Under the reign of the Osten Empire, the high-rise residential building owned by the Zodiac Council stood with grand dignity in the capital city of Porand. It was a symbol of immense wealth. At the top of the building, an open-plan, five-star restaurant overlooked a beautiful park filled with wild and exotic greenery on one side. On the other, transparent glass fences provided esteemed guests with a breathtaking city view from the clouds.

  The building was also equipped with dual helipads, large enough to accommodate cruisers in case of emergencies or for ease of transport.

  At the entrance of the restaurant, two sorceresses stepped out of a portal — both equally enchanting. Celestius rings adorned their index fingers, gleaming under the ambient light.

  The first woman, with long, cascading black hair and pointed ears, was Serene Blair Veyne — the Celestius Mage of Scorpio and the Magus Primarch of Vinveil. Her hair, sleek and straight, flowed down to her lower back like a waterfall of silk. She wore a black, lavish dress that reached her ankles, with a daring yet elegant thigh split, revealing just enough skin to be enticing.

  Her sharp, almond-shaped blue eyes were captivating, her nose bridge was well-defined with a slight flare, and her crimson lips were full and inviting, contrasting against her porcelain-pale skin. Despite being over five centuries old, her complexion remained flawless, untouched by even a single wrinkle.

  Serene posed with one hand resting on her round hips, surveying the area.

  "It seems we are slightly late, dear sister," a sweet voice rang out from behind her.

  Serene glanced over her shoulder gracefully and offered a smile.

  Elenore Blair Veyne, her twin sister, shared similar features, though her wavy, dark brown hair set her apart. Her large, light eyes were more rounded and puppy-like. She wore a wide-brimmed hat and a dark blue dress designed to subtly highlight her voluptuous thighs and upper bust. The fabric was of the finest craftsmanship, with intricate seams and gem ornamentation woven into the design.

  In her right hand, she carried a magic staff crafted from phantom wood, its length engraved with glyphs and runes. The handle was wrapped in tumbled leather and secured tightly with golden rings. At its tip, the Arcanite Harnesser crackled with arcane energy.

  "Surely, everyone has been busy. Better late than not showing up at all," Serene remarked, her confident and prideful tone echoing through the empty hall.

  Yet, not a single soul was on the rooftop — not even inside the glamorous restaurant before them.

  After a few minutes, a maid in a black-and-white uniform arrived to greet them. She bowed gently before leading them through the double transparent glass doors.

  They strode past the empty rows of tables toward a large dining room. The glass doors were opaque, offering privacy.

  "Here, the council awaits your arrival. Please, this way," the maid said, opening the door and bowing deeply, her head nearly dipping.

  Serene and Elenore exchanged smiles with her before stepping inside.

  The moment they entered, Serene’s expression darkened. She had expected the full council — 11 members of the Zodiac Council. The only one with a valid excuse to be absent was Ignius Lux Draconus, who had descended into Hades’ hell.

  Yet, as she counted, only five Celestius Mages were present for today’s gathering.

  On the right, Jovian Xan Zepharion, the Celestius of Sagittarius, stood near the window, his fingers grazing the glass as he gazed at the buildings below. Compared to Hongon, this city paled in terms of futuristic aesthetics — no flashy neon lights, no flying vehicles.

  Jovian’s long, dark hair and beard were unkempt, and his sunken eyes had lost their former brilliance. Now relentless and hollow.

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  At the centre of the room sat a mountain of a man, clad entirely in ancient medieval armour. Though he had inherited the title from his predecessor, the former Celestius of Capricorn, he was renowned for his defensive spells and Domoklasis essence. His dark armour had a rough, cast-iron texture, with flexible, scale-like plates interlacing at the joints, providing complete protection.

  At first glance, he resembled an enigmatic statue, unmoving, hands clasped on the dining table. Beside him hovered an arcane artifact, Yappy, a diamond-shaped construct suspended in the air, awaiting his command.

  People called him Whisper, the Silent Bastion. He had never spoken a single word to another human, yet he frequently whispered to Yappy, letting it communicate for him, implying that he was not truly mute.

  Serene rolled her eyes at the two unbothered Celestius Mages, while Elenore maintained a noble smile.

  "Celestius Serene! Celestius Elenore! You came!"

  A blonde lady approached them, cyan eyes glittering with excitement as she clutched a pentagon-shaped trinket box. She was a petite girl a head shorter than the twins.

  "Vivian! Of course, we came," Elenore replied, concealing her disappointment at the lack of attendees.

  Vivian Viberty, the Celestius of Virgo, specialised in restoration magic. Despite being close to thirty, her youthful features often made her appear much younger.

  She wore a white linen chiton, adorned with gold chains and a belt, exposing her left shoulder and collarbones with classical grace. Her treasured metal trinket box hung from her belt, kept close at all times. Her long, flowing skirt swayed with each step, fluttering against her gold-threaded sandals, which laced up to her mid-calves.

  A laurel wreath sat elegantly atop her wavy blonde hair, completing her classical ensemble, along with golden wristbands on both arms.

  Serene glared at Vivian.

  "You call this the Zodiac Council? Don’t make me laugh," she snapped, revealing her vampiric fangs.

  "A moment of grace, if you will."

  A lilting voice resonated through the lavish room as an elegant elven Celestius Mage slipped behind them unnoticed. Towering over them by a full head, his presence was commanding.

  "Ah!" Serene yelped, instinctively clutching her chest before lowering her gaze.

  Virtius Nyra, the Celestius of Aquarius, was draped in a royal white and blue coat, neatly buttoned — a testament to his extreme nobility. His half-lidded gaze obscured his dazzling purple eyes, making his expression unreadable. His long, straight, pale blue hair shimmered, exuding an aura of pristine elegance.

  "Viberty, Serene," he greeted smoothly before turning to the hat-wearing girl. With a graceful motion, he handed her a bouquet of vibrant spider lilies.

  "My dear Elenore," he murmured, bowing deliberately, urging politeness.

  "Oh my!" Elenore gasped, cupping her mouth. Her expression softened as she carefully accepted the flowers.

  "I appreciate your endorsement, Imperator," she replied, her glowing blue eyes unconsciously seductive.

  Virtius responded with a faint smile.

  "Cringe," Serene muttered under her breath.

  "Kids these days don’t appreciate the sentiment of flowers anymore," the elven mage mused, shaking his head as strands of his pale blue hair swayed.

  "Tsk!" Serene clicked her tongue but held back a retort, while Elenore remained entranced by the flowers.

  Once everyone was seated, Virtius cleared his throat.

  "Well, I do believe that’s everyone. If the others had wished to attend, they would already be here," he declared, his voice authoritative yet composed.

  "It seems we are more divided than ever since the Ignius incident involving his prime disciple," he murmured to himself.

  The Imperator straightened and prepared to begin.

  "Firstly, let’s address—"

  "Empress Aurora is missing! We need to find her now," Jovian interrupted.

  The room fell silent, all eyes turning toward him in confusion.

  Virtius smiled faintly.

  "Judging from your tone, I almost presume this Aurora of yours is a lost child. Or is it the Empress — the strongest Arcanist in the world?" he quipped, his words sharper than any arc blade.

  Jovian winced, averting his gaze. If not for his mana limitations, he would have sought her out himself, but her last known location was in enemy territory. Using his entire mana reservoir to search would be reckless, as it would leave him vulnerable.

  "Now, now, I was merely responding to your intrusion, Jovian. I do care about Aurora’s well-being as much as all of you," Virtius assured, maintaining his composed expression.

  "Who knows? The empire could collapse at any moment without her presence," he chuckled, amused by his own dark humour.