Frozen Flame of Dawn - Chapter 87

Chapter 87: Chapter 42: Night Feast to Forge Trust_2

As hall was slowly filling, Amira who sat near the podium as her sharp eyes scanning the pages of a worn ancient book she had taken from the mayor’s house with her focus as she absorbed the information.

Megan approached, balancing a stack of documents in her arms. She placed them on the table with a quiet thud and stood to the side, waiting for Amira’s acknowledgment. Without missing a beat, Amira finished her page, closed the book with a soft snap, and looked up at Megan.

“What’s this?” Amira asked, as she gestured at the documents.

“Reports and maps of the whole basin,” Megan explained. “They outline resource allocation, the current population count and some supply chain logistics as the way you said to gather it but I still can’t think of a reason on how it might be useful for the next steps.”

Amira brow furrowed as she shifted through the papers while processing all the details. “Twenty-seven thousand residents?” she mused aloud. “For a town like this, especially one that’s a well know tourist destination, that number feels… off, even accounting for the different scenario, I expected more.”

Megan shifted slightly, understanding the implication. “Captain,” she said cautiously, “This town is more of a seasonal hub as most locals travel during this time of year for business or vacations, so they don’t have to spend their time off in a place they see every day. As for tourists, the surge disrupted everything and also their are these regulation to control the population but restricting buying/selling difficult here that’s why the numbers are lower than you’d think.”

Amira nodded slowly. “Fair enough,” she said. “But it still doesn’t sit right, and also out of these 27,000, I don’t believe that the only awakened ones were Cole’s thugs and the people he coerced. There have to be others—people hiding their abilities, unsure if they can trust anyone.”

Megan nodded, her expression somber. “You’re probably right and honestly, I wouldn’t blame them. In times like these, trust is a rare commodity.”

“Exactly,” Amira said. “That’s why tonight is important. The feast isn’t just about food; it’s about laying the groundwork for trust. I’ll address the situation to let them aware of the danger to let them understand and then give them a choice—stay and work together or leave and fend for themselves.”

Megan hesitated but eventually asked, “And the special dish? I’ve heard whispers about it from your team, something about it being… beneficial?”

Amira leaned back in her chair, her expression softening slightly. “You’re curious,” she said, a faint smirk playing on her lips.

Megan flushed but nodded. “I mean, yeah that’s mutated beast meat? Isn’t that dangerous?”

Amira chuckled, the sound light yet firm. “Dangerous if mishandled, yes. But when prepared correctly, it’s an incredible source of spiritual energy. My team and I have been consuming it for days, and it’s significantly improved our adaptability and spiritual energy concentration in our body. It helps the body acclimate to the changes brought on by awakening.”

Megan’s eyes widened. “But… how does it work and what dangerous if mishandled?”

“Let’s see….its like overeating, it can cause harm right here is also same due to it having spiritual energy in meat eating large amount for body who has never experience spiritual energy is harmful,” Amira admitted. “That’s why we monitor the portions carefully as too much, and it can overload the body but small amounts? It’s transformative. Tonight’s dish will serve two purposes—help those on the verge of awakening and reveal who among the townsfolk might already be awakened.”

Megan absorbed this information, her expression thoughtful. “Smart,” she finally said. “You’re using the feast as both a test and a way to unify everyone.”

Amira’s lips twitched into a faint smile. “Exactly. And once we know who’s awakened, we can address the instability that comes with it. It’s not just about power—it’s about control and purpose.”

As they were continued their quiet discussion, Bella who had just arrived entered the hall attracted everyone attention as they looked at her silently while murmuring among themself as she approach where Amira was seating.

Amira glanced at Bella but didn’t immediately interrupt her conversation with Megan as Bella approach. When Bella finally reached near her, Amira then gestured toward Bella and said, “Megan, meet Bella, the vice-captain in the Phoenix unit and also a lieutenant back in the military.”

Bella smiled naturally as she turned her head slightly toward Megan saying. “Bella Rose and you must be the head of the military facility compound here?”

Megan nodded, offering a polite smile. “Megan Stewart. It’s good to finally meet you, have heard a lot about you from your teammates.”

Amira interrupted their exchange as she turned the conversation back on track. “What’s the update?”

Bella’s grin faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression. “We’ve completed a quick recon of the area surrounding the basin, no immediate threats found, but the surrounding area is too large and also the mountain that’s that’s surrounding this town with the area within haven’t fully explored yet, so a deep reconnaissance is still necessary.”

“Good work and I agree for deep reconnaissance, but for now, we’ll put that on hold.” Amira nodded thoughtfully. “So what about the sweep of all the hideouts of Cole’s gang.”

Bella didn’t argue; she never did when it came to Amira’s plans. “Understood. If you say it can wait, it can wait. As for the those pest of Cole’s gang its clear and detained in temporary hold place but because the obvious pests are gone doesn’t mean the shadows are empty.”

“That’s why we’re here, Bella,” Amira replied. “To make sure everything is fine. Now, go get some rest, we’ll talk after the feast.”

Bella let out a soft laugh while asking. “Where are everyone?”

“Go to straight ahead you’ll find them at the back of the hall,” Amira quipped, with her usual serious tone in her voice.

Bella gave a sly smile before turning and heading toward the back of the hall. As she walked, she caught a glimpse of some of her team members hanging around, some helped helped in setting up chairs and while others help in cooking.

The sight brought a small smile to her face so she allowed herself a moment of reprieve, letting the scent of the feast waft through the air as she joined her team.

Back at the hall near the podium, Amira leaned back in her chair as her gaze following Bella for a moment before she turned her attention back to Megan. “For now, inform me when everyone arrived.” she said with a calm tone as she turned her attention on the book she was reading before.