Anomalies

"I believe you've come across the mention of the first Heavenly Demon Patriarch in the novel, haven't you?" Iris's words caught Seraphine off guard. It was evident that Iris was aware that Seraphine's soul had been transmigrated from Earth.

"So, you're aware that I'm from Earth?" Seraphine inquired, her grip on the tea cup tightening in nervousness.

"Indeed, I am fully aware. My boundary magic allows me to sense any anomalies that have transmigrated into this world, including soul or entire body," Iris replied casually, helping herself to a cookie from the table.

"The reason I've acted differently from the events in the novel is due to an additional anomaly that wasn't even part of the original story. This anomaly transmigrated into this world, prompting me to search for any available information. In the process, I stumbled upon a book called 'The Rising of the Sword Emperor' from the Earth through my boundary magic. Frankly, it leaves much to be desired,"

Iris expressed her dissatisfaction with the book, a sentiment that resonated with Seraphine despite a slight pang of triggered nostalgia. She acknowledged the book's numerous plot holes and grammatical errors.

In the book, the first heavenly demon is the lone anomaly that has made its way into this world. The novel does not provide any additional information regarding this particular anomaly beyond its sole purpose of leaving a demonic heart in the dungeon and granting Damian demonic powers.

If the story flows according to the original and there is only one anomaly present, Iris Muve will remain unaware of the Chaos Order's threat since she does not make any efforts to seek out more information and, consequently, will become vulnerable to falling under their plans and eventually becoming a villain in the story's conclusion.

"Are you following me, Seraphine? The entire situation has deviated significantly from what occurred in the original story a hundred years ago when the second anomaly entered this world. This second anomaly didn't even make an appearance in the original book, complicating matters considerably,"

Iris explained, her tone conveying a sense of exasperation.

Seraphine nodded, her mind racing to process the information. It was clear that the arrival of multiple anomalies, including herself and the second anomaly, had disrupted the established order of events. The intricacies of the situation were becoming more apparent, and Seraphine realized the weight of the responsibility that now rested on her shoulders.

"Indeed, things have become more complex than anticipated," Seraphine responded, her voice laced with determination. "But now that I'm aware of the situation, I'm ready to face the challenges ahead and assist in any way I can to set things right."

"It's not your fault that all of this has happened. Instead, you are the help that this world needs to be saved," Iris continued, her expression serious as she held Seraphine's attention.

"In the first war, when the covens and I battled against the Heavenly Demon and their followers, we suffered immense losses. What was once a group of twelve powerful witches has been reduced to just three," Iris revealed, her voice carrying the weight of the past.

She proceeded to unbutton her dress at the chest, revealing a deep, dark scar that marred her skin. The scar resembled a sword wound that had pierced her, a painful reminder of the sacrifices made during the conflict.

"This wound cost me nearly half of my power after the war, but at least I survived," Iris stated with a hint of sorrow, her thoughts drifting to the comrades and friends she had lost.

"We sought the second anomaly to prevent any calamity akin to the war with the Heavenly Demon. To be honest, the intensity when the second anomaly enters this world is even greater than that of the Heavenly Demon. Engaging in an all-out war with them would be an absolute disaster," Iris explained, her words urgently echoing in the air.

Seraphine was left in awe by Iris's revelations. The gravity of the situation was much more severe than she had initially grasped. It was evident that the second anomaly posed a significant threat that extended far beyond their previous understanding.

"Does the second anomaly have a connection with the chaos order?" Seraphine inquired, her curiosity and concern growing.

"There's a high possibility. That's why I took all the necessary precautions before meeting you, Seraphine. Based on my predictions and gathered information, I believe the chaos order is planning a surprise attack during the hunting ceremony,"

Iris responded, her voice unwavering as she conveyed the imminent danger that loomed ahead.

Seraphine's mind raced, absorbing the gravity of the situation. The chaos order's intentions were becoming clearer, and the urgency of their actions became apparent.

"Then, what should we do now, Miss Iris?" Seraphine asked Iris, her determination evident as she sought guidance from the one she knew was on her side.

"I want you to collaborate with Damian and the Marquis family. The fewer people who know about this, the better. We can't be certain which noble families are associated with the chaos order," Iris continued, her tone serious and resolute.

In the original story, the hunting ceremony proceeded without any notable incidents. The only thing that happened was Damian faced humiliation and mockery from the social circle, including his father, due to poor performance. However, this time was different.

The chaos order had begun to make its move, and their objectives had shifted, likely due to Damian's acquisition of the demonic heart ahead of schedule.

While Iris didn't fully understand their true intentions, it was clear that they aimed to create turmoil among the nobility, potentially posing a threat to both Seraphine and Damian.

"I understand now, Miss Iris. I will handle everything discreetly," Seraphine affirmed, nodding in response to Iris's guidance. A sense of determination radiated from Seraphine, drawing a smile from Iris.

"By the way, Seraphine, it seems there's another presence in your mind, isn't there?" Iris inquired, playfully pointing a finger to her own head, indicating her awareness of Alice's existence.

"So you know about Alice too?" Seraphine asked, her amazement evident as she hadn't anticipated Iris's awareness reaching this extent.

"I am a witch, after all," Iris replied with a smirk, reminding Seraphine of her extraordinary abilities. "Now, you should go and make all the necessary preparations before the ceremony begins, okay?"

"Got it, M—" Before Seraphine could finish her sentence, she was suddenly enveloped by Iris's magic and transported back to the void. Iris stood up from her chair, a satisfied expression on her face as she observed the gap she had created.

"See you again, Seraphine."

And just as suddenly, Seraphine reappeared in the library. The transition this time was swifter, and she found herself landing on the floor, her impact less than graceful.

"Could you be a bit gentler, Miss Iris?" Seraphine grumbled, wincing slightly from the impact.