"He will begin his attack?"
"That's what he says. Yes"
In a gorgeous room that seemed as though made for royalty, two woman stood facing each other. One was wearing a white uniform similar to Len but more personalized while the other was a maid.
"Leave" The paladin woman said calmly turning back. The maid thus left without saying anything.
'Could it really be that they never faced Asghan? Was he crushed by someone else before even reaching the Unworldly? Otherwise they should have mentioned him in the mission report...or maybe it's something else? Len...Renley...Lord Kasmir agreed for their exit in exchange for completing a final mission but I am sure this would infact be there final mission...ever."
The five elders, no four. Lord Kasmir, Lady Anya, Lady Jane and Lord Olejivik. Aside from Lord Kasmir, everyone else expressed distaste at the idea of a paladin leaving. So they shouldn't have much gripes with those two dying."
----
Bilbard County, a lone cave entrance.
"Lord Kasmir is the only one who could be trusted now" Len said to Renley as he calmly sat on a rock.
"Is that so? Do you mean the Golden League is in danger due to the others?"
"Probably not...I meant it more in relation to us than the league. It's us who cannot trust them because they might be against our leave."
"It seems that is possible but I think there might be something else that's going on. A possible sabotage..."
"The whole court?"
"Yes... someone is aiming for the whole Golden League"
"Who do you suspect?" Len asked leaning back. He calmly took a sip from a bottle in his hands.
"The obvious possibility of it being an elder comes to mind but I think it's highly unlikely. The reason being that if even one falls out of line, the others will make sure they never stand again. Especially after Lord Pasarus' death.
They are likely to be high on guard. Unless of course someone Angel attacks then even all the Elders won't be able to do anything but someone of that calibre is unlikely to take stance. Also, killing the Elders internally would just mean the end of Golden League as they all are what keeps the League safe from higher threats."
"I agree"
"So the more likely option is the executioner group's head- Kan Bergstan-"
*Clap
*Clap
The two paladins immediately turned to look at the sound that came from the trees behind them. The bushes moved to reveal a bald man with a scar on his face that went across his nose and left eye. The man had sunken grey eyes and a crooked nose. His presence was undaunting and one could easily miss his aura if they didn't forus. The man had a uniform similar to the paladins but it was black instead of white and unlike the two paladins, he wasn't wearing a mask.
"Great catch! It's not really surprising that you deduced that since I made it so obvious but I'll still give you points for it" The bald man said with a smile.
"Kan..." Len spoke surprisingly calm.
"Looking at your reaction. You must have sensed the danger in the air with that pesky ability of yours, you must surely have some cards to play against me but it's too late" Kan spoke calmly taking a seat at the table.
"You speak as if you are here to kill us or something" Renley said as all the three began to laugh at his words like old friends.
"Hahaha....you are a funny man Bolluk, I'll give you that. You finished your mission didn't you? You will leave after giving the report so I just wished to give you a farewell" Kan said wiping off a the water leaking from his eyes.
Suddenly silence erupted in the cave. The three paladins turned indifferent showing no emotions as though everything they did before was a lie.
"Where is Kyber" Len said coldly with no signs of emotion in his eyes.
"You don't expect an answer do you?"
"And you don't expect us to listen to you do you? You think we will surrender if you present an hostage? I know you are too petty to be someone who keeps his words. If Kyber is in your hands than he is dead and we can do nothing about it" Len spoke calmly, his eyes betraying any emotion. Kan looked at the paladins fore sometime before smiling.
"I'll give you credit. You almost fooled me but I know you care about that boy more than you let on. Now, now now let's not get too ahead of ourselves. I am here to trade"
Shing*
A dagger left it's sheath as a pure white sword of mana clashed with the dagger. Kan looked down to the white blade a few centimetres from his neck. Only held back by the dagger.
"Negotiations are meant to be done in a healthy environment sir Begrstan" Len said coldly.
"Oh...whatever must you mean sir Karaki?"
"Throw the act. Your poison has been removed by me" Renley said standing from his seat. The wind was moving calmly yet constantly blowing away any poison spread in the air.
"Now I was just testing you my friends and you passed with flying colours. After all, I did say earlier that you sensed the danger in the air. Now, I will also be testing little Kyber with this to see if he passes. Take a seat" Kan said smiling but there was threatening undertone to it.
Renley and Len looked at each other before sitting on the rocks again.
"I will keep it simple. You can take the brat in exchange for killing Kasmir" Kan threw respect out of the wind stating his offer.
"..."
"..."
"Let me tell you this. The times are changing. The world is dangerous. Reports from spies in Febirgin state that spirits are becoming...how should I say it? Chaotic? Restless? Whatever it is but it is happening. The mana in the air is increasing and a new era is upon us." Kan said calmly.
""...""
"We need to be more dominant now. If we remain stagnant than it is only some time before the trash will swallow us. We might see more and more Demigods in the future who might oppose us. We have many criminal groups targeting us especially the rising band of the night."
""...""
"Karma the ancient bane did not target us but what if someone of that calibre comes to attack us? We'll be able to do nothing!"
""....""
"That is why! Join us! A number of paladins have agreed along with two of the elders. If things go right then we'll have another sixth order sorcerer to help us. With that, we would immediately cleanse all evil there is with the Mythical artifacts."
"Delusional" Renley simply muttered after some seconds.
"What?-" Kan frowned before his eyes widened as shrunk back.
A daunting aura pressed on everyone in the group as the bushes moved to reveal a beautiful middle-aged woman wearing a uniform similar to Renley's but golden in colour.
'Elded Anya' The paladins thought as they looked at the yellow-eyed woman.
Kan who had a flustered expression before secretly revealed a grin before glancing at Len and Renley from the corner of his eyes. Although they were wearing masks, Kan could see the nervousness in their eyes.
'So you knew? Elder Anya is one of the elders who agreed to our cause. What else did you know? It's good that you will be disposed off" Kan thought as he bowed to the woman.
"Kan Bergstan greets Lady Anya"
"Renley Bolluk greets the Lady Anya"
"Len Karaki greets Elder Anya"
The woman nodded before emotionlessly looking at Len and Renley.
"For betraying the Golden League. I shall execute you two. Former paladins Renley Bolluk and Len Karaki." Lady Anya said before pulling out a short blade. The blade would have been pristine if not for the blood on it.
"I have already executed the one you brought...Kyber was it?" She said calmly as Renley and Len's eyes constricted to a pin point.
"W-What are you talking about Lady?"
Renley asked shakily. Anya ignored them and looked at Kan.
"Go on Kan Bergstan. Good work keeping the traitors occupied."
"Thank you very much for you praise" Kan said smiling before moving away from the place. After reaching a certain distance, Kan put his left palm on his scarred eye.
A black bird that was flying above continued its flight in a circle which just happened to be above the cave. The bird looked down as it saw Len and Renley run inside the cave while Elder Anya clenched the blade in her hands as it lit on fire. She followed soon in the cave and after some time, a blaze of fire erupted from the cave after which it collapsed. Before the rubble fell however, Elder Anya walked outside with bloodied hands. The rubble behind her burning in an orange blaze.
Kan removed his palm and opened his mouth as he exhaled. Looking back once, he dashed forward.
"It was so easy for her...Sixth order sorcerery...truly something else"
-----
The news about Renley and Len's 'betrayal' was kept from the Golden Order to protect the dignity of the court and the two were announced to have been felled in duty. The protege that they had brought had unfortunately been caught in their acts dying alongside them. They supposedly died due to a fire element beast detonating it's core burning the two as the cave collapsed on them. No remains were found of them aside from crushed mask pieces.
The story had infact been turned into something like 'they died only because they were protecting the child otherwise they would have succeeded' to turn it into an inspiring story that kept the dignity of paladins and their strength.
Those who knew about the fact that they had been executed but didn't know the truth behind it thought nothing of their deaths thinking that the traitors deserved it, but it was later found that the paladins hadn't betrayed the League and it saddened them to no end. A fifth elder was then appointed as a replacement for Lord Pasarus.
--------
In the East Elven Ocean, a ship left it's dock sailing in the calm blue ocean towards it's destination.
"So you are telling me that Lady Anya helped you in faking your deaths?"
"Yep!" Kyber replied to Diana grinning.
"I have...no words"
"Don't think too much about it. The elders aren't so stupid to try and kill each other. They must have their own plans about everything." Renley said smiling. They had been acting in front of Kan, infact they had been acting even when he didn't reveal himself.
Kan had assumed that Len didn't know of his arrival because any warning from fate would be attributed to the mission's danger and he would have been right if only Elder Anya who was playing double agent had already warned the two about his arrival which prompted them to act. By saying that they could only trust Kasmir, it made the idea that Anya was on their side much more solid in Kan's subconscious.
"Now that they believe we are dead, we likely won't be persued"
"What happens if you somehow get caught?" Diana asked
"It is a rule to maintain absolute secrecy about the paladins so unless another paladin or elder sees us, we are unlikely to be paid attention to. Even if we are to say, get 'caught'. Our names will be cleared by then and the situation would cool down since we already took the vows not to spread any of the secret information."
"Whatever you told me doesn't count as 'secret' information?"
"The secret information is more related to the inner workings and the contained artifacts than it is about the Elder's stance. Also, we cannot spread bad word about the elders or paladins and must not partake willingly in any organisation or event that can harm the League." Renley answered smiling
"Honestly, I have mixed feelings...I guess I thought the elders would be more unreasonable or evil? Power hungry? I don't know"
"Hahaha... I understand what you think but the Golden League wouldn't be what it is if the Elders didn't have integrity and kindness as they have. It is one of the biggest organisations not because of fear but due to the trust people have in their integrity."
"So what now?" Kyber asked looking at him.
"I guess we'll that once we reach Decericorn but I have an idea..."
"..."
"There is an orphanage that I know of there. I think I will work there..."
"Hmm..."