That girl's powers are as great as he expected. Why did he even wonder?
He smiled at Tassio. ''You are right. Why not?''They laughed but then kids pulled Tassio away to show him something while Taskmaster sat aside and watched the party.
At the same time, a group of women sat by the seaside and had their own party. As they floated towards the party Kendra realized in surprise that they all had school uniforms and huge smiles on their faces.
As they neared the cheers could be heard. ''Kaia!!!''
Yes, Kaia was the name she named herself in a moment of mischievousness but now stuck to her. Maybe it is better that way. She liked that name.
''Kaia, Kaia!!! She is back. Our Kaia!''Almost all started floating up and clapped their hands but Kendra just floated down with a smile.
''Get down all of you. Have you all learned well? You remember what I told you last time?'' She could see confused expression and then suddenly they lowered their heads. ''Oh, do you think I am one of the people that break promises. I have not much time. Let's start with general tests!''
Kendra waved her hand and subspace was open where all of them disappeared. Few children that sneaked to see the crowd rubbed, their eyes and rushed back to the palace. ''They are all gone. They all disappeared!''
But the nearest youth looked calmly at children and asked. ''Was Kendra with them?'' They saw children nodding. ''Then it is fine. She told them last time she will test them when she comes back. They literally came together into her claws. Hhahaha I wonder...''
Hearing youth's words everyone just continued chatting while Taskmaster went to Lord Cassian. ''May I ask... ?''
Lord Cassian held two glasses in his hand and gave one to him. ''Why testing them? there is a sect that accepts only females in this world. The sect's name is Great Kaia followers. She told them if they want to use her name they have to really be her followers and learn well. Literally. They all belong to our school but most of them belong to that sect. Not all tho. It is not obligatory. Only those that really wish to enter the sect and if they can pass the tests.''
Taskmaster nodded as he understood that far. ''But she just came back...''
''Tests she makes are quite different for males and females. She was telling us about that but I had no way to understand it. Shortly, only females have those kinds of wires to be able to pass her tests. Of course, there are many other sects and guilds in this world. But the sect put shrines for her in absolutely every city and every place. Just in case someone wants to pray or bless her.'' He explained and pointed into the corner of the room where was a little shrine with a female that had two sides with different colors. Black and white.
Taskmaster went silent but then chuckled. ''Light and dark side combined in one person. That is why black and white. But does that mean she teaches them dark powers as well?''
Lord Cassian shrugged. ''Teach? We all learned to accept the dark side inside us and with that our powers became greater... and more stable. I think she teaches us to accept the darkness but to grow our light inside so that the dark side does not prevail and let us do vicious things.''
''You all... ?'' His eyes swiped all the people in the room and were shook deep into his core.
''I do not say there are no people that doe vicious things. The world is eating or be eaten. No matter what world it is. But cruelty and viciousness can be controlled deep in our selves. You might be older than me, but I can still feel your basic energy. The wild, uncontrollable power that you hold in you, is still controlled by your own thoughts.'' He pointed at his stomach than at his head.
''If I didn't I would have died a long time ago.'' He didn't understand his meaning.
Lord Cassian patted his head. ''Yes, your kind doesn't care about how many offspring they produce if at least one can survive.''
Taskmaster was surprised by his actions and words. ''What are you talking about?''
Lord Cassian pointed at a group of demons on the side. ''Demons in past produced bunch of children and left only strongest survive. The weak ones... they ate. What do you think why they did that?''
Taskmaster wrinkled his eyebrows as he stared at demons. ''They are disgusting creatures...''
Suddenly he was hit on back of his head. In astonishment, he stared at Lod Cassian. ''What did I say wrong?''
''That is the wrong answer. The right answer was WHY?'' Lord Cassian hissed at him with an angry gaze.
''But they ate their children...'' Taskmaster had no idea what was wrong with his words.
''Why would ANY creature eat their children? The continent where demons lived was bare. Completely bare. Nothing to eat. The few plants they cherished like humans gold. They ate their children as there was nothing else to eat! After they met humans and humans started planting stuff and taught them many things, they realized their wrong and stopped having hundreds of children. Last thousand years the amount of children in their households is never more than 2-3. They still adore all kinds of plants. Kendra...'' Lord Cassian waved his hand as he realized he almost spilled beans. ''... she will explain to you when she comes back. But back to your people.''
Taskmaster held his head and stopped bit further away. ''What about my kind?''
''Why did they see the need to send their children to other worlds if they could have rased themselves? That is the main question. Why? When you find out that, you might find out even dirtier things about your own people. Are you even able?'' Lord Cassian sighed and held his shoulder. ''Kendra brought you to this world in the hope to save you from the ultimate truth. I feel she is worried you won't be able to handle the real truth.''
Taskmaster froze. ''Real truth?''