The nobles looked at the questioning eyes of the councilmen. Their seats surrounded the stands. The nobles were called to the stands.

  “First of all, we apologise for your loss.” The head councilman, Kerfal, looked towards Volzen and Lizle. There was a minute of silence. It was broken by Kerfal’s question.... “How did it happen? The destruction of Soren..”

  The nobles looked at each other. Volzen faced the councilmen and gave his answer. “It was due to a creature. Neither human, nor asura... But a mix of two. It was able to carry itself outside the forest. We suspect that it was responsible for the murders.”

  The councilmen were surprised by this answer. They never knew of such a creature before. They feared what they didn’t know. That’s why, some of the councilmen thought that it was a lie, to cover up their mistake. One of them asked Volzen, “Where is it now?”

  Volzen’s reply was short. “Dead.”

  “Was it powerful than the asuras?” Another councilman questioned.

  This time, Ryoner answered. “We’ve estimated it to be atleast grade seven.”

  The entire council had nervous whispers roaming around the room.

  “You said, it was dead, right?” Kerfal asked Volzen. He nodded in agreement.

  “Did you find others like it?” Kerfal questioned him again.

  “No, we did not.” Volzen answered in the same, monotonous tone.

  Kerfal stopped questioning him. He was thinking about something. After a minute or two, he announced, “Our first agenda for today’s discussion, end’s here. We will take a short recess and resume with the second agenda. Thank you for cooperating with us, Nobles.” The councilmen left the room one by one. The nobles got down from their stands.

  While leaving the conference room, Ryoner asked Hamton, “What, do you think, could be their second agenda?”

  “Honestly, I don’t know. They won’t tell us anything. It’s like we’re responsible for thrashing the Soren region.” Hamton let out his frustration.

  Volzen overheard their conversation. He joined in. “Do you know why they blame us partly?”

  Hamton and Ryoner looked at Volzen.

  “We let the only region, get destroyed, which was a gathering place for explorers. My guess is, the Council will close the entrance to the Great Forest temporarily, until the city is rebuilt.”

  This discussion went on, until the Council announced their second agenda.

  “The next topic of today’s discussion, is about Lady Belzi’s nobility.” Kerfal’s loud voice echoed throughout the silent room. The whole council’s gaze fell upon Belzi, who had a look of dissatisfaction on her face. Kerfal continued. “Lady Belzi.... As the Noble of the Soren region, it was your duty to protect it from any harm and danger, which, you have clearly failed.”

  Belzi’s look of dissatisfaction switched to anxiety. She had a bad feeling about this.

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  “The Council is to decide, by a plebiscite held today, whether or not you’ll keep your title of a Noble. If you have anything to say, speak up now.” Kerfal concluded. He had a light smirk on his face. This angered Belzi. She burst out in rage.

  “DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA, WHAT THE NOBLES HAVE DONE FOR HOSONTROPIA?” The councilmen were surprised by this.

  “WE’VE ALWAYS CLEANED YOUR MESS, WE ACCEPTED EVERY REQUEST OF YOURS, YOU EXIST BECAUSE OF US.... DON’T FORGET THIS.” Belzi wanted to say more, but she was stopped by Lizle.

  “Lady Belzi....” Kerfal started, with a shrewd look on his face. “It seems like the destruction of Soren has taken a toll on you. You are unable to think clearly. I don’t think that you’re fit to be a Noble anymore..... Raise your hands.....” Kerfal looked towards the Council... “Those who want Lady Belzi to keep her nobility.” No hands were raised. The Council was silent.

  “Raise your hands, those who....” Before he could finish his sentence, a loud bang disturbed the session. The door of the conference room was kicked open. All of the councilmen, including Kerfal, got up from their seats and stood still.

  “How dare you....” A low, angry voice, emerged from the entrance of the room. Everyone looked at the entrance. Four individuals, handsomely dressed in white, entered the room. The Apostles had arrived.

  “How dare you disrespect Aunt Belzi.” The Apostle of Terra, Trinity Bojar, growled in a low but terrifying voice. The councilmen were taken aback. They didn’t expect that the Apostles would show up.

  “The Council greets the Apostles...” Kerfal bowed his head, followed by the other members.

  “SHUT UP!” Trinity shouted at Kerfal.

  “Do you guys have the slightest idea about Aunt Belzi’s achievements and service, during her years as an Apostle?!”

  “Yes, Lady Trinity... But..” Kerfal was interrupted.

  “But still you guys want to drag her down from her position and humiliate her....” Trinity was furious. The councilmen looked at each other, having no clue, how to proceed further.

  “That’s enough Trinity.” The Apostle of Water, Hamris Mezanie, stopped her outburst.

  The Apostle of Light, Hilene Synis, stepped forward, to speak. “I would kindly request the Spiritiz Council to stop this plebiscite.” Her soft voice relaxed the nervous atmosphere.

  However, Kerfal wasn’t ready to listen to Hilene. “You are no Apostle, you are just a commoner. Stay out of this.”

  Trinity was enraged by his behaviour. She was about to say something, when Draz Vistara, the Apostle of Thunder, interrupted her.

  It was impossible to hate Draz. There was a valiant as well as a soft side to him. He was unanimously selected as the leader of the Apostles. Volzen was really proud of him.

  “Anyone, who receives a blessing from the Gods, be it a Noble, or a commoner, is granted the title of an Apostle... Isn’t it mentioned in the books written by our ancestors?”

  Kerfal hesitated to speak.

  “If the head councilman himself does not know about this, then in my opinion, it is you who should step down from your position.”

  “Pl- Please forgive me Lord Draz. It was my fault. I wasn’t perceptive enough. I will stop the meeting, this instant.....”

  Kerfal looked at the councilmen and announced, “Today’s discussion ends here. Please leave the meeting room, maintaining order.”

  The Council looked towards the Apostles and bowed once again. Then, they exited the room, one by one. Once the room was empty, the Apostles approached the Nobles.

  Belzi got off her stand and ran towards Trinity, to give her a big hug. Both of them were in tears.

  “Hello father....” Draz greeted Volzen. He hugged his son with a smile on his face.

  Hamris and Hamton just nodded at each other. Hilene sensed some tension between the father and the son.

  The group left the Spiritiz Council and set off to Myztic. The headmaster had invited the Nobles. Belzi would stay at Myztic, as the headmaster’s guest, until Soren was rebuilt.