High above Forbidden Harmony's heart, on the central island of Blossom Lake, Rachel Redrain perched in a serene pavilion. Her fingers idly traced the smooth surface of an emerald pendant. A single sheet of paper, impossibly thin, lay on the stone table beside her. Though the gentle breeze rustled the corners of the paper, it remained stubbornly rooted to its spot. A steaming cup of tea sat next to it, its fragrant aroma, a blend of jasmine and ginger, swirling around Rachel like a tangible entity. The mana infused within danced in a mesmerizing vortex above the cup's rim.

A woman of exceptional poise stood before Rachel, her spotless white dress a stark contrast against the backdrop of the crimson flower pavilion. Her posture conveyed unwavering respect.

A flicker of approval crossed Rachel's face as she studied the emerald pendant. "Angelica at least had the sense of sealing it," she muttered, "although not well enough." Beneath layers of shimmering weaves, Rachel recognized the interlocking flows of energy etched onto the pendant. These paltry tricks of the Eternal Dawn were nothing to her. With a graceful gesture of her hand, she unleashed a torrent of weaves, her fingers tracing intricate patterns in the air.

A weave of Air, shimmering blue, tore through the seal. A weave of Earth, earthy brown, unraveled the shrinking technique. In a burst of emerald light, the gem within the pendant transformed into an emerald tablet, pulsing with erratic energy. A final weave of mana, a vibrant silver, slammed into the plate, quelling the fluctuations instantly. Rachel's psyche, a raging storm of power, met the feeble tendril of awareness probing through the emerald and snuffed it out in a heartbeat.

Defying categorization, the emerald plate pulsed with an unidentifiable aura. Rachel ran her fingers over the intricate carvings, feeling its faint warmth, her mind racing through countless possibilities. Was it a mineral? A crystal? A construct of pure energy? Rachel, whose fingers had sifted through countless treasures in her sixty years of plunder, couldn't identify the plate's material.

It was undeniably one half of a pair. The observers at the other end likely held the master counterpart, allowing them to monitor events here but not vice versa. While Rachel's psyche easily overpowered the intrusive tendril, she couldn't lash back or pierce the veil to the other side. It was a marvel of ingenuity, far beyond the capabilities of the Order of Eternal Dawn.

"What information was the Eternal Dawn after?" Rachel's firm voice broke the tense silence.

Angelica lowered her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. "The Law Enforcement Hall was on the verge of apprehending the spy, but... she was killed before they could act."

A frown creased Rachel's brow. "Has the Hall's efficiency fallen so drastically? They couldn't even secure a Wave Weaver?"

Angelica swallowed, choosing her words carefully. "The disciple... she had a special physique," Angelica stammered. "A saidar pattern ideally suited for weaves of seduction. Felix Extasie deemed her perfect for his ascension ritual. He planned to use her as a conduit, to break through and become a Shaper of Nature. The Law Enforcement Hall hesitated, fearing complications from Archmage Extasie. While they sought his counsel, the woman... she vanished. Used a teleportation scroll to escape the Law Enforcement disciple tailing her."

"Who killed her? And why?" Rachel's question hung heavy in the air.

"The perpetrator," Angelica responded promptly, "is a disciple named John Riversong."

Rachel's breath caught at the name, so subtle it would have gone unnoticed by anyone else.

"He appears to have a clean background," Angelica continued. "Sold into the Order by his stepmother at the age of four, he rarely got out the Order for the past fifteen years. His initial progress was mediocre, but in recent years, there's been a surge. He just became a Wave Weaver last month, likely due to some fortuitous encounter."

Thousands of disciples call Forbidden Harmony home, and John was just another face in the crowd. Even his master, Edwin Meridian, wasn't particularly invested in his progress. Only after this incident had anyone paid him any real attention.

"How do you plan to deal with Law Enforcement Hall's negligence and Old Felix's meddling?" Rachel asked, a steely glint in her eyes.

Sweat slicked Angelica's brow, a stark contrast to her usually composed demeanor. Though she held the title of Regent Headmaster, she was just one of the twelve Hall Archmages. Each Archmage, powerful and independent, ruled their domain like a sovereign. If Rachel herself issued an order, none would dare disobey. But not Angelica. Unless serious offense occurred, like treachery or military blunders, she couldn't simply punish them. They respected her, some even feared her, but for lesser matters like these, her influence was limited.

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Sensing Angelica's mounting frustration, Rachel leaned back, her lips curving into a faint smile. "So, you can't rein in the senior leaders, but can you control the actions of their subordinates?"

Relief washed over Angelica. While she couldn't directly punish the Hall Masters, the Law Enforcement disciples who mishandled the situation could face consequences.

"Making such a mistake, " her voice regaining some firmness, "the Law Enforcement disciples will be sent to the Lawless Tower. Their mana reserve stripped, and forced to work in the mines - never to leave."

Rachel shook her head with a wry smile. "This is your business, Angelica. No need to involve me." But then she quickly added, a hint of concern flickered across her eyes. "Though, I wouldn't underestimate Old Felix's fury. Losing his perfect vessel won't sit well with him. Meridian, on the other hand, is known for his compromises. Still, keep a watchful eye, Angelica. Don't let Felix exploit the situation and push Meridian too far."

"Yes, Your Eminence." Angelica responded reassuredly.

With all these precautions, Rachel still couldn't dismiss her worries for John's safety. Without displaying any emotion, she reached for the sheet of paper on the table - Angelica's meticulously compiled list of suspected personnel within Forbidden Harmony.

"Nobody noteworthy," Rachel finally declared, placing the list down.

"Indeed," Angelica confirmed quickly. "Most are mere apprentices. Though a few disciples raised suspicion, none hold high positions. Further investigation is required for some elites, masters, and elders, but that will take time."

Angelica's brow furrowed, a knot of worry tightening in her stomach. While relieved that no high-ranking member had been exposed, a nagging doubt lingered in her mind. The headmaster wouldn't have pressed so relentlessly if the Order was truly spotless. Logic gnawed at her - there had to be more. But to unearth it, she needed time, a precious commodity when shadows lingered.

"John Riversong," Rachel declared, her voice devoid of emotion. "Add him to the list."

Angelica's eyes wide open, full of surprise. John, with his spotless record, had never raised suspicion. But Rachel, it seemed, saw something others missed.

"You are right, Your Eminence, missing him was an oversight. The Eternal Dawn spy approached him immediately before her death," Angelica offered, brow furrowed in thought. "Perhaps she'd already poisoned his mind, then sacrificed herself to absolve him of blame."

"His general conduct?" Rachel inquired, her expression unreadable.

"Impeccable," Angelica replied. "Gentle, respectful - never a harsh word towards anyone, not even towards mortals. He simply wasn't as ruthless as ... ahem, he seems a little out of tune with the Order." Angelica wanted to say that John wasn't as ruthless as a member of the Dark Order. But she felt that would be offensive to the headmaster, so she fumbled for words on the fly.

Rachel still said nothing, and there was no emotion on her face.

Angelica felt obliged to offer more justifications. "The woman John killed possessed physique of seduction. Perhaps, inexperienced in such matters, he fell prey to her charms. It's a strong possibility she manipulated him. Despite the lack of evidence, John remained a person of interest." Angelica seemed determined to convince herself of John's suspect.

"Then test him," Rachel said abruptly, "and use him to lure out the people still hiding in the shadows."

Angelica furrowed her brow, confused. "How to do that? I don't understand what Your Eminence means."

As she was speaking, a flicker of light appeared in Angelica's eyes. She looked up just as a black stone, the size of an egg, materialized in front of her. Though black, it held an ethereal transparency, revealing a powerful aura swirling within. At first glance, it resembled a divine artifact, mana like a living current pulsing within, threatening to burst from the stone and reach for the sky.

Angelica stared, her face morphing through a range of emotions. 'This is...'

Before Angelica could finish, Rachel's lips curved into a mischievous grin. "Many have coveted this very item. Give it to the man on the Cliff of Broken Love. Let him plant it with care. It won't be long before those lurking in the shadows are drawn out."

"But what if he escapes with it?" Angelica's voice hitched, her eyes widening with alarm.

Rachel met Angelica's gaze, her face a stoic mask. "Isn't that the challenge -- for you, Angelica?"

Overwhelmed by Rachel's unwavering stare, Angelica swallowed her unease. "I'll get it done. Right away."

As Angelica's back disappeared over the lake, Rachel let out a weary sigh. Without herself in the reign, the Order's vulnerabilities were painfully exposed. Yet, she couldn't come out to the open until she found her enemy.

The intercepted emerald plate held an air of unsettling mystery. Its creation demanded not only masterful techniques, but a power that defied comprehension. If this plate originated with her nemesis, it signified a threat unlike any Forbidden Harmony had faced in its entire existence. A cold dread settled in Rachel's stomach, a sensation she hadn't experienced in over a century.

And John. She knew for sure that the seductive spy's charms would be wasted on him. That aside. He was too smart to be involved in something this risky.

But why, she questioned herself, did his fate even concern her? He was, in theory, a fleeting presence, a mere ripple in the grand scheme. Yet, the news of him destroying the prized conduit of the Archmage of a powerful Hall had ignited genuine worry. Could this insignificant speck in her world have unknowingly captured her affection?

"Three layers of protection, should be enough for him to navigate this perilous situation." Rachel thought a silent prayer. "Now that I have given him the seed, let's see if he is the chosen one."