Chapter 499: The Purest Form of Entertainment

Chapter 499: The Purest Form of Entertainment

Anaxadars smile was predatory, bleeding sparks and smoke.

Cras wet laughter echoed through the depths of space, her wrinkled skin shifting as though worms swam beneath it.

Samii was silent, but her eyes flared bright and the wires of her throne flared with them. A silvery dust seemed to crawl over her metallic surface.

Magun-Obus knuckles popped as his hands flexed, and the jewels of his staffs skull swam with inner shadows. It has been some time since we were united under the same war-banner. To what enemy do we owe this imminent violence?

I will soon make war against an abyssal knight from one of the hells. Baelin leaned forward in his barbaric throne. The battle will likely take place in that knights personal city at the very heart of its domain. I suspect that there will be vicious resistance, naturally.

An abyssal knight? Anaxadar cocked his head, the motion bird-like. Baelin, pitting all of us against most abyssal knightseven in their own domainswould be like calling an army to put down one rabid rodent. I enjoy crushing insects, but this feels strange for you.

Anaxadar raises a point. Samiis voice issued from deep within her metal frame. You often relish battle in ways that most of us do not.

I doooooo too, Cra said.

Hence my specification of most of us. Magun-Obu and I do not share your fondness for violence in the same way. The point: Baelin would enjoy battling this knight alone.

You are quite right, of course. The chancellor ran a hand through his beard-braids. I hold a grudge against this particular demon, and under normal circumstances, I would be crushing him with my own hand. Howeverthis task requires both more finesse and more force. There are risks for those I have taken an interest in He paused. ...and perhaps have come to care for.

Murmuring spread through the cabal-members.

I do not ask this of you without compensation, Baelin continued, meeting each of their gazes, one after the next. I hereby invoke the Principle of Reciprocity, as we agreed upon in our inception. Each of you can name a favour from meand do try to have some restraintso that I may fulfil it.

Inteereeeestiiiing, Cra mused, the ancient womans bushy eyebrows rising. Once more, something seemed to swim beneath her skin. Explain yourself: youve aroused my curiosity.

Mine as well, considering the task you already asked of me. Magun-Obu tapped his chin with one of his four hands.

I think I have found a point of interest, one that will benefit both those I am mentoring quite nicely, andif I am reading the situation correctlyresult in a gain for myself. One of those lovely, everyone wins scenarios. Baelin said. We will be retrieving some information from the hells, whether it be in the form of an interrogated prisoner, a written record or something else, I can only guess for now. To be specific, I will be keeping Ezaliel occupied while someone elsefar more vulnerable than any of usretrieves the information.

You need the threat crushed utterly. It must be contained so that this secondary plan can be executed. Samii reasoned out.

Without your battle spilling over and wiping out both this information and the one attempting to find it. Magun-Obus eyes lit up. Now, I understand the task.

What iiiiis this task? Anaxadar hissed. Your cloak of enigma is a little much, even for us.

Baelin asked me to find the current and subsequent three projected locations of the Whetstone Tavern. Magun-Obu looked to the chancellor. You will be hiring minions to seek this information?

Partially, Baelin said. A person I know will be hiring minions: it is mostly for him that I take part in this taskhe will gain the most immediate benefitbut I do have a personal grudge with Ezaliel. He boldly attacked my school. Now I will destroy his domain. However, I suspect he will not be so accommodating as to combat me by himself. I have no fear of his minions, but if any of his abyssal knight allies flock to his domainlet alone if he calls the lord he is sworn toI am unsure if I could defeat them all without resorting to measures that would atomise all but the most powerful of allies.

And who is this one that will benefit? An ally? Magun-Obu asked.

No, a student of my school.

Oooooh, you have taken an interest in a student? A personal interest, too. Thats not like youuuu. Cras ancient eyes twinkled. Perhaps we shall meet them as well.

In a thousand years, perhaps. Perhaps even a few hundred, the chancellor said quickly. But for now, I think my corruption is enough for him. You would be an even worse influence than me.

That is up for debate. Anaxadar said.

You dare speak to me in such a fashion? Baelin glared at him.

Yes.

Oh, alright, then.

You twist our intent in favour of semantics, Baelin leaned forward, hands on his knees. The intent is to say that purity results because the brilliant mind can conjure their own entertainment without outside stimulus by simply creating their own stupid scenarios to craft entertainment.

Now, Baelin, now Anaxadar, my young friends, you are getting ahead of yourselves: a sin of the young. Cra drummed her knees, leaning forward on her boulder. You speak of purity. Purity would imply it had come first.

Now you bring in outside factors. Anaxadar leaned forward. Butthis is amusing.

Indeed.

Then let us debate each other into the ground. Baelin smiled. My fellow old fools.

And so Baelins cabalin one of the most feared enclaves over many worldsroared at each other about the nature of entertainment in purposeful stupidity, their voices ringing out past the stones and into the black void beyond.

They did not reach a conclusion by the meetings endbut they would not have had it any other way.

Oh yes, Baelin, Samii said as they neared the meetings end. I have been tracking the movements of Hearts Desire. It is currently far from any of our worlds of interest, but in the processwhile scanning for its influenceI surveyed the languages of several hundred worlds. In a sample size of one hundred thousand tongues, I have not been able to find a translation for those runes you sent to me.

Ah, blast it, the chancellor grunted, his jovial mood from the debate soured. And if you didnt solve it, I suspect there are few in the universe that could. So I will have to hope that this information we are seeking will give us some answers.

Understandable and apologies given, the Wizard of Steel said. Without violating our Pact of Noninterference in Each Others Secrets and Affairs, what is your interest in this information?

That, I will have to leave for later, the goatman said. There are things I wish to confirm first. If all goes to plan, then I shall benefit greatly, and I might be able to pass on the benefits to all of you. Now, what of the Principle of Reciprocity?

He looked at the others. Do you have tasks in mind for me?

I do, Cra said. If you could be a dear and help me track down an elder thing that has absconded with a soul, I will say we are even.

I wish for your help with some research. Anaxadar tapped a claw on his throne. The old spells of my world are lost, but the gift of my worlds gods is fascinating. I wish to see what you make of it and also bring me some subjects for our experiments.

There is a spell I am researching that needs the heart of a titan. One who has wrought great evil. Help me destroy her. Samii spoke.

Magun-Obu shifted uncomfortably. You have experience speaking tochildren. Give me some advice about just thatspeaking to children.

Very well. Baelin nodded. These all sound fair. As always, it is a pleasure to meet like this. I will call upon you when the time comes for us to come together. Are there any other matters?

What about food? Cra said. Remember when we used to meet over a feast? I miss those days.

Unnecessary for me, but it would be a comfort to you organics. Samii said.

I have the best chefs in my world under my command, Anaxadar said. You wish for it? I will bring you a feast undreamed of for our next meeting.

Delightful! Baelin said. That reminds me of someone who thinks along a similar line. Their solution would bemore quaint, I would think. But He glanced over his shoulder, eye fixed on the direction of his world. Sometimes, there is nothing wrong with quaint. In any case, are we adjourned?

We are. The other four spoke.

Then until we meet again. Baelin grinned viciously. May we bring ruin to our enemies.

May they fear us, Cra said.

May those we protect be safe and may we discover all the secrets we desire. Samii added.

May what we build repel our foes forevermore. Magun-Obu pronounced.

And may the sun rise on those that follow us, Anaxadar growled. And let ash rain on the heads of those that strike at us.

As it has been, the chancellor finished. Andin timemay our numbers grow.