Brewing Storm

Hanna had stopped her car at the red signal. Her thoughts ran wild because of the conversation with Amaya.

'What does Anna have to do with this?' 

'Does she even know about Midnighters?'

Finally, a sigh left her lips as she said while collapsing in her seat.

"Hah… I'll have to ask her if I want answers to my questions."

*Bzz*

Just then her phone vibrated and left a sound seemingly from a notification.

"Hmm?" Hanna raised an eyebrow as she took out her phone and read the message.

"Class party in three days? All students' attendance is compulsory…" Hanna read out loud.

She closed her phone and put it back as she once again fell in thought.

'Maybe I should ask Anna about it on the party day.' Hanna decided and started to drive towards her apartment as the lights were already green.

Hanna soon reached her apartment and collapsed in her bed as the sleep had finally caught up to her.

***

Anna lay asleep on her bed, she wore a set of baby pink pyjamas and Veylor slept beside her. Her eyelids trembled as she slowly sat up and started to rub her eyes trying to wake up.

Anna jumped out of her bed as she yawned and stretched her body. She walked towards the washroom and opened its door and entered as she did so the luxurious washroom came into view. It had a dark blue mat with silver engravings placed on the floor, a sky-blue marble washbasin with carvings of flowers was placed at the centre of the wall. A half-body mirror with wooden boundary having floral carving was above the basin. A small golden chandelier was hung up on the ceiling.

Anna walked towards the washbasin and grabbed the copper faucet and spun it as she cupped her hands and started to wash her face with water.

After a few moments, she gathered all of her hair from the middle and tied them in a bun. After that she called out.

"Vey!"

Veylor, still sleepy, walked towards her with slow steps while Yawning.

"Good morning, Vey." Anna greeted as she bent down and picked him up in her arms.

"Myu…" Veylor replied with a lick on her cheek.

"Hehe!" a chuckle left from Anna's lips due to the tickling sensation from that.

Anna walked forward and started to wash Veylor's face with water too. After that she brushed Veylor's teeth, then hers.

Time passed as Anna freshened up for the day, she walked towards her bed as she rubbed the head of Veylor with her right hand.

She sat on her bed and a few moments later her phone started to vibrate as it rang with the sound of notification.

Anna didn't react as she took out her phone and read the message.

She raised an eyebrow as she read out loud.

"A class party huh…"

Anna's eyes gleamed with excitement as a small smile spread across her lips. Anna was about to put down her phone when it rang one more time.

She checked it one more time and a puzzled look appeared on her face as she did so.

"Hanna?" 

***

Within a dimly illuminated room, its environment filled with mystery and ominous vibes. A round table with four chairs was placed at the centre and the dim runes engraved at the walls illuminated the place.

Four figures sat at the round table, three of which had masks on.

The three figures turned towards the fourth one, a dark blond man with dark wheat like moustache and build like a heavyweight fighter sat there.

Edwin Turner looked back at the three figures, his eyes held both reverence and fear for the beings who sat in front of him.

After all, they could kill him with a simple flick of theirs.

"Lord Edwin."

One of the figures with grey eyes called out to him with a soft voice, nearly enchanting.

"Lord Harmes." Edwin greeted him as he performed a heavy nod.

 "Haha! You don't have to be so stiff." The high priest or Harmes said with a teasing tone.

Edwin smiled wryly at the three figures without saying anything.

"It's about time." Harmes spoke once again, his tone serious.

Hearing that, Edwin's smile faded as he looked at Harmes with a solemn look on his face.

"I am ready for it." He said as he looked at the three masked figures with determination.

Harmes nodded his head and said.

"You should leave."

Hearing that, Edwin nodded as he stood up and left the room without saying anything else.

"Is it wise to have someone like him know this much about the plan?" The masked figure with brown eyes questioned as he looked at Harmes.

"You think too much of it, Zelron." The masked figure with green eyes spoke as she looked at Zelron, her voice was feminine but heavy.

Hearing that, Zelron turned towards the masked woman and said with a voice full of teasing.

"Well, you are the main piece after all." Zelron said as his eyes gleamed with excitement.

The masked woman grinned widely after she heard that. Harmes looked at both of them with serious eyes as he spoke.

"We have to make sure nothing goes wrong."

Hearing that, both of them turned towards Harmes and nodded.

"Any message from the main palace?" Harmes asked as he looked at Zelron.

Zelron looked at Harmes with a solemn look and shook his head as he spoke.

"No…"

"What about the protector of Anieal Starborne?"

"I am still finding him." This time the masked woman was the one to answer his question.

"So, we know nothing about the protector?" Harmes questioned, his tone solemn and laced with a bit of disappointment.

Hearing that, the masked woman lowered her head.

"Even I did not find any Midnighter near her." Zelron spoke instead of the masked woman.

Harmes turned around and looked at him for a few moments after which he closed his eyes and fell back on his chair, deep in thought.

'How can that be? I am pretty sure that there is a Midnighter helping her…'

Just then the masked woman looked at Harmes as she recalled.

"Actually." she said as she waited for Harmes to open his eyes and pay heed to her words.

A few seconds passed and after that Harmes opened his eyes and nodded at the masked woman.

"There is one Midnighter within her group of friends."

"Who is it?" Zelron questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Hanna Morgan… But she became a Midnighter about a month ago." the masked woman turned towards him as she spoke.

"Hmm… Maybe that accident pushed her to awaken?" Zelron concluded.

"It can be." Harmes agreed with his conclusion with a nod.

"We should keep an eye on her." Zelron suggested.

"I don't think there's any need for that." the masked woman said with a dismissive tone.

"Hmm? Why's that?" Harmes asked with interest gleaming in his eyes. 

"She still hasn't solidified her foundation." the masked woman said in a mocking tone, her eyes dripping with disgust. 

A midnighter must control the flow of their star essence each time they break through a major rank, including their awakening. This process is known as solidifying the foundation.

The den of demons—The Crimson moon— reveres strength above all and failing to solidify one's foundation even after a month was nothing different than being a lowborn in their eyes.

"Oh?" Zelron however wanted to know more about it, after all what was better than mocking others' misery.

The masked woman looked at him and shook her head and spoke.

"I believe she had a traumatic event right after the awakening, which caused her emotions to go haywire." 

"I see…" Zelron finally lost his interest and fell back on his chair as he looked at Harmes.

Harmes, who had already closed his eyes, finally opened them again and said with an authoritative tone.

"We will proceed as planned." 

Harmes stood up from his chair, his eyes started to glow with red glint as he spoke.

"For the demon lord." 

""For the demon lord."" Zelron and the masked woman stood up as well and repeated after him, their eyes glowing with a red glint at same time.