The whole Rose Cruce Order got worked up when they heard Tamie's tale. Edmund gathered a council immediately, consisting of himself, Tamie, Lord Nick, Tamie's "sisters", Goatee Bill, Shiba and Diana, and Olivia's sister Nora Tinder.

"The situation that befell us is no joke!" Edmund adjusted his glasses and began after everyone got acquainted with the details. "They want to steal Tamie's body. According to the information I've gathered from you guys, Jan von Drachen, who disguised himself as Johan Schneider, has already been here and attempted to raise Tamie on a high enough level for him to seize her. Fortunately, this Byakuya guy alerted Tamie in time. Now, as I see, Johan Schneider who is, in fact, Jan von Drachen, has vanished. At least that is a good thing - for now, we are safe. The enemies will have to review their plan."

"Doesn't that mean we must strike them before they come up with a new plan?" Nora frowned.

"Precisely!" Edmund said. "For that, we need to make a plan ourselves. After fighting Lord Marvin, I finally raised a rank and now I am a Sage. So, we've got two Sages in our group!" He smiled at Nick, who was worried but maintained a calm facade since the situation demanded it. "I think we'll make it!"

"First, we need to learn as much as we can about the enemies' powers," Nick said. "Here, we have some experienced Fire signs, who can tell us about Erik von Drachen's abilities." He glanced at Cherrie, Nora, and Riza. 

"Well, since Erik von Drachen is a Leo, as you said, and a Battler Class final rank - the Emperor, I can tell much about his powers," Cherrie said. "I am only the Queen rank for now, but I know a lot about my zodiac sign and my Class. First of all, the information Tamie gave is true - the Leo of Battler Class do have strong illusionary powers. I attest that Erik could create his illusionary replicas. Second, the Leo of Battler Class, especially if their spirits amplify the powers (such as my Tiger and Erik's Dragon), can use large amounts of fire. They can create fire typhoons, tornadoes, lava tsunamis, and so on. The strongest power would be the Blast of the Sun, which Erik might have since he claims to be the Sun Lord, which, apparently, he is not. I doubt he'd just be boasting, though. He might actually have a basis to claim such a thing. The best way to beat high-rank Leo of Battler Class with a powerful, offensive spirit would be to use the Water element against them. Preferably, of a Defender Class of the same rank."

Everyone looked at Rianna and Nick.

"What?" Rianna blinked. "I'm only a Medic rank of the Defender Class! I'm nowhere near the eighth rank!"

"I might be able to stop him." Nick puckered. "But that illusionary system bugs me. If I beat his illusion, will he be defeated or will he be able to reappear?"

"You must not beat him," Cherrie said. "If you do, he will simply recreate a replica, as you said. You must make him run out of energy. That way, he will completely disappear. He won't be able to create any more replicas."

"Hmm, that might be a problem," Nick said. "Erik might have a larger reserve as a Dragon spirit than I do as an Ox spirit. Plus, I am only capable of mimicking Defender Art because I am a Keeper."

"We also have a bigger problem," Edmund cut in, "Jan. He, as far as I've understood, has the ability to enter bodies. If he does it once, he won't be able to do it anymore, for his Ghost Clone will run out of energy and disappear forever. That is how Ghost Clones work, so he has only one chance of unlocking Erik's seal. We must make sure not to give him that chance!"

"Or rather," - Nick grinned, - "give him a chance he will regret he obtained!"

"Huh?" Everyone was confused.

"As far as I've understood, Jan, as the Bearer of the Soul, needs either a potential Bearer or a true but weakened Bearer to take the body of, in order for his Bearer Craft to work and unlock the seal," Nick explained. "If that weren't the case, they wouldn't be searching for a strong Libra. They chose my sister since we're both talented. They counted her as a potential Bearer, which might be true." He smiled at Tamie. "I say, we give them a body that they consider to be the right one, but in fact, it doesn't work! Make them enter a body that is not able to fulfill their plans!"

The friends widened their eyes. That was a pretty good idea!

"That is not possible, Nick." Edmund frowned.

"Why?" Nick asked.

"Because... if Jan enters a body, uses the Blast of Judgment and leaves, the body won't survive," Edmund said.

"No way! How cruel..." The girls were frightened.

"Ugh, those jerks!" Nick almost sprang up in rage. "I won't forgive them!"

Goatee Bill's special Star-gadget, which he had made on his own, beeped.

"Huh? What's wrong, Goatee?" the friends asked.

"Magister, we've got amazing news!" Goatee Bill said.

"Huh? What news?" Edmund asked.

"Erik has a weakness." Bill grinned. "A dire weakness! If we kill his Illusionary Clone, there will be no more need for a seal. He will be no more. He has already used up all of his energy to create that clone. If we make it disappear, we will get rid of Erik altogether!"

"Huh?!" The friends gasped.

"For real, Goatee?" Edmund adjusted his glasses, not believing his ears.

"Yes," he replied. "It is a trustworthy source. However, there's one problem."

"What problem?" Edmund asked.

"There are actually four Illusionary Clones, and they need to be killed simultaneously," Bill said.

"But, we don't have so much power yet!" Nick exclaimed. He already knew Erik's strength. "Erik can take out whole armies. Only final-rank people can deal with him!"

"The same source states that Jan has given up on Tamie, for we already know about their plans. He's heading towards Georg Braun now. They believe since he is old, he won't be able to resist Jan's power," Bill said.

"Oh, no, grandpa!" Tiger cried in fright.