Chapter 121: Planning

  With the last of the wedding bells fading into memory, the sands of time began to flow once more, swift and unforgiving.

  One week blew by in a blur of motion and emotion. The city of Kah-Kamun, which had swelled to bursting with festivities, slowly exhaled. The tens of thousands of guests began their exodus, their caravans winding like colorful snakes back into the desert dunes. They left with full bellies, lighter purses, and a heartfelt, profusely sweaty apology from Bob regarding the "Water Barrel Incident."

  Old friends embraced one last time, promising reunions that might be years away. Families waved goodbye, satisfied with new alliances and companionship. They returned to their homelands, leaving the two runaways on their own once more. The party was over. The confetti was swept away. And now, a new objective lay bare in front of them, cold and waiting.

  Most of the important figures remaining in the city were gathered once more in the cool, echoing expanse of the private strategy room behind the main throne hall.

  Queen Aleena stood at the head of a massive round table carved from dark ironwood. Her expression was grave, a stark departure from the tea-party merriment of the week prior.

  "I'm sorry," she began, her voice steady and commanding. "I was only able to give you all one week of rest. But there is an elephant in the room that we cannot ignore anymore."

  She placed her hands on the table, leaning forward slightly.

  "We've been delayed by that fire incident and the wedding. Therefore, I have gathered all of you right now to create a solid plan."

  Around the table sat the core group, the atmosphere heavy with anticipation.

  Yukari and Raito sat together, looking refreshed and alert, their wedding hangovers finally a thing of the past. Next to the Queen sat Tanvir, looking sharp and professional, and Zhu Lihua, whose martial aura seemed to darken the air around her. Mila sat stoically, her arms crossed, looking ready for a fight.

  And then there were the newlyweds.

  Samira sat with a posture so perfect she looked like a statue. Her skin was literally sparkling, a radiant, healthy glow emanating from her that made her look more like a goddess of vitality than a mortal princess. She grinned, a satisfied, energetic expression on her face.

  Next to her sat Malik.

  The young scholar looked like a dried husk. His cheekbones were prominent, his skin pale and dehydrated. Dark purple bags hung heavy under his eyes, which stared vacantly at a pitcher of water in the center of the table. He looked less like a groom and more like a man who had survived a week-long trek through the deepest desert without supplies.

  "They definitely did it," Raito whispered to Yukari, leaning in close so only she could hear.

  "Oh, multiple times," Yukari whispered back, nodding solemnly at the sight of the withered scholar. "He looks like his soul has been harvested."

  Across from them sat a figure Raito hadn't met before—a massive Sacred with the head and shoulders of a bull, his horns adorned with golden rings, sitting silently with arms thick as tree trunks.

  Notably absent were King Ahmed and Bob.

  "Tanvir," Queen Aleena said, straightening up. "Please take it from here."

  Tanvir nods. He pushed his chair back and stood up.

  However, due to his vertically challenged stature, the action was largely symbolic. His head barely cleared the surface of the ironwood table, making him look less like a commander and more like a disgruntled child demanding dessert.

  Unbothered—or perhaps practiced at ignoring it—Tanvir cleared his throat.

  "Alright, thank you, Your Majesty. Just to clarify again, Her Majesty Queen Aleena has appointed me as the leader of this strategic meeting, and..."

  Tanvir snapped his fingers. Two royal aides struggled into the room, lugging a heavy slate chalkboard on a wheeled stand.

  The board was covered in pinned parchment sketches and maps. Dominating the center was a photograph of a metallic, silver structure, half-buried in shifting dunes. Jagged alien runes were etched along its visible spine. Beneath it, a set of coordinates was written in bold white chalk.

  "And this," Tanvir said, smacking the chalkboard with a pointer stick that was nearly as tall as he was, sending a puff of chalk dust into the air. "This is the content of the expedition that we will execute soon."

  He adjusted his collar, looking around the table with grave seriousness.

  "Here gathered are the core members personally picked for this mission. Me, the Queen, and..." He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing visibly. He glanced at the woman in the red qipao, looking physically pained. To the Lords, these public names were nothing but made-up identities, uncomfortable masks they had to wear. He fought the urge to call her by her designation, 'Red One', forcing his tongue to wrap around the public name instead. "...Lady Lihua over here."

  Zhu merely sipped her tea, her eyes unreadable.

  "But obviously," Tanvir continued quickly, "these are not the only people who will join us."

  He gestured grandly to the massive figure sitting across from him.

  "Of course, there will be questions regarding our manpower. But first, I would like to introduce everyone to this person here. I am sure you all don't know who he is yet."

  The figure shifted, the heavy wood of his chair groaning under the weight.

  "This is Master Varessh," Tanvir announced. "Guildmaster of the Adventurer's Guild, 'Raging Bull'. Him and his elite team will provide us with extra protection and veteran navigation through the deeper desert."

  Varessh stood up.

  It was like watching a mountain rise. He cast a shadow that swallowed half the table. His rugged human face, framed by thick, curling horns, lowered in a respectful bow, the golden rings on them glinting in the lantern light. The heavy clack of his hooves against the stone floor punctuated the movement.

  "The honor is all mine," Varessh rumbled. His voice was deep and gravelly, vibrating in the chests of everyone present like a low-frequency earthquake. "To be called by the Queen and the Quake Lord himself... is the greatest honor of my life."

  He sat back down with a heavy thud that made the water pitcher jump.

  "Pleased that you can join us, Varessh," Tanvir nodded. "Next, just to make sure everyone is familiar with the core... is our own Malik, representing the scholars."

  Tanvir pointed the stick at the groom. "Malik, stand up please."

  Malik placed his trembling hands on the table. He pushed. His elbows locked. He rose about three inches.

  "I'm here..." he rasped, his voice sounding like sandpaper on stone.

  His legs gave out immediately. He collapsed back into his chair, his head lolling back.

  "Tanvir..." Malik wheezed, staring at the ceiling. "Water..."

  Tanvir coughed loudly, moving on swiftly.

  "As you all know, Malik here discovered the structure first during one of his research outings. We initially had more than a dozen scholar teams ready, but after the Kadem incident..." Tanvir’s expression darkened momentarily. "Most left out of fear. We only managed to assemble a new team of scholars recently. Under Malik's instruction, they will be tasked with the research and recording of anything we find outside and inside the structure."

  He turned to the head of the table.

  "Then, Her Majesty Queen Aleena herself will join us as the Royal Representative, to ensure diplomatic protocols are followed and decisions can be made on the spot."

  Tanvir took a breath, turning his gaze.

  "Lady... Lihua over here, and her team, will be the Queen's personal guard."

  Zhu Lihua stood up. She didn't need to slam the table or raise her voice; her presence commanded absolute silence.

  "Me, Mila, and Yukari will be the Queen's guard," Zhu stated, her voice steel. "We will make sure no harm can even lay a breath on her."

  Tanvir and the Queen nodded in agreement.

  "And Mila," Tanvir added, pointing to the warrior, "will also coordinate with Bob's caravan service and Bob's men to help with transport and supply logistics."

  Mila nodded sharply.

  "And lastly, myself," Tanvir concluded, puffing out his chest. "I, as the leader, will oversee all operations and strategic decisions. Is that clear?"

  The room murmured its assent.

  "Um..."

  A hand raised slowly into the air.

  Tanvir blinked, looking down the table. "Yeah, boy?"

  Raito leaned forward, looking between the chalkboard and the map. "What about me and Samira?"

  Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

  "Oh, Raito," Samira chimed in, her voice bright and cheerful. She picked up a grape and popped it into her mouth. "I'm just here to watch and listen to the meeting. I won't be coming. Someone help father in the city while Mom is away exploring."

  "O-kay..." Raito nodded slowly. He pointed a thumb at his own chest. "What about me?"

  He looked at Tanvir, expecting a role. Scout? Vanguard? Chaos factor?

  "You are not coming," a cold voice cut through the air.

  It wasn't Tanvir. It was Zhu. She spoke before the Museum Director could even open his mouth, her gaze locking onto Raito with a weight that made the air feel thin.

  "But why?" Raito protested, looking between Zhu and Tanvir. "Yukari is going. Why am I left out?"

  "Did you already forget our agreement?" Zhu asked, her voice calm but unyielding. "You promised Yukari not to fight while we figure out what is going on with you."

  "I know, I remember," Raito pleaded, leaning over the table. "But we are just sightseeing, right? Not fighting? Or… if there is fighting, I will leave it to you guys! Why can't I go? It's not like it's my fault I can't remember what this 'Black Flame' you guys keep talking about even is!"

  "No means no," Zhu said, cutting him off. "You are a liability. A berserker no one can control right now. Sit down. Enjoy the city."

  "But—!" Raito started to argue, his stubbornness flaring.

  Yukari reached out, grabbing Raito’s cheeks with both hands and turning his gaze to hers. Her expression was soft, pleading.

  "Please," Yukari whispered. "Just this once. Stay put. I promise we will be quick."

  Raito stopped.

  The fight drained out of him when he saw the fear she was trying to hide. He slumped back in his chair, crossing his arms. He was still sulking, definitely, but he wouldn't go against Yukari when she looked at him like that.

  "Fine," he muttered.

  Tanvir sighed, the tension in the room dissipating. "Continuing again. Now that that is settled..."

  He gestured to the chalkboard. "Here is all the information we have so far. While most of the recent discoveries were lost, burned in the museum fire, Malik is still here. So, please take it away, Malik."

  Malik groaned. He chugged another glass of water—his third in ten minutes—and used the table as a crutch to heave himself upright. His legs shook like a newborn foal.

  Watching this pathetic display, Yukari leaned over to Samira.

  "You overdid it," she whispered, eyeing the glowing princess.

  "Can't help it," Samira whispered back, grinning.

  "He was cute. I wanted to gobble him up.

  "Malik shuffled to the front of the chalkboard, avoiding eye contact with his wife. He cleared his throat. It sounded dry and raspy.

  "Thank you, Director," Malik said.

  He took a breath, trying to summon his scholarly dignity. "Right... I... I found this structure roughly a month ago. I am not proud of the circumstances of this discovery, but here is the story."

  He pointed a shaking finger at the map. "I was just doing some research and observation on the Rare Golden Cactus that grows in the deep desert area. Suddenly, a sandstorm hit me. It didn't feel natural. It swept me directly to this point here." He tapped the coordinates.

  “I want to call it a coincidence," Malik said quietly.

  "But the sandstorm felt like it brought me there."The room went silent, absorbing the implication.

  "The structure is made of some unknown metal I've never seen before," Malik continued, his voice gaining a bit of strength as he spoke about his passion. "It is solid and does not have any trace of elemental energy. The closer you get to it, you can feel the structure emitting a low hum. Vibration."

  He paused, looking at the photograph. "Then, the weird part. The structure is cool to the touch. Despite being half-buried in the scorching desert sand, under direct sunlight, it is much cooler than its surroundings. Not just that... observing it from my short time there, no animal seems to want to approach it. It repels them."

  "Right now," Malik concluded, leaning against the board for support, "we still don't know where the entrance is, what is inside, how much of it is still buried, or what kind of creature built it. That is what we are here to discover."

  "Wait," Yukari asked, raising a hand. "How did you get back? If it was that deep in the desert?"

  "I just used the stars as my guide," Malik said simply. "It took a while, a lot of walking, but I managed to navigate myself back to civilization."

  "I can support what young Malik said," Varessh rumbled from his seat.

  The Guildmaster pointed a thick finger at the photograph. "That picture is one my scout took. We verified the location. The coordinates and star map Malik wrote down are accurate."

  "Well," Raito muttered from his corner, "at least it’s not running around."

  It was an out-of-place joke, landing with a dull thud in the heavy atmosphere.

  "What?" Raito asked, looking around defensively. "It's an unknown structure. We don't know if it has legs or something. Gotta be extra careful."

  He leaned back, crossing his arms behind his head. "Last time we went somewhere new, a giant mechanical serpent and a mechanical killer doll tried to ruin our day. I'm just saying, metal things tend to be... lively."

  BAM.

  Varessh slammed his massive hand onto the table. The wood groaned, and Malik's water pitcher finally tipped over, spilling water across the dark surface.

  "Boy," Varessh growled, his voice dropping to a dangerous rumble. "This is a serious matter. It is not a place to make jokes. You are not even going on this expedition based on what I heard, so you better shut up."

  "I know, I know," Raito waved a hand dismissively, though his eyes sharpened slightly. "But you can't be too careful at the possibility. They are big, scary, powerful, and always aim at me for some reason."

  Varessh’s face darkened, the veins on his thick neck bulging. He took offense—deep offense—at the perceived mockery.

  "Are you still joking, boy?" Varessh stood up, his chair scraping loudly against the stone. "Those words you uttered—absolute buffoonery. We are not playing make-believe here."

  He glared down at Raito, his nostrils flaring. "Giant mechanical serpent? Mechanical killer doll? In my thirty years of adventuring, risking my life in the harshest environments, no one has dared to bring up fictional creatures in a serious briefing."

  "Hey," Raito sat up straighter, his playful demeanor vanishing. "Those things are not fictional. We've seen them. We've fought them. I would never joke about almost losing my life against them."

  "Mr. Varessh, was it?" Yukari interjected, her voice cool and sharp. She placed a hand on the table, her gaze steady. "I can also promise you, what Raito said is not a lie. We have experienced it ourselves. The world is larger than just your guild's records."

  "Enough is enough!" Varessh bellowed, waving a hand as if swatting away a fly. "This expedition is not a place for your fantasy fulfillment!"

  He turned his massive head toward Tanvir, ignoring the runaways completely.

  "Mr. Tanvir," Varessh said, his tone dripping with disdain. "Why do we even have these two outsiders here with their delusions? What do this young girl and young boy even provide? We should just cut them off from this expedition. Our Raging Bull Guild is more than enough to handle a pile of scrap metal."

  He sneered, glancing back at Raito. "Oh wait... the boy is already not going."

  "Varessh, I assure you..." Tanvir tried to interject, looking nervous as he sensed the rising temperature in the room.

  “Maybe…”

  Raito’s smile stayed, but his eyes went flat. “If I break your head open, you’ll finally understand.”

  The air in the room froze. Even Malik stopped shivering.

  "Huh?" Varessh turned slowly, blinking. "What was that?"

  CRACK.

  Zhu Lihua didn't just slam the table; she struck it with a closed fist, sending a shockwave that rattled the windows.

  "Enough!" she barked.

  The single word carried the weight of a command that had moved armies. She stood up slowly, her eyes glowing with a faint, terrifying crimson light.

  "I don’t care what title you hold," Zhu said, her voice low and lethal. "But those two are under my supervision. I can vouch for them. And I can vouch for their combat experience."

  She turned her gaze fully onto Varessh. "Unless you also want to challenge me? Surely you know who I am, right?"

  Varessh looked at the petite woman in the red dress. He looked at the energy humming around her. The arrogance drained out of him like water from a sieve. He sat back down, shrinking into his chair, suddenly looking very small despite his size.

  "No," Varessh muttered, looking at the table. "Proceed."

  Zhu didn't sit down immediately. She turned her gaze to Yukari.

  "Take him," Zhu commanded.

  Yukari nodded. She grabbed Raito by the back of his collar.

  "Come on, troublemaker," she whispered.

  Before Raito could snap back at the Guildmaster, she dragged him out of the room, the heavy doors closing behind them with a definitive thud.

  Outside, the corridor was cool and quiet, a stark contrast to the heated atmosphere of the strategy room. Yukari led Raito to a stone bench overlooking a small, private garden and pushed him gently onto it.

  "Alright, idiot," Yukari sighed, sitting down next to him and brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "Let's cool down a little."

  Raito crossed his arms, staring at a patch of blue flowers, his jaw still tight.

  "No need to threaten the poor bull adventurer, okay?" Yukari said softly, her voice taking on a soothing, coaxing tone. "He genuinely has never experienced something that we have. To him, the world follows rules. To us... well, rules are suggestions. Give him a break."

  Raito was silent for a moment, the tension in his shoulders visible. Then, he let out a long breath, slumping slightly.

  "Yeah, yeah, you're right," he muttered.

  He turned to look at her, his expression disturbingly calm. "Even if I split that skull of his open, I probably wouldn't feel satisfied. It would be messy for no reason."

  Yukari froze. Her hand, which had been rubbing his back, stopped mid-motion.

  "Stop," she whispered. She grabbed his shoulders, forcing him to look her in the eye. "Do you know what you are talking about?"

  Raito blinked, looking confused by her reaction. "Of course. He made a mockery of our experience, so it is right that we have to silence him, right? That's how threats work."

  Yukari stared at him, a cold dread pooling in her stomach.

  Usually, when the "corruption" or whatever it was took over, Raito wouldn't recognize his own aggression. He would snap, act on instinct, and then forget, or look bewildered by his own violence. It was like a fugue state.

  But today... today was different. He was lucid. He was aware. And worse, he seemed to rationalize the violence as a logical, acceptable response. It wasn't just an outburst anymore; it was becoming him.

  The corruption wasn't just influencing him; it was spreading, merging with his personality.

  "You..." Yukari swallowed the lump in her throat, forcing a smile onto her face. It felt brittle. "You know what? Maybe you are just tired because Mother and the rest benched you."

  She stood up, offering him a hand. "How about we go get something to eat at the plaza? I heard they have those skewered lizards you like. Sounds good?"

  The darkness in Raito’s eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a genuine, boyish spark.

  "That does sound great," he beamed, taking her hand. "I'm starving."

  Yukari smiled back, but her heart was pounding against her ribs like a trapped bird.

  Later that night, the desert moon hung high and full, casting silver shadows across the palace grounds.

  Raito was already fast asleep in their guest chamber, exhausted by the day's emotional whiplash. Yukari, however, couldn't close her eyes.

  She slipped out of bed, wrapped herself in a shawl, and made her way to the inner courtyard. Zhu Lihua and Tanvir were waiting for her by the fountain, the sound of trickling water providing a veil of privacy.

  "How is he?" Zhu asked immediately, her martial composure softened by maternal concern.

  "It got worse," Yukari said, hugging herself against the night chill. "Usually, he will snap back and forget, or not recognize the aggression he just displayed. But earlier... he knew. He knew what he said, and he reveled in it. He justified it."

  She looked up at the two Lords, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I'm scared."

  Tanvir looked at his feet, scuffing his shoe against the stone. Zhu tightened her jaw.

  "Are you sure you two don't understand what is influencing Raito?" Yukari asked, her voice rising in desperation. "Any cure? Why are we going on this expedition anyway? Is there a cure there? Is that why you kept him behind?"

  She bombarded them with questions, the dam finally breaking.

  "Calm down, kiddo," Tanvir said softly, raising a hand.

  He looked at Zhu. Zhu looked back. A silent conversation passed between the ancient beings—a resignation that the time for secrets was over.

  "Look, we are sorry," Tanvir said, taking off his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose. "But even as Lords... we really don't understand what is happening to that kid. His physiology, his connection to the Core... it's unprecedented."

  "He is right," Zhu admitted, her voice heavy. "We don't have an answer. But..."

  She hesitated, looking away toward the dark horizon.

  "But what?" Yukari stepped forward, tugging on Zhu’s sleeve. "Tell me."

  Zhu sighed, turning back to face her stepdaughter.

  "We... know that his Black Flame has a certain... 'unique' energy signature," Zhu said carefully.

  "It's not elemental?" Yukari asked.

  "No. Very far from it," Zhu shook her head. "That Black Flame... at first, I thought it was just a unique Core power of his. A mutation, perhaps. But the more I encounter it, the more I can sense it. Or to be more exact... I can sense 'IT's' energy signature within it."

  "Who is this 'IT'?" Yukari pleaded, her hands trembling. "Please tell me. Mother, you, Tanvir, Lily, Grandpa Sun-Yoon... you all kept mentioning 'IT' here and there. Please, I need to know. It concerns Raito."

  Tanvir nodded slowly at Zhu. Tell her.

  Zhu closed her eyes, exhaling a breath that seemed to carry the weight of centuries.

  "Alright," she whispered. "You deserve to know."

  She opened her eyes, and they held a fear Yukari had never seen in the War General before.

  "'IT' is what we call our creator," Zhu said. "Silas. The Great God."

  The name felt wrong in her chest. Too large. Too heavy. Like saying it aloud invited something to listen.