Not far from there, Hannah Seleth was comfortably seated in the back seat. With a fleeting look, she contemplated the storm raging outside. She clasped her hands around an umbrella that was stored on the side of the door. She glanced at her watch: it was already 7:20 p.m. Her charming smile evaporated, and she frowned severely.

– Gilbert, can you speed up, we're going to be late, she said in a calm voice.

The private driver nodded, he knew that at this meeting, no one could be late. Especially not today, after the urgent message she had received from the Supreme Council.

After a few minutes across the muddy paths, the limousine stopped in front of an old mansion located at the edge of a forest, completely isolated in nature. The building was very old but sumptuous. On the front, the closed shutters gave the impression of abandonment. The walls were covered with ivy. The driver went out to open the passenger door, Hannah Seleth grabbed her umbrella then got out of the long limousine.

– Madam, would you like me to accompany you to the entrance? With this awful weather, he says, we are not safe from slipping!

 She raised her head and gave him a charming smile while suppressing a laugh: the man was dripping as if he were in a shower, he did not look good.

– No, thank you, Gilbert, she said gently. I'm going to continue on my own, don't worry.

 Hannah Seleth adjusted her purse, gave the driver a nod of acknowledgment, and stepped out into the rain, disappearing under her umbrella. She was walking strangely confidently as if the wind was running over her without noticing. Wrapped in an elegant black dress leaving her shoulders slightly uncovered and supported around her neck, flowing in a neckline with a necklace decorated with a flamboyant red stone. The dress was form-fitting, yet tastefully elegant without being overly showy. Her silver curly hair fluttered in the wind while her green eyes watched the surroundings. The park was deserted, a necessary precaution to avoid revealing the location of the Order.

She looked up at the large windows of the building: candles were placed in rows on each of the windows. She knew what that signal meant that she had seen many times since joining the Order. She bowed her head sadly: this had brought out the memories of the tragic events ten years earlier. She nimbly avoided the puddles and ended up arriving at the door.She touched the gleaming plate on which the engraving had faded and rang the bell.

The large entrance door creaked at the opening, 

– Hello, Jonah. 

– Hello, Mrs. Seleth, replied the butler. 

She undid her coat, closed her umbrella, and handed it all to the butler. 

– Have the others arrived? Hannah Seleth asked in a low voice. 

– Yes, he replied. Everyone is here, ma'am. 

– Where is the meeting held? 

– On the 1st floor. 

Hannah Seleth looked up, the hall, covered with large black marble slabs, was deserted, as was the grand staircase. She was staring at the beveled panes of the door. In the distance, the square in the rain seemed to worry her. 

– It seemed to me that we were being watched.

– Anyway, the guests used the basement passage, and one went directly through… you know, that way, said the butler, reassuring her. 

Hannah Seleth rolled her eyes.

– Directly from Inglorium ! It must be Stella Grace, right?

The man just smiled.

– Obviously, walking like everyone else is far too conventional for her, continued Hannah Seleth.

The butler bowed.

– I'll accompany you, ma'am.

– No, it's not necessary, she said, sighing, I know the way.

– Jonah, could you take a closer look at our mysterious observer behind the tree? Maybe he's just an unhappy wanderer… but if he's not… ok ?

The man nodded.

– If it's not too much trouble, replied the butler, opening a double door.

When she entered the living room, Hannah Seleth took care to close behind her before crossing a room, devoid of light. She walked to the ticking of the clock and walked around the soft red velvet sofas. The carpet that covered almost the entire rectangular room muffled the sound of her footsteps.  She walked over to the fireplace and gazed at the crackling yellow fire for a moment. Then she remembered the peaceful discussions they had had, comfortably, at tea time.

She reminded herself again with a silent order: no sentimentality. Now is not the time. She stopped in front of a large gray stone wall, devoid of any painting.

Hannah Seleth took off her glove, revealing a ring worn on her index finger. It featured a brightly shining gem, triangular and the size of a grape, at its top. These gems are little known and incredibly rare. 

She moved her hand in circles, leaving behind golden filaments that sparkled and crackled like fire. A pattern was drawn.

On the other side, a dark corridor had appeared. The lady entered; then the wall slid closed, locking her in the hallway. 

– Ah, finally! cried a young man, a little skinny, his hair in disarray, who kept fidgeting in his seat. 

Hannah Seleth greeted him in response.

– We were wondering if you were going to end up joining us, added one of the two women present.

Hannah Seleth returned a smile.

The man sitting at one end of the table intervened. 

– Calm down, Ernest, he said in his deep, rocky voice. 

– We are not even in the thick of it, and you are already in turmoil.

Hannah Seleth exchanged a knowing glance with the one who seemed to chair the meeting.

She bowed generously to the man. 

– Hello, Hannah, he said courteously.

The man had white hair curled back, revealing his radiant face. His bright golden eyes revealed a steely gaze.

This is the face of Elmer White, the master of the Order.

Elmer White was a very tall man. He was as impressive physically as when he spoke. His words imposed silence in the next second.

– Hello, Elmer. I'm a little late, she agreed. I let myself be surprised by the weather…

– As usual, said a young man.

Hannah Seleth stared at him, 

– It's always a pleasure to see you, dear brother,  she said, addressing Vester Seleth.

In front of her, a woman in her fifties with sophisticated makeup was playing with a lock of her hair. 

– Hello, Stella Grace, Hannah Seleth tried without much hope.

At these few words, the woman jumped. 

– Hannah, my dear, you are finally here! Everyone was waiting for you. Maybe we could start, right?

Acorn Wren spoke with an acid voice, 

– Please sit, don't put us further behind.

Mrs. Seleth gritted her teeth, Wren had, in theory, no authority over her since he occupied a position of the same rank as hers. She always had a hard time imagining that this vicious man with an expressionless face was one of greatest of them still alive.

It was said that he was one of the only of us who could enter the 5th realm. To his knowledge, among the other eminent Ashvins who sat on the Council and who had nevertheless been chosen for their skills and their merits, only Elmer White, here, could do the same.

– Since everyone is here… added Elmer White, I will go to the essentials: this morning, dear friends, he said, emphasizing each word, our informants told us that Maya Artoria had indeed fallen into their hands.

The Council was struck with amazement. A wave of pain shook Hannah; her heart tightened.

– Ho-how? She stammered.

Vester put a gloved hand on hers.

– All my condolences, my dear sister, he said in a soft voice. We all know how deep the relationship with our respective disciples is.

Hannah Seleth clenched her fists; she was a great Ashvins, she must not let her emotions control her. 

She took a deep breath,

– Go on, Elmer, please.

She watched out of the corner of her eye: by the light that shone in the eyes of her neighbor, Acorn Wren, she could have sworn that it was not really a big deal for him.

Indeed, something would always separate them, even if deep down, she had confidence in him and his commitment to their community.

Elmer White straightened up and looked at everyone before continuing.

– Maya had been missing for 8 months, but we had hope…

He left a little silence, swallowed his saliva and resumed,

– Beyond our emotions towards Maya and her talent, which constitutes an immense loss for our kind, you all know why Maya was coveted by them.

Each of his words made the room shake.

– Now that she's in their possession, I'm afraid nothing can stop them. The maximum alert must be raised, and as soon as possible. You have to run your information networks so that everyone is extremely vigilant. 

– If only that traitor had killed him tonight, Acorn Wren replied quickly.

Hannah Seleth glanced at him, her eyes burning with anger. She knew that Wren was waiting for only one thing: for her to react but she couldn't keep silent.

– I dare you to call him a traitor again, she replied furiously.

– We're not going to go back in time, said Elmer White in a louder voice.

Now you know what we have to do: follow the emergency instructions. As a priority, we must increase the number of sentries, in our world, but also in Inglorium, to prevent and rally our allies.

He continued, I want you to go to all the families whose children are not yet trained and to shake up the parents. It is urgent that they make them confirmed Ashvins capable of fighting alongside us. Quickly.

– We will panic them, replied the youngest, Ernest Salvy.

– You prefer to spare them and see our enemy fall on them like a wolf on defenseless lambs? Now is no time to be soft.

Everyone should know that danger is upon us.

The room fell silent, everyone nodding in agreement. 

Acorn Wren was the first to slip away with his usual stealth.

Vester Seleth nodded to the other members of the Council and left the room, no doubt already focused on what he intended to do.

Ernest Salvy and Stella Grace followed him, engaged in a heated discussion of their joint action. Hannah Seleth was the last to leave, but Elmer White called her back.

– Hannah, please stay. We need to talk about things… that only we can talk about. Will you close that door, please?

She turned back without a word, attentive. They resumed their respective seats, on either side of the table.

Hannah Seleth spoke first:

– We probably won't get her back, will we?

Elmer thought for a moment before answering.

– It will be very difficult, you are right.

Hannah swallowed hard, she already knew the rest.

– You were her guardian, Hannah. You know what to do, even though I understand it won't be easy to break the news to them.

Hannah took a deep breath.

Their father and now Maya… They gave a lot for us…

A host of memories jostled in her head. Events had revived them. A beautiful face appeared to her, that of James Artoria, the most brilliant of all, who had died ten years earlier, and the one of his daughter Maya who had followed the path of her father. Then she remembered the face of Elena, James's wife, and finally, those of their two other children. How are they going to be able to grow up properly when life has taken their father and sister from them?

She hesitated before adding

– You mentioned the learning of all children…

Elmer met her gaze as if trying to figure out where she was coming from.

– Are you sure the two little Artoria children aren't too, like their father and sister?

The Grand Master sat up,

 – James has already tested them at birth, there was only Maya.

Hannah was troubled, 

– How is it possible, only one out of three? It's absurd.

Elmer White ran his big hand through his full beard, 

– You have to keep that to yourself, but their mother, Elena, is just human.

– Wh-what? she retorted, surprised.

– Yes, and anyway, I remind you that Maya was an exception, as he was outcast, his children are…

– I understand... she said, cutting him off.

She raised her voice slightly, even though she was speaking to the Grand Master. She left the room and found Jonah waiting for her with her belongings, helping her into her coat.

She looked out the window, the rain had stopped falling.