Inside the Moonshade Family hall, it was cold.
Torches flickered along the walls. The stone made the place feel closed in. The smell of books and incense was strong.
Rivik Moonshade stood at the head of the table. His cape didn't move.
Ivira stood beside him. She kept listening.
Cornelia Moonshade stood across from her. Her hair caught the firelight. Her face stayed calm.
The red scarf around her neck was easy to notice.
They had been talking longer than expected.
No one rushed to end it.
Rivik pressed his palm on the table. "We have no choice. The Chimera Ant Demon Emperor has noticed us by killing his pawn. I'm sure he knows we discovered his scheme already."
Cornelia tightened her grip on the handle of her sword. "I need to leave fast but we must also prepare for an attack."
Ivira crossed her arms. Her silver hair rested over her shoulders like a flowing cape. "Father, his forces won't move lightly. He is cautious. But the moment he decides to strike, he will strike at a core. I fear that he'd send someone to deal with us most, especially since we are nothing but ants in his eyes.
Rivik nodded. "That is why you must both be ready. However, you don't have to worry. If his pawn was killed like that, he'd be wary. But still, we need to be careful. The Moonshade bloodline may be powerful, but even I cannot guarantee we can survive if he attacks at full strength."
Cornelia frowned. She looked at Ivira. She looked at Rivik again. "Father… the Demon Emperor wouldn't attack on a whim. For him to even consider it…" She hesitated. "It means he sees us as obstacles."
Rivik's expression hardened. "We are obstacles. And he was known to never allow obstacles to live for long."
The room fell silent for a while. The torches crackled. The wind shook the window slightly. Cornelia breathed deeply to steady her heart. Ivira lowered her eyes. Rivik looked toward the door as if preparing himself.
"I must go now," Rivik finally said. "I must report this to the Crimson Blood King fast." He stepped back and turned slightly toward the door. "My daughters… be prepared."
Cornelia straightened. "Father, the Blood Vanguards and I will do everything we can." She held the sword handle tightly with conviction.
Rivik nodded once. "I trust you both."
Then he raised his cape as if it were a curtain. The dark fabric fluttered in the air. His body dissolved into a swarm of black bats that scattered with a sharp flapping sound. They streamed out the window like a wave of shadows breaking free.
Ivira and Cornelia were left alone.
The room suddenly felt quieter.
Cornelia looked at her sister. She shifted uncomfortably. "Sister… I just noticed something."
Ivira turned slowly. "What is it?"
Cornelia hesitated. She opened her mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. "You looked worried earlier when Father spoke about being targeted. Anyone would be. But when Father mentioned the Chimera Demon Ant Emperor…" She paused again. "You didn't look scared at all. Your reaction was different. You didn't even flinch."
Ivira blinked. "Cornelia…"
"Is there something bothering you?" Cornelia asked.
Ivira inhaled slowly. "You noticed?"
Cornelia nodded. "I did. You were calm in parts where no one should be calm. When Father said 'Demon Emperor,' you didn't tense. When he talked about the scheme, you didn't react. When he talked about danger, you didn't even blink." Cornelia stepped closer. "I paid attention to every shift in your voice and every expression you made. Earlier, before Father left, you kept glancing toward the window, toward the training grounds. Even during the long talk, your mind was somewhere else. You spoke perfectly, but something was wrong. It's like your emotions didn't match your words."
Ivira lowered her eyes.
Cornelia continued. "And when Father said the name 'Chimera Ant Demon Emperor,' your heartbeat didn't even rise. I can sense aura fluctuations, sister. You reacted to everything except that."
Ivira leaned against the table. Her fingers tapped lightly. Her breathing turned uneven. Should she tell her about Cain? Then she nodded. Soon she whispered, "Cornelia… do you believe in time travel? A soul from the future returning to the past?"
Cornelia blinked twice. "Time travel?"
Ivira nodded slowly. "Yes. Time travel. Souls transported back in time. People returning from the future."
Cornelia rubbed her forehead. "I'm not exactly fond of such things. It sounds like a legend. But maybe… there are many things that are impossible to explain, so perhaps it is possible."
Ivira swallowed. "Then… Do you know how powerful an Overgod is?"
Cornelia stared. "Overgod? It sounds powerful, but I've never met one. I don't even know what they truly are."
Ivira looked straight into her sister's eyes. "Cornelia… Cain."
Cornelia frowned. "Cain? What about him?" She placed a hand on her hip. "Hmmmm… now that you say his name, why didn't he come greet? I remember he would always show up every time I was around. He always wanted my attention." Her voice softened with slight confusion. "What about him?"
Ivira sighed deeply. "What if… Cain is an Overgod?"
Cornelia froze for a moment. Then she snorted. "Impossible. He's not that talented."
Ivira kept staring.
Cornelia waved her hand. "I've seen his talent. Blood Aura is too low. Blood Mana is too weak. He could barely reach the threshold to become a Blood Knight, and his Blood Mana was nowhere near enough to be a Blood Magi."
Ivira inhaled again. Harder than before.
Cornelia crossed her arms. "It's impossible for Cain to be an Overgod."
She paused. "Oh sister, I forgot to tell you something. I improved my Mana Infusion Realm and Blood Aura Realm." She smiled with pride. "I actually came here today to tell you and Father about it. But then this whole thing happened and Father started talking about the Demon Emperor, so I forgot."
Ivira's eyes sharpened. "Did your Mana Mastery rise from seventh Blood Infusion realm to eighth stage Mana Infusion realm last night… and then ninth stage earlier tonight?"
Cornelia's eyes went wide. "Sister, how did you—"
Ivira whispered, "Because I'm the same."
Cornelia gasped.
She stood still. Her heart raced. She had expected shock from Ivira, surprise, maybe praise. Earlier, when her realm advanced so fast, she imagined Ivira and Father praising her talent. She imagined showing them how far she had gone and proving she had rare potential. She daydreamed how proud they would look.
But now she found out Ivira had the same boost. The same speed. The same leap in power.
Cornelia felt her pride tremble.
Ivira looked serious. "Cornelia… I'm telling you. It was Cain."
Cornelia stepped back. "Sister, are you sure? How could that be? Are you sure you're not imagining things?"
Ivira nodded slowly. "Cornelia… listen. If you hear Cain's inner voice in your head when you meet him… make sure he doesn't notice you hear it."
Cornelia blinked hard. "What does that mean?"
Ivira whispered coldly, "It means we should worry not about the Chimera Ant Demon Emperor… but about Cain."
Cornelia felt a chill move up her spine. "Sister… do you hear his thoughts?"
Ivira looked away. She didn't answer.
Cornelia swallowed hard. "And if I happen to hear it too… I must not let him know? Why?"
Ivira's voice trembled. "Because if he is what I think he is… then letting him know we can hear him might destroy us. His mind… his thoughts… it's not normal. He feels like someone above us. Someone beyond the world."
Cornelia stepped back. Her hand tightened around her sword. Doubt filled her mind. Fear spread through her chest. The Demon Emperor was powerful, but Cain… her sister made him sound like something else entirely.
Then—
The door slammed open.
Cornelia and Ivira turned sharply.
Someone stepped inside.
Cain stood there. Smiling.