Dark Gathering

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Dark Gathering

Somewhere in a dimly lit room, a man knelt on his knees, hands clasped tightly together. His expression was one of pure devotion as he prayed to his Lord. In front of him stood an altar, adorned with a symbol—a dark sphere that seemed to devour all light around it.

Suddenly, a knock echoed against the heavy wooden door.

Without opening his eyes, the man, his face still serene in prayer, spoke in a calm yet commanding tone.

"Speak."

A voice came from outside the door.

"Your Holiness, the reports have arrived from the academy."

At last, the kneeling man opened his eyes. His pupils were like twin abysses, dark and infinite. Slowly, he rose to his feet and traced a circular gesture over his chest, his eyes filled with solemn reverence. Without turning around, he stepped backward exactly five paces. As if responding to an unseen force, the door behind him swung open. He walked through it without hesitation, his gaze lingering on the room he left behind, as though parting with it caused him sorrow. But in the next instant, his expression smoothed into perfect calm.

A man stood waiting just outside, holding the door open.

The kneeling man turned to him and intoned, "May the darkness be with you."

The other man immediately mirrored the gesture over his chest and replied, "May the darkness be with you, too."

With a nod, the first man strode forward, his robes flowing behind him, moving through the dimly lit corridors. The man who had delivered the message followed closely behind in silence.

After winding through the maze-like passageways, they arrived at a spacious chamber dominated by a long, dark wooden desk. Three high-backed chairs stood behind it, two already occupied. The middle seat remained empty.

As the man entered, everyone in the room rose in unison, pressed their hands to their chests in the same circular gesture, and chanted in reverence, "May the darkness be with us all."

The man gave a single nod before stepping forward and taking his rightful place in the center chair.

The messenger who had accompanied him knelt before the table and bowed his head.

"The reports are here."

The man seated to the right, known as Shadowbound, spoke first. "Continue."

The kneeling figure took a breath before delivering the news.

"Asher Crimson is not dead."

A tense silence filled the room before the right Shadowbound's voice cut through it, sharp and cold.

"What do you mean, he's not dead?"

The messenger kept his head lowered.

"Exactly as I said, Shadowbound. Asher Crimson did not die in the dungeon as planned."

The left Shadowbound leaned forward slightly, his expression unreadable.

"Was the plan sabotaged? Or did something else interfere?"

The kneeling man hesitated for the first time, uncertainty flickering across his features.

"The academy has been extremely secretive about the matter. Our informants only managed to gather information about what happened after the students exited the dungeon. They are under strict surveillance, making direct contact difficult. However, based on what we've learned… Asher Crimson emerged from the dungeon, bloodied but completely healed. His injuries had already closed, thanks to an artifact his mother gave him. That artifact is the reason he survived in the first place."

The right Shadowbound scoffed.

"How could he have possessed such an item? The one responsible for hypnotizing him was supposed to confiscate anything that could save his life."

The left Shadowbound muttered in thought,

"Perhaps he had something even he himself was unaware of."

The right Shadowbound placed a hand on his chin, his narrowed eyes deep in contemplation.

"That… is possible."

The kneeling man continued.

"Although Asher Crimson did not expose Elvin as his attacker, for reasons unknown, his older brother, Arthur Crimson, somehow figured it out. He took action against Elvin but was intercepted by Vice Principal David Johnson. Later, Asher Crimson claimed to have forgotten the identity of his attacker and diffused the situation."

Both Shadowbounds frowned at this revelation. Asher's actions were strange—completely unpredictable. Before they could analyze further, the man in the center, their leader, finally spoke.

His voice was composed yet unwavering.

"Assassinating a son of an Archduke is no easy feat, especially when it is not our people carrying it out firsthand. Tricks and manipulation can only take us so far."

The room fell silent as he continued.

"However, our true objective in this operation has been partially achieved. Because of this, the mission is still a success."

He then turned his piercing gaze to both Shadowbounds.

"Now… have you found the girl?"

Both men straightened in their seats, their backs stiff with tension.

The left Shadowbound spoke first.

"No, Your Holiness. We have found some traces of her whereabouts, but locating her has proven… difficult. We were—"

Before he could finish, their leader's voice cut in, cold and devoid of emotion.

"Do not make excuses for your incompetence."

A deadly silence fell upon the room.

"Find her immediately and detain her at once. She is crucial to the next phase of our mission. Is that understood?"

Both Shadowbounds, their expressions taut, responded in unison.

"Yes, Your Holiness."

Their leader slowly rose from his chair, once again pressing a hand to his chest in the sacred circular gesture.

"May the darkness be with us all."

Without hesitation, the others mirrored his action and repeated in reverence,

"May the darkness be with us all."

With that, the leader turned and walked the same path through which he had arrived, disappearing into the dim corridors, leaving the three behind in solemn silence.

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