Episode 5 - The gathering captains

the massive wooden doors creaked open.

Every conversation inside the Council Hall came to an abrupt halt.

Luen Cassian stepped through first.

Calm.

Silent.

Composed.

Behind him, Seren Forbes strolled in with both hands tucked into his pockets, looking as though he'd wandered into the wrong room entirely.

He glanced around the chamber before letting out an exaggerated sigh.

"...I seriously hope this meeting was worth ruining my evening."

A laugh escaped from the Cyrus captain.

"Still complaining before you even sit down?"

Seren pointed at her dramatically.

"Yara, you wound me."

"You'll survive."

"I always do."

Luna rubbed her temples.

"You two haven't even been here for five seconds."

Emris quietly pushed his glasses higher.

"The meeting, please."

Without another word, Luen walked to the head of the table.

The Thorn seat.

He pulled the chair back.

Sat down.

Seren practically dropped into the Lunaria chair beside him.

"...Much better."

Silence settled once more.

Luen's emerald eyes swept across everyone.

"So..."

"Why were we summoned?"

Akari exchanged a glance with Luna before standing.

She unfolded a thin folder.

Her voice remained steady.

"Three students have disappeared."

Nobody moved.

"They vanished over the last month."

"No witnesses."

"No evidence."

"No signs of struggle."

"Their rooms were untouched."

"Their belongings remained exactly where they left them."

"I personally investigated every case."

"...I found nothing."

The room grew noticeably colder.

Luen rested his folded hands on the table.

"What year?"

"First-years."

Akari answered immediately.

"All three."

"And none belonged to the Legendary Teams."

Yara slowly leaned back in her chair.

"So someone is specifically choosing ordinary students?"

"No."

Akari shook her head.

"We don't know if they're being chosen at all."

"They simply disappeared."

Seren folded his arms.

"...That's unsettling."

For once...

There wasn't a trace of humor in his voice.

Emris finally spoke.

"The Academy Authority has assigned this investigation to us."

"If we fail..."

His gaze swept across the five captains.

"...our positions may be reconsidered."

Nobody laughed.

Even Yara's playful smile faded.

Akari hesitated.

"There is..."

"...one more thing."

Everyone looked toward her.

She lowered her voice.

"I heard a rumor."

Silence.

"A rumor about an island."

Seren raised an eyebrow.

"...An island?"

"They say it appears only to certain people."

"People with exceptional talent."

"Or extraordinary strength."

"And once it chooses someone..."

She paused.

"...they never return."

For several long seconds...

Nobody spoke.

Then...

Yara suddenly burst into laughter.

"Oh, come on."

"A cursed island?"

"What is this, a bedtime story?"

Seren grinned.

"Maybe next you'll tell us it eats people."

Akari frowned.

"I never said I believed it."

"I'm simply repeating what I heard."

Luna sighed softly.

"Rumors spread quickly after disappearances."

"They're rarely reliable."

Everyone nodded...

Except Luen.

His fingers tapped the table once.

Quietly.

"Rumors don't appear from nothing."

The room fell silent again.

Seren looked at him.

"...You actually think there's truth behind it?"

"I think."

Luen answered calmly.

"...every rumor begins with someone seeing something."

Before anyone could respond...

Flick.

The lights dimmed.

Once.

Twice.

BOOOOOOM!!

Thunder shook the academy.

The chandeliers trembled overhead.

Rain hammered against the stained-glass windows.

For a brief second...

Every captain instinctively looked toward the storm.

Emris broke the silence.

"Regardless of rumors..."

"Our first priority is finding those students."

"We investigate separately."

"Share every lead."

"Leave nothing unchecked."

One by one...

Everyone agreed.

The meeting was over.

Chairs scraped softly across the marble floor.

Yara stretched lazily.

"You know..."

She smiled.

"I almost hope the island is real."

Seren smirked.

"Careful."

"What if it chooses you first?"

Yara laughed.

"I'd make friends with the monsters."

"You'd annoy them to death."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Akari shook her head.

"You two are impossible."

Outside...

Lightning ripped across the sky.

KRAAAAK!!

For the briefest instant...

The Council Hall fell into darkness.

No one noticed...

The shadow beneath the far corner of the room...

Move.

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