LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 9: p.9 :.. unanswered questions..
10:54 AM - (23rd August 2026 [2126] • Schelvia City • City's Heart • ALPHAO.CRESCENT.UNITY (A.C.U) • HQ • Meeting Room Chamber)
The chaos from the earlier clash between Kaelis and Elysia had died down instantly as she entered. The 'Leader' of the council now sat at the edge of the long meeting table-her seat resembling a throne.
Her legs were crossed, and her piercing grey eyes scanned the room in silence. An empty scabbard rested against her side. Tapping her foot on the ground, she waited with a patient yet commanding air.
ARTORIA VESTERIA
Rank 1 (Leader of the Council)
Nickname: The King After the Queen
Gender: Female
Artoria's golden blonde hair cascaded across her shoulders, a striking contrast to her intense gaze. She flicked her hair aside as she spoke, her tone cutting through the quiet like a blade. Her steely eyes locked onto the two council members who had been fighting moments ago.
"I thought I summoned you all here for a meeting, not for some silly fight... correct?"
Her voice was sharp and left no room for excuses.
The chamber fell into a tense silence. Elysia, seated and staring down at her lap, shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Her battle axe, which had been a symbol of her defiance minutes earlier, had dematerialized the moment Artoria entered the room.
Kaelis, meanwhile, sat quietly, his expression masked in terror. He glanced at Elysia, noting her subdued state with quiet satisfaction. For once, she didn't dare to talk back.
The two of them sat like chastised children, their guilt palpable.
Around the table, the rest of the council remained silent as well. Some lounged in their seats while others sat with disciplined posture, exuding a professional air.
Yet not one dared to speak.
Artoria's cold grey eyes swept across the room. Out of the nine chairs meant for the top-ranking council members, only seven were occupied. Her gaze lingered on the two empty seats-one directly beside her and another further down the table.
Finally, she turned her attention to Solaria, seated nearby with her arms crossed.
"Where's my Shadow and Lucian?" Artoria asked, her tone calm but laced with unmistakable authority.
At the mention of the word my, a ripple of murmurs swept through the chamber. Artoria's possessive phrasing was nothing new, but it always caused a stir among the council members.
Solaria's expression didn't waver. She replied evenly, though she felt the weight of Artoria's grey eyes on her.
"...Both of them are on their way. I'd estimate about four to five minutes. Lucent took Noir from the A.U.E. According to Wêrïn's report, he may have been trapped there."
Artoria's eyes narrowed slightly, her chin resting on her hand as she studied Solaria.
"Trapped?" she questioned, her tone sharpening.
Solaria nodded. "Yes. Wêrïn requested Lucent to pick him up, so there's no need to worry about-"
"That's not what I want to hear," Artoria interrupted sharply.
"Pardon?"
"I want to know when they will arrive at this meeting," she clarified, her voice colder than before.
Solaria sighed. "As I said, four to five minutes."
The room fell silent once more. Artoria leaned back in her chair, her frown deepening. Her fingers trailed absentmindedly along the empty scabbard strapped to her side.
Her frustration grew as she thought about Noir. Of all times, why now? He was always late-though she knew he had his reasons. But hearing that he'd been trapped stirred a flicker of anger within her.
"...Tch... That's because no one looks for him unless someone requests it," she muttered under her breath. "That's why he's so easily overlooked."
Her gaze shifted to the tall doors of the chamber, then back to the empty seat beside her. A faint snicker escaped her lips, though there was no humor in it.
---
10:56 AM - (Schelvia City • Outskirts of the City's Heart • Mirage District [East Gate])
"Wait, wait, wait! So you're telling me that thing shot down one section of our holo-shield?! Didn't they say even missiles couldn't break through?!"
Selene's panicked voice echoed across the rooftop as she paced back and forth, biting her thumbnail.
Kairos, who had arrived two minutes ago looking ragged and out of breath, turned his attention to Elara.
"Listen, Elara," he began urgently. "Here's the drone video and my report. Transfer them to our leader, Astra. You know who that is, right? Astra Lynnwood-the Watcher. Send everything online and request backup. This thing isn't a DERØXIRIDE. It's intelligent-sharp enough to exploit our holo-shield's weakness."
He handed Elara two coin-like data drives before slumping against the railing to catch his breath.
Selene, meanwhile, continued pacing, her panic mounting.
"Oh my god, oh my god... Kairos! Do you think this thing is going to kill us?!"
"Stop it, Selene!" Elara snapped. "We're not going to die, okay? Just focus. The frontline is buying us time. Once the top 9 know what's happening, they'll handle it. Nail that into your head!"
Elara's sharp tone concealed her own inner fragility as she worked quickly, inserting the data chip into a device resembling a high-tech phone with an antenna. It buzzed furiously as the data was sent to headquarters, along with a brief but urgent message:
--- .. . . . . .. ..
EAST GATE - MIRAGE DISTRICT
Backup Required
Problem Unsolved
Entity Unknown
Weakness Unknown
Material Unknown
Description: Humanoid figure, white cloak, long black hair, violet eyes. Noir Princess? High intelligence. Confirmed to be not a DERØXIRIDE.
--- . .. . . . . . .
"There. It's sent," Elara said, glancing at Kairos, who had slumped against the railing, trying to catch his breath.
Selene continued to pace nervously, but Elara grabbed her by the shoulders, gently guiding her to the railing overlooking the cityscape.
"Come on, stop overthinking. What you feel is what leads your day's fortune. So relax, okay?"
"Easy for you to say! What if that thing breaks through the frontline? What if it's heading straight for us?!"
"Shh... Just breathe," Elara interrupted, taking Selene's hand and placing it against her own chest.
Selene's eyes widened as she felt Elara's heartbeat-rapid, like her own.
"It's fast," she muttered.
"Yeah. You're not the only one scared, okay?" Elara said with a small smile, trying to mask her own anxiety.
Selene sighed, her panic finally subsiding. She leaned against the railing, gazing at the cityscape. But one question lingered in her mind.
"See? We're in this together," Elara said softly. "Now stop panicking."
"...come on.. we're on this together...well although maybe if you treat me with churros from the central's mall then..i can give you an assist while that thing's comes"
Elara joke try to ease the tension softly nudges her side as Elara's eyes stares at the cityscape upfront... silently hoping that Alessandra and the others stand their ground still and have enough time for backup coming..
"Huh?! Isn't it supposed to be you?? You got more point credits than me..and you wanting me to treat you???"
Selene grumbles jabbing Elara's arm.. in slight annoyance that she's joking but also thankful that Elara being the tough one ..here maybe without her she's still kept pacing like a hysterical person trying to calm down shredding skins... She sigh .. following Elara's gaze... To the cityscape of the Mirage district..
"...what you feel is what lead's your day's fortune ... Huh??.. I don't know if that's makes sense or not..but guess so"..
Selene mutters finally her panick subsided.. thought there's still unsettling thoughts and questions in her mind that unanswered....yeah
Unanswered...
"...Elara"
"Hmm?" Elara side gaze at her softly that standing on her side,who's lot calmer now... "...what is it?... it's about the creature isn't it?"
Selene scoff softly before she shakes her head...her eyes staring at the city scape as Elara's.. she mutters softly quiet..
".. i know i question...alot but... .. don't you wonder?"
"Wonder what?" Elara groans slightly abit annoyed by her dramatic pause on the Question..
"...on why actually... This thing heading to our city?..this city full of students...and nothing crazy about here other than corrupted robots and Educations for us.. students?.."
Elara. Silent for moment before it hits her.. she's right.. why this thing heading here in the first place? It just could go somewhere else outside the schelvia city and not here... There's only students in this city.. and one mayor..
"..your right.. why?.. why ...huh?"
"... there's must be something this thing trying to claw out right?"
Selene add her assumption... putting finger to the pie.. of conspiracy..
Elara silent hearing that..but she doesn't deny that she was right..if this thing came here.. barraging the city only to head to the city's heart?... What would it finds there?...what could it clawed out?..could it just passes the city by for a shortcut...but then why it kills the city's drones?... ... there's so much question on her head right now .... Unanswered questions
"Tch. You're too good at conspiracy theories, Selene."