Chapter 843: Future of Ulier

Eleniey stepped through the dimly lit corridor, the sound of her footsteps echoing eerily.

Along the way, she came across several Acolytes of the organization. This place was, after all, one of the safehouses of the Twilight Brotherhood.

In the years that Adam’s students had been absent from Ravenfell, they had completed the initiation missions given to them by the Brotherhood.

But the one to get the highest marks in the mission wasn’t either of the boys, but Eleiney. As it turned out, she had quite the knack for spywork.

With bated breath, she walked to the room at the end of the corridor, her eyes flickering with nervousness and even excitement.

When she had arrived at Ravenfell a few days ago, she was secretly contacted by one of the Agents of the Brotherhood, informing her that she had to be present at the gathering that was taking place right now.

What was exciting to her was that a few Agents that she looked up to would also be present at the gathering.

These Agents had worked side by side with the Dark King in the battle against the Cult of Bones.

And two of them had also played a very crucial role in Blackshore, which ultimately allowed Ravenfell to clinch the victory.

Approaching the metal door at the end of the dimly lit corridor, Eleiney took a deep breath. Then, she knocked gently. A moment later, the door creaked open, allowing her to enter.

A bald man in dark robes opened the door. Eleiney didn’t know the man, so she gave him a perfunctory nod.

Upon entering, she found that there were several men in the room, surrounding a large table at the center. They were going over the plan to deal with the Cult’s activities during the upcoming Grand Magus Tournament.

Apart from her, there was only one woman in the room.

In the entire organization, there were hardly any women. After all, it was a ‘Brotherhood’.

When Aldo Wagner founded the organization, he envisioned a fraternity of men bound by trust, united in their fight against evil.

It was only later, when a powerful woman Magus rose through the Brotherhood’s ranks and established her own separate faction within, that she was able to fight for women’s rights to be given a chance to join the organization.

That changed everything.

Though women still made up only a small fraction of the organization, their presence was undeniable.

And the female Magus who made this all possible was hailed as one of the most valiant heroes of the Brotherhood.

She went on to found the faction known as the Sisters of War!

They were an elite order of warrior women who operated primarily in Europa, striking fear into the hearts of their enemies.

Although the other woman currently in the room was not part of the famed Sisters of War, she was still well-renowned.

Especially after her performance in the Blackshore Incident. It was her exceptional merits in this great battle that also earned her a moniker.

The Instigator!

Seeing Eleiney stare at her with admiration, the Instigator Liriel Auvryndar turned to her and revealed a faint smile.

“So, you are the Dark King’s student, Eleiney,” she said.

“Yes, Lady Liriel!” Eleiney involuntarily straightened her back. “It is an honor to meet you.”

She then shifted her gaze to the rugged and muscular man standing next to the elf. “And you, too, Lord Kael.”

Kael Statham smiled faintly and then nodded. As usual, words rarely escaped his lips.

Liriel stepped forward and stated, “You can call us simply by our names. We are all Agents here.” Then, she proceeded to introduce her to everyone present.

All of them were Agents. Eleiney noticed that there were people from the four major races present. All of them had been summoned from all across Ulier.

And this was just one of the safehouses. In the past years, they were able to build dozens of safehouses in all six quarters of Ravenfell.

Eleiney scanned the room, but she couldn’t find any Mana Vortex Magi around.

Perhaps, they’re somewhere else? She wondered.

“Alright, now that everyone’s here, we will begin briefing,” Liriel began. Her hands pressed against the table, and her gaze was glued to the map sprawled on it.

It was the map of the lands surrounding Saratoga Castle!

Liriel pointed at the large water body beisde the cliff that Saratoga was located on, and began, “Our intel suggests that the first trial of the Grand Magus Tournament will take place in Marian Lake.”

Eleiney, who was standing next to the silver-haired elf, nodded ever so slightly.

Liriel turned to her and gestured, “Eleiney, I’d like you to go into details.”

“Yes.” The brown-haired young woman nodded.

She looked at everyone gathered around the table and began in a solemn tone, “This trial will take place in the labyrinth in the depths of Marian Lake.

“The goal of this trial is simple… one has to find a magical key in this underwater maze that will allow them to enter the second trial.

“As for where these keys are located? Only Professor Whitaker knows.”

“Anything else?” A dwarven man asked from the side.

Eleiney turned towards him and nodded. “The labyrinth will be teeming with underwater magical creatures.”

A solemn atmosphere descended in the room.

An elven man stroked his chin and thought out loud, “So, I’m guessing the participants will have to deal with these underwater creatures before they can get their hands on the key, eh?”

He then turned to Liriel, who had a grim expression on her face, “The real question is… how will the Cultists use this trial to their advantage?”

“Well,” Liriel said as she turned to face him, her gaze sweeping over the members gathered.

“That’s exactly why we’re here, isn’t it?”

***

At the very same time as the secret gathering of the Twilight Brotherhood, in a shadowed and forgotten corner of the city, another clandestine meeting was underway.

But this one…

This one belonged to the Cult of Bones!

Just like the last time, three hooded figures had gathered, sitting in a dimly lit chamber. Two of them knew each other, but the identity of the third person was a mystery to them.

“The tournament is soon approaching,” said the burly figure in a flat voice. “Are you still not going to tell us what the plan is?”

The mysterious robbed figure, a lanky fellow, let out an amused, almost chilling laugh. “The plan is always changing, my friend,” he began.

“There are always unforeseen variables that end up altering the plan.”

He paused for a moment, then added with a sly smile, “Rest assured, my dear friends… when the time is right, you will know everything you need to.”

The third figure, a man of slightly less stature, thought for a moment before nodding. “As long as you hold up your end of the bargain, I have no complaints. But…” His voice darkened.

“You need to inform us well in advance so we can prepare,” he continued, his tone laced with slight hostility. “Frankly, I am tired of being left in the dark. We’re supposed to be allies! Yet, you don’t seem to trust us at all!”

The mysterious, lanky fellow deeply looked at the two men standing before him, his thoughts a mystery.

A moment later, he heaved a deep and helpless sigh. “You’re right,” he said, waving his hand. “I suppose this is the least I can do.”

His eyes flashed with a cruel light as a wicked grin spread across his face.

“We will start with the children, the future of Ulier, all gathered in one place.

“Next, the Mana Core Magi, the prized weapons of this continent, and finally…” He let his words hang, savoring the deafening silence.

“We will reduce this wretched city to ash, and with it, topple one of the Four Pillars of Acadia!”