Chapter 564: Rotherham (1/2)
”Quite a catch,” said Serene.
”Shut it,” refuted Igna. Time was nigh, it was back to Rotherham. The interior, robust, simple, and efficient. The advance squad sat in order, some moved about, and others discussed missions or debriefed to the leader's command. A little out of place, he made till the upper area and sat where Julius told to. To and fro made the simple take-off feel heavy and charged.
'And my time here is done,' thought he, the plane lifted. 'A single day and all of this occurred. Feels like another world. Suppose merging with Origin made it worthwhile. I can use magic once again, the mana manipulation arts is limitless. Things are looking up, well, I'd like to think so.' Notification blasted into his face, calls from Lady Courtney, Julius, and Alicia, most of all, Éclair. Once putting the lenses, ”-ABOUT TIME!”
”Chill,” voiced he.
”No, I've been in the dark for two days. What happened, where have you been?”
”Look through my memories, the answer should be there.”
”Fine, no need to be standoffish.”
Halfway into the flight, a figure slipped onto the next seat, black hair and fierce eyes. ”Shall we catch up?” asked she leaned to envelop his seat.
”Do you mind?” returned he unimpressed, ”-still got the habit of exposing cleavage.”
”And that's why I love you,” she settled pretty easily, ”-where were you for 6 years?”
”I was killed by Lucifer and Eira. Happened in Iqeavea. Remember the mission to help border control, apparently, it was a trap. No idea what happened after that. I found myself watching me, as Igna. The barrier broke, and we merged. Mind and soul, I'm Staxius. Name and body, Igna. It doesn't matter. The fresh start gives perspective. What about you, how's handling Arda been?”
”A mess,” she half-heartedly sighed, ”-glad we got out of there.”
”Are things that bad in Arda?”
”Terrible. The Blood-King's faction is doing fine. Lady Elvira and I made sure to round the clan leaders. We're a neutral party, similar to the Haggard's departure from the Federation. Tension is high, Elendor's keeping us together at the moment, no idea when it might break.”
”Sorry about that,” said he a little concerned for abandoning such a task on her.
”No worry,” said she, ”-I quite enjoyed playing politics.”
”Enjoyed playing politics. It truly was just a game.”
”Don't get me wrong,” her posture straightened, ”-tis a game of cat and mouse. On another note, what's the deal with you, what now?”
”Trying to make a career in Alphia. There are a few things amiss. Remember Aceline?”
”The pride of Hidros, of course, I know. She was murdered, right?”
”Wrong, we actually revived her, quite a tedious story for another time,” the gaze escaped to the passing clouds.
”Don't want to talk about it. No problem,” she stood, ”-let's go over the details behind a nice dinner later, my treat.”
”Sure,” he nodded. 'Éclair, can I have an update on what Serene's doing here?'
”The lady is shadowing Prince Julius, learning about the intricacies of Xenon and the underworld. She's secretary to the current head of the family, your lady mother. Results so far are worthwhile, Arda doesn't dare make a move on the alliance because of her.”
'I get it, the closest confidant turned coat to a neutral party. Prince Julius and princess Lizzie are other issues entirely.'
Blond locks snuck to glance over the next seat. Blue eyes sparkled in the well-lit interior. The blueness outside befitted her visage, ”-Lady Viola,” said he matching her gaze, ”-stop being a cat, join me already.”
”Sorry about that,” she cleared her throat and sat, ”-it's been quite a while.”
”No joke,” he gave a once-over. ”-Undrar, you've grown into a very beautiful lady.”
”Ha-ha,” the face remained dull, ”-I've got more than a few complaints. Need I remind, you pulled me from the hall of rebirth onto the mortal plane to then disappear. We did a few quests then you up and left with responsibilities on my shoulder.”
”I know, I know. I dumped most of my work onto others. Call it outsourcing…”
”Shut up,” she slammed the seat, ”-no way, I'm pissed,” the mild expression before was naught but a trap. A sweet innocent bunny holding a knife and murderous intent.
”Ok, ok. Let me explain.” Thus, for the next fifteen minutes – he spared no details and told everything. ”To conclude, I've inherited Scifer's will as well as the duty of becoming king of the monsters.”
”Seriously,” her head hang low, ”-so much happened. You died for god's sake.”
”Well,” pointing to Kniq's emblem, ”-memories of old is what kept me so long. What's happened to attaining divinity. Demi-Goddess, shouldn't you be a goddess by now?”
”Jokes on you,” said she leering at his neck, ”-I ascended into a higher-being a few years ago. Undrar, the bringer of death, separated from me, Viola, to perform her godly duties. I wield the power of an angel still.”
”Why separate?”
”Really?” shadows covered her empty gaze, ”-I stayed because of you, idiot. I enjoy the mortal plain, grown fond of it. The heir of Lord Death died; the element didn't change host. Left quite a mess. To fill the empty spot, Undrar took on the mantle of the current god of death besides Lord Death. ”
”Why speak in the third person?”
”Because Undrar is another being,” said she, ”-we share most things. Consciousness isn't one of them.”
”…”