Chapter 19: Behind the Mask

"Now that I'm here," the mistress smiled, "isn't there something you want to tell me, no?"

The council dropped their heads low, they didn't know what to do except two people: the youngest council and the woman who spoke earlier.

"I believe they were whining about some rookie," she chuckled.

"We weren't whining," the man who first broke the silence earlier, explained.

"Oh, my bad," she laughed offensively, "they were protesting."

"Scorpion," the man addressed the female council, "are you not the one who is being disrespectful right now?"

"Please, Dragon Council, I am merely stating the truth," the council from the Land of Scorpion shrugged.

The Meadow Kingdom is divided in eight lands basing on the four cardinal and ordinal directions: North, South, West, East, Northwest, Southwest, Southeast, and Northeast.

The Northern part of the kingdom is called the Land of Griffin, it is where most people make a living from livestock and crops. A perfect place for the mythical creature Griffin to hunt food, thus the land was given the name.

The Land of Griffin is governed by Ruun Ahearn.

The Northwestern part is called the Land of Werewolves. Before and in the early establishment of the Kingdom, hundreds of wolf packs can be seen in the area and because of that, the land was named after the vicious creatures. Most nobles reside in the area, although some remained in the western land.

The Land of Werewolves is governed by Eros Barron.

The Western part of the kingdom is called the Land of Unicorn or better known as Unicorn City. This land is a beautiful meadow filled with beautiful flowers. The land is the reason why the Kingdom is named the Meadow Kingdom for its beautiful landscape. Since the first King wanted peace, his wife, Queen Medea suggested for the land to be named Unicorn to keep its peaceful environment. This is also where the royal household is located.

Unicorn City is governed by the King's trusted advisor, Fan Haku.

The Southwestern part of the kingdom is an urban area. This is where most factories and huge businesses are located. The land is also the home of the two most influential temples in the kingdom; the Sun Temple and the Sol Temple. Because of two powerful temples being in one place, the land was named the Land of Fox.

The Land of Fox is governed by Marly Everdeen.

The Southern part of the kingdom was given a name of the Land of Dragons formerly known as the ghost district. This area received its name much later than the others, with it becoming the location of the training grounds of the kingdom, and with the weaponry factories, its former council proposed for their name to be changed from ghost district to the Land of Dragons.

Land of Dragons is governed by Griffin Nwadike.

The Southeastern part of the kingdom is the outskirt region of the ghost district and stretched towards the border of the water part of the kingdom. Southeastern is mostly known for its rocky mountains on the edge of the country. This is where the knights go for a harsh training camp for a year before they graduate from the academy. The land was named the Home of Ezhdeha.

Home of Ezhdeha is governed by Freya Pari.

The Eastern part of the kingdom, a land where the waters flow. The provider of cool, thirst quenching, dazzling, liquid throughout the kingdom. The land where fresh and big fishes and other seafood were caught and is sold in different regions: Land of Siren. A very lively and busy area of the kingdom.

The Land of Siren is governed by the youngest council, Eric Kade.

Lastly, the northeastern part of the kingdom. The desert and mountainous area of all, the perfect habitat of poisonous snakes, wild animals, and scorpions. A very dangerous place to live in if one isn't well versed as such things. The land where the kingdom got its wealth, a suitable place for mining. But for some reason, the Land of Scorpion has a very humble and shabby image out of all the kingdom, an irony for they control the wealth of the kingdom.

The Land of Scorpion is governed by Edrei Elsher.

Each land is governed by a council but since the Land of Unicorn is where the castle is located, there is no need for them to assign someone as its council. The eight council is the one who runs the capital and has the most important voice out of them all as she was the one who was tasked by the King to make sure the councils are doing their part well. She is the council's mistress.

The capital is governed by her ladyship, Calla Flint.

"Are you not ashamed of yourselves?" Eric flipped his arms, "you are in the presence of her ladyship."

"You sure do wag your tail to her ladyship, don't you, Siren?" Eros leisurely puffed on his tobacco pipe.

"The Werewolves must mind their manners," Marly stated, "one shouldn't smoke in the presence of one's superior."

Eros scoffed and poured his nicotine on the table.

Marly simply shook her head.

"You Foxes are just as equally cunning as your name," he grinned.

"All of you stop," Eric stood, "her ladyship isn't just the one who governs the capital; she is also the mistress of the council as per King's appointment."

The council grimed with discontent, their ego as one of the ranked dented with those words. And he is the youngest and the most recent who took over the position.

"Show some respect," he added.

"Respect?" Griffin titter, "what about the respect she repudiated us when she appointed that girl without our having a say in regards to the matter?"

The tension within the room worsened.

"My lady," Eric held her hand gently.

Calla smiled at him and crossed her legs, softly removing his hand from her, "its fine, Eric."

He bowed before taking his seat.

"If it isn't a hassle, I would like to know your reason for doing so, Calla." Edrei smiled as she played with her hair.

The Vancouv cousins were surprised to know that the mistress of the council who is above them all, even higher than the King's advisor, is the person who manages the guild. But despite the shocking revelation, Lithea maintained motionless; with her mask being vertically half, she already knew it was Calla.

"It is true that I forced Rego to give her the rank," she shrugged nonchalantly, "is there a problem with that?"

Lithea's brows drew closer together, 'that's wrong. She didn't force Mr. Rego.'

Every single person in the room felt such an immense amount of fear just from those words. The three adventurers have no idea of who Calla is as a council and only see her as a very accommodating guild chief. But with what she's shown right now, they all wonder what else is real between these people.

Is there a reason why the councils cannot be seen in public?

"She has not proven anything!" Griffin slammed the table, "and you dare insult us by just casually throwing away such a valuable title to a mere priestess?!"

"GRIFFIN!" Eric stood and caused the whole table and chairs to float.

"Eric, please." Calla gently asked him to calm down and he undo what he did.

Griffin growled at the youngest council who was taking his seat back. Eric is probably just a few years older than Dash.

Leaning her back on the chair, Calla grinned and raised a finger.

The council became alert with that gesture only, "my lady."

"Well," not a matter of seconds after, a thick branch crawled on Griffin's back towards his neck and tightly wrapped itself on him.

"My lady," Griffin stammered, fear evident in his eyes.

The rest of the council watched in pleasure; their eyes sparkled with the scene of the hot-headed Griffin shiver under Calla.

"I don't want these young ones to think this is what the councils are made of: a bunch of entitled privileged," she smiled eerily.

Edrei formed an O shape with her mouth, amused with everything that's happening. She's extra happy with how Griffin was put in his place.

Griffin groaned.

"My decision on giving Lithea the rank is not something all of you could strip down anytime as you wish," Calla turned her head to Dash.

He flinched.

"If one of you wish to argue furthermore," the ground shakes violently, countless thick and sharpened tree branches appeared on the walls, "this room will have each of your blood flooding this very floor."

Both Griffin and Dash took offence of her words and produced large beads of sweat.

"Now, if none of you has an important matter to discuss with me, you're free to go."

Calla stood and took soft steps towards the door to leave. But before she left, she glanced at Lithea, "you won't make me regret my decision, won't you dear?"

Lithea only watched the mistress leave the room with her head held high.

'Why would you lie? Why are you taking the blame?'

She looked at the ring on her finger, 'it chose me.'

Lance turned his head to look at Lithea and saw her staring at her ring, he mentally sighed. His eyes roamed and landed on Dash who's watching where the mistress was just a moment ago.

'Don't tell me this is his doing too?'

The two left after everyone had left, it confuses Lance how when they opened the door, they were greeted by a different place; a short stairs leading up behind the guild's front desk.

"Portal," Lithea said.

Lance scratched the back of his head, his confusion was probably obvious. He thought he should learn to control his facial expressions. But unbeknownst to him, Lithea saw right through him. He was still shaken from what happened earlier, Calla's true identity and the amount of power they possess.

"I can't believe the chief is part of the council," he shook his head lightly, trying to recall the events earlier, "Should I overthink this?"

"No."

Lance sighed, she's always blunt and straightforward. Perhaps there's a reason why they aren't allowed to know their identities.

Not knowing what to do, she tapped his shoulder to comfort him. Cheering up someone isn't really her strong suit, not even her own sister received proper words from her. And it's her first time experiencing this with the opposite sex.

Lance scoffed and it turned into a laugh, "you're really something else, priestess."

Lithea blinked.

He let out a gentle smile then ruffled her head, "come on, let's go back home."

'Home.'

She stood there, watching his back getting swallowed by the rays of the sun when he opened the double doors of the guild.

'Home.'

Lance turned and smiled widely, "come on, come on."

Her thoughts went back to her family and suddenly, it was replaced by the smiling faces of her new friends with Mia and Chi in between them.

'Home.'

At the same time, the others are patiently waiting by the stairs for the two; Thenea sat on the stool, swinging her feet as it can't reach the floor. Bored.

"When will they come back?"

"What do you suppose they are discussing?" Serene asked, yawning. She was tired from her punishment.

"They'll tell us when they get here," Verin shrugged, "probably."

"O," Viv spoke and stared at the door.

Everyone immediately got their attention towards the door and the two people they've been waiting for stood there, Lance looking so defeated while Lithea is as calm as ever.

Serene stretched her body, "finally!"

Lance raised a brow, "What's going on?"

The tallest member of their group threw a scroll towards him, it has a ruby colored seal. This means the mission is directed to them.

"When did you get this?"

"I went to the guild for new quests when they handed me the envelope to summon you or a proxy," Thenea explained, "so I had Verin come with me to pick up the scroll."

"We need to leave now," Verin said, buttoning up his cape and fixed his scabbard in place after.

"Alright," Lance looked at the scroll, "let's go complete our mission, rubies."