No More Pain For This Villain.

360  Gathering Of The Chosen Ones

[Third Person View.]

[Two Hours Ago]

Falco stood in a plain room, not marked by any grandeur, just a regular space. He glanced sideways at Headmaster Stormborne, who seemed as though he wanted to speak but chose not to. Beside him was his granddaughter, Isolde. Both stood hesitantly at the threshold, waiting for permission to enter.

Isolde had come to realize that whoever this man in the white hood was, he commanded respect. Her grandfather—the strongest person she knew—was reluctant to approach him, which unsettled her.

"I'll begin," Falco said, flicking his fingers, causing a portal to materialize before him.

On the other side of the portal stood Adam, mid-conversation with his friends. Elsa and Amelia sat across from him, while Mary was in the corner, engrossed in a book. When she sensed the portal opening, she tossed her book aside, her eyes catching a long, black box that oozed an unsettling energy. Falco's gaze lingered on it for a moment, recognizing its power, but he quickly refocused on Adam, who was staring at him.

The Savior of Humanity—that's how Falco's father and the goddess Ellora had described Adam, and Falco had no reason to doubt them. From his time in the mortal realm, he'd found humans to be a fascinating species.

"What are you doing here, Sir Falco?" Adam asked as he stepped forward, curious yet cautious.

"Come here. Only you and Amelia," Falco ordered.

Adam hesitated, glancing at his friends before nodding. He reassured the others with a glance, then stepped through the portal. Amelia whispered something in Elsa's ear and followed him. Without another word, Falco closed the portal behind them.

"Now, can you explain—" Adam began, but Falco cut him off with another flick of his fingers. Two more portals appeared. One led to the infirmary, where Aron lay on a bed, with Cecelia sitting beside him. The other portal opened to Vexa, who was staring at a pendant in her hand. As soon as she noticed the portal, she swiftly put the pendant around her neck.

Falco's eyes caught the pendant, and he smiled beneath his hood. He knew exactly what it was; his eyes never deceived him when it came to such artifacts.

"Step through, now," Falco commanded. Aron and Cecelia moved quickly, though Cecelia shot Adam a questioning look. Falco gestured at her with a sharp motion that made it clear she wasn't to join them.

Once the five of them were gathered in the room, Falco opened one final portal. This one connected to a place far from Solstice. Maintaining a portal over such a vast distance strained even someone of his power, so it could only remain open for a short time. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

This portal opened into a dark, ominous space, dimly lit by a single light. There, a figure stood, broad-backed, covered in white fur, and surrounded by the sound of tortured screams.

Falco narrowed his eyes, waiting for the figure to turn.

Covered in blood, Devon slowly turned around, his eyes glowing in the darkness. His expression tensed for a brief moment before relaxing. He didn't say a word. He simply stepped through the portal, leaving behind whatever chaos he had been involved in.

Falco gestured toward the chairs, his movements deliberate. "Please, sit," he said, his voice calm but commanding.

Isolde, still standing at the threshold, frowned slightly. "Shouldn't I—"

"Leave," Falco cut her off, turning his gaze toward Stormborne. "You too."

Stormborne gave a brief nod, a flicker of understanding passing between the two men. Without hesitation, he gently but firmly pulled his granddaughter out of the room, ignoring her protests. The door closed behind them with a soft thud, leaving the room in tense silence.

Falco turned back to the group, a faint smirk playing on his lips as he faced them. The air in the room seemed heavier now, as though the weight of something monumental lingered just out of reach. Slowly, deliberately, he reached up and pulled back his hood, revealing his face for the first time.

Falco gestured toward the chairs. "Before we sit, there's something you all need to know," he said, his tone calm but carrying a weight that demanded attention.

Adam looked around the room, unsure of what to expect. Falco's next words were unexpected and immediately raised the tension in the room.

"You're all Chosen Ones," Falco said, his voice unflinching.

A ripple of shock went through the group.

"What?" Adam muttered, his voice betraying his disbelief. "Aron? Amelia? Them too?" His gaze shot between the two of them, the so-called molester prince and the knight he interacted with daily.

Aron's face twisted into an irritated scowl. "Perfect student Adam Stales, a Chosen One? Of course, it had to be you, motherfucke!" he spat. "Because why wouldn't the golden boy get everything?"

Adam blinked, clearly taken aback by Aron's resentment. He had expected many things, but learning that the arrogant prince who often caused trouble was also chosen by the gods? That wasn't one of them.

"And you?" Adam shot back, his surprise slowly morphing into disbelief. "You, the one who—" He stopped himself from finishing the sentence, remembering Aron's reputation and the rumors surrounding his actions. Adam didn't need to say it. Everyone knew what he was referring to.

Aron sneered. "Yeah, me. Guess the gods have a sense of humor."

Meanwhile, Amelia's eyes narrowed, her fists clenching. Her attention shifted from Adam to the towering figure of Devon, who stood silently by the wall, his face still streaked with blood from whatever gruesome task he had abandoned moments earlier.

"He's a Chosen One too?" Amelia's voice was sharp, laced with indignation. "You can't be serious! That criminal should be behind bars!" She was already starting to move toward him, her training as a knight kicking in, ready to subdue him on the spot.

But before she could make a move, Falco raised a hand, halting her mid-step.

"Stop," Falco commanded, his voice cold and firm. "I know what Devon has done. But right now, that's irrelevant. He's a Chosen One, just like you."

Amelia's jaw clenched in frustration, her hand gripping the hilt of her sword. "Irrelevant? He's a danger to everyone!"

Devon, standing with an air of indifference, shot her a cold, dismissive glance. "Try it, knight. See what happens."

Amelia seethed but didn't move further. She glared at Falco, her mind racing with the impossibility of the situation. How could he—a criminal—be chosen by the gods? And how was she supposed to work with him?

Vexa, on the other hand, watched the scene unfold with calm calculation, her fingers brushing the pendant around her neck. Unlike the others, she didn't show any visible reaction, but her mind was working fast. She observed every flicker of emotion, every twitch of annoyance or shock.

One thing was clear: the gods had their reasons, but whatever those were, it wasn't going to be an easy alliance.q

"Are we all done with the surprise?" Falco's voice sliced through the tension. He looked at each of them, one by one, allowing the weight of his words to sink in. "The gods chose each of you for a reason. Whether you like it or not, your destinies are now intertwined."

Adam still hadn't fully processed what he had just learned. Aron and Amelia?Devon? The gods had certainly been keeping secrets.

He was about to speak when Falco gestured to the chairs again. "Now, sit. We have much to discuss."

The group, still reeling from the revelation, reluctantly took their seats. As they sat down, the air was thick with unspoken questions, tension, and distrust. None of them could yet comprehend how they would work together.