about her?"
Aurora paused before answering.
"Seraphine was somehow born with Helena's soul power."
Kael's eyes widened in disbelief.
"What are you saying? That power was unique… and it vanished with her. How is that possible? Do those above know?"
"Yes. And that's why they agreed to let her descend," Aurora replied quietly.
Kael stared at her for a few seconds, processing the weight of what he'd just heard. Then he turned abruptly to Seraphine.
"Tell me you didn't use that power on Elior," he demanded gravely.
Seraphine looked at him nervously.
"Only twice… but I don't understand. Why? What's wrong with that?"
Aurora frowned, confused.
"What's going on, Kael?"
Kael pressed a hand to his forehead, his face tense.
"I know that power, Aurora. I witnessed Helena's brutal training—I saw it hundreds of times. In humans, it does nothing… and in angels, it's barely an echo. But in demons… it can disintegrate them from the inside and leave nothing but ashes."
Aurora frowned.
"I know that. But I don't understand where you're going with this."
Kael locked eyes with her.
"Elior's blood… was mixed with that of a demon and an archangel. What Seraphine did could have killed him. And not only that… it left its mark inside him."
The silence that followed was absolute.
Aurora stared at Kael, stunned.
"That can't be… are you sure?"
Kael nodded slowly.
"I saw it in his memories when I used the celestial seal. It's a miracle Elior hasn't realized your daughter is an angel yet. If he did… he probably would've killed her."
Seraphine took a step back, her face pale.
Aurora grabbed her shoulder, unable to speak.
"What do you mean killed her? What are you saying, Kael?" Aurora asked, her body tensing.
Kael closed his eyes and sighed, reproaching himself for having said too much.
"So…" Aurora murmured, her voice breaking.
"You're saying he doesn't just hunt demons… but us as well?"
Kael looked away again, his sigh bitter.
"That's right, Aurora."
Aurora closed her eyes and brought her hands to her head, letting out a breath as she tried to process everything.
"Kael… things have just become far too complicated," she whispered, finally sitting on the couch with her face buried in her hands. "There are too many angles the Council doesn't see yet. They think Elior only kills demons… but that angels might also be part of his hunt complicates everything. Absolutely everything."
Kael stood before her, arms crossed, unmoving, his expression dark.
"If they find out, they'll decide to eliminate him immediately," Aurora continued, lifting her head. "And if that happens, a battle will break out that we won't be able to stop. Some above will support eliminating him, others won't—it'll be chaos."
Kael exhaled slowly, his tone calm but firm.
"I told you because I know I can trust you. And because I know you'll help me find a way to avoid unnecessary bloodshed."
Aurora looked at him with concern and resolve.
"And what about you, Kael?" she asked quietly. "Why hasn't he hurt you? Maybe he attacks in a specific way… specific targets."
Kael shook his head slowly, eyes fixed on the floor.
"It's not that. Elior doesn't know I was an angel. I can hide my power… or what's left of it. But I can't keep hiding the truth from him."
Aurora stared at him in disbelief.
"You're going to tell him?"
"Yes," Kael said without hesitation. "I just need time. I want to wait until he recovers a little more. Then… I'll go to the Council myself and explain everything."
Aurora remained silent for a few seconds. She knew that decision wasn't just dangerous—it was desperate. Finally, she nodded.
"Maybe… that's for the best," she said seriously. "I'll tell the Council you're coming to speak with them. They'll listen. But… how will you deal with your boy's reaction when he learns the truth? Won't you be in danger too?"
"I honestly have no idea," Kael replied. "I guess I'll find out when I tell him."
Aurora was interrupted by her daughter's voice. She turned as the dim apartment light reflected in Seraphine's eyes like an omen.
"Mother, please… I don't want to leave," Seraphine pleaded softly, as if begging the silence itself. "Please… let me stay longer."
Aurora looked at her with the sharpened calm of someone who had witnessed too many wars.
"No, Seraphine," she interrupted firmly. "The situation is far more complicated than I imagined. Your mission ends here."
The girl's face tightened. A thread of hope snapped in her chest.
"But Mother… Elior isn't like that. He's a good person. He just needs help. Let me help him. I can feel it. I know it's dangerous, but I promise he won't hurt me."
Aurora studied her for a long moment, seeing something she already knew—blind conviction born straight from the heart.
"What makes you so sure?" Aurora asked quietly.
"I don't know," Seraphine whispered. "It's just what I feel."
Aurora sighed. Her eyes softened for a moment.
"Maybe it's just your power. Your senses. But as Kael said, you can't keep using it on him."
"I know," Seraphine replied humbly. "I'm only asking… for a little more time. Please."
Aurora met her gaze. Something passed between them—recognition, fear, perhaps a heart soon to break. You don't know what you've just done, my daughter, she thought, but kept it to herself. Instead, she nodded once.
Kael, who had remained silent, leaned forward.
"I think I can help your daughter," he said. "I know how Helena trained. I can teach her what I know. Helena taught me how to keep from being devoured by that power. Remember, I trained both her and my son. If Seraphine believes she can help Elior, her power may be more useful than you think."
Aurora looked at him, hope and doubt crossing her face.
"If you promise to protect her… then I might allow her to stay," she said carefully. "If you can teach her to use her power—and at least uncover the true nature of the boy's power—then she can remain. Only for that reason, Seraphine. I've been here too long. I must leave."
The girl rushed out a barely audible "thank you."
Aurora approached her and held her shoulders firmly.
"Be careful," she whispered. "Please keep me informed of everything."
Aurora prepared to leave quickly to avoid raising suspicion in Aetheris. She extended her right hand, and a portal emerged, its beautiful golden light illuminating the entire apartment.
Kael escorted Aurora to the portal. Before stepping through, she stopped and looked at him with the gaze of someone guarding wounds and secrets.
"Please take care of her, Kael," she said softly. "Even if she comes back hurt… bring her back in one piece."
"Why do you say that?" Kael asked, surprised.
Aurora smiled tiredly, almost maternally.
"Why? Really, you don't see it? I forget sometimes—you're still a man. You don't always see what's written on people's skin. Most likely, Seraphine has feelings for your boy. That's something you'll have to learn to handle."
Kael stared at her, already regretting the burden. Aurora laughed softly.
"It'll be a problem, Kael. Take care." She stepped toward the portal. "See you."
She paused.
"Oh, I almost forgot. She's fine. I speak with the guardian from time to time. She hasn't changed. She's still guarding the paths to Gehenna… for now."
Aurora's smile was ironic. Something in her eyes hinted that it wasn't just a casual remark. Kael sighed.
"I don't remember asking about her," he muttered.
"I suppose you forgot, Kael," Aurora replied mockingly. "But I know when someone lies… or hides things in their heart."
"Just go, Aurora," Kael said firmly.
She nodded and stepped through the portal. A faint laugh lingered as it closed.
In the silence that followed, Kael and Seraphine exchanged a look that spoke louder than any plan.
"Back to the matter, Seraphine," Kael said quietly. "We'll begin your training once Elior recovers and returns to school. For now, rest and act as you always do."
Seraphine nodded, determination trembling at her fingertips.
"Remember this," Kael warned. "Elior will discover who you are sooner or later. If things turn bad and you can't persuade him, leave. Run with everything you have."
She swallowed.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes," he replied. "In raw strength, I don't think you could beat him… yet. But if you learn to control your power, you might reach his level. Or even surpass it."
"I will," Seraphine promised. "I'll start as soon as possible."
Kael smiled faintly.
"Then go rest. I need to check on the children."
"Thank you, Sir Kael. Truly," she said sincerely.
"Don't worry. Tomorrow we'll talk more about your power."
"Good night."
The night passed quietly. Kael returned home and walked the hallway with heavy steps, checking each room to ensure the children were asleep. Crickets outside filled the air with calm.
Exhausted, Kael collapsed onto his bed. The weight on his shoulders felt almost physical.
The Council. Elior. Aurora. Seraphine.
Everything was becoming unbearable. He needed a solution before the Council dared approach Elior.
But exhaustion claimed him. He closed his eyes… and fell asleep like a stone.
Hours later, before dawn, with the sky barely tinted blue, Elior was already awake.
He urgently needed to return to his routines.
He needed to move… before his thoughts consumed him.
He dressed in his training clothes, adjusted his headphones, and left the house. As he stretched, a strange murmur drifted through the trees—whispers, like distant voices trying to reach him.
Elior frowned.
He wasn't in the mood for that.
He cranked the music to full volume, letting the distortion burn his ears.
Twenty minutes later, he had left the streets behind and reached the edge of the city. Smiling faintly, he took a breath and sprinted toward the forest beyond.
His feet struck the ground with inhuman force. He dodged branches, logs, and rocks, moving like a shadow through the trees—until he reached the waterfall.
It was breathtaking. Elior simply stood there, watching the water fall as the sun filtered through the leaves, casting a warm beam across his face. A light many would call divine.
But Elior felt nothing.
He stared at the sun, noting his lack of feeling toward a light others found warm and peaceful.
It was as if the light wasn't meant for him.
As if something inside him was… missing. Hollow.
Do I still feel anything? Why does my chest feel so empty?
He shook his head sharply.
It wasn't time to think about that.
He had to go back.
An hour later, he entered the house.
Aramis sat on the couch with a massive book for his age. He barely looked up.
"You took too long," he said before returning to his pages.
Elior smiled lightly.
"Yeah. Thanks for the warm welcome, Aramis."
As he walked down the hall, he stopped at the half-open door of the little girl's room. Inside, both were sleeping together—Lia hugging her like a plush toy, and Hina drooling, covered in glitter and stickers.
Elior covered his mouth to keep from laughing.
"What a mess when they're together," he whispered.
As he closed the door, he heard a soft voice.
"Elior… are you back?"
He smiled—small, honest.
"Yeah. I'm back."
He turned—
"Elior," Kael's firm voice stopped him. "I told you not to train so soon. Did you eat before leaving?"
Elior raised his hands in surrender.
"First: no, I didn't eat. I'm starving. Second: I had to go. I feel out of shape and… when I'm old, I at least want to have some of your strength," he said, laughing.
Kael frowned.
"What do you mean, old?"
"Exactly what it sounds like," Elior replied with a shameless grin. "I'm showering. I'll help you after."
Once clean, he joined Kael in the kitchen. Aramis stood up and began setting the table seriously, pajamas and all.
Elior was about to help when something small and fast collided with him—Lia, freshly awake, hugging him.
He caught her and lifted her slightly.
"I know you're hugging me to hide from Hina," he whispered.
Her eyes widened.
"Hina's going to lose it," Elior laughed. "Go wash your face and hands. I'll serve your strawberry waffles."
When everyone sat—
"LIAAAA!"
Hina stormed out of the bathroom, makeup smeared, glitter everywhere.
"What did you do this time?" Kael asked calmly.
"Nothing," Lia replied, laughing mischievously.
Hina glared.
"You'll pay for this…"
Kael cleared his throat.
"Alright. Eat. It's going to be a long day."
The table filled with laughter.
Soft, silly, trivial laughter… but warm.
An atmosphere Elior had longed for for years, now stretching before him like a fragile dream.
Everyone ate and joked.
Elior just smiled in silence.
There was something different about his smile that morning—natural, calm… almost human.
Watching Aramis with his massive book and Lia fighting not to spill juice, a strange knot tightened in his chest.
They could be happy at that age.
They had laughter, games, a home.
Things he never had.
The account Elior had given left everyone in silence.
Hina's parents were especially shaken. They knew Elior's past, and they were aware of the existence of angels and demons, but hearing a boy speak with such coldness about something so… impossible would have left anyone stunned.
Even so, everyone was grateful that he had shared it. Elior did not talk about these things with just anyone. For humanity, faith in the celestial was still divided. Some believed, others did not, and the rest simply did not care. But he… he could only speak about this with them.
Little by little, the atmosphere began to calm, and Elior's words faded into the sounds coming from the street as everyone got ready to leave.
This time, Elior wanted to drive. He felt the urge to do so, since it had been a long time since he last had.
They split into two cars. Elior went with Aramis, Lia, and Kael. Hina rode with her parents in the other vehicle.
As usual, Hina complained to her mother because they would not let her drive.
Her father, with his typical teasing tone, said,
"When you first learn how not to crash the shopping carts at the supermarket, then we'll talk."
Hina shot him a murderous look, as if he had just signed his own death sentence.
The first stop of the day was the shopping mall. The adults went off to walk on their own. Meanwhile, Elior, Hina, and the two children went straight to buy clothes.
First was Lia.
They had to buy her several things, since she was growing far too fast and everything was already too small for her. Then came Aramis, who had the same problem as Lia, and finally Hina.
While she changed inside the fitting rooms, the people around could not stop looking at Elior. The way he crouched down to Lia's height to listen to her, how he helped her fasten her shoes, or how he held her hand. Most of them assumed Elior was her father.
The murmurs grew even louder when Hina stepped out of the fitting room and, holding a new dress, asked,
"How do I look in this one?"
Elior sighed.
"Hina… don't you think you should get a boyfriend or a girlfriend and ask them? You've tried on fifteen dresses already. My patience has limits, and the worst part is that I've completely run out of compliments about how good they look on you."
"Go screw yourself, idiot!" she shot back, flipping him off without shame.
In the end, they only bought clothes for the kids. Hina could not make up her mind about any of the dresses.
When they were about to meet up with the adults again, Aramis stopped in front of a bookstore.
"Can we go in?"
Elior did not hesitate.
He wanted a new book too.
"Alright, but we have to be quick. They're waiting for us," Elior said.
Elior walked through the bookstore looking for something specific. He approached the mythology section and found a very detailed book about angels, and another one about war strategies that immediately caught his attention.
When they were heading back to the cars, Lia already looked exhausted, and before she could say anything, Elior picked her up and placed her on his shoulders, quickening his pace since the others were waiting for them to head to the second stop, which was Hina's father's restaurant.
When they arrived, Hina's father welcomed the children to "Takakura Restaurant."
"He named the restaurant after his last name. How unoriginal," Aramis said in a mocking tone.
As they entered, all the employees greeted Elior.
It was normal to see him there, since he almost always helped out whenever they needed him.
The food was excellent, calm, and familiar.
The afternoon passed quickly as they walked around the city with the children. Sunset arrived with ice cream in hand, and Lia barely able to stand from exhaustion, so Elior carried her the entire way back home.
Once they were home, and as he was about to lay her down in bed, Elior felt a brutal burning sensation in his chest. He lost his balance.
Kael caught him just in time.
"Elior! Are you okay? What happened?"
"I just… felt a strange pressure. And I almost fell because I got tangled in Lia's sneakers," he replied, trying to brush it off.
He straightened himself, took a deep breath, and together they went downstairs to say goodbye to Hina's parents.
"See you at school," Hina said as she gathered her things. "Take care. And keep an eye on your phone."
"Yeah, yeah… another day," Elior replied, half-smiling.
He hugged Hina's mother warmly, and once everyone had left, the exhaustion hit him all at once.
"I can't stay on my feet anymore. I'll make some coffee and go to my room to read what I bought," he said.
"Don't worry," Kael replied. "I'm going out for a bit. I need to buy a few things for the house."
"Alright. If I fall asleep, then I'll see you tomorrow."
Elior was closing the door when he heard Aramis speak from the couch.
"You can only read for a little while. You need to rest. Especially your eyes."
Elior frowned, surprised by how bossy the kid could be.
"Don't switch roles. I'm the one who gives orders here. You're the one who should be going to bed soon," he said in a teasing tone.
Kael could only smile at the exchange between them.
Meanwhile, as soon as he stepped outside the house, slipping the keys into his pocket, Kael walked down the street, still warm from the sunset, heading toward Seraphine's apartment. He knew he had to help her organize the training… but more than that, he needed to tell her to contact her mother. The conversation he needed to have with Aurora could not wait another minute.
Seraphine, who had just begun stretching to prepare for training, suddenly felt the air shift. A faint, almost imperceptible current moved through the room, but it was enough for her to notice. Since her training in Aetheris, she had become far more perceptive, and that sensation meant only one thing.
Kael was about to knock.
"I'm coming in." Kael's deep voice echoed as he opened the door without waiting for an answer.
Seraphine exhaled, relaxing her shoulders.
"So you noticed me this time," Kael said in a surprisingly cheerful tone as he closed the door softly. "I see you're ready for me to explain what you need to do. But before that… I need you to contact your mother. I need her to come as soon as possible."
Seraphine blinked, confused.
"Is everything alright?"
Kael did not smile this time. His expression hardened slightly.
"Things are getting complicated. That's why I need to talk to Aurora immediately."
"I understand," Seraphine nodded. "I'll contact her now."
As she searched for the artifact to reach her, Kael began to explain the training calmly, step by step. Seraphine listened to every word with absolute focus.
"The power you possess, Seraphine," Kael began, "is part of one of the two sacred powers God bestowed upon us. Throughout history, only four individuals have had it. The last one to fully manifest it was Helena."
He paused, as if the memory still hurt.
"We call it the Power of the Soul. It is a power capable of holding enough strength to annihilate every demon in Gehenna… or so it was believed. But perfecting it means giving up a normal life. Whoever masters it can hear the deepest suffering and emotions of other beings. And, as I told you, this power can disintegrate a demon down to the cellular level. The fact that Elior did not die when you touched him is… a miracle."
Seraphine swallowed, unable to imagine something like that.
"The Power of the Soul complements the second sacred power," Kael continued. "The power of the Bearer of Judgment. That one is even rarer. My son only possessed a fragment of it… and even then, it was devastating. Both powers are meant to coexist."
Seraphine's eyes widened in shock. That Kael's son, considered the strongest among the archangels, had only possessed a fragment was almost impossible to believe.
"It's good that you possess the Power of the Soul," Kael added. "Now we only need to find out whether you have it in full, like Helena, or if it's just a fragment. Power is always limited by the body."
"And how will we know if I have it completely?" Seraphine asked.
Kael smiled faintly.
"Simple. We'll push your body and soul to their limits. If you can touch people's souls so easily… that's already a good sign."
But just as Kael was about to explain how everything would proceed, a flash opened a portal inside the room.
Aurora emerged from it, elegant and serious.
"What's going on, Kael? Why did you call me so urgently?" she asked, wasting no time.
Kael took a deep breath.
"There's something extremely important we need to discuss, so I'll get straight to the point. Elior has a flower that was given to him, one that likely comes from the Purgatory… or at least that's what I believe."
Aurora froze.
"...From Purgatory?" her voice trembled slightly. "That's impossible, Kael. No one returns from Purgatory unless it's to go to Gehenna or Aetheris."
"Elior did. Or at least the place he described was almost exactly like Purgatory," Kael replied.
With his body tense, he began to recount everything Elior had told him about the dark place, the voices, how he saw his family exactly as they were on the day they died… and how his sister gave him that flower.
Aurora listened to every word without blinking.
"This is unprecedented. I've never heard of anything like this," she finally murmured. "Kael, something is happening… and I don't like it."
Seraphine, who had only been listening, did not fully understand everything, but even without understanding, her heart and her entire body warned her that none of this was good.
"If Elior passed through Purgatory," Aurora continued, "then it means he truly died. And someone or something brought him back."
"Kael, please describe the flower Elior has in detail," Aurora said. "Don't leave anything out."
Kael described its shape precisely, its faint glow, and the missing petal he had seen disintegrate between Elior's fingers.
Aurora clenched her teeth, her body beginning to sweat as she listened.
"That flower you're describing, Kael, grows along the edges of Purgatory… but it disappeared along with the presence of God. It was known as the Flower of Life. It was said to grow in God's own garden." Her voice trembled as she spoke. "Which means Elior did not survive. He was retrieved."
Seraphine went cold. Her body refused to react, and her mind kept echoing what she had just heard.
Elior… died.
The idea hit her like a punch to the stomach.
She had forgotten how fragile human life was. Forgotten that they could leave… without warning. Without goodbye. Her thoughts became a mess. She did not know what to say, how to act. Even though she was not yet very close to Elior, just the small idea of losing him hurt.
Aurora continued.
"If someone gave that flower to his sister so she could give it to Elior, that's serious. And even more serious is his power, Kael. If we already don't understand Elior's power, having that flower in his possession makes him a unique existence. If his power was previously limited by his soul and earthly body… by dying, those limitations disappear. I can't tell you whether Elior returned with limits or without them. But if he returned without them… he will become a being with strength practically superior to any known archangel. And if his goal remains the annihilation of both demons and us… then we are doomed."
Seraphine felt her heart race until it hurt. Her hands trembled.
Fear.
For the first time in a long while, she felt a fear so pure that it paralyzed her, tears slipping down her cheeks.
Kael tried to continue.
"One of the petals fell and disintegrated in front of me. Do you know why that happened?"
Aurora nodded gravely.
"The petals represent the soul's bond. Each petal that roots itself into Elior's soul releases overwhelming power whenever he is on the brink of death. But… when he loses all the petals, Elior will become a beast of incomparable power. And his body will perish. The flower is his self-regulation. And thanks to one of its petals, he was able to leave that place. But what I'm telling you is purely theoretical. I can't tell you the flower's exact power."
"How many petals does he have left?" Aurora asked urgently.
"Around seven," Kael replied.
"At least he still has several. What matters, Kael, is that the flower does not lose its petals."
Aurora stepped forward.
"Kael… there's no time left. We must act soon. The Council will notice our meetings and learn about this. We're at a breaking point."
The atmosphere became suffocating.
Tension, fear, anguish… everything hung in the air like thick smoke. And while they didn't know it, a countdown had just begun.
For them… and for Elior.