Grada and San'Halo have made their way over to Soton Kingdom to speak to the King, Heroes Guild, and the Forest Celestials in order to find out who it was that sent BlackBlood. First stop was the Soto Castle...
Soto Castle was built of tall bronze walls and sculpted mausoleums in honor of the kings of the past made of onyx granite. But the kingdom was missing the luster it once had. The only savior that bustled no matter the temper of the people was that it was surrounded by a beautiful forest which was where Grada and his clan resided before the war...
Grada was escorted in by a crew of three guards wearing dark gray plate armor and spears glistening silver and bronze... They escorted San'Halo and Grada to the Throne room.
The room had an open roof and the sun of the abyss was gleaming down upon the throne as if it was the beacon of the old ones before. The throne itself was a shade of blue and bronze which were the royal colors of King Thoran. It had a massive back with bronze carvings throughout.
Out of the beam of light laid a silhouette of a figure becoming more and more visible as the pair walked closer. Grada and San looked at each other and kept onward toward the light... A cold rush came over the body of San'Halo. He started sweating and asked Grada...
(San'Halo) Grada what's this pressure I feel?? Who holds this kind of power and how can it be coming from this throne room...
(Grada) Who do you think?
The pair was about 10 steps away when the pressure suddenly went flat and dissipated. Out of the shadow of the light the figure leaned up then stood up. Surprisingly tall, he stood there with extreme hulking shoulders and upper body. He was every bit as wide as the throne but a fanatical build...
Upon his head was a bronze crown with blue gems lining the outside, within the crown was a dark blue satin comfortably wrapping around his head. His robe was not the typical long dragging cape, it was flying and floating instead, as if always blowing in the wind. His ragged, torn, and ripped cape was a sign this man was formed in battle...
He said nothing to them, but his piercing gaze was felt by both. San felt uneasy a bit, but Grada had dealings with the Cyclo people before...
(Grada) King Thoran. It's been a while. First let me congra...
(King Thoran) I don't need my ass kissed Grada. Shut the hell up. Now what is it you want?
Grada stood down but did not show any emotions toward the king at all. He humbly knelt and bowed his head before the king...
(Grada) I did you a favor and here I am bowing to you. I would love to know if there are any related Tieflings from the War who would stand up to us.
(King Thoran) Before you say anything else STAND UP! This show you're putting on is pathetic...
Grada gets back to his feet, dusting himself.
(Grada) A Hornhead came to my Oasis and spoke of Surango. Do you know anyone who would come after us?
(King Thoran) No. None. You killed them all. What's amazing is that they were a Clan of Bloodmancers and you exterminated them, with the help of the Heroes Guild. You and your orang(derogatory term for hero) get out of here...
(San'Halo) I'm not as forgiving as Grada, and I won't be disrespected again.
(King Thoran) Is that so?? -The king steps back two steps...
-Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat... In a furious rush Grada and San'Halo were surrounded by Fifty Soldiers, all donning plated armor, cherry leathered lightweight armor, and brandishing Golden plated Cleavers with anti-magic arm shields...
(Grada) You went there with me? King I came here for help and this is how you repay an old accomplice? You pull out the Dredge of Soto. These men, San, are his personal renegades. Each led an army into battle before and rose to the highest of ranks, but the thing that separates them from the normal soldier is they each can clear a town single-handedly in as short as a week..
(King Thoran) You came here groveling and on your knees. What slither of respect I had for you is gone now.
Your time here has come to an end in Soto Kingdom... One day maybe we can speak more when you're not in the company of unfavorable people...
Grada tapped on the shoulder of San'Halo and was escorted out of the kingdom... They headed to the east toward the Heroes Guild...
Back at the Oasis, the Circle was left under the charge of a Salty experienced Hero. Who went by the name of Rigor and he was the proprietor of Fiend the Hyena. He had worked in the mercenary division of the Heroes Guild, and he was known for his defensive tactics on the battlefield. He trained his Hyena in those very same tactics...
Rigor had the circle start calling in their crews for reinforcements. It seems the entire Circle is working at a frantic pace to defend against whatever is coming...
(Rigor) Aye boy come here I need 10 of you to be runners, go to the Creature cage and bring them to the post and bring Fiend here to me. I'm starting to get a gut wrenching feeling that something major is coming...
San'Halo and Grada had reached the Jewel Kingdom which was the home of the Heroes Guild. The place was massive and lively... Filled with training grounds and structures to hold the inhabitants...
San would lead Grada to the Hero Vault to meet with the Director. A rose petal fell into Grada's hand. It dissolved right before his eyes and with it came a message...
"Grada teleport back here soon as you're done. A structure has just made it here, how do you want us to proceed"...
(San) A structure of what kind Rigor??
(Rigor) It's not a ship but a building, and there are no windows. It's not symmetrical at all. It's like many small boxes are connected with bigger ones...
Grada eyes widened in disbelief...
(San) Do you know who it is Grada??
(BlackBlood) Thank you Aet for getting me back to the Oasis...
To be continued...
Next chapter 21...
~Blood Oasis~