Location: COMA HQ, Umbra Island – League of Umbra
The table was obsidian. Large enough to seat warlords. Small enough that no one could escape eye contact.
Twelve seats. Nine occupied.
Rain hammered the glass dome above the war room, casting long shadows across the black marble floor. At the head of the table sat Elda Kurogane, Apex Chair of COMA. Unmoving. Unblinking. The storm outside might as well have been her mood.
To her right, the broad-shouldered and unsmiling Takashi Kurogane, Head of the League of Umbra. Father to Sayaka and Raiden. Uncle to Avni. His voice was a thunderclap waiting to happen.
Across from him, in crimson robes with silver trim, sat Hildegard Falk, Head of Caelthorn and grandmother of Erik. Her fingers were laced over a dragon-engraved cane, eyes scanning the dossier in front of her like a hawk with a vendetta.
Next to her:
Naoko Kurogane Rathore, Head of Virelios and mother of Avni, sharp-eyed and silent, a crow perched on her shoulder.
Viktor Reznov, Head of Pyronox — tall, burned down one side of his face, with a voice like gravel and smoke.
Selene Argyros, Head of Astrynox, cloaked in deep violet. Her expression unreadable, her thoughts always three layers deep.
And finally, seated beside Elda was a man few dared to speak of — let alone speak to.
Sylus Morozov, the former Apex of COMA. Lev’s grandfather. A legend not for his leadership… but for surviving long enough to see his enemies buried.
Even Elda, seated above all, addressed him with a subtle tilt of the head.
Irina Volkova Morozov, once Head of Valgrave, and still the institution’s de facto ghost matron, stood silently near him — her cold eyes fixed on the sealed file on the table.
At the opposite end sat Giancarlo Moretti, Head of Valgrave, grandfather of Luciano Moretti. Dressed in ivory and gold, he looked almost amused.
But no one here was laughing.
Elda finally broke the silence.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSJzSt82xk
“She had our insignia branded on her shoulder.”
She tossed the report across the table. It slid to a stop in front of Takashi.
Takashi didn’t read it. “That girl — Juno — she survived?”11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdYO3Ic8Vs
“Barely,” Elda said. “She whispered one word before collapsing. ‘Traitor.’”
Viktor Reznov leaned back. “Then she’s not entirely useless.”
Hildegard Falk tapped her cane. “Who gave the order to mark her? That wasn’t COMA protocol.”
Naoko spoke at last, voice like silk over steel. “Because it wasn’t us.”
Elda nodded. “It was them. The Oathless.”
A heavy silence descended.
Selene Argyros raised a brow. “We lost contact with the Oathless eight years ago. Why now?”
Takashi leaned forward. “Because the heirs are together. For the first time in decades, all six legal bloodlines are walking the same halls.”
Giancarlo Moretti smirked. “And you let them.”
Sylus Morozov exhaled slowly, speaking for the first time. His voice was ancient ash.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBggsgW48K
“They would have come together with or without our permission. Fate doesn’t ask.”
Irina snapped a file onto the table. “Then fate stole from us. This was taken from the Umbra Archives two nights ago.”
She slid it to Elda, who opened it grimly.
Two names.
Natalia Dragunov — former Syndicate Head of Pyronox.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMr2s89wfcN
Sayaka Kurogane — former heir to COMA.
Viktor whistled low. “And how many know Sayaka’s fall from grace?”
Elda’s jaw tightened. “Only myself... and Sylus.”
Selene’s eyes flicked toward Irina. “Then we have two problems. A traitor among the heirs. And another one in the forest — who knew about Sayaka’s past.”
Naoko hissed. “And if the Oathless branded that girl, they’re sending a message. To us. To COMA.”
Sylus stood slowly. “Not a message. A challenge.”
He walked toward the large digital map on the wall. It zoomed in on Caelthorn. Then Valgrave. Then Astrynox.
“There’s no mistake. The two students who vanished were not lost. They were taken,” he said. “And we have to assume this is the beginning.”
Elda nodded. “Then let’s speak truth. We can no longer hide COMA’s true face. The power behind the thrones. The blood behind the legacies.”
Gianluca rose. “So what do we do?”
Elda’s eyes burned. “We prepare for war.”
Meanwhile...
Caelthorn Island — A half-mile from where Juno was found
Shadows slithered beneath twisted roots and bloodied leaves. Half-rotted hoods cloaked the figures hunched over a map.
Oathless.
One whispered, “We’ve marked the girl. She bled well.”
Another hissed, “The Shadow Division moves too closely. We must scatter them.”
A third voice, deeper, rasping:11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBhEhIO6ug
“No. Let them come. Let them feel hope. Then crush it.”
They laughed quietly, like knives sharpening each other.
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and then Add to home screen.