"For the Abraham family..."
As Levi's words fell, and he traced the emblem of the Abraham family over his chest, even those with the strongest reservations among the gathered members set aside their grievances...
One by one, they mirrored his gesture, drawing the symbol of the "Door" over their own chests, a sign of unity and shared purpose.
In the silence that followed, like a devout priest serving a deity, Levi waited for the collective prayer to conclude before speaking again:
"The new elder is named Amadi Abraham, though his public name is Amadi Hart. He works as a government official in the new administration and resides at 47 Heron Street in the Starfield District. He is a powerful 'Astrologer'..."
As Levi finished his introduction, all eyes turned to the new elder, as if waiting for him to speak.
However, Amadi remained silent, calmly walking from his seat to stand beside Levi. He then bowed habitually, as if performing a well-rehearsed act.
With a playful tone, Amadi began, "Gentlemen, I am delighted to have become a true 'Astrologer' and to serve you all as an elder. While I believe it's best we avoid meeting in our daily lives, and thus should keep my mask on, I will make an exception today so you can better recognize me and seek my assistance when needed. Behold, my rather ordinary face beneath this cold iron mask..."
Amadi's theatrical words piqued the curiosity of the gathered family members. After a moment of suspense, he slowly removed his mask...
The room was met with a veil of mist obscuring his face. With a dramatic puff of air, as if performing a magic trick, the mist dissipated, revealing a young, handsome face brimming with mischief and anticipation.
Florent had to admit that this playful elder was the most strikingly handsome man he had ever seen.
His sharp, sword-like eyebrows framed eyes that sparkled with a sense of mischief. His high, well-defined nose conveyed determination, His short black hair didn't make him appear rigid or old-fashioned; instead, it accentuated his ethereal presence. His expression shifted from playful to enigmatic, Every feature exuded charm and charisma.
Florent couldn't help but compare Amadi to the other men he had met. Quevedo, though sunny and handsome, paled in comparison when it came to the finer details of facial features. Erich, cold and handsome, seemed to have subtle flaws when placed beside Amadi.
As the room marveled at Amadi's striking appearance, Levi's icy voice cut through the admiration, "Enough. Introductions have been made, and matters have been addressed. Let's bring this to a close. The gathering is adjourned..."
"Oh, and 'Apprentices' who haven't advanced to Sequence 8, come forward to collect your materials. The rest of you, unless you want me to escort you out, please leave."
The abruptness of Levi's dismissal left everyone feeling unsettled, as if the gathering had ended too abruptly... Yet, no one could pinpoint what else needed to be done...
Watching Amadi don his iron mask and shrug helplessly, and seeing Levi turn away without a backward glance, the attendees hesitated but ultimately chose not to protest.
Florent initially planned to leave with the others, but thoughts of the captivating maid, Hedelin, made him reconsider. He decided to approach Elder Levi to discuss the matter and also collect his Sequence 8 materials.
To Florent's surprise, only three others followed Levi to claim their Sequence 8 materials. Given the number of 'Apprentices' present, he had expected more to step forward.
Levi glanced back at the small group trailing him, his cold eyes sweeping over them without a word...
He continued walking, his footsteps heavy and deliberate. The sudden turn of his head startled the followers, who paused for a moment before resuming their steps.
The atmosphere was icy, the silence between Levi and the four 'Apprentices' palpable. Florent could only hear the elder's heavy footsteps, while the others behind him tried to muffle their own.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps broke the quiet.
Curious, Florent turned to see two people catching up to the group. One of them was the new elder, Amadi, who waved cheerfully at Florent.
Florent returned the gesture politely. He didn't pay much attention to the other person, focusing instead on keeping up with Levi.
However, the sound of footsteps grew louder, and soon Amadi's playful voice rang out, "Gentlemen, please slow down. You're walking like vampires trailing a human. I can 'barely' hear your footsteps. Relax, Levi isn't going to eat you."
Amadi's lighthearted tone broke the tension, and while the 'Apprentices' didn't fully relax, they no longer walked on eggshells.
Florent glanced at Levi to gauge his reaction, but the elder didn't so much as turn his head. He maintained his pace, neither speeding up nor slowing down, as if completely indifferent to the conversation behind him.
Amadi too fell silent, his footsteps now matching the others'. The person beside him however, walked with a light, almost delicate step. Florent took a closer look and realized the figure was slender and graceful... likely a woman.
Levi didn't stop on the current floor. Instead, he led the group up the stairs to the third floor.
Here the layout changed, with numerous rooms branching off from the main hallway. Levi walked straight to the room directly opposite the staircase, a space that seemed to separate the past from the present.
With only the faint sound of footsteps, Levi guided the group into the room.
It was dimly lit, with only one or two lamps casting a weak glow. As Levi lit the remaining lamps, the room's contents came into view.
What Florent saw left him stunned. The sheer quantity of materials Levi had prepared far exceeded his expectations...