35 UNWITTING DEFEA (2/2)

Kayzar grabbed the bag filled with clinking vials that he gave him and shushed him. ”Go tell Kuya-Reus that we need to have an extraction team from the Caster's Critical Care Division.”

”O-okay, but the casters can't use their Amplifyers. No one can.”

”Just do it,” he shouted almost losing his patience. Grabbing his blue sapphire, activating it but just faintly, trying to cast his healing spell to Karus which is harder than casting it to himself.

”Y-you're a prodigy too?!” Yosh smiled relieved which was ignored by Kayzar who are giving all his might, transferring all his concentration, to heal his brother.

”What's wrong?” Iyom said transmitting behind them. He then gave a sharp sigh as he knelt fast to inspect Karus. ”That's some serious beating. I didn't know you're this injured. This is rather serious, and you didn't tell anyone?”

Yosh was about to leave dashing till Karus whispered. ”Stop! I'm fine.” He looked at Kayzar grabbing his hands. ”I can't leave the south yet. Our people need us. I can't leave them behind. Now that our cover has been blown, Aunt Prodea will strike where it hits the most. If she can't get to the North, she'll surely strike our villages. If you call in the casters, we'll be stuck at the north for the rest of our lives. I cannot stand idly by again. Not this time.”

”I can transmit him to my father Kyrin if you want to?” Iyom asked looking at Kayzar.

”Yes, he can use his Magicks!” Yosh exclaimed. ”Send him to King Kyrin immediately!”

”A little warning, I'm not saying he can't, but I can't be sure he can either,” Iyom frowned. ”The Global Binding Spell of Prodea is causing us problems there too. Healing requires a lot of channeling energy, especially to us Dwendells, and Prodea's spell hinders us from doing them. But I can assure you that we can provide fast medical aid to him. We have a number of fast acting medical herbs and...”

”No.” Kayzar interrupted. ”I can't risk that. I'm sorry but I have no choice.”

”What are you going to do?” Yosh refused shouting. ”He's practically dying!”

”Hello, I'm right here,” Karus reacted. He tried laughing but he spewed more blood instead. This frightened Kayzar that he grabbed him tight in a hug.

”Tell Mama we're sorry and we wouldn't be able to get back home after all. Say hi to everyone for me.”

Yosh was about to protest again till they both disappeared into the darkness leaving him annoyed beyond wits.

Iyom laughed uncontrollably almost tearing up when Yosh slapped him angrily.

”Why are you laughing!? My brother is dying and you're still having a good laugh? Are you enjoying this?”

”No silly. I just remembered he can go to the veil. Nobody dies in the veil because the veil is the land of the dead. Your brother is going to be okay. Don't worry.”

”Then he's not going to die? Are you sure?”

”Yes. Well, No. If he's reaped by the Reaper, then he'll die. He's the only one who could kill there. But I highly doubt that. Last I heard, he's busy in the foreign lands so he'll be very far away from here. I don't know why though. I'm not much into gossips.”

”Reaped by what now?”

”The Reaper? Don't tell me you've never heard of him. He's one of the immortals. You can practically say that he's the distant cousin of the mighty Heralds of Bathala. He's the oldest of the immortals, though we existed before him. Still, his name should be legendary. Short black hair, little...”

”Yes, I get it,” he interrupted. ”But why?”

”He can smell dying people in the veil, and he hates them. He pretty much hates mortals entering the veil. He's the keeper you see. He likes his veil occupied only by dead souls as it is intended to be. Mortals shouldn't enter the veil. Nobody in the land of the living should be there. He's just keeping order. That's the job Bathala gave to him and he takes his job really seriously, like obsessive serious.”

”So, they're going to be in more trouble!”

”Nah, I'll give it a day. Two tops. Time is slower in the veil for about nine to ten times, I think. Two days here is about eighteen to twenty there. He'll be up and about in no time at all.”

”You're confusing me. Are they going to be safe or not!?”

”Hey, relax. They're safe as long as the Reaper can't find them. It's a big world, so it's going to be almost impossible for them to meet him there accidentally.”

”Ewww... they're kissing?!” Yosh reacted realizing what Reus and Illyriah are doing. ”They've found time for that now?! And on top of his father no less. Ugh... that's gross.”

Iyom looked behind and gave a devilish smile. ”I'm sure you haven't kissed anyone before, huh? That's why you're so weirded by it”

”I-I-I have kissed one once... two... twice!”

”Yeah, right. Just keep collecting imaginary girls and imaginary memories. That'll help your case.”

”And you did? Stop mocking me if you haven't too!”

”Well, I did kiss a girl once as a matter of fact. It's a long time ago.”

”Nuh-uh! It's impossible someone can stand to kiss you.”

”I did! And I have proof!”

”Ha! You wish.”

”My first kiss was when I was a hundred and twenty it was summer! You can ask Nine! He saw it! Shut up!”

”Well that's comforting.” Yosh smiled grinning. ”So, that leaves me a hundred and nine years ahead of you. Maybe I should kiss a girl tomorrow just to make a point.”

”I was going to invite you to the north but since you're picking on me now, I may just have to forget that.”

”Hey! No fair!”

Iyom smiled and looked at Reus with Illyriah now holding hands talking. ”I wonder what will happen to them, to him specifically. You told me Reus will be heavily punished if you don't arrive at the North on time. Together. That's going to be painful, learning your brothers abandon you once more to face the wrath of the famous Anagea. Even my father didn't win over his battle with her.”

”Don't worry. He'll understand,” Yosh chuckled holding his shoulders ready for transmission. ”Besides, he's got a girlfriend now. I think Illyriah will tend his wounds after the beating.”

With a snort of a laugh, Iyom waved his hands getting Reus and Illyriah's attention as if saying his goodbye before disappearing entirely.

This made Reus to stand up with a sudden vision of the impending doom he's about to face in the morning. He gulped in anxiety as he thought of how his mother is going to ruthlessly punish him from breaking his oath again till Illyriah held his hands walking to his side.

”Don't worry, Reus,” Illyriah said with her calming assurance. ”We'll be alright.”

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

”Is this all?”

The two shadows looked at each other and with certainty, they bowed to Yiv in confirmation.

”And you checked all other rooms? Even at the annex buildings?”

”Yes, Master,” Argentis proudly declared. ”All of their documents, their secrets have been collected and is in there. Even Prodea's secret compartments in the spire where Sayed stayed have been discovered. Their plans to invade the north are all there.”

”Burn it,” Yiv smiled walking away.

”B-but Master?” Auric rushed stopping her. ”Ol 'deyr plans 'r 'der. If we give it to Master Artemus, we could have 'ol 'd proof we need to destroy Prodea's reputa'shun once 'en for 'ol. We could end 'dis 'en not resort in fur'der bludshed.”

Yiv smiled and moved closer to Auric. ”I said, burn them.”

”Y-yes, Master.”

Yiv walked away again pushing Auric aside but before she could open the door, Argentis shouted.

”Forgive my impudence Master, but is it wise to destroy the one thing that can save Master Artemus and Master Anagea? Your family?”

Yiv turned back and looked at her with all seriousness almost irritated but she still bravely continued with her point despite her master's frightful bloody eyes looking right at her.

”I have perused the articles and I have found out that there will be a military deployment to wipe out Master Artemus's Fort and all of those who are in his aid. They will then brand him a traitor and will accuse him of all the treacherous acts made by Prodea.”

”Are you done?” Yiv hissed which made her bow down keeping her mouth shut. ”No, please, continue. I enjoy your new-found courage to contradict my orders. It seems like you have more to say about the matter.”

”I'm sorry, Master,” she knelt bowing low with Auric following her. ”But I'm just concerned with your family's welfare. Please forgive my insolence.”

”No, you're right,” Yiv pondered walking back rummaging the plans on the table. ”We could warn them about this. We could send all of this to them. That will surely indict Prodea and that will lead to her immediate exile. Then all will be well and good.”

Auric and Argentis smiled looking up, sighing, but immediately bowed down upon noticing that her remark is sarcastic, seeing her angry blood red eyes.

”Do you take me as a fool, Argentis? Have I not shown you the way? Have I not shown you our path?”

”I'm sorry, Master,” she quickly replied.

”No, you're not sorry and it pains me to see it. You still don't understand, do you?” Yiv started clicking her tongue as she sat to the chair behind the wide table where Prodea's documents laid scattered. ”We are Bathala's Shadow Enforcers. Have I not stressed that enough? I have repeatedly explained this to you for countless times and yet you still carry that doubt in your mind?”

”No, Master,” she responded in haste lifting her head. ”I'm just concerned...”

”Silence!” Argentis stopped and quickly returned to her bow. ”Bathala's prophecy states that there will be an invasion. At the invasion, the White Demon will rise and punish Prodea's forces. Without the White Demon's revival, the fate of the world will fall into ruins. I cannot let that happen. I cannot impede the revival of the White Demon. It is imperative that we let Prodea carry out her plans as scheduled. If we do not carry out Bathala's wisdom then we stray off from the path, our path. If we stray out from our path, then the Earth will die. You, me, everyone. All will perish. That is the wisdom of the prophecy. That is Bathala's words. That's why we are mandated to enforce its fruition. It is up to us to work in the shadows to ensure the world's future.”

”Yes, Master.”

”No. I need you to understand!” Yiv shouted standing up slamming the table almost cracking it in half. ”I do not need for you to agree with me, I need you to have the full wisdom of the prophecy engraved in your head so that I do not need to explain it to you again and again and again!”

”Of course, Master,” she gulped hesitantly raising her head to look at her. ”It is known in the fifty-third prediction that Karus will be reborn as the second coming of the White Demon and in the ninetieth he will pledge allegiance to the cause. I'm so sorry I forgot, please forgive my foolishness. I was taken aback from my concern to the rightful King and his family.”

”Of course, you are,” Yiv finally said smiling rushing near her, kneeling and then hugging her to console her. ”Thank Bathala you understand now. I just wanted you to know why we're doing this and why it's important.” She smiled looking at her fixing her hair now returning her eyes to her neutral purple. ”Besides, bringing this to Mama's attention will generate no further gain or advantage. Prodea's stronger than she thinks she is. If they engage them now, she will understand her full capacity and will destroy them all in the north with her Dark Magicks. The only reason she is hesitant and is still doing this silly planning is because she's afraid. She's afraid of Daddy. We need to delay that realization as much as we can. That's why the prophecy is there to guide us. That is why we need to follow it, step-by-step.”

”Yes, Master. I understand now.”

Yiv stood up and beamed at them. She circled the table once more flipping those scrolls and documents that are piled there. ”I want to read this further, but I cannot, I am after all a Master General in father's Secret Intelligence Division. If I do this, I might act upon my instincts after knowing their plans. I can give this to mother though, but I cannot. That would mean she, will do the things I would do if I learned this and that would impair our goals of completing the prophecy. You know how stubborn she is.”

”We 'cud leave 'dis be,” Auric finally entered. ”After 'ol, it is Prodea's plans to invade 'd nort'. If we burn them 'ol, we will delay 'deyr invasion for more 'dan a year. 'Dat 'wud be an excessive delay.”

”Not exactly.” The face of the two shadows were filled with confusion that Yiv continued to explain. ”I have calculated the precise moment Prodea will strike and it still coincides close to her timeline - and that is even if she spends her time with the reorganization and reacquisition of her plans. With her brilliant mind, she could recreate them all by memory and would still be able to attack on time. We'll probably shave two weeks maximum, but we'll take it.”

Auric smiled figuring what she's thinking. ”So, we need more distrac'shun. Sometin' wort' spendin' time to mull over.”

”Yes, my good apprentice. That's why the name Kudos stuck. Kudos for understanding my thoughts. Exceptional as ever.”

”Shall I start destroyin' 'd founda'shuns on 'd lower basements?”

”Wait, what?” Argentis interrupted trying to join in on their discussion.

”We're going to destroy this fortress,” Yiv informed biting her lips in excitement. ”I always wanted to try demolishing a structure this big.”

”But this has been standing for more than ten thousand years. Their ancestors, and our ancestors, labored to build this magnificent Palace. With all due respect, Master, please reconsider.”

”Hmmm, I'm afraid it's a little over the top, but we have to occupy Prodea's mind for a while.”

”But what about our anonymity? Surely we will be blamed for this.”

”Relax, Argentis. You're always so tensed and worked up with details you forget to dive inside the minds of your enemy, and anyone affected by this. Everything is according to plan, isn't that right, Kudos?”

Auric nodded and started explaining. ”Prodea will be thinkin' it is 'd Night Hunters who destroyed 'dis fine piece of ar'kitecture but everyone will just 'tink Prodea's 'd one behind 'dis 'en will blame her for creating confusion and chaos in 'd people's mind. It's a win-win for us. A crowd of displeased Nagozulians will create discord in 'd streets 'en 'dat will surely buy us a mont' or two.”

Yiv laughed uncontrollably enjoying the thought. ”Yes. I can't wait to look at her face when that happens. I wonder what she'll do then. That's going to be hard to contain. She's in for a great ride!”

”And this will not affect the prophecy?”

Yiv was surprised as she went near her. ”Look at you, trusting the prophecy. Of course, it will not - much. But it's alright. I know, I have done it twice, meddling with the prophecy, but still it managed to return back on its way as if Bathala's intervening. Even my brother died and returned back to life. If that's not divine intervention, then I don't know what it is. Besides, if it does sway away far enough, we'll be here to put it back on track.”

”Yes, Master.” The two echoed in agreement.

”Since you're too eager to start the demolitions, Auric, I will let you destroy the first pillar. I would've done it myself earlier before this entire ruckus started, but I'll share you some.”

”Yes, Master.”

Yiv walked the door with Auric following him. ”I'll be the one who'll choose what foundations to break. That's the fun part.”

”Yes, Master.”

”Oh! Burn all of those for us Argentis and follow us at the basement. I don't want you to miss out on all the fun too.”

”Yes, Master,” Argentis replied bowing as the two exit the room.