32 GROWING POPULARITY (1/2)

”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.