Legend of the Holy Sentinels – Night Hunters - 32 GROWING POPULARITY

“Thirty days exactly right at this very minute and not one word is heard from Prodea?”

“Yes, Master. It’s ‘bin a troublin’ tot’. Where is she?”

Yiv raised her eyes to witness the waning gibbous moon almost winking at her, as if trying her best to move past those swinging leaves to reach Yiv’s bothered mind, almost wanting to help her formulate some idea as to what is really happening in Nagozul. The shallow forest east of the Nilad Plains did very little in hiding her, together with her two most loyal apprentices, from spying eyes but it did not concern them one bit. Curfews are in effect due to the ruckus her brothers are creating so not one soul can be seen wandering off in the middle of the night to disrupt their meet.

“No need to kneel, Kudos, Madj,” she said finally lifting her hands as if inviting them to join in with her in her thoughts. “No need to be so formal. We’re meeting as close friends. Besides, I will not be needing your services at the moment.”

“The kids have now stopped their assaults on the fortresses in Nagozul,” Madj said. “I don’t know if that helps?”

“How many fortresses have they been destroying?”

“They have been hitting fortresses burning their weapons cache and causing fires to their supply, master. They’ve crippled eight fortresses now including their initial strike on the Cotton Village now known as the Seventh Fortress. I think that’s why Prodea has spread her forces around Nagozul evenly this time, but that particular tactic doesn’t make any sense. She’s getting harder to read…”

“Yes. I concur… That is odd. I do not know now what she’ll do. She’s dumbing down her strategies. Maybe there’s some sort of play here…”

“If Prodea is ‘dat smart, she could’ve anticipated ‘d next fort before ‘yer bro’ders can get too close. She’s spreadin’ her forces like she’s on ‘d defensive side invitin’ ‘dem to attack her even more. I don’t get her too…”

“You’re supplying my brothers with inside information from our spies, correct?”

“Yes, Master. ‘Dey met as ‘lil resistans as possible. “Deyr assolt on ‘d First Fortress, the Fletchur’s, is ‘d most dangerous assolt ‘deyv encountered so far. ‘D eight’ fort even surrendered wi’dowt a fight becos ‘deyr too afraid to engage ’em.”

“What do you expect? They’re all Casters there training as battlefield medics.”

“Hah! True. ‘Dat’s ‘d only village ‘dey left wid’awt burnin’ ‘deyr supplies. ‘Dey did break the walls ‘doe.”

“And have they replied on the most recent target?”

“No, Master.”

“I think they are all cooped up at the New Weaver’s Village,” added Madj.

“New Weaver’s Village?”

“Yes, master. The old village that has been leveled to the ground has been established once more by the returning villagers.”

“Why haven’t I been informed of such development?”

The two looked at each other never wanting to say another word out of fear of Yiv’s frightening reprisal. Each one thought the other one sent the information and is now only realizing that they both haven’t.

“No matter,” she continued giving the two sighs of relief but still confused at her lenient behavior today. “It’s a good thing it only took me a month to finish my mission on Yagisiv Haya. I swear, I won’t go in that torturous place anymore even if Mama pleads.”

The two smiled awkwardly not knowing what to say. Something happened to her on her way back, but they didn’t try and pry it from her. This is better than the usual.

“Why is Prodea letting all of that happen right under her nose? It’s clearly an upfront to her authority, building back what she destroyed.”

“I dunno, Master. All I know is ‘d palas’s pretty quiet ‘dis week. We haven’t destroyed any cargo trav’lin to ‘d palas ‘cos ‘dey’r ol bein’ escorted heavily by ‘d Four Mahstahs ‘en ‘deyr minions toge’der with…”

“You said the Four Masters?” she interrupted smiling wide.

“Yes, Master. ‘d Great Four Pillars of Sibara. With Master Alein at ‘d front.”

“Ah… I love to get into a sparring match with that old wart again.”

“We’ve got a score to settle with him. He’s the one that got away, right Master?”

“Yes, Madj. Alein is one of those Masters who killed my father. His souvenir on his left leg is a reminder of our failure to eliminate him.”

“Makin’ ‘im much slower ‘dan before… right! Of course! Next time he’ll not be so lucky.”

“Even Gramps can finish that pathetic old man in less than two minutes. But it’s a good thing you did not engage. You two will not survive that kind of trouble, even if his speed is reduced in half.”

“If they come at us individually, I think we could, but two on four masters? That’s rather difficult to take. The masters of speed, offense, defense, and illusion, only you could take them four all at the same time.”

Yiv smiled tapping Madj on her shoulders. “Thanks. But even at two on one, you won’t defeat them Madj. Not with your level of skill now. You need to polish your acts if you want to get to at least half their skills starting with your Communion with the Earth. You’re still glowing gold after all these years. Kudos is halfway to shadow. You’re clearly lagging behind.”

“I’m sorry master,” she smiled bowing her head down.

“That’s funny ’cause your name is Argentis and you’re glowing gold while his name is Auric and he’s glowing silver. I still can’t get over that…” Yiv laughed for quite a bit, making the two to awkwardly smile on that same old joke. She said that same joke two years ago and Auric seems to be blaming her sister every time their master repeats it. For one thing, Auric jumped from gold to silver in about three months. If Madj keeps that up, they could hear that joke be repeated till the day they die. “Hey, have they known their identities yet?” she said finally changing the topic.

“No, Master.”

“Why am I not surprised?” she mumbled snickering.

“D’ya want us to release ‘deyr fake identities today? If we hurry, we ‘kud push ’em by mornin’…”

“It seems that I will be needing your services after all,” she smiled.

The two was still surprised with Yiv’s pleasant attitude this morning but just bowed to take the order.

“Oh, and be sure to make my description extra frightening. Our purpose is to lower the army’s morale after all.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Uh… master?” Madj finally broke, giving in to curiosity’s incessant nagging. “Why are you feeling happy today? Does something important happened?”

Kudos’ eyes widened looking at his sister. She clearly doesn’t know when to shut up.

“I wanted it to be as a surprise for you till you read today’s news on the bulletins but since you brought that up, I’ll tell you now.”

The two turned curious moving closer than before after Yiv invited them as if she’s about to whisper.

“I just sent one of the Four Masters to impierno. The Master of Offense he turned out to be. He can’t land even the slightest of touch. That’s really disappointing since he should’ve posed some sort of challenge like Master Alein. But either way, my blood is boiling right now in euphoria. I have to be careful not to excite myself further or else someone will follow him there.”

Kudos and Madj was shocked just chuckling as they stepped back. They really need to disappear from her before she changes her mood. It’s always like that when she finishes a fight. She’ll feel good, excited and happy, then after that, after repressing her demanding urge to kill again, she’ll return plunging to her most evil side that is even more frightening than her normal self, being harsh, sadistic, and demented. That’s how Kudos lost a piece of his tongue. Yiv is the most talented Daomagar they know of. She can be considered a genius in combat but she’s also the cruelest person they have ever known. It’s a wonder she could function in her sane self as Liv. The two bowed fast and disappeared in the night. They only wish the second person she bumps into won’t turn up in the second page at tomorrow’s headlines.

——-ooO0Ooo——-

“Hey master! Look what I found!”

Karus looked behind seeing the running Lime almost tripping twice in her hurry. Time slowed down as he saw her blushing face lighting up standing in front of him. He hasn’t seen her for a month now. Her batting blue eyes gave chills that confound his body in a tight bind merely having the energy to express a beam comparable only to a child’s eager anticipation of summer. Indeed, this moment is a gift, a gift rudely interrupted by Kayzar as he tapped him to reality.

“You okay, Karus?”

“Indeed, master. You seem flustered?” Lime asked tilting her head in inspection.

“Oh… yeah-yeah-yeah. I’m fine.”

“Okay~” she giggled as she proudly handed out two copies of a four-page bounty poster. “I pilfered those from soldiers who are posting them all around the Palace and in the towns. Apparently, you’re all famous now.”

“Wait what!?” Karus rudely grabbed the posters, reading it in a hurry and then directed his attention once again to the lovely Lime with a knotted brow. “What do you mean we’re famous?”

Lime clicked her tongue shaking her head. “You cannot expect to conceal something like that to me master. After all the trouble we did last month finding that messenger hawk? Surely, you’d expect me to knit the thought altogether. Unless you consider me daft…”

“Oh, no, no!” he hurried laughing frantically. “I suppose you’re right. I always have known you have a keen insight on things like this.”

Kayzar just rolled his eyes as Karus tried his best to assuage Lime’s doubt by complimenting her sharp mind. He of all people knows how articulate Karus is in expressing himself. A yapping duck is more successful in delivering its point to a dog than Karus is on other people, especially to women.

“So, you know my identity then?” Kayzar finally jumped-in easing Karus’s current predicament.

“You’re not wearing glasses. You’re not the Elven kid. You’re not even the one who wears the Katana and the curious Kampilan Bolo, a sword combination only my Master proudly flaunts around here in Nagozul…”

“Hey…” Karus reacted making her giggle even more.

“Surely you are that Yiv,” she continued. “I saw you for a month here, training your daggers…” She stopped looking at the poster and pointed out Yiv’s description. “See? There, they call that the Floating Daggers composing of four daggers flying in the air connected by an indestructible chain. See?”

“Hmmn… but why are you not afraid of me then? Surely you know of my terrifying past.”

“Ah! That is a good question. The first thing I started searching in your library is your most wanted fugitives. I love a good story of mystery. I found out that this Yiv creature only hunts in the night and exacts vengeance applying his own personal justice but what tipped me about this is that he first appeared as a six-year-old boy fifteen years ago. Give or take a couple of years on the estimate of the surviving witness who delivered his messages, I’d say he’s about in the bracket of twenty-one to twenty-four in age.

“You’re barely fifteen, if my great sense of estimating age is correct, so that means that if you’re Yiv, then you’ve murdered a lot of people without even existing yet which led me to conclude that you’re really not Yiv and just figured out Yiv’s skills and techniques. Maybe to create confusion to the enemy, and to lower their morale riding out the fear he so impressively propagated so that when you lay your siege, your enemies will have diminished capacity contrary to when you’re not wearing this Yiv mask. So, you see dear Sir Casey, you truly cannot be Yiv and just posing to be him. One could mimic other historical figures to create terror or fear but as to why him specifically, I honestly do not know…”

“Wow, I didn’t know one could speak that fa…”

Before he could finish Karus cleared his throat disrupting their discussion. Lime was puzzled by this but ignored the sudden interruption thinking he’s just coughing and went to direct her attention at Kayzar once again, awaiting his thoughts. Kayzar noticed what Karus is hinting so he mumbled to change his words.

“…that – that impressive! You’ve managed to whip up a splendid conclusion to reveal my secret but sadly it is only half the truth. One that I may never reveal, to an innocent young maiden such as yourself, to protect your safety of course.”

“Aww… You can’t truly mean that Sir Casey. Surely it is impolite to leave a hanging mystery story to a lady.”

Kayzar just laughed. So Karus too, as he sighed in relief, escaping another incident to explain. Kayzar finds this fascinating since Karus normally would just drop the topic if he finds explaining it a trouble. It’s really not in his nature to express his ideas around other people.

He’s bothered to see him please Lime at all times, that he goes to great lengths just to provide it for her. That’s clearly a sign of an infatuated boy. He just plays along with him, helping him with what he wants while hiding his thoughts on the matter.

It is obvious he likes her. He noticed it the moment he met her. There’s something about the way he acts around especially when she’s around. She’s very beautiful even to Nagozulian standards on aesthetic beauty but it puzzles him to see him falling for her even though he knows what the repercussions of being in love to an ordinary mortal is. Still, he does not dare to engage talking about that to him. For all he knows, it may only be a passing feeling. Surely, they can never be. For one thing, she’s an ordinary foreign mortal and he’s a Nagozulian Prince. He doesn’t really mind the differences in stature, but the society does and being a Nagozulian Prince comes with a price.

Even if they managed to convince the public, they will still have a problem on having a child. Their blood mixtures will be catastrophic leading to a fatal labor endangering both the infant and the mother. The chemical reaction of his great elemental essence coursing through the unwitting child’s bloodstream will leak out and ultimately poison them both. That’s got to be one to consider about but he snapped out thinking about children and marriage. He’s going way too far in his thoughts. Too far that he’s dipping into scenarios that are too ridiculous to happen. Karus is smarter than that, he figured. Maybe it’s really just infatuation. After all, the only girl they ever have the chance to be acquainted with is their great friend Illyriah so maybe he’s just confusing friendship with some other feeling.

“You seem rather bothered by this…” she said getting Kayzar’s attention. “Am I going a bit too far?”

Kayzar just laughed again shaking his head to deny what his face revealed for a couple of seconds there. He is still in the process of removing any lingering thoughts from his wandering mind when Karus erupted in laughter, reading the Bounty Poster.

“Look here,” Karus burst in brushing a tear. “They said Rex is some feral Nagozulian kid that Grog raised from the Jungle of Narra. What’s with that!?”

“Wait till Aether sees his description here,” Kayzar followed. “We’ll have another episode of those annoying rantings if he ever gets a hold of this Bounty Poster.”

“Hah! Better keep this between ourselves then.”

“Uh, Master…”

“Yes, Lime?”

“I have just one question here… They said you’re the reincarnation of Daomagar here and that you’re from a long-forgotten lineage of Daomagar. I thought there’s only one surviving direct descendant of the Daomagar Line, the Master General Narra of the Daomagar Clan, father-in-law of the Grand Prince Artemus. So, point is… Is this true? That you’re a descendant of this Master General Narra?”

“Oh, uh – no, of course!” he hurriedly said rejecting any instance of comparison to General Narra. He needs to distance himself with his Grandfather, even in myth. Someone might get suspicious. “I’m with the Bandhana Clan. We’re proud warriors of swords and polearms.”

“It says here, by Master General Jowl himself, and I quote: The Daomagar Magnus has the ability to instantaneously travel from one point to another and create destruction in his path much so like the skill of the Great Holy Daomagar, an extremely fatal technique only a few can master, a variation of ‘The Fist of Ana’giel’, a forgotten technique that can only be mastered by a direct descendant of the Great Daomagar.”

At that point Karus realized something important. He immediately remembered that one skill his grandfather used in the Jungles of Narra in the heat of the battle against the Black Panthers. That ultra high-speed dash that his grandfather performed in the Jungle gave him the basic understanding of transferring the force and velocity of the dash to the enemy. That understanding led him to the realization of that technique he uncovered. He didn’t know it has a name, a name he remembers is most popularly known to have been mastered by the current young Chieftain of Daomagar Deito: The same technique that took the life of the Immortal Beast Mai’at which made Deito Number Three in the Great Twelve.

“So, that’s the Fist of Ana’giel,” gasped Kayzar smiling clasping his hands in amusement. “The technique that’s usually made with a bare fist to create an explosion of disastrous proportion, a skill also known as the Fist of Justice. I haven’t seen that performed before. Even Master General Narra can’t perform it to its maximum potential since that explosive skill is believed to potentially create craters the size of a small island.”

“Indeed, Sir Casey. My understanding on this matter leads me to believe that in order to perform such a feat, one must need lightning speed, impressive strength, great coordination of the body and a strong level of concentration, a combination of traits granted by God only to Daomagar’s Descendants.”

“Where are you getting your sources?” Karus smiled now worried about how she’s that knowledgeable in their secrets, the secrets of the Sentinels of the Holy Lands.

That information is classified and is at the restricted section of the Palace Library. If she read about it, it would follow that she knows about the others, and that means the Nagozul’s Statistical Analysis of all of Daomagar’s seven clans. It’ll be dangerous for anybody to learn this information. In the wrong hands, this would threaten the lives of many clans and their secrets.

“Never mind the source, All I’m saying is that if you could perform this Fist of Ana’giel then that means you have all of those traits, making you a real descendant of Daomagar.”

“Not necessarily,” Kayzar answered in his stead. “Mikael is the real name of Daomagar’s Chieftain. He acquired the name Deito as an honor from his clan, the Deito Clan, whose tradition is to bequest the name Deito to the strongest clan member. The now Chieftain Deito of the Daomagar is the fifth descendant of the bastard son of Master General Narra’s Great Grandfather. He’s got one of thirty-two parts of Daomagar’s blood and yet, in a twist of fate, he acquired all of those traits at random. Technically, one might be brought up in this world acquiring those set of traits even without being Daomagar’s direct descendant. I mean, one mortal would be bound to get it all randomly at one point in time. The statistical probability is astronomical, but it is not impossible.”

“Even so, you need to have at least a drop of Daomagar in your system to have those odds.”

“Good point but alas, we do not, thus one can conclude that even without Daomagar’s blood, one could still acquire the traits from his diverse ancestors. The traits are all in their parent’s blood. It’s just a matter of chance on picking it. Like having a blonde hair with both parents having black, it’s just a matter of luck.” Kayzar lectured almost proud thinking of a way to dismiss her idea to link them to their grandfather.

Lime pouted for a couple of seconds accepting the logic on his statement but disappointed about the news. She’s looking forward to being trained by one of the Great Daomagar’s descendants. The gloom was shared between the three as Karus and Kayzar pondered about their distant nephew’s inherited skills and how it related with Karus’s newfound traits. Could it be that they acquired both Nagozulian and Daomagarian traits, a thing that they say is impossible? Is there a possibility that their traits are not from their wicked ancestor King Dogal? If only they can know for sure.

“Hey,” Lime smiled changing their dismal atmosphere. “You haven’t written to me in a month. You’ve broken your promise. You said you’ll give me an update.”

“Oh, haha! Of course, but see, the mail, I mean… it’s hard to send…”

“No matter.” In that quick second, she drew her katana in a slash with the tip barely an inch away from Karus’s eyes.

Her skill on controlling the katana sword impressed them. That or Karus just got lucky, but they would like to be optimistic and believe the former rather than the latter.

“You’ve now begun training battojutsu without me?”

“The art of drawing a katana to strike the opponent in a single slash? Yes! I’ve mastered it with the help of Markus.” Lime said boasting her new-found technique as she smoothly feigned her sword, as if removing the imaginary blood stains on her katana blade, before returning it back to her scabbard. “Your potion helps greatly in retaining the skills I’ve been practicing and in just under a month, I miraculously mastered it. I’m great, aren’t I?”

Karus just snickered which insulted her greatly. “Don’t be so eager to overestimate your skill, apprentice. A true master or Battojutsu never reveals when to strike. That’s why you could beat your opponent in a single slash. Battojutsu is all about the surprise.”

“But I’m fast!” she contested in her angry crunched-up face, feeling embarrassed.

“Yes, but not fast enough.”

Lime quickly grabbed the hilt of her katana drawing it the second time, only this time it is much quicker than before. Karus just flicked his golden katana with the ruby encrusted hilt smashing the base of her weapon forcing it to return to its scabbard, cutting her thumb in the process. The force pushed her back a couple of feet with Karus smiling, pulling back his katana back to his side.

“Hey! That’s cheating!” she protested jumping as she inspected her warm blood leaving her shaking hand. “You’re using that Daomagarian speed thing…”

“The Battojutsu can never be mastered until you can clearly move faster than your opponent, and you could not do that if your stance lacks the proper foundation needed to thrust your sword fast. Even with the curvature of the Katana on your side helping you on your fast draw, you’re still giving the opponent the idea when you will strike and where to. If I’m an ordinary mortal, I would still see your movements.”

Lime sulked as she gave a drop or two of White Angel in her wound. Kayzar wanted to protest at that moment, wanting to render his assistance as a Water Caster instead of wasting those precious expensive drops of that white potion but failed to initiate. A good thing too as he just remembered he’s playing Daomagar. He almost gave up his cover shuddering at the sight of Lime’s utter disregard for that very important elixir.

“This is the perfect form of the Battojutsu,” Karus smugly declared.

In a fraction of a second, he disappeared and reappeared behind her. A strand of her hair can be seen dropping in front of her as an explosion roared on the ground from where her master landed.

“How dare you sir!” she angrily growled running to him, slapping him. “How dare you cut a lady’s hair!”

Karus jumped stepping back, still feeling the throbbing pain from his cheek that he forgets to defend against. “Hey, hey, hey! I’m just proving a point! I’m sorry okay!?”

“Sorry!? You can’t just slice up other people’s hair to prove something and then say sorry! That’s totally disrespectful! Especially to a lady!”

“It’s just a strand…”

“Just a strand?! Hair is hair even if it’s just a strand!”

“I think it created a dramatic effect. Won’t you agree Casey!?” he said shouting to the smiling Kayzar slowly walking away, never wanting to get in the middle of their misunderstanding.

“What dramatic effect!? That’s not Battojutsu! That’s the Fist of Ana’giel!” she said angrily pointing at the small crater on the ground. “And you dashed! You dashed! How is that a demonstration!?”

“Correction. A variation of the Fist of Ana’giel using Battojutsu. Look my Katana is inside my scabbard. D’you know how hard it is to draw it and return it back after slicing a strand of…”

Lime gasped in great disdain. “You’re justifying your offence?! How dare you sir!”

Kayzar just laughed as he waved his goodbye. He knows that it’s going to be a long discussion and it’s better if he gets on with his training on the other side of the clearing. There’s no benefit in listening to them fight. It’s best if he gets out early before they can force him to pick a side. He’s got more important things to do than to be a mediator for petty grievances.

——-ooO0Ooo——-

The loud bang from the door electrocuted the entire body of the crouching Reus from behind the bookshelf of his little library in the Produce Village. Just what he needs that lazy morning, a wake-up jolt of fear, he figured. He need not look behind to see who appeared behind him, the smell of lavender perfume was all he needs to figure out who she is.

“Good morning, Mama,” he smiled standing up. He turned around beaming at her mother which does not reciprocated his pleasant greetings, an attitude he most likely has anticipated considering his fervent defiance to her orders.

She stood there in full Daomagarian Battle Armor with a stern face that would make a grown man cringe in fear. It is said that her beautiful face neutralizes the effect of her eternal ravine of a gaze, that whoever dared to look will be snared in a cruel trap only to find themselves falling prey to her torturous eyes, that almond brown eyes that can make anyone believe she can do everything to hurt anyone anytime and that feeling of anticipation is much painful than the real pain itself. Of course, Reus knows of this myth, so he held his eyes down on the ground looking at her shiny black leather boots. Besides, that makes it look like he’s sorry for what he did so that’s an added bonus for him too.

“Pack your things and let’s go,” she commanded clearly with a tone of disappointment. She leaned behind and looked at the kneeling Captain Gab just outside the door. “I told the Captain a month ago to escort you and he seemed to fail on his mission. Surely giving you the rank of Master General is a mistake since you clearly went ahead and dared to challenge my orders.”

“It’s not like that, Mama, it’s just…”

“No, Reus, not this time. Even if we now have the same military rank here in Nagozul, I’m still your mother! When I tell you to get back to the North, I need you to comply without question.”

“C-could you give us a minute?” Reus smiled to the Captain Gab who is still kneeling down outside.

“Are you really disrespecting me, Reus?” she snapped squinting her eyes. “Are you ignoring my words?”

“Mama, please, we have something to talk about…”

Anagea stopped for two seconds and nodded to the Captain Gab who understood her right away. Captain Gab stood up and pulled the door to close behind him and then they continued.

“Tea?” Reus offered smiling wide.

“I’m not playing games Reus,” she said still mad at him.

“Well, you have to sit down. You must’ve been exhausted in your trip.”

Reus went near her and knelt down, he reached for her hand which she gave unwillingly, still mad, and then he kissed it. A sign of respect to Nagozulian Elders they call asking one’s blessing – or just the term bless. He then quickly stood up and pulled out a chair for her to sit. He ran to the other side and pulled one for him before he started.

“Are you sure you don’t want some tea?”

“What is it that you want to talk about, Reus?” she said in all seriousness ignoring his invitation.

The kettle of Narra’s favorite brew of tea quickly filled the air of the room with its calming aroma after he left the lid open. Reus wanted to close it down, wanting to prevent it from turning stale and cold, but her mother’s serious eyes reveal that she’s composing herself with much effort being madly irritated at his disobedience. One wrong move and she will snap into a rampage possibly destroying the room on her anger. That will destroy his month-long work and he knows that it’s not even the worst thing that could happen. After all, she didn’t acquire the name the Destroyer for no apparent reason at all. He knows about her quick temper, so he knows it’s best for the tea to run cold rather than her books to freeze being homeless tonight.

“I know you want us safe, and don’t get angry, but I like to talk about the possibility of… maybe… the approval of making us stay here… please? If that’s…”

Anagea smiled with a small twitch in her eye which Reus noticed immediately but still he persisted.

“I-it’s… It’s for – just a little longer, two days to a week tops.” Reus noticed the sudden build-up of rage growing within her eyes, so he yielded. “Or I mean, not. If that’s what you want. We’ll go home right away now. I’ll pack up my things.”

Reus was about to stand up but Anagea sighed. “Why?”

Reus smiled awkwardly almost jubilant but is containing it. “Well, see, our people need us here… with so much going on in the south, Aunt Prodea enforcing her will to our poor people, I think it would be selfish of us to just leave them to fend for themselves. Don’t you think?”

“I know about the things that you do here, Reus.” Reus pulled his face to smile further, gulping in fear as she continued. “Do you know why I’m mad?”

“We disobeyed your orders?” he answered immediately. “I know it’s wrong and I really apologize in behalf of…”

Anagea gently tapped the table that created a loud bang giving a crack to run down to his side. Reus figured it’s a rhetorical question, so he pulled his lips right away shutting up for a couple of seconds before she pushed on explaining.

“I’m mad because you lied to me. You, Karus, Kayzar, Yosh, you’re all lying to me. Your father lied to me too. Even my own father can’t look me in the eyes and tell me the truth. Everyone seems to be lying to my face in these past few months.”

Reus sighed deeply sorry as he reached for his mother’s hands and whispered. “I deeply regret doing that, Mama. I don’t really want to lie to you, it’s just I know you tend to get all riled up on us doing something so dangerous that it would distress you further to know such things. We just don’t want to make you worry.”

“Yes, but you’ve laid siege on seven fortresses now. I just don’t want you four to get hurt. Leave that to us. It’s not your fight yet. You’re too young to carry such dangerous burden.”

“…eight…” Reus said flinching.

“Eight what?”

“We’ve infiltrated eight, and we’re wanted fugitives now.”

“See!?” she shouted standing up. “That’s the kind of reckless thing I want you to avoid! You’re not just endangering your lives, you’re endangering countless others!”

“But we’re really careful Mama. We’ve created secret identities that…”

“Good thing Prodea’s not running the show here,” she interrupted now hysterical. “If she is then you’ll all be dead! We’re going home now! Pack your things!”

“W-w-wait, what do you mean by that Mama? Prodea not running the show?”

“My Daomagarian spies in the Palace told me she’s in some form of deep sleep. Originally rumors ran that she died but now her Amplifyers have been burning to their maximum. The Other Generals have been feeling her presence at her chamber but she’s not really leaving there. Zeba’s now coordinating the military together with Sarram.”

“Oh…” he smiled figuring why they are having an easy time on their assault. “So, that means it’ll be easy to attack the Palace now!”

“No!” Anagea snapped now getting furious. “You will not march down with your brothers there and create a war! You will go home now, or I swear I’ll beat you all senselessly, your eyes will be the only part without welts.”

“But this is the best time. There are still some loyal Sentinels…”

Anagea slapped him stopping him from pursuing further, appalled by his ideas. “Do you think that it’s that easy? Do you ever stop to wonder what will happen if you lay siege and make them choose sides? You will be responsible for the deaths of thousands of Nagozulians. And after that, you will take your first life and that will consume you.

“Taking the life of another mortal is not a light thing to do. Even if you play with your swords, or study your handbooks, or even know everything there is to know about war and war-like preparations being promoted as a Master General, there still isn’t enough knowledge or training in the whole world that would equip you for taking another mortal’s life. You are quick to drench your hands into that pool of blood and you don’t even know what that really is. You are so quick to play with people’s lives as if they are petty expendable matches to be burned to further your goals.”

Reus hunched low drilling a hole in the ground thinking about his deluded ideas of freedom. The truth of her mother’s words rang in echoes around the corners of his mind, making him weak till Anagea sighed. She pulled his chin up with a comforting smile that lifted his spirit.

“I know that all you want is peace. I know you have a big heart and it’s alright to care. What you think is right is wrong to the other side, and what they think is right is wrong to you too. Do not focus justice on your own perspective but rather let justice be served equally among all men. That’s when you’ll know you’re doing the right thing. What is right is for the betterment of all of the Holy Mortals of the Holy Lands. If there’s a way for a peaceful resolution, you will take that road. That is what defines a Prince of Nagozul. That’s what being a Holy Sentinel means. Our oath to defend the sanctity of Bathala’s miracle that is life is our paramount responsibility. It is your paramount responsibility. Do not ever lose sight of your duty.”

“W-what if… what if Aunt Prodea manages…”

Anagea smiled and hushed him. She tightly hugged him kissing him on the cheek and snickered. “If life is threatened here in Nagozul I’m sure Bathala will allow us to defend it. Only then can we be sanctioned to do such drastic measures.” She pushed him looking at his eyes almost laughing. “And besides, if that happens, I promise you, I’ll be drenching my hands in that pool of blood in your stead. We’ll keep you safe. Don’t you worry just one bit. Okay?”

“Ma…” he grumpily moaned as he shook his head. “I’m not a kid anymore. I can take care of myself when that happens…”

“Oh no, you won’t, you’re still my little baby. My big grown-up baby.”

Three knocks on the door interrupted the two. Anagea pulled the door to reveal a distressed Narra, bearing a face of unhappy tidings.

“Anagea, your presence here in the south has spread to the Palace. Your location will be compromised we must hurry.”

“W-what’s happening?” Reus stammered running to his grandfather greeting him, requesting for a bless which he gave in a hurry.

“We’ve no time to explain this to you Reus, you’re safe here at the moment, but Anagea will not be if they located her.”

“So, it has begun?” she smiled almost taking it as a challenge. “Who gave the order?”

“We don’t know. The Sibaran council denied the whole thing but I bet you they’re the ones behind this.”

“You’ve been marked!?” roared Reus looking confused.

“Meh, I’ve been marked my whole life. That’s the beauty of being Number Four. Sibaran Assassins are so much fun to play with.”

“Yes, telling him about how you managed to imprison thirty Master Sibaras and their apprentices will be a wonderful bedtime story but as I’ve said, this is not the time.”

“Where are your brothers?” Anagea said. “Get them now, you’re all coming with me.”

“I think that may be a problem, see…”

In a quick second, Captain Gab appeared before them, kneeling in salute, with a small rolled up paper on his right hand.

“Master General Reus, a message from Piks.”

Reus hurriedly went to him grabbing and unrolling the purple parchment emanating the smell of rose as if drenched by it and within is a scribble of a message. A message that reads: Save Me.

Anagea clicked her tongue with crossed arms returning to her mad composure. “Are you telling me they managed to escape you again? Seriously, Reus, how can you take care of your brothers if you do not know their whereabouts!?”

“Mama,” he said turning his head with sad eyes. “I would love to go with you to the north but I’m afraid I have some bad news.”

“That is Illyriah’s isn’t it?” Narra deduced sharing his seriousness after the rose perfume filled the air. “I’m afraid the rumors are true then.”

Anagea stopped for a couple of seconds before she made her decision. “Okay, okay. I’ll send an extraction team at the Palace…”

“No,” he boldly opposed. “You have to get back to the North as soon as possible. Captain Gab will escort us to the north and by the end of our second week we’ll be on our way at the Jungles of Narra.”

“You’ve said that last time and you did not comply.”

“I swear Mama. I will get back to the North. But first I have to go to Illyriah.”

“Isn’t that unwise, Tatay?” she asked his father Narra wanting his validation. “It’s the most dangerous place today.”

“We do not have time to prepare an extraction team to get her. If we do it ourselves, then we risk going into battle and we can’t afford any friction right now.”

“If you assemble a team here and gave them instructions on how to get past the Palace security then you risk staying longer here at the south,” Reus continued pushing forth. “Even if you manage to assemble an extraction team, they will have the risk of losing their way in the Palace. What’s worse is if they get caught, they will be tortured and will be tried as assassins. Your assassins.”

“This is a sticky situation indeed,” Narra smiled getting his point. “But it is imperative that we get Illyriah and Sayed away from Prodea. I’m afraid we don’t have a choice…”

“Are you suggesting…”

“Yes Mama,” he cut in. “If I go there, I’ll be in and out without so much as a rustle.”

“He’s got a point there,” Narra beamed, proud of his brave grandson. “After all, he has to collect the three first before going to the North so he’s going to have some help and I assure you, those other three are very crafty when it comes to sneaking in and out of the Palace.”

“I’m not so sure…” she mumbled pushing her lips to the side still thinking, unconvinced about his plan.

“Please Mama. This is Illyriah we’re talking about. She’s the only…”

Anagea lifted her palms interfering him to finish the perfectly long plea he so proudly forged in his mind. “Okay. You have two weeks to finish your affairs here. Three weeks and you should be at the North. I am trusting your word only on one condition.” Reus waited for a couple of seconds, mouth closed barely breathing, before Anagea finally continued. “You must first resign your title as a Master General and pledge your arms to be under my army as one of my private. That way you will be under my command. That way you will never escape my wrath if you ever break your promise again.”

Narra looked at Reus mouthing the word ‘ouch’ which he saw. A demotion this grand is practically humiliating and at the same time hilarious. This made him want to laugh but he tried to contain it as he knelt and bowed at her mother, arms curling in a salute.

Reus looked up and hesitantly asked. “Are you sure, private? Mama?”

“You asked for this, you tell me.”

“Corporal? Sergeant? Not even a Lieutenant?”

“Do you want it or not?”

Reus quickly bowed down and curled his hands leveling his eyes in salute seizing the moment before she ever changes her mind. “I, Reus, son of Artemus of the house of Limor, abandon my rank as Master General and all other responsibilities attached thereto in order to pledge my arms as a private in the army of my new Master, Anagea of the Daomagar Clan, wife of Artemus of the house of Limor, my mother.”

Narra laughed for the bit he added at the end of his pledge but stopped immediately once his daughter saw him.

“Rise Private Reus,” she commanded which made Narra and the kneeling Reus smile, finding it funny to hear a Prince having a humiliating rank in their own army. “As witnessed by Captain Gab of the Talim Clan and Narra of the Daomagar Clan, you are now accepted as a private in my army and will thusly be under my command and authority, having the duties and responsibilities attached to your rank thereto.” Anagea smiled wide pinching his cheeks. “See? That wasn’t so bad? Right?” She went near him and mumbled in his ear, still smiling. “I punish my soldiers rather harshly, Reus. I don’t give special treatments so please be very punctual, okay?”

And with a tap to the cheek stinging like a slap, the three went on their way, leaving Reus still standing on his door thinking on how he managed to mess up the negotiations. Clearly, he could’ve thought some other thing on the table. Illyriah better not be joking this time, he thought. If she is then she’ll owe him big time.

——-ooO0Ooo——-

The background whooshed to change as Yosh stood from the outer edges of the Nilad Plains into the Underground Kingdom of the Dwendells. Nine clings from his side the whole time truly excited for his promised return till they were stopped in their tracks by Iyom.

“Hey monkey kid. I’ve been waiting for you for about a week. Where have you been?”

Yosh puffed with his scrunched face taking offense to his greeting.

“Easy Iyom,” Nine chuckled. “Yosh dashed to here quite fervently for the whole week. You might want to dial down your usual banter.”

“Lemme guess? You lost the seeds again?”

“No!” Yosh finally said crossing his arms.

“Hah! So that wretched cat ate it again?”

“Hey! Don’t talk to Luna that way!”

“Indeed, Iyom,” Nine intervened. “You can’t blame the poor cat for thinking your seeds as treats…”

“They’re just seeds,” Iyom whined disappointed at Nine for defending Yosh. “Nothing special there!?”

“Yes, but they taste and smell funny. Kind of sweet actually, that’s why animals think it’s some…”

“Alright, alright. Enough of that. I have an urgent message for Yosh.”

“Hmpf… so that’s how you make small talk, huh?” Yosh grumbled. Nine saw this and just laughed.

“Nine, would you mind giving us privacy?” Iyom said almost annoyed on her newfound fondness to Yosh.

“Oka…”

Before she could ever finish her consent, the two vanished in the air, transporting to a place where even she cannot detect.

“Hey where are we!?” Yosh lividly said. “Are you kidnapping me again?!”

“Here.” Iyom extended his hands with a letter between his fingers.

Yosh took it, grumbling, and immediately read its contents.

“Wait a minute!” he said after noticing the already broken seal of their group, the Night Hunters, a seal resembling an eye of a cat, Luna’s to be exact. “You’ve opened the letter and read it didn’t you!?”

Iyom raised his palms being defensive. “Hey, don’t blame me for reading private letters. I’m not anyone’s middleman. It’s their fault they gave that to me. I didn’t promise anything about not reading it, now did I? ”

“You have no honor…” Yosh whispered directing his squinting eye of judgment for a couple of seconds to the indifferent Iyom and returned to reading.

A minute passed and Iyom got tired of waiting. He was surprised to witness him slowly reading a letter that wouldn’t take longer than twenty seconds to read. He is ready to create his usual rants when Yosh beat him to it.

“But I just got here!”

“You think? That letter arrived yesterday. So, that means you’re supposed to be there today. That said I think I’ll accompany you out now.”

“Oh, I see. Ready to boot me right after I arrive… You’d like that would you.”

Iyom smiled wide almost coughing a laugh. “I’m going to be lying if I say I don’t but I’m afraid that this message is of great urgency, one which you’d certainly very much like to comply as soon as possible. I’m just extending my hand to help you is all.”

“You’ll teleport me to the secret training grounds?”

“Yes.”

“And you know where it is?”

“Of course! Who do you think help Dal’Gur in his maps? We’re the ones running around giving him the layout of the lands you know.”

“I thought you cannot leave these parts?”

“Of course, we’re not the ones who helped him, our ancestors did! He made the maps thousands of years ago, dummy! He’s not called an immortal for no reason!”

“Oh… I knew that…”

“Well, shut up and listen. I didn’t transmit you here just so we could further our skills in small talk.”

“Hey wait! You haven’t even told me where we are! Where are we?”

“We are at the base of my father’s Lifetree, the Tree of Kings. The safest and one of the most private places here on Earth.”

“Oh, so that’s why it’s so quiet… and echoey… and…”

“I said shut up!” he interrupted irate. “Now, I’m kind of new to this sharing of what I feel and such but what I feel is that I need to be there to help you do these things you’re doing around at night.”

“You mean the night hunts?”

“Yes, that. I know I’m a bit clumsy and I tend to disappoint my kind. I know even my father is kind of disappointed at me at some level, so I just want to help out.”

“I really don’t see what’s in it for you there?”

“Anything to hit Prodea would be best.”

“You’re that angry at my aunt huh?”

“If you ask me as a Dwendell, the keepers of the Earth, I’d say no and hide every bad thought I’m feeling. But if you ask me how I feel about her, as me, personally, I’d say I’d like her to be one of those casualties of fate’s reapings that happen once in a while. Nowadays, good people are dying by fate’s chance and bad people seem to have been surprisingly spared avoiding the chances of death’s early visits. I would be lying if I said that she deserves to live. After all, the world would be a better place without her. She killed Bakunawa after all.”

“WHAT!? She killed Bakunawa!? The guardian of the Holy Lands!?”

“See!? Even you, a prince, don’t know what’s happening in your own backyard! If she turns up Queen of Nagozul, it’ll be the end of the Dwendells, the immortals, even the Great Beasts of the Earth. I wouldn’t forgive myself if that happens under my watch.”

“But we’re not stopping her that way… We’re not murderers y’know…”

“I know, I know. But you’re not hurting people, unlike her.”

“But we do… I mean we kind of hurt people a little…”

“Yes! But not killing them!” he replied annoyed at his ceaseless interruptions. “I’m saying you’re not killing anyone which is a good thing so I approve of your measures and would like to render my services to your group as support to your campaign to a free Nagozul. Of course, you cannot impose your idea without giving a fight, especially against your own army. It’s rather exceptional there isn’t any death toll on your previous campaigns even when you’re against Generals and Sibaras.”

“Wow. That sounds like we’re a legitimate group now.”

“Prodea is dabbling on the Dark Arts. My father feels Dim’ion’s energies flowing around the Palace and it’s disturbing many a Dwendell. They can’t do anything, but I can. I want to rid Nagozul of Prodea’s control. Only your group is doing the right thing so far. So, I want to help out your group accomplish your goals anyway I can. If we can rout her military till your father can amass the right soldiers to retake the Palace and the City then I’ll have accomplished something great that I can be proud of, and then they’ll never think of me as a disappointment. Then I can truly say to myself that I’m indeed a full-fledged Keeper of the Earth.”

Yosh smiled thinking about his same need for approval as the one he wants from his father.

“Hey,” Iyom yelled clenching his fists seeing him with his warm smile. “Are you mocking me!?”

“No. no. I’m not,” Yosh chuckled.

“Well you better not! ‘Cause if you are then I’ll beat you to a pulp till you can’t smile again. And you better not tell anyone about what I said, or I swear…”

Yosh just laughed again shaking his head. “Well, I think we have the same goals and objectives. I think we even have the same sort of needs so I guess what I can say is, welcome to the group!”

“Well great!” Iyom smiled extending his hands for a shake which Yosh reciprocated.

“Um… I have to tell it to my brothers first, but I think they will not turn away another hand willing to help. After all, we’ll need all the help we can get.”

“Then that’s settled! That means I’ll be joining you on your way out!”

“What about your duties here? Are you sure you’re free to follow me around?”

“Meh, I kill dying trees and scare away sprouts, so I won’t be missed. All I do here is run around errands since I can’t help out, with my kind of Lifetree and all. Although, I do great on animal relocations, that I know for sure. Come to think of it, we haven’t relocated animals for about two hundred years now so basically I’m just a bum here.”

“Oh, so we’re doing you a favor huh?”

“Hey, don’t say it like that. That makes me look like a bored guy looking for some work.”

“Are you?” he smiled wide teasing.

“Yes, I’m bored but that’s not the point. I’m helping you out of principle, not because I’m petty and shallow or something like that.”

“Okay… if you say so…”

“Shut up!” Iyom said enraged as he pulled him, transmitting him to where his brothers are waiting.