Kojo observed the girl on the bed Infront of him. He sat beside Adriana who was using healing magic to tend to her wounds , her hands gently cradling the girl's head.
He had brought the girl to his house along with Adriana Keo and Mekna. The meeting was paused but he needed to see it this before heading back. He now that he was up close he could see the girls delicate features.
Her light blue hair that cascaded down her back , was matted with sweat and dust. Her clothes, once pristine white, were now tattered and stained, the hems of her skirt frayed and torn. Barefoot, her feet were bruised and bleeding, a testament to the arduous journey she had endured.
( She likely misplaced her funds or was swindled. At some point, she probably sold her footwear.)
Kojo grunted, his eyes drifting to the necklace hanging around her neck. It was an intricate piece, a gold cross with three horizontal bars, the top one being the shortest, the middle one the longest, and the bottom one of medium length. The middle bar had an additional piece that made it look like a cloth had been loosely draped over it, with parts of it hanging on either side.
This necklace was one of the reasons he'd taken her in.
He activated his Scan skill, focusing on her energy flow. An aura of white flames enveloped her, shimmering around her like ethereal wings with streaks of gold. The flow itself was unusual, yet strangely familiar. It resonated with the energy he had felt from Yukio and Leo, and even at the chapel in the Capitol.
Holy Magic.
There was no mistaking it. This girl had some connection to the Holy Land of Ezkanur. But if she was from that far north, why would she come all this way? And how did she know his name? Kojo pondered straining his brain to get a reason why someone connected to the church would want to contact him specifically.
" Maybe she's a fan?" He thought to himself.
( Don't be stupid. No one would be a fan of your dumbass.) Sysia's voice rang in his head.
" Then what is it?" He questioned.
( I don't know. Just forget it for now.No use beating yourself up about it now. The only way to know is if she wakes up.)
Kojo sighed, acknowledging Sysia's logic. He glanced at Adriana, who was sitting beside the girl. Her hands glowed with an emerald light as she channeled healing magic, stabilizing the girl's volatile energy.
Adriana looked up at him, concern etched on her face.
"Her energy is… unstable," she explained, her voice soft. "As if it's come into contact with a strong opposing energy. Like fire with water."
"What could have caused that?" Adriana wondered aloud, her gaze searching Kojo's for answers.
Kojo shrugged, "We won't know until she wakes up."
She nodded and returned to stabilizing the girl.From the vorn r of her eye, she noticed his lingering gaze.
"What is it, Kojo?" she asked.
"Nothing," he replied, trying to shake off the feeling of suspision.
So far, Adriana seemed normal. A bit weak, perhaps, but nothing unusual.
"Is it about my Transcendence?" she asked, her voice gentle.
"Are you worried about my personality changing?"
Kojo flinched. "No, of course not. You're still you. Right?"
Adriana smiled, turning on her the stool so that she faced him.
"I am the same girl you've always known. But I feel… different. More… connected somehow." She looked down at her open palms.
"It's hard to explain."
"Don't overthink it," Kojo said, squeezing her shoulder gently. " Everything s going to be fine."
Adriana touched the hand in her shoulder, reassured.
He turned towards the door.
"I should get back to the meeting. You look after her, and make sure you rest."
With a swift movement, Kojo vanished, using his Warp skill to teleport back to the meeting room.
As soon as he left, Keo entered, carrying a basin of warm water and soft towels on a tray.
" Has master Kojo left already?" She asked looking around.
" Yes,he just left" Adriana responded turning back to their sleeping guest.
"Mekna is preparing supper." Said stepping into the room.
"Thank you, Keo," Adriana replied. "We'll start cleaning her up."
As Keo put the tray down beside the bed,Adriana began to undress the girl, gently removing the tattered cloak. She touched the necklace in an attempt to take it off. The girl stirred, her hand instinctively reaching out to grasp Adriana's frightening her. She then began whispering incoherent sentences.
"No don't… I need to change things… I must stop… This time I....."
A wave of images, vivid and disturbing, flooded Adriana's mind.
A magnificent city at the base of a mountain with a large temple at its summit, shimmering in the sunlight.
Changing to a brutal war, Maajin warriors clashing with knights in a snow-covered mountain range.
Changing to Kojo, his eyes wide with a terrifying rage, standing over a lifeless yet familiar body, his energy flaring dangerously, the world around him crumbling.
Changing to Sharone, her eyes cold and cruel, plunging a blood-red spear into Kojo's heart.
Changing to Kojo, his eyes now lifeless and hollow, sitting upon a throne of bones, overlooking a desolate wasteland littered with bodies, a mountain of corpses at his feet. Every living thing, including herself and that of everyone else lay dead, their grotesque forms twisted and contorted. This Kojo, an immoral parody of his former self, let out a chilling laugh as a surge of power began to dismantle space and rend time, illuminating the world in a sinister glow resembling the rising of a red sun.
"A crimson dawn…" Adriana muttered, her voice barely audible.
She blinked, disoriented, looking down at the girl who was still clutching her hand. A cold sweat beaded on her forehead.
What had just happened? Was it a side effect of her Transcendence? Had she somehow connected with the girl and glimpsed the future?
Was this why she was here?
"Mistress?" Keo's voice startled her.
Adriana shook her head, forcing a smile. "Sorry, I spaced out for a second."
She gestured for Keo to come closer.
"Let's help her," she said, her voice calm, though a deep sense of unease had settled within her.
"Everything will be fine," she reassured herself, but the chilling images continued to haunt her.
Was this the future? Or was it merely a disturbing glimpse into the girl's troubled mind?
Adriana shivered, a shiver that had nothing to do with the cool winter air.
Kojo appeared in the meeting room. The leaders were either dozing off or chatting idly.
" Well it figures. We've all been working hard this whole time." He thought to himself.
( I believe it'd be optimal to postpond the rest of this meeting for another time taking into account the fatigue.)
" Yeah, you're right." He agreed.
Before he could take a step forward,Felix walked up to him and bowed slamming his forehead into the ground with a loud thud.
" Please forgive me!" He yelled drawing everyone's attention. Even his sisters looked at him with startled expression.
" Huh?" Kojo responded,a confused expression on his face.
" The restaurant you placed in my care has been destroyed. I know it was due to the attack on the city but that would only be a convenient excuse." He said.
Kojo folded his arms and watched him.
" I'll pay for the damages. I'll take on odd jobs and maybe even a loan"
" Felix" Kojo called him.
"I'll even do over time to make up for the lost profit." Felix continued.
" Felix" Kojo called again but the Demi-human showed no signs of stopping his plea. His ears drooped with sincerity and his tail was lowered.
" If you want I'll even sell my belongings so don't fire me-"
"Felix!" Kojo yelled finally drawing Felix's attention. Felix raised his head, expecting to get scolded.
" I'm not mad at the destruction of the building. They're just physical objects that can be repaired or replaced. What matters is that at the end ni one was hurt." Kojo said helping him up.
" Lin said she dealt with Marconni. So we're going to try him for his crimes and strip him of his property." The Duke said.
" Huh?" Felix looked between the two of them in confusion.
" I did promise that I'd get you a place of your own right? Yeah."
" Really?" Felix asked tearing up.
" Yeah really. It's yours though it deteriorated due to the fight." Kojo informed him.
Lin and Sharone smiled awkwardly.
" Well hello you rebuild it so don't worry." They said. Felix burst into tears startling Kojo. He took a step back and stared at Felix unsure of how to respond.
" Thank you very much." Felix said amidst sobs.
" It's fine.Don't worry about it. I just thought it'd be really funny if the tables turned and the slave and the master swapped positions.
Fiona and Finn walked up to Felix and led him out of the room smiling apologetically at Kojo.
Kojo unfolded his arms and put them in his pockets.
" I'd like to end the meeting here it seems we've discussed all that we need to discuss in regards to our current situation so I think we should and rest." Kojo said.
" Concerning the details of the projects ...."
" I've already prepared the minute for this meeting." Eden responded.
" I've also recorded all the consensuses as well as prepared a list of required materials, drawn up a budget ,with consideration to our current financial strength,for repairs and calculated the time it will take to complete everything among other things." Eden said holding a bunch of papers.
He handed each person there a copy of the drawn out plan individual tasks along with the budget to be allocated if any is required and the optimal time they were to complete the task.
Kojo looked at him as his subordinate handed him a copy.
It was all neatly drawn out in a down to earth wat that was easy to understand. Kojo also noticed that he had filled out the blanks in their planning as well as included suggestions.
" Mr. Lloyd." Eden turned to him.
" These are for the immediate repairs. I do not know about master Kojo's plan so I was unable to draw out your assignment sheet. Please be patient till I do."
" Wow. He's sure is hardworking."
" Ok. So I'm going to give all the other details I couldn't mention to Eden. He can revise the current files if need be. You can also see him if you're unsure of anything. I'm also around." Kojo said quickly dumping responsibility on his secretary.
( Since when did he become your secretary.)
" Since now."
" Well since there's nothing more to discuss,I think we should-" he was interrupted by an explosion.
" What is it this time?" Kojo muttered with annoyance.
Altair stretched out her hand and manifested a projection of what was going on the city. A lone goblin was throwing fireballs around, causing explosion after explosion. The people ran for safety and the guards tried to hold him back but were struggling.
" Huh? Didn't I kill you?" Kojo asked out loud as he watched Krone knock the guards aside and scream as one of them managed to stab him in the side.
( No,you beat him to a pulp but discarded his half dead body when Faust showed up.)
" Oh,yeah." Kojo recalled the incident.
He looked at the goblin again. He had discarded the upper part of his armor and was bare chested exposing the various wounds on his body that ranged from cuts to bruises to spots of decay to burns and so many others. He'd been Kojo's subject as he tested out his powers in Decorum's leader. Krone raised his fist in the air and was about to crush a guard,the sharpling who had used his tail to stab him.
" I'll take care of this." Kojo said.
Warp.
He instantly teleported Infront of Krone and pulled the guard out of the way. Krone's fist landed mere centimeters from the guard.
Kojo then pointed his other hand at Krone's face and flicked his middle finger with his thumb sending Krone flying about 6 meters away with an air bullet displacing large amounts of snow.
" Aight. Time to end this." Kojo said stepping forward but he looked up. His attention was drawn by a bright light in the cloudy sky. It grew brighter and brighter like a mini sun.
Krone got to his knees and vomited blood. He then began to laugh.
" This is the end for you human. Now you shall all be eradicated by the Goblin King"
" Goblin King huh?" Kojo said under his breath looking up and once again putting his hands in his pockets.
( Why's he so happy though. Wasn't he the one who was planning to betray him?)
" I'm shocked" Kojo said as a large ball of fire hit the ground between himself and Krone causing the snow in that area to evaporate. It despersed and the king stepped out with a bored expression on his face. He yawned and looked around.
" Huh? Krone? Why do you look like that?" He asked.
" My king these humans have massacred your people. You said it yourself right. That you'd intervene if they attacked a single goblin."
The king folded his arms and rubbed his chin.
" Did I really say that? Even if I did it only applies to goblins who don't betray me for their own gain." He said staring at Krone with a cold expression.
" I thought I warned you."
Before Krone could say a word he was engulfed by blue flames which vanished seconds later along with Krone himself.
( Krone's physical body has been destroyed. This one's powerful)
Kojo instinctively summoned Dragonfang.
" Great now I'm the one doing overtime." Kojo frowned