Kyora raised an arm and called out to Ivione, holding a chip between her fingers. Her strategy involved befriending Ivione by returning his chip, but the procedure she intended to utilize made hardly any changes.
Befriending him was challenging and most likely unattainable. That's why Timothy believed that fighting him was their only option in hopes of changing his perspective.
But he had no doubts about Ivione and understood where he came from. They were outsiders invading his territory, and nothing could alter that reality.
"Please, God of Wind Ivione. Accept our apologies and take the chip. We had no discretions of fighting you. We came here to return the fragment to where it belongs, but you're blocking our path."
It was unmistakable that Kyora tried her best to avoid undue conflict, and nobody could've said otherwise. Timothy admired Kyora's assistance and perseverance and watched in wonder, seeing her more audacious than the last time.
But Ivione didn't show any gestures of stopping.
He didn't ignore them or overlook their sudden intrusion. They never obtained an invitation. All they did was enter without the god of wind's consent.
Ivione folded his arms and expressed composure. He showed mercy, and Kyora noticed the sudden change of heart. At least, that's how it looked to her.
He spoke serenely as if he lost the will to fight. But it was odd. His thoughts changed in an instant, which Timothy didn't appreciate.
Something about his actions became irregular, but he attended to what Ivione had to say. "Is that so? You only came here to return the stolen information?" Timothy spotted him slightly grinning as if he was misleading Kyora, tricking her into approaching him.
"Maybe I overreacted. I'll leave you alone, but I compel you to return the chip to me now. I'll let you leave once my palm comes in contact with it."
Kyora held herself back momentarily, trying to read Ivione's mind and what his intentions were. She found some hints of delusion in his eyes but chose to risk it anyway.
She cautiously neared Ivione, who moved not and lingered, waiting for her to come closer. She had sweat running down the side of her forehead.
Timothy nor Kyora trusted Ivione; they weren't dumb. Timothy braced in case Ivione launched an attack. Though, he didn't. He stood motionlessly, keeping his arms crossed on his chest.
Kyora swallowed in fear and reached out with her arm. She was only a few inches away from him. It wasn't easy for her to stand before him so casually. She moved the chip forward and set it in Ivione's palm.
"Thanks for doing business with you," Ivione claimed but broadened his mouth. Something astonished her, "However..." Before he would let her escape from his reach, Ivione discarded the chip and placed his fingers in Kyora's mouth, beginning to suffocate her by thrusting air into her lungs.
"Kyora!" with anger, his voice echoed through the citadel's aisles, and by tilting his torso forward, he extended his arms to the side and aimed his palms at the floor.
Timothy swept his arms and legs around, sliding them on the floor at a heightened speed. He carried a large mass of fire through the surroundings that circled ahead and seared past Kyora's body into Ivione, causing him to jump back and avoid getting burned.
It drove him to let go of Kyora, who crumpled to her knees, holding her neck and recovering some time to breathe.
To avoid getting burned, he directed the wind, circled it forward from his hand, and blew the corresponding flames away from him.
Kyora suffered, and Timothy watched over her to make sure she was okay. Fortunately, her lungs clung firmly and saved her from suffocation-related death.
"I ought to have known. I've seen this kind of power before. You are the one who perished and then came back to life in another soul. Your memories are gone. You found a new life to live after losing your previous one. It is indeed unexpected to be able to see you again."
Ivione could tell Timothy was serious by the strong expression he maintained. He maintained a somber expression, but then it abruptly turned around.
A question mark appeared over his head. It pushed him to touch his cheek it made him squint his eyes. He was perplexed as sweat ran down his cheek.
"What the hell are you saying? I don't recall myself being old. Perished? No memory? What does that even mean? I'm not an idiot."
Ivione was more confused than he realized by Timothy's statement. Not only was it odd that Timothy had no real understanding of what was happening, but he also came off as an idiot who did not know his own life and existence.
Ivione tried to make Timothy respond, appearing angered and disappointed with him. "Pardon me? You are 'next in line,' but you're not even aware of the abilities you possess? How is that even possible? You believe you are an exception even if all of your predecessors were aware of that same skills? I might add, an odd human."
After catching her breath, Kyora looked at her leader, who was scratching his head in confusion. "I'm doing my best to fully understand, but I honestly have no idea what any of that means." He claimed while throwing his arms about his midsection and yawning loudly.
"Before I get rid of you, I'll let you know this... Your personal abilities that you have are not precisely what you think. You must be familiar with a woman by the name of Feenix. Or at least that's the pseudonym everyone else gave her.
Ivione's speech had an odd cadence. Timothy pondered and made an effort to recall, which he eventually did. "Feenix? Yeah. I think I heard it before. But what does that have to do with me? Besides, isn't Feenix supposed to be a man?"
~ "Those flames are the same color as the long-deceased 'Keeper of Life,' Feenix Kagutsuchi; the 'Keeper' who deserted humanity. You must be his 20th-century reincarnation! But how did he manage to rise to your level? You're merely a regular human, but you have the power of a demon..."
"However, the 'Six Keepers' might pose as commoners! Why did humanity not impart its knowledge to you earlier? Could it be that you have remained concealed in your domain since birth?" ~
Those were the memories from two years ago. The time Timothy and his crew assisted Castlemania people. They were the words Muro mentioned. "Feenix... Kagutsuchi? If that's her codename and she's actually a woman, then... What in the world am I missing?"
Ivione grinned.
To be continued...