Chapter 614: Empires Invasion [32] (2/2)
”LONG LIVE LORD IGNA!” echoed around the village, ”LONG LIVE THE LORD!”
*Dispel,* the platform crumbled, ”-Hear me, people of Oda village, I have a proposition.”
”Which is?” frowned the Elder.
”Let's take the celebration to Glenda, Oda village is a little cramped. A portal shall be manifested for the occasion, after all, we've just won against seven-thousand men.”
”HELL YEAH!” ran across the cacophonous crowd, young and old, excitement filled their hearts and screamed out the pearly white smiles. The joy of having won such a difficult battle, those experienced in the war were impressed and grateful. Tuesday the 6th of May would forever be remembered as the Birth of Glenda's Devil. Reservations aside, the portal doorway was erected inside the Guild house. The expectation of a destroyed town and corpse-filled streets stumped the moment they arrived. Apart from scorched walls, few bullet holes, and the destruction of an abandoned building, all remained the same. Damage sustained was minimal. Intherna and Gophy kindly burnt any trace of death, two thousand men made for the afterlife without recognition. The evening drew close, the natives of town went about their business. Stray merchants stumbled into the middle of a sudden festival. Éclair was tasked with inviting people from Apid and Upen village since they were part of Igna's barony.
A serious analysis foretold of how many people actually lived in Glenda, take away the traveling merchants and the populous remained in the thousands. Details aside, Éclair's evacuation secretly divided the flock, some were sent to the abandoned fortress and others to various outposts. All and all, the town regrouped in full.
'I'm tired,' yawned Igna. The watchtower stretched up high, the wooden door gave to a vexing flight of stairs, ”-follow me,” said Igna. The higher, the more grew other presence. Stomps and trembles of the stone stairs dulled the chattery, Igna immediately halted at the door and gave three imminent taps.
”Mind if I let myself inside my room,” the lock clicked.
”Igna,” exhaled Lampard, ”-you scared the shit out of me,” he panted.
”The party's all here,” the key casually flew onto the desk, ”-Jen and Anna's party,” he settled into an office chair. ”-Rena, Frost, and Anna seem to be in rough shape,” confidently leaned into a stare-down, ”-can I have an explanation of what's happened?”
Silence bound Frost and Cole, Ila seemed to be in a daze. ”-Anna, might filling in the details?” she coughed and hoisted against the bedrest.
”We were played for fools.”
”Never mind,” the hands shrugged away the explanation, ”-I can't be asked to deal in intrigue for right now. Kion, take over, would you?” he eased into a napping posture, Vanesa stumbled into bed with the others. An awkward silence stretched; the hero exchanged few glances.
”Question,” Jen broke the ice.
”Go ahead.”
”Angelic mana's practically overflowing your aura, you're from the church…” her eyes narrowed.
”Yes, I'm Kion Hurworth, the summoned Hero. You're a trained saint, the aura speaks so.”
Pleasantries went back and forth, the situation rolled onto the table. Enemies made allies on a whim. Rena and Jen were astounded, Leonard and Lampard all but chuckled. Tis the sort of person Igna was.
An hour elapsed, the mind swam up the depths of thought, '-I didn't use my element. Summoning Origin's knowledge came naturally. No backlash to my body or soul, the bond's strong, stronger I'd wager. We're truly one of the same. He's such a humble bragger, what he brings is knowledge and no combat prowess, I'd so enjoy giving him a mild slap. What happened today is something I'll never forget.'
”Oh, my other self,” said a fleeting whisper, ”-you're a big ol' whimsical idiot,” resonating laughter floated about, ”-the life shown so far has truly been fulfilling. I'm happy, words can't express how much emotion brings pleasure. The joy's trickled into thy side. Every elapsed moment, we grow into the perfect being. With the ability to swap from stone-cold and blissful, as well as sharing a middle ground, I'm no longer a bystander for my name's Igna Haggard. Go on, wake up, it's been an hour already.'
*Smack,* the air blew out the lung, '-what the?' the eyes reopened to an energetic Draconis.
”Pops, pops, pops,” he hopped about the stone-cold floor, ”-wake up, wake up, wake up. The festival's ongoing,” the head swayed in a daunting demonic hum.
”Whatever,” rolling the eyes, ”-Kion and Alta,” sat upright, ”-what of the others?”
The former nervously scratched his head, ”-Inesa and Ulia instantly clicked with Jen and Rena. They're a wholesome group of friends, especially Jen, she was adamant in setting differences aside when Frost spoke of us as enemies.”
”All for the better I suppose,” he stood, ”-what about you two?”
”I chose to stay, I'm ashamed to take part in the celebrations.”
”Guilty about the fight,” a brotherly pat gave reassurance, ”-the hero's dead. You're a new man.” Along the mini pep-talk, the graceful Alta threw intent glances.
”Excuse you,” returned Igna, ”-though I don't hate the attention, could I please know why I'm being gawked at so methodically?”
”M-me?” her voice squeaked.
”No, the wall behind,” he returned sarcastically.
”U-u-Uhm, I…” she paused to recompose, ”-I was impressed by the speech. With the emphasis and strain on words, I'm moved. There aren't many people able to stand to such a crowd and speak wholeheartedly, and appeal to their emotions, it's amazing.”
”I appreciate the compliment, thank you, Alta.”