A faint tremor coursed through the sanctuary—barely perceptible, like a whisper brushing against the bones of the earth. Rei stood motionless at the edge of the subterranean sanctum, hands buried in the folds of his cloak, golden eyes reflecting the faint pulse of the fragment embedded in the altar before him.
> [System Notification: Fragment of Dusk — Resonance Level 78%. Accessing sealed memory...]
Karasu's voice, ever present, murmured through the ether. "The more fragments you absorb, the thinner the boundary becomes. Between who you are... and who you were."
Rei did not respond. His attention was fixed on the holographic sigils hovering around the fragment—inscriptions that shimmered with ancient languages, some long lost to time and gods alike. From the distance, footsteps echoed down the crystal-lined corridor.
Mireille appeared, her black-and-white attire pristine as always, though her eyes bore the fatigue of days without proper rest. "Azazel is here."
Rei's eyes flicked toward her. "Alone?"
"No," she replied. "With Sona Shitori and a man I've never seen. Tall, tan, white coat—Exorcist, I believe."
Rei exhaled. "It begins."
---
The chamber of counsel had not been used in centuries. A vast dome carved from obsidian and crystal, it had once been a throne room for a forgotten king, then a tomb, and now—perhaps—a table for peace.
Azazel entered first. The Governor-General of the Fallen Angels wore his trademark trench coat and an expression of deep thought. Behind him stood Sona, composed and precise, and behind her—Valper Galilei, former priest turned rogue Exorcist, though the man now bore none of the madness that once haunted him.
Azazel offered Rei a faint smile. "You've been busy, Kazenari."
Rei's tone was flat. "You crossed the Eastern Wards. Not many dare."
Azazel gestured toward the glowing fragment behind Rei. "When anomalies like that echo across dimensions, it draws more than curiosity. It draws prophecy."
Rei narrowed his eyes. "What prophecy?"
Sona stepped forward, producing a data slate. "The Church, Grigori, and even certain Devil clans are picking up fluctuations. Spirit fragments, leyline ruptures, and... dimensional echoes. Especially around Kuoh."
Rei took the slate. His eyes flicked through the graphs, the recorded anomalies, the AI-assisted predictions. "So, the Council knows."
Valper spoke for the first time, voice calm. "The Council doesn't exist anymore—not in the form you think. What remains are shadows. But they watch. And you, Rei Kazenari, are their center of gravity."
---
Meanwhile, in another wing of the sanctuary, Noira and Eirenne stood by a flickering flame brazier. The spirits were tense, having sensed the presence of the newcomers long before they had entered.
Noira clenched her fists. "Why bring them here?"
Eirenne's silver eyes turned toward her. "Because this isn't a war—not yet. It's a story being written. And Rei's letting the others hold the pen for a while."
The obsidian-haired spirit scoffed. "He trusts too easily."
Eirenne gave a small, sad smile. "He trusts... because he knows what it's like to be abandoned."
Noira was silent.
---
Back in the chamber, Azazel leaned forward. "We're not here to fight you, Rei. We're here to warn you. There are beings taking notice. Not angels. Not devils. Not humans. Something outside the paradigm. Something called 'EXE.'"
Rei raised an eyebrow. "You're late."
That startled them.
"I've known since Chapter 13," Rei continued. "They've already touched this world. Tested its skin. They're not probing... they're preparing."
Valper looked uneasy. "Then you know why we came."
"To propose a ceasefire between what's left of the Council and me," Rei answered. "You don't want to antagonize me while preparing for an outside war."
Azazel nodded. "Exactly. And perhaps... even form an alliance."
Rei turned away from them, gaze fixed on the crystal fragment glowing behind him.
"I don't need alliances. I need truth. If you're willing to share it, you may stay."
"And if we don't?" Sona asked quietly.
Rei's voice dropped to a whisper that carried across the room. "Then the next time we meet will not be around a table."
---
Later that night, as the guests rested, Mireille found Rei standing at the edge of the sanctuary's gardens, where the moonlight fell like silver mist upon the dew-soaked petals.
"They'll try to manipulate you," she said softly.
"I know," Rei replied. "But they underestimate something."
"What's that?"
Rei turned toward her, eyes now blazing faintly with crimson and violet.
"I'm no longer someone who fears being used. I've become someone they can't afford to lose control of."