Doomsday Pillars

Aria seemed to have found her determination two days ago, but ever since yesterday she began hesitating and was unable to take the steps to knock on the main door. Today was her second attempt.

Her heart felt truly heavy. Not sure what to do.

(You can do it Aria...)

(Ok, I am ready...)

(...wait...wait)

(Maybe I should prepare a note...)

(No... that"s stupid...)

(Ok, maybe not today... tomorrow... definitely tomorrow...)

Her mind was full of these thoughts, resulting in her not realizing that a man was approaching her from behind.

"Aria! What are you doing there?"

"!!!"

Aria was startled, she turned around and saw a familiar middle-aged man facing her. It"s Colonel Arief, Regent Suryo"s one and only trusted aide.

"Sorry Colonel Arief, I forgot something... I will take my leave."

"Aria, wait! Actually, I was actually searching for you."

"..."

"The regent wants to see you. Let"s go inside."

Aria was unable to reject the order, she gathered her courage and went inside. Walking inside the mansion, they pa.s.sed by the living room and arrived in the garden at the back. Regent Suryo was there standing next to a pond.

"I"m glad that you are here, Aria."

"Yes, grandfather."

"I think tomorrow will be the last meeting. The day after, we will head back to Sumatra."

"!!!"

"Make your preparations."

"..." Aria did not move, she felt that if she didn"t say it now, she would surely regret it later. 

"Why are you still standing there? Do you have anything to say?"

"Grandfather... you... What about your promise... our promise to help Alex?"

The regent took his eyes out of the pond and faced her in interest. "We did help Alex, we sent soldiers, s.h.i.+ps, equipment. And you also have been helping him for a few months now... I think it"s enough..."

"..."

"Do you have another reason to stay with him longer?"

Aria quickly tried to find other excuses. "... Don"t you need someone you trust to stay close to him?"

The regent slowly moved closer, approaching her. "There are already many Deathsquad soldiers following him. It"s enough... no need for you to accompany him. Instead, you will stay close to me."

"..."

The regent found her hesitation interesting, he continued. "At first I could not believe what he said about the doomsday, but when it really did happen, I saw many people die. The first person on my mind was you... You are the only family I have. When I got in contact with him, I immediately came here to see you... You see, your grandfather doesn"t have many years left, let"s not argue and stay together for as long as we can... What do you think?"

Suddenly Aria realized how selfish she was, the man in front of her was not only her grandfather, he was also her caretaker, trainer and her superior. She really felt embarra.s.sed with her decision before. "I understand, grandfather."

"Good girl."

Aria turned around and walked slowly back to the living room and to the front door. It seemed that with every step she took, the further she walked away, her steps felt much heavier, same with her heart.

(I guess this is it then...)

When Aria left the house, Colonel Arief came and approached Regent Suryo.

"It seems that Miss Aria has special feelings for that man named Alex."

The regent wasn"t startled at all, he noticed Aria"s excuses and kept his calm. "I think you are right. Another reason to quickly separate them and take her with us..."

"Is it because he"s a married man?"

"No. It"s because she doesn"t know what"s best for her. Alex is like a wild card, I am unable to a.n.a.lyze him. If my granddaughter really chose him, I don"t really care if he"s married or not... My granddaughter can have whoever she wants."

Knock!! Knock!!

There was someone knocking on the mansion front door.

"Did she came back?"

Colonel Arief walked to the front, opened the door and saw the man that he was just talking about with the regent.

"Hi... I would like to see the regent please."

"Yes Mr. Alex, please wait here. I will inform the regent first."

"Ok sure."

While Alex was waiting, a few meters from him within the trees, Aria was watching him from afar anxiously. Aria saw Alex after she went out of the mansion. Knowing he was heading towards the regent"s mansion, she decided to follow him quietly.

(He really came here...)

(What does he want?)

(Could it be?)

Colonel Arief returned to the door and allowed Alex to go inside the mansion. Aria"s heart was racing, she must know what Alex was trying to discuss with her grandfather.

Thump... Thump... Thump...

Suddenly, a mist covered Aria"s body. She turned invisible and went inside the mansion as well.

This time, the regent was waiting in the mansion"s living room to talk with Alex. This guy named Alex; although a mystery, the regent always found him interesting. "What can I do for you Mr. Alex?"

"Thank you for having me. I came here because I"ve heard that you have decided to leave the city and return to Sumatra very soon."

"Yes that"s true, but if you came here to talk about strategy, we can discuss it tomorrow during the meeting."

"I did not come here to talk about strategy, regent. Today, I came for something a little bit personal... I came to talk about Aria."

"!!!"

The misty figure listening from another room suddenly lost a heartbeat for a second, it seemed that Alex really came to talk about her. She also almost lost her control over her newfound ability and tried hard to maintain it. The regent himself was also a bit startled with Alex"s remarks.

"I came here to persuade you to let her stay with me..."

"Hahahaha. Mr. Alex, if you are talking about our deal, I think I already fulfilled my promise. All of the Deathsquad that was a.s.signed to you will stay and will help you, but I am sorry. I really can"t let my granddaughter stay with you." 

"I understand regent, but I really need her to stay with me."

"!!!"

Aria, on the next room, suddenly felt agitated. She was unable to keep her composure. It will be very embarra.s.sing if she was found lurking and listening to the conversation, but she really needed to listen to this. She forced herself to keep calm.

"I know she"s important to you, but you could not keep her safe forever especially during this crazy time. Let her stay with me for at least another year and I can guarantee she will be one of the strongest fighters in the world. By then she will no longer need anyone else protection, in fact, I also want to persuade you to let the colonel to join me as well."

"..."

The regent was stirred by Alex"s words. "Explain more."

"The key to survival is within the pillars. The more survivors accessing a pillar, the more the pillar can give its benefits, but there will be major benefits that can only be accessed by talented individuals especially for Spirit Enhancers like Aria and Colonel Arief. With the right team and preparation, these individuals could receive special skills and artifacts. One of those major benefits are the stone golems and many other things. Therefore, I have been forming the elite units and collecting more talents."

The regent got more excited hearing the pillars and its benefits. He looked at the man who has been his trusted aide and closest council for years. Regent Suryo asked Colonel Arief who was standing beside him. "What do you think Arief?"

The colonel calmly asked a question to Alex. "Mr. Alex, What kind of skills and artifacts are we talking about?"

"Artifacts ranges from weapons, armor, relics, and items that are many times stronger than the equipment enhanced by your ability. As for skills, I know that you have an affinity with the metal element. Your item enhancement skill is very beneficial, but each time you stop using your ability, the weapon with the enchantment would instantly turn back into normal, wouldn"t it?"

Alex continued explaining to the colonel. "What if told you there"s a skill to increase the item"s hardness, sharpness, size or even make the enhancement on an item become permanent. Those are the kind of skills you will be able to receive from the pillars."

Alex needed as many spirit enhancers he could get for his plan, the more he has, the more he could achieve greater benefits from the Doomsday pillars. Therefore, Aria and Colonel Arief joining his group would be very important for him. But even with this information, he could tell that the colonel was still keeping his calm. 

The regent asked his trusted aide once again. "So, what do you think?"

"If what he said is true, then it"s important for us to send as many talented individuals that we can find to Alex. As for me, unless it"s your direct order, I will always choose to stay by your side. In such dangerous times, I will not let you out of my sight. After all, I have read reports that there will also be one pillar in Sumatra. I will happily receive whatever Mr. Alex said from there just to stay close to you."

Alex was startled, it seemed that it won"t be easy to recruit this guy. What Colonel Arief said was actually true, but Alex has plans that would multiply the benefits of the doomsday pillars. Alex wanted to say more, but it"s really hard for him to explain. Currently, within Alex"s rank, there weren"t any spirit enhancers as talented as Aria or Arief. Both of them were already showing their elemental affinity while still in the mortal realm. Other people like the twins, Jerry, or Sergei the Russian Wrestler only showed an increase in their physical bodies.

This was very important for Alex, therefore he decided to increase his bargain.

"Regent, what if in exchange for a.s.signing both Aria and Arief to me, I will lend you the stone golem."

"!!!"

The offer really took the regent by surprise.