The ritual had ended.
The stars had returned to their normal positions.
The sacred formation had faded into nothingness.
Yet nobody left the garden.
Nobody even considered leaving.
Because everyone understood that what had happened tonight was far more dangerous than they initially thought.
Not because Kel had awakened.
Not because all eighty-eight constellations had answered.
Not even because Space itself had become his awakening path.
The real danger was information.
And information, when placed in the wrong hands, could become more destructive than any sword.
The cold northern wind drifted through the garden.
Silver snowflakes slowly descended from the heavens.
The lanterns around the ritual grounds flickered softly.
The atmosphere had become far calmer than before.
Yet beneath that calm surface, every priest and priestess was deep in thought.
Father Aurelius slowly stepped forward.
The elderly priest's expression had become serious.
Far more serious than during the ritual itself.
"We have a problem."
His voice echoed across the garden.
Immediately everyone became attentive.
The Priestess of Fate nodded.
"A very serious problem."
Nearby, Duke Aktaris crossed his arms.
He already knew what they meant.
Information control.
The moment news spread that a person had awakened through Space itself—
The entire continent would explode.
Temples would investigate.
Scholars would arrive.
Kings would send envoys.
Magic Towers would become interested.
Ancient organizations hidden within shadows would begin moving.
And Kel—
Would immediately become the center of countless storms.
The Priestess of Knowledge sighed.
"We cannot allow the truth to spread."
Several attendants immediately nodded.
Even they understood.
The old scholar continued.
"If the truth leaves Rosenfeld Estate..."
She paused.
"The consequences would be immeasurable."
Nobody disagreed.
Because everyone present had witnessed enough to understand that.
One by one—
The Twelve Priests exchanged glances.
Then an agreement silently formed.
Not through voting.
Not through discussion.
Through necessity.
Father Aurelius turned toward the attendants.
His voice carried authority.
"What happened tonight remains within Rosenfeld Estate."
Every attendant immediately bowed.
"Understood."
The Priestess of Fate addressed her own followers.
"The same applies to all temple records."
"Understood."
Another priest spoke.
"Not a single word leaves this estate."
Again.
Everyone agreed.
Soon all twelve priests and priestesses began informing their attendants personally.
No records.
No rumors.
No discussions.
No speculation.
Nothing.
The truth would remain buried.
Then they approached the Rosenfeld family.
Duke Aktaris listened silently.
Helena nodded.
Aria agreed.
The uncles agreed.
The cousins agreed.
Even the younger children understood enough to remain quiet.
The atmosphere became increasingly serious.
Because everyone knew the truth.
A secret this large could destroy lives.
Eventually—
A new concern emerged.
The Priest of Knowledge rubbed his chin.
"Then what do we tell people?"
The question immediately froze everyone.
Because it was a very good question.
They could hide the truth.
But they still needed a story.
An official explanation.
After all—
Twelve temples had participated in Kel's awakening.
Reports would be submitted.
Questions would be asked.
Sooner or later someone would demand answers.
"What constellation did Kel awaken?"
The question would come.
Without fail.
The priests began discussing possibilities.
Dragon constellation?
Too suspicious.
King constellation?
Too political.
Sword constellation?
Too ordinary.
Nobody could reach an agreement.
The more they thought—
The worse the problem became.
Then—
A calm voice interrupted them.
"You are overthinking it."
Everyone turned.
Kel stood nearby.
His hands casually resting within his cloak.
Three miniature constellations had already disappeared.
Yet somehow his presence felt even more dangerous now.
The young heir slowly approached.
Snowflakes landed upon his dark cloak.
His silver eyes reflected moonlight.
Then he spoke.
"You can simply say I awakened a rare constellation."
The priests blinked.
Kel continued.
"The Phoenix Constellation."
Silence.
Everyone stared.
The Priestess of Fate immediately began thinking.
Phoenix.
Rare.
Powerful.
Respected.
Most importantly—
Believable.
Kel continued.
"It explains rapid recovery."
Several people nodded.
True.
The cursed heir had recovered completely.
A phoenix awakening would easily explain that.
"It explains vitality."
Again.
True.
"It explains elemental compatibility."
The priests exchanged glances.
Another excellent point.
Phoenixes possessed strong elemental affinity in many ancient records.
Kel calmly continued.
"You may also mention exceptional regeneration."
Another pause.
"And superior elemental control."
Another pause.
"Anything else that seems appropriate."
Silence followed.
Long silence.
Because everyone had reached the same realization.
This explanation was perfect.
Not merely good.
Perfect.
Politically.
Militarily.
Scholarly.
Religiously.
Perfect.
The Priest of Knowledge slowly blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then looked at the other priests.
The other priests were already looking at him.
Each carrying identical expressions.
Shock.
Pure shock.
Because they had all reached the same conclusion.
The terrifying part wasn't the explanation.
The terrifying part was how quickly Kel created it.
No hesitation.
No preparation.
No discussion.
He had instantly generated a lie that perfectly fit every circumstance.
The Priestess of Fate narrowed her eyes.
"This child..."
No.
Not child.
Monster.
The word appeared naturally.
Nearby—
Scholar Mirielle was thinking the exact same thing.
"Absolute monster."
The Priest of Dawn thought the same.
"A complete monster."
Even Duke Aktaris found himself silently amused.
Because he could practically see the thoughts running through the priests' minds.
The Twelve Priests were terrified.
Not of Kel's power.
Of his brain.
Because power could be measured.
Power had limits.
Intelligence like this?
Far more dangerous.
The Priest of Judgment eventually asked.
"How did you think of that so quickly?"
Kel tilted his head slightly.
As though confused by the question.
Then answered.
"Because it solves every problem."
Silence.
Again.
The priests nearly wanted to scream.
That wasn't an explanation.
That was the problem.
The answer had been so obvious to him that he genuinely couldn't understand why everyone else struggled.
The Priestess of Knowledge sighed heavily.
Then laughed.
Soon another priest laughed.
Then another.
Eventually all twelve priests and priestesses began laughing.
Not because anything was funny.
Because they had finally reached their limit.
The situation had become too absurd.
Nearby—
The attendants looked confused.
Aria watched everything silently.
Then slowly smiled.
Because she understood something.
Everyone tonight had focused on Kel's awakening.
His connection to Space.
His summoning of constellations.
His impossible talent.
Yet they had overlooked something important.
Perhaps the most dangerous thing about Kel was never his power.
Never his awakening.
Never his talent.
It was how naturally he thought.
How quickly he adapted.
How effortlessly he solved problems others considered impossible.
And judging by the expressions of the Twelve Priests—
They had finally realized it too.
Standing beneath the endless heavens—
The priests looked toward Kel.
The young heir looked back calmly.
And for the first time that night—
All twelve spiritual authorities arrived at the same conclusion.
Kel Rosenfeld's awakening was terrifying.
His future potential was terrifying.
His connection to Space was terrifying.
But none of those things frightened them as much as one simple fact.
The boy standing before them wasn't merely powerful.
He was intelligent enough to know exactly how powerful he should appear.
And that—
Was the most dangerous kind of monster in existence.
Above them, the stars shimmered silently.
As though they too had finally understood why every constellation in existence had answered the call of one boy