Zjjan Master

Cally meets Eladin.

While Renze (a soldier of the third"s division) drinks to his mug, he listens at the maid Tissa,

"Renze, is it okay really for those women to help my — I mean our business?"

"Well, they said they want to help and this way, they can earn money too. So it"s fine I guess. Beside, I haven"t enough money to invest to your business. We are just helping you building this tavern and bought booze from our distant neighboring village. A side, we can easily guard their safety here, until we find and meet their relatives."

"Eh? Or it"s just an excuse so you can drink here?"

Renze has forced to smile.

"Well, drinking too much will flush those abs of yours and swell your stomach. You will turn ugly by then."

"No need to worry. Even if it swells, they still called abs."

"Eh..." She glares. "And why is that?"

"Yeah, they still called ABS — A Big Stomach."

"What — !" And they both laugh aloud.

Intro — Princess Vilyarin, her task and decision 02.

Flashback, sp03 07, Prelude to a Fight —

"I didn"t expect that you"ll come here by yourself young prince." And Altra.s.s grins. "You"re a fool believing too much in your credibility. Are you aware of how heavy the responsibility concerning your presence here?" Altra.s.s laughs, and then he announces to his army, "This shows he isn"t caring for his people! Either way it isn"t in my concern!"

Ruame"s eyes pour tears. His chest is shaken. And his teeth gnash. Maritis" lips just smile and her eyes are sad staring at the face of Ruame. He yells, "I don"t care anymore! I must do what I must as my dedication and obligation for my people!"

"Huh? Then release the barrier at once, so this war will be over."

"That I can"t take into account— (cough, cough)."

"Stubborn as ever, my men! Suggest any kind of treatment for him to recognize our desire!"

"Hostage! Torture!" has yelled by someone, and it continually yells by Altra.s.s army. They"ve asked it for an immediate action, too intimidating, hindering the prince to speak.

Am I such a failure? has thought by Raume. He hears a woman"s voice whispers near his ear,

"I"ve been allowed to obey your command. Just say your words, my prince," has a.s.sured by Maritis.

While Altra.s.s observes Raume, the young prince cries something and then vomits blood. Altra.s.s raises his hand— gaining the attention of anyone —and he swings down, making the loud of the crowd minimizes until they silence. "Did you say something, prince?"

"At least, hear me out…"

"You seem like going to die." He"s grinning. "Come on! Spit out your nonsense!"

His eyes are really weary and still pouring tears. Not sure if he"s cold or hot; considering the rain is pressuring his body. And his body is trembling along by the pain inside his chest. He points his finger at the opposing person. "Your leader is invited by my sister to come at the throne. Any of my side that will confront our orders or commit harm against your side will be executed immediately if it weren"t for self-defense. To a.s.sure his safety…" He loses conscious. Maritis disappears while she carries him as they appear above the walls behind of Jelfyr.

In the current time, in Vilyarin"s thoughts, I can"t forgive him. I definitely can"t forgive him. She inserts her arms to her long black sleeves. And she arranges her black dress while she watches herself in the mirror. She remembers Sai Mea"s answers,

Flashback, sp03 11, At the Throne—

"I didn"t expect that you"d withdraw your loyalty from my mother," Jesifer has stated. "You even lead this revolution."

Altra.s.s who manages to catch the sword, smiles, grinning with sharp-eyed, nodding his head as he hovers his view to each of his companions who nod back. "Loyalty..." Altra.s.s laughs and some of the crowd gulps, "revolution…" He laughs loudly. And afterwards he points his finger at Jesifer; he glares. "Your mother deceived me! All of you! Are you satisfy that each of our village will burn to ashes! That some tribes are wasted! You do know that our kind is slowly diminished! How many of our people survive! You"re heartless to not feel this tragic!" He points his finger at her— again and again —while he speaks these words, "You all know you are just afraid of this puppet! Her brother doesn"t even know about it! Are you still going to follow this b*llsh*t!"

At the current time, Vilyarin remembers Sai Mea"s opinion,

"But now that I think about it, I think her highness actually wants someone to help her... She needs help from someone... Someone... I think, someone who stands above her.

"Right, her actions seem like, she was asking for help..."

Back at the current time, in Vilyarin"s thoughts, She is the queen, yet despite all of the things that she had done to everyone. Among the people in the place, no one had stood too defend her. It"s clear that this Altra.s.s is a fearsome person and needed to be eliminated. She wears her black gloves. After that, she runs her fingers through her curly hair. My mother tasks me to protect my siblings and to eliminate their every threat. This blood that flows to me is boiling with excitement.

— End of Intro

In the camp, in the temporary room of the third Exceptional General, Jaino is charting dull images to a white plain. Near to those images, he writes description.

He listens to the voice inside his mind, Jaino, Jaino, this is terrible. I need help.

You are?

Your aunt Aminette, It"s Aminette!

Ah — Ahhh!! Being startled, he replied, Errr... Mo.. Ma... Aun—t? He suddenly remembers her conversation with Maritis, "Take care and don"t die. You still have responsibility to do for my sister." "Ah—! How did you know?" "My mom has told me right now. Do you wanted me cut off your gut?"

Aha, after that my daughter Maritis said to me, Why did you accepted that womanizer in the family? She has Criselia already!

Eh, I forget, we still connected via telepathy.

You even tried to flirt with Maritis that time. Good thing I warned her quick. You know Jaino, someday you going to die by the woman you sleep with. Look, your feelings for Judith exploded to Kilie. You accepted your marriage with Misisa — your dead wife. You wanted to meet the queen — who told your father in her young age to marry you. You were pushing a marriage proposal to Taila — mother of your adopted daughter. Then I saw you kissed — lips to lips — some random person inside the throne — oh she was Vilyarin, now that I remember her looks. And now, I"ve been hearing this Criselia. Jaino, I know you"ve been wanting for a child to continue your linage. But how h.o.r.n.y can you get? If I was a woman at your age and you hit with me, I would kill every woman that you dated and have you for myself only. You"re lucky that your mother treasured you a lot. I can"t imagine what will happen if she didn"t.

Taking aback by her words, he is shaken, then he blurts, Aunt... In anyway, what do you ask about? You wanted some help right..?

I forget, thanks for informing... Oh — Trying to change topic, do you?

No no no... I just feel that it is urgent...

Really..?

Right, right... Ha ha, ha ha...

Sigh, you know that girl Vilyarin, she left with her subordinate. They didn"t even ask permission or at least inform me where they were going

Still it rains in the sunshine and the sun remains in the same place in the sky. Some people of Jeflyr becomes doubtful, and the detail has been reported to the council and the first prince.

Yet, in Altra.s.s Camp located near the entrance of the forest, a cloak man named Ramon reports to his temporary room, "Sir, someone wants to meet you. She claims to be, the second princess of Jelfyr. She demands to talk to you alone."

Second Princess, huh? I remember, now, queen Yaume asked me to save a child before in secrecy. She didn"t give enough much detail of why. But now I have a hunch of why she was fidgeting that time. "Second Princess huh? Let her come in. I want to meet her personally."

"I can"t trust her to talk with you alone, sir. She seems carrying a murderous intent."

"Oh-huh?" He grins. "Interesting, let her come in. I want to meet her in person, specially alone."

"But sir."

"It is an order. Beside, I"m not to lose easily. And even it happens, it isn"t my lose."

"Sir..."

"Go now, Ramon."

As Vilyarin goes in the room, she says to Altra.s.s, "I want to talk to you alone. Is this subordinate of yours deaf?"

"So, you have really grown. I never realize that you are her daughter until now. Ramon, obey me."

"But sir—" Altra.s.s"s firm gaze has made him to exit the room. As he exits outside the house. Bathing in the rain, those men of Altra.s.s including Ramon gaze to a sudden formation of multiple towering cylindrical lights (layering as one barrier) covering the house.

Most of the worried men go near to Ramon and ask many question. Ramon replies, "Altra.s.s wants to talk alone with the second princess. But, if anything happens to him, we will be his retribution to the royalty!"

In afar, under a tree, the fat man subordinate of Vilyarin watches the cylindrical lights. He mumbles, "I hope someone could stop her."

Vilyarin holds her arm greatly injured by the compensation of her ability. Her blood drops into the floor, but her gaze is so fixated at Altra.s.s. She listens at him,

"So, what do you want to talk about?"

"Allow me to end your life." Vilyarin dashes and throws her fist.

Altra.s.s unsheathes his sword to shield her attack, but a quick premonition pa.s.ses to his vision. He evades Vilyarin"s attack instead. Unable to interact with her speeds, he sees her follows up a round house kick. He shields his sword, but it then shatters as her shoe lands to his stomach and sends him slamming into the wall.

He endures the pain and speaks, "That"s too bad. You grown with the mind of a child."

"I"ve grown to protect my siblings and eliminate those who harm them."

Altra.s.s then remembers—

Flashback, Altra.s.s Brief Ident.i.ty. Altra.s.s together with his selected accompanies reach the gate. "We meet at last stubborn fellow," Zahamara has stated. "What a mean words to speak," Altra.s.s has exclaimed. "I"ve never thought you could utilize this situation well, without hara.s.sing your opponent first. Are the higher ups, become that sucks?" "Nah, I have no reason to raise my rank, unlike someone who is dwelling at the righteousness that he believes." —worried. "Well, I can"t blame you for tormenting the prince, however, the knowledgeable knows you"ve triggered the awakening of the storm beyond, and you"ll suffer this eventually." Altra.s.s laughs. "Those waves are still going to knock me, not know." He"s grinning as his companions laugh. "Well, the path is open. Go now, I"ll prepare your graves." "Thanks for worrying, my old friend," Altra.s.s has exclaimed.

—he speaks, "A woman with few words. Really, you resemble the very old queen founder of the Exceptional Generals. It"s sadden me you"ve grown with a tiny mind." He sees her draws something on her back. A knife —

Back to where Jaino still talking with his aunt Aminette via telepathy, Jaino hears the commotion outside. He goes inside and watches at (south of the wide plain) the cylindrical light towering before the entrance of Deep Forest. He listens to Aminette who continues, I asked your man — Krispen was that? — and your cousin Doressa to investigate the room that I lent to them. And they found a letter, which makes true Sai Mea"s worries. It"s written by Vilyarin"s subordinate. He asks for anyone to stop Vilyarin in killing Altra.s.s. Jaino, please, save my best friend. He might speak harshly and overdo his actions, but he cares deeply for the righteousness that he believes.

And why would Vilyarin need to kill Altra.s.s?

I dunno. It"s the only thing written here. Please, Jaino.

Inside Taila"s temporary office, "Jaino wasn"t on his room," has said by an old man, with a sword.

Doing report, Taila replies, "Just let me handle it. He may have things to do again."

"I"m not the one who has an appointment with him. His guild mate is looking for him."

"Tell him to come to me. I"ll pa.s.s his message to him by his return."

"I see. Let"s change topic." Seeing Taila becomes interested, he questions, "Have you ever wonder why the sun isn"t setting down?" His words have made Taila to think.

"You have point. It"s supposed to be sunset now. I have been working since earlier and finish various tasks. I though, I was just fast. But if that is the case, it seems to me, that time has stopped on us."

"Bunch of things happen into our world, I just hope it isn"t terrible."

Back to the room, Vilyarin throws the knife. Altra.s.s jumps to the left. He grabs something on his pocket and throws it to the woman. A heavy explosion erupts aloud and destroys the temporary house. Landing in a far distant, he tries to endure the new injuries on his body. He gazes to where (with her thorn clothes and burn marks in her body) Vilyarin is still standing and surrounded by a transparent golden light. Her arm that suffers the compensation of her previous ability rivers with blood.

She draws another knife on her back and she speaks, "You didn"t notice my second knife in your shoulder."

Hearing her words, Altra.s.s sees the knife stabbed on his shoulder. He thinks, When did? — Right, she managed to throw a second one on that explosion? Altra.s.s hears and he looks at Vilyarin,

"This is your end! See you in h.e.l.l!" She prepares her stance.

Altra.s.s knocks his other fist into the ground. I can"t die yet. I need to help the people. I need to fulfill my promise.

Vilyarin swings her arm to throw the knife...

Altra.s.s closes his eyes...

Vilyarin feels the warmth of a hand, gripping her fist that is still holding the knife. She looks to her right, and both she and Altra.s.s hear,

"Enough Vilyarin," has said by Jaino.

"Jaino, why are you here? Hands off my hand."

"No, I won"t. Sai Mea becomes so worried about you. After she gave you every detail that you asked, she thought that you may act out of consideration."

"I did carefully thought of this. And I decided, he is a threat to my siblings."

He raises upwards her hand. And he steps her foot and blocks her other leg with his other leg. He then holds his free hand to her shoulder and he speaks to her, face to face. "Vilyarin, this man is still contributing the kingdom without asking in return. And if you kill him now, this is also a big loss to the kingdom. A war between his followers and the royalty will break out. And what"s more, every fault and blame will turn against the royalty. Every fault and blame will point at you."

She grits her teeth. "Then, what should I do? This what my mother task me to do — to protect my siblings, and remove their threat. If you won"t allow me to do it, then it best for me to disappear."

I see, has thought by Jaino. I remember now. That guy her subordinate is actually her tutor. And this girl is also a Dralk. "Let me tell you, you can protect your siblings. But to judge who is a threat to them, you should learn more to your subordinate. Listen at him.

"And Altra.s.s is not a threat. He only argues most of the time. But if he acts, there is a bigger reason about it.

"Now, let go the knife."
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She drops the knife and she holds her injured arm. Only to notice, that the cylindrical light covering the place, disappears. The rain begins to fall to them. She asks, "How comes?" She watches at Altra.s.s" men surrounding the place.

"I destroyed the barrier," has replied by Jaino. At Altra.s.s who sits, Jaino bows and he pushes Vilyarin"s back to make her bow. "We apologize for the commotion," has said by Jaino. And they disappears in the place.

Altra.s.s sees his worried members rush to his side. He blurts, "She is fast and strong. Seriously, I never expect I survive today."

Inside a room, Cally (with Judith sitting beside her) waits for the permit from Frehviesa allowing their departure destined to the shrine of the Lightning Clan. Later, a man talks to Cally. She then gives her reply. To Judith, she says, "I guess our departure is halted for the moment. Take rest here and wait for me to comeback."

"Ah — okay..." has replied by Judith.

In a temporary room, people setting in the round table are, the first prince, councilors" representative, three empty chairs, the scholars" representative, the adviser of the Craze Guild, and another empty chair. The door opens and Frehviesa enters. She says as she walks, "Sorry sorry for taking my time, I have to confirm if my subordinate has managed to inform my companion. It"s just a good thing that she hasn"t left yet and is now sheltering in my camp while she waits for the rain to stop. She will arrive later. So let"s proceed the meeting." She sits in the middle of those three empty chairs.

"We are still lacking of people," has said by the adviser of the Craze Guild. "The current Marshal. And of course, if you really want to dig deeper to the mystery of this phenomenon, we might as well need the aid of the fourth exceptional general."

The first prince speaks, "Dogel can"t arrive. He is helping the fifth exceptional to defend a city against different group of animals currently attacking the place. As for the fourth, we still have a problem dealing with the fourth exceptional general. Asking him to join the meeting is impossible for the moment. We still have to interrogate his relationship with the underworld."

Frehviesa speaks, "So, my highness. Since we both need this meeting, your problem first."

"My current problem concerns about the continuous raining and the sun that has stopped on its activity. What more, some part rains with blood, and the investigation brought to conclusion that it isn"t a norim"s blood. So I want someone to investigate the sky."

The councilor speaks loud, "Impossible. That"s insane."

"Why would you think so?"

"Are your eyes blind? There is nothing in the sky! How do you expect anyone living in the air?"

The scholar says to the prince, "Your body belongs to the wind, why not journey and investigate there?"

"I tried, but something is hindering me in reaching the clouds. I concluded that that"s the limit of my ability."

"Destiny surely toys at us right?" has said by Frehviesa. And all of them listens at her. She speaks to the first prince, "We both have the same intention to this meeting. Allow me to take responsibility to this matter instead."

"You know something?"

"I won"t be calling this meeting too if I did. But let me handle this, you have lots of things to take care too after all."

"You have a point."

A sudden knocking of the door steals their attention. From the outside, a voice of a soldier speaks loud, "Pardon me. Madam Frehviesa, Cally has arrived. Frehviesa quickly walks to the door. She opens and speaks, "Cally, you finally arrive." Only to find Cally with foul mood, and she asks, "What"s wrong Cally?"

"Is Eladin inside?"

"Oi oi, Cally, what are you talking about? That man is already dead."

"Dead? … … …nope, he isn"t dead. He is inside."

"I, I told you before right? Vilyarin triggered Eladin"s mutation, and then Jaino and Jesifer killed him."

"Oh... … …then let me come in to clear my doubt."

Watching at Cally who enters the room, the adviser of the Craze Guild has his eyes wide open. Why is that woman here? In his mind, someone speaks, Calm down, you are not the Eladin before, but the adviser of the Craze Guild. Remember that.

Right, you have point.

Then you shouldn"t be shaken. And acts, normally, so you can avoid being suspicious.

Cally holds Frehviesa"s shoulders as she enters the room. Emitting a murderous aura, she glares at to every person inside the room. Frehviesa then whispers to her ear,

"See, there is no Eladin inside, right?"

Cally mumbles, "Mutation, huh? Interesting..." And those words flash lightning inside Frehviesa"s mind. Frehviesa thinks while her eyes follow at Cally who slowly walks,

Mutation... Mutation... could it be... could it be that Eladin is inside the room in disguise?

"So, where is my seat?" has asked by Cally to Frehviesa. She walks fast near her seat, and she formally direct Cally to the vacant seat.

The councilor asks a loud, "Frehviesa, who is she?" Everyone watches at Cally takes seat.

The first prince follows up, "Right, It"s my first time to see, that the main exceptional general is fidgeting. It"s quite hilarious. Care to introduce her to us?"

"I"m sorry everyone," has replied by Frehviesa. "Then allow me to introduce you. Despite of her looks, she is the mother of Jaino, the third exceptional general," has replied by Frehviesa that made everyone silences.

"Right," has followed by Cally. "I"m a mother of Jaino. Merely a mother who bears hatred to the kingdom and the underworld." — the silence continues.

Frehviesa whispers, "Cally, please, don"t say such a thing. You believe that everyone can change right."

Cally continues, "But, I"m just a powerless citizen who knows what"s right and wrong. The kingdom can change to a better place for everyone." She glares at the adviser of the Craze Guild. "Right?"

"Ah..." Be calm, Eladin. She might find you suspicious if you ever fl.u.s.ter in front of her. "Right, the kingdom can change to a better place for everyone.. Those are excellent words coming from the mother of my boss."

"Boss?" has mumbled by Cally.

Frehviesa then explains, "He is the adviser of the Craze Guild. The one handled by your son."

"I see. Then, let me join the meeting. If you give me time to talk with the adviser of the Craze Guild alone onto this very room — I could listen to his opinion first before he can speak to everyone — I might also come up with an idea and share it to everyone."

"Demanding!" has yelled by the councilor.

"No," the first prince interjects. "I also want to hear her opinion. Very well, I give you time to speak to him alone later on."

After the exchange of information between people involve in the meeting, Cally and the Craze Guild"s adviser are left alone in the room. The adviser asks, "So what do you want to ask."

"You...

"are Eladin, right?" has asked by Cally.

You said, that I won"t be exposed, why is she digging this now? has asked by Eladin. Eladin, she"s just drilling you to admit. No matter what, don"t expose yourself? Even if you have to lie — which against your pride. We are currently both in dangerous situation. "Eladin? Eh, is my hearing correct, you ask me if I was Eladin? Of course, no. Why would you ask?"

"There is no lie that can"t b e exposed — for at least one person always knows the truth." Her words send Eladin"s mind puzzling. "Tell the first prince, prepare me a battlefield. And I want you to handle our hostage well — her name is Judith — so my son will come without hesitation."

"What do you mean?"

"The first prince have a meeting to investigate the sky, aren"t you?" Seeing the adviser nods, she follows up, "The main exceptional general will be using my son again. I need to confirm if my son is really up the task. I need to confirm also if that person is important to him. If that person deserves my mercy."

The adviser gulps.

In the camp of Altra.s.s, Jaino arrives and apologizes again to the injured Altra.s.s, setting on the bed. He asks, "Are you still up for the expedition?"

"Don"t underestimate us. Really, that woman didn"t know how to hold back. The next time I"ll meet her, I"ll shove to her every explosive that I have. I was just taken by surprise that time. Well, my life was spared by your interference. I have to thank you for that."

"A—actually..."

"I see. My cousin asked you to save me. She never changes."

"Eh, she"s your cousin? But she told me, you are her best friend?"

"That"s her habit, so she could cling to me and avoided people who try to woo her."

"Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha—" In Jaino"s mind, Kilie really inherits it. And I really thought she likes me... Well, what"s done is done... I just hope my mother won"t find it out.

"You"re carrying a chart. Have you made progress about the map?"

"Oh, right. This is the map. It"s just made by me. So it"s really not that good." He opens the chart, and place it down into the floor.

Altra.s.s lights a lamp. He then puts it down near the chart. He listen at Jaino,

"Thanks." Jaino speaks loud, "Anyway, Maritis, you didn"t need to hide." A far — going out the shadow, Maritis reveals herself.

"h.e.l.lo my teacher," has said by Maritis as she leans to the wall. "Don"t glare that much. I"m here to listen at my womanizer brother about the map. Right, Jaino?" She glares as she smiles at Jaino.

"Ah, ha ha, ha ha—" In Jaino"s thoughts, One of this day, a knife will probably stab onto my stomach out of nowhere. "In anyway, here in the northeast of Deep Forest, outside here is where this camp is. Just going southwest, probably here, there is a wide portal that not even our senses and eyes could detected. This will send us out of the forest — here, outside the south of Deep Forest and east of Aklaba Village."

Altra.s.s comments, "That"s a bit far to Aklaba village."

"Right. Anyway, let"s mark this portal here. Next, from this camp, heading west, around this part, north of Deep Forest. There is a cave here. It"s actually used by the bandits."

Maritis states, "No need to worry, me and my men already exterminated them."

"Right, ha ha, ha ha—" In Jaino"s thoughts, She nearly killed me that time. "I a.s.sume southeast to this location, a portal would send us to the eastern side of Deep Forest. So we have to mark it.

"Also, south of this cave, this would be the central of Deep Forest if I"m not wrong. What lies southwest of this central area is a falls. From above that falls, if we gaze northeast, we can see a giant roaming in the area — inside this thing that I marked as portals. There is also a mountain in that place not that tall.

"If I"m correct, ancient civilization surrounds this place with portals to bar trespa.s.sers. Here I draw a circle from these portals that I marked. See, this area alone is bigger than the kingdom of Jelfyr — what more if we estimate the whole Deep Forest.

"Anyway, this giant disappears and maybe, another giant relieves the lookout. So if my thoughts were correct, there are several giants living in that place. Aside from their ignorant and savage nature, they are not a threat to us but we can"t get along with them. Exterminate them as possible. They will just see us as food anyway.

"As for your entrance to the place, an excellent group of medou and fange can help you transport inside from this falls to inside this area. That"s all I can provide. So I don"t know what other danger inside that place."

Altra.s.s smiles. "That"s plentiful of information that your provide. I begin to think that Zahamara is lucky to have you as his son."

"Eh—heh," Maritis comments, "My father is lucky to have a womanizer as his son?"

"Ha ha, ha ha—" In Jaino"s thoughts, I need to get away from this place as possible. To Altra.s.s, Jaino speaks, "I hope your success."

"Thank you," Altra.s.s replies.

A three times knocking sounds divert their attention at the door, and a cloak man Ramon open the door then he enters the room. "Oh, the third is still here. Come in."

Jaino mumbles, "Someone is looking for me? But I never told anyone about my meeting here." They watch at the cloak woman enters the room. "You were the woman that I fought in the proving ground."

"Yes, I was that woman. I am here to inform you. A challenge has been issued by the first prince, a battle between you and your mother. This is a request asked personally by your mother."

"Huh—? Come now. Don"t joke on me. There is no way that mother would take part to this kingdom"s activity." Specially that mother harbors hatred to the kingdom and the underworld greatly.

"I didn"t joke around. She holds Judith as her hostage—" her words have made Jaino gulps. "If you won"t arrive in time. She will kill her."

"Mom..."

There"s no world without arguments

Conflicts happen naturally

We struggle, we solve, we find answer

.