"So… what happened after I fell unconscious?" Askara asked once the noise began to die down. His voice was steady now, though a hint of worry still lingered. "What happened to Ayana?"

The question cut through the room. His siblings exchanged uneasy glances, the earlier warmth fading into a heavy silence.

"…Aska," Kiara finally said, her tone low and careful, "Ayana's whereabouts are still unknown. We don't know who that group was, or where they took her. There were no traces left behind, no altar, no summoning circle, nothing. Everything Sis Alice predicted should happen… never did. From the very beginning, they were only after that girl"

Anggana exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Since then, Mukhlis hasn't spoken to anyone. He completely shut down. So I told the others about Ayana's power." His voice lowered as he looked at Askara, the weight of the truth visible in his eyes. "They think she was taken because of that power, but we're still not certain. You're the only one who fought them directly, Aska. You must've noticed something, right?"

Askara fell quiet for a moment, eyes distant.

"Her power is… unique," Anindha murmured, breaking the silence. "Do you think they might try to manipulate her? Brainwash her into joining their cult?"

"Or maybe they'll kill her and take her brai-"

"Lita!" Kiara snapped sharply, cutting her off before she could finish. "Don't say something so vile-"

"No," Askara interrupted, voice calm but edged with conviction. "They won't kill Ayana. Not yet." His eyes hardened, reflecting the quiet certainty of someone who'd already seen too much. "They need her power for something. Until they achieve whatever goal they're after, she'll stay alive. That's what I believe"

His siblings exchanged looks again, caught between hope and fear.

"But where do we even start?" Anindha asked softly. "We don't know who they are or what they want. Even the kingdom's satellites couldn't trace them. It's like they vanished completely"

"True," Askara said, sitting up straighter, his tone shifting from uncertain to focused. "But I know one thing, they were humans once. Demonized humans. Sis Alice was right about them being connected to a demonic cult." His gaze lifted, sharp and resolute. "Do you remember what she said about sensing Corrupted Mana within the Academy?"

The others nodded slowly.

"That's where we start," Askara said. "If there's corruption spreading inside the Academy, then the cult isn't gone, it's hiding right under our noses"

The silence that followed wasn't one of despair this time; it was one of understanding.

Determination flickered in each of their eyes.

"But… The Astral Nexus Academy, huh?" Anindha said, her expression slightly uncertain. "I don't know if you've heard this, but the Academy won't be opening anytime soon"

"Huh? What happened?" Askara asked.

"Well, you know… news of this scale can't stay hidden for long. But right now, it's probably still being covered up. Still, it won't be for much longer. Apparently, many took part in the Academy's entry trials, but almost half of the candidates died inside the artificial dimension"

Her tone turned somber. "Most of the survivors were from Kiara's camp. A few strong individuals managed to survive for three days in the artificial dimension, but they're rare. Many of those who died were descendants of nobles or other powerful families, and of course, they won't just accept their heirs dying like that. So, soon enough, news of the incident will spread. This is just my intuition, but I think there's a high chance it'll happen. Either way, the Academy won't be opening for a while"

After Anindha's lengthy explanation, silence returned. Everyone exchanged glances, realizing that even if it was only intuition, what she said sounded disturbingly plausible.

"…If that happens," Askara finally said, "that would be a proble-"

Before he could finish, the door to his room burst open. All the D'Archy siblings immediately turned their gazes toward it.

Through the doorway floated a fiery red fairy-like figure, her crimson hair shimmering under the light. Her lips were as red as blood, yet her eyes were the same piercing blue as the rest of the D'Archy siblings.

"…What are you guys talking about without me?! Are you hiding something? What is it? What is it?!"

The girl, two years younger than the rest and undeniably the most spoiled among the D'Archy siblings was Lavanya D'Archy Hidayat.

"Anya…" Askara murmured.

"Oh~ Big Brother Aska!" Lavanya squealed and, without warning, leapt toward him.

Her siblings tried to stop her, but it was already too late.

Even Askara didn't expect it.

Instinctively, like he always did, he opened his arms to catch her, only for pain to shoot through his body.

"Ughh!" Askara groaned. "Anya... please… it still hurts…"

Lavanya froze mid-hug, her face paling slightly as she felt Askara tense under her arms.

"Eh?!" she gasped, quickly pulling away. "A-Are you okay?! I didn't mean to... I forgot!" Her voice trembled between guilt and panic. "I thought you'd already recovered!"

Askara exhaled a shaky breath, forcing a small smile. "It's fine, really… just, a little slower next time, okay?"

"Y-Yes…" Lavanya murmured, her eyes glistening with guilt as she sat down beside him carefully.

Litani smirked, arms crossed. "You never change, Anya. You charge in like a fireball and only after impact do you realize it burns"

Lavanya pouted, cheeks puffing. "Hmph! Don't make fun of me, Sister Lita!"

Anindha chuckled softly. "You two never fail to lighten the mood"

The brief laughter faded, replaced once again by the weight of reality. Lavanya glanced between them, sensing the shift in atmosphere.

"So… what were you guys talking about before I came in? You all look so serious"

"About the Academy," Litani said, her tone calm but wary.

"The Astral Nexus Academy," Askara added. "There might be trouble with its reopening"

Lavanya's expression darkened. "You mean the incident in the artificial dimension?"

Everyone turned toward her, surprised.

"You already know?" Anindha asked.

Lavanya nodded. "I overheard Big Brother Aksa's aide talking about it this morning. He said the Academy's trial went… horribly wrong. The artificial dimension malfunctioned. Half the candidates didn't make it back." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "And they said… It's connected to the Demonic Cults"

That last line made the room go silent.

Askara frowned. "Is there anything more?"

"I only know that," Lavanya said honestly. "They didn't say anything else"

"Did you leave because you lost interest?" Kiara asked suddenly, her tone teasing.

"Hehe~ that too~," Lavanya confessed with a mischievous smile. "So what now?! Are you guys going to investigate this accident? Can I join? Can I?"

"Anya-"

"Oh~ it's so lively here," a new voice interrupted Askara again. "Don't mind if I join?"

Askara blinked. "Sis Alice… please, I also wanted to ask you something-"

"Mommy's here too," came another voice before he could finish.

Following Alice, Jenn stepped into the room. Then came Rani, Anugerah, Kaela, Tina, and Gaia, all squeezing in one after another.

But it didn't stop there.

Moments later, Marzuki and Linda, the grandparents, entered as well, both wearing deeply worried expressions.

And just when Askara thought the room couldn't possibly hold any more people…

The door opened once again.

This time, the Great-Grandparents appeared, led by none other than the Former Queen of Great Britain, flanked by Erelythe and Shasha.

In a matter of minutes, nearly the entire D'Archy Family had gathered inside Askara's room.

And of course, if the D'Archy Family gathered, chaos followed.

A warm, noisy, loving chaos.

The siblings exchanged glances and, without a word, silently agreed to postpone their discussion for another time.

"My dear Aska," Jenn said softly, her voice calm but carrying that unmistakable motherly authority.

"Yes, Mom?" Askara replied carefully, feeling a twinge of unease.

"I heard something… interesting a while ago," Jenn continued, her tone deceptively gentle. "Care to explain what it's about?"

Askara blinked. That tone was never a good sign. He instinctively glanced toward his other mothers for help, but to his horror, all of them were already staring at him with the same expectant expression.

"And… and what is it about, Mothers?" he asked nervously, trying to stall for time.

Jenn hummed, drawing out the moment. "Hm~?"

"Just get straight to the point, Aska," Rani suddenly said, one brow raised. "Why," she emphasized, "do you call Death 'Mama Death'?"

"T-That…" Askara began, but the words tangled in his throat. His eyes darted toward his siblings for help, only to find them all avoiding his gaze like guilty accomplices.

He sighed. There was no escape.

Cornered and with every maternal eye fixed on him, Askara finally began to explain everything, from the strange vision he experienced while unconscious, to the chilling yet oddly gentle presence that called itself Death.

As he spoke, the room slowly quieted.

The usual D'Archy warmth dimmed into silence,

And for once, even Lavanya didn't interrupt.

---

After all the chaos and explaining he had to do, night finally fell.

The house grew quiet, too quiet, after the storm of voices that had filled it just hours before.

Askara sat on his bed, doing nothing, only gazing out the window where the night sky stretched wide and silent. The stars shimmered faintly above the distant horizon, like whispers he couldn't quite hear.

Then, a soft knock came at his door.

"Aska, are you asleep?"

Askara immediately recognized the voice. Deep, calm, and carrying the weight of command even when spoken softly.

It was his eldest brother, Aksara D'Archy Hidayat, King of the Saranjana Kingdoms and Head of the D'Archy Family since their father's missing.

"…Just come in, Brother," Askara replied quietly.

The door creaked open, and Aksara stepped inside, still wearing his formal attire, his royal cloak draped loosely over his shoulders, the faint scent of rain and parchment following him.

Askara rose from the bed as his brother entered. "You want something from me, Brother?"

Aksara nodded slowly. "Hm. I just wanted to check on your condition, and talk with you a bit." His gaze softened. "Can you walk? Let's talk on the balcony"

Askara blinked, surprised for a moment, but then gave a small nod. "Yeah… I can manage"

Together, the two brothers stepped toward the balcony, the faint echo of their footsteps the only sound in the quiet night.

....

...

..

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