Light in abyss

CHAPTER 14: FULMYTH'S STRONGEST

The soft murmur of idle chatter and the clinking of porcelain filled the elegant private room of a café nestled in the heart of Fulmyth. Reserved for only the most exclusive guests, it was a place few could access without the proper status or reputation. The strongest team in Fulmyth had gathered here, their meeting a rare but serious occasion.

Kendrick, who had arranged the gathering, reclined in his seat at the head of the table. His gaze flickered over each member of the group before settling on his drink. "Only the best for the strongest," he remarked, though his usual smirk was missing its charm. Beneath his confident exterior, there was a distinct tension lingering in the air.

Adonis leaned back, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "Should we be flattered or worried, Kendrick? You don't usually spring for private rooms unless something big's up."

"Don't get too comfortable," Kendrick replied coolly, taking a sip of his drink. "You'll find out soon enough."

Sitting beside Kendrick was Benjamin, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced with a deep, thoughtful frown. He hadn't spoken much since they arrived, and his silence was palpable.

Across the room, Rebecca sat quietly, her eyes trained on the cup of tea she hadn't touched. She was normally one to join the conversation, but today, her presence seemed more withdrawn than ever.

Imaan, noticing her friend's unease, leaned closer. "Rebecca, are you alright? You've been really quiet," she said softly, her voice laced with concern.

Rebecca blinked and looked up from her cup, her expression distant. "I'm fine," she replied, though the thinness in her voice betrayed her attempt at reassurance. "Just... a lot to think about."

Imaan gave her a gentle smile, though worry still clouded her eyes. "If you need to talk, we're all here."

Before the conversation could go any deeper, Kendrick cleared his throat and called the group's attention back to the task at hand. "Let's get to it," he said, the playful tone in his voice replaced by something sharper. "Benjamin, tell them about the last mission. There's a lot we need to go over."

All eyes turned to Benjamin as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "The mission wasn't what we expected," he began, his voice low and steady. "At first, it was just a routine sweep-lower-tier demons, nothing too serious. But then things escalated. Three of them attempted possession rituals."

"Possession?" Lance's voice broke the brief silence, his brow furrowing. "That's rare, especially around here."

Benjamin nodded gravely. "Two of the rituals failed; the hosts didn't survive. But the third succeeded. The demon merged with its host and grew exponentially stronger. We were forced to act fast."

The weight of his words settled over the group. Demon possession wasn't something they dealt with often, and when it occurred, it meant serious trouble.

"It took a noble art to kill it," Benjamin continued, his tone heavy. "I didn't have a choice."

The room fell into a stunned silence. Noble arts were powerful techniques, reserved for the direst of situations. The use of one meant things had gone far beyond what they anticipated.

Adonis, who had been unusually quiet, spoke up. "You don't just throw around noble arts for fun. What the hell happened?"

Benjamin's eyes darkened. "We were pinned down. Hana and Seth were holding the demon off, but it kept getting stronger, evolving with every passing second. If I hadn't used the noble art when I did, none of us would have walked away."

At the mention of Seth, Kendrick's expression soured. His dislike for the boy was no secret. He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest as he let out a faint scoff. So, there's a bark to the prince's bite?