Kojo walked through the doors of the Silver Palace sighing. There were quite a number of people there.He noticed Lin waving at him from the table and walked over.
Felix, his usually cheerful had a dark expression, a stark contrast to his usual friendly demeanor, his face was etched with coldness, his eyes distant. He scratched the side of his neck.
"You alright?" Sharone Kojo asked noticing his tired expression.
"Yeah, I'm fine." he responded with a yawn as he sat down next to her.
"I was held up by some... weirdo."
" Weirdo?" Adriana repeated.
" Nah it's nothing."
Felix walked over carrying a tray.
"Yo, sup Felix? Been doing alright?" Kojo asked. Felix nodded without answering and began to pour him a cup of tea.Koniko noticed unusual marks on his neck over a strange, almost otherworldly symbol etched into his skin.
"Here's your tea, Kojo," Felix's voice was devoid of emotion as he handed him the cup.
" Thanks" Kojo said taking a sip of the tea. Felix stood by the table and watched him drink the tea.
" So what were you doing with Lloyd?" Sharone asked.
Kojo cleared his throat.
" Oh nothing,just drawing up the blueprint for the train."
" Train? Oh,that contraption that runs on that black goo you found." Sasha said with disinterest rather shifting her chair closer to Kojo's.
" It's not black goo,it's a valuable natural resource." Kojo said scratching his throat.
" The only problem is that the fumes that come from burning the fuel,which I want to avoid."
" Then stop using it if it's going to cause problems. I'm sure you can modify your plans right?" Adriana asked.
" Yeah I can. I can even draw out plans to run this city on solar power."
" Solar power?" Lin asked.
" It's drawing on the power of the sun to power our machines." Kojo began pulling at the neck of his tank top.
" What kind of magic is that." Sharone said.
" I didn't think that was possible. I've heard of drawing the inherent power within Mystium crystals and the usage of coal but using the power of the sun is just amazing. Your the only one I know of who could think of this." She turned to Kojo who had lowered his head and smiled at him. Koniko noticed Felix still hanging around.
"I didn't want to do this," Felix muttered, his voice barely audible.
Lin, puzzled, asked, "Huh? What are you talking about?"
Before anyone could react, Kojo clutched his throat, his face contorting in pain. He fell back, clawing at his chest, saliva foaming at his mouth. The other people in the room turned to look at the commotion coming from Thier table.
" Kojo" Sharone yelled,quickly kneeling beside him.
In a sudden, terrifying turn of events, Felix lunged at Lin pulling her out of thr chair, a knife at her throat . The others stood up in alarm. Theo other people in the room tried to help.
" Stay where you are or I'ma kill this bitch." Felix yelled .
" What do you think you're doing?" Sharone asked,her anger fkaring.
"I honestly thought you people were a group of entitled snobs." he said, his voice cold. "But you turned out to be kind people. It was naive if you to just wholeheartedly accept a stranger but I am grateful for that kindness. But in order save my sisters, I must kill Kojo."
"What are you talking about?" Sasha demanded taking a step forward.
Felix, his voice filled with rage, shouted, "Shut up, you slut! Take one step closer and I'll split her throat." He said pressing the knife on Lins neck,and drawing some blood.
" Lets not be rash. Let's talk about it . Felix, talk to use. We're your friends,we can help you " Adriana tried to intervene, but Felix struck her down with a backhand. Sasha caught her.
" You alright ?" She asked.
" I'm fine" Adriana said smiling weakly.
Koniko's anger began to boil. Her aura flared as her pupils narrowing to slits, her yellow irises glowing ominously.
"Oh,so you this is how you look when you're angry? Gotta say it's not a bad look" Felix smirked.
"My family was slaughtered by elven slave raiders. I was bought by Marconni due to my ability to hide my presence completely and used as a hitman." He laughed.
" Why didn't I tell you you ask?You're no better than the elves you associate with or the elders of Granoa for that matter. You ran away from your homeland, selfishly abandoning your people. What's the difference between you and them?"
Koniko was speechless. She could see that Felix meant every word but sensed something else within him. Was that..... reluctance.
Before she could respond, a powerful, menacing aura enveloped the room, freezing everyone in place.
Kojo rose to his feet,his eyes cold.
Felix, paralyzed by Fear, watched helplessly as Kojo walked toward him took the dagger from his hand pulling Lin aside. Felix managed to regain some will to move and reached for the dagger strapped to the back of his waist.With a swift backhand, Kojo sent Felix flying across the room. People ducked to get out of the way.
"Did you think I was stupid enough to hire a random guy?" Kojo sneered, an ice spike materialized in his hand.
"No matter how hard you tried you weren't able to hide your killing intent at least you let a bit if it slip when you grabbed the knife while I downloaded culinary skills into your mind. Thanks to you now I have a name.Marconni. Now I have evidence to go against that bastard."
Just then, Finn and Fiona, who had been delivered to the restaurant among the supplies, leaped out, shielding their brother. "Finn? Fiona?What are you doing here?" Felix asked, his voice weak.
"We escaped to be with you big brother." Finn replied looking back at him.
"Hey you,red eyes. Our brother tried to kill you but we're here now. He has no reason to kill you anymore. Give him another chance."
"No," Kojo said, his voice cold,a second spike materializing in his other hand.
"Wait! If you must take a life, take ours instead. Spare our brother." Fiona pleaded.
"No!" Felix yelled trying to get to his feet but a sharp pain brought him to his knees. Kojo's blow had dislocated his left arm.
" No please,dont-"
Without hesitation, Kojo drive the spikes into Finn and Fiona just below the their collar bones. Felix's world shattered as he witnessed the horrific scene. The two bodies dropped to the ground.
Felix's body sagged, his eyes filled with tears.
"This is my fate for being a terrible person." He muttered. Kojo stood above him,his crimson iris' glowing. With a quick motion he waved his hand,slashing his neck.
At Marconni's estate, the slave scroll burst into flames, a sign that Felix had met his end.
"So, the boy's dead," Marconni chuckled. "Hopefully, he finished his task before kicking the bucket. My only problem is those little girls... They would have sold for so much....Well, as they say, the only good slave is a dead one." He laughed kicking his table over and spilling the ashes.
Felix's eyes fluttered open,
Felix blinked, disoriented. He looked around, his gaze landing on Fiona. His head was on her lap and she ran her hand through his hair,tears of joy in her eyes.
"Well, I think that worked," she said, a wry smile playing on her lips.
(You could have finished it quickly, instead of being so dramatic.)
Kojo chuckled. (I wanted to make it fun.)
"What happened?" Felix sat up and asked still confused.
Kojo walked over and held his left shoulder and popped it back into its socket.
"I sensed that you were under someone's Fealty and were was being controlled. I had a hunch that that person was behind the recent kidnapping happening in the Province."
( I sensed it. Otherwise, you were just as clueless as ever.)
Kojo ignored her, continuing.
"I had to play along in order to find out who was responsible. I suspected Marconni but I needed to be sure"
"I broke your seals of slavery." Kojo said walking over to the others and stiing down,crossing one leg over the other and taking a sip of the tea.
"I view slavery as unnatural"
( It's a sub-aspect of Fealty, allowing for the exchange of control over the serving party through transaction.)
Kojo paused, his expression turning serious. " I can ignore the fact that you tried to kill me. But I can't overlook you dragging my friends into this"
Koniko stepped forward, her voice firm. "I'll take full responsibility over them from now on"
Kojo stared at her.
"If anything like that happens again, it'll be on your head. Are you ready for that?"
Koniko hesitated, then nodded resolutely.
"I have a duty to my people."
Kojo smiled. "Good. I trust you. I saw your killing intent when you thought I was hurt."
Koniko blushed, stammering, "It's not like that!"
" Lady Koniko" Felix said bowing . "I'm grateful for what you've done. I pledge to dedicate my life to your purpose."
His sisters followed suit, their eyes filled with newfound determination.
" As do we."
A Fealty was formed between them and Koniko.
Koniko turned to Kojo, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you," she said softly.
Just then, Eden burst into the room. Everyone turned to look at him.He paused at the door,considering the atmosphere in the room before speaking up.
"The Iron Fortress is under attack!"