Path of the Unmentioned: The Missing Piece
Chapter 190: A Gathering of Blades [2]

Chapter 190: A Gathering of Blades [2]

Illyria’s brows furrowed. Her emerald-green hair shifting slightly as she leaned forward. "What was it, then?"

The air in the council chamber grew heavy, thick enough to feel in the lungs.

A quiet tension settled over the room. Making even the floating magical lights above the long obsidian table flicker faintly.

Seris didn’t answer right away. Her golden eyes glowed softly, scanning the faces around her.

She let the silence stretch. The kind that made people lean in without realizing it.

When she finally spoke. Her voice was calm and smooth, but it carried weight.

"That," she said, "is what we’re here to discuss."

With a small flick of her hand. Blue mana swirled into the air. It formed a clear, glowing image above the table.

A large complex made of white stone, ringed by tall, shimmering walls.

Guards in polished armor patrolled the area, alert and well-armed. Protective barriers pulsed softly around the buildings.

"The Eldermere Dungeon Hub," Seris said, her tone steady. "One of the most secure places in the Human Domain."

The image zoomed in. They saw layers of defenses. Teleport wards, checkpoints with elite mages on duty. The kind of place no one could just walk into unnoticed.

"And yet," Seris continued. Her voice quiet but sharp, "two weeks ago. A man did exactly that."

A wave of murmurs ran through the room. But Seris didn’t raise her voice. She just kept speaking, each word like a drop of cold water.

"He passed every ward, every scan, every check. The same security built and approved by both the Argent and Noctis Empires, and even the Hero’s Association... it meant nothing to him."

Around the table. Reactions were subtle but telling.

Seris gaze swept across the table, lingering on Sylas, Alistair, and Lorian.

"So tell me, Your Majesties. Was it our failure that our security was breached? Or was it yours?"

King Sylas’ fingers curled slightly on his throne. Alistair’s grey eyes narrowed. Lorian’s jaw tightened.

Seris raised her fingers and snapped. The projection shifted.

Now it showed a man—tall, with sharp green eyes and smooth black hair. He wore dark blue robes with gold trim.

The uniform of a high-ranking Dungeon Association official. A golden badge marked him as an inspector.

"This man," Seris said, "walked in like he belonged there. His documents were perfect. The system didn’t question them. And then..."

The image changed again. Now it showed him standing in front of a dungeon gate. He lifted his hand and snapped his fingers.

The blue swirling gate twisted and darkened, warping until they turned black. They glowed with a sick, burning light.

"He turned a normal dungeon into a Black Gate. Instantly."

This time the murmurs were louder. Some council members leaned in. Their faces tight with concern.

Seris snapped her fingers once more.

The scene shifted again. This time, a hospital hallway. The same black-haired man stood there.

"And he showed up again during the hospital attack," Seris said. "At Eldermere City Hospital."

The projection shifted again. Now, it showed a young woman with wild pink hair rushing toward him.

"Seraphina Vaelstryx encountered him there."

The projection flickered, showing Seraphina mid-charge towards the green eyes man.

"This footage isn’t from the hospital cameras. They were destroyed in the initial attack. It’s a reconstruction using dwarven projection technology."

"And where is that man now?" Lord Carrington asked. His deep voice cutting through the silence. His white eyebrows furrowed as he leaned forward.

Seris didn’t flinch. "Dead. Seraphina Vaelstryx killed him."

A low murmur passed through the chamber. High Priestess Illyria’s fingers curled tightly around the crystal pendant hanging from her neck.

"Did she get any information from him before he died?" Illyria asked, her voice quieter now.

"We’ll get to that," Seris replied, calm but firm.

She moved her hand again, and the projection shifted.

A new figure took shape. Tall, wrapped in a long black coat that seemed to drink in the light.

His hair was jet black. His eyes darker still, and a faint smirk tugged at his lips.

Even as a projection, something about him made the room feel colder.

"And this," Seris said. Her voice now softer but clear, "is the one who truly attacked the hospital. The same man who stood in Kyle Valemont’s room."

Silence fell. Not a single breath was heard.

Seris turned to Duke Veyl, who was no longer smirking. "You asked earlier why Kyle’s room was targeted."

She paused for a moment, her golden eyes steady.

"His name is Vesper."

Seris continued. Her tone steady but serious. "And he wasn’t there to kill anyone."

She let that sink in before adding, "He came to deliver a message."

That made everyone shift. Alistair Noctis was the first to speak. "What message?"

Seris kept her eyes on the still image of Vesper. "A message for me." She said it like it meant far more than just words.

"The green-eyed man Seraphina fought... he was just bait. A distraction to pull her away from Kyle’s room."

Lucian leaned back. Nodding slowly as he put the pieces together. "Of course. Seraphina would immediately contact you if she saw the man who altered the dungeon."

"Exactly," Seris said.

Everyone understood now. Seraphina was one of the few who could contact Seris instantly.

If someone wanted to meet the Vice Principal, that was the perfect way.

Understanding began to dawn around the chamber. Why would anyone go to such lengths to target a student who hadn’t even reached Gold-rank yet?

Kyle was just a first-year student - talented, yes. But still Silver rank. Hardly worth this level of attention.

Seris watched the understanding spread across their faces. Satisfied that her plan to divert the attention from Kyle was working.

She changed the image again. It showed a blurry figure stepping from the shadows.

A blade made of pure darkness formed in their hand. The recording shook slightly, the edges distorted by unstable mana.

"The room was destroyed because of him." Seris said.

The hooded figure attacked Vesper with inhuman speed.

Their darkness blade slashed through the air, and each clash between them shook the walls.

The hospital floor cracked. Light fixtures burst. It wasn’t just a fight. It was a battle between forces far beyond normal mages.

"This one," Seris said quietly, "wasn’t part of Vesper’s plan."

Alistair’s grey eyes narrowed sharply. He looked like he wanted to ask more.

But Seris turned to face him fully now.

"What was the message he had?"

———