"So that's what happened, huh?" Kojo said as he gently stroked Tye's fur. The Chimera Rabbit purred and snuggled closer to him.
They were in the meeting room at the Duke's residence, and present were Kojo, Sharone, Koniko, Lin, Adriana, and Sasha. Duke Philip was also seated, as well as the rest of the city leaders. Sol had left for the Capital, and Nefaria said she was going to ensure her subjects didn't slack off but that she'd be back, so they should fear her return.
Duke Mikael had returned to them the previous day and was now giving a report on the happenings in the meeting. A young man who served as his attendant sat on a table provided in the back and took down his words. These would be used as the official report to the king. His job was to refine the report and take out any irrelevant information, all while making it detailed and simple for easy understanding.
Mikael gave them a rundown of how things were.
"And that's it," he said, concluding his report on the trade agreement.
"The other nations willing to trade agreed to pay an annual fee to us in exchange for our administration of the lake and a pledge of safety for any trader from their side."
"What kind of resources are they willing to trade?" Adriana asked.
"In exchange for our Mystium, the nations of Tessaloni and Granoa will share their textiles and rare herbs with us."
"Rare herbs? I was beginning to wonder if this world didn't have the generic rare herb that's very rare yet useful," Kojo said.
"I'm not quite sure I get you," Mikael said with an eyebrow raised.
"Oh, uh, I was just wondering what kind of herbs?"
"The ones found in Tessaloni. They're renowned for their medicinal properties and ability to bolster arcana flow, among other properties, all due to their proximity to the World Tree. It's very difficult to grow, and so it's very difficult to get in the market. However, access to our Mystium meant that they will be able to speed up the cultivation process and grow more, with us getting first pick."
Koniko frowned, her expression skeptical. "And what about the Emperor's claim, though? You're sure it won't cause any problems in the future?"
"Emperor Brianos had indeed staked a claim to the lake, but I was able to shoot him down with evidence that he couldn't refute. However, we did make an agreement that ensures his interests are represented."
"How?" Lin asked.
"We shall also trade with them. Some of their technology in exchange for Mystium. They also want to send some people over to study our extraction methods."
"It's obviously a lie," Jack said.
"I know," Mikael responded.
"But a lie we can benefit from, so they'll have to pay to enter and will be under strict supervision in order to 'protect them from the beasts at the mining sites'."
"I see," Kojo nodded.
Meanwhile, as Kojo and the others were taking part in the meeting, Cassandra remained at Kojo's residence. She wasn't really a part of the city anyway and had declined when Adriana had invited her to come. Adriana then gave her a ruby necklace that had a charm to facilitate communication between them. It was the one Kojo had bought for her, but since they were all going to the same place and she now had some measure of telepathy courtesy of Sharone, she lent it to the other girl, although she doubted it would be of any use since Keo and Mekna were around. Leaving the necklace behind was sort of a means to calm her down. For some reason, Cassandra had been anxious since that morning. Adriana herself wasn't feeling too good either. She had the feeling that something was coming. Whether this too was as a result of her transcendence or women's intuition or maybe the fact that she didn't sleep well.
Anyway, Adriana was sure that nothing would happen. She roused herself from her thoughts and asked Proxima and Gabbi if they would be able to handle the job.
Koniko suggested that some of the others could keep an eye out, like Altair and her group flying over once in a while to take a look on this versus in order to discourage any attempts from the air.
That meant that the waters themselves would be the jurisdiction of the merfolk, while the Lizardmen would be stationed at the shores. A few Harpies could serve as scouts to observe and bring back reports.
Everyone agreed to this.
Adriana smiled. Things were going according to plan, but just then she felt a sensation as if things were suddenly moving in a different direction.
Bathos.
"Are you alright, Adrie?" Lin asked.
"I'm fine, Lin, just lost in thought," Adriana replied and forced a smile.
Cassandra wandered aimlessly around the compound, her feet carrying her wherever they pleased. She had no particular destination in mind and wasn't thinking about anything in particular. It was winter, though, but the sun was shining despite the snow on the ground, creating a stunning effect on the surroundings. This was more reminiscent of the environment of the Northern continent where she was from, to a small extent, and so she decided to take advantage of that and walk around a bit. Aside from the fact that she was bored, of course.
As she turned a corner, she spotted Mekna, taking advantage of the sunshine and hanging white sheets on a clothesline. He was humming a soft tune as he worked.
Cassandra slowed to a stop, watching Mekna with interest. He noticed her presence and turned, a polite smile on his face.
"Can I help you with something, miss?"
Cassandra shook her head, feeling a little awkward.
"No, I was just... admiring the sheets."
Mekna chuckled and returned to his task. Cassandra studied the well-built man for a bit. She hesitated, then asked.
"Why are you doing this?"
Mekna turned, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Pardon?"
Cassandra gestured to the sheets, then to Mekna himself. "If... you don't mind me asking, you're a butler, but... you have scars. Hidden under those long sleeves, but I can see them. You used to be a fighter, didn't you?"
Mekna's smile faltered for a moment as he touched his neck where a tiny mark was peeking out, and he looked away, his eyes clouding over.
"I... used to be many things."
Cassandra took a step closer.
"Can I ask you to tell me about it?" she asked curiously, then added just as quickly,
"That is, if you don't mind." She said.
"Oh, of course not," he smiled wryly.
"I was a fighter in the recent Di'ori tournament. I represented the province of Garn, a rocky and mountainous region north of Opal."
Cassandra's eyes widened, intrigued. "Garn? I've heard of it recently. Isn't it where the river Master Kojo extended to the border originates?"
Mekna nodded, his eyes glinting with amusement.
"The very same. And as for me... well, let's just say I wasn't exactly the ideal citizen. I was a ruffian, only caring about fights and winning. My father was a mage who collected powerful artifacts, but I... killed him. Used a pledge to make him a weapon for battle."
Cassandra's face must have reflected her shock, because Mekna's smile grew wider. "Yeah, I wasn't exactly the most pleasant person to be around. And when I saw Master Kojo at the tournament, I thought it'd be an easy kill; after all, he looked very young and was scrawny and didn't seem to possess any power or skill or anything. He was just.....there. But... well, excuse my words, but I had my ass beat. Tried everything, even used my father's most powerful relic, but I still lost miserably."
Mekna's gaze dropped, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I was pathetic. The penalty was supposed to be death, but Master Kojo spared my life. And so... I thought I'd dedicate that life to serving him. Shallow, I know," Mekna said as he continued to dry the clothes.
"But it's not uncommon for the weak to serve the strong, no? The same goes for Keo. We both lost, and so we decided to be of service."
Cassandra nodded slowly.
"The best way to become stronger is to associate with someone that's strong, and while I haven't engaged in any battle so far, I have received a boost in ability since becoming a member of Master's Household."
He picked up the now empty basket and turned.
"It's not all bad. You've seen Master's personality. He's....strange but very likable, and I've been training on my own. Soon I'll ask for a rematch to see if even a little I'm still..." His voice trailed off as something caught his eye; it was an object moving so fast that a normal person wouldn't be able to see it. He dropped the basket and yelled at Cassandra to move, but she was too stunned to do anything, and so he made a light blast of Arcana and used it to push her back with his left hand while summoning one of his cleavers in his right and bringing it up to his neck just in time to block a strike aimed to take off his head. The shockwave tore through the surroundings and sent the sheets as well as snow into the air.
Mekna struggled as the assailant pushed his sword further, determined to take off his head. Mekna managed to kick him, causing the opponent to stagger, but he almost instantly regained his footing and sent Mekna flying some distance away with a punch. Mekna rose to one knee and spat blood. He was finally able to get a good look at whoever was attacking.
The man wore silver armor with a cape over it and white pieces of fabric hanging from the joints. On the armor was a cross with three horizontal bars and a cloth draped over the middle bar.
He was a Glorian from the church. No, he was a Glory Knight. Mekna looked at his face.
This man seemed familiar.
"Saint Leo, what are you doing here?"
Cassandra, by that time, had come to her senses and stood up.
Mekna's eyes widened.
This man was the fourth strongest saint of the Church of Undying Light.
"So it was you who took her," Leo said. He didn't seem to have heard what Cassandra had said, and there was this weird aura hanging around him.
Leo just raised his sword in front of him and attacked. Mekna's wounds had closed due to his Ultra Regeneration, and he hardened his skin to prevent any other damage as he fought with one of his cleaver-like swords. He swung and parried Leo's blow, then grabbed his arm, pulling him into a headbutt and a knee strike to the abdomen before throwing the knight some distance away.
Leo landed on his feet and instinctively dodged just as the space he had previously been occupying crumbled. He was then fixed in place, unable to move as if being held by an invisible hand, then pulled toward a punch which sent him reeling.
Extrasensory Perception, another gift Mekna had inherited from his master, had been active. He had been able to perceive that attack by getting hit in order to understand its nature. Though he didn't fully understand, being able to sense when it was in use was enough.
"I don't know why you're here, Saint Leo, but you are currently encroaching on private property, so I must request that you please take your leave. If anything, I'll inform my master that you passed by."
Leo didn't respond, and in the blink of an eye, his sword was missing, mere inches away from his chest.
"I'll take that as a no. I'm sorry, but I'll have to forcefully remove you from the premises," Mekna said, deflecting the blow.