My hand-grip quickly escalated. I stared into those unemotional eyes of his that were so uncaring. Then my foot automatically stepped back. Even my heart made a heavy thump as if I was going to have a heart attack.
"What's the meaning of this, Trevor?" I croaked. My fist was still clenching. It was none other than the one who knocked Jaden unconscious. "Why did you bring me here?"
"He's the one supposed to explain things to you." Ventus replied mechanically. But he seemed too oblivious as to what happened. I just looked at him with disgust and disdain as he looked back with curious eyes. "And he's better at explaining than me."
"He knocked Jaden out! He strangled his neck and almost killed him!" I roared, and with a flick of a finger, I summoned a blade from my own shadow. My muscles tightened, and I braced myself to attack the guy. Then I glared at him with a rage I couldn't hold back. "I'm gonna kill you! You hurt my friend!"
"Take it easy, Chance. I meant no harm to your friend." He simply stated in a matter-of-factly tone. Then I lunged at him but suddenly, my arms felt heavy, and I fell to the ground. I was suddenly robbed of the strength to carry myself. It was as if an invisible truck fell over me. "And I will not try to harm you either."
"You met with him? I thought the plan was for me to approach Chance first. I find this insulting." Ventus asked suddenly, cutting me off before I could say another word. He said it with a quick pace as if he was agitated. "You violated our protocols again. That wasn't part of the plan."
"Calm down, both of you." The man replied. His voice was still then proceeded to sit down on one of the chairs. At first, I didn't know it was a chair. But then it suddenly re-arranged itself to pose as one. "There are sudden changes in our plans. We need to move faster."
"Are they on the move already?" Ventus asked. He seemed to be unfazed by the fact I was pinned down on the ground. I groaned and summoned all my strength. My shadows were extending away from my body and slowly turning into bladed weapons. But they were also frozen on the solid ground. "I thought that they will take some time."
"The Teios Kyr will not wait. Once their leader knows how to revive Veronica, then we are going to have serious trouble. We can't wait too long. They are already watching a certain protégé who can turn the tables around." The man started to explain. Then he released me from his own magic. The weight suddenly left, and then I started feeling light. From being pinned down on the earth, I was suddenly floating in the air. Then he looked at me. "Chance, I will release you, and I will explain once you calm down. Can I trust you with that?"
"No!" I roared at him. He just looked at me silently. I tried to punch and kick in the air, but it was useless. "You'll pay for what you did! There's no way I could trust someone like you."
"Chance, calm down." Ventus tried this time. But I glared at him even more. I felt betrayed by luring me. He was supposed to be a trusted friend, and yet he brought me to another world only to be cornered by this person. "You will learn what is really happening if you give him an opportunity."
"He threw that golden opportunity down the drain once he tried to grab my best friend's neck!" I snarled at them both. "Trev! I thought you were my friend."
"I am your friend, Chance. Is it not obvious that I am trying to help you? I saved your life!" Ventus replied. His voice pitched a notch higher than usual. Then he faced the man in black robes "And why did you even knocked Jaden out? That boy has nothing to do with our plans."
"He was in the way. My time of meeting Chance was minimal. I was hunting down a certain demon that crossed over the Great Divide again. More can cross each day. The Knights of Imperio will not be able to hold them off if more of them will be able to cross over." The man clarified. Then he released me from his magic, and his shadow extended into beneath me before turning to swords and daggers. "I don't want the Council involved. Chance, please sit down. We have a lot to discuss."
But I was stubborn. I gripped my blade tighter around my fingers, but I knew I was no match, especially if Ventus would be involved in the fight. He was too fast for my eyes to even follow. I had no choice but to comply with what he was saying. With one snap of a finger, his blades suddenly collapsed back into his shadows.
"My name is Reizal Volaniss, from the House of Vladimir. You can call me Rei for short. I am very sorry for what I had to do to your friend. That was uncalled for and a miscalculation for my part." He apologized bluntly. But I remained silent and unmoving. I took my seat across him and observed him from a distance. "Now if you allow me, Chance Valentine, I would have to explain why you are suddenly dragged into the middle of this war. And I've read a bit of your human history, by the way. Very interesting how humans waged wars. It is quite similar to the ways of Fuhrstenvald."
Again, I just stared at him. But Rei wasn't really amused. Ventus just took a seat and sat near me. But I didn't look at him. Honestly, I don't know what to feel towards him after what happened.
"Going back, you are now an important piece in this. You can turn the tables against the enemy. And we will be able to hit them where it really hurts. Chance, you are a trump card, and you don't even know it." He stated. His eyes were gazing at mine, trying to check out if I was about to make another move. He knew I was going to raise forth Hell if I have to. "One of the reasons why you can use magic is because there is also another soul residing within you. But that was only to use the knowledge of that soul's knowledge. Your highly intuitive mind allows you to access that. And only mages with a powerful potential can do such."
Again, I just watched him while I listened. But he wasn't fazed by my silent treatment of them. Ventus just sat nearby and observed how I was intaking the information fed upon me.
"The soul's name is Israfil. That's why I mentioned to you that name the very first time we met in that alley." Rei continued on. The more I talked to him, the lesser he seemed to be a threat. His eyes were calm, but there was an absolute serenity inside of them. "It seems that you have used his ability that very day, am I right?"
"Yes." I admitted. "But I didn't use it as much as when I attacked you."
"And that's why it led the Teios Kyr to you. They have already sensed Israfil's awakening." He stated grimly. My fingers twitched when I heard him say it like it was classified information. "The man who attacked you was their temporary leader. Their true leader is still dead."
"What do you mean by still dead?" I asked with a serious tone. He wouldn't say something that specific if it wasn't without purpose. And from the sound of it, it wasn't right. "Should the dead remain as dead? If he's dead, then why wouldn't that guy take the position as their new leader."
"It's a she." Ventus corrected me. It caused me to look at him. And I can't help but be ashamed because I have misjudged them. "The one that we met is the faithful son of hers. He is willing to do whatever it takes to revive his mother. As of now, they are watching a certain Necromancer."
"Well, in the realm of magic, there are certain taboos that they are willing to cross to get their goal. However, the Black Sorceress is a very influential mage, and she is knowledgeable in extending her own life." Rei explained. There were a lot of other things that were also in my mind at that moment. For sure, they must have thought of what I have been thinking. "But there are also certain limitations so that they can't abuse such magic. And that's where you come into play."
"What do you mean by that?" I asked. I frowned at them as I tried to think of possibilities that they pertain to. "How can I help? I am basically powerless. It will just be a hindrance if you put me in the way. Even if I would want an adventure like that, my life is at stake!"
"Chance, if you have information to turn things around and gain the upper hand, would you use it to your advantage?" Rei asked me. His stare was thoughtful and was piercing my gaze. Some things were at stake. "Do you think we will not just let opportunities pass by so easily? This is not just a game. We are at war, and people could die."
"I would use it." I replied. But I think I knew where he was getting at. The conversation was heading in that direction. And it was inevitable. "If there are advantages that I could use, then I will."
"Exactly." Rei quipped. "Do you see how you are in the middle of this."
"Israfil knows something that you need." I concluded. My throat felt dry. I was indeed in the middle of it. "And it will turn things around for everyone."
"It's good that you are catching up." Rei replied. Then his stare suddenly became murderous. The killing intent was so strong that the hair on my neck suddenly stood up. "I would love to explain things further, but I would have to go back to your world. Another demon had crossed the Great Divide, and I will be needed there. Ventus over there can give you more information. Again, I am sorry about your friend. I stepped on the wrong foot. Israfil would have been as angry as you if I did something like that to Ventus. He is my little brother, and he is Ven's best friend."
But I remained silent towards his apology. It would take a while before I could forgive him completely. Then I remembered the demon that he mentioned. "Is the demon near our area?"
"No." He answered back. A column of darkness appeared in the middle of the room. And a person in black robes emerged from the darkness. The person was wearing a hood and was facing against me. I had no idea if it was a man or a woman. "It should be around in Africa, so it's nowhere near you. Nothing to worry."
The two of them entered the dark portal, and it collapsed on the floor. There was not a single trace of them. Not even the presence of Rei's killing intent.