Chapter 21: The Next Step (Revised Version)
Author's Note: A small modification during the meeting in Welvaria.
“If you hadn’t rushed over to Ishara and ignored my messenger birds, you would have known that the Kasama was after the Lashival and warn Talic and the others!” Torryn listened gleefully as an irate Kejuta yelled at Hessin; she was still vivid at him due to his rash actions. For once, it was nice to see the old fart in trouble. Her twin brother must have felt the same way because he was trying his best not to crack a smile.
Nevertheless, that self-righteous prick didn't seem bothered by her rant. “You know that I won't just sit here and do nothing while that man destroys my homeland,” he argued.
“And that was what he was expecting!” the Ilmarian of Fate fumed. “He had Kahlin Leomas declare war on Eirenerida because he knew that it would get your attention, which was why he lured you over there. Because of that, I had to focus the majority of my attention to Ishara instead of on him. Once he knew it, he led his followers out of there since he knew that we were preoccupied. Now he has a head start over the Bartheomos members!”
Before Hessin could say a word, Istra quickly spoke up. “I’m sorry, Kejuta,” she said, bowing her head apologetically. “I tried to tell him that you wouldn’t approve of his actions, but you know how stubborn he is.”
The spirit’s master scowled at her before he turned his attention to the Ilmarian of Fate. “While it may be true that I was tricked by the Kasama, I still would have gotten involved no matter what. Even if we focus on that man, you know that he would have Leomas do something devastating to divert our attention from him anyway. Instead of worrying about two issues, we might as well as get rid of one distraction so we could have our full attention on the one major issue.”
Torryn grinded her teeth. Dammit! That old fart did have a point. Even Kejuta must have realized it too because she just sighed. “I suppose you’re right,” she admitted but warned, “However, next time you need to read my messages instead of ignoring them.”
“I will, I promise,” he consented.
Marika cleared her throat. “Now that issue is solved, we can focus on the problem at hand.”
They were currently at Welvaria attending another one of Kejuta’s meetings. After she had found out that the Kasama and his underlings knew about the Lashival, she had been meeting the other Ilmarians (well, except for Alethea, Shintra, and Kejuta’s children) nonstop as she frantically tried to figure out what to do. So far, she hadn’t found a perfect solution. Torryn just kissed his teeth. “Since you won’t let us kill the Lashival, why don’t you let us assassinate the Kasama?” she pointed out. “Weiss and I can easily sneak into his camp and kill him without anyone knowing it.”
The Ilmarian of Fate shook her head as she fidgeted with the Chains of Destinies. “Unfortunately we can’t. He is still important since he is one of the determining factors of whether or not Talic and the others will be successful in their mission. I just need to find the right Chain to ensure that as well as preventing the Kasama from causing too much trouble.”
Torryn huffed, annoyed, and slouched with her arms crossed in her seat. That woman was still hung up about letting those inexperienced Bartheomos members kill their target. Her twin must have sensed her frustration because he signed, “Be patient. We’ll get to play with him soon.”
Just as he was signing that, a gateway opened and Oraji stepped out. The Ilmarian of Nature seemed flustered as she set a tray full of an empty plate and silverwares aside before taking her spot. Heh, she probably thought everyone was upset that she was late, but they just ignored her since they knew why. The Ilmarian of Judgment clenched her fists. That damned Duermon! What the hell was he thinking telling outsiders of the Lashival? Unlike Kej, he should have known that monster is for her and her brother's enjoyment. If she sees that Duermon again, she’s going to demand some answers.
“So what are we going to do then?” Zentran pondered. Torryn wanted to sneer. After she and Weiss decided to sign a contract with Shintra as a way of thanking him, he informed them that the Sendoan declined to repay his debt. She thought that was quite ungrateful of him, but then that didn’t surprise her at all since she knew why though. He was too infatuated with Alethea, who obviously is vivid at the Duermon, and most likely didn’t want to go against her. Wasn’t it so obvious that the Aerian didn’t care for him and see him as a pest? She did ask the angel about her opinion of Zen, but the Ilmarian of Truth just gave a vague reply by saying that he seemed nice though Torryn did hear a sense of annoyance.
Kejuta didn’t answer at first before she finally said, “Nothing for now. This will have to be a wait-and-see approach. However, we can focus on decreasing the amount of men in his disposal. I know that you want to kill the Kasama, Torryn and Weiss, but you wouldn’t mind getting rid of some of his followers, would you? There are a few of them who hadn’t joined up with his group yet so we might as well get rid of them before they do. Does that sound reasonable?”
The twins glanced at each other for a moment and nodded. “Sounds fair,” Weiss agreed. “Do you want us to start right now?”
“The quicker, the better. The fewer men he has, the better the odd for us to win.”
“Good. I was getting bored.” Torryn jumped up from her seat and immediately opened a portal to Samara. As she and Weiss left Welvaria, she turned around and waved. “We’ll be back, Kej. Come on, Weiss! It’s time to go hunting!”
Nevertheless, that self-righteous prick didn't seem bothered by her rant. “You know that I won't just sit here and do nothing while that man destroys my homeland,” he argued.
“And that was what he was expecting!” the Ilmarian of Fate fumed. “He had Kahlin Leomas declare war on Eirenerida because he knew that it would get your attention, which was why he lured you over there. Because of that, I had to focus the majority of my attention to Ishara instead of on him. Once he knew it, he led his followers out of there since he knew that we were preoccupied. Now he has a head start over the Bartheomos members!”
Before Hessin could say a word, Istra quickly spoke up. “I’m sorry, Kejuta,” she said, bowing her head apologetically. “I tried to tell him that you wouldn’t approve of his actions, but you know how stubborn he is.”
The spirit’s master scowled at her before he turned his attention to the Ilmarian of Fate. “While it may be true that I was tricked by the Kasama, I still would have gotten involved no matter what. Even if we focus on that man, you know that he would have Leomas do something devastating to divert our attention from him anyway. Instead of worrying about two issues, we might as well as get rid of one distraction so we could have our full attention on the one major issue.”
Torryn grinded her teeth. Dammit! That old fart did have a point. Even Kejuta must have realized it too because she just sighed. “I suppose you’re right,” she admitted but warned, “However, next time you need to read my messages instead of ignoring them.”
“I will, I promise,” he consented.
Marika cleared her throat. “Now that issue is solved, we can focus on the problem at hand.”
They were currently at Welvaria attending another one of Kejuta’s meetings. After she had found out that the Kasama and his underlings knew about the Lashival, she had been meeting the other Ilmarians (well, except for Alethea, Shintra, and Kejuta’s children) nonstop as she frantically tried to figure out what to do. So far, she hadn’t found a perfect solution. Torryn just kissed his teeth. “Since you won’t let us kill the Lashival, why don’t you let us assassinate the Kasama?” she pointed out. “Weiss and I can easily sneak into his camp and kill him without anyone knowing it.”
The Ilmarian of Fate shook her head as she fidgeted with the Chains of Destinies. “Unfortunately we can’t. He is still important since he is one of the determining factors of whether or not Talic and the others will be successful in their mission. I just need to find the right Chain to ensure that as well as preventing the Kasama from causing too much trouble.”
Torryn huffed, annoyed, and slouched with her arms crossed in her seat. That woman was still hung up about letting those inexperienced Bartheomos members kill their target. Her twin must have sensed her frustration because he signed, “Be patient. We’ll get to play with him soon.”
Just as he was signing that, a gateway opened and Oraji stepped out. The Ilmarian of Nature seemed flustered as she set a tray full of an empty plate and silverwares aside before taking her spot. Heh, she probably thought everyone was upset that she was late, but they just ignored her since they knew why. The Ilmarian of Judgment clenched her fists. That damned Duermon! What the hell was he thinking telling outsiders of the Lashival? Unlike Kej, he should have known that monster is for her and her brother's enjoyment. If she sees that Duermon again, she’s going to demand some answers.
“So what are we going to do then?” Zentran pondered. Torryn wanted to sneer. After she and Weiss decided to sign a contract with Shintra as a way of thanking him, he informed them that the Sendoan declined to repay his debt. She thought that was quite ungrateful of him, but then that didn’t surprise her at all since she knew why though. He was too infatuated with Alethea, who obviously is vivid at the Duermon, and most likely didn’t want to go against her. Wasn’t it so obvious that the Aerian didn’t care for him and see him as a pest? She did ask the angel about her opinion of Zen, but the Ilmarian of Truth just gave a vague reply by saying that he seemed nice though Torryn did hear a sense of annoyance.
Kejuta didn’t answer at first before she finally said, “Nothing for now. This will have to be a wait-and-see approach. However, we can focus on decreasing the amount of men in his disposal. I know that you want to kill the Kasama, Torryn and Weiss, but you wouldn’t mind getting rid of some of his followers, would you? There are a few of them who hadn’t joined up with his group yet so we might as well get rid of them before they do. Does that sound reasonable?”
The twins glanced at each other for a moment and nodded. “Sounds fair,” Weiss agreed. “Do you want us to start right now?”
“The quicker, the better. The fewer men he has, the better the odd for us to win.”
“Good. I was getting bored.” Torryn jumped up from her seat and immediately opened a portal to Samara. As she and Weiss left Welvaria, she turned around and waved. “We’ll be back, Kej. Come on, Weiss! It’s time to go hunting!”