News of Dire's death spread through the Legion like wind through a valley. Flowers and grass gently danced, just like the Variants.
Infinus was full of hope. His death proved warriors, regardless of their status, can fall. Just like the many legends prior to his position as a leader.
Everyone heard of their stories. And Dire's was added to that list. Now, everyone, including Encur and Ophus, heard about it.
Silsa hugged his new pillow, the one Ether promised. He held it tight in his arms while pretending it was his Yomie. There wasn't much for the young Yonie to do, especially after breaking his legs.
Until Tinzor knocked on the door. Four familiar knocks, face paced and playful. With each one, Silsa hummed along. Enjoying the little joy he got from it.
"Aaaaaah! Tinnie, Tinnie!" Silsa waved his arms around. "Come in!"
The knob gently twisted, then the door swung. Tinzor walked in, gentle footsteps matched his every move. The door closed, returning the bedroom into its private setting.
"Hi! Tinnie, hi!" Silsa's excited and soft voice greeted.
In response, Tinzor bowed his head. "Hello, Silssy. Have you heard the news going around? What our brave allies have done?"
The little Yonie glanced down at his pillow before returning his attention to Tinzor. "Bah. (No.)"
Gentle steps and careful expressions took control of Tinzor's movements. He stepped closer to his leader, trying his best not to frighten him.
He sat on the bed beside Silsa. Both hands went up to his cheeks before Tinzor began rubbing them. Silsa smiled, happy that someone did it without needing a reminder.
Causing his eyes to glow a faint crimson color. Not as a sign of aggression, but as a sign of 'Love Vision.' The same thing Yonies use in the wild when trying to find hidden predators.
"That big, mean Feral, Dire. The one from the Light Legion is dead. He can no longer nibble your kind. Mostly because, according to Kellenas, he has no more teeth left," Tinzor informed.
Silsa sneezed repeatedly. Showing his inability to contain his excitement. Between sneezes, he tried to form a smile. One giant happy face that showed his emotions.
"Is it safe for me to play outside now?!" Silsa happily replied.
Tinzor continued rubbing his cheeks. "You have broken bones. It's better if you rest. While you do that, the rest of your Legion received orders to help during Digon's reclamation."
"Huh?" Silsa frowned.
His cheeks puffed up and eyes looked down at his lap where the pillow was. Being the head of the Encur branch and missing out on the fun worried him.
Since he was a Yonie, being a lively Variant was embedded into his genes. Except for the fact he had already failed at that. He didn't want to fail more. So missing out on the new advancements disheartened him.
"I want a Yomie!" Silsa announced.
Tinzor brought his hands to his sides. "Those are difficult to come by. Besides, they get very emotionally invested in their partners. Getting you one without a Yonie would be rare - too rare, in fact."
A moment of silence lingered in the air. Tinzor was becoming impatient and Silsa was continuously becoming more lonely. It was his death march, a slow one.
Silsa sighed before resting his head on his hands. "I don't think I'll ever find one. You're right."
Hearing Silsa speak in a much more serious tone surprised Tinzor. Never before, during his several years serving the unofficial official leader, did he hear Silsa talk like that.
It just wasn't him. Especially when Tinzor compared him to his usual cheerful self.
"You're a good Yonie," he said like placing a firm hand over Silsa's back. "What you have to do is find yourself a family and try to connect with them. They will pity you and take you as their own."
Silsa nodded. "I guess. Well, have fuuuuuun out there."
***
At the same time Silsa and Tinzor had their meeting, Enoptes and his elites got wind of it. The news poked Ophus' raging flames, increasing their intensity even further.
With Dire's death came an invitation. One given to Sernatacus, for Enoptes.
In the middle of a small circular arena was a large campfire. Stones divided the flames from the wooden floor, as each raging spark cackled in delight.
Out around the outer parts of the arena, a Thawed-sized wall barricaded the warriors inside. With a railing to prevent anyone from falling inside during events.
This wasn't just Ophus' arena, this was Ophus' war room. Each generation of leaders had one thing in common: they rule their neighbors by force while ruling their own through dominance.
It was how their ranks worked. The more dominant a Variant was in conflict, the more famed of an elite they would become.
Flames continued to dance, lighting up the entire arena in a splash of orange and yellow. Including the bowing Enoptes.
An inferno gently burned his exposed back while on his knees. From his position, he could hear the stomping of several successful Ferals entering.
"Our arrival. As planned," Sernatacus announced. "Is it too late to begin honoring?"
Enoptes got up from his bow, keeping his back straight to allow most of the weight to fall on the base of his feet. "You and your packs can begin when you feel free. Everyone fought well, I'm sure."
An Alpha Female named Nafraxis stepped forward. "Etek Dur belongs to Eterra, but Eterra says it also belongs to us."
Hearing the news pleased Enoptes. He crossed his arms and gave himself a warm smile. The bright fire scorched his face.
"They accepted your Ferals as one of theirs. Recognizing you are a worthy equal, maybe a fierce dominant," Enoptes replied.
Nafraxis, along with several other alphas got on their knees before the fire. As one, they bowed, digging their heads between their hands on the floor.
"In memory of the lost, they will be forgiven and returned. From moonlit mountains to sun-struck valleys. Return to your beloved," the alphas said in unison.
Enoptes bowed again, this time to honor the lost. With each word spoken and action done, they were honoring. But this fire became an icon to Ophus as mountains became an icon to Thawed.
Before Sernatacus retreated to his den, he took out a piece of paper he tucked away between the armor plate on his left shoulder. This was the invitation.
"Pick four elites of your elites, that little one said. Bring them to Krugi," Sernatacus summarized.
Enoptes got up to get the note. "Is that it?"
Sernatacus shook his head. "The little one also said to up the ante. He is pleased to hear all of our successful crusades against the Light. But now, we are in the end zone."
***
Ether lifted up both fists, embracing for the amount of recoil he was about to receive. On Decka's order, he began driving them into a thick slab of stone.
Punch after punch, the stone got weaker and weaker until it began to crumble. But also did Ether's fists. Yet he was determined to continue, his Will would not let him stand down until it was over.
Once there was nothing more than dust and debris. He stopped. Heartbeat after heartbeat, he could feel himself calming down.
Decka firmly patted Ether on the back and handed him a towel. "You're a monster, kid. If Kas was able to brush off Jakery's Third Rule, I can't imagine what he could do to you."
"What I do know," he continued. "Is it takes a lot to continue striking, even after your fists bleed. The passion behind every blow was there, the determination to continue punishing was there. What wasn't there was your mind."
"How? I was focused on my fists!" Ether snapped back.
Decka chuckled. He pointed down at Ether's fists. Two bloody knuckles seethed. Like getting magma poured right on his hands, the pain was there.
"Who are you killing? Yourself or your target?" Decka confronted him.
Ether sighed. "Both, if Kas comes with me. I'm ready to take us both down if I cant take him down."
"You have quite the vile venom. Imagine what Pearl would say," Decka replied.
Silence. Ether imagined how ruined Pearl would be if she heard him say that. She already blamed herself for his secret struggles against his Yonie side, putting more pressure on her was unhealthy for the two.
"Exactly," Decka continued. "You aren't ready to face off against Kas, it's obvious. But you are ready to face off against the medium ranking elites."
Ether's eyes darted up to Decka. "Is Talis in the medium ranks?"
"I would be considered a traitor if I had that kind of information. My days with the Light are over. You know that. As for that Talis, all I know is he appears to have been promoted," Decka answered.
A cool breeze swept over them. Helping Ether get back into normal conditions.
"Well," Ether rubs his bloody knuckles on his formally white shirt. "I have some preparations to do before Ophus and Encur send over their forces."