Marquis Desmond Fairisles glanced at the wall clock in his study and then at the piece of paper on his desk which had the time and day mentioned along with the words urgent meeting.

Marquis Fairisles hadn’t expected the call for an urgent meeting as he had thought that everything was going smoothly. In the corner of his mind, he had kept the possibility of something unexpected happening but he also believed that whatever unprecedented thing were to happen his granddaughter was capable of thinking ahead of time and having everyone prepared.

"This must be one of those plans." He muttered to himself before rising to his feet.

Kai who was in the study busy at his desk reading and making notes looked up at Marquis.

"What’s wrong, Grandfather?" Kai asked.

Marquis Fairisles crossed his desk and gestured for Kai to get up.

"Come along." He spoke.

Kai tilted his head, confused and then glanced at the third person in the study.

Marquis Fairisles’s old aide Anthony looked at him, for a moment, he was also confused but then he glanced at the clock. It was close to 3 in the afternoon, his gray eyebrows raised before he took started getting up from his chair.

"You keep seated only Kai and I are going," Marquis spoke as he walked towards the doors, Kai didn’t understand what was going on but he rose to his feet and hurried after Marquis.

"But, Your Excellency-" Anthony spoke from behind.

"We will be back in some time, finish this work till then." Marquis instructed before the doors closed behind him and Anthony heaved a sigh before slumping back in his seat.

It was rare for the "meeting" to be at Fairisles mansion because the one who led these meetings often called everyone at his place. Still, considering that his mansion must be under the eyes of a lot of people, he must need another unsuspecting place.

Anthony had made all the preparations beforehand when Marquis had told him about this meeting and also the approximate number of people that would be attending. He just wondered what it would be, usually whenever such meetings were arranged on a short notice, Anthony knew something bad was looming on the horizon.

He just hoped that whatever was approaching this time wouldn’t be catastrophic as the kingdom was already in the times of change.

Marquis Fairisles and Kai entered the library which was empty but the large conference table was nearly arranged with the chairs and a chess game was displayed in the center of the table.

Kai glanced at the game and then looked at Marquis.

"Master is coming here." Kai spoke and the older man nodded.

"He called for an urgent meeting today,"

"Why?" Kai asked and Marquis sighed.

"We’ll know soon enough." Marquis spoke before he placed his hand over Kai’s shoulder.

There was a fluctuation in the air before three presences landed in the library together.

Marquis and Kai glanced at the three Underworld Lords. They all were just greetings each other when the two other presences landed, Duke Aurelius and Rune.

"Are we late?" Duke Aurelius asked.

"No, we also arrived." Zach beamed at him.

"Take your seats." Marquis spoke rather curtly.

And then two other presences landed which shocked the gathered people.

"G-Grand Duchess and Davian?!" Kai gasped.

Davian beamed as he saw Kai spreading his arms, Kai hesitated for a moment before he walked over giving Davian a hug.

"Ah, I missed you." Davian spoke.

"I missed you too." Kai responded and Rune narrowed his eyes before placing his hand on Kai’s shoulder pulling him back.

"We are in formal place, Your Highness." Rune reminded him and Davian simply smiled.

"I understand,"

"I didn’t know Master invited Your Grace and Prince Davian." Zach spoke.

"Well, he did only write a few words so, I also wonder what he needs from us." Dahlia spoke holding up the small piece of paper in her long fingers.

"What might it be this time?" Lord Oberon wondered aloud.

"It’s past 3, shouldn’t Oc-Master be here by now?" Davian spoke.

"Let’s sit down for now and wait." Rune suggested.

Duke Aurelius and Count Nash had already seated themselves.

Kai remained standing as the others took their seats.

"Kai, sit here." Davian patted the chair beside him and Kai smiled.

Just then another presence landed in the library, their face was scrunched up in a mild scowl as they rubbed their temples.

"What is this about?" Silas muttered and then looked at the gathered people.

His scowl deepened but he pinched the bridge between his nose and then sighed deeply.

"Where is he?" Silas asked.

"Master is not here yet, Archmage." Kai answered, "Please have a seat."

Silas glanced at Kai, the irritation visibly easing from his eyebrows as he walked over and sat down beside Rune. All the chairs were full now apart from the head of the table and the one directly right to it.

"So, what is this about?" Silas asked again.

"Have patience." Marquis spoke making Silas throw a glare at him but before he could say anything the last four presences landed in the library.

The mana field settled around Ocean, Lyall, Enora and Roan, Ocean’s gaze running over the faces of the gathered people.

"Welcome Master."

Some of them greeted him and he nodded at them and then glanced at Kai who was standing.

Ocean placed his hand over Kai’s shoulder giving it a gentle squeeze before he gestured for him to take a seat.

The trio who had come with Ocean walked over and stood in the back, Lyall taking the position behind the head of the table. Enora stood on the opposite side while Roan stood beside Ocean.

Ocean took his place behind the chair at the head of the table and then glanced at the chess game.

He then used telekinesis to arrange the pieces making everyone look at the game until they saw the three black factions and three white ones.

"What’s this?" Dahlia asked.

"It’s Master’s way of explaining his plan." Zach answered.

"What is it this time?" Silas asked.

Ocean glanced at Silas and then at others, "As you all might remember what I told you about Prince Carlos."

The table went silent hearing that and wary expressions came over their faces.

"Did he do something?" Marquis Fairisles asked.

"I went to see him regarding something last night." Ocean started, "and he gave me some shocking information."

"He gave you information?" Silas repeated.

"Since when do demons help us?" Zach scoffed.

"I made a deal with him." Ocean continued making almost half of the people there to almost shoot up to their feet while the color draiend from the rest of the people’s faces.

"You, what?" Davian shouted.

"Master, how could you make a deal with a demon?" Zach slammed his hands against the table.

"Re-Ocean, are you serious, right now?" Duke Aurelius asked.

"What were you thinking?" Rune gasped.

But then there was a strong surge of mana and aura that clashed in the air making everyone shudder. Their eyes quickly went over to the three figures that despite Ocean’s shocking statement had remained calm. Marquis Fairisles, Silas and Dahlia.

"Davian, sit down." Dahlia spoke without raising her voice.

Davian looked like he was about to open his mouth to argue but watching his mother’s sharp expression, and Ocena’s neutral one, he released a deep sigh and sat down.

Marquis and Silas also glanced at the other aggravated people and they all also sat back down, Marquis then looked at Ocean.

"What kind of information did he offer that you made a deal with him?" He asked.

Ocean released a breath and then stepped away from his chair and placed his hand on Kai’s shoulder as he continued.

"Calm down, it’s nothing serious."

"But... it’s dangerous..." Kai spoke and Ocean gave him a small smile.

"It’s not quite dangerous for us as it is for him," Ocean clarified and then looked at others.

"The being claimed that it wasn’t a demon but a spirit that was summoned," Ocean said, "Hard to belief, I know and I have encountered demons myself to know that they are experts in deceiving but this one was telling the truth."

"How could you be so sure?" Silas asked.

Ocean walked rounded the table and walked up to him as he said, "It’s only my word for now."

Ocean stopped at Silas’s chair and plucked out two vials from his pocket and placed it before Silas.

"What’s this?"

"Carlos’s blood."

Silas’s eyebrows furrowed and even the other’s watched, intrigued.

"The blood is a healthy color of red." Ocean added, "Usually when a person is cursed by the way Carlos is- drinking a demon’s blood- their blood starts rotting."

Silas picked up one of the vials and inspected it carefully before frowning, "That alone can’t prove it."

Ocean shrugged, "I had my own two reasons, you and Master Vonstein might give a firm answer after you two examine these samples."

Silas sighed deeply but placed the vials in his vest pocket.

"As for what he wanted," Ocean continued, "he just wanted to live in Carlos’ body for a while without being exorcised."

"And you allowed that?" Rune asked and Ocean shrugged.

"I left him with a warning, if he tries something both Carlos and him can go to hell together."

"Isn’t it still dangerous to leave him in that state?" Kai asked and Ocean hummed.

"It is, that’s why I am sending one of the Oasis team leader there to make sure everything is fine, if Carlos acts up again, I will have him eliminated right away. Besides, it’s only 3 more days now till the Trials time ends."

The people watched as Ocean walked around the table passing by everyone’s chairs once before stopping at the head of the table.

"Now that we have that clarified, I will tell you all what he told me and also the changes that will be in the plan." Ocean said glancing at everyone’s faces and then added with a grim expression.

"The dark forces are planning big this time so, I will need all of your help and that’s why I called you all here together."