The Turning Point (3)

"Ready?"

The boy asked, keeping the same smirk-like crescent on his face.

"Eh-"

"Set, go!"

Before Fier could react, he was flicked in the head, promptly dissolving into light particles. The orb in the boy's hand also followed, leaving only him all alone in his cage.

"Huh...To think your prediction was on point, Lavey. You were so confident about not leaving a proper descendant behind, saying your 'once-in-a-millenia' authority would get degraded upon blood dilution. Well, since I owed you one, I'll give him a little opportunity. That said..." The boy turned to his right, where space broke apart into fragments, leaving a rift of illusory golden shade. "Come in. You came just in time the last left."

"Excuse my intrusion." A warm, cozy voice snugged through, clearing away all the tension. A slender figure then emerged, boasting a glittering golden one-piece that complimented her glittering golden one-piece. "Is letting him go like that the right choice?"

"A question right off the bat, huh? Bold, but I don't hate it." The boy sat on the chair once seated his previous guest before continuing. "I frankly don't care whether it's 'right' or 'wrong'. He came as a 'guest', so I entertained him as a host. That's all there is to it."

"Is that so..." The woman, her face hidden behind a veil, looked lost in thought.

"In any case, why don't you have a seat? Would a cup of tea suffice?" With a flick of his hand, the boy summoned the same chair next to a table, on which a cup of tea could be seen resting. A most common act of courtesy.

"Then please excuse me." The mysterious feminine figure sat down gracefully while keeping her eyes on the boy.

And she couldn't help but feel unimpressed.

She was told by her liege to greet him most cautiously, and yet it seemed there was no need to do that. Neither his Divinity nor power looked remarkably impressive.

'A top dog among humans, that's for sure, but even a Local God would be stronger than him? I don't doubt you, my liege, but are you sure he's the one?'

"Hm...What a familiar scent." The boy muttered. "Huh..."

The more she looked at him, the more confident she was at subduing him if any trouble stirred up between them.

The boy, noticing her scrutinizing gaze, proceeded to ignore it. It wasn't a matter currently on his mind, as the realization he just come to was way more important.

"So, what honor do I owe for such a distinguished priestess to visit me in person, or rather 'in soul' like this?"

Surprising words came out of his mouth, seemingly confirming his knowledge of her role and existence. It's as if he was giving her a dismissal of her initial impression as well as a warning. A warning to not act recklessly.

However, instead of fright, she felt a need to test the insight he possessed. Was it one that surpassed the Local Gods, those whom she deemed to be stronger than him, and those who couldn't see through her true nature?

"M-Me? A-A distinguished priestess? You must be joking." She stuttered weakly like a rat, contrasting her earlier attitude. It's as if she lost all her confidence the moment she realized who she was actually facing. "I-I'm but a lowly envoy sent to greet you, Sir."

A facade, clear as day.

"Drop the act, 4th Seat. Or should I call you, Carmilla? Tep sent you?"

"..."

There was no doubt about it: He does know her master to some extent. After all, knowing her identity - one which is only known by those connected to her master, is a confirmation of the boy and her master's relationship. The same master who would never bat an eyelid at someone as weak as him, no less.

There was no longer a need for a test. He has proven himself to not be as ordinary as he initially appeared, seeing through the perfect disguise she donned.

"Perhaps, the regular?"

"No." She confidently replied despite not knowing what those words entail. "He told me to give you this."

Holding out her palm, she manifested a letter, which she handed to the boy. In a rapid manner, he unwrapped the letter and glanced through it. The content, unexpectedly short, surprised him.

"A little 'gift'? For me? Tep?"

"Yes. He also wanted me to warn you."

"Then, isn't it the regular?"

"No." She shook her head vehemently."He explicitly insisted it wasn't the 'regular'."

"I see. It probably has something to do with this world, doesn't it?"

"Yes. He said not to stray from the 'Storyline'."

Storyline. The boy thought it was an interesting word.

There are several different variations of Worlds, or rather, KI. However, only one encompassed the word 'Storyline'.

The term that best describes them is 'Dream'.

After a little contemplation, the boy came to a realization. Despite being only a theory crafted from assumptions, the boy was excited at the prospect of such a ridiculous plan, and thus, laughed heartily.

"I see, I see! Some audacious personality you are, Tep! Alright, you have now caught my interest!" The boy turned to the priestess, who seemed startled by his sudden outburst. "Tell him I'll be happily waiting."

***

In an old, simplistic study filled with piles of books and papers, an old man sat in front of three flying parchments. His appearance was that of a senile elder about to part way with life with a gray beard extending all the way to his lower body, and yet his demeanor suggested a much younger age.

He sipped his tea as he listened attentively to the voices that came coming out of them.

"It's indeed as you said! Those gullible Lumbers easily fell for the trap! For now, the Northern Plateau is ours!" A deep voice spoke, exhilarated.

"Sounds good, Gai. How about your side, Tajam?"

"Desert. Half past. Remaining. West, South. Sacrifice. 50 deaths, 127 casualties, 3 healthy. Big clan. 1 fell. 7 left." A cold, detached voice replied.

The old man's eyes slightly twitched at the news he heard.

"Hm?! Which one?"

If anything, the old man expected to deal with the clans later as they were far too powerful and organized for the number of demons he could deploy there currently.

"Drune Clan. It fell by itself."

"I see. That certainly makes se- Hm?"

It was way too fast. It had only been less than a week since he checked on them, and they were still doing great by then. No signs of revolution brewing. No discontent with their leader, whom people actually seemed to love dearly instead. Its downfall was the least of his expectations.

"Such an unexpected outcome. A surprise, but a welcomed one. Well done, Tajam."

"Me! Me! Is it my turn?" An unexpectedly high yet boyish voice came through excitedly, almost like screechings.

"Speak, Nevinne." The old man, unbothered by the annoying tone, urged it to speak.

"Right! I have taken care of the Cave Dwellers like you asked! Those mermaids and harpies are mine as well! And I-I got the shiny orbs you wanted too! Did I do good? Did I do good? Praise me!"

"Excellent, Nevinne. I'm proud of you." He spoke monotonously. "Don't play around too much, OK?"

"Awww..."

"Promise you won't?"

"Fine, I won't."

Satisfied with the result, the old man stood up, his head up high and his fist to his chest. With a resolute voice, he exclaimed:

"Good. Remember, you three are doing this for the glory of our kind and of our king, who awaits our rescue. Humans shall fall. Do not fail at any cost! Glory to the demonkind!"

""" Glory to the demonkind! """

The three parchment swore before burning to a crisp.

Sitting back down, the old man sighed. He remembered about Fier, who was sent alone to enact a secret experiment - one that would allow him to push up his plan significantly if succeeded.

Unfortunately, since Fier was infiltrating human society, their contact was limited to reduce the risk to the maximum.

He was quite sure humans had already forgotten about demons altogether, but he wouldn't want to willingly bet one of his trump cards, whom he had invested so much time in.

'He will be fine, right? I even made sure to take precautions in my training regimen before. What if some god-knows who managed to get him on that train?'

Currently, there was no point in worrying anymore. Realizing that fact, he calmed himself.

'He'll be fine, he'll be fine. I even sent reinforcements, just in case. There's no way things will go wrong now, right?'