Ares furrowed his brows deeply, casting his gaze toward the dazzling array of Magical Artifacts laid out on the platform.
"It seems our time is running short," he said. "The enemy's conspiracy has sunk deeper into our very bones than we imagined. We must convene the full council of clan Elders at once and discuss our countermeasures!"
Dusk thickened; under the torchlight in the great hall, numerous Elders of the Star Pupil Race gathered together. Each wore a somber expression—some bowed their heads with a sigh, some glared at one another in anger. A solemn, oppressive atmosphere filled the entire space.
An old man with snow‑white hair but eyes still sharp as a hawk's rose to his feet, his posture upright. He was Sir Hilder, the chief councillor of the Star Pupil Council.
