Adrian wore a blank expression as he gazed on, listening to his minions while they related the situation to him. Some of his minions, rather those who had somehow escaped the retaliation of the "Earth Protectors", returned to give their reports on the failed mission. As Adrian watched, their purpose had undoubtedly deflated and this was never the way to fulfill their quest. The eyes of his minions had lost the sparkle that had once shone with ambition and determination.
This all happened as a result of the methods of attacks devised by the "PrE". His members grieved as they had lost some of their friends and companions. Though a great number of them were still at large, Adrian was furious at the loss of some of his members. They didn't deserve to die as they were only obeying his orders.
Well… he thought, nothing of this sort was ever happening again. He knew just what to do, to get back at the so-called "Earth Protectors". This time henceforth, they would lose their members much more than he had lost. This was his resolution. When his members had finally recounted the sad ordeal, he spoke up,
"Members of this entity, despair not, do not give room for this circumstance to weigh you down. I promise to make the "Earth Protectors" regret ever interfering in our mission. I know you have lost your loved ones, companions and colleagues. But, bear in mind that this is just the gateway to our endless conquests. I assure you, the world is ours to do as we want. I have a plan marked. Like I said earlier, we are always one step ahead of them. Besides, what method did the "PrE" devise? How were they able to outnumber you?"
At Adrian's question, the head of his subordinates, the one who had held the now dead chairman of the entomologists Mr James by the throat, spoke up.
"Master, I observed that they pointed a finger at some of us who were staging attacks and something like a shield concealed them. Hence a light burnt up our members when they tried striking the shield." Adrian was least expecting that.
"A finger? It's now apparent that there is also a ring involved. I was of the opinion that only their leaders had some necklaces and swords used in warding off attacks ."
Adrian had supposed that only the head nurse and her daughter had the necklace and swords, which they would use in protecting the others. He had assumed that if other "PrE" members had any weapons for defense, they would be few.
"Master, everyone of them had the ring and swords, though I didn't detect any necklace. If there was actually a necklace, it must have eluded my notice."
Adrian scanned the lot of them making sure to paste a glimmer of hope on his features.
"Its all good. They should bask in their win while they still have the chance, we shall take it up from here. I will make sure they get really acquainted with what losing is all about. Meanwhile, keep your fingers crossed as you will soon be hearing from me."
They all prostrated and departed each, to their various realms.
Adrian was left alone, his thoughts running with a mixture of ire and contestation. Why didn't his member who was with Eucharia divert her attention?? And … he'd promised his members that he had a plan, on the contrary, he was clueless about defeating their adversaries. What was he to do??
******************
Adrian reported the sad ordeal to his mum, Anesthesia. She wasn't always with him, but swung by every now and then. As her son shared the devastating news, the woman was bothered by the fate of her son's aspirations and purpose. This wasn't what the old man, the one who had given her Adrian, had said. He had said that her seed would take the world completely … and now? Considering her son's narrative, it was contrary to what the man had said. What would become of Adrian? And he wasn't yet turned into his true form, which was to occur tomorrow, with the help of the head nurse's daughter.
To worsen the situation, she, her son and the members of the entity wouldn't just wait for the intimacy ceremony before they acted. Truth be told, they would have waited. But only Adrian would evolve and to worsen the situation, he would be mandated to protect everyone else unaided. Her son couldn't do it all alone. There had to be some way to resolve all the issues encountered, as the "Earth Protectors" could take advantage of their vulnerability and finished them all off with only Adrian to fight the lot of them. That was never happening .
Anesthesia thought about the old man. She had last spoken to him when Adrian was 13 years old. There wasn't an ounce of change in the man's appearance. He looked the same way as against when she had been conceived of Adrian. Not looking a day older, she had asked him, for assistance, in turning Theophilus the seer and Magnus his son against each other, and it had indeed been successful. Right now, she needed his help.
"Mother … are you still with me?"
"Oh sorry, I'm with you. Just thought about the man who helped conceive you."
"That's the very man we need at this moment of crisis. He helped me tell convincing stories about Magnus to Theophilus his father, and it somehow set off the bond they both shared. So … yes he's the ideal person. But, how were you able to contact the old man?"
"That time, I felt uneasy and he appeared before me to help. I didn't call on him, it just happened. Moreover, there wouldn't have been a way to call him as he didn't tell me how to summon him, just went all sporadic on me."
"That means, he's always watching over you. He shows up whenever you're in need of help.". Adrian scanned the hall as he spoke, perhaps checking to see if the object of their discourse would emerge. "We will be sure to meet him soon."
"I really need him now, he alone can help us through this precarious situation. I just …"
Adrian's expression halted her next words, he appeared to stare off at the other direction in the hall. Cocking her head towards the same direction, she was stunned at the image staring right at her. Boom! it was the old man.
Anesthesia couldn't conjure up a word, as speech had suddenly failed her. She gazed at the old man, who approached steadily, too steady for a man his age. Adrian turned to his mum and held her hand, the gesture seemed to ease Anesthesia's apprehension. Mother and son lingered on the man's approach. Their answer was finally here!
*******†********
"I heard your groans of distress in my sphere and … I know. Anesthesia, I am fully aware of it all. You lost to your opponents; the 'Earth Protectors', which isn't surprising as their defense is much stronger than yours. But, there's a way to get back at these opponents." The man looked at them intently as Adrian and Anesthesia stood on close attention, he continued,
"Before Theophilus the seer died, he had some grudges against the 'PrE'. The reason being that, his son Magnus was acting up as against his own directions and principles. Magnus at that time, got into a series of unfortunate fights, where his opponents where completely burned up, beyond recognition. Hence, Theophilus placed the blame on the 'Earth Protectors'."
At this point, the old man stopped talking as he noticed that Anesthesia wasn't exactly feeling snug. She shifted from one foot to the other, her spirits totally agitated. He understood, she was scared for her only child.
"Why don't we move over to that seat? It would be much more settling to sit than standing," he said, pointing to some sets of chairs at the right corner of the hall.
The three of them moved to sit as he had said, and yes … it was much better.
"Why did Theophilus blame the 'PrE'? Adrian asked.
"Magus' opponents in fights were burned up with the help of the crown necklace he wore. Theophilus supposed that the 'PrE' was mandated to teach their members on how to properly use the defense ornaments. Nonetheless, they didn't. If anything, they encouraged his son, saying that it would help build him up into fighting far greater adversaries in the future. He tried talking some sense into his son but, the boy ran away from home to one of Theophilus' friends."
"It took a while for Theophilus to find Magus. When he eventually found his son with his friend, he resolved to act. Theophilus devised a way to render the necklace of his son powerless towards him. He reasoned that if he somehow got into a fight with his son … not that the seer was looking forward to a fight, not at all. But what if things took a different turn and he suddenly found himself at his son's mercy, how was he ever saving himself?"
Adrian nodded, Theophilus had every right to. Meanwhile, this was all turning in his favour. Before he could think of the reports he had given to Theophilus about his son Magus, the old man continued,
"He thought for a long time … and came up with an option. Theophilus sent a word to his friend, the one who was harbouring his son Magnus. Informing him of the dangers associated with the necklace his teenage son always wore. He finally asked his friend to get hold of the ornament whenever Magus left without it and send the necklace to him … not forgetting to add a little sample of his own blood. He needed to make some rituals with their bloods and the ornaments." At Adrian's and Anesthesia's nod, the man moved to summarize his narrative.
"When the seer got the ornament and his friend's blood sample, making a little cut in his hand, he sprinkled some of his blood on the necklace together with his friend's. Saying some words of protection and mind you, these words can only be seen in the 'PrE' book, he burnt the necklace with the two blood samples in it. And … one interesting thing about this necklace is; it does not ever change in appearance at any rate of damage effected. Hence, with the necklace looking untouched, intact, exactly the same, Theophilus forwarded it back to his friend before Magus would detect it's loss. And that was how Theophilus and his friend got immunity from Magnus' ornament."
Both Adrian and his mother's expressions were filled with relief and gratitude. The old man always had positive answers to any inconveniences and dreadful circumstances. But on second thoughts, a question nagged at Adrian and he made it known.
"Thank you for restoring our purpose. My mother, my members and I are immensely appreciative to you. But … something just came to mind, something about this rings and necklaces. You just said Theophilus was immune to his son's necklace because, he did some rituals with that necklace. Now, I can't help but ponder how we are to get immunity to these rings. Are we to get all the rings and necklaces from each 'Earth Protector' in order to be immune to their attacks?"
The old man smiled, shaking his head. Adrian's query was an enlightening one.
"No, you don't have to. If you can get their leader's necklace I mean … not Eucharia the head nurse, but their ever first leader, Vera." Just as the old man mentioned the name, a weird look passed over his features, but quickly disappeared before Adrian could give any meaning to it. The man was still talking.
"Although the rings, swords and necklaces were forged from her blood, there was a peculiar one she always donned which I believe she passed down to the other subsequent leaders after her. That is the very necklace you must get, as it controls all the 'PrE' in the world."
Adrian's expression became at ease and a smile danced it's way on his lips. He tilted his head to his mum and they shared a loving smile. The old man had put an end to their issues. Getting the necklace and the book of protection from the 'Earth Protectors' wasn't an unyielding task. His member would always see to it.
"And please … I have a name. Emery. It's really disturbing to hear you refer to me as 'old man', it really is." At his listener's stupefied expression, he smirked. "Anesthesia, have you forgotten I read minds? I'm sure you haven't. It's true I'm old … but I don't always have to be reminded of my age. Well … that being said, I shall head back. But do not hesitate to call on me when you have the items ready."
"Like, how do we call on you? I mean … we have your name but how can we reach out to you?"
"Just the way you earlier did, I came didn't I? Like I said … I read your thoughts."
At Adrian and his mum's nod, the man moved to leave as something or rather a flash, tugged at Adrian's mind. It was the old man's … oh Emery's expression when he mentioned the name 'Vera'. Since he was intently watching the older man, could detect the weird look . Why was that?
Before Emery could as much as take a step or maybe vanish, Adrian asked,
"You seem to know so much about this Vera of a woman. I am quite aware that being the pioneer of the 'Earth Protectors', she must have been ages long gone before you and us. Hence my ponder at the fact that you spoke about her like you two were on an entirely different personal level. Correct me if I'm mistaken though."
The man stared at Adrian for what seemed like an eternity. He didn't even blink! The younger man's nerve-ends prickled at the way the older man assessed him. He couldn't help but think about where had he overstepped his boundaries. Emery eventually spoke up.
"She was my most cherished student. I brought her up under my principles and beliefs, yet she ventured off contrary to everything I had thought her. Oh do not look at me like that and yes … I have been on this Earth for centuries. Meanwhile, Vera was to aid me in bringing down this Earth, but she failed and turned against me. She and her best friend, Margret who was also her adviser. They were both my students."
After these words, Emery whisked off into thin air, leaving behind a stunned Adrian and Anesthesia.