At Neurn, the territory of the Tempest Holder

  A knock sounded on the master bedroom door, where the Tempest Holder resided.

  "Come in," the Tempest Holder said, his tone serious, not looking up from his book.

  "Pardon me, Sir," a maid said, bowing deeply.

  "Is there something you want to tell me?"

  "I detected a slight chaotic Ender surge coming from Sowrien Territory. It seems there was a significant magical event where the Azure Holder resides."

  "A battle?" the Tempest asked, finally lowering his book.

  "Indeed. Should I dispatch our soldiers? It might have been an attack from the Dark Holder's faction."

  "No need. They can handle it themselves." He reached for the wine beside him, taking a slow sip. "They're merely pawns for my ascension. Whether they're expelled or destroyed, it doesn't concern me in the least. Besides, I have support solely from the Empire, with a little extra."

  "What kind of extra?" the maid asked, her gaze steady.

  A man materialized from behind the Tempest Holder, having used a camouflage spell.

  "Is that...?" the maid whispered, surprised.

  "In the flesh. I am Karl, the previous head of the Gaia Holder and a scientist," the man introduced himself.

  "This is the 'extra' I mentioned," the Tempest Holder said, smiling coldly. "He's my old partner. After his exile due to illegal activities, the Second Prince hired him as his personal scientist."

  "Not only that," Karl boasted, "I've acquired an incredible metric for researching the Flame Eclipse phenomenon." he produced a dark, ancient book like the grimoire Dein used and showed it to the maid and the Tempest Holder.

  "My servant, who is a Zarikh, managed to obtain a sample of the Leviathan's power," Karl explained, his voice vibrating with dangerous excitement. "The Zarikh confirmed that we can create an artificial phenomenon based on this grimoire's instructions. If this plan succeeds, we'll not only control our own awakening Leviathan but also command an army of the Zarikh."

  "What a genius plan, Karl!" the Tempest Holder roared with laughter.

  Both men laughed happily at the terrifying scheme they had just finalized.

  The maid, however, sighed internally, her expression hardening. (Why do I have to work under these fools?) She regretted her position, discreetly slammed her forehead.

  At Sowrien, in Carol's room in the manor.

  "The ability to erase someone's existence, huh." Carol murmured, holding the history book Rein had given her. The more she read, the more shock filled her. "Only someone with a high Ender density could resist the after effects of erasure. Therefore, memory alteration."

  She sighed, placing the book aside. She gently rubbed her stomach, the pain from the chaotic battle still lingered despite the wounds slowly healing.

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  "That time... What the hell just happened to me back then?" she mumbled to herself.

  Then, a whisper returned. (I was helping you to survive, Carol.)

  "Of course it was you. No wonder I couldn't control my body."

  (I'm part of you, remember? As long as that bastard is still alive, we must keep moving, eliminate every obstacle standing in our way.)

  "What a drama queen," Carol muttered, standing from her bed. She walked to the mirror. To her shock, the reflection was subtly wrong. It was her other persona. "You really love messing around with my life, don't you?"

  The reflection suddenly slammed its fist against the inside of the glass, making Carol jump. "I ask you, Carol, do you still intend to wasting your time instead of finding that bastard?"

  "I'm not wasting my time. I will find that guy in my own way."

  "By helping your stupid colleagues?" The reflection snorted. "I can't believe it."

  "What kind of clue you want exactly? We just found one and he's the exiled Gaia Holder! Isn't that enough?" Carol roared, her anger spiking.

  "It's not, Carol! We have to search whatever we can find! His past, his family, everything related to him!" The reflection’s voice cracked with crazed release. "As long as we can make him pay, as long as we can make him suffer for what he has done to us! We're going to burn everything down!"

  "You're crazy. You know this is just about revenge, right?"

  "Of course, Carol! Of course I know that!" The reflection reached out a hand, its dark Ender passing through the surface of the glass, trying to grab Carol. "But it won't be enough. Just killing him won't satisfy our obsession. Accept me and we shall become anew. We'll be a being that even he, couldn't stop us from putting him in misery."

  In a desperate moment, Carol immediately punched the mirror, shattering it to pieces. Her fist was wounded, blood dropping from where the glass pierced her skin. She was panting, but the pain was more bearable than listening to her other side's blabbering.

  "Not this time," she looked at her bloody fist, worry mixed with resolve. "Not this time, you damn myself."

  A bird chirped loudly, and the cold night gave way to morning.

  (Few days later.)

  "Is everyone ready?" Carol shouted to the waiting group.

  "I-is it okay for us to do this? I mean, we're supposed to return to Verlyn Campus, right?" Saria asked, nervous.

  "It's fine. Our Professor would understand our current situation. Once this is done, we're going straight back to the campus. How does that sound?"

  "Fine by me," Noire said. "A little adventure won't hurt."

  Carol giggled at Noire's statement. "Right? I knew you'd understand."

  Aria sighed at their behavior, while Revir's expression hardened, looking off into the distance.

  "Sorry for the late start." Rein rushed to join the group.

  "Sleeping late, huh?" Noire replied, understanding Rein's situation. "Not that I can't blame you."

  "Yeah, I've had a lot of night talks with my sister lately. But I'm glad she's accepting me more in her life."

  Everyone smiled, except for Revir, who was lost in thought.

  "Revir? Are you okay?" Carol asked, noticing his sudden change in behavior.

  "Oh, nothing. It's just about the Sealer's location."

  Rein watched him, his expression softening into a slight, knowing smile. (I guess it's his turn, now.) he thought. (I wonder what he's going to do.)

  And with that, they embarked on their next journey. The quest to find the rumored 'Sealer.'