29 DEFIANT NATURE (2/2)

”Yes, yes. I know, it's a secret you all carry to the grave and whatnot. But that means I'll be a member, too right? Being promoted Master General?”

Captain Gab just smiled ignoring him. Reus just laughed getting a cup of tea for himself. ”Well no matter, all we have to do is find Karus and Kayzar and then we're straight to the North.”

”But what about Yosh?”

”Finding Yosh is the easy part. Finding those two rascals, well that's another story.”

-------ooO0Ooo-------

The golden shimmering sunbeams that pierced through the stained-glass windows fluttered all around the room creating an afternoon look at the common room in the south wing of the Palace where the party of Leonus currently resides as guests.

They keep to themselves, the Leonus delegates, so Nagozulian or Daomagarian sentries are not needed to watch their every move. You can call it arrogance or laxity but somehow, the people of the Holy Lands are not really considering them as a threat even if they are free to move about in the Palace.

You can never blame them for that since obviously they do not pose any security risk, and even if they manage to stray off and perform indiscretions that are offensive to Nagozulians, they can't really stand a chance with their mortal bodies too weak to defend against highly powerful beings that are Elementals. Even after then, one death toll from the Nagozulian would naturally mean the massacre of the whole Leonus delegation and all of their forces camped out just outside the city. That is if they are lucky to manage one death toll, which would then be a really great hypothetical joke to tell in a pub.

Being massacred on enemy lines is the only best-case scenario every Leonus party member thinks off. The worst case would be being trapped there on the island, tortured and imprisoned forever, so no one dares to think bad thoughts against Nagozulian, or their Daomagarian brothers. In fact, all of them think they are on vacation, drinking and eating every single day, which creates some minor irritation on some Nagozulians seeing how rowdy they are when they are inebriated but that's about as mad as they can get. Even drunk, they are still polite, a feat not a single one of them anticipated. Even Eryk, sitting puzzled in the common room, has thought of this perplexing idea. Even their rowdiest soldiers akin to wild rampaging wolves have been magically whipped into kind lambs. It's almost a miracle. But before he completes his thoughts, a soft tap came suddenly from behind.

”This is rather disturbing. We need to discuss this.” Tabarius whispered interrupting his wandering mind while he currently admires the mesmerizing bright saffron shafts that pierce through the stained-glass windows before him on that lazy morning. It took Eryk about three seconds to snap out of it as he noticed Tabarius face all secretive as if hinting to follow him which he did so in a hurry but not as to arouse any suspicion among the others occupying the area.

They went to the furthest of the halls leading to a room, a quaint and small bedroom designated to Sir Echon who is waiting along with his son Sir Julius. This bothered Eryk feeling as though they are conducting a clandestine meeting of nefarious purposes seeing as there are no other knights present except the two but that's just going over the top, so he humored his friend Tabarius and started to listen.

”We may have ourselves a problem here, my dear friend Eryk. It's to my understanding that we need to supply Princess Prodea with live humans to sacrifice for her Magicks, but we didn't know it's an offering to the demon!”

”I say we pack up before we're in too deep,” added the Knight Echon scratching his round beard. ”That way we're not accomplices to her evil witchcraft and God will not smite us for our insolence.”

”No!” Eryk contested hurriedly being shocked to what they are planning. ”A deal's a deal. We can't back out now, not after we sent letters to the other side that it's safe to send more people. We're expecting a wave of about a hundred every three days next week.”

”Don't you see, Eryk. We're in way over our heads here.”

”So, we've witnessed a few black Magicks, so what? The rewards are greater than the risks.”

”The reward?” scoffed Tabarius now agitated. ”We went here to get some water from the Fountain of Life. So far all we're taking are large risks without the reward. It's the opposite.”

”T-that's still in planning,” Eryk tried whispering trying to calm Tabarius down. ”Besides, what did her highness say about that? She said we need to overthrow their kingdom first before we get our water. You're the one who asked us to trust her.”

”That's before I knew what's going to happen to our knights. Sure, she said something about making a super mortal, on how she'll be able to transform our knights to the most powerful mortal alive, into living titans, but at to what cost?”

”Just to point out, your Grace,” entered Julius sitting in troubled thoughts on the chair near the door playing with his knife. ”We're the next to enter that weird experiment. Now from what I heard that's totally great and wonderful, but I do not want to be a slave to some bratty princess hell bent on horrific domination, especially when they are using demons. The only demon I trust is myself.”

”Sir Haaron, is still alive. He's still there. He obeys Princess Prodea but after that he does what he pleases. He's still in control.”

”But where is he?” Tabarius insisted, ”If he's in control, he should be with us. Not with Princess Prodea who turned her into her puppet.”

”It's but natural to study him further. He just underwent a very frightening transformation. We'll see him when we see him. But he's still there. I guarantee you.”

”But our soul, Your Grace,” Sir Echon emphasized. ”Are we still in control of our soul? Or will it be owned by the demon?”

”Demon?” opposed Eryk looking at Tabarius, ”What's this talk about demons. What have you been telling them, Tabarius?”

”What has transpired last week. All of it.”

Eryk smiled and looked at the two with reassuring eyes, ”I assure you. It is not the demon. If it is then we all would've seen his diabolical face in person.”

”From what I gathered from Lime, Eryk, is that there is a history in their books telling a story of two major angels, the greatest of Bathala's Heralds as they call them. And their names are Ana'giel and Dim'ion. The good and the evil.”

”By the looks of it, Dim'ion literally sound like Demon and Ana'giel sound like Angel,” stressed Echon. ”It seems that she's been uttering the name of the demon in their tongue many times during the incantation. Now I don't want to be insubordinate, Your Grace, but I need some assurance that we're not working for the devil himself.”

”I promise you. We're not working for the devil. This is the Holy Lands, remember? It's not like God will let the demon prance around in his most sacred lands.”

”But what about the slaves?” pursued Julius now standing up in curiosity, ”What about the slaves that have been used as human sacrifice? What's with that?”

The Earl found his tone disrespectful but didn't act out on it. Much is riding on his benefit staying there so he maintained his calm demeanor. ”The slaves act out as additional power sources. Princess Prodea needs them in order to increase the power of the subject. The life forces of those slaves will then be integrated with your own life force forming a unique bond that will incorporate the unearthly powers that you will possess after the incantation. That's how it works. It's not possible to gain power from nothing now is it? Power needs to be channeled from somewhere and that happens to be live human sacrifice. So, there are no demons or devils involved there. It's just a matter of simple transference of life source.”

”Is that true, My Lord?” asked Echon directing his serious eyes to the Duke.

”I am sent here as the Chief Science Advisor and...”

”I'm asking the Duke, your Grace,” Echon snapped rudely interrupting the Earl. He turned his attention again to the Duke and posed his question again. ”My Lord, is it true?”

Tabarius turned away obviously trying to piece all of the information presented until he nodded in acceptance.

”Then it's all a bit of misunderstanding!” Sir Julius exclaimed as if jumping, happy as if the whole ordeal never happened. ”Just send me a message father when they're ready for us. My squad is hunting for ducks by the river south from here.” He gave a slight nod clicking his tongue as if saying goodbye to his superiors, however rude that is, and then stormed out of the door as fast as a kid getting chased by a dog.

”Am I dismissed, My Lord,” informed Echon in attention.

”You are. You are,” waved Tabarius, still in deep thoughts.

”Your Grace, I am a hundred percent at your command,” he reassured just before leaving the room. ”Whatever you think is right, I will follow. Even if they're in collusion with the devil himself, I will support you.”

Tabarius nodded, still in his perturbed state, and then Echon left the two of them in private.

”What has gotten out of them, Tabarius? It seems as though they are afraid. I thought your knights are...”

”Are you?” he posed.

”What?”

”Not afraid?” he gently reached for a chair and sat as if weak. ”Because I am.”

Eryk was about to follow up on his answer but chose to remain in silence. He found himself walking near the bed to sit as if mulling over his informed decision about convincing them to carry on with their plans. He knows something's not right with Prodea's acts and he knows the evil secrets he has within, the secret deals he made with Prodea. Maybe it's greed or selfishness that has been controlling him to ignore all the facts, but one thing is definite, this is the first time he felt guilt for what he has done. A guilt that has a short life span for it seems he found a way to exploit the situation and immediately changed the topic.

”I noticed Ysa has been alone for quite some time now and I don't know if you noticed but Yvonne is practically missing these past few months too.”

”Yes, those two were once like a pair of shoes. Where the other one goes, the other one follows. They're inseparable. But now I think things are changing. Maybe because they feel safer here than in Leonus. If Lime can leave her sister here at the Palace without fearing for her wellbeing, then maybe we're safe to stay here as well.”

”Yes, but where is she?”

”Yzzy? Well she's in the study. The same as yesterday. That kid is fond in reading books and has...”

”No, I mean Yvonne.”

”Oh. Her. I told her I'm not giving her permission, but she refused my blessings. She even tried to hold her breath to break me to give her permission, but that poor girl fainted before I said yes.”

”I don't understand, what does she want?”

”To run around and explore Nagozul. She's been cooped up in the library for the better months of our stay here, so she insisted to explore the southern parts. I told her it'll be dangerous, but she went up and pulled Lady Zeba in our discussion. Lady Zeba assured me that the most dangerous thing she'll be experiencing is home sickness missing me, so I gave her my permission.”

”And you just let her go out the Palace to wander about in these mysterious lands without supervision?” he charged almost shocked.

”Relax, he's been escorted by a young master swordsman of the Hundred Swords Elites. That's a big deal considering that he's a part of a guild of skillful swordsman who has been continually mastering the art of swordfight. I've seen him myself, a handsome looking fellow. She's as safe as she can be. If you think you're good with your sword, you haven't seen him play around with his thin-looking sword - ketan something - I forgot but it's a weird long sword much like what the oriental Gnarshu wields. Anyway, you would look like a fool playing with a stick compared to those Daomagarian swordfighters. He gave me a demonstration just outside the city. You should've seen it. It was marvelous.” After this, he laughed uncontrollably insulting Eryk a little which he ignored since he's now growing concerned.

”So, you left your daughter with a boy? Is that wise?”

”What's wrong with that? He's courteous, polite, an honorable man. He wouldn't do anything out of the ordinary. What could go wrong? And besides it's been two months or so I think. Though she's sending her weekly letters of her journey, she...”

”It's been two months?” he yelped now hysterical.

”What has gotten over you, Eryk?”

”What if she falls in love with this boy!?”

”Let her.”

Eryk stopped for a second as if his reply rang around his head uncontrollably sending jolts of fear to every fiber of his body. ”Come again?”

”I say let her fall in love. It's a good thing too since we're in paradise. It's not like she'd want to marry soon but if she does, I don't really care if she wants to marry a noble or a peasant. I just want her to be happy. If she decides to settle here in paradise then that'll be mighty splendid, don't you think!? He'll be here, safe from the nightmares of her past and what awaits us in Leonus. She wouldn't feel what I feel, experience losses as I've experienced mine, she could live a full and happy life. She could even make Ysa stay here too. Then the two of them will be safe...”

Eryk's sour face turned bitter by the second, so much in fact that Tabarius noticed it so, making him turn his serious speech into a series of uncontrolled guffaw.

”Oh, my dear friend Eryk,” he calmly continued after laughing with almost a tear clinging from his eye refusing to roll down till, he swiped it away. He stood up and went near him as if consoling him. ”Is this about that talk we vowed never to speak of again?”

”Yes...” he mumbled almost hesitant, angry and hurt. ”You told me...”

”I told you I'll give you a chance,” he cut in now serious and in a friendly tone, ”If she chooses you, then I'll give her to you. If not, well I don't know anything more to say.”

”But you promised me...”

”My father...” he pointed out with much stress as he stood up feeling worried. ”My father promised your father. Not me. A promise that was broken years ago when your father defected and went against Leonus, after they help the Gnarshu massacre all of Golluwun's forces.”

”But I remained true to Leonus, I even help assassinate my own...”

”Stop,” he interrupted before he could ever continue. He sighed combing his hair in frustration. ”I know you've been loyal, and I don't want to examine our... intricate past. I can't speak for Lime and my father most certainly can't too. Now that we're in paradise, the very lands of God himself, all is forgiven, the slate is wiped clean. The playing field is leveled. All is equal. My point is if you can, then do it, otherwise then just quit.”

”Wh-wha-what?” he mumbled almost teary eyed. ”What are you saying?”

”Look at us. We're almost the same age. You're twice as old as she is. Let it go. Let her be with whoever makes her happy, someone who understands her. I'm sure there are other women out there who can make you happy, twice or even thrice of what my Lime can give you. By the looks of it she likes that handsome kid, a lot. I had never seen her so happy in my entire life. It's like she turned like a kid again, as if experiencing another mystery and facing it with sheer excitement, and joy, and fear all at the same time just like when I met my sweet Kamil. I know she doesn't know about love and she doesn't know how to realize that or maybe she's not even there yet, but I want her to at least try it out for herself.” He sighed again sitting back beside him, putting his arms tapping his shoulders. ”Look at it this way. We're all in the same boat. If she's out there experiencing life, exploring the realms of love, then maybe it's about time we do that too.”

”That's unfair 'cause I know you won't...” he grinned hiding his anger, just to finish it all up.

”Well, you know me far too well, I guess. Nothing can replace Kamil. Just… Just do it for the both of us.”

Three knocks on the door startled them in attention. They stood up just before it opened.

”Good morning. Sir Echon told me I'd find you two here.”

”Pleasant morning too, Lady Zeba,” they said in unison.

”I'm sorry gentlemen but I'm afraid your presence is requested in Prodea's chambers.”

”I-I'm sorry? Why in her chambers?” Tabarius asked wondering.

”It's about the thing we did yesterday. I assume you have kept it a secret too amongst yourselves?”

The two looked at each other knowing full well Sir Echon and Sir Julius have learned their secret too but nodded in chorus which made Zeba smile a little, curiously baffled but smiling.

”I'll give you time to prepare. I have other matters to attend to. I assume you know your way around so please be there within the hour.”

-------ooO0Ooo-------

”You're late!” Prodea reprimanded, amicable yet sounding like she's scolding.

The two entered Prodea's wondrous chambers but before Tabarius appreciates the aesthetic beauty of her spacious room, her soft cushy red carpet, her bright intricate stained glass windows and the marvelous sculptures in every corner, his attention immediately was captured by the Knight Sir Haaron who is standing at least seven feet tall, with red skin, in a battle armor unlike anything he has ever seen before.

He went near for a closer inspection being drawn by both curiosity and awe. He's wearing a dark red full metal armor weighing by a reasonable estimate of at least a ton. The armor enveloping his entire body can be seen like a totem. The sharp thorns protruding from his armor will definitely instill fear to anyone if they forget how humongous he is and is dumb enough to ignore that fact. That also would make anyone think twice about staying on their spot when he goes about on a rampage. The thorns are sharp and deadly and can pierce through any chainmail available, however sturdy their blacksmiths assure it is, and the nightmarish spikes don't end there. It runs down to his sides, to his gloves, even to his boots creating a frightening red monster out for blood. The thickness of the armor is practically impossible for a mortal to carry and yet he's standing equipped with it, smiling as if awaiting any compliments, he might give.

”Impressed?” Prodea started too eager to wait for his assessment. ”We tested out different weapons and none can penetrate it. He's the ultimate titan, even his skin is impenetrable.” Prodea grabbed a dagger and pushed it to Tabarius's hands. ”Come on. Try it out yourself.”

Haaron removed his gauntlets and revealed his red arm. Tabarius looked up and saw him smiling as if inviting him to pierce him.

”Try my arm, My Lord. And please, don't conserve your strength.”

Tabarius shrugged and mumbled. ”Here goes nothing.” He held Haaron's hands tight and quickly stabbed his arm but what he didn't anticipated was that his skin is as tough as a metal plate but still as pliable as skin. The blade was held in place, but the force of his strike didn't waver and unfortunate for him, the dagger didn't have any hilt at all. As a result, his hands slid from the hilt to the blade resulting to a messy accident that cut his palms so deep blood came gushing out everywhere. Prodea laughed incessantly as if anticipating that the unlucky situation will happen.

”Gets them every time,” she mumbled as she called him forward to go near her. ”I thought you're going to shout or cry or run about in my room. But you're as calm as a soldier. Kudos for you.”

”Indeed, I'm a soldier back in my better days. I've had worse, it'll heal,” he bragged with his eyes unable to cover the twitching cues of the pain he appears to be hiding.

Eryk just smiled awkwardly not knowing what to say. He's impressed with Haaron's new abilities, but he's disturbed with Prodea's weird humor.

Prodea grabbed Tabarius's hands and muttered her weird chants. After she's done, his hands returned to normal once again, magically fixing the serious cut that could've almost torn his hands apart from that ridiculously sharp dagger.

”I'm borrowing your Knight as we have arranged,” she followed amicably beaming her wondrous smile as if excited. ”I expect there will be no resistance to this engagement. Wouldn't you agree?”

Tabarius was confused for a bit. It's as though she's insinuating that they know what they talked in Echon's quarters. He just ignored the fact returned the favor of her smile with a kind nod.

”Oh, and please do tell your other two knights that I won't be needing them on our next week's schedule. I can do my plans with only one titan at the moment, so Sir Haaron will do. I'm sure they will be relieved after hearing that great news.”

”Oh, sure, sure,” he agreed still bewildered with her insinuations as if she's reading his mind. ”I assume you can coordinate with us with what you are planning?” he added wanting to be included in her activities.

”Oh, don't worry. We won't be needing Leonus' army for what we're planning in these next few weeks?”

”Oh, how so? I thought we're digging in the mines as planned?”

”Well, no. Let's just say...” she turned around and grabbed a fist sized metal ball at the corner and continued, ”...we're doing something that might get a little tricky. I haven't given any leverage to your forces yet so let me give you a demonstration.” She threw the ball to Haaron which he hurriedly caught, without looking as if he gained some extra sensory skills. Prodea nodded as if giving him the signal and then he crushed the ball with his bare hands turning it like mashed up ruined clay. Once he did, he dropped it on the ground creating a loud thud to a tune of a cracking floor as if it's heavier than he is. ”That thing there is a compressed metal ball created by the finest Daomagarian metal artisans around. It's some sort of a cannon ball, if you will. The weight is so heavy there's still a difference after summing all of our weights combined. On how they can do it, I don't know, and you don't need to know too. What's important is that you know that if your army can't do what Sir Haaron does. Then they're as good as flower fertilizers. If you get my point...”

”Oh... so it has begun?”

”Oh, no. We're just starting the prelude. You'll know when we've begun.”

Zeba interrupted all of the sudden, opening the huge double doors of Prodea, gasping for air, shouting. ”Your Highness! We captured him! He's in the Catacombs! What shall we do!?”

Prodea's eyes widened with much distress that it filled the two Leonus delegates with much worry. Prodea hurriedly grabbed all the articles lying on her bed and pushed the two out of his bedroom. He signaled Sir Haaron who ran fast to follow Zeba. They all went outside and Prodea sealed his magical doors shut in much haste.

”Zeba, take Sir Haaron and proceed with our plan. Coordinate with the Generals and use whatever force is necessary then meet up with me at the catacombs. I assume you can organize a systematic assault by yourself?”

”To weed out the traitors in every village?”

”What other plan is there?” she scoffed surprised by her daft reply.

With this the two ran on the opposite corridor disappearing as quickly as one can blink with an eye using the Great Dash. The two delegates still can find that to be awesome since they can never get used to such spectacular feat.

”Why are you still here?” asked Prodea annoyed at their lack of sensitivity and understanding of her nonverbal cues.

”Oh, sorry,” Tabarius snapped out of his happy thoughts. ”So, we'll meet up later I assume?”

”If I can, yes,” she replied almost grumpy.

”You go on now,” Eryk hurriedly whispered. ”I have something to talk about with Her Highness.”

”Oh, right,” Tabarius giggled. ”I didn't know you had that in you. Well good luck on your conquest for happiness. May it be fruitful!” He then ran away as fast as he can after tapping Eryk as if congratulating him, confusing Prodea who is somewhat annoyed making her wait.

”What is it that you want this time Eryk?” she said after a couple of seconds after he vanished into the halls. ”You two are getting weirder and weirder and it's practically annoying.”

”Is there nobody around?” he mumbled looking left and right, inspecting every nook and cranny.

Prodea rolled her eyes now being infuriated. ”Make me wait further and you'll just disappear where you stand.”

”Prodea our deal can't wait.”

”It's Grand Princess Prodea for you,” she corrected. ”Don't ever forget that.”

”I'm sorry, but my marriage with Lime can't wait any longer. I need you to do it now!”

”I'm kind of in a middle of something here. Please don't say you're making me wait for that stupid joke. It's not even funny.”

”I'm serious. He's meeting with a young Daomagarian kid somewhere and it's not looking good.”

”Well good for her, expanding her horizons like that, reaching for the skies for a miracle. I honestly don't know someone would want a weak, mediocre, mortal such as her, but I guess I'm not always right, huh? I'd say congratulations but I think it's too early for...”

”This is not a joke, Grand Princess,” he stopped her stomping his feet.

”Oh, sure! Yeah! This is not a joke? Well if you're sure we're not joking then stop giving me hilarious updates on her love life. Stop wasting my time.” She walked out of him almost running in a scurry till he angrily shouted.

”You gave your word! If I don't get married this month then the deal is off!”

”If the deal is off then you won't get what YOU want! And believe me, your dreams rely greatly to my success than mine to yours!” she shouted too walking again.

”But you don't get what YOU want too! And I'll make it my every effort to make sure of that!”

She leaned back, clicking her tongue in fury and looked at him straight in the eyes. ”Okay fine! I swear! You will marry by two months' time. If I don't follow through, then I'll make you a titan too!” and then she vanished without awaiting his reply. She knows he doesn't want that, but she has to keep his mind occupied with something else as she is occupied with something much larger.

Running cannot be the term fit to describe what she's doing. She appears dashing fast but she's not on the ground. She's floating like the ghosts of Karshivyk. Anyone she passed on by kept on looking as if both afraid and confused on how she's doing it. It seems that she's been possessed by some entity, but that's not the case. She's indeed possessed, not by an entity but the urgency of excitement over the leverage she now has against her mysterious enemy.

The doors of their secret chambers in the catacombs violently opened banging their twin doors against the walls creating a disturbing ear-splitting cry that echoed around, waking the man at the center lying weak, beaten plentiful first before being sent there against his will. Prodea slowly walked dropping all of her articles on the ground with a wide grin a devil only wears around before doing something wicked.

The man tried to stand up, being brave, but immediately fumbled down shaking, managing to at least kneel showing his defiance. Even with his face all beaten up to a pulp, he still managed to give an impressive stink eye akin to an insolent twelve-year-old giving a tantrum. Prodea was amused at his unwavering but pitiful determination. A Nagozulian being beaten violently by a Daomagar is no ordinary thing to endure. He should be unconscious now, unaware and complacent, while Prodea scours his mind and extract what she needs. Instead he's still awake.

”What an impressive physical endurance training you must have,” she complimented sitting down facing him on the ground. ”Such thing is only possible by churning the hatred from within to develop such a fine grit. But I do not sense any hatred leaking out... unless there's something keeping you awake, a goal, a mission. What is it?”

The man just spat on her face as reply but failed as a magic reflective mirror appeared instantaneously between them, letting the spit drip down safely down on the ground. Prodea laughed hoping to insult the man but gained nothing. It's as if he's ready for her, as if he still has the upper hand after everything that has happened to him. It made her wonder for a bit. It made her question some things unexplained but the excitement of breaking him first distracted her till she abandons the thought altogether.

”They say you're a grocer. That you have knowledge about the cargo deliveries from the Trading Post to the City; that you supplied information to the enemy. Is that true?”

”I thought you're smart?” he mocked, ”It's baffling why you haven't figured that one out yet. It seems you're not as smart as they say you are.”

Prodea's temper overwhelmed her senses. Nothing insults her better than insulting her intellect. She leaned over and choked him with her hands trying to crush his throat with her grip. She knows better than to do this. All of her senses kept on pursuing her to calm down, but she didn't. She ignored it all for this one act of superiority, an act to express her power and her advantage. That's one mistake she now knows she'll regret for the rest of her life for after she attacked him, a wave of darkness surrounded them, trapping them into a dark abyss of cold reclusion.

”Where are we,” she mumbled frightened now unable to control his body, being suspended in the air like a cloth hanging out to dry.

”You know the answer,” whispered the man appearing brighter by the second. ”You just want me to say it out loud. Will that pacify the terror you're feeling right now? Will it help you ease up? If it is, then I'd gladly keep my silence then.”

”Y-You entered in my mind? How?” she asked quivering in fear. The most secure place she knows, being entered upon, entrapping her in her own snare. Her most greatest fear.

”Let's just get this over with. Unlike you, I don't really like to brag about wasting time. Monologues are just pathetic. Only self-absorbed people like you do that.” He got closer and choked her himself returning the same throat crushing blow she gave him earlier. ”By the way, Yiv sends his regards you Yit'Vit piece of Tesh!”

The man exploded immolating himself while propelling Prodea till she slams violently against the wall. The impact created a fracture in her skull rendering her unconscious on the ground.

Zeba have fortunately returned there after she accomplished her orders but regrettably, she arrived late. She only saw the massive explosion that propelled her away too. A massive headache and a buzzing ring on her ears were all she endured as she ran towards the debris that once was their secret chamber in the catacombs. The explosion is five times more powerful than what Juni used. This power only comes from a spell used by Yagisivians. Are Yagisivians in collusion with the enemy? The thought lingered her mind, but that idea was suspended as she dashed ahead to find Prodea. She used all her might searching for Prodea, shouting at the top of her lungs till she saw her, lying still, in the far corner, without consciousness. And in a shocking shriek it's all over. She's dead!