The room was thick with tension, every word spoken adding weight to the already suffocating atmosphere. Jerry's face was red with anger, veins bulging at his temples as he tried to make sense of the accusation thrown his way. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, visibly trembling, though whether from rage or frustration, it wasn't clear.
Zell, on the other hand, stood unnervingly calm, her voice devoid of any emotion, each word cutting through the air like ice. "We should be the ones asking you that question, Jerry. You had one job."
The quiet edge in her tone was enough to make Veda snap. "I told you not to use that tone on him," she hissed, her eyes narrowing as she stepped closer to Zell.
Reynolds, standing near the back, shifted nervously. His fingers twitched as he fidgeted, the unease etched across his face betraying his worry. He was in over his head, and it was starting to show. The room felt like a powder keg, one wrong word away from exploding.
Zell, unbothered by Veda's aggression, kept talking, her cold, relentless voice unwavering. "What? He's in charge of guarding the location where we sealed that monster. That's the only reason you were made Lord of Lagia, Jerry, because it was convenient. So how on earth could something like this happen?"
The silence that followed her words was suffocating, only broken when Alister, usually the calmest in the group, finally spoke. His voice was firm but cautious. "That's enough. You can't pin all the blame on him just like that. Remember, we all refused the job. He volunteered."
Helen's mind was racing, her eyes darting between Jerry and the rest. She spoke up, her tone sharp with analysis. "This doesn't make sense. If Zet was really unsealed, then Jerry would've been the first to know. But somehow, the king gets the message before the freaking gatekeeper?"
Aloy, leaning against the wall with a sigh, rubbed his temples. "As much as I hate to agree with you two times in one day, you're right." His gaze shifted towards Reynolds, whose pale face made it clear that something more was going on. All eyes followed Aloy's, now locked on Reynolds, the unspoken question lingering in the air: What aren't you telling us?
*****
The room fell into an uneasy silence, the tension hanging heavy in the air. For a few seconds, no one moved or spoke, the weight of the conversation sinking in.
Finally, Vic broke the silence, his voice low but firm. "You have to tell us how you found out."
Reynolds sighed deeply, the exhaustion clear in his expression. "Alvin Falt. I had him investigate the Crimson Hound for me. He was able to infiltrate their ranks. I trust him and his information."
The tension was thickening fast, but before another conflict could erupt, Alister stepped in. "Stop arguing. I also know about the condition. It's not a common sealing method, and only those with the knowledge could attempt breaking it. She did nothing wrong keeping it from us."
Vic nodded in agreement. "And it's possible they figured out the type of seal and adjusted their plans on the spot."
Aloy rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "But wouldn't they still need the priestess' blood?"
Helen cut in, irritation simmering beneath her words. "They already had that. And you would've known this if you took your brain out of your pants for once."
Aloy blinked, taken aback. "Wait, really? I had no idea... Hey," he paused as Helen's words sunk in, "Take that back, you crazy gorilla!"
Alister sighed deeply, waving away the petty argument. "Alright, enough. We've solved that mystery. Now we just need to figure out where Zet is before it's too late." Read latest stories on mvl
But Reynolds raised a hand, drawing the room's attention. "Hold on. There's one more issue we need to address."
His expression darkened, a weight behind his words. "Three flames from the Divine Hall have been extinguished... just as the prophecy predicted."
A heavy silence followed his statement, the gravity of the situation slowly sinking in. Reynolds sighed, as though he carried both the burden of the revelation and a strange, twisted relief.
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What could he be talking about?