Deep within a hidden dungeon, concealed from the prying eyes of the Arcanists from the Roaring Summit, a gathering of individuals wearing black cloaks engaged in a fervent discussion.
Some were furious, while others tried to calm the heated discussion.
"Keith and his team were slain so mercilessly! We cannot allow their deaths to go unanswered!" One member of the Order of Evanescent Vessels exclaimed, his voice filled with righteous indignation.
"I agree! We must track down that flying Crimson Imp, uncover their nest, and eradicate them all!" Another voiced, his fury echoing through the dimly lit chamber.
These are two men who held a close bond with Keith. They couldn't help but express their anger as they grieve the loss of their friend.
They couldn't believe that a creature they always underestimated would kill their friends. This just fueled their desire for vengeance.
However, a more composed voice interjected, attempting to restore a semblance of reason to the heated discussion.
"We cannot act rashly." A member cautioned. "We must consider the state of the Academy. It may have already fallen, even with three Squad Leaders and the Headmaster present. Escaping this place should be our priority. By now, the Sentinels and other Orders should be looking for us. We expected them to break the treaty, but this is just too soon. Something must've happened, so we can't act too rashly anymore."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the group. Uncertainty hung in the air, as the whereabouts of the Crimson Imp remained elusive despite the efforts of other Factions to track them down. Speculation arose that the Crimson Imp may have already been captured, but their existence was kept secret from them.
All eyes turned toward their leader, the 14th Squad Captain. She's a young woman with fiery red hair, but despite her youth, Captain Lesley commanded the respect and trust of her squad members. Her beauty belied the strength and leadership ability that lay within her.
"Captain Lesley, what is your decision?" the vice-captain inquired, his gaze locked on their leader.
The weight of the decision bore heavily upon him, as the previous orders had been to await the return of the 9th Squad or Keith's team.
However, now that Keith's team was annihilated, they obviously couldn't fulfill the order of returning with them. At this point, he was considering whether they should just ignore the Academy for now and look for the Imp.
This was a difficult decision, so he might as well let their captain decide...
Lesley remained silent, her mind meticulously weighing the options before her. She could understand her members wanting revenge, but she was a bit hesitant to enter the Roaring Summit once again since they should be on high alert.
Nevertheless, the fate of their fallen comrades, the honor of their faction, and a nagging suspicion regarding Vale Chambers intertwined within her thoughts.
'There's something off about this student...'
After a contemplative pause, Lesley finally spoke, her voice carrying a resolute tone. "Our faction's Academy has been disrespected, and the Headmaster and the Main Faction's Elite Forces will address this affront. However, if we were to leave without avenging the deaths of the Ninth Squad, we would tarnish the reputation of the Order of the Evanescent Vessels. Moreover, I have a strong intuition that this tragedy is connected to Vale Chambers. I don't think that an Imp would be that strong even if it was special."
Lesley said as she recalled the information about imps.
According to their records, Red-skin Imps had no ability to fly. She couldn't help but question the origin of this Imp.
Her words hung in the air, momentarily freezing the room.
The weight of her words resonated with her comrades, who swiftly reached a consensus. Their desire to avenge their comrades reignited.
Now that Lesley had agreed, the hot-blooded members immediately chimed in.
"Captain Lesley, you speak true. We shall honor the fallen and seek justice for their deaths…" A member declared.
With their course of action determined, the members of the 14th Squad of the Order of the Evanescent Vessels prepared to reenter the Roaring City.
"Our search will include both the Crimson Imp's clues and Vale, who vanished. I suspect this person has a deep resentment towards us." Lesley said as she turned her gaze towards the Summit.
***
Meanwhile, in the grand church of the Fortune Goddess, the esteemed members of the Untainted Sentinels gathered for a brief discussion.
The Crimson Imp and the deaths of the Dark Arts Practitioners, whom they suspected were Vessels, were the focal points of their conversation.
After extensive investigation, they had determined that the Crimson Imp must have been under the control of another Arcanist, granting it the strength to eliminate the five Vessels before they could initiate the descent of a mysterious entity within them.
"I shall scour the remaining districts tonight in search of the Imp. If it was summoned, I should be able to trace its origins through the Summoner…" Clare declared.
"Very well. I will explore the areas in the west district to uncover any traces of the Imp." Teresa added... The others also started declaring the areas they wanted to be sure.
After doing all of this, the old man, who seemed to be a priest, nodded and thanked the Sentinels..
"Excellent. Please make sure that the Imp would no longer cause panic to the public." Fletcher, a bishop from the Church of the Fortune Goddess, said.
"Aside from that, it has been reported that all the students from Vermont Academy have likely evacuated by now. However, it wouldn't hurt to remain vigilant and check our surroundings for any lingering Dark Magicians… Eliminate them if you ever find them."
"Yes, Bishop…"
The other members of the Untainted Sentinels received their respective orders and left the church, their footsteps echoing through the halls.
Soon, Teresa and Clare were left alone, engaged in a hushed conversation.
"Let us pay a visit to the Auction House tomorrow…" Teresa whispered with a mischievous glimmer in her eyes.
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