Edwin Lunar Chapter 34: The Silver-Eyed Commander

Read chapter 34 of Edwin Lunar by MananTayal on NovelPedia.

Silence filled Combat Hall Seven after the transmission ended. No student moved. No one even spoke. The holographic map above the arena still flickered faintly where the Eidolon fleet had appeared moments earlier beyond the Noor System. Ancient warships. A hidden fleet. And one terrifying message: RETURN THE FLAME HEIR Edwin stood frozen beneath the dim arena lights while the ring on his hand pulsed painfully under his sleeve. Carl slowly looked around the silent hall. "…I miss when our biggest problem was exams." Nobody laughed this time. Professor Raith immediately deactivated the public arena systems. "All students return to your dormitories now." His voice had changed completely. Sharp. Urgent. Dangerous. The other students hurried out quickly, whispering nervously among themselves as academy security drones flooded the hall entrances. But before Orion Team could leave— Raith stopped them. "You four stay." The massive combat hall doors sealed shut behind the last students. Silence returned instantly. Raith activated a private security barrier around the platform before turning toward Edwin. "What did that fleet mean by Flame Heir?" Edwin hesitated. Lucien answered first. "It's connected to Eclipse." Raith's expression darkened immediately. "How much do you know?" Edwin slowly explained everything. The Vault. Groader. The synchronization. The ancient fleets. And the message they received beneath the Eclipse chamber before sealing it again. The professor listened without interrupting once. When Edwin finished, Raith remained silent for several moments. Then quietly said: "This is worse than I thought." Carl folded his arms nervously. "That sentence should honestly stop existing." Raith activated another holographic map. This one far larger than before. The Noor System expanded outward into deep space regions beyond academy territory. Several zones were marked black. Restricted. Lost sectors. "During the Great War," Raith explained, "multiple Eidolon fleets disappeared before the final battle." Iris looked toward the black sectors carefully. "They escaped." Raith nodded once. "We believed their command systems shut down after Groader's defeat." Lucien crossed his arms. "But they didn't." "No." The professor zoomed toward one distant outer region. A dead zone far beyond known space routes. "That transmission came from here." Carl looked horrified. "Why do evil ancient armies always hide in terrifying space places?" Edwin barely heard them. His mind remained locked onto one thing. The silver-eyed commander. Not red. Silver. Like the ring. Like Atlas. Like Orion. Raith noticed immediately. "You recognized something." Edwin nodded slowly. "The commander's eye…" He looked toward the others. "It wasn't corrupted." Silence spread briefly. Iris's expression sharpened. "You think they aren't fully controlled by Eclipse." "Maybe." Lucien looked toward the fading coordinates. "Or maybe they're something worse." Before anyone could answer— The academy communication systems activated again. But this time— Not alarms. Headmaster Humming's voice echoed calmly through the private barrier. "Professor Raith. Bring Orion Team to the High Council Chamber immediately." Carl groaned softly. "That room never means good news." Twenty minutes later— Orion Team stood inside the highest chamber of Lunar Dominion Academy. The High Council Chamber floated above every academy tower beneath a giant transparent dome overlooking the stars themselves. Twelve Marshals stood around the circular platform again. Including the cold-eyed Marshal from Edwin's ceremony. This time his expression looked even darker. Headmaster Humming stood at the center platform beside the holographic projection of the Eidolon fleet. The moment Orion Team entered— The chamber became silent. One Marshal spoke immediately. "The fleet specifically requested Edwin Lunar." Another answered coldly: "Which confirms the danger he represents." Edwin's fists tightened slightly. Humming's voice