Rhyparia smiled back. “She’s from the Spirit Kingdom.”
He slumped in his chair. “Whatever.”
“Toshyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!” Jilly was screaming. After some crashing and cursing, a few minutes later she and Toshik walked down to the lobby.
“This doofus,” Toshik said with a genuine smile.
Bryson, Himitsu, and Rhyparia got up from their seats.
“Can I at least get a coffee?” Toshik asked.
“No, we’re already late because of you,” Bryson said. “Let’s go.”
The lanky swordsman glared at his three group members and turned for the bar. But before he could even take a step, an agonizing pain shot through his ear. Jilly had, once again, given it a solid flick.
“Stop being so rebellious to our captain.” She pushed him from behind toward the door, which he reluctantly permitted. “Let’s go, mister.”
Thankfully, when Jilly was around, Toshik’s disobedience wasn’t a problem.
***
Bryson’s team darted into the central auditorium where their ceremony had been held a little over a month ago. He could feel the stares of the directors and Olivia’s team while racing down the steps.
As they took their seats, Grand Director Poicus said, “Nice of you to join us.”
“Sorry, Grand Director.”
“Since we’re twenty minutes behind already, let’s just cut straight to it,” Poicus said as he glanced down at some parchment on his podium. “It’s nice to see all ten of your faces gathered together again. It’s been what, five or six weeks?” He smiled.
“Of course, I’ve been keeping tabs with the Energy Directors about each person’s progress. Overall, it has been nothing but good news. I’m hoping that you have not only bonded well with your respective team, but with your training partner as well.” He paused and scanned their faces. “In fact, someone tell me what they’ve learned about their partner.”
To Bryson’s surprise, Toshik raised his hand. It startled Director Poicus too, as his eyes widened a bit. “Go ahead, Zana Toshik.”
“Sir, I’ve learned Yama is very talented … at being an uptight witch.” He couldn’t have said it with a bigger smirk on his face.
A very familiar, strong gust of wind blew through the seats. Bryson knew what to expect—or he thought he did. But when he looked toward Toshik, Yama was not behind him with her sword drawn. Instead a towering figure had appeared among the Jestivan. It was Adrenaline Director Buredo. He had left his podium and was now obstructing her path.
He gazed sternly down at Yama, who for once in her life looked scared. Without averting his glare from Yama, Buredo said, “Toshik, I will see you in my office following the conclusion of this meeting.” Toshik’s smirk quickly vanished. “Yama, have a seat.”
“Yes, Director,” she replied.
As Yama walked back to her seat and Director Buredo returned to the stage, Grand Director Poicus cleared his throat. “I should have known better. Moving on. Himitsu, tell me something about your partner, Olivia.”
The slender tan boy stood up. He lifted his shirt, exposing a remarkable black and blue bruise that covered the entirety of his left ribcage. Lilu’s face cringed a bit at the sight of it.
“Sir, I’ve learned I’d rather take a punch from a warrior from the Power Kingdom than Olivia.”
Passion Director Venustas giggled. “You can’t always fight from the shadows,” she said playfully. “What better way to teach you this than by going toe-to-toe with one of the most physical fighters in the Jestivan?”
Grand Director Poicus slapped his hands together. “Splendid! We are all becoming highly versatile. Versatility is important.” He scanned their faces until he saw Agnos in his familiar white robe. “Agnos, what have you learned about your partner?”
Agnos gazed at him from behind his messy, thick bangs. “I’ve learned little to none, but I feel as if I’ve actually learned a lot because of that.”
Bryson reran Agnos’ sentence through his head, trying to make sense of what seemed to be a major contradiction.
Poicus chuckled. “I find myself unsurprised by the subtlety of your answer. Please elaborate.”
“The fact that I know nothing about Rhyparia’s capabilities and the fact that Director Senex refuses to allow me near her while she trains lets me know that she is immensely powerful, but lacks any sort of control over that power.”
Grand Director Poicus was smiling. “You all think Toshik and Yama are the Jestivan’s scariest duo. However, I look at these two here.” He gazed at Agnos and Rhyparia. “They are truly dangerous.”
Toshik scowled to himself as Poicus continued speaking. “Body and mind. Rhyparia, a humble girl who has potential for the catastrophic destruction of foes, and Agnos, an intelligent boy who can probably manipulate the minds of even the smartest intelligence officers …” Poicus glanced at the Energy Directors and asked, “What do you all think?”
“I would agree,” Director Debo replied.
“The way you word it makes me shudder,” Director Venustas said.
Bryson looked to his right at Rhyparia. He expected a smile, but that wasn’t the case at all. Her face was as grim as ever.
“Alright, let’s discuss the two important issues at-hand—the main reasons for this group gathering,” Poicus said. He raised one finger in the air. “There has been quite a stir down in the Dark Realm.”
The director paused for a brief moment. “There was a shake-up in the Dark Realm last night. The young prince of the Prim Kingdom died. He was murdered in his sleep.”
Bryson’s eyes widened. An attack on a royal? Who could be that bold? Or stupid?
“How could anyone get to the prince in the middle of the night?” asked the snowy-haired Tashami. “He lives in a heavily guarded palace, and it was during witching hours?”
“Good question,” Poicus said. “Himitsu, you’re the one with assassin’s blood. What’s your take on it?”
Himitsu thought about it for a second. “Were there any witnesses at all? Any information on what the killer looked like or what his or her ability was?”
“There was one—the general.”
“And what information did they get from him?” Himitsu asked.
“None,” Poicus responded gravely. “He’s dead as well.”
“Oh …” Himitsu looked as shocked as most of the Jestivan. The leader of the Prim Kingdom’s army was also dead. “Then I don’t know, Grand Director.”
“Not to worry. I don’t expect any of you to know,” Poicus responded reassuringly. “There were several odd things about this. Not only is the general dead, there were no signs of a struggle. There were two marks on his body. A hole in his chest and a hole on the top of his head, but no signs of resistance.”
“What do you mean by hole, Grand Director?” Jilly asked.
“I mean a hole. You could look into each hole and stare directly at the general’s heart and brain.” Bryson heard Lilu make a subtle noise of disgust. “However, nothing was taken from his body. All organs were left in place.”
“As for the prince, it was a simple cut of the throat, so you’d think that was typical. However, his eyes were stark white. Meaning the iris and pupil were completely gone.”
Director Poicus took a sip of water as Olivia asked a question of her own. “Does this mean my kingdom is in trouble?”
“You are very intuitive, young lady,” he said. “What brought you to this conclusion?”
“The holes sound to be burned in. The method of killing was quick and quiet. Both sound like the actions of a Passion Assassin.”
“You’re suggesting the killer struck at night because that’s the best time to put his black flames to use, and the burns in the victim’s chest and temple are the result of his or her fire ability.”
Olivia slowly nodded.
“Good to know intelligence isn’t an attribute only our Intel and Archaic Jestivan possess,” he said. “Now, do we know for a fact that t
he Prim Kingdom has come to this conclusion? No, but that’s what we’re speculating. Himitsu.”
“Yes, sir,” he responded.
Poicus stared him down sternly. “The Passion Kingdom’s royal family is currently tracking down all residents with assassin’s blood. They are being imprisoned indefinitely without trial. Apparently they are assuming the worst, which is that one of their own did it.”
As the Grand Director explained this, Himitsu uncharacteristically lost his calm demeanor. He sat up intently with an unnerved quality in his eyes.
“Don’t worry,” Poicus said. “Since you’re a zana of the Jestivan and all of the Directors can vouch for you, you will be fine.”
But this didn’t seem to put Himitsu at ease.
“None of this is anything you have to worry about yet. I’m just keeping you up to date. As Jestivan, information is key. Keep your eyes and ears open at all times because you never know when this information will become relevant.”
The old director looked toward his notes again. “That looks to be the end of the sorrowful news, so let’s move on to something more fun. I’ll allow Director Buredo to take over. I know it has been a long wait for a mission, but that wait is over.”
Smiles danced their way onto everyone’s faces. Well, besides Himitsu’s—and Olivia’s, of course.
The tall, lean Adren Director stood up. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, Director,” the Jestivan responded.
Director Buredo’s gaze was as stern as always. “Since this will be your first mission, you will not be asked to do much. As most of you know, the biggest event of the year—the Generals’ Battle—will take place this upcoming weekend. We will be expecting a record attendance—approximately 300,000 people. Of course, with more people comes more security.”
He paused and gently held out his hand toward the Jestivan. “This is where you all will come into play.”
Bryson slumped in his chair. Basically, their mission was to serve as security guards. There was nothing dangerous or glamorous about it. If this was a couple weeks ago, he would have been elated to be able to attend the Generals’ Battle for the first time, but that was then. Lilu had already invited him to attend as her special guest. Now the only thing he could think about was how this interfered with Lilu’s plan to persuade the king.
“You won’t have to worry about where you’ll room. Taverns have been booked. Money will be given to you for food. As for Friday and Saturday, you have freedom to do as you please. Attend the festivities and enjoy the atmosphere … Honestly, get a bit wild if you want. Not too wild. That means you, Mr. Toshik.” The brown-haired boy gave a guilty smirk.
“Sunday is the day of the actual battle. For mostly everyone, it is a day of excitement. For all of you, it will be a day of earnest. As the Adren Director and a resident of the Adren Kingdom, I am obligated to fulfill an assignment to the end, so that is exactly what I will expect from each of you on Sunday. The Intel Kingdom’s arena is massive—to put it lightly. Each person will be stationed at a different post along the bottom of the stands. Bryson’s team will cover the north and east sides. Olivia’s team will cover the south and west. Is that clear?”
“Director Buredo,” blurted Lilu.
“Yes, Lita Lilu?”
She started to say something, but then stopped as she thought better of it. “Never mind,” she said softly as her posture sunk.
Grand Director Poicus’s bushy eyebrows slanted sharply, causing his eyes to narrow. “Talk to us after this meeting has been dismissed, Lilu.”
The moment he said this, the school’s clock tower began ringing. The faint roar of students crowding the halls outside began to leak through the cracks of the auditorium doors.
Poicus gave a toothy smile. “I suppose we’ll end the meeting now. The directors will be available for training for the rest of the day. It’s optional, but for the next three days leading up to this momentous weekend, you will have a rigorous eight-to-five training schedule with your directors. Prepare yourselves. Friday and Saturday will be your days of relaxation before Sunday.”
With that news, the Jestivan began walking up the stairs in a deflated state. Bryson started following Rhyparia and Olivia, but he was suddenly stopped when someone grabbed his wrist. He turned around and saw Lilu’s beautiful green eyes staring at him.
“I need you with me when I talk to the directors,” she said.
Bryson didn’t know what for, but he followed her down the stairs anyways. He wasn’t going to say no to her. As they approached the directors, Bryson realized that he had never been this close to all of them at once. They stood still and gazed at the two young Jestivan.
Bryson stayed silent, but Lilu, being the bold girl that she was, spoke up immediately. “Bryson and I had planned on attending the Generals’ Battle as spectators. He was to be a guest of mine in the Royal Suites.”
“Oh?” Director Venustas said with a giggle, causing Bryson to blush. “A date?”
Lilu’s eyes widened. “No, Director! Not at all.”
Venustas’s red lips curled into a playful smirk. “Say what you want. I find it to be adorable. Young love is the best love.”
“Oh stop harassing them, Venustas,” commanded a shaky voice. It belonged to the elderly Spirit Director, Director Neaneuma. “You’re making them uncomfortable.”
“You’re simply bitter because you’re too old to remember what such youthful love feels like,” Venustas responded.
Bryson’s eyes widened in disbelief. If he wasn’t uncomfortable before, now he was.
The grey-haired director shook her head. “You’re lucky I am who I am. Such petty remarks can’t break someone like me down. Besides, inner youthfulness trumps outer youthfulness.”
Venustas rolled her eyes.
“I have no business knowing,” Grand Director Poicus said, “nor do I care, what your purpose is with wanting to be in the suites with Bryson, but that is not something I can allow. You have a responsibility and you’re supposed to fulfill it.”
Lilu looked upset, but then Poicus continued speaking. “But with that said, your father is the king who is hosting the event, so if he says otherwise, then I’d have to let you do as you please.”
For a brief moment, Lilu appeared rejuvenated, but then Director Debo cut in. “No, that’s not how this works,” he said sharply.
The Grand Director snapped his head around. “Debo, now is not the time.”
Bryson couldn’t wipe the look of shock off his face. He knew Debo to be bold, but he had never witnessed him talk back to the Grand Director.
“The king doesn’t have jurisdiction over the Jestivan,” Debo said flatly.
“But he has jurisdiction over all of the Intel Kingdom . . . which is where we will be,” Poicus retorted.
Debo stared hard at the Grand Director. “I’m putting my foot down.”
Poicus closed his eyes and shook his head. “You forget you’re below me sometimes. If anyone is putting a foot down, it will be me. Once again, you forget your place.”
Bryson was in disbelief. Usually, he supported the man who was practically his father, but Debo was pushing it too far. He connected eyes with the tall Intel Director.
Debo looked at him sternly and said, “Bryson, I trust you to heed my advice. Stick to your responsibility.” After saying this, he quickly walked off the stage and up the high-rising stairs.
Next to speak was the normally quiet Archaic Director, Director Senex. “That man has no boundaries. He is a loose cannon.”
“Pay him no mind,” Poicus said softly. “He loses his place from time to time.”
Finally feeling it was appropriate for her to say something, Lilu hesitantly asked, “Should we leave?”
Poicus gave a deep sigh and rubbed his eyes. “Yes, I believe so. The directors need to have a meeting of our own. I will talk to your father when I get the chance, Ms. Lilu.”
“Thank you, sir,” she gratefully responded.
&nbs
p; He gave a weary smile. “Enjoy your day.”
13
Shallow Judgment, Shallow Breaths
It was the first cool weekend of November. The air was crisp and the heavy clouds hung low as early evening approached, but this was nothing out of the ordinary for Dunami, the capital of the Intel Kingdom. Girls in playful scarves and boys in feather-light jackets ran through the busy streets as their parents fought to keep them under control, but even they were doing it half-heartedly. After all, it was the first night of the Generals’ Battle weekend, so holding back their own excitement proved difficult enough.
Adults of all ages were laughing and conversing throughout the city. Heavy traffic came in and out of taverns, restaurants, and bars. Each time a door swung open, a blast of music would travel out into the cobblestone streets. Scattered among the pleasant commotion, the Jestivan were found all over.
A lanky Toshik occupied one of Dunami’s many bars. Surprisingly, he was accompanied by Yama, but he was paying her no attention—not that she cared.
Toshik was drunk, and his normally perfect brown hair was a ruffled mess. He was slashing his sword around in attempt to entertain the wealthy girls surrounding him. It was safe to say none of them had any knowledge as to how a sword should be swung. Otherwise the sloppy, drunken display wouldn’t have had them so hypnotized.
The bar’s owner, who was a balding man with a beer gut, miserably tried commanding the heedless swordsman to stop, but he was getting nowhere. Guests who had common sense wisely shifted their seating arrangements far away from the flailing six-and-a-half foot man.
Occupying one of the stools at the bar sat a tipsy, yet calmer, Yama. Her sword was wisely sheathed to her hip, and as she took a small sip of ale, an uncommon smirk slipped onto her face.
The blond-haired Jilly sat next to her, and when she noticed her friend’s smile, she sweetly said, “I love it when you smile. I wish it wouldn’t take alcohol to bring it out.”
Yama set her mug on the table, looked at her and said, “I’m not sure if it’s the alcohol…. or you.”
Jilly’s face flushed deep red and she took a hurried sip of her juice in a pathetic attempt to hide her embarrassment. Yama twirled a strand of Jilly’s hair and said, “It is a compliment. Not many people can loosen me up like you do.”
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