It took a few more hours for Veronica to return. Before then, the three of them spent the time discussing other matters.
"Aren't you supposed to be all powerful? You should be able to curse him even without a link, right?" Labra asked. Even though she seemed serious, every word that came from her mouth was laced with sarcasm. Even though it wasn't so blatant, it was deeply felt by the person she was referring to, Naiha.
"If you were half as knowledgeable, you'd know that clairvoyance and curses aren't the same thing." Naiha retorted.
Helga had to be the unfortunate soul to handle these two until Veronica returned. She couldn't help but sigh internally, 'sometimes, I can't help but feel like a mother managing her troublesome children...'
While trying her best to remain a third party in their conversations, for her own sake, Helga noticed that someone had entered their base and informed the other two.
Since their base was so well hidden, it could only have been Veronica, so they were not alarmed by the intrusion.
"It's indeed is her. You're back..." Labra said, stopping mid-sentence as she saw the look on Veronica's face. Whatever she had to say, definitely was not good news.
Helga and Naiha remained silent, waiting to hear from her how her trip to the Red Gate Order went. Though, judging from her expression, they could already tell it didn't go as planned, so they waited to hear just what happened.
Veronica who had just shut the door to the room stumbled backwards ever so slightly, resting her back on the door.
"We will have to revive the great mother... the Red Gate Order has decided to join our enemy." She stated, her tone monotone and a bit weak.
Even though Veronica seemed a bit down and calm, the only other person who shared a remotely close reaction was Helga, Naiha and Labra couldn't believe their ears or what they had just heard.
"What do they mean, 'join him'?! Have they finally gone mad?!! This is ludicrous! Foolish!" Naiha barked in anger, banging her hand on the table once with a balled up fist.
"H-hey, this changes everything, you all know that, don't you? We are completely alone in this fight. Besides, this kingdom alone will not be able to bring back the great mother with as much power as we may need..."
"So what? Are you suggesting we give up? And become slaves?! That future will only happen over my dead body..." Naiha said angrily, glaring at Labra.
'All you've ever cared about is the future and your life in it...' Labra thought to herself, choosing not to voice out her thoughts not to aggravate the situation any further down the wrong path. 'If he's half as powerful as you say, I don't see why we shouldn't just submit ourselves to him instead.' She thought to herself.
"We should begin the ritual proceedings as soon as possible. Everything has already been put in place long ago." Naiha suggested, turning to look at Helga for approval. Veronica also turned to her.
The kingdom as at war, it would be easy to get the people to move once the soldiers leave the borders for their enemies to attack, and the people have to flee. Naturally, running towards the capital would be a very good option, since it would be save.
'Simply taking over the kingdom won't cut it. The kingdom may fall, but its people remain, I guess.' Aldritch thought to himself, somehow feeling like his analogy didn't make complete sense, but he understood it no less.
"Rindher, you'll handle the nobles." Aldritch said to him before turning his attention away from him and back to everyone. "You all know how the sharing works already, the combat oriented ready to learn go with Khal, and the rest, you know already, no need to elaborate further." Aldritch said to them.
Thinking of it, Khal had changed a considerable much. He used to be so against teaching others before, but that all changed along the way while teaching Aldritch. When Aldritch asked, Khal had stated something along the lines of learning and improving from teaching others.
Aldritch had a basic understanding of what he meant, but ultimately, he was just happy that such a capable person was around to increase the strength of his subordinates willing to learn.
"That's all for now." Aldritch said, dismissing everyone.
Ingrid remained on the table. She looked concerned about something, and Aldritch didn't need to guess what it was before she spoke, "lord, what about the Lunar Cult? Somehow, I feel like we shouldn't push their issues too far behind other things." She said.
"Hmm..." Aldritch thought of it briefly, but there really was nothing he could thing that they could do which would be troublesome to him.
"The only thing they can do to hinder our plans really, at this point, is to bring back that great mother of theirs, so I am not bothered. They do not possess the means to achieve that, so all we have to worry ourselves about is curses, if they do find a way around it." Aldritch said, glancing briefly at Lada who was also present, alongside Lina who did more of listening than speaking.
"..." Even though Ingrid didn't say anything in return, Aldritch could tell that his answer did not sooth her, it wasn't enough.
"Don't concern yourself too much, even though they try their curses, I have Lada here to remedy the situation. Besides, she gave me somethings to help fend off such occurrences." Aldritch said with a faint smile.
Somehow, it seemed like his explanation did nothing to alleviate anybody's mood or thoughts. Even Lina looked to have some level of concern. They all seemed to be concerned for him.
'With the way I avoid any such confrontation, one might even boldly call me a coward, and yet, these ones are concerned for my safety...' Aldritch truly was speechless.
"Come on, let's go. We all have things to get to." Aldritch said, wearing a warm smile on his mildly pale face.
For Aldritch, he still had some practice to get in with his skills, and some training with Khal, as well as Lodestar. They had taken some time with their meeting already, so he would like to get some practice in before day came.
'A bath after that should go well.'