The Frozen Hour

Anieal's Mind plane-

Within the expanse of the dark sea that is Anna's mind plane, a huge golden egg with ever-changing, flickering patterns of various shapes and sizes could be seen. Connected to the egg was a cocoon made of the same material as the huge egg, However, it wasn't flowing like the egg. Instead, it was still like a rock waiting for the being inside to wake up and step into the realm of the dark sea.

*Crack* *Crack*

Small, spider web-like cracks started to form on the surface of the cocoon. The cracks started to widen and blinding light started to pour out from the cracks. Soon the cocoon broke completely and Anna in her soul body form could be seen floating within the debris of the cocoon. The debris moved toward Anna, merging with her very soul.

Her soul body, seemingly strengthened by the huge golden egg before her, now appeared more solid than before.

Anna opened her eyes and looked at her hands, she could feel that something had changed within her. She followed her instincts and then—

[Eyes of Divination]

Her eyes turned golden, and she could see threads of different colors—gold, black, red, and green— floating around her. When she looked at the threads information started to appear in her eyes but with the information came pain.

"Augh!" A sharp headache struck Anna as she looked at the nearby threads.

She instinctively knew what these threads were and she knew why she got a headache by looking at them…

'I am still too weak to gaze at one's fate' She thought

Anna closed her eyes and opened them again… her eyes had returned to deep black as they were before

Anna walked towards the egg and touched its surface. Her eyes had resolve beneath them

"One day… I will take you for myself" Anna said with a slight smile and closed her eyes

The Kinten Mansion, Xyontra, Xyonthar Empire-

Within the healing room Anna's treatment had taken place. Anna could be seen laying on the bed like a log. Suddenly her eyes trembled as she tried to wake up

Helena, who had been watching Anna all this time, stood up and shouted

"She moved!!"

Damien who was nearby her also stood up from his chair and walked towards Anna and held her hand

"Anna?" He spoke with a shake voice

White stood in the corner, leaning against the window, though expectation could be seen in his eyes. 

Anna's eyelids trembled once more and they started to open. 

Anna opened her eyes and started to look all around her. First her eyes fell on a woman looking at her with a small smile, she had flame like hairs, eyes and she even worn a red flame-like gown and when she saw her a name escaped her lips 

"Ember?" 

"What?" Helena who knew that Anna was mentioning her furrowed her brows in confusion 

Anna who finally got hold of her mind shook her head in embarrassment while her cheeks had turned slightly red. 

"N-Nothing" 

Anna turned around and looked at Damien and called out 

"Brother" her voice was heavy with longing 

Damien moved forward and caught Anna in a tight embrace 

"Anna..!" He called out his tone lighter than before. Tears started to roll down from his eyes

"You are awake" Anna looked at her brother and started to pat his back 

"Yes I am awake, brother" 

"Yes… yes" Damien continued to hug her and asked with worried tone

"How are you feeling?" 

"I am feeling fine… better even" Anna spoke as she looked at her hands and clenched and unclenched them a few times 

"I see…" 

Damien finally broke the hug and looked at Anna with a calm and serene smile.

"I am happy that you are fine…" 

"I know…" 

Helena who was standing behind Damien and cleared her throat 

"Khum!" 

Anna looked at her with confusion as she was seeing her for first time 

Helena gave her hand to Anna for a handshake 

"Name's Helena Zaryen, however others like to call me as the healing ember" Helena said with a small smile 

Anna shook her hand and replied 

"I am A-"

"Wait!" Damien suddenly said, stopping her.

Anna looked at his brother with confusion while Helena spoke with a confused tone 

"What's wrong… no way do you still not trust me, Mars. I mean you are The Mars Kinten why do you even have be scared of someone like me" 

Damien however just shook his head and spoke 

"It's not that."

Anna however was lost in her own thoughts 

'Mars Kinten? But isn't brothers name Dami-' suddenly it clicked within her mind 

'I see…'

Anna looked at Damien and spoke 

"It's fine brother." 

Damien turned towards Anna with complicated eyes

"But" 

"It's okay… believe me" 

Anna looked at Helena as she spoke 

"I am Aeliana Kinten. It's a pleasure to meet the esteemed Healing Ember" Anna spoke in a soft and respectful tone

"No way, no way. The pleasure's all mine. After all, I don't get to see a monster like you every day." Helena spoke with a soft chuckle 

"What do you mean?" Anna spoke in a confused tone 

"Hmm? It seems like you haven't found out yet" Helena said while nodding 

"Found out what?" Anna asked in confusion 

"Oh that you are already a Refined-Seek-" 

"We will talk about that later" Damien spoke in a cold and commanding tone as he looked at Helena 

"Y-yes" Helena meakily nodded at his words 

"Brother" 

Anna however didn't step back and looked at Damien as she spook 

"I have to know about it… I have the right to know about it" 

Damien looked at her and spoke 

"We will talk about it later" 

"No… I want to talk about it right now…"

Damien stared in her eyes for a few moments and spoke 

"Very well… everyone leave" Damien commanded. Helena and White left the room. 

"You both too." Damien commanded again 

Soon, Two hooded figures materialised before him and spoke in unison 

"As you command, My lord" 

After saying so they disappeared one more time

Damien looked at Anna and spoke 

"What do you want to talk about?" 

"Don't you want to know what happened to me?" Anna questioned back 

"I do." 

"Then let me tell you everything that happened to me when I was 'unconscious'" 

 Anna started to explain all the events that had taken place from visiting the spirit realm to traveling to various locations of spirit realm 

Coming back in her soul body and using it to keep an eye on him, White and others.

She continued to talk and the more Damien heard her talk the deeper his frown became. Anna time to time looked at his reaction and she could guess what he was thinking 

"You don't like it. Do you?" 

Damien looked at Anna and spoke 

"No… not at all" 

"But we can't change it can we" 

"You don't have to do it… I can protect you"

"But I want to do it." 

Damien looked in her eyes and heaved a sigh 

"Hah… it's not that simple, Anna."

"I know." 

"You think you do—but you don't. Not yet" Damien replied with a heavy tone 

"That's why I have to do it so I can know what it needs to be a midnighter" Anna spoke with determination 

"I can never win against you" Damien spoke as he looked at Anna with a small smile 

"At least you tried" Anna spoke in a prideful manner which caused a chuckle to escape both of their lips 

""Haha!!""

Damien stared at Anna for a few moments and spoke with stern torn 

"However… it's not the time yet"

"I know… but I want you to answer few of my questions" Anna looked at Damien with a serious look which said 'I won't take no for an answer"

"Sure, Go ahead" Damien agreed

"Why did you not tell me about the midnighters?"

"There was no point in that. According to the awakening appraisal you were never supposed to awaken yet however…"

Damien looked at Anna with complicated emotion as he continued

"You still managed to awaken." Damien took a deep breath

"And That Spirit realm, soul body, being able to live out of one's body… It's just too shocking for me… I still can't believe it"

"I understand." Anna spoke as she held Damien's gaze

"Tell me… What and who are you? That lady was very scared of you." Anna spoke after thinking about it for a few moments

"To explain that I will have to tell you more about the midnighters… So, listen carefully"

"Midnighters are divided into 5 main ranks: Seeker, Ignited, Adept, Assimilation, Transcendent And 3 sub ranks: Tyro, Refined, Apex" Damien paused and waited for Anna to digest all of his words. He continued

"Multiple factions exist within Azor which is a hidden continent where most of the population is midnighters. These factions are divided into 5 ranks: 1 star, 2 star, 3 star, 4 star, 5 star. Within whole of Azor there is only one 5 star faction that is The Star Council" Damien paused once again and looked at Anna

"Similarly, The Star Council has its own hierarchy too which is: Sovereign, Regent, Warden, Master, Initiate. Currently stat council has four regents and I am one of them"

"I am known as Mars Kinten, the Maestro of Space and the Purple Regent of The Star Council."

Damien stopped talking and continued to look at Anna who had a dumbfounded look on her face

"So… you're saying you're part of the upper echelon of one of the strongest if not the strongest faction of the whole world?"

Damien pondered on Anna's words for few moments and then nodded his head

"Hmm… you can say that, yes"

"Wah…"Anna's jaw practically hit the ground. Soon however she shook her head and turned serious once more.

"Why do they want to kill or kidnap me?" Anna questioned in a heavy tone

When Damien heard her question he turned silent for a few moments

"Let's not talk about it" Damien said as he tried to push away the question Anna had asked him

"Brother… I have to know too"

Damien looked towards Anna for a few moments as he pondered if he should reveal the reason to her or not and how much of it should he reveal to her… Soon he came to a decision and spoke

"The Star Council is based on hierarchy of 5 ranks right now however there's only 4 ranks available because there's no Sovereign ruling over The Star Council at the moment"

"Huh? What does that have to do with them trying to kill or kidnap me?" Anna asked with a frown

"The last time The Star Council had a Sovereign was 17 years ago"

Suddenly Anna thought of something

'17 years? I can't be who i am thinking it is? Right'

"I-it can't be"

"The Sovereign of one of the strongest faction of the whole died just disappeared from this world like it was nothing"

Anna looked at Damien with complicated look on her face as he had already guessed who could be the Sovereign of The Star Council however she still found it hard to believe

"Brother…"

"The Sovereign was also hailed as the strongest Midnighter recorded in the last 500 years… yet he just disappeared… Do you think that is even possible?"

Damien questioned Anna. Anna however just stayed silent as she looked at Damien

"Brother… is he really who I think he is?"

"Yes… he was."

Damien paused as a small smile blossomed on his face, he continued to speak with a tone filled of pride

"Our father, Dios Starborne, was the Sovereign of The Star Council and the strongest Midnighter recorded in the last 500 years"

Footnotes:

———————

Awakened ranks:

Seeker → Ignited → Adept → Assimilation → Transcendent

———————

Faction Ranks: 

1 star → 2 star → 3 star → 4 star → 5 star

———————

Star Council hierarchy:

Initiate → Master → Warden → Regent → Sovereign