Ascenders Rift

The night continued, but the scene within the underground hideout's main building remained one of gloominess.

Oron led Evan, Joe, and the others to pass a few stairs, showing persons with dismal expressions. It didn't take long for them to arrive at the main room shut tightly by a large door. With a serious expression and a deep sigh, Oron turned and looked at everyone as he spoke, "Shall we?"

Evan looked at Layla, Rick, and his other party members before nodding and replied, "Go ahead."

Oron turned around to face the door once more and pushed it up with a heavy heart as if sharing his sentiment; the door opened with a loud creak before stopping with a bang.

As Evan walked through the door with the others, he noticed the officials seated around the various desk with grim expressions, most of them had wounds on their bodies that had only received standard treatment.

Despite seeing Evan's party, the officials didn't even show a hint of excitement as they stared at them and greeted in unison, "We welcome Sir Evan and his friends..."

Breya shook her head as she muttered, 'They've already lost their spirit, this isn't good..."

"Indeed so, it looks like we'll need to fix this..." Evan replied in a soft voice as he continued to observe the situation.

Joe and the others felt uncomfortable in this scene; they didn't say anything but looked on in silence.

Oron at this time had finished looking around the room, as he didn't see who was searching for, he sighed and spoke, "As I thought, I know he wouldn't be here... tch,"

Evan took a good look around to figure who he was talking about. As he observed, he saw that other than Leo, Julie, Wilma, and Milon, everyone else was gathered.

"What's going on? Where is he?" Evan asked in a faint voice.

Oron gave him a look and replied, "He's probably by his father's side; wait right here; I'll go get him so we can officially start the meeting."

Evan thought for a bit before nodding, giving a pass to Oron who went by him and left the room. He looked at him before he shook his head and glanced at the others and spoke, "He'll probably take a while so let's sit down for now,"

Joe and the others also thought the same; they promptly sat around the chairs and awaited the right moments.

At this moment, Oron had already arrived at a different area; it was a tightly shut room with Julie standing outside with a worried look on her face.

Julie seemed to have noticed Oron's arrival, she shifted her eyes towards him and asked, "Has the meeting already started?"

Oron shook his head and replied, "It's moments from starting, Evan's party has already gathered, and only the two of you are missing."

Julie paused for a moment before she sighed and knocked on the door with three loud taps; after a moment, a shuffling sound was heard, and the door opened with a creaking noise.

Leo soon after appeared from the crack; his face seemed a bit listless as he stared at both Julie and Oron with a weak smile on his face.

Oron was about to say something, but Leo raised his hand and spoke in reply, "I've heard you... no need to repeat it, so come on, let's get moving."

Leo was about to step forward, but Julie blocked his way while asking, "Leo, are you sure you can do it? We can fill in for you, just take this time to..."

Julie was about to make a suggestion, but before she could finish her words. Leo touched her lips with his finger and looked at her with a smile.

"Julie, don't worry too much, I'll be fine, besides, Miss Wilma is always by his side," Leo said as he soon after moved his finger and walked towards the meeting room's direction.

Both Julie and Oron gave each other a look before shaking their heads and walking behind him; the scene behind them in the previous room now one of silence as the door closed soon after.

***

Evan, who had already sat down with the others, was filled in by Breya and Rick about its losses. He cast a look at the silent Razel, who sat with his eyes closed; he didn't say anything to him as he knew he must be trying hard to withstand his grief.

Emilia and Layla had wet eyes as they didn't think Vernisa would have perished, they weren't close to her, but after working with her for some time, it was natural a small bond would have formed.

Evan held Layla to his side while speaking in a soft tone, "Don't cry, she gave her all for her people, and as such, we should respect that..."

Layla nodded upon hearing those words, but the tears still silently flowed from her eyes; Evan wiped it with his fingers as he thought, 'By the looks of it, I fear that either Wilma and Milon might not have survived.'

Following his thoughts, Evan fell into a silence, but Rick and the others seemed to be having a moment.

Rick hesitantly glanced at Emilia, who was shedding tears at the news; he slowly reached his hand towards her arm and held it as he spoke, "Emmy, don't worry, these things happen, and sometimes we have to learn to accept them the way they are."

Emilia nodded her head this as she wiped her eyes, her face hidden from anyone's sight; Rick thought it was adorable, he wanted to grasp her firmly, but as if he sensed something, he held back and glanced at the side.

Joe was only staring at Rick from the corners of his eyes, but his body carried a menacing power as if he could erupt at any moment.

Rick made a proud look as if he wasn't afraid of some commoner, while Joe's eyes burned with fire; Breya seemed to have noticed this but said nothing; she only shook her head.

Unlike everyone else, Breya was quite keen on Emilia; she noticed that Emilia had already recovered from her previous state and now had a slight smile on her lips as if enjoying Rick's touch.

'Good, that's why she's learned so well, sister's methods are truly most effective, but it's a pity it doesn't work on this fellow...' Breya thought with a complicated look in her eyes as she stared at Joe.

The drama didn't continue for long, as the door opened once more, followed by Leo, Julie, and Oron's appearance.

The officials promptly stood up and bowed as he spoke, "We welcome Acting Head Milon!"

Evan and the others were a bit surprised at this, but they soon felt it was in reason; if something were to happen to Milon, it would naturally pass down to his heir.

Not long after, Leo, Julie, and Oron had already arrived at their seats; Leo then looked at everyone, fixing his eyes on Evan's party for a while before his look turned sharp as he spoke, "Let us commence with the meeting!"

The mood turned solemn, as everyone knew that their troubles had only just begun and the meeting to determine their future steps had finally started.