On the afternoon of the following day, Gawain convened Heti, Camil, and the other key senior officials, formally announcing the Goddess of Magic's current condition and the various pieces of intelligence obtained from Amun the Giant Deer at a closed-door meeting.
The double-layered, reinforced crystal windows shut out the howling cold wind outside, leaving only pale sunlight slanting into the room. Within the tightly secured small conference room, the atmosphere was more solemn than ever.
Gawain sat at the head of the long conference table, with Heti seated to his right. As usual, Amber had melted into the air, while a Magic Net Terminal had been placed on the left side of the table. Above its Crystal Array floated the images of the two Grand Chancellors, Victoria Wilde and Baldwin Franklin.
"It seemed the Goddess of Magic truly would not be returning... Though Milmina still existed, the Goddess of Magic had already 'fallen' in terms of Divine Office," Victoria broke the silence. "After The Fall of the White Star, people had once again personally witnessed The Fall of Gods."
"Unlike three thousand years ago, the Goddess of Magic's faith did not hold such immense influence over society, and her 'departure' would not shake the existing mage system," Pittman said from nearby. "I discussed it with Princess Heti yesterday. We should be able to weather this upheaval relatively easily."
"Provided we act quickly," Heti took over, raising her eyes toward Gawain beside her. "Ancestor, just hours after the Goddess of Magic's feedback vanished, mages began noticing abnormalities and reporting them to their local Administrative Halls. Reports from across the country are still steadily increasing. They are patiently waiting for a response from the imperial capital, but the news will soon spread among the public."
For a long time, mages had occupied