In the imperial chambers, Emperor Ar'den Gel Sol'aris held a letter, his ethereal eyes narrowing.
"Have you seen this?" he asked Third Imperial Commander Kiol Malakar.
"Yes, Your Highness," Kiol replied, his voice steady.
"And what do you think?"
"I simply don't understand," Kiol admitted.
The emperor chuckled. "The day has come when the empire's strategist is stumped." Truthfully, Ar'den was equally baffled. Lots of traps had been set for Baines at Pollum Village, yet he hadn't gone. That wasn't all, he didn't react to 'Jin Malakar's' death. There was also the fact that he lingered on the Sun Tower's lower floors, then suddenly sought to learn magic engineering in the Moon Tower.
"Haa, seems nothing can be done about it—" He coughed.
"Your Highness!" Kiol stepped closer, concern etching his face.
"It's fine," Ar'den waved him off, his thoughts darkening. 'Ha, I don't have much time left.' He looked up.
