(Few weeks later: After the Event of Scarlet Skies)

  The world grew colder, far more than before with the snow finally began its descent toward the earth. The trees and leaves eventually turned a pale, frosted white, while the grass in the fields vanished entirely, buried under a heavy blanket of snow.

  It was a crisp morning, and citizens across the countries, including the children, were happily playing in the snow. Their parents watched them fondly, chucked in a state of pure amusement and bliss.

  In Verlyn, it was no exception. The citizens and students alike were having the time of their lives, interacting and helping those in need while enjoying the wintry weather.

  Saria stepped out from the dorms, exhaling a cold breath that materialized as a mist of ice. She wore a thick coat and a white scarf to ward off the biting chill. As she watched a group of Verlyn students engage in a snowball fight, a slight grin touched her lips, though a trace of worry still lingered in her eyes. Her thoughts were interrupted when Arvain pelted a snowball against the back of her head. Saria stumbled forward slightly from the impact, while Arvain wore an arrogant smirk.

  "What's the matter, the Child of Light? Feeling numb already?" Arvain said, his arrogance radiating across the snow-covered campus.

  "C-can't you stop doing that, Arvain? I don't have time for th—" Saria began as she turned around, only for Arvain to immediately smash another snowball directly into her face.

  He laughed loudly across the field, but his triumph was short-lived as Saria hit him back with a snowball of her own.

  Seeing the clumps of snow clinging to his face, Saria snorted at Arvain’s vulnerable state and finally let out a genuine chuckle.

  "Oh, now you’ve done it!" Arvain drew a wide grin, scooping up more snow from the ground before hurling it at Saria again.

  Caught up in the moment, Saria finally allowed herself to have fun, chuckled as she shielded her face from the barrage of snow Arvain threw her way.

  "You're sure you don't want to say anything to Saria?" Yuno asked. He stood curiously beside Hana, both of them watching Saria’s playful antics from afar at Verlyn’s Gate. Nearby, Erick and Dulcinia were finalizing the preparations for the carts, ready to move out.

  "Hmm. I don't think so," Hana replied with a genuine smile, her gaze still fixed on Saria. "The moment she chose to save such a monster... that already told me everything I needed to know about the path she will choose in the future."

  "Damn, Lady. Even without any foresight abilities, your riddles are far too scary for me," Yuno teased. He maintained a smile, though a hint of nervousness touched his voice.

  Hana chuckled softly at his comment. "Well, for now, that choice has yet to arrive," she stated, shifting her focus toward the window of Grey’s office. "That aside, do you think Grey will be alright? I mean, having lost an arm and all..."

  "No worries. He’s far stronger than he looks," Yuno said, assuring Hana of their old friend’s resilience. "Although he mentioned that the Dark Ender’s influence still lingers in his mind, the energy has grown much weaker. It’s likely because his burden has finally been lightened."

  "Is that so?" Hana replied, her mind drifting deep into thought.

  "Sir Yuno! Miss Hana!" Dulcinia shouted. "The preparations are finished! Should we move out now?"

  Hearing Dulcinia’s call, Yuno turned toward her and responded with a shout of his own. "Of course!" He turned back to Hana and offered his hand, like a gentleman inviting a partner to a formal event. "Now, let us depart, Han—no, I suppose I should call you the Blight Holder. After all, this is a specialized event for the Seven Holders, is it not?"

  Hana chuckled, amused by Yuno’s dramatic flair. "You’re right. Thankfully, it still a private one."

  Within Grey’s office, Revir, Noire, and Aria helped their lecturer tidy the space. Most of the items were stacks of paperwork and framed achievements from Grey’s years as a professor on campus. As Grey looked at a photograph on his desk, the one showing him and Lydia in their youth, Aria spoke up.

  "Are you sure both Rein and Carol will be okay, Sir Grey?" Aria asked, her worry deepening the more she considered their situation.

  "You don't need to worry that much, Aria," Grey stated, turning slightly toward her. "Just think of it as a normal meeting. It’s not like it will be broadcast publicly."

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  "A normal meeting? Yeah, right, sir," Noire stated. "A 'quiet, totally normal meeting' involving the ENTIRE squad of Holders!"

  Grey fell silent the moment he heard Noire’s remark. He responded only with a deadpan glare, one that gave Noire instant goosebumps.

  "I-I'm sorry for saying that..." Noire apologized.

  "But still, isn't it a good thing that the Holders want to have a debate at least?" Revir stated, pausing in the middle of clearing the paperwork. "Usually, when a Leviathan awakens, the Holders attack immediately without hesitation. But now? It seems that isn't the case."

  "Well, you could say they find Carol to be quite an interesting... anomaly," Grey stated calmly, though it clearly pained him to refer to his niece as an "anomaly."

  "Anomaly, huh." Hearing the word from Grey’s mouth, Revir’s expression darkened, his mind drifting back to his past life and how he had been treated the same way during his time with the Sealers.

  "Nonetheless, we have to wait for the result. With Rein now taking his brother Luke’s place as the Azure Holder, the meeting should go smoothly... I hope," Grey said. His focus shifted as he turned toward the window behind him, staring out at the breezy, snowy skies.

  In the dark, frigid depths of the Teratia Empire’s prison, Carol sat calmly despite her handcuffs, as if this were her natural environment. She stared down at the floor, contemplating the things she wanted to do once she was eventually released. However, her solitude was interrupted much sooner than expected.

  The guards banged harshly against the iron bars, drawing Carol’s attention. They made a silent gesture, commanding her to stand as they unlocked the cell. Carol stepped out and stopped before them, then allowed the guards to escort her as they led her toward an unknown destination.

  As she was led through the corridor, Suzie and her male partner, also shackled within their own cells, spotted her. Initially, Suzie was consumed by shock and rage at the sight of her Priestess in chains; she lunged forward and rattled the bars, trying to get the attention of Carol and the guards. However, her anger quickly dissolved into confusion. She noticed that Carol still wore a nonchalant smile, even in such an unfavorable situation. Suzie felt a wave of bewilderment, never having expected such a profound change in the Priestess’s demeanor.

  "I-is this really the Appraisal Hall?" Rein mumbled to himself. He stood in shock before the hall, a massive and majestic structure radiating a sense of royalty and power so absolute it made even commoners feel guilty for stepping near it. He was dressed formally in a white shirt and a noble’s coat, yet nervousness vibrated through his nerves, knowing he was about to meet the other Holders.

  His anxiety was cut short when a voice interrupted him. "Don't need to worry about it, Rein," a female voice said, reassuring him as her footsteps drew closer. "It's a private meeting. There should be no third party to interrupt us."

  Hearing the familiar voice, Rein turned toward the source to find Hana, now dressed in a regal white and yellow gown. She stopped and offered him the genuine smile of a caring mother.

  "Miss Hana? Why are you here?" Rein asked, confused by her presence at the hall.

  "Well, the meeting was supposed to be for Holders, right? Then it should be right for me to go there," Hana stated. "After all, I can't just leave you behind when this is the first time you’ve attended such a meeting. Who knows if you might make a mistake?"

  "T-that would be too bad," Rein admitted, unable to deny the possibility. "Though, if you are attending this event, I suppose you must be a Holder yourself. But which one, exactly?"

  Hearing his question, Hana chuckled softly, teasing him. "You'll know it soon enough."

  As Carol arrived in front of the massive iron doors, they opened on their own, as if anticipating her arrival. She entered alone, leaving the guards behind as the doors slammed shut. From her perspective, eight towering lecterns surrounded her, with the one in the center rising above the others, a presence imposing enough to make her feel nervous.

  "I presume you're the rumored Leviathan," an unfamiliar female voice boomed across the hall. "To think that this young girl can do so much damage to Ordeus's territories... Heh, what a joke."

  Ordeus, standing at his lectern, listened to the man's provocation in silence, though his tightly clenched fist told a different story.

  Meanwhile, as Hana and Rein approached the meeting room, a guard stepped into their path.

  "Stop right there," the guard demanded, wary of Rein and Hana's unexpected appearance.

  "Is there a problem, sir?" Hana asked calmly.

  "That young man beside you," the guard said, pointing a finger at Rein. "Is he the Holder? Where is the emblem he is supposed to wear?"

  (Shoot! I forgot the emblem at the house! What should I do?!) Rein thought, panicked on the inside even as he kept his external expression calm. Despite the slip-up, he managed to explain his situation. "Actually, I'm her son. I'm here to accompany her as a successor."

  "And why do you need to follow your mother?" the guard countered.

  "It's so that I can learn how to be a proper Holder rather than just focusing on power, right Mother?" Rein said, concocting an excuse while maintaining his composure.

  "Huh?" Hana was momentarily stunned by Rein’s explanation but decided to play along. "Oh, yes! I brought my son here so he can learn how to do proper politics! I-is that okay with you?"

  Hearing their explanation, the guard stared intensely at Rein, creating enough tension to test the boy’s resolve. Thankfully, the guard took the bait. "Fine. As long as that son of yours doesn't cause any trouble," he stated, stepping back to his position as the doors opened automatically. "You may go now."

  For that, Rein and Hana walked inside the meeting hall, and the heavy doors sealed shut behind them.

  I'm so sorry for not posting in the usual schedule again!

  I was too busy in real life but here we are

  Oh, don't worry there's more than one Interludes I'll going to post

  so stay tuned!