Resphyr: "In dreams, no one dies" (Revised Version)
Author's Note: I added this part of the conversation between Kejuta and Resphyr when the latter visited her in her dream world.
Kejuta blushed suddenly. “Um… let’s go to the next question. You specifically gave Alethea that death dream, didn’t you?”
“Of course. During my escapade in Pascifita, I stumbled into her dream world and discovered who she was as well as what happened. I wanted to show her the truth about who her creator really is and to hint that something sinister was happening. I wished that I could have shown her the truth from the very beginning, but I might accidentally reveal myself too soon,” he admitted regretfully. “Any more questions?”
“Of course. During my escapade in Pascifita, I stumbled into her dream world and discovered who she was as well as what happened. I wanted to show her the truth about who her creator really is and to hint that something sinister was happening. I wished that I could have shown her the truth from the very beginning, but I might accidentally reveal myself too soon,” he admitted regretfully. “Any more questions?”
Author's Note: I slightly altered the moment when Kejuta arrived in Welvaria for the important meeting.
Kejuta arrived at Welvaria in the late morning and found it already busy with activities. Torryn was teaching a traditional Ankan song to Adia while Hessin was showing Lanskas something he found back in Samara. Pendance and Oraji sat closely next to each other and it seemed like they were deep in a conversation. The Ilmarian of Fate smiled in spite of herself; she had approved the young woman due to her kind and gentle nature. If they decided to become a couple, she wouldn’t mind at all.
Aundra and Brenton were hiding in the corner as the former was whispering something in the boy’s ears. It seemed like she was trying to reassure him since he appeared troubled over something. Meanwhile, Marika and Alethea were also having a private conversation; out of all the Ilmarians, the Aerian was closest to the Ishan for some reason. Maybe it was because Marika was the one tending to her after she was rescued. Kejuta smiled to herself, seeing this sight. If everyone could get along with each other so well, they can work together to improve the world and ensure that another Caeculum War never happens.
Another portal appeared which caused everyone to stop talking all of a sudden. Zentran and Weiss walked into the room with a handcuffed Shintra in tow. Most of the Ilmarians stared at him warily since they were aware of his power, but the Duermon looked back at them defiantly until they turned away. However, he gave a curious look at the Ilmarian of Truth, who gave him a level stare in return while Marika placed her arms around her protectively. Kejuta made a mental note to make sure those two weren’t alone with each other especially after what Hessin had told her about last night.
After he was seated, Marika turned to her and asked, “Are you ready to begin then?” She nodded so the Ilmarian of Worlds announced, “Everyone, please have a seat. The meeting will begin now.”
Aundra and Brenton were hiding in the corner as the former was whispering something in the boy’s ears. It seemed like she was trying to reassure him since he appeared troubled over something. Meanwhile, Marika and Alethea were also having a private conversation; out of all the Ilmarians, the Aerian was closest to the Ishan for some reason. Maybe it was because Marika was the one tending to her after she was rescued. Kejuta smiled to herself, seeing this sight. If everyone could get along with each other so well, they can work together to improve the world and ensure that another Caeculum War never happens.
Another portal appeared which caused everyone to stop talking all of a sudden. Zentran and Weiss walked into the room with a handcuffed Shintra in tow. Most of the Ilmarians stared at him warily since they were aware of his power, but the Duermon looked back at them defiantly until they turned away. However, he gave a curious look at the Ilmarian of Truth, who gave him a level stare in return while Marika placed her arms around her protectively. Kejuta made a mental note to make sure those two weren’t alone with each other especially after what Hessin had told her about last night.
After he was seated, Marika turned to her and asked, “Are you ready to begin then?” She nodded so the Ilmarian of Worlds announced, “Everyone, please have a seat. The meeting will begin now.”
Author's Note: I also changed a little bit of Shintra's confrontation with the other Ilmarians.
“You kept criticizing Kejuta’s plans, but you haven’t brought up any solutions,” Hessin commented. “What would you do differently, Duermon?”
“Why bothering telling the lot of you? You already have decided to oppose me because of my race. Not once you refuse to call me by my name. If I were an Aerian or a human, you would be more willing to listen to me and acknowledge me.” Shintra smiled as everyone glanced at each other uneasily. “See? I proved my point, but since I’m in a good mood, I’ll tell you. Since you’re so insistent on making yourselves public, I propose that we make our intentions loud and clear to the people – obey our wishes and we will be keen to helping them. Oppose us and we will annihilate them from the face of the earth.”
“Just like you did to my people?” Alethea retorted.
He waved his hands unapologetically. “It’s true that I caused your people’s death, but I shouldn’t have the full blame.”
She narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”
“While I was the one who ‘convinced’ Fulong to kill the Aerians, have you ever thought of who was the one brought him to me?” He gazed at Kejuta and she immediately realized what he was trying to do. “Her power is to control people’s fates, correct? What if she used that to force the general to move his forces near the border where I could meet him? That way it would make things easier for her when she searched for you.” He then focused his attention to Resphyr. “The same goes to him. What if he entered the general’s dream world and placed a suggestion of trying out his new weapon? Maybe before placing the blame all on me, you should consider other possibilities. Am I right?”
“Likewise, why should I be the only one who got blamed for your kidnapping? Perhaps it was her that led you to me. After all, if you hadn’t gone on that expedition, my men wouldn’t have met you and alerted me of your presence. Not to mention, all those times when you could have escaped and returned to your people. Instead, I found out and made sure you that you stayed with me. I’m not sure, but maybe ‘fate’ wanted you to end up with me. Based on what I heard, it’s because she uses you to get to me, perhaps?”
The Aerian opened her mouth to counter his point but closed it uncertainly. Instead, she crossed her arms and muttered to herself as if arguing with herself. In fact, everyone else seemed to be troubled as well as they whispered to each other. Kejuta began to panic. After all of her efforts, was her attempt of bringing everyone together falling apart? That bastard Duermon had placed doubts in everyone including herself and there was nothing she could do about it.
“Why bothering telling the lot of you? You already have decided to oppose me because of my race. Not once you refuse to call me by my name. If I were an Aerian or a human, you would be more willing to listen to me and acknowledge me.” Shintra smiled as everyone glanced at each other uneasily. “See? I proved my point, but since I’m in a good mood, I’ll tell you. Since you’re so insistent on making yourselves public, I propose that we make our intentions loud and clear to the people – obey our wishes and we will be keen to helping them. Oppose us and we will annihilate them from the face of the earth.”
“Just like you did to my people?” Alethea retorted.
He waved his hands unapologetically. “It’s true that I caused your people’s death, but I shouldn’t have the full blame.”
She narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”
“While I was the one who ‘convinced’ Fulong to kill the Aerians, have you ever thought of who was the one brought him to me?” He gazed at Kejuta and she immediately realized what he was trying to do. “Her power is to control people’s fates, correct? What if she used that to force the general to move his forces near the border where I could meet him? That way it would make things easier for her when she searched for you.” He then focused his attention to Resphyr. “The same goes to him. What if he entered the general’s dream world and placed a suggestion of trying out his new weapon? Maybe before placing the blame all on me, you should consider other possibilities. Am I right?”
“Likewise, why should I be the only one who got blamed for your kidnapping? Perhaps it was her that led you to me. After all, if you hadn’t gone on that expedition, my men wouldn’t have met you and alerted me of your presence. Not to mention, all those times when you could have escaped and returned to your people. Instead, I found out and made sure you that you stayed with me. I’m not sure, but maybe ‘fate’ wanted you to end up with me. Based on what I heard, it’s because she uses you to get to me, perhaps?”
The Aerian opened her mouth to counter his point but closed it uncertainly. Instead, she crossed her arms and muttered to herself as if arguing with herself. In fact, everyone else seemed to be troubled as well as they whispered to each other. Kejuta began to panic. After all of her efforts, was her attempt of bringing everyone together falling apart? That bastard Duermon had placed doubts in everyone including herself and there was nothing she could do about it.
Author's Note: When Alethea was confronted by the Lashival, I changed her feeling about her impending doom.
Shit, I’m going to die. It was funny. Long ago, she would have embraced death after discovering the truth about her past, but now she wanted to live. She can’t die just yet without atoning for her past actions. Come on, she urged herself as the enemy prepared to blast her. She could barely hear Argus yelling at her to stop acting like a rookie soldier and do something. Move.
Author's Note: Lastly, I altered the part where Shintra was about to make his getaway.
Walking quietly, he ignored the rock pile, where the Doranian priest lay underneath. Instead, he approached the two unconscious women. Bending down, he searched Alethea until he found her needle ring. Hmm… if he remembered correctly, Marika just pricked her finger on the sharp point and toss it in the air. The Duermon glanced around and was pleased to see that the others were still distracted. Now was his chance to escape! He looked down at the angel and decided to bring her along as well. Even though his magic no longer worked on her, he was sure that he still had some influence on her. Not to mention he still needed to punish her for her little stunt; his chest still throbbed from where she stabbed him.
He was about to prick his finger when another idea occurred to him. Looking at the foolish humans, he realized that he needed to build up their trust first. If he escaped now, they would surely find him and capture him again. Based on Kejuta’s slip-up, he was definitely positive that the others had a protection spell of some sort that prevented his type of magic from being effective. Since that woman’s power was similar to his, it would mean her magic wouldn’t work on him when he got that protection. “You will have to wait,” he whispered mockingly to Alethea as he put back her needle ring. “I still need to punish you for that deceit as well as get revenge on that woman. But first…”
He was about to prick his finger when another idea occurred to him. Looking at the foolish humans, he realized that he needed to build up their trust first. If he escaped now, they would surely find him and capture him again. Based on Kejuta’s slip-up, he was definitely positive that the others had a protection spell of some sort that prevented his type of magic from being effective. Since that woman’s power was similar to his, it would mean her magic wouldn’t work on him when he got that protection. “You will have to wait,” he whispered mockingly to Alethea as he put back her needle ring. “I still need to punish you for that deceit as well as get revenge on that woman. But first…”