Chapter 493: Xenon (2/2)
”I understand,” giving a tight embrace, ”-I was going to help with or without you. Go wash up, bring the others later tonight, we'll go over what we can do.” And so, the slumped distraught noble stepped onto the restricted back-alley. He gave no thought of acting strong.
'He's a total mess,' wondered Igna watching the desperate boy walk along the street, '-can love really make a person so miserable?' He'd bump into people, receive glares and blade-like comments.
'Sorry,' he'd say slowly behind woeful eyes and continue.
”As it is a dessert to cherish, love can also be the poison of those who tread too far into its ever-inviting arms. A delicate innocent-looking apple laced in venom. They keep on eating and eating; addicted beyond recovery, wanting to feel the same ecstasy as before to only be dragged into reality. Tis the thing teenagers dream, an impulsive feeling of want. He left his nobility, his power, and fame, to be at his lover's side. Look at him now, she's gone, we don't know if she's alive or dead – I'm sure the weight is crashing him.”
”You're right.”
Later that night, Leonard, Ila, and Cole arrived to have dinner in the apartment. The eatery would be inappropriate for the discussion. A plethora of steaming hot dishes rested on the dining table. A change from eating alone or in the company of the guests below. Ila held a reserved look, Cole glanced around curiously. Leonard didn't naught but wait patiently.
”Tis the first time I have guests over,” commented Igna wiping his hand, ”-please, make yourself at home,” and so, they paced about until Igna returned. ”Shall we discuss the matter over dinner?”
”Sure,” they agreed. Dishes passed about, and their plates filled.
”Before we start,” voiced the host, ”-does everyone know about the situation at hand?”
”Yes,” they nodded with grins, the food warmed the inside out, the stress all but vanished.
'It worked,' thought he.
”Igna,” said Ila first, ”-I heard from Leonard about some information…”
”Oh, that,” he took a sip, ”-the academy isn't going to help with the expedition. I heard it from a reliable source. The article is true to some extent, something is lurking inside that dungeon.”
”You insinuating lady Anna is dead?” her tone rose.
”Softer,” interjected Cole, ”-we've come here to ask for help, not start a fight.”
”Please, listen to what he says,” added Leonard.
”I don't like it one bit,” she focused on her food.
”Can you please go into more details?” wondered Leonard.
”Sure,” the conversation went on for longer, though it didn't seem outstretched.
”Basically, we don't know if they're alive and we can't expect the guild to help.”
They moved over to the living room. The television played mournful piano pieces from the virtuoso of Arda. Meanwhile, Igna did the dishes with Cole's help.
”Are you sure about going on this trip?” wondered Igna.
”Why ask me?” he paused midway wiping a bowl.
”You're the only one who's looking at this rationally. I dare not tell the others, but, if Pegasus's team couldn't do a thing, what can us, students, do?”
”Listen, Igna,” he rested the utensil, ”-I don't know myself. There's the feeling of if I don't do something, I'll regret it for the rest of my life. I want to go and see them for myself, even if they're dead, I don't want the 'what-ifs' to haunt me down the line. It goes the same for you.”
”I get it.”
”…” An awkward silence forced Cole out of the kitchen. Igna kept on washing the same dish over and over again. What Cole said was true, having regrets might not be so good down the line.
As soon as he entered the living room, ”-we've decided,” exploded Ila. ”-We're going to the dungeon,” the adventuring channel covered Coria and it's raising problem. They touched the subject of increasing monster ratings. The caster had this to say, ”-at the current growth, if our adventurers do not strive to become stronger, the strength gap might outgrow their control. We do not need a repeat of the monster invasions.”
”I'm sure they're still alive,” added Cole, ”-you said it yourself, Pegasus is there.”
”Time is against us. If we don't hurry, any sliver of survival is all but naught.”
”I get it,” he took a strong step forward, ”-we're going to Coria.”
”You'll help us?”
”Yes, under one condition.”
”Which is?”
”We'll seek guidance from other guilds. Students alone have no chance, if we're going to support them, we'll bring what the world has to offer.”
”And how do you expect that to happen?” shrugged Ila, ”-Blade's end has a fortune-like fee and no other guild is as strong as them.”
”You're wrong,” he smirked, ”-I know an independent group that'll help us.”
”Who are they?” wondered Cole excitedly.
”Xenon, Phantom's Guild. The company the legendary Xenos of Kniq founded.”
”Shut up,” they stepped back, ”-impossible. Xenon is elusive, there's no information on the headquarters. Stop lying… at least give some believable lie.”
”Wait and watch,” said he, ”-just you wait and watch.”