Harbingers

Shun's expression remained unreadable, though the weight of Glynn's words pressed heavily upon him. Kylainn Esmira and Glynn Belkarn, both formidable complete ethereal warriors, remained outside the reach of Shun's Perspective Eye—its powers unable to decipher their attitudes. Yet something instinctive assured him of their sincerity and loyalty. His heart seemed to tell him that their words were true, no matter how bewildering it sounded. Shun glanced at Ruby and Rin, who mirrored his surprise.

Ruby, unable to contain herself, exclaimed, "What about the clan's goal?"

Glynn chuckled, gesturing for them to draw closer. "That goal? It was a ruse. A carefully crafted decoy meant to divert attention. Even I only learned of its true nature moments ago."

His voice lowered as though sharing a secret meant for only their ears. "The purpose of that deception was to keep me in the dark about my father's true intentions. It wasn't until I uncovered the real objective that I became worthy of assuming his place as the Grand Head of the Belkarn Clan."

He leaned back, a sly smile dancing on his lips. "So, can I trust you both to keep this secret?"

The girls exchanged glances, their eyes searching Shun for guidance. After seeing the quiet determination reflected in his gaze, they nodded earnestly.

But Glynn's smile faded. His expression turned grave as he faced Kylainn. "Keep those dangerous thoughts buried," he warned, voice like steel. "Their responses were genuine."

Kylainn's tone sharpened. "Glynn, just because I granted you access to my mind doesn't give you the right to exploit it."

Ignoring the rebuke, Glynn dismissed him with a wave. "It's irrelevant. If you've nothing further to say to the young master and his companions, let's leave them be."

His gaze darkened as he added, "You still value your life, don't you, Kylainn? So don't push the young master's patience. You know the consequences."

Kylainn hissed in frustration but offered no further protest. The two men departed, disappearing down the long, dim hallway after Glynn waved a casual goodbye.

Once out of earshot, Glynn whispered, "So, Kylainn, have I finally passed your... I mean, father's test?"

"How long have you known the fact for?"

Glynn laughed, eyes gleaming with a wild, almost unhinged energy. "I've known parts of the truth for a while now. Call it intuition or intelligence, but I pieced together the rest. The future is shaping up to be… interesting."

Kylainn's expression soured as he replied, "Very well, Glynn Belkarn. Are you prepared to accept the mantle of Harbinger?"

A gleam of pride flickered in Glynn's eyes. "There are five remaining Harbingers out of the original seven, correct?"

Kylainn nodded. "Six, now."

Glynn's smile deepened. "Then tell me—who will I be working with?"

Kylainn's eyes grew distant, lost in memories. "Besides you, me, and Eriq Ranborg, there are three more. But they betrayed us during the Great War."

He paused, the weight of those names hanging in the air. "Harlan Harkway, Keeper of Past. Shun, Head of the Starflame—no relation to the young master. And Antonio Valdis, the Imposter."

The name Antonio Valdis dripped with venom, Kylainn's hatred unmistakable.

"They betrayed us when we needed them most, nearly causing our downfall. But we still succeeded through sheer perseverance. As of now, Harlan's whereabouts are unknown, Shun has risen as the influential leader of the Starflame Community within the Eternal Dynasty, and as for Valdis…" Kylainn spat the name, his voice laced with bitterness, "As if betraying us wasn't though, he even proclaimed himself the successor to Tyrant Kolgwyn. And some fools actually followed him."

For the first time, Glynn seemed genuinely caught off guard. As a man accustomed to reading minds, he wasn't usually surprised with words.

Kylainn continued, "Without Harlan Harkway, our plans have stalled, but it's only a matter of time before we find him. And when that day comes, all our efforts—all the shame we've endured—will finally be justified."

Glynn nodded, the magnitude of his new responsibility dawning on him as he fell into silent contemplation.

…

Albert and Cloudy had returned to the Royal Palace, leaving Shun and his companions to make their way back to their mansion.

Most of the others are absent, save for Vito Fool and Leon Ermy. Leon, typically a solitary figure, spent much of his time holed up in the library or his room, absorbed in a peculiar book Vesanze Fortune had given him. His recent change in demeanor had not gone unnoticed—more energetic and lively, a stark contrast to his previous reserved nature. The others, pleased to see this shift, chose to ignore his eccentric habits.

As the gate creaked open, Vito descended the spiral staircase, a deep sorrow etched into his face—a rare sight since the tournament.

"Shun…" Vito's voice was heavy. "Was it really you who killed Sora Tiamat?"

Shun's brows furrowed, sensing something off in Vito's tone. "What's wrong? Was she a friend of yours?"

Vito slowly shook his head. "No. Sora Tiamat was the one who defeated me in the first Interacademy Ethereal Combat Tournament. She dominated me completely. Ever since then, I've wanted a rematch."

His voice grew quieter. "But it seems that will never happen now."

Shun remained silent, unsure how to respond. A part of him bristled at Vito's words, but he masked his irritation. Before he could speak, Silver intervened.

"Shun had no choice," she said, her voice louder than usual, betraying a fierce protectiveness. "She was going to kill him. Are you suggesting he should feel guilt or sympathy for someone who tried to take his life?"

Her tone grew sharper. "She made the first move, so she should pay for it."

Shun's gaze shifted to Silver, taken aback by her passionate defence. Her words surprised him more than Glynn's back at the Belkarn Clan. For the first time in his life, he felt like someone had understood him.

Vito's eyes darkened, his discomfort palpable. "That's not what I meant…"

Silver cut him off, her anger evident. "Then what did you mean? Shun almost died, and you're bringing up your personal connection to the person who tried to kill him?"

Her voice quivered slightly, though it wasn't just anger that flashed in her eyes. It was something deeper—an unmistakable sense of worry and fear.

Shun couldn't quite place it. Perhaps it was just a trick of the light,