Adolf, after the call, hurries to call up his contacts and impatiently waits for the confirmation to be sent in. A few minutes later, his contacts confirm the truth of the matter. Adolf hastily reaches for his phone and dials his grandfather.

“Yes,” Master Ferguson groggily answered.

“Grandfather, sorry to wake you, but Lady Clarise has been killed and her manor destroyed,” Adolf hastily said.

Master Ferguson sits up in bed and says, “How?”

“I don’t know, but the unknown party offered a trade. The missing dog for our claiming credit for the attack. I accepted their offer,” Adolf firmly answered.

“You did good, my son. But who could the mysterious party be?” Master Ferguson further questioned.

“I don’t know grandfather, but, I think it’s a new player or an old one coming out of the shadows,” Adolf declared.

“Yes, you are right, I must be getting old,” Master Ferguson croaked and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. “Now hurry and go. Get a team ready and claim our prize.”

“Yes, grandfather,” Adolf dutifully said, before ending the call and rushing to do as instructed. This single move would change everything.

*

The news raced around the bio-evolutionary communities that a Changeling wolf pack had found the culprits directly responsible for the attack on the Academy. Counsel troops were immediately dispatched to confirm the veracity of the event. The troops reported that was the case including that proof had been found. The proof was swiftly presented before the public as anti-Vorpal’ sentiments began to grow. However, the council was swift to quell the fears stating that this was only a faction and like all factions, were fanatical in their beliefs. The fears of the people as usual died down and soon enough was forgotten and refocused in the wake of an angry human riot.

*

In a secluded room, the members of the Esper council faction have hastily gathered. Master Ferguson sits at the head while at his side, Lady Ishnavi takes her customary seat at his side. Across from them seated on the left side is Niko and on the right, Patrick O’Malley and Jovan. The room is silent as no one dares to speak before, Master Ferguson does.

Niko impatiently glances at her nails, before coldly looking up. “Well, who do we have to thank for this neat little mess, Master Ferguson? The Conclave has already begun to search for the true culprits into the attack and found one of their own among the dead, Thaddeus Dumont dead. It is only a matter of time until the Conclave gathers under orders of the Queen Mother and is sent to find the culprit and unleash violent, soul-crushing justice and retribution. So, I have to ask, are we involved, Master Ferguson?” Niko icily asked.

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Master Ferguson carefully answers, “We are not responsible for the attack, Niko.” Niko narrows her eyes at the carefully worded answer given. Those words did not rule out the possibility of someone else doing so under the Magei’s orders.

Lady Ishnavi eyes glitter in pointed warning as Niko glance away. O’Malley sighs and says, “Very well, Master Ferguson, we shan’t ask more on the subject. But still, what shall we do? The Conclave is coming and they will use any methods to fulfill the commands issued by the Queen Mother.”

Master Ferguson furrows his wrinkled brow at the question. He had been uneasy himself on that same subject. The Queen’s Mother’s orders were absolute and one could not negotiate with the Conclave. “We can only allow them to check our people out of our own free will as I am sure the Changeling’s will do so as well. The Conclave cannot attack if we treat them as guests and allow them to see all there is to see. Should we protest, we all know exactly what measures the Conclave will take. And we cannot afford to be battling two fronts at the same time,” Master Ferguson tiredly stated, his age had begun to finally appear.

Jovan, an ever-loyal follower adds, “Master Ferguson is correct. We can only reveal that our hands are clean and surely, the Conclave will leave us be.” Niko snorts as a wry smile appears on O’Malley’s face. The Conclave chooses to leave when they wished to and no one could force them otherwise.

“Is there anything to discuss?” Master Ferguson asked.

Niko rises to her feet and frostily says, “It’s ironic, really. The devil’s incarnate, who was capable of going head to head with the Conclave is gone, because we were the ones who silenced him.” The expressions of Lady Ishnavi and Master Ferguson stiffen at the truthful jab. “Don’t worry. I’ll see myself out.” Niko’s splendid figure sashays out the door and slams the door loudly behind her.

The room is silent as O’Malley thoughtfully also climbs to his feet and says, “If Master Ferguson does not mind, I too shall see myself out.” O’Malley much more quietly leaves as Jovan awkwardly glances at Master Ferguson.

Master Ferguson stiffly smiles and says, “Don’t worry, it’s merely that they are anxious and worried about the Conclave. The Conclave is nothing to laugh at, Jovan.” Jovan nods in agreement with his mentor. Lady Ishnavi seeing this as a signal and reaches over to touch them both. Their figures swiftly vanish leaving the room just as empty as before.

A similar scene was being viewed on the Changeling side that was being handled by Adolf. Faint cracks had begun to form among the groups that formed the union. Whether the cracks grow deeper or healed only time would tell.

*

Elsewhere, a shadowy group of figures in dark and crimson robes is seated in a circle glancing at each other. The room is silent as the obvious leader in moon and star robes stands up. “We are gathered for one purpose and one purpose only, there has been an attack on the Conclave. Thaddeus Dumont is dead and the Queen Mother has deemed death to all those responsible,” The figure icily said.

A soft rustle of surprised movement is seen among the seated robed figures. “There are to be no questions asked, simply the Queen Mother’s orders are to be executed. The Conclave’s rule cannot be thought to be weak, we must remind the world, that the Conclave’s power is absolute,” the man firmly stated.

The figures are silent before unanimously saying, “Long live the Queen.” The leader echoes their words and with that, they disperse like bats into the night. The cold room is empty within seconds as the leaders of the families or factions of the Sanguniem Vorpal’s are once more united, before a common cause to obey and fulfill the Queen mother’s command.

The world may have forgotten the might of the Conclave, but there were many that had not. And woe those that had thought the Conclave had lost all power with their coming out of the shadows. The irony is, that once one steps out into the light, one also has the protection of the light to clearly see one’s enemies.