Hana and Laras, sitting next to Elen, could only let out a long sigh. They chose not to comment on Budi's flamboyant behavior, as if already accustomed to his flashy style.
Of everyone present, only Efan and Arya responded to Budi's greeting with enthusiasm.
"Yo, good morning, Budi!" Arya called out, waving a hand.
"Finally, you're here! Sit down, bro!" Efan added, pointing to an empty seat near him.
Feeling slightly cheered by his two friends' warm reception, Budi nodded energetically in their direction. However, he realized that not everyone in the room shared the same reaction. Some only looked at him with faint smiles or gave polite nods.
He walked to his seat more calmly this time, setting aside a bit of his ego to preserve the atmosphere.
After settling into the seat next to Efan and Arya, he leaned back in his chair, trying to regain his confidence. "You guys are so cool," he muttered quietly to his two friends before glancing around the table, attempting to find a new topic to discuss.
All the core members had now gathered in the room. Their eyes met in an awkward silence. The large wall clock above the door showed exactly 11:00, but two chairs designated for Lein and Nita remained empty.
Bagus, who had been leaning back with his arms crossed, could no longer hold himself back. He let out a long sigh before asking in a casual tone, "Brother Lein and Sister Nita still haven't arrived. Has the schedule been postponed?"
The question hung in the air for a moment, drawing everyone's attention. Some turned to look at him, while others gave small nods of agreement. Their thoughts seemed aligned—it was likely Lein had a reason for his delay.
Hana, seated at the end of the table with a tablet in her hands, quickly responded, "Wait. Brother Lein would have informed us if the schedule had been postponed." Her voice was firm, though she herself seemed slightly uneasy.
She checked the tablet in her hands, scanning through the system messages to ensure nothing had been overlooked. But there were no new messages. The meeting time appeared to remain as scheduled.
In a corner of the room, Haikal Emanuel, the elderly man with his ever-immaculate white robe, leaned back comfortably in his chair. He glanced at the others with half-closed eyes, his expression as serene as ever.
"Why are you all so impatient?" he murmured, folding his hands across his chest and crossing one leg over the other. His tone was soft, yet it managed to shift the atmosphere.
Haikal's comment was like magic. That gentle reprimand prompted everyone to let out long sighs before sitting more calmly in their chairs. The room fell into sudden silence, broken only by the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. Tick... tock... tick... tock...
Suddenly, a gentle energy filled the room. A warm aura, like the morning sun, drew everyone's attention toward the door. A young man and a beautiful girl appeared, as though they had been there all along. Both of them radiated a serene presence, their small smiles bringing a sense of peace.
"Hello, everyone, you're all here," Nita greeted first, her voice clear and full of enthusiasm. She waved her hand, her wide smile instantly easing the previously tense atmosphere.
Lein, standing beside her, simply nodded calmly. His movements were composed yet brimming with authority. Without saying a word, he walked toward his seat at the head of the table, which was slightly different from the others—larger, with intricate carvings on the backrest. Nita followed closely behind him with light steps.
Silence returned to the room as the two of them sat down. All eyes were on them. No one uttered a sound, their gazes filled with a mix of emotions—amazement, nervousness, even a hint of fear. They seemed hypnotized by the arrival of the siblings, as if unable to believe what had just happened.
"When did Brother Lein get here?" Hana's voice broke the silence, sounding quiet but laden with disbelief. Her eyes widened as she looked left and right, searching for answers on the faces around her.
A few people nodded in agreement with Hana's question. And like opening a floodgate, other voices began to rise.
"Brother Lein, how did you get in? Did you use advanced magic?" Arya asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity, like a child discovering a new toy.
"Amazing! Brother Lein, you must have gotten even stronger!" Budi exclaimed enthusiastically. However, he bit his lip right after speaking. His gaze dimmed slightly, realizing that Lein and Nita's presence had completely stolen the spotlight. Clenching his fists tightly, he resolved to make a more impressive showing next time.
Meanwhile, Haikal, sitting not far from Lein, stared at him sharply. His brows furrowed, and the lines on his experienced face deepened. His thoughts raced, trying to comprehend what had just happened. For someone like him, this was not just an ordinary surprise—there was something off, as though Lein had crossed a boundary that defied logic.
On the other hand, Laras sat silently with a similar expression. Her eyes were fixed on Lein, and behind her graceful demeanor, her mind worked quickly. She tried to recall everything she had learned, searching for a reasonable explanation for the sudden appearance. But, like Haikal, she found only deeper mysteries.
Lein noticed the confusion enveloping the room. He exhaled softly and gave a small nod. A sudden shift occurred.
A powerful energy began to emanate from his body, slowly at first, like a calm river. But in the next moment, the energy surged with unstoppable force, resembling a massive dam bursting all at once.
The waves of energy swept through every corner of the room, filling the air with a heavy and soul-shaking aura. A faint blue light began to glow around Lein, creating the illusion of swirling winds encircling him.
"Ugh!" Haikal Emanuel was the first to feel its impact. His aged body trembled slightly, and he sighed, struggling to withstand the sudden oppressive force pressing against him. Clenching his fists, he focused his gaze on Lein, who remained seated calmly in his chair.