Chapter 81 - 80

It's been a while since Arda was able to make a report back to Luciel. She had burned down several of their old bases after examining them. Several of which she discovered were stolen. It was annoying since it meant more work for them to discover who the mole is. But at the same time, it was amusing because it meant fun. She hasn't gotten her hands dirty in almost two decades.

"You know it's getting annoying how you keep following me for the past few days" She calls out to the stranger that she sensed.

But there was no answer. In fact, she felt that the presence itself disappeared. It was too suspicious and so she didn't move and listened to her surroundings. Only the whistling of the wind to the leaves brushing against each other and the distant noises of cars could be heard.

"You aren't going to answer back?"

There was still silence. Arda sighed and mumbled an apology out of the blue.

"Luciel, I know I promised not to use my powers"

She let out a breath and snapped her fingers. The lush green grass that she had been standing on slowly decayed along with the trees around her. Her brown eyes started to glow into a gold shade as she chanted an ancient spell. Suddenly a gush of fire burned around her, forming a circular pattern on the ground. She extended her hand and from her palm, a small fire took the form of a humanoid being.

"M-My Sun!" The flame grew bright as it saw Arda.

"Hello Anshul, have you and your siblings been well?" Arda brought the flame close to her and rubbed its face with her other hand.

"Yes, but we all missed our goddess dearly... you never called for us"

"Remember that I cannot summon you guys freely or else I'll hurt myself" She showed a sad smile and the flame suddenly lowered its intensity and turned blue as if it was sad.

"I know and we don't wish that for you, My Sun"

"Don't be saddened Anshul... Go on, do the task I have assigned you"

"With pleasure!" The Flame jumped down and it slithered around the forest.

It caught some of the trees on fire but beyond that, it never burned any further as if there was a barrier preventing it from doing so. It was Arda's doing, she knew Luciel would get angry at her for using her powers so she might as well replace the energy she used from her surroundings. Anshul was one of her early worshippers who became a part of her heart's fire. As long as she is alive, they can act as independent demons and be summoned anytime. They live within her and so she does not have to speak much when it comes to ordering them upon summons because they are linked to her.

The flame went back to her and hopped up and down like a child. Well... Anshul was indeed a little boy when he was dying and offered his soul for her disposal.

"My sun, I sensed someone very strong here. It's familiar but I can't exactly point out who"

"It's alright, you have done your best. Go on, return to your siblings"

"I will miss you, my sun!" Anshul dispersed into sparkles and the flame was no longer there.

Arda's eyes returned back to normal. It's a pity that many of her flames were the souls of young children. And it was all because Matthew ordered the other humans to massacre her people for worshiping "the devil".

She dialed Luciel's number and made a temporary silencing array to keep anyone from hearing her report.

Luciel picked up and the first thing he said was "speak".

"I think Matthew had someone tail me. Most of the camps I've been to have been ransacked and it seems like they were slowly taking out important information to prevent suspicion"

"How can you be sure about that?"

"I had to use my abilities but don't worry. I burned a small part of a forest to replace the amount I've used"

There was a moment of silence before a heavy sigh could be heard from the other side.

"Come back as soon as possible. I don't want you doing anything reckless like this again"

Arda frowned and gulped "Yes my king. My Apologies"

"Apologize once you're here" Luciel hung up on the call.

Arda put away the cellphone and took down the array. She knew that she was at fault for doing something that reckless.

While walking away from the area, she suddenly felt something. She stopped and a little flame showed up in front of her. Her gold eyes widened in surprise since it was the first time one of her flames forced itself to come out.

"My Sun! My Sun! I'm sorry for showing up but Anshul forgot to mention something" This tiny flame was Aiden. It tried its best to remain small so it wouldn't use too much of her powers.

"What is it, Aiden?" Arda asks worryingly and the flame flies off in a direction.

Arda ran after it and saw that there was a package left there that was hidden. Maybe that's why Anshul did not notice it at first.

"This! I don't sense anything bad from it but I sense someone strong left it here"

"I see, you did a good job Aiden. Tell Anshul that it's ok, your brother might be crying and I don't want that"

"Thank you My Sun! I will continue doing my best!" Aiden flew into Arda as if it was going for a hug. Arda opened her arms to welcome the flame and the flame dispersed as well into sparkles.

With those children safely away, she took a look at the box and saw that there were several of the missing files from their camp within it. And on top, there was a note.

"I apologize for not being able to show my face. I intended to give this to you directly but I felt like it was not the time yet. So instead I leave this here along with a small gift as an apology since I know you used your powers to find me."

Just touching the note was enough for Arda to know who left the note and she couldn't help but grit her teeth. But along with that touch, she felt a pleasant cold power stream into her as if it was making up for the lost life force from earlier. She couldn't help but scoff.

"How long do you intend to play this game, El?" Arda took the package and walked back into town.

She was still frustrated by the situation and didn't notice that she bumped into someone. Arda immediately apologized in the local dialect but before she could walk away;

"For as long as I need to"

Arda looked back and saw no one except a woman who was walking away. She knew that voice from anywhere and it was El.

'For as long as I need to... Is that your reply to my question?'

She noticed another note in her hand when she bumped into "El" and opened it. It was coordinates to a location up north. If she remembers correctly, these were some of the parts that Kassandra's men were scouting. She had a bad feeling about this and thus she called Kassandra. It took a few rings and before Kassandra could even speak when she picked up, Arda already spoke.

"Kassey, I know I'll sound a little strange but send reinforcements to these coordinates" She read out the numbers on the paper.

"Ok ok, but what's wrong"

"I... I'm not really sure but I got some information and I feel like it's something bad"

"Alright. I'll prepare to set out, come back soon"

The call ended and Arda began ringing another number that she loathes calling.

"What is it?"

"Amias, could you have someone from your division come here and pick me up? Before you whine, it's Luciel's orders" It wasn't really but he did say return as soon as possible.

"Luciel's orders? Where are you?"

Arda explained the location and before she knew it, Amias appeared right in front of her.

"I said someone from your division" Arda ended the call since it was pointless to talk on the phone when the person is here in person.

"Not everyone can teleport this far out this quickly you know? It's also taxing on me to do this myself" Amias placed his phone in his pocket as he shrugged.

Arda noticed the bandage on his nose and asked about it but Amias didn't respond to her question. She made the assumption that Damien and he fought together again. This made her mentally roll her eyes since she knew that Damien had a petty little crush on this fox. Whenever he's drunk, he'd babble about Amias which is why she finds it stupid that Amias is dense to notice it.

The moment they teleported back to the capital, Amias suddenly fell to his knees and coughed up blood. He overexerted himself just like what he said earlier in regards to sending someone to take her back asap.

"I'll carry you to the Caduceus wing" Arda was about to grab Amias but he held up a hand and wiped his mouth.

"Go report to Luciel, I'll be fine. Just tell him I have to take a break for a few days"

"A-Alright, rest well"

Arda walked away and went straight to Luciel to apologize and report the return of El.