After the toast, everything else went by in a blur. The Grand Elder had told Laila and Isaac that a banquet will be held in the Great Hall back at the lodge. Laila and Isaac were promised an extravagant buffet. Lines of succulent, freshly hunted meat prepared with the best recipes from South Osmen. The juiciest and crunchiest fruits and vegetables harvested and plucked from the farmers blessed with a green thumb. A slew of dishes that are only found and crafted in South Osmen, and the tastiest drinks that have been brewed and refined to suit everyone's tastes. That is what the Grand Elder had whispered into their ears as they walked back to Frigiod with the group of Apithiens. The Grand Elder's honeyed promises had both siblings hungering for more, their mouths salivating and stomachs growling in anticipation. It took them around thirty minutes to reach Frigiod and a few minutes to reach the lobby.
"Even though I'm getting used to the cold, nothing hits better than entering a warm place like this…" Laila mumbled, wiping away snow off her shoulders and curly hair.
"Yep," Isaac agreed, fiddling with his suit.
With the Grand Elder at the head, the group of people moved like a conga line towards the wide doors in front of the star-shaped carpet. She pushed open the wooden doors, which released a loud creak, and inside was the vast Great Hall. The rectangular room was as large as an auditorium, and just as grand as one too. The Great Hall was a sight to behold, with its gleaming floors covered by a luxurious red carpet and many tables arranged throughout. On the tables, the air was filled with the scents of steaming piles of meat, fish, and salad, and the golden bread and desserts like pie, cobblers, and cakes, plus more dishes that Laila didn't recognize. One plate had a strange gray slush that almost resembled jello, while the other was filled with a stuffed animal oozing red liquid. There were also an abundance of drinks: water, wine, and juice for the little ones.
On the walls of the Great Hall, banners with intricate designs were hung, and paintings of various landscapes adorned the walls, similar to those in the meeting area. Laila recognized one of them as Charitan, as it was hard to mistake that jutting chin of his. This time he had one foot firmly planted on the head of a monster that resembled a grizzly bear, except it had tusks as long as Laila herself. Up above, the strong wooden beams of the Great Hall held up the sloping ceiling and let in the outside light through the clear windows. Two spiral staircases flanked the area, leading to a second floor with a railing providing a full view of the area below. Laila was overwhelmed by the scent that drifted through the room- a combination of spices, charcoal and a sweet, fragrant aroma that nearly made her knees weak. She had eaten nothing for hours, and this intoxicating scent was driving her feral.
Laila smacked her cheeks to get a hold of herself. Around her, tons of Apithiens made their way inside the venue and crowded around the tables, already digging in. Many laughed and clinked glasses with one another as more Apithiens busted through a door on the left. They wore chef outfits and little hats as they carried trays to their respective positions. After that, they would return to where they came from, which was probably the kitchen.
"This place sure is lively already, right Isaa-"
Laila stopped herself as she noticed her brother wasn't by her side. She spotted the boy, and his mouth was smeared with food as he enjoyed every bite. Wanting to leave her brother to his own, Laila walked to the nearest table and grabbed herself a plate. She wasn't fond of anything green, so she filled her plate with juicy, grilled red meat skewered on a stick, a crusty loaf of bread, and that jiggly, fruity gelatin from earlier. A good whiff from her meal had her tongue sticking out from her mouth. Just as she was about to devour her food, someone tapped her on the shoulder.
"What is it now…" she grumbled, turning her body.
"Hello there." The Grand Elder happily waved. Strapped to her side was Isaac, who was too busy chowing down like a starved beast.
"Oh, Grand Elder! Ahem…" Laila straightened her body. She had hoped the Grand Elder hadn't heard her mumbling. "Did you need something?"
"I wanted to discuss an important topic with the both of you… Alone." The Grand Elder glanced at the two siblings. For whatever reason, the woman seemed a little restless.
Oh, this can't be good… Laila wondered.
"I'll go into detail the sooner we leave. If you'll excuse me…"
With a gentle touch, the Grand Elder transported Laila and Isaac to a familiar room with a loud crackling sound. It was the one where the three of them had spent hours talking when the Grand Elder asked about Solgen and Volken. The three of them sat in the same places they had before- Isaac in his rocking chair, Laila in the armchair, and the Grand Elder sitting near the fireplace. Still with a plate of food in their hands, the siblings quietly ate, waiting for the Grand Elder to speak.
The Grand Elder cleared her throat. "I'll cut straight to the chase. What are your plans after today?"
The question had Laila stop chewing her food for a moment.
"Uh… plans? Can you be a little more specific?" Laila cautiously asked.
"Don't get me wrong. You are more than welcome to stay here for as long as you want! This could even be your new home if you'd like it to be. I just wanted to know if you'll return to the Ashia continent?"
"The Ashia continent…"
Laila thought about it for a moment. Returning to the Ashia continent right now wasn't a wise choice since Luna or the other Pillars could still be looking for them. If they were to leave now and waltz back to Port Silis, that would make their friend's sacrifice meaningless. The best course of action would be to lie low for a while and train. Attaining information about Cardinal Nicholas and the Pillars during their time here would also be beneficial too…
Solgen's last words replayed in Laila's mind. For a person as headstrong and valiant as Solgen, her assuming a gut-wrenching tone and addressing Laila without even locking eyes… A person who would rather die than give up, let alone even think of surrendering…
"…Strength." Laila muttered.
The Grand Elder tilted her head. "Hm? Strength?"
"Isaac and I want to gain enough strength where not even the Pillars could defeat us. A strength unmatched…" Laila set aside her plate on a vacant table and stood up. Isaac, who was munching on a meat leg, watched with curiosity.
While speaking, Laila sauntered over to the Grand Elder. "Watching our master and friends die in front of us is something we never want to experience again. It made us feel like the little kids we were when we witnessed the death of our parents… Helpless and ignorant…"
Laila stopped right in front of the woman and kneeled, head hung.
"Like our master Solgen had done, would you please help us with our training? We have nothing to give you, like money or resources. All we can offer is our unwavering determination…"
Laila motioned for Isaac to follow along. Isaac finished the last scraps from his plate and placed the empty tray on a nearby table. He then hurried over and kneeled while wiping his mouth.
"Like my sister said. We would appreciate it greatly if you were to help us on our quest to become stronger. No matter how difficult or intense it would be, we will get it done," he said confidently.
The Grand Elder was silent, her slender fingers drumming against a chair as her gaze studied Laila and Isaac.
"Sure. Why not? I won't be too busy for a while anyway," she announced.
Laila and Isaac whipped their heads upwards, smiling. "Really?"
"Of course. Why would I lie to you both?" She chuckled. "Coincidentally, I was going to bring that topic up first as we chatted here, but you beat me to the punch! I had this in mind when I first heard you were pupils of Solgen."
"That's great!" Laila beamed, rising from the ground. Just as Laila was about to express her thanks, the Grand Elder held up a hand.
"I would like to say something first." The woman turned serious. "I'll ask you a simple question. Whatever answer you give me will determine how things play out from now on. You understand?"
Laila and Isaac glanced at each other.
"Uh… okay. We understand," said Isaac. The Grand Elder nodded.
"Since the Pillars and Cardinal Nicholas are responsible for the death of my children… If I were to enact my revenge, would you follow? No matter the outcome?"
When Laila peered into her eyes, she saw a seething anger that seemed ready to boil over. The Grand Elder was dead set on killing the Pillars and Cardinal Nicholas if or when they meet.
"Yes." Laila and Isaac answered immediately. There was no need to think it over. The pair were already committed to stopping the Pillars and Cardinal Nicholas from causing further damage. They are mass murderers that had no regard for any life other than theirs. If left to themselves, they will continue to be a pain in the ass for everyone. If Laila and Isaac ran away while knowing full well of this… Then…
Solgen's words echoed in Laila's mind. "Please. Live on, and fight for what you believe in. Do not get discouraged by the events that occurred here."
For what I believe in… Yea. This is the right choice.
"Wonderful!" The Grand Elder clapped. "I will send Incognito from North and South Osmen all around the world to gather up intel about our enemies."
Isaac scratched his head and said, "Uh, Incognito? Sounds like a group of spies."
"That's precisely what they are! They are a special group of individuals that excels in espionage and war tactics. Handpicked by yours truly. This group was founded by the second leader after a little skirmish on Apithien soil waaaay back! You'll learn about Apithien history during your time here, so don't sweat the details…"
The Grand Elder added in that last bit as she watched Laila and Isaac look at her dumbfounded.
"Anyhow…" She sat back down in her chair. "We'll have another meeting with the Elders tomorrow at sunrise to discuss the details further. You two will be joining, of course."
"No problems here." Isaac grinned.
"We'll do everything in our power to stop the Pillars and their lackeys," said the Grand Elder. "We Apithiens will no longer be neutral as this can be deemed a serious threat to our livelihood."
The Grand Elder twirled her head to face Laila. "They will not get away with this. I swear it on my life."
****
I've been in this last challenge for what felt like eons. Time itself moved at a snail's pace as I watched past Laila and my brother interact with the Apithiens. It hasn't even been that long since I spoke with the Grand Elder, as it's been two days at most. Now, it feels like we haven't talked in years. My sense of time in this weird space had been distorted. Since I'm a ghost experiencing their past, no one could notice me. This is basically watching a movie in third-person. What's weird about this challenge is that this is supposed to test my will. I expected to go into emotional and mental turmoil during my time here, but it wasn't as serious as I thought. Did I severely overestimate the last challenge?
"Your mind has already been steeled, challenger," a soothing voice spoke up. It was a voice that belonged to the Demonic Dojo master. I glanced around to see where the voice had come from.
"You have already come to terms with the loss of your friends and family…" the voice continued. It was coming from the Grand Elder herself! Her once-bright eyes had been replaced by dull, vacant ones, like those of a zombie. Laila from the past and Isaac's bodies were rigid and unmoving. They have been frozen. The crackling fires of the chimney had paused- no smoke or ash was being released. The Grand Elder was moving just fine as she stood up abruptly and trudged over to me...
The ghost me, that is.
"The final challenge has been completed…" The Grand Elder dully said, stopping herself just in front of me. She placed her stiff hands on my face as she whispered,
"Return."
The moment she spoke, my senses were overwhelmed and I felt myself falling into darkness.