Chapter 838

Chapter 838: Elendor [2]

“Scorpio,” murmured a disembodied whisper, “-trust is a great deal, remember the true calling and bring thy tale to an end,” surrounding images tunneled into a pin, all pinched in said moment, froze, he watched – heavy breaths and sweaty brows, the arms dropped, the lingering flicker of a message, ‘-serve or they di’ faded.

Tires gripped the asphalt, the distanct groves and tall mountains foretold of atmospheric change. The elusively beautiful jet taxied along the runway, following the white line, and moved into a vacant hangar. Sand and gravel, or stone-dust, the lack of light, and unwillingness to investigate left the surrounding area untouched. He paid attention at the border, the grid-fence.

Questions leaped and dance, a ballet of damning curiosity, the thoughts, the ballerina, skipped across the hall till slamming herself onto the wall of realism – keeping expectations in check. ‘-Who did they send?’ Dyu paused and narrowed, ‘-the best is quite a title to have amidst Phantom and the monsters at the top. If they wanted to cause harm to the world, I’m sure they’d make it happen without effort,’ the pressured lock buckled, a whistle took the attention. A row of circular lights hung off the top of the hangar in sets of three; a symmetrical manmade constellation.

“We’ve arrived,” said the air hostess, “-majesty,” the eyes kept fluttering, an allure of intrigue emanated off her mannerism. By the time they landed, Igna left the happenings blank, information of Elendor was hard to find. The smooth stop rose his attention from the screen, the laptop folded into a leather briefcase. He rose, locking on the hostess, “-great service,” he made for the entrance, “-for a man that is,” he whispered. The flirtatious allure choked, the throat locked, “-I don’t mean it’s wrong,” he patted her shoulder, “-you’re very attractive. ‘Twould be rude to say how to live. Do what makes you happy,” he gave a kind smile, “-keep fighting for what you believe in!” the curved doorway swallowed the outline, the weak-kneed hostess desperately held a seat, ‘-Igna Haggard’s nothing from what I heard. He understood what I needed and gave a semblance of peace, I’d have given on my disguise... words of encouragement, a kind leader to those under him, hard on himself and hard on those wanting to cause harm,’ pushing the numbness into the heels, she leaped, grabbed the top part of the entry, “-good luck!” she cheered. He spun midway on the stairway, bowed respectfully, and said, “-to you as well, my lady.”

“Get out,” gritted Dyu, ‘-by the best, they meant the best?’ he blinked, there was no mistaking who marched in his direction; grace, confidence, and a layer of mystery. Heels clopped till standing before the lawyer.

“Greetings, Dyu, we’ve yet to meet formally,” the hands confidently moved forth, “-the name’s Igna Haggard, nothing more, nothing less.”

“Nothing more?” the brows rose in astonishment, “-thee jests,” he dropped to one knee and knelt, “-welcome to Iqeavea, my liege.”

.....

“Dyu, raise your head,” he ordered, “-take my hand, we’re equal in another land.”

‘Humble and understanding,’ he accepted the gesture, ‘-I had an image of someone who’d look down on anyone, not on his level. The stories all speak of the merciless nature and will to kill at a moment’s notice, what the hell did I walk into?’

“Must have a lot of questions?” said a side-smirk.

“...”

“Lost in silence?”

“Pardon, I was stunned,” he shuffled, almost dropping the car keys, “-please.”

“Let me drive,” he said, a flick swallowed the roof, the convertible stood stunningly impatient, they vaulted, settled in the seats, a press started the roar, he pushed and the car responded. A few turns later, the duo found themselves on an empty street headed for the capital.

“I must ask, why are you here?”

“I read the report,” he answered, “-you said the queen saved you from being discovered. Sneaking her out of the continent will be tall order, and I’m sure the runway won’t be of help.”

“Figured much from a simple glance?”

“Obviously, it looks deserted. The hangar seems clean enough, enough for the rare visit. The place’s unused, the Empire’s anti-air measures, sneaking a bigger force onto their land would be foolish.”

“What about earlier?”

“éclair pulled some strings, a one-time thing, so he says.”

“What then?”

“Hamer’s Inc. There is much to do, the operation’s complicated, tis for the end, at the moment, there’s more we ought to think about.” The drive lasted a few hours, the slithering road mounted the upper-plateau, sharp curves and dented barriers were common.

“Street racing?”

“Pardon me, majesty?”

“Don’t play coy,” he chuckled, “-you race here, the roads, the cars, the skid marks, and the distant sound of blaring fast engines. There’s a circuit of racers, I’m sure of it.”

‘Gathered that from observation alone?’ he glanced Igna then turned to the windshield, ‘-a monster... I’ve never met anyone so innately menacing before. One look and it seems he can look into your soul; I,’ he gulped, ‘-I pity the enemies.’

“Silent are we?”

“I have no words to say. It’s too much to take in,” he exhaled, “-the mountain pass here is very prone to accidents. Young racers take the curves in stride, many are sent over the edge and die. I used to race till I pushed too far and rammed into my opponent, he luckily survived by controlling the spin, it was the scariest moment in my life.”

“Downward or upward?”

“Upward,” he touched the dashboard, “-this baby has more in her stomach than those on the streets.”

“Well,” Igna gradually sped along a narrow straightaway, “-I’d like to test the lass for myself,” gears shifted, the car pushed forth and accelerated, the first sharp corner veered to the right – Dyu anticipated him breaking, instead, Igna kept on the gas, the tail wrapped around the edge and blasted forward. They pressed on till the peak where other racers did laps down the opposite side. The roof covered the car once again. The capital briefly waved over the tree-line, the inclination dove into a slope, he pushed, passing many racers.

*Click,* it stopped before a comfortably lit restaurant, the buildings weren’t tall save a few important agencies, “-Dyu, get out, I’m famished.”

“Crazy,” he said limping out, “-I nearly pissed myself, how insane can someone get on the streets?”

“With help of magic,” a fireball nonchalantly hovered above the open-palm, “-you can do a lot more than just watch. I learned a few tricks; the owner of a racing team must be somewhat competent at driving.” Conjuration brought many uninviting stares, the people seemed put off.

Drinks and meals filled the table, “-let’s talk business.”

“The assignment starts tomorrow, on the 7th. It’ll last however is needed.”

“éclair surmised the main point; I’d like to hear more.”

“The goal is the extraction of Ela from our continent.”

“A simple matter, teleportation.”

“Magic is off-limit. Using the latter frivolously is bound to raise concern. The church has a strong doctrine against magic casters – witch trials are real and very common at the royal capital.”

“I don’t understand,” he sipped, “-teleportation would be a simple matter of a few seconds.”

“No, no,” he shook the head, “-there’s a reason why magic’s shunned, if it’s ever known the queen used magic to escape – the continent will have a strong reason to go to war.”

“Limited choices. Suggestions?”

“On top of the extraction, we’ll have to be discreet, not potentially cause an uproar among the current leadership. Lord Elon was ousted from the kingdom – a strong man like him treated akin to a pest.”

“I get the picture, and honestly, the simplest answer is to leave things as is.”

“That I cannot do, we’re on a time limit, the king’s been using drugs, any more...”

“-and the barrier of no return will be crossed. Quite the predicament,” he paused, “-infiltrating the king’s entourage’s foolish – I’m better suited to be a personal attendant to Ela.”

“Bad idea,” he cringed,”-Juvey won’t allow men near her.”

“Great idea actually. Stories speak of Juvey as the epitome of a warrior’s spirit, if the stories are true, he’ll answer to the ways of old, the strongest decide for the weak. This is gearing to be fun. I’m representing Scorpio, right?”

“Yes.”

“The battle will happen in two days; I’d best get ready.”

“Actually, participants are required to stay at the castle, something to do with background checks, they’re wary of spies.”

*Dring, dring,* “-I have to take this,” said Dyu. The orange-haired figure was quick to dip outside and talk, ‘-getting close to the queen is no easy task, she’s drugged and the king’s a strong one. What are my options,’ he sipped and eased, ‘-magic is out of the question, I can’t risk starting a war. Hamer’s Inc will play an important part – I trust éclair to handle logistics. Rather weird to not be in the shadows and giving orders.’

“I have to go.”

“Where?”

“The hospital,” he said, “-Scorpio got shot.”

“Let’s go,” said Igna, “-you drive, will be easier.”

No information, a blind rush into an unknown area – ambulances screamed red, paramedics hurried. Dyu stormed inside, he turned and picked corners as if owning the place till a waiting room. In it was a lady, hands pressed in prayer before an empty wall, “-Hey, hey.”

“Dyu.’

“What happened?”

“They said he was struck in the middle of a drive-by shooting. A lot of people were hurt.”

“What address?” interjected Igna.

She watched confusedly, looking at Dyu for answers, “-meet...”

“Xen, a friend of Scorpio. Know anything about where it happened?”

“I don’t know,” she sniffled, “-ask the police officers?”

‘Like hell, they would talk,’ he turned on himself, “-I’m going out,” he said, “-call me if anything happens.”

“Wait!” Dyu blocked the passage, “-if you’re going there to fight, I have to stop – killing has a repercussion, and I won’t let you throw-”

“Throw the plan away?” a cold glare chilled the spine, “-get out of my way.” News reached the palace – many were scared for what was to happen, the tournament was the least of the worries.

“éclair,” a touch on the earpiece, “-is it possible-”

“Done, master, I’ve traced the location, tis displayed on the map.”

“Thank you,” a murderous look swept the mood, he leaned at one of the seats, opened his briefcase, and took Tharis, an upgraded version since the dormancy of the death element. Opposed to the inner-magical element, the mana Igna easily manipulated converted from astral to physical within the chamber, a process made possible via the discovery of Maicite. Gun holstered, the panic-filled outside had police cars and ambulances to and fro, the walkways emptied, lights from buildings extinguished. A simple man in common attire walked, a briefcase to his side, glasses onto the nose, dark-brown hair tied in a low-hanging ponytail, he marched to the location.

Meanwhile, the attack reached Juvey’s ears, amidst a council of powerful man, he rose, “-excuse me,” he thundered, “-the politics is waning on my conscience. I’m leaving,” he turned, “-someone’s dared attack one of my own, in my name, I’ll make sure they pay.”

Muzzle flash, bullets went from a broken continent store to a gang of masked men – part aimed at the people, the other drove around town shooting at bystanders. “-WOUNDED,” cried an officer, people dropped. The defenders hid behind counters, few customers laid in their pool of blood, the survivors had their heads in the brace position, waiting for help or death.

‘Now’s my time,’ Igna took account of the situation, éclair made note of the attackers and displayed them on the interface. He hurried into an alley, moved towards the store’s back entrance, and picked the lock. The door slid open, bullets clicked, the officer held strong in keeping the fighters away.

“Officer,” whispered Igna moving to his side.

“Who are you?” they kept their heads down.

“My name’s not important,” *bang,* a stray shot blasted the man’s head, ‘-there he goes,’ he shrugged off the blood, ‘-about time I let loose.’