Thalos just kept staring at Arin with squinted eyes. 'For some reason, I can't just find the words to counter what he just said.'
'Is it because I actually believe that he has information about the Phoenixes that we will definitely need, and I don't want to mess up such an opportunity?' Thalos thought.
With a sigh, he leaned back into his throne. "You're right, Progenitor Arin."
"I don't think so, King Thalos," Vaelric snapped as he glared at Arin. "We at least deserve to know how he knows a lot of things about the Phoenixes, and he even needs to tell us those things that he knows right now."
Arin furrowed his brows. "I have a feeling that you're ordering me, Progenitor Vaelric."
"Oh, where is this going?" Serak whispered with a playful grin.
"Isn't that the same as telling me 'tell me how you get your information'?"
'I have to say a lot more to prove my point,' Arin thought.
"If that's how Progenitors try to invade each other's privacy, then I don't think I even want to be among you," Arin said.
Darius stopped stroking his beard for a second as he glanced at Arin. "This is all a misunderstanding."
"I don't think so," Arin said. "I believe that Vaelric fully knows what he's trying to do."
"This isn't about privacy," Vaelric said as he adjusted his long red hair. "It's just something we all deserve to know."
Arin scoffed. "Oh, if that's the case, I'm very sure that you know things that the other Progenitors deserve to know, but you've decided not to tell anyone."
The heads of the other Progenitors instantly turned to look at Vaelric.
"That is not true," Vaelric said calmly. "I do not have anything to hide."
"Moreover," he added. "There is no evidence of that."
Arin smiled as he murmured, "sounds exactly like what someone guilty will say."
Vaelric's eyebrows twitched in anger after hearing what Arin said as he glared at him.
"And also," Arin continued. "How do we know that you really don't have anything you're hiding?"
'Good,' Arin thought, 'I've shifted the topic to him.'
The others could only remain silent as they watched the exchange of words.
Vaelric closed his eyes, calming himself without saying anything.
"So, you see," Arin said. "Everyone has their own information and their way of getting it, so we shouldn't even try meddling in it."
His grin turned cold as he added, "trying to meddle will bring more problems than you think."
Liora sighed. "I agree."
Serak laughed out loudly as he glanced at Arin. "I must say, I also agree with you. In the end, everyone has their own ways."
Darius just nodded his head as he continued stroking his beard.
Thalos never for once stopped staring at Arin. 'How is he able to exchange words with Vaelric so calmly?'
"That aside," Thalos said. "I believe we have your support, Progenitor Arin."
"Yes," Arin replied shortly, his tone firm.
"I also have some questions about my daughter," Thalos said.
Arin closed his eyes and opened them again. "My sword pierced her forehead, that was how she died. Though, I noticed that my sword hit something solid."
"Using the sword, I brought out a shiny red object which I just learned is called a Blood Core," Arin continued. "My Blood Energy resonated with it, and I absorbed it."
"So, that was how her soul ended up with you, huh?" Serak chuckled.
"Yes," Arin replied. "I was about to destroy her soul, but she pledged full submission to me. I guess she believed that was the only way she could stop me from doing it."
'Ah, I'm a pro liar,' Arin thought.
"I see..." Thalos said. "I have nothing against you because she attacked first, and I even have to thank you because thanks to absorbing her Blood Core, she can still have a physical appearance."
"Though, it has a time limit," Arin said.
"I understand," Thalos said.
Suddenly, Arin felt something inside his head.
"Yes," Seraphine replied. "But I got to spend some time with my mother and sisters."
Before Arin could reply, Mirael walked into the throne room with a slight frown on her face.
"She suddenly disappeared," she said as she reached the throne and sat down.
"Yes," Thalos said. "The time limit elapsed."
Mirael nodded her head in understanding as she relaxed on the throne.
"So," Thalos began. "We've come to a conclusion."
"The next time we'll know the next step of action is when we see the result of the prisoner. If he comes back... Or if he doesn't."
The Progenitors nodded their heads in agreement.
Arin stood up with his hands in his pockets. "Then it's time to leave."
"Huh?!" Vaelric exclaimed.
Liora kept her indifferent expression, almost as if she wasn't bothered by what Arin just said while Darius had a calm expression but he was staring at Arin.
Serak smiled. 'I quite expected this...'
"What do you mean by that?" Vaelric asked.
Arin genuinely had a strong urge to insult Vaelric right now but he also had to stay calm.
"Yes, I still have things to do in the Human Realm," Arin said. "Or have I been kidnapped here?"
"We're on the brink of a war, and you're talking about going back to the Human Realm?" Vaelric questioned.
"Progenitor Vaelric," Thalos called out. "Please, stay calm."
"Tch..." Vaelric clicked his tongue in annoyance as he obeyed.
Arin sighed. "I know the situation, but I never said I wouldn't come back."
"Immediately it's time to give my support and information, I'll be back," Arin added.
'What do I do?' Thalos thought. 'This Kingdom needs the information he has, and he can easily decide not to give us if we anger him, and if he's stubborn.'
'We don't even have an idea of what his Special Ability is,' Thalos thought. 'There's a good chance that he has a strong Special Ability that'll be helpful to us in this incoming war.'
At this point, Thalos was overwhelmed, and confused. 'Since I became the King, I've never felt so confused and out of options before.'
Mirael could sense his uneasiness and she rubbed his back, making him look at her.
"Take it easy..." She whispered as he nodded his head.
Suddenly, Liora's voice was heard.