Chapter 219 Corona Exversa
The highest room in the Obsidian Tower had never felt colder, an unsettling chill that went beyond the arcane energies swirling in the air. It was a deep-seated coldness prompted by the monumental decision poised to be made beneath a sky darkening into a gloomy tapestry of purples and grays—an ominous herald of the tempest approaching, both in the heavens and within the intricate folds of the political landscape.
Corona Exversa, the exalted executive council that convened only when the world stood on the brink of transformative upheaval, was once again assembled. Kaeso Vallaricus presided regally at the center of the black circle, his cloak billowing around him like the shadow of an ancient deity. His bright, piercing eyes, reminiscent of an ancient dagger, surveyed the three new members with an intense scrutiny.
To his left, Thalissa Verundel, the formidable Regent of Gaetherim, radiated an aura of potent sorcery mixed with the fierce blood of dragons. She leaned with casual grace, yet her eyes burned with an unquenchable anxiety that betrayed her composed demeanor. To his right stood the fearsome Lucente de Veyra, the High Inquisitor, a chilling presence known for his ruthless decrees that could erase entire regions overnight. He loomed in silence, a grim specter from dark tales whispered to frightened children. Nestled between them was Archon Magistrate Hector Alfrenzo, the general and strategic sorcerer, his gaze vacant as if he were locked in communion with phantoms only he could perceive, concealing deep and dark secrets beneath his tranquil exterior.
"We have received a report from Stones," Kaeso's voice resonated through the dimly lit room, shattering the binding spell of silence that had wrapped around the gathering since the meeting's inception, the heaviness of the atmosphere now palpable. "Rinoa has returned."
Thalissa raised an eyebrow, her expression a mixture of intrigue and disbelief. "The Avatar of Harmony... in its perfect form?"
Kaeso's serious gaze met hers, betraying the weighty burden he carried. "Not just perfect, Thalissa. She has opened the Third Gamma Gate. Even Fitran Fate has allowed her to delve deeper into the core of that entity than anyone ever has before. We are faced with unprecedented risks."
"Fitran," Lucente breathed, his voice barely above a whisper, as though uttering the name of a long-forgotten demon, melancholic and enigmatic, a name he understood could not be silenced by mere prayer. "Always him."
Yet the Archon remained silent for a moment, his voice eventually emerging, laden with profound sorrow. "This world cannot be tamed by law and love as we once envisioned, Thalissa. Rinoa is but a memory from a time long past, a tragic embodiment of dreams that have withered away."
"We must secure her," Thalissa asserted, her voice resonating with unwavering determination, though laced with a hint of trembling concern. "Not merely because she embodies the Avatar, but because she is our sole path to the Grand Harmony. She holds the key to sealing the Gamma if it ever threatens to open too wide."